03/17/2006 Sabbath Meeting Transcript

Brothers, sisters, people of Yahweh and to all who will hear around the world...

It is time to walk in the Ruach!

Ruach is the Hebrew word for "Spirit" and that is what we will be examining tonight.

The words of the prophets, the words of Yahushua, the words of all scripture will confirm that what it means to walk in the Ruach/Spirit is often misunderstood in today's mainstream churches.

Many believe that walking in the Ruach/Spirit is something completely different walking in obedience to the law of Yahweh.

I've often heard things like:

"I don't have to keep the law, I walk in the Spirit."

"We walk in the Spirit now, not LAW".

"Yea, there used to be a need to walk in the law, but we have the law in our hearts now and now we walk in the Spirit, not in the flesh"

"You walk in the law and legalism of the Old Testament, but now we (the new testament church) walk in the spirit"

Each of those statements are the result of a misunderstanding of scripture.

And what a grave misunderstanding it is!

What does it really mean to be walking in the Spirit?

Let's begin by looking at a few scriptures that deal with this:

Romans 8:1 - There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in the Messiah Yahushua, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Taking an objective point of view, we see that whatever it means to walk according to the Spirit, it sure sounds wonderful! For there is no condemnation to them as long as they are in the Messiah Yahushua.

A persons salvation literally depends on it

A promise is given that we will not be condemned if we walk after the Spirit and are "in the Messiah Yahushua"

Now we know it certainly does not mean to walk in our own spirit:

Ezekiel 13:2 - Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of YAHWEH;

Ezekiel 13:3 - Thus saith the Master YAHWEH; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!

I am convinced that there may be a multitude of people who follow their own spirit but they think or claim it is Yahweh's Spirit. We should beware of this trap!

Here is a promise to those who do walk in the Spirit:

Galatians 5:16 - I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

A beautiful promise! We need only to walk in the Spirit and we will not obey or fulfill the temptations and desires that our flesh causes us to endure.

So one thing is certain, walking in the Spirit can't have anything to do with fulfilling the lusts of the flesh

Could there be some who claim to know Yahushua but are really walking in the lusts of the flesh?

Kepha/Peter describes some:

2Peter 2:1 - But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Redeemer who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.

2Peter 2:2 - And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.

2Peter 2:3 - By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.

2Peter 2:4 - For if YAHWEH did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment;

2Peter 2:5 - and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the wicked;

2Peter 2:6 - and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live wickedly;

2Peter 2:7 - and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked

2Peter 2:8 - (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)--

2Peter 2:9 - then YAHWEH knows how to deliver the righteous out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,

(Yahweh can indeed deliver us, we need to walk in the Ruach/Spirit!)

2Peter 2:10 - and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries,

So here we are reading about those who walk according to the flesh.. not the Spirit. Look at the attributes

2Peter 2:11 - whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before YAHWEH.

2Peter 2:12 - But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption,

2Peter 2:13 - and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you,

2Peter 2:14 - having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and [are] accursed children.

2Peter 2:15 - They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

2Peter 2:16 - but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man's voice restrained the madness of the prophet.

2Peter 2:17 - These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.

2Peter 2:18 - For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error.

2Peter 2:19 - While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage.

(promising liberty?)

2Peter 2:20 - For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Master and Savior Yahushua the Messiah, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.

So it is demonstrated very clearly, "Liberty" does NOT mean we have a license to sin!

Liberty is freedom from the penalty of sin and to walk as Yahweh leads, not freedom from having to refrain from sin! It is given to those who repent and receive Yahushua the Messiah

Galatians 4:13 - You know that because of physical infirmity I preached the glad tidings to you at the first.

Galatians 5:13 - For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

James 1:25 - But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

It is sin that corrupts and puts us into bondage. The world has many statues (idols) that they think brings liberty, but actually bring bondage. Yahweh's laws are statutes of liberty.. leading to a freedom from the bondage of sin!

2Peter 2:20 - For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Master and Savior Yahushua the Messiah, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.

2Peter 2 is a powerful condemnation against the doctrine of accepting Yahushua as the Messiah but turning away from the ways of righteousness and rejecting the "holy commandment" of Yahweh

2Peter 2:21 - For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.

2Peter 2:21 - For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.

2Peter 2:22 - But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: "A dog returns to his own vomit," and, "a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire."

Beware of any who would turn away from the holy commandments, and beware of any who would turn YOU away from the holy commandments

What other scriptures reveal what walking in the lusts of the flesh would be?

Romans 13:8 - Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

Romans 13:9 - For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Romans 13:10 - Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

If love is fulfilling of the law, then we understand why it is said that Yahushua fulfilled the law. He walked in perfect love for Yahweh and for us

Also, if love is fulfilling of the law, then should we not also fulfill the law as Yahushua did?

Certainly, and the time has come for all of us to walk as He walked

Romans 13:11 - And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

Romans 13:12 - The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

Yes, let's cast off the works of darkness and fulfill the law through our love for Yahweh and one another!

Every commandment in the law has the intent of love toward Yahweh and toward our neighbor

Romans 13:13 - Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

Romans 13:14 - But put ye on Yahushua the Messiah, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

We put on Yahushua when we fulfill the law as He did. He wants to fulfill the law in us

So here we see that a third witness confirms that walking in the lusts of the flesh is disobedience. So far, Torah keeping has nothing to do with walking in the flesh.

How about a fourth?

