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 3. He never gave him much information that you and I have today. God saying to us today, you see Yeshua the Messiah, my son. He died for your sin and sins. If you will only believe in him, you're going to be forgiven and you're going to have eternal life if you only accept him as your Messiah, Lord and Savior. And if you believe in him, you and I are reckoned to be righteous as before the Lord. It is so interesting, brothers and sisters, he Abraham believed God. He simply believed God and God reckoned to him this is righteousness.

Now go with me for a moment to Romans chapter 4, just another verse to connect with it. This is very interesting because in Romans chapter 4 Paul took that same event speaking about Abraham to teach the Romans believers how Abraham was reckoned righteous by the Lord. Look at the Romans chapter 4. Romans chapter 4 verse 1. What shall we say then that Abraham our father as pertaining to the flesh has found? For if Abraham was justified by the works he has whereof to glory but not before God. For what says the scripture? Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Now listen to this, brothers and sisters, verses 4 and 5. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckon of grace but of debt. If you earn your salvation, you work for them, you become a debtor. It's not It's not coming to you because of the grace of God. It's because because you have earned it. You have done something to earn it. But then notice verse 5, Romans 4 verse 5. But to him that worketh not but believeth on him that justify the ungodly his faith is counted for righteousness. You know God justified us who are ungodly by nature.

But when we believed in Yeshua the Messiah he declared us to be He counted for us for righteousness. Why? Because Yeshua paid for that. Because he died in our stead. Because he was the supreme sacrifice that came to to put away the sin of this world. God was satisfied with his life, not with yours and mine but with his life. So if we believe on him, he declare us righteous. Abraham simply believed. He simply believed and brothers and sisters, you and I are saved because we simply acknowledge by faith that Yeshua is the Messiah that we have seen and we could not rise to God's righteous requirement.

And God declare us just because we believed in Yeshua the Messiah. So the first verse that he is quoting from the Torah was Genesis chapter 15 and verse 6 which we just read. Now back to Galatians a chapter 3 and now notice in the next verses verses 8 to 9 here's the second quotation from the Torah is found in verses 8 and 9. The word of God always taught that the Gentiles will be saved by faith and faith alone. Just the same like our own people, our own Jewish people, we were never None of our people of Israel ever were saved on the basis of the law.

The law only show them how short they come from the demands of the law, but they always have the sacrifice. And by faith in God and believing what he said and giving the sacrificial animal to die and to shed his blood, then they were forgiven because without the shedding of the blood there's no remission of sins. So notice that he's quoting now in verses 8 and 9 Genesis chapter 12 and verse 3 to show us that the word of God always taught that the nations, the Gentile nation, will be saved by faith in God, in God's word, in God's teachings.

So look what we read and I'm reading now Galatians chapter 3 verses 8 and 9. And the scripture foretelling Notice he's again going back to the Bible to the Hebrew scriptures. The scripture foretelling that God would justify the heathen through faith preach before the gospel unto Abraham saying in thee Listen, here's the quotation from Genesis 12 and verses 1, 2 and 3 especially the passage that says in thee shall all the nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. Again allow me to read Genesis chapter 12 when God called Abraham to come out from where he was he said and he gave a promise to Abraham.

He says in that verse 3 I will bless them that bless thee. Genesis 12 3 And curse him that curses thee and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed. In other words, God is saying to Abraham, Abraham, look in you all the families of the earth that will believe in the one that is going to come, all the families of the earth will be blessed. Those of course that will believe. And you you and I today are believers in the seed of Abraham in thee and in thy seed. That seed is really the Messiah who came out from among our Jewish people, the people of Israel, descendants of Abraham until he was born to the virgin Miriam lived a perfect life, died a substitutionary death, was raised for our justification and now he is in glory waiting the day in which he is going to come to take us to be with him in heaven.

This is the Messiah. So God already told Abraham Avinu, Abraham our father. Oh listen, Abraham, in you and in your seed, the one that will come, descendant of the people of Israel, ultimately the Messiah shall all the nations of the earth be blessed. They would only need to believe to trust in my word. So you notice, beloved brothers and sisters, he goes back to the Bible, he would go back to the Hebrew scripture, to the time when God have spoken to our own people. This is Torah Moshe. Moses wrote this book Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy.

He recorded the life of Abraham. So Genesis 15 6 the first quotation Genesis 12 verse 3 the second quotation. Go back to Galatians a chapter 3 now verses 10, 11 and 12 and listen to this. God's law is so holy that any who violated the law of God is under a curse. I didn't write it. The law says it. Notice and I'm reading verse 10 11 and 12. For as many as are of the works of the law verse 10 they are under the curse. Why? You may ask. Then he giving us the quotation from scripture.

