Holy Scriptures and Israel

Guest (Male): Shalom. Holy Scriptures and Israel is a ministry designed to share with the Jewish people the good news of the Lord Jesus Yeshua the Messiah and to instruct Christians on the Jewish roots of their faith. And now teaching God's word from a Hebrew Messianic perspective here is Gideon Levytam.

Gideon Levytam: The study of the book of Galatians chapter two. You violated the law and you are condemned. And I as well. Even if you thought in your mind something that was not right even if you were jealous or envious, even if you were proud or or something that you have done, the law is given to show us the holiness of God and the sinfulness of men. And so in verses 17 and 18 by separating themselves from the gentle believers, what we really say that we deny the freedom that we have from the condemnation that we deserve from a holy law.

Notice it says in verse 17 Paul points out to the fact that if one if on one hand we are going to the law for justification and on the other hand we are going uh to the the Messiah for justification, then really what we are really saying what we are really saying, notice it verse 17. But if while we seek to be justified by the Messiah and then on the other hand we and it doesn't say it here but we are separating from those gentiles believers, it says we ourselves also are found sinners. Is therefore Christ the minister of sin?

God forbid. Notice what he's really saying. See because by his action, Peter, what he did, he separated from the gentile believers because actually as far as he was concerned by his action that is, they were really not justified. So in another word, what he was saying, oh I better go back with those people who came from Jerusalem who demanded circumcision. I got to go back and be with them as another word is being with those people who demand you to keep the law. In other word, what you're saying, you are going to back to the law trying to be justified by the law and then you are going to Jesus the Messiah and try to be justified by him.

What at the end is remaining that you are still a sinner. If the law couldn't help you, that 's why you went to Yeshua. And now if you you are with Yeshua, we believe in Yeshua the Messiah but then you you are abstaining from those gentiles because they are not quite saved. You are really saying that it's not really only Yeshua the Messiah but we need it to keep the law to be circumcised. What you are really saying that neither this nor that avail you for your justification. And you are really still condemned. You see at the end of verse 17 he says really, he says then Christ or the Messiah is minister of sin.

As it says here but then he says God forbid. You mean if I believe in Yeshua the Messiah and then I'm going back now to try to be if it were by my action saying that I need to be justified on the basis of law keeping or being circumcised, what you are really saying that Yeshua caused you to leave the law and therefore Yeshua became a minister of sin. Says God forbid. The only reason that we came to Yeshua the Messiah by faith is because we violated the law. And we are no longer condemned when we have trusted in the Messiah because the law condemned us.

But the Lord Jesus who died and paid for us since he liberated us. And you remember what Paul says in Romans chapter eight and verse one, he says therefore there is now no condemnation for them that are in Christ Jesus in their Messiah Yeshua. He repeated in verse three, for what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit.

In other word, brothers and sisters, this is amazing. You know what? The law condemned us. But when we came to faith in the Lord Jesus the Messiah who died and paid for our sins, there is no longer condemnation in the believer. So you see what happened? By Peter's action which he naturally did because of fear separating himself from the gentiles believers, his action have given the indication or the impression that really we are still condemned and we haven't been freed from the condemnation that we deserve because we violated the law. So what's the point? If I believe that Yeshua is the Messiah and I'm completely forgiven and being justified by him and there's no more condemnation for those that are in the Messiah why then in a practical way we do certain things we should not do as believers in the Lord Yeshua the Messiah such as separating ourselves from other people, especially in this context assuming wait a minute they are not quite there.

I am okay but they are not quite there. And that's why he says listen, what we are really saying that Christ the the Messiah is minister of sin. Is Yeshua a minister of sin? He died for your sins, for my sins. He is not a servant for sin. Shall we continue in sin? Romans six that grace may abound. God forbid. The Lord will not want us to continue to live a sinful life but positionally he had freed us from the condemnation that we deserve because we violated the law of God. And so verse 14 his practice or Peter's action was a denial of the unity of the body of Messiah.

Verse 15 and 16 his action was a denial of the fact that justification is by faith alone in Yeshua the Messiah. Thirdly verses 17 and 18 his action was a denial of the freedom that we have from the condemnations that we deserve from the law because we fail to submit to the law. Now notice this, number four. In verses 19 and 20 continues to emphasize the fact that Peter's action or by his action he gave the impression of the denial of the truth that the Messiah died for our sins according to the Hebrew scriptures. You see brothers and sisters God have predicted long before Yeshua came that at certain point of time he will send to Israel the promised Messiah.

He will be born of the virgin Miriam. He will live in the city of Nazareth. He will minister among the people of Israel in the land of Israel in Galilee and in the city of Jerusalem. He will die a substitutionary death and he will be buried and he will be risen again. You have scripture upon scripture that are teaching to us long before the the new covenant was given to us that the Messiah will come in order to fulfill the law which Israel and the world failed to fulfill. And so he says now in these next verses a in 19 and 20 notice for I listen to what he says here, beautiful, amazing.

