The Nine-Fold Purpose of Torah

The word “law” is misunderstood by many Christians. The Law is not something to be feared -
rather it is instruction. Some misunderstood the penalty of breaking the Law to mean “getting
zapped.” The Torah Hebrew word for Law is instruction that, if followed, will enrich your life and if
ignored will diminish it. The Law of G-d has always been holy, just, good, and spiritual (Romans
7:12-14).

1)

The
Law
is to
tea
ch
the
Beli
eve
r
how
to
ser
ve
and
wor
ship
G-d
(Ps
alm
19:
7-9,
Act
s
13:
13-
15).

2) The Law is to instruct us how to treat our fellow man (Lev. 19:18, Galatians 5:14, Galatians 6:2).

3) The Law is to teach us to be happy on earth by having G-d as our authority (Joshua 1:8, Psalm 1:1-3, Luke 12:31-32).

4) The Law is not given to save but to measure man's deeds toward G-d and his fellow man, straightening out any matters
that are contrary to sound doctrine (1 Timothy 1:8-11, 1 Corinthians 6:1-12, 1 Corinthians 3:13, Romans 2:12-16,
Revelation 20:12-13).

5) The Law is a schoolmaster showing us we are guilty and leading us to Messiah our Savior. Galatians 3:21-24, (Once
we've learned under the school master, we should continue in that which we've learned...in Messiah - not according to
the traditions of man. We're not under a schoolmaster because what we've learned - we should be able to do...in
Messiah.) He said “Greater things shall you do...” (Romans 3:9-23).
Here's a piece from The Complete Jewish Bible, translated by David H. Stern:

Moreover, we know that whatever the Torah says, it says to those living within the framework of the
Torah; in order that every mouth may be stopped and the whole world be shown to deserve G-d's
adverse judgment. For in his sight no one alive will be considered righteous on the ground of
 legalistic observance of Torah commands, because what Torah really does is show people how sinful
they are. But now, quite apart from Torah, G-d's way of making people righteous in his sight has been
made clear - although the Torah and the Prophets give their witness to it as well - and it is a
righteousness that comes from G-d, through the faithfulness of Yeshua the Messiah, to all who continue
trusting. For it makes no difference whether one is a Jew or a Gentile, since all have sinned and come
short of earning G-d's praise.
Romans 3:19-23 (CJB)

6) The Law gives us both the knowledge and depth of our sin (Romans 3:20, Romans 4:15, Romans 7:7-12, Luke 20:46-
47).

7) The Law reveals the good, holy, just and perfect nature of God and serves as a viable standard of His will (Romans
2:17-29, Romans 7:12, 2 Peter1:2-8).

8) The law is to be established or accomplished by our faith, therefore called the law of faith (Romans 3:20-22).

9) The same Law today is written on our hearts and through G-d's Spirit we can delight and serve the law of G-d (Romans
7:6-25).

What is the Law?

As we come to see the Law of God as a series of teachings and instructions to believers, showing them how to live in ethical
and moral harmony with their fellow man and before God, we can better understand its lofty place in the early church.
Although some aspects of the Law applied to sacrifices the Jews made during the Temple period, the spirit of the Law has
changed only in it's manifestation and now comes through Yeshua for all the world to fulfill by faith. One aspect of the law
applies to all believers is found in Leviticus 19:18, where we are told to love our neighbors as ourselves. Jesus went beyond
the letter of the Law in His instructions for all believers, however - how many believers study the Law that Jesus lived by to
even have a deep understanding of the character of God and His requirements for right living? The true definition of the
word "law" (the teachings and instructions of God) is a wholesome one and should cause all of us to desire a deep
understand of Torah. Jesus said it best in John 8:31-32: Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, "If ye
continue in my word, (the Word that Jesus himself lived by) then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth,
and the truth shall make you free."

What the New Testament says concerning the Torah (Teachings and Instructions of God)

It must first be noted that the only "Law" that they had...the only scripture that they had during the time of the writing of the
New Testament (Brit Hadasha) was the Tanak - The Torah (Gen.-Deut.), The Prophets, and the Writings (Psalm, Prov, etc.)
Jesus said in Matthew 5:17-20 "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but
to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be
fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the
least in the kingdom of heaven: (not that he doesn't make it to the kingdom of heaven - he's just least in it - my comment
added) but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you,
That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into
the kingdom of heaven." KJV (The scribes and Pharisees were the traditional... LETTER people...we can live the truths by
the Spirit in Christ.)

1) The hearers of the Law are not justified before the Lord, but the doers of the Law will be justified. Romans 2:13., James
1:19-27, 1 John 3:4-8.
2) The promises of God come out of the law, which Paul told the Ephesians they must obey that things would go well with
them and they might live long on the earth. Ephesians 6:2-3, Exodus 20:12, Deuteronomy 5:16.

3) The writer of the Book of Hebrews confirms that the New Covenant is the same covenant of God's Law that he promised
to renew by writing it on our hearts and minds. Hebrews 10: 16, Jeremiah 31:33-34.

4) James reminds us that if we commit sin, we are transgressing the Law. James 2.

5) By keeping the Lord's commandments, we know that we know Him. 1 John 2:3-7, 28-29.

6) By keeping God's commandments, we know that our love for God and our fellow believers is real. 1 John 5: 1-9.

7) The definition of biblical love is to walk after God's commandments. 2 John.

8) Those who keep the Lord's commandments will have the right to the Tree of Life. Revelation 22: 14-15, Revelation
14:12, Revelation 12:17 (keep the commandments of God (as Jesus did - for example: Jesus celebrated the feasts of
God found in Leviticus 23 - we have never been taught to keep them as a remembrance and a memorial to our God for
His deliverance and Mighty Hand: talking about them is not observing them.), and have the testimony of Jesus Christ
(salvation, sanctification and the indwelling Holy Spirit).

9) Referring to the Old Testament, the only Law available, James wrote, "Whosoever looks into the perfect Law of Liberty,
and continues there, being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the word, shall be blessed in his deed." James 1:25
These often overlooked teachings are an integral part of the fabric of New Testament thought. The apostles never
taught that the Law of God was superfluous. Neither did they suggest that grace was a license to sin. Quite the contrary.
In fact, Jude wrote this Spirit-inspired admonition to the church of all ages: "Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to
you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the
faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked
our for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and
our Lord Yeshua." Jude 3-4, NKJV