All Scripture?

As this is my first attempt to write a blog please excuse me as I sort of feel my way. My observation from viewing other blogs is that there is no required format and so I am probably okay. This first blog is a simple attempt to make you think a little. We all grow up in our comfort zone and from the time we come in contact with the reality of God and the salvation found in His Son we were groomed and trained in whatever assembly, church, home group or Bible study we found ourselves in. Often times we fail to be Bereans and do not search the Scriptures to know if what we are told is true. Having been in several denominations and having been in Bible studies with Lutherans, Catholics, Presbyterians, Baptists, a variety of Charismatics and even a Methodist or two, most of what we hold to as true follows the same line. Differences are often just in the details. I probably don't fit well anywhere. I am sort of a Messianic Gentile. A Gentile who, by God's grace has access to His Kingdom by faith in His Son, Yeshua, my Messiah.

From the time I was drawn to a relationship with my God through the power of the Holy Spirit and the work of God's Son, Yeshua Messiah, I have asked the question "Why?". Why do we do what we do in Worship? Why did God include endless genealogies and leave out clear directions as to how Assemblies of Jesus' Followers were to function? Why do we seem to keep nine of the Ten Commandments. Why are there so many passionate views on the Lord's return? Why do we spend so much time in the New Testament when the Old Testament is bigger? Is it just a Jewish history book with some random applications to us New Testament followers or is there more? And what of the Law, or Torah, with all it's instructions? Does any of it apply to me or is what I was told for years, that I am free from the Law and it has no demands over my life, true? What parts of Torah or the Law apply and how do I know what does and doesn't? If any at all.  And then there is the whole Jewish thing. Is it important to know what the first readers understood as they received revelation from Jewish writers in a Jewish culture most often in a Jewish language. Even New Testament writers were Jewish as they wrote about a Jewish Messiah, with the possible exception of Luke. And even those who wrote in Greek were deeply steeped in Hebraic thought and owned a Hebraic world view. Hellenism had its influence, but the underpinning of much of what we read is Hebraic. Jewish writers sharing Jewish thought from a Hebraic perspective in an Eastern world. But most of us are Western and Greek in thought, so would that affect how we understand the Word of God? Quite possibly so.

I give you two familiar passages to consider as we look to the Scriptures to see just how valid the Old Testament or Torah is for faith and practice in the lives of us Jesus followers today. Now I am not suggesting that you need to build an altar and sacrifice a sheep in your backyard, but I am suggesting that we need to consider some things that Yeshua (Jesus) and the Apostle Paul said just to get us thinking. The first passage comes from Matthew 5. Following the giving of the Beatitudes the Lord proclaims that He did not come to abolish the Law (Torah) or the Prophets. "I did not come to destroy but to fulfill" (5:17). I was told that this was Jesus saying that he had come to complete or fulfill the Law and the Prophets. This meant that with his death, burial and, resurrection the Law no longer applied. The Law (Torah) is over. However, what of the next verse? "For assuredly, I say to you till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law (Torah) till all is fulfilled" (5:18). Now as far as I can tell, the Heaven and earth are still here. Jesus is emphatic that Torah will not pass away until all is fulfilled. Tied to the "heaven and earth" declaration it is reasonable to assume that is at the end of time. When all is fulfilled. If that is true, then Torah, or the Law, is still around. Ah, but this is the Jewish Jesus talking to Jewish people, so it may still be around for them but not for us Gentiles. Not for the church. Then consider Paul's encouragement to Timothy, who is recognized as a leader or pastor among the assemblies or churches. In this Pastoral Epistle, Paul reminds Timothy that "All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Tim 3:16). A passage most all would agree with. But what are the Scriptures Paul is speaking of? There is no New Testament at the time of this writing. The only Scriptures available to Timothy and those he teaches and leads are the Old Testament Scriptures, Torah. And this is all that was need for proper doctrine, correction and instruction on how to live right before God. It is all that is need to fully equip every believer for the service God would call them to. Torah is all that is needed to know how to live in a way that is pleasing to God and to my neighbor as well. Can that really be true? No Love chapter from 1 Corinthians? No instruction from Ephesians or Romans? Yet under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit Paul tells Timothy all he needs to be effective, to be thoroughly furnished for every possible good work is Torah. The Law that will not pass away until all was complete. The Word of God that we are accountable to know and apply. Or maybe Jesus and the Apostle Paul were mistaken. Just something to think about.