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. And in thy seed, and here is where you get the the singular word in Hebrew singular not seed plural but singular. In thy seed Genesis 22:18 in thy seed in the Messiah in the Messiah in your descendant namely single one shall all the nations of the earth be blessed because thou has obeyed my voice. So when Shaul Paul quote in Galatians chapter 3 and verse 16 the promise that God have made to Abraham he's really quoting Genesis chapter 22 and verse 18 and he said in verse 16 as to thy seed which is the Messiah which is Christ.

In other words what Paul is saying to the Galatians hey listen Galatians somebody may have come from Yerushalayim to tell you that you were really not saved because you haven't been circumcised and kept the law of Moses. But the promises of salvation and redemption was never through circumcision was never through law keeping but the promise of salvation was through one single individual who will be the seed of the woman Genesis 3:15 and who will be the seed of Abraham Genesis 22 and verse 18 and seed of the woman and the seed of Abraham. But of course beloved brothers and sisters Yeshua is not only called the seed of the woman Genesis 3:15 he's not only called the seed of Abraham Galatians chapter 3 and verse 16 which is coming from Genesis chapter 22 and verse 18 but Yeshua the Messiah is also called the seed of David.

You notice in Romans Roman chapter 1 it tells us in verse 3 I'll read from verse 1 Paul a servant of Jesus the Messiah called to be an apostle separated unto the gospel of God which he had promised afore by the prophets or by his prophets in the holy scriptures concerning listen to this concerning his son Yeshua Ha Mashiach our Lord which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh. Now brothers and sisters this is fascinating to see how Shaul go back to the scripture and reminding us again and again that Yeshua was the seed of the woman Genesis 3:15 he was Abraham the seed of Abraham Genesis 22 and verse 18 and he was also the seed of David from 2 Samuel chapter 7 and mentioned here in Romans chapter 1.

That's the one that the apostle Paul wanted the Galatians to be attracted to. That's the one that they are to be occupied with and so now as we going back to Galatians chapter 3 we find out in verse 17 as Paul explaining to the Galatians he continued to explain to them and in verse 17 he said to them that the law came later it cannot disannul God's promises to Abraham. Notice that and I'm reading now verse 17 and this I say that the covenant meaning the Abrahamic covenant that was confirmed before of God in the Messiah he says the law which was 430 years later cannot disannul that it should make the promise of none effect.

See what he's saying. You see the law came much later that promises of God to our father Abraham. The law was 430 years later who came to the people of Israel who were already redeemed by the blood of the lamb out of Egypt. And it was not given to Israel in order to save our own Jewish people and you will see it in a moment it was given to show how sinful sin is. But it was given to give them guidance to help them in a long along their life to live contrary to the nations of the world to the pagan world who are worshipping idols.

The Jewish people the people of Israel the Hebrews were called to live for God and the law the Torah that was given to our own people was not given to save them. In fact it only condemned them them because they never commit committed completely the law. They always failed to obey the law of God. So every time the law condemned them and that's why the law was never given. So what he's saying here that the 430 years later the law came. But God's promises to Abraham was already given to him unconditionally in Genesis chapter 12 chapter 13 chapter 15 chapter 17 chapter 18 chapter 22 again and again and again God promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Abraham, Yitzhak and Yaakov the promises of God were sure and no failure to keep the law could ever change the promises of God.

So I'm reading verse 17 once again and this I say that the covenant that was confirmed before already of God in Messiah in the promise of the seed of Abraham that will come. The law the Torah which was 430 years after cannot disannul that it should make the promise of none effect. Now can you imagine brothers and sisters if God tell you one thing and he make a promise Abraham because you believe I reckon you just forgiven. Abraham didn't do anything except believe God. Abraham must have had failure in his life. You remember he took Hagar instead of waiting on God he went down to Egypt instead of staying in Canaan like you and I.

God tells us many commandments in scripture and we violate them every time. And therefore do you think that the promises of God to Abraham that Abraham will be recognized justified will be now changed because 430 years later the law was given to Israel at Mount Sinai at Har Sinai not at all. Paul Shaul is saying to the goyim to the Gentile believers in Galatia who was now saying wait a minute am I saved? Am I really forgiven because after all these people who came down from Yerushalayim said that no no no you are not circumcised you are not saved and I would like to remind you of this verse.

This is the verse that we are starting really the whole book of Galatians from Acts chapter 15 and verse 1 and certain men which came down from Judea taught the brethren and said except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moshe you cannot be saved. He continued in the same chapter 15 of Acts in verse 5 but there arose a certain sect of the Pharisees which believed saying that it was needful to circumcise them and to command them to keep the law of Moses. And then the apostles and the elders had to come to a discussion.

