THE CASE FOR "THE LAW" WHY AND FOR WHAT PURPOSE?
The reason that I use the word in this instance "law" is because most people are familiar with it. When as a matter of fact, the word "law" was translated from the Latin word "legis" meaning something legalistic. But the original word in the Hebrew Bible is "Torah" which means "teaching and instruction" (from Adonai). In the beginning, the "Torah" was considered to be the 5 books of Moses, but after that, more "seferim" were written down and added.
We, as messianic believers, see the Bible broken down into, the "Torah" (5 sefarim of Moses) "Neveyim" (the Prophets) "Ketuvim" (the writings, Hebrew poetry, etc) and the "Brit HaDasha" (new Covenant)
BUT....all 66 books can be considered "Torah" as ALL are G-d breathed, and inspired by the Ruach HaKodesh, and are fit for instruction, correction, reproof, in all manners to direct a person in all righteousness (2 Tim 3:16)
Many ask "why did HaShem give the 613 mitzvoth (commandments) when knowing perfectly well that fallen man could not or even fulfill them?"
1. G-d gave HIS mitzvoth to show HIS perfection and righteousness to man
2. G-d gave HIS mitzvoth to show man his lost state of imperfection, and that try as he might,
he would never be able to fulfill them completely. So if we fail in only one, we are guilty of
breaking them all.
3. Yeshua came to fulfill the mitzvoth which we could not nor ever fulfill. He did this in our place,
lived a perfect life and died a sinner's death.
4. G-d developed a sacrificial system involving clean animals to illustrate what Messiah Yeshua
would do in the future. In sacrificing these animals, the offerers showed their faith based on
their obedience in bringing the animals to be sacrificed.
But scripture says that the blood of the bulls and other animals never had the power to erase of forgive sin, only COVER (from where we get "kippur") only "HaDam Yeshua" has the "cleansing and forgiving power" that the blood of animals never had.
No wonder Rav Shaul said we have a "better covenant" one that does not involve animal sacrifices, only our trust and faith in the finished work of Yeshua HaMashiach
Rabbi J. Ben Avraham
Gal 3:16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, "And to offsprings," referring to many, but referring to one, "And to your offspring," who is Christ.
Gal 3:17 This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void.
Gal 3:18 For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.
Gal 3:19 Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary.
Gal 3:20 Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one.
Gal 3:21 Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law.
Gal 3:22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
Gal 3:23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed.
Gal 3:24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.
Gal 3:25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian,
Gal 3:26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.
Gal 3:27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.
Heb 2:14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,
Heb 2:15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.
Heb 8:13 In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.
The Law/Mitzvoh put an unruly people under a system much like children being placed in kindergarten. That system is obsolete.
There is no difference in a Jew or a Gentile (a derogatory term in the minds of most Jews) in Christ. God has one people only. There is one new man created in Christ Jesus.
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Eph 2:11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called "the uncircumcision" by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands—
Eph 2:12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Eph 2:14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility
Eph 2:15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace,
Eph 2:16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.
Eph 2:17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.
Eph 2:18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
Eph 2:19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
Eph 2:20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,
Eph 2:21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
Eph 2:22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
Before the foundation of the world God envisioned the Church. God created mankind so that He might have a relationship with them. Adam's fall disrupted God's plan. Israel took part in God's redemption process. Israel was a vehicle, not the destination.
Genesis 1:26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."
The Divine Son is the image of the invisible God. (Col. 1:15). Mankind was created in a way that reflects the imaging relation among the persons of the Trinity. The redemption of mankind from the fall and sin includes re-creation (2 Cor. 5:17), being "created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness," in the image of Christ (Eph. 4:24). (ESV and Old Testament References to Salvation.)
Col 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
2Cor. 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Eph. 4:24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.