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Those who have been instructed from the Torah, traditionally the Jews, by inference practice what is, “the excellent and superior way of life,” and by extension say, “they know God’s will.” Someday in the millennial kingdom, Christians will rule and reign as overseers with Christ within God’s governmental system, which naturally uses His laws as the framework for a well-functioning and healthy society. So, it must stand to reason that being well-versed in the grace-empowered administration of God’s commands is necessary.
Presently, many who come to Y’shua from the Jewish faith should have an advantage, having been raised in a biblical law based culture. The opportunity to become teachers and mentors to others, who have come to faith in Christ, but from a pagan world, is vast. Faithful Jews simply have the upbringing, background, and previous knowledge to do it well. Wouldn’t it be prudent to develop a duplicatable system that institutes God’s laws in a fresh new way? It must be inspired and empowered by God’s grace, not the same system that, in many ways, blinded Jews from recognizing Y’shua.
However, if you claim to represent God, while living in habitual disobedience, your hypocrisy can damage new converts, either by teaching them that authenticity and integrity are unnecessary, or by misrepresenting the intention and application of God’s commands, causing those weaker in the faith to stumble. What is most critical to recognize, however, is that obedience to the Law is a matter of the heart. Your motivation, intention, inspiration, and what empowers your obedience is what is most important. That does not discount the value of actually obeying God’s commands; it just emphasizes that how and why you obey matters more.
Paul is not teaching anything that is not completely consistent with the writings of Moses. Your discipleship training is really rulership training for God’s kingdom, and leadership training for your personal development. You are supposed to learn how to apply the power of God’s grace toward His divine instructions: spiritual practices, lifestyle laws, and even the physical laws of the universe. To do so you should practice implementing grace-empowered obedience right now, here on earth, during this life. That is what will insert the government of heaven into everything you do; that is what will bring the kingdom of heaven to earth.
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