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If You Love Yahweh's Law... LIVE IT!

 

   Most youngsters, at some time in their youth, are given a Bible. What should they do with it? Too often the case may be (especially in many nominal religions) that they are not instructed in the proper usage of the Bible. This is not to say that they must go through some religious instruction to be shown how to look up Scriptures and memorize them so that at a future date they can use their memory to recite Scripture. Rote memorization shows nothing except that the user has a good memory. Application is the key! Also, mere possession of the Bible in no way implies the proper usage of Yahweh's Word, as is borne out by the quite obvious statistics of lawlessness in our world today.
   Possession of the Bible and using it are two different things. But, what is meant by "using the Bible"? Is it enough to read the Bible? In the story of Philip and the eunuch of the queen of Ethiopia (Acts 8:26-31), we find the answer when the eunuch said: "How can I [understand] except some man should guide me?" Reading the Scriptures is not enough. One must understand what he reads in the Scriptures before it can really be meaningful. He must then apply this understanding to his own life.
   Is it enough to listen to someone preach from the Bible? Is it enough to be hearers only? No. Hearing, as reading, does not imply personal understanding. Again, application is the key. We must be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, Rom. 2:13 and James 1:22. By doing what the Scriptures say, we shall build upon a foundation which cannot be shaken, Luke 6:47-49. But, by being hearers only, and not doers, the foundation will be like sand so that when some outside force is applied, the sandy foundation will be washed away and one will have nothing to stand on. That firm foundation must be built upon Yahshua, for He is the cornerstone of the foundation, Eph.2:20. If we do what Yahweh desires us to do, then we shall abide forever, John 2:17. What does Yahweh desire us to do? Given the choice between life and death, between blessings and cursings, He wants us to choose life. Everlasting life, Deut. 30:19. By making this choice we must keep His commandments (Matt. 19:17 and Revelation 22:14).
   In order to receive the promise of everlasting life, of the everlasting inheritance promised to Abraham, one must become a member of the body of Yahshua. One must do righteousness, as He is righteous, 1 John 2:29; 3:7. One must follow the examples He set forth, 1 Peter 2:21. One must keep all of Yahweh's commandments as Yahshua did (John 15:10), for all His commandments are righteousness, Psalm 119:172. By keeping His commandments, we show our love to Yahweh and to our neighbor, Rom. 13:9, Matt. 22:37=39 and Lev. 19:18.
   The commandments (Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5) are as much for us today as they were for the Old Testament Israelites. In Matt. 5:7, Yahshua tells us:
"Think not that ! am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy but to fulfill." Did Yahshua fulfill our requirements of keeping the law by His strict obedience? When John questioned the necessity of baptizing Yahshua (Matt. 3: 14-15), Yahshua answered him by saying: "Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness." And then He was baptized. Thus, if all righteousness (including Yahweh's commandments — Psalm 119:172) was fulfilled in Yahshua's baptism, why are we told to be baptized in Acts 2:38? When Yahshua fulfilled the law, He abided by the law. He kept all of His Father's commandments, statutes, and judgments for He knew no sin (1 Peter 2:22 and 1 John 3:5). Sin is the breaking of the law (1 John 3:4)! Yahshua's life was a living example for us to follow. Yahshua died for the sins of the whole world, 1 Cor. 15:3, 2 Cor. 5:15 and 1 John 2:2. By His resurrection we have the hope of everlasting life, 1 Peter 1:3. Yahshua's life, death, and resurrection in no way negated our requirements of keeping His commandments, statutes, and judgments, as these requirements were still in existence after Yahshua's death, James 2:10-11. In fact, our requirements are now more comprehensive. The Old Testament Israelites usually had to commit a physical act before breaking the law, while we have a bigger responsibility as our Savior tells us in Matt. 5:27-28; we are not to harbor such thoughts, for in so doing we actually then do commit sin. Each of the Ten Commandments, which were written by the finger of Yahweh on two tablets of stone and formally given to the Israelites at Mt. Sinai, has its counterpart in the New Testament:



