Nullify the Torah?

Last time we looked at Romans 3:20-21 and the Law of Righteousness apart from the Torah.  As Sha’ul continues in Romans 3 he makes it clear again that justification (salvation) is apart from the Torah.  It is through grace, which has existed from the beginning of time, that we have salvation.  Therefore Sha’ul asks where is the boasting?  No one can boast, whether you have the Torah or not, again reemphasizing the comments he made in chapter two that we went over a few weeks ago.  This brings us down to verses 30 and 31 which says:

since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one. Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law.  Romans 3:31

Many will say this verse says we do not need to be circumcised because we are all in faith together.  I will agree all are in faith together, yet I will also contend as does Sha’ul that we do not nullify the Torah through faith.  Sha’ul says may it never be!  It is through faith that we establish the Torah.

One can perform the works of Torah with and without faith.  The Torah is spiritual (Romans 7:14), so if you are following it through your own efforts it is meaningless and yoke I would not want to bear.  If, through Yeshua, we have faith then we can overcome this fleshly desire to sin and follow G-d in His commandments.  Yeshua said His yoke was easy and His burden light.  1 John 5:3 tells us His commandments are not burdensome for those who have faith.  Moshe in His addressing the Israelites before they enter the Promise Land says “For this commandment which I command you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it out of reach.”  Why?  Because their hearts will be circumcised….emunah (faith/faithfulness).

Yeshua’s yoke is not any different than G-d’s.  Yeshua came to speak only what the Father told Him.  Why some believe Yeshua came to speak a different message I don’t know.  May HaShem give them wisdom and to see the truth!  The truth…I have a whole drash on that as well.  Maybe soon.

Until next time…kadosh, kadosh, kadosh is HaShem!