And you remember we read a later on that even James himself said to them that he never sent these Jewish individuals who went down to Galatia. He never sent them. They never sent them. They've gone on their own. The apostles never sent them down to them. Notice what it says in verse 13 of Acts chapter 15. And after they had held their peace Yaakov James answered saying men and brethren hearken unto me Simon has declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles to take out of them a people for his name. And to these the words of the prophet as it is written this is the agreed the word of the prophet.

Then he continue on and you will notice that he was mentioning to them that they were really not sent by him at all. I read a little bit further. It says in verse 23 and then 24 as I read verse 24 for as much as we have heard that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words subverting your souls saying ye must be circumcised and keep the law to whom notice what James Yaakov said to whom we gave no such commandment. We didn't demand this from them to go and tell this to the Galatians and to the nations who people who became believers of the Gentile world.

You cannot tell someone that he must be saved on a basis of being circumcised or keeping any laws because none of us will ever be saved. This morning and and in the week that I am occupied with this I'm saying oh Lord I have no hope if I need to be saved on a basis of keeping your laws because I've violated every one of them. Just go to the list of the Ten Commandments and read them for yourself and check which one of them you fully have abide by them and you find out that Lord I fail every one of these commandments.

No wonder Paul says in Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. If God will not show our grace where would it be beloved brothers and sisters where? That's why religion is so dangerous if we don't understand that salvation is based upon faith in the Messiah. So he continue and I'm back to Galatians chapter 3 and in verse 18. Now notice what he says to them. He's still under the subject that the law that God gave to Israel do not set aside the promises that God made to Abraham and he said if receiving of salvation will be through the law then Messiah in other words the promises of God through the Messiah is really no have no value.

Notice what he says in verse 18 for if the inheritance be of the law it is no more promise. But God gave it to Abraham by promise. You notice that the word for inheritance here has a reference to receiving of the promises. When somebody made a promise you receive the promises this become an inheritance to us. So if Shaul Paul is saying in verse 18 if they receiving of the promise of salvation will be of the law it is no more a promise. It is law keeping in order to be justified. And then it's no longer a promise.

Then he says but God gave it to Abraham by promise. And this is wonderful. You know you have shalom you have peace in your heart when you know that yes you should submit to the authority of the Lord and seek to live for him in obedience but when we fail and we fail the promise of forgiveness on the basis of the death burial and resurrection of Yeshua the Messiah is there never to be taken away from the believer in the Lord Jesus the Lord Yeshua and the Messiah. So verses 15 to 18 the law that God gave to his people Israel do not set aside the promises that God made to our father Abraham that through the Messiah whosoever believeth on him shall be saved.

No circumcision no law keeping no baptism no speaking in tongue no any other man-made rule can ever saved the one that is sick to be saved on these bases. So now we are moving along Galatians chapter 3 now verses 19 and 20 Shaul Paul gives a second points that he mentioned here concerning the fact that the relationship between the law and the promises of God to Abraham. So verses 19 and 20 he says that the law that God gave Israel is not greater than God's promises to Abraham. The law is not greater than the promise that God made to Abraham.

Look he's emphasizing this in verses 19 and 20 and let me read these verses to you. So notice somebody come immediately with an answer or with a question I should say in verse 19 and he ask for what purpose then serve the law? Well if you say that the law that was given 430 years after God already made a promise to Abraham it does not set aside the promises. So why did God gave the law? Well why did God gave the law? And here it is so important for us to understand. Again I'm reminding you that the law is holy the law is spiritual.

The problem is not with the law. The law the Torah Elohim is impeccable. And no one ever taught and ever dared to teach that there is a problem with the law. The problem is right here with a sinful heart that men has. And so now in verses 19 and 20 he shows us that the promises that God made to Abraham is in not less important than the law itself. Notice in verse 19 so somebody might ask perhaps a Jewish person might ask well well why God gave us the law? Because brothers and sisters if you go to be with our families some of conservative family like my grandparents for example who would seek to obey the law to the letter as much as they understood.

In additional to that rabbinical teaching then influence it's unbelievable. My saba my grandfather will ask the question well Gideon why then the law was given to our forefathers? What's the reason? And so you notice what Paul Shaul is saying who was in his lifetime under the law who knew the law from aleph to tav from A to Z. And notice what he says. He says the law he said he says in verse 19 he tells us four points about the law. Number one it was added. It was added. It was not there before. Use the word added.

Number two the law was added. Why? Because of transgressions. The Hebrew word transgression is If you read in the epistle of John in the epistle of John 1 John 3 verse 4 says sin is the transgression of the law. Every time you have a sign that says don't walk on the grass and you walk on the grass because you see that sign it says don't walk on the grass and you pass it and you walk on the grass you violate that you transgress the law. Now if the sign was not there and you stepped on the grass you didn't transgress any law.