This is doctrine, this is teaching. This is not feelings. This is not emotion and human opinion. These are facts that are taught to us by the word of God, by the living word of God. These are divinely inspired word of God. He says for I for I through the law am dead to the law that I might live unto God. Wait a minute Paul, what do you mean I through the law am dead to the law? He says look. God gave us the law. We violated the law therefore we died. You know what happened beloved brothers and sisters?

Because of our sin nature, because of our failure to rise up because of God's perfect holiness, our failure to rise up to his expectation, the law kills us. That's what the Bible says. That if we violated one law, one command of God, we deserve to die. And as far as God is concerned, you remember what Paul said in Ephesians two, you were dead in trespasses and sin. So we because of the law we have been declared the verdict is guilty. And when we died because we are guilty, we have to be punished and die. That's why an unsaved person or unforgiven person whether it is Jewish or gentile who rejected the gospel message was maybe circumcised sought the best to keep the Shabbat day was very much keeping kosher in his own home, never eating pork was keeping all the holidays the feast that God ever appointed.

And yet rejected the Messiah God will declare that person dead because why? Somewhere along he violated the word of God. He didn't quite make it. So that's why the Messiah had to come. So the Messiah will pay for the sin of this person who didn't do it, whether Jewish or non-Jewish. I through the law am dead to the law. The law violated by men killed the violator. You remember what Paul said in Romans chapter 10 about our own people, the Jewish people. He says in Romans chapter 10 brethren verse one, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel that they might be saved.

Listen to this. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God but not according to knowledge. For they been ignorant of God's righteousness, God's justification and going about to establish their own righteousness. Notice this, they going about to establish their own justification, their own listen God, I don't need you and what you provide for me through the Messiah. I'll do my best to achieve righteousness. And you notice what it says at the end of verse three, have not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God. For the Messiah is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believe.

The Messiah was the goal. The Messiah Yeshua was the aim. The law was given to us to direct our attention to the fact that we have sinned and the Messiah will be the one that will fulfill for us the law of God which we couldn't fulfill. And so Paul says I through the law am dead to the law. What happened is that if a person violated the law of God, he deserved to be killed. Now let's assume that he died and he rose again and to continue to live his life the law cannot have do anything against him because he's already died.

He paid the penalty for sin. He died. The wages of sin is death. So what now coming? He says now that I might live unto God but how can I live unto God because I have turned my heart and commissioned myself to the person of the Lord Yeshua the Messiah who died on my behalf. He paid for my sins. When I violated the law of not to not lying I deserved to die. He never lied. When I was violating God's law and the law says that I should not covet and I deserve to die, he never coveted.

I deserved to die but he died instead. I deserved to be punished but he was punished on my behalf. He fulfilled the law which I failed to fulfill. And therefore for I through the law, Paul is saying, am dead to the law in order that I might live unto God. And now notice in verse 20, this is an amazing verse. I don't think many of us grasp it because we are so far away from the many way by Saul Paul lived his life. I was thinking when I was preparing for the message today, you know some sometimes somebody say to us get lost.

Paul Saul really got lost meaning that he got lost in Christ in the Messiah. It's no longer I no longer me it's only him. It's only Yeshua the Messiah. Notice what he says in verse 20 of Galatians 2:20, I am crucified with Christ. I've died with the Messiah. Nevertheless I live. Yet not I but the Messiah lives in me and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. So here's doctrine, beloved brothers and sisters, I think I'm honestly saying we are so far from understanding this.

I am crucified I am dead with Christ with the Messiah. As far as God is concerned every true believer positionally have died when Yeshua died. God does not look yours and my flesh and old nature anymore. He knows it is deserved to die and to be punished. So when Yeshua died, we died. When Jesus the Messiah died, I died. Paul is saying, I died with the Messiah. When Yeshua died on the cross some 2,000 years ago, you know what happened? You and I died with him. When we have accepted him, we are really identify with his death.

I know we don't realize it. In our mind we don't really understand it. No no, it's not him, it's me. I got to do my own thing. No, I am crucified with the Messiah, with the Messiah, Paul is saying. And then he says though I've died with the Messiah, nevertheless I live. But wait a minute Paul, you just said that you died with the Messiah. How come nevertheless you are still alive? You're living. He says listen. Yeshua did not only died and paid for the sin but he rose again. And he's alive and therefore I live because of him.

Oh yes, my old nature deserved to be separated from God but yet God is declaring me alive in the Messiah. I live, he said. But then not he continued and he says in the same verse 20 yet not I not the old man, the old sinful nature but Christ the Messiah lives in me. Do you know that the life of this is an exchange? What happened here when we became believers in reality? There was an exchange that happened. You and I gave our sins Yeshua gave his life. You and I gave our guilt Yeshua gave his love for us willing to be penalized on our behalf.

You and I received the punishment that we deserve but not us because he took it upon himself when he died on our behalf. So when we when he died, we died. And now we are not dead because he's alive because of him we are also alive as he said, yet not yet I the yet nevertheless I live and then notice but he said yet not I but the Messiah Christ lives in me. In other word, really the only life that we have is the life of Christ. The life of the old nature, beloved brothers and sisters, doesn't matter what you're going to do with it.