For it is written He's going back to the scripture. Cursed is everyone that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. Notice in all things not some things not 80% not 90% not 99% all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. Now you know if you ask the rabbis of Israel, they collected together 613 laws which God given to us in the Torah itself. Just read them. Go to Go to the computer and read every one of these laws and check yourself there.

Just check yourself. Put yourself Put yourself Okay, God says don't do this or do this or don't do that. Do Check if you have done that. If you have done all the 613, fine, you are pretty good shape. But if you haven't if you haven't Look what the scripture says. Cursed is everyone that continueth not in all the things which are written in the book of the law in the to do them. Now brothers and sisters, listen. I remember years ago there was a missionary he went to Israel and he went to the city of Yerushalayim and he happened to go in the Jewish quarters in the city of Yerushalayim.

And he went up in this up the steps and there was a certain rabbi who were teaching the Bible in the Jewish quarters in the city of Jerusalem. And this person who went there took with him another Jewish friend who was a believer in Yeshua the Messiah. And the rabbi found out that he's a believer in Yeshua. And he asked him I don't mention his name Did you keep the 613? And this believer knew very well that he didn't. And he asked him back, Rabbi did you keep the 613? And the rabbi had nothing to say not a word.

Why? Because he didn't. None of us did, beloved brothers and sisters. The Bible says in the book of Deuteronomy chapter 27 and I want to read it in verse 26 Deuteronomy chapter 27 Moses was told by the Lord to say to Israel, listen cursed be the man that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And listen what the people of Israel said. And all the people of Israel said amen. You know what they should have said? God we can do that. We would know that we have failed God. Even when Moshe went to bring the law from Mount Sinai they already broke below the first commandment.

Thou shalt not have any other God before me. And you know, brothers and sisters, if you would have been there you would have done the very same thing. We don't look at them and blame Israel because Israel failure, but Israel was an example to the world. A chosen nation that had been brought by the Lord into a relationship with him given the law. Will they submit to the law of God? Will they live a life in such a way that God going to say justify, justify, justify, justify? No. None could. That's why the sacrificial system was provided.

When they lied the lamb had to die. When they coveted the ram had to die. When they were angry the goat had to die. Blood had to be shed. For us today when we lied and cheated and done all the sins in this world Yeshua paid for the price of our guilt. You look what James said in James. James mentioned this in James chapter 2 in the New Testament. The Jacob was the writer of the New Testament. Notice what he's quoting exactly what Deuteronomy chapter 27 was written by the law James says in James chapter 2 and verse 10 or for whosoever shall keep the whole law and yet offend in one point he is guilty of all.

He emphasized in James 2 and verse 10 the fact that even if you violated one single law you are guilty of them all. So he quoted Genesis 15 6 from the Hebrew scripture the Torah. He quoted Genesis chapter 12 and verse 3. He quoted Deuteronomy 27 and verse 26. Now he continues, beloved brothers and sisters, just bear with me. He continues and I 'm reading Galatians chapter 3 and we continue there in verse 11 now. He notice what he continue and he says in verse 11 he continues to quote the Hebrew scripture to the Galatians believers who were so foolish that they have been bewitched by someone who told them that they are not quite saved because they don't keep the law Moses.

He says in verse 11 but that no many justified by the law in the sight of God it is evidence for Listen to this. He quoting Habakkuk chapter 2 and verse 4 for the just shall live by faith. You know Habakkuk the Hebrew word Habakkuk come from the word embracer. We have a booklet called the embracer of Israel. He loved Israel so much. He embraced the people of Israel to embrace them that he was puzzled when God said that he going to bring the judgment upon the nation of Israel and God he says, how can you allow the unbelieving Gentile nation to come and destroy your own people?

And God said to Habakkuk, Habakkuk the just meaning the believer shall trust me and live by faith. Habakkuk was under the law. He wasn't doing He was living and ministering as a prophet of Israel during the days that Torah Adonai was still given to Israel long before the Messiah came. But Habakkuk was told by the Lord Habakkuk the just shall live by faith. You and I today who became justified by faith in Yeshua the Messiah, we should also like Habakkuk was told should live our life by faith in the Messiah not only faith for salvation, but faithfulness and living our life trusting him.

The just shall live by his faithfulness and trust in the Lord. This is a quotation number 4 from the Hebrew scripture. Notice we continue here now and in verse 12 we read in Galatians 3 and verse 12 says and the law listen the law is not of faith but the man that doeth them shall live in them. He says really the law is a code a high code that God had given to his people Israel. But he never expected from Israel to live to this high code and order to be saved That's for sure not.

Because they all broke it. He gave them as a mirror We going to talk about it later on to show them the holiness of God and the sinfulness of men and that they needed the Lord's help to submit to a life that will be honoring to him the just shall live by trusting, believing God and ongoing faith in God not works not trying to have law keeping. You know oh oh I got to be circumcised, otherwise I'm not saved. No. But the just shall live But then the law is not of faith. You see clearly he said.

