Rabbi’s Reflections – Monday, February 27, 2023
Shalom,

Quick to say “Yes” – Romans, part 35

Romans 3:28 For we consider a person to be set right apart from Torah observance.

Please take a moment (as I have) to think about the implications of this verse.  We know that all have sinned… (Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8, and many more).  We have a disease (that is always fatal) we caught from Adam.  John 5:12 So then, just as sin came into the world through one man and death through sin, in the same way death spread to all men because all sinned.

However; we cannot expect to fix our “sin disease” by the one thing that defines what sin is (Torah).  John 5:13 For up until the Torah, sin was in the world; but sin does not count as sin when there is no law.  Receiving grace by faith (in Messiah Yeshua) is the cure, but never intended as a license to sin more.  Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may abound? 2 May it never be! How can we who died to sin still live in it?

Let’s consider our subject verse, and go deeper.  How can we be “set right” apart from Torah observance?  The answer is, “By faith in Messiah Yeshua.”  Romans 1:17 In it (the Gospel) the righteousness of God is revealed, from trust to trust. As it is written, “But the righteous shall live by emunah (faith).”

Rabbi Trail:  Remember, the Gospel is the answer to Yeshua’s question… Matthew 16:15 He (Yeshua) said, “But who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”  Yeshua received Peter’s answer by declaring that on this rock (principle) He will build His community to withstand the gates of hell.  End RT.

Torah observance cannot “set us right.”  Torah observance is the product of a life already “set right” through faith in the only One Who observed the Torah perfectly.  Let us be His disciples by following His example.  The evidence of our salvation is obedience to God.  We pray, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”  Question: How is God’s will done in heaven?  Answer: Immediately and without question.  Another question:  How do we know God’s will?  Another answer: By reading it in His testament.

We know a person is set right by faith (apart from Torah), and we see evidence of a person being “set right” through their observance of the Torah, “God’s righteous principles.”  Let’s covenant with God to show our love for Him with hearts that are quick to say “yes” to His commands.

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Mon 27 Feb-2023 6th of Adar, 5783
Ex 28:13-30 2 Ki 23 Ps 147 Jn 19 (Heb 4)