   Some people say that the members of the Assemblies of Yahweh have a "hang up” on the Sacred Name and the Sabbath — that we continually emphasize them and place too much importance on them until we wear them out. But how can one place enough emphasis on that which has been so long neglected and which is so necessary for life, everlasting life? This may seem to be so because of the striking difference true worship has with many nominal religions. Satan has, by his cunningness, deceived man into believing that it is not important as to what name is used, or on which special days one worships. The name which is used by nominal religions for our Savior comes from the Greek leseus, which literally means the son of Zeus. Who was Zeus? He is none other than the chief of the mighty ones in Greek mythology ― whose name David refused to utter (Ps. 16:4) and whose names Yahweh will remove from the lips of His people (Hosea 2:17). Satan, through his agents on earth, as prophesied in Dan. 7:25, has deceived many people into believing that the first day of the week, commonly called Sunday, is the correct day for worshipping our Heavenly Father because Yahshua rose from the grave on that day. Sunday is the venerable day of the sun. The sun is the object of worship of the followers of Zoroaster. Zoroaster, or Nimrod, is the instigator of the Babylonian system of idolatry. The Scriptures promise no blessings for keeping the first day of the week to worship Yahweh. But, Yahweh tells us of the many blessings promised to those who do keep His commandments (including the Sabbath commandment), as well as the curses promised to those who do not. See Deut. 28.
   Relative to Yahshua's resurrection one can follow the Scriptures to learn of the truth. The day on which Yahshua died is called the preparation day in Matt. 26:62, Mark 15:42 and John 19:14, 31, and 42. Mark 15:42 says that it was the day before a Sabbath, while John 19:31 says it was the day before a High Sabbath (Annual Sabbath). Now, it could be true that the High Sabbath mentioned in John 19:31 fell on the weekly Sabbath, if the Sabbath of Mark 15:42 is interpreted as the Seventh Day Sabbath. This, then, would make Yahshua's death to be on a Friday. But the Scriptures will show this not to be true. When Yahshua was placed in the sepulcher, we are told in Luke 23:54:
“... the Sabbath drew on.” The Greek word epiphisko is interpreted here as “drew on” is also used in Matt. 28:1 to describe the time of day when the women came back to the sepulchre to anoint Yahshua's body and is interpreted as “the dawning toward the first day of the week.” The idea of a Friday death and a Sunday morning resurrection (Easter sunrise service!) cannot be true for then the Greek word epiphisko would mean two entirely different time periods. Gen. 1 will tell us that the time of day the Greek word epiphisko refers to is the time when one day ends and the next day begins, about sunset.
   When the women observed where Yahshua was placed, they purchased and prepared spices and ointments. Since the preparation of spices and ointments was no easy task in those days and required work, they could not have done so immediately following Yahshua's death because this would have required them to work on the Sabbath (an Annual Sabbath), which was forbidden. But, after they had prepared the spices and before they went to the sepulchre they
“rested on the Sabbath Day according to the commandment,” Luke 23:54-56. Thus, it can be seen that there was a day between the day following His death and the day before they went to the sepulchre, during which time they bought and prepared the spices and ointments. Therefore, the only way these events could occur in proper sequence would be for Yahshua's death to be on Wednesday (Passover), with Thursday to be the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the High Sabbath spoken of in John 19:31, with Friday to be the day on which the women bought and prepared the spices and ointments, and with Yahshua's resurrection to occur at the end of the Seventh Day Sabbath. This then would fulfill the sign which Yahshua gave to the Scribes and the Pharisees in Matt. 12:38-40, concerning Him being the Son of Yahweh.
   Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. But He answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: for as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
   Yahshua's purpose in coming was not to destroy the law — any part of it or all of it. The reason being that if one part of the law were changed, then the whole law is changed since it would no longer be the ertire same law. Luke 16:17 says it would be easier for heaven and earth to pass away then for one jot or one tittle of the law to fail. And, the earth still exists. We know that His law is holy (Rom. 7:12), is spiritual (Rom. 7:14), is perfect (Ps. 19:7), is light (Pr. 6:23), and is ordained to life (Rom. 7:10). We know that His righteousness (including His commandments ― Ps. 119:172) shall not be abolished, but shall stand forever, Isa. 51:6, 8. We know that His Word is truth (John 17:17), for He does not lie (Titus 1:2).
   We should use His Word as a guide — a guide by which to pattern our lives. Our lives should not be ones of complacency, inertness or indifference. Our lives must be ones of activeness, or zeal towards Yahweh and proclaiming His Truth. Our lives must be ones of serving; of dedication to Him Who has given us everything; of rededication each day with the thought that we can do more today than we did yesterday. Think how dedicated Jacob was when he served Laban for seven years to obtain Rachel as a wife. See Gen. 29:18. He was willing to do this because of his love for Rachel. Should not our love toward Yahweh be at least this strong? Should not our love toward Him be stronger than our love of (physical) life or of materialism? If one cannot answer yes, then he should stop dead in his tracks and reexamine his own goals. We are told in Matt. 6 to not worry about the physical or materialistic necessities of this life, but that we should seek to enter His kingdom. By seeking His Kingdom He promises to take care of all our needs. How beautiful this promise is, but yet, how tragic when one looks around and sees how short-sighted some people really are. In John 14:15-24 Yahshua speaks of this relationship between our profession of love toward Him and our actions. If we really do love Him then we should be willing to lead the life of a servant, a servant of righteousness. We should be willing to sacrifice the necessities of this life to comply with the requirements of obedience to His Word. This fact was attested to at the Feast of Tabernacles I attended some years ago. There were some in attendance who actually quit their jobs or who were fired from their jobs because they felt it more important to be obedient to His Word! These devoted brethren knew the meaning of the word “sacrifice.” They had applied the Law of Yahweh to their lives.


Apply Your Knowledge
   Yes, application is the key. Our life must be that of a true witness. One cannot be obedient only when it is expedient to do so. Even though we can rationalize our actions to ourselves, it is Yahweh Who knows our motives. If you want to know more of Yahweh's truths as revealed in the Scriptures, enroll now in our correspondence course. It is free for the asking. You have nothing to lose by doing so, but everything in the world to gain!



-Elder Roger G. Meyer




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