Rabbi’s Reflections – Tuesday, January 25, 2022
Shalom,
Law and Grace – part 12
Rabbi Trail: It’s been a while since I wrote to you about what I like to call “X-Acto knife theology.” (https://www.xacto.com/) An X-Acto knife is a pencil looking knife with a razor blade type knife at the tip. It can be used to cut out very small pieces of paper with precision. A proper theology requires that we consider the entire Bible when forming our knowledge of God. People with “X-Acto knife theology” have to cut certain verses out of their Bible in order to believe what they believe. End RT.
Paul testified of himself… Acts 20:27 For I did not shrink back from declaring to you the whole purpose of God. The whole purpose of God includes His love and intended destiny for Israel. Jeremiah 31:2 “From afar Adonai appeared to me.” “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love. Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.” And there is this too… Jeremiah 30:10 So now, do not fear, Jacob My servant,” says Adonai, “nor be dismayed, O Israel, for behold, I will save you from afar, your seed from the land of their exile. Jacob will again be quiet and at ease, and no one will make him afraid. 11 For I am with you,” declares Adonai, “to save you, for I will make a full end of all the nations where I scatter you. but I will not make a full end of you. For I will discipline you justly, but will not leave you unpunished.” (Rabbi’s note: In the Hebrew, what connects all of these thoughts is “and.” There is no Hebrew “but” anywhere in verse 11.) Replacement Theology (RT) is X-Acto knife theology. Proponents of RT have to cut out much of the Bible that speaks of God’s everlasting love for Israel.
The hyper-grace movement is all about “LOVE.” I have to put that in quotes because “LOVE” means different things to different people. But what does “LOVE” mean to God? He tells us… John 14:15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” The opposite is disobedience, which is a sin. Luke 6:46 “Why do you call Me ‘Master, Master’ and do not do what I say? Samuel delivered this message to King Saul… 1 Samuel 15:22 Samuel said: “Does Adonai delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of Adonai? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, to pay heed than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination and stubbornness is like iniquity and idolatry. Since you have rejected Adonai’s word, He has also rejected you as king.” 24 Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned!
We have all sinned. But grace gives us the opportunity to repent and obey. Let me ask you, is this from the Old Testament or the New Testament? Romans 8:3 For what was impossible for the Torah—since it was weakened on account of the flesh—God has done. Sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as a sin offering, He condemned sin in the flesh— 4 so that the requirement of the Torah might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Ruach.
We prove the grace of God by obeying God. We define “obeying God” by keeping His commandments. In this way, we know we love God. 1 John 2:3 Now we know that we have come to know Him by this—if we keep His commandments. 4 The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God is truly made perfect. We know that we are in Him by this— 6 whoever claims to abide in Him must walk just as He walked.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Tue 25-Jan-2022 23rd of Sh’vat, 5782
Ex 22:4-26 1 Ki 12 Ps 103 Jn 1:1-23 (2 Th 3)
Week 5
Memory Verse: Romans 8:28 Now we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those whom He predestined, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified; and those whom He justified, He also glorified.
21 1/24 Monday: Genesis 39-40
22 1/25 Tuesday: Genesis 41
23 1/26 Wednesday: Genesis 42-43
24 1/27 Thursday: Genesis 44-45
25 1/28 Friday: Genesis 46-47