it is about our birthright in Messiah

[restorah]

Well, yes and yes. We not only need to have new terminology, but a new mindset. While we can see that the renewed covenant has been saved and handed down to us via a Greek stylus, we must not lose sight of the origination point. If we, indeed, believe that Yeshua was Judean and Torah observant, then we He must have spoken from a Torah/Hebraic mindset. The same is true of Paul, even though he was from Tarsis, he did study under Gamliel and was very clear on knowing Torah and the Traditionally taught renditions of Mishnah or Talmud of his day and prior.



However, Paul's epistles have been taken out of context. Remeber, they are letters of rebuke for which we do not have the letters he received from these communities or for the shortcomings that he was admonishing or encouraging them. If we look at Paul's writings from a stand point of defending Torah and undermining the traditional ideologies that had been prevailing in Judaism (Phariseeism/Rabbinical Thinking) then we have a much clearer picture of the renewed Covenant writings.



Many of the passages that believers take aim with (food issues, Shabbat) are either not original to the cannon or just plain misinterpreted or misunderstood. Even Paul writes in Romans that the Law (Torah) is to show us where we fall short/sin. If we remove that standard, then we are lawless.



Back to the subject, the aspect of being Jewish has become an idol for those leaving the Church and finding a Messianic station. This lifestyle is just another religion. The "Jews" have kept Torah for us, but they have also added their two cents or two dollars worth of fence laws and traditions and yokes. However, the Church as done the same by taking away from Torah/Scripture and inserting their own importance slants and prejeduces.



Simply put, to be Jewish is only one twelveth of the equation. It is very clear in Revelation that the other tribes, with exception of Dan, are well accounted for and used by YHVH. I am not saying that we should resolve to root out what Asher acts like or to be enamoured with the blessings of one tribe over another. (Clearly Judah and Joseph have that covered anyway!) We should strive to be like Messiah. To love Him means that we will keep His commandments. What commandments, the very Words that were in the beginning and became flesh as Him that dwelt among us. His Torah is the covenant that built upon the others and was restored, renewed and build upon for David and Yeshua. No, we cannot keep all the commands. There are the ceremonial laws and so forth. But we can keep a vast amount that show us how to walk in the sanctification that Yeshau purchased to inhabit.



Yeshua brings us into sanctification, it is up to us to remain there. Torah is the standard by which we must reside within the cloud. Through Messiah, we are able to do this. He sent us the Helper that was prophesied about in Ezekiel 36 and Jer. 31. His Ruach is writing Torah on the walls of our hearts so that we will be turned back to our fathers. Those fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are the people that YHVH made the Covenant with anyway. He even reminds us in Torah that it is not for our sake (or theirs at that time) but for their father's, Abraham's sake that He kept Covenant and loved them.



A believer's approach should be what the children of Israel had to do. Trust, then keep what has been revealed to them. For the children of Israel, as they crossed the Red Sea, the first and only thing that was asked of them was to keep Shabbat. This was called the sign of the covenant in Exodus. Where ever we are in the journey, we must endeavor to keep the part of the Covenant that He reveals to us. From there, as we obey, He will allow more to be revealed and understood so that we will be accountable for that, as well.



We want to believe that YHVH is an elohim that just loves, unconditionally. Torah teaches us differently. He meets us where we are, then raises us up to the place of delverance and redemption. Then, He informs us and reminds us to be a holy people, set apart for Himself. He reminds us through the threads of Scripture that IF we keep the commands of YHVH, THEN we will walk in blessings. This must be true, otherwise why do we give any credence to the Major Prophets' writings?



Torah should be embraced as both the marriage contract (covenant is a much better word) and a user's manual. It was given with a Hebrew, not Greek, mindset and mandate. We should look at all of scripture and our thoughts and lifestyles from a Hebraic perspective. Simply meaning, what does Torah say about it; moreover, not "What Would Jesus Do", but "What Did Yeshua Do?"



Blessings!