Same thing on highway when we drove today. When the sign says 50 km 60 60 km 80 km 100 km and you and I did 61 we have transgressed the law. That's what the law is. So it was added for purpose. And the purpose was it says because here is the reason because of transgression. It was given to Israel to light or you said to reveal transgressions. To show transgression to show that men by nature is a sinner and failing God and need to be punished because God is holy. But thank God he did not judge all of us who violated his commandment.

He forgave Israel on a basis of this blood of the animal the sacrifice which typified the Messiah. So in verse 19 it is amazing. Number one it was added. It was not given before. Though God's law as a holy God was known in this universe of his but it was not clearly written on a tablet of stone and giving to a people our people Israel before until it the Israel came out of Egypt 430 years after they worse from the time of Jacob go going down to the time they came out of the land of Egypt.

It was not given written in such a fashion. He continue now and you notice what he says in verse 19 he continue and he said it was temporarily. That's why he used the word it was until the seed that should come. In other word you see brothers and sisters the purpose of the law was to lead us to lead Israel because the law was never given to the Gentile world. It was given to Israel as a nation on Mount Sinai. It was to lead the Jewish people to know that the Messiah is coming. The Messiah is coming.

I violated the law I'm deserve to be accursed. The sacrifice was killed. The Messiah is coming. The Messiah is coming. The Messiah is coming. So Paul is very clearly said until the seed and you remember we already talked about the seed in verse 17 he's the Messiah. The seed of Abraham in this case the seed should come to whom the promise was made. God made a promise to Abraham and he made a promise to he the Messiah who would come that he one day will be the one who will provide redemption for mankind. So the law was given to Israel temporarily until the Messiah came.

That's why today brothers and sisters look look at believers today in the whole world since Acts chapter 2 till today about 2,000 years passed by. Think about it for a moment. There are believers everywhere in Jerusalem in Samaria Judea Samaria in the outskirts of the whole world including right here. If your salvation depended upon your keeping the law and being circumcised did you keep the law? Well you are not saved. Did you keep the law? I mean this is the question that you all have to ask ourselves in every form of shape because otherwise you are cursed.

Cursed is everyone as we just read it in the previous verses that the law said cursed is every man that did not do not continue on in all the words that the law was given to our forefathers the people of Israel. Now can you imagine? Paul doesn't say here the law is bad. He doesn't say that the law is unholy the opposite. Says the problem is not with the law. God gave the law he gave the law he added the law and the reason is to show transgression to show that we violate the holiness of God because of our sin nature.

And it was given temporarily until the Messiah has come. Yesterday we read Isaiah chapter 66. And in Isaiah chapter 66 you see that the temple in the tribulation period will be rebuilt again. And then our own people the Jewish people will want to have a temple once again. And so they will build the temple with the help of the Antichrist the counterfeit Messiah and they will go through the circu you might say the the ceremonies of offering sacrifices. But they didn't accept the Messiah. So you know what God said to them in Isaiah 66? He said to them in verse 3 of Isaiah 66 he that killing ox is as if he slew a man.

He that sacrifice a lamb is as if he cut off a dog's neck. He that offers an oblation is as if he offered pig's blood. And he that burn us an incense is as if he blessed an idol. I'm not going to accept your sacrifices because you rejected Yeshua Ha Mashiach even though you go through the system. That's why religion without the Messiah is dead. Without the forgiveness of God and the Holy Spirit of God working in the hearts of individuals we are liable to be religious but empty unsaved unforgiven. And so notice he said I said he said four things about the law.

It was given to Israel and then so he said number one in verse 19 of Galatians chapter 3 the law was added number one. Secondly it was given because of transgression because of sins and violation of God's law. Thirdly it was until until the seed the seed should come to whom the promise was made namely the Messiah who have already Yeshua came some 2,000 years ago. And then fourthly you notice that the law was actually ordained by angels and by in the hand of a mediator. It was not given directly to Israel. But it was given through a mediator and you notice what we learn here that it was ordained by angels which gave it to Moshe who gave it to Israel.

In other words it was not direct God Abraham as it was in the time when God made a covenant with Abraham. It was a God angels Moshe Israel rather than God Abraham. You see the promise that God made to Abraham that the seed will come the Messiah will come and salvation will be on the basis of his work was direct. But here we find out and by the way when you read Exodus 19 20 21 22 23 24 when the law the Torah was given from Mount Sinai you don't hear of angels. But here we do.

We find out Shaul Paul by the revelation from the Lord shows us that the law was ordained not directly from God to Israel. But God angels Moshe Israel. By the way these fact that it was ordained by angels it's mentioned also in Stephen said this.

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.