The law is not of faith. The law is a holy document you might say that God had presented before the people of Israel to show them the high standard of life that they are called to live if they are are going to please the Lord. But when they fail introduced within the law the sacrificial system where the blood will be shed and forgiveness will be received. Trust in me. Believe on me. The Lord was saying to his people and the people of Israel. He never said to them that they got to keep the law in order to be saved.

No, but they have to trust him and to live in the light of his submissiveness to him in order to live a life that is honoring to him. But also faith is that which gave them justification. Now quickly let's conclude here. And I didn't mention but he after quoting a Habakkuk 2 verse 4 he also quoted Leviticus 18 and verse 5 and I just want to mention that because notice what it says in the verses here. He says and I'm just going to read that again for as many as are of the works of the law they are under the curse for it is written a cursed is everyone that continuous not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

Then we read in verse 11 but that no men is justified by the law It says here in the sight of God is evidence for the just shall live by faith. And then he continue The law is not of faith, but listen. Here is the quotation of verse Leviticus 18 5. The men that doeth them shall live in them. You see this expression at the end of verse 12 The men that doeth them shall live in them. If you think that you can keep the law, let's see it. Leave it out in your life. Let's us see if you can live it.

And I want to read this verse in Leviticus 18 Leviticus 18 and verse 5. Look at this and I'm just reading it. Verse 5 Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgment which if a man do he shall live in them. I am the Lord. In other words, if you will not do it you will not live. Cursed is a man that fulfill not all the law that God had given, then you will be cursed. And therefore faith in God and trusting in his provision was necessary. That's why the sacrificial system was provided for our people Israel.

Now let me sum it all up now in verses 13 and verses 14. This is the final quotation from the Torah that that Paul is mentioning. He says God's salvation comes through Yeshua the Messiah himself and him alone, not through other ways. Notice verses 13 and 14. Galatians 3 verses 13 and 14. Christ This is the Greek word for Christos. In Hebrew it's Mashiach, Messiah. Messiah has redeemed us from the curse of the law being made curse for us. For it is written cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree. That the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentile through Yeshua HaMashiach Jesus the Messiah that we might receive the promise of the spirit through faith.

Now these final words here is this. Messiah has redeemed us from the curse of the law. How being made curse for us? Because it is written and again he's going back to the scripture to Deuteronomy chapter 21 verses 22 and 23 where it says cursed is everyone that is hanging on a tree. Now brothers and sisters, let me tell you our Jewish people never crucified. The death penalty never came in a way that the Romans did crucifying. When a Jewish man, when an Israeli man, when a Hebrew man violated the law of God, he was stoned.

But after he was stoned, he was displayed on a tree. That everybody will see the consequence of sin and violation of the word of God. That's why scripture tells us and quoting Deuteronomy chapter 21 cursed is everyone that hangeth on the tree. When you pass by and you see someone is hanging on the tree after he was stoned or she was stoned that mean that that person violated the law of God, deserved to die and they were hanging on the tree. Now in a very interesting, in a very similar way the apostle Paul give us to understand what happened when Yeshua paid for our sins.

You see the person who was hanging on the tree was a person who violated the law of God and deserved to die like you and I are deserved because we violated the law. But when it's come to Yeshua he didn't deserve to die. He was not placed on a tree because of his own sin. He was placed on a tree because of my sins and yours. So he was displayed if you will, but the different was this. The man that was displayed because he sinned and he was stoned and placed on a tree was guilty.

But Yeshua the Messiah was the holy one of Israel who never sinned who willingly said, I love my father. I love my wife. I love my children. I will not go out free. And he went to the cross, to the shameful cross. And there we find out Notice that he has redeemed us from the curse of the law. He became curse for us. You know one day when we going to be in heaven and even a display, you might say before us at the judgment seat of the Messiah all the guilt and the sins that we have committed and all these you going to burn.

You going to send it away from our from the presence of the Lord. We going to realize what the price that he paid for our sins. We will realize that the very fact that we are in the presence of God is not because we kept the law. We have broken every law that God had given. But Yeshua became a curse for us. Cursed is everyone that is hanging on a tree. Christ the Messiah has redeemed us from the curse of the law. And why? And he conclude here in verse 14 That the blessings of Abraham might come on the Gentile through Jesus the Messiah.

That we might receive the promise of the spirit through faith and faith alone. By grace are ye saved through faith. This is not of yourself. It is a gift of God not of works, lest any men should boast. Yeshua paid it. So you and I will never need to pay the price for the guilt of the sins that we have committed. May May the Lord help us to see that and understand it and not be foolish not allow yourself to be beguiled. Who had bewitched you? he said. Let's be careful and not allow ourselves to be bewitched.

May the Lord bless his word. 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 Holy Scriptures and Israel.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 Holy Scriptures and Israel.com.

God bless you. Shalom. Shalom.