It will not avail for your salvation because somebody for our salvation because somebody have already died on our behalf. Now notice what he says now. He continued he says in verse 20b, and the life which I now live in the flesh in other word, God have allowed me to stick around. He didn't take me right away to heaven because I deserved to go to heaven because Yeshua finished the work for me on the tree but now the Lord have allowed me to live here in the flesh where we struggle, where we fail, where we stumble, where we have all these that is uh happened to in to us in our life.

He says he says notice, and the life which I now live in the flesh, look how I'm going to live it. I live by the faith of the son of God Ben Elohim Emunat Ben Elohim. I live by the faith of the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. What he's really saying is that you know what brothers and sisters of the Galatians now that I'm living this new life because of Yeshua the Messiah I really live it by the faith on a basis of the faith of the son of God.

You see on a one hand he used the word Messiah here twice. On the other hand he used the word the son of God. The Messiah of Israel the savior of this world is much more than just an ordinary man. He's the eternal son of God. He came from heaven. He was born to the virgin Miriam. He lived a perfect life. He became that anointed the Messiah when he died and finished for us the work on the cross. So now when I'm going to live my life, Paul is saying, I don't live my own life.

I'm not trying to please myself. I'm not trying to work out for to gain salvation. I'm already saved. I'm already justified. I'm already no condemnation because the law has no power over me in condemning me because the law in holy I'm sinful. The Messiah paid for that but now I'm going to live my life by the faith of the son of God. And you notice this less expression and Paul always was moved who loved me. You know everyone of us can say today not only like John 3:16 for God so loved the world not only like Israel said or was told by God, I have loved you Israel with an everlasting love.

Not like the body of Christ, the body of Messiah who can say for the Christ loved the assembly, loved the church. The Messiah loved the church and gave himself for it. But everyone of us can say individually me me I Gideon you and your name, the son of God who loved me. And he gave himself for me. Oh yes for the world oh yes for Israel, oh yes for the body of Messiah, the assembly, but also for me. He loved me and he gave himself for me. I don't deserve to experience this love because of all what I am by nature and what have I done in my own life with all the sins that I have committed.

I can't even imagine why the son of God loved me so much. Paul is saying and you and I can say the same thing. What do you think he found in you and in me that he loved us so much to die for us. What is it? Is there anything good in us? Just think about it beloved brothers and sisters. Whenever you think that you and I are someone or somebody whenever you pride rise in your hearts and mind just look back and recognize how much the Lord loved you a sinner a rebellious person. And he was willing to give his life for you.

This is amazing grace. Sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. And so Paul conclude now with the fifth fact that he mentioned that he based the rebuke of Peter's action upon the doctrine of the truth of the gospel. And in verse 21 Paul said Peter's action is a denial of the grace that God had provided for men. And notice this less verse and I'm reading just this less verse. In verse 21 notice what he says. I do not frustrate the grace of God for if righteousness comes by the law then the Messiah is dead in vain.

See what Paul is saying when we separated thinking that they are not justified and I'm justified and they are not quite they haven't been circumcised, they haven't kept the law, they haven't been baptized, they haven't spoken in tongue, they haven't haven't men made rules they fulfill. And therefore I'm okay and they're okay. What we are really saying by this that we deny the grace of God. And in that sense what really we are saying that Yeshua the Messiah died for nothing. After all we are not quite there. We haven't quite achieved what we supposed to achieve in order to be saved and justified and reconciled.

We got to do something otherwise God will not accept that person. What we are really saying that Yeshua died for nothing. Because after all the grace of God is not sufficient. We need grace but we also need the law. We need grace but we also need circumcision. We need grace but we also need baptism or men made works. And Saul Paul says no. This is a denial of the truth of the grace of God. By grace I am saved through faith. That's the way we we we were saved. Not of works lest anyone will boast.

It is entirely the work of Yeshua the Messiah otherwise the Messiah died in vain. But praise God he didn't die in vain because many have turned their hearts to him and millions over the generation have turned to him and became part of the body of the Messiah. And praise God for that. He going to come soon to take us to be with him in glory. Can we say amen to that?

Guest (Male): You have been listening to the Holy Scriptures and Israel with Gideon Levytam. Gideon teaches God's word from a Hebrew Messianic perspective. For more information about this ministry, write to Holy Scriptures and Israel, Box 1411, Niagara on the Lake, Ontario L0S 1J0 or visit our website at holyscripturesandisrael.com. You are also invited to Gideon's weekly Bible teaching on Fridays at 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. and Saturdays at 1:00 p.m. at Willowdale Christian Assembly Hall, 28 Martin Ross Avenue in Toronto. Holy Scriptures and Israel is made possible by your prayers and financial support. If you would like to support the program, visit holyscripturesandisrael.com.

God bless you. Shalom Shalom.