1Peter 4:1 - Therefore, since the Messiah suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,

1Peter 4:2 - that he no longer should live the rest of [his] time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of YAHWEH.

1Peter 4:3 - For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles--when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.

1Peter 4:4 - In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you.

1Peter 4:5 - They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

So it is very crystal clear that walking in the lusts of the flesh is the same as walking in disobedience to Yahweh ("no longer should live the rest of [his] time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of YAHWEH.")

So now that we have established that walking in the flesh is disobedience to Yahweh, could we not then conclude that walking in the Spirit would be... "Obedience"?

Yes

Yahweh prophesied through Ezekiel that in the end times He would put His Spirit in His people and a wonderful transformation would take place:

Ezekiel 36:25 - Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.

Ezekiel 36:26 - A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

And what will this Spirit cause us to do?

This "new Spirit?"

Ezekiel 36:27 - And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

Indeed we can see the evidence of someone walking in the Spirit would be that they: Walk in Yahweh's statutes, keep His judgments and do them!

It is His Spirit that guides us into walking in His will..walking according to the holy commandment given to us..walking in righteousness and keeping His law..

(more on this later)

Now let's look into some of Paul's writings:

Galatians 4:5 - to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

Galatians 4:6 - And because you are sons, YAHWEH has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!"

Galatians 4:7 - Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of YAHWEH through the Messiah.

Yahushua redeemed those who were "under the law" that we might receive adoption as sons

Now it is quite true that we are not "under the law"

But it is also true that we aren't "above the law" just because we are sons

In fact, Yahushua was the Ultimate Son..and He kept every commandment perfectly

See http://www.eliyah.com/underlaw.html for more on this

Galatians 5:13 - For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Galatians 5:14 - For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

Galatians 5:15 - But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!

Galatians 5:16 - I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

Galatians 5:17 - For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

Now based on what we have learned thusfar, we cannot possibly conclude that walking in the Spirit of Yahweh has anything to do with disobedience to Yahweh's law

Rather, to the contrary! So let us with this in mind examine the following verses:

Galatians 5:17 - For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

Galatians 5:18 - But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Now if we were to take the conclusion that many would love to take in this verse, we would be saying "If we are led by the Spirit, we don't have to be obedient to Yahweh's law"

But how can this possibly be? Every verse we have examined thusfar has said just the opposite.

Let's go ahead and examine the meaning of this phrase "Under the law" in depth

Clearly, if you have been set free from sin, then we know you are NOT under the law

For sin is disobedience to or transgression of the law

1John 3:4 - Whoever commits sin trangresses also the law, for sin is the transgression of the law.

If you have been set free from sin (transgressing His law), you are not under the law

Indeed, even the following verses in this chapter prove that one who is walking in the Spirit is NOT free to be flagrantly disobedient to His law again:

Galatians 5:18 - But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Galatians 5:19 - Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,

Galatians 5:20 - idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,

Galatians 5:21 - envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of YAHWEH.

Galatians 5:22 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

Galatians 5:23 - gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Do verses 19-21 sound like attributes we should have? Do they sound like attributes of someone who is keeping Yahweh's commandments? Surely no. All of the above are attributes of those who are in disobedience to Yahweh's law

All these things are condemned in the law of Yahweh. So it is impossible for the phrase "under the law" to be referring to those who keep the law

But what does it mean?

One who is "Under the law" cannot mean "one who has sinned" because we know that Yahushua did not sin, yet He was under the law:

Galatians 4:4 - But when the fullness of the time had come, YAHWEH sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

It is also clear that those who are NOT under the law (but walk in the Spirit) are set free from the law's penalties:

Romans 6:14 - For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under favor.

Those who are NOT under the law (like us) are set free from the penalty of transgression of that law (sin). They are under grace or favor

So, based on what we have seen thusfar we could say..

"Sin (Transgressions of the law) will not have dominion over you: for you are not under the law, but under grace"

Those who are under grace are forgiven for their transgressions.

They are set free from the power that sin has over us! That power is eternal death and damnation.

Yahushua was under the law but was not condemned

Why? Because He did not sin

If we were under the law, and not under grace then we WOULD be condemned. Why? Because we have not kept it!

Therefore, we can conclude that one who is under the law is one who has to live up to the Torah/Law's standards perfectly.

Those who are under the law must be keeping the law perfectly to prevent sin (transgression of the law) from having dominion over them.

Yahushua was born under the law and lived up to its standards...

..but we? We've all failed!

Indeed, this is why we need Him so! He is our only hope!

Yahweh's standard is perfection. We have failed to live up to it.

Therefore we cannot be saved or receive justification (be declared righteous) by the law. How can we? We have not kept it!

The law cannot justify us or make us free from its penalty of eternal death and damnation. Therefore by the works of the law, no man can be justified

Except ONE.

And we are not that one

The law can only show us 'what sin is'

It can not redeem us. We need Yahushua for that

If we want salvation, we must be under grace. If we were under the law, we would be held to keeping its standard of righteousness. When we are under grace, we are forgiven for not keeping that standard of righteousness.

I believe that this is an important key to understanding the writings of Paul and what He was dealing with in those days.

He was dealing with those who believed that they could be saved by some act of the law-keeping, whether it be circumcision or the keeping of the law in general

So He had to explain many times in his letters that we are under grace, not under the law. NO MAN (except One) has ever kept the law. Therefore, nobody will be saved by it

It was this point he often used to show the Jews and the Gentiles that we need Yahushua and His righteousness (for He was born under the law and KEPT it) to be saved.

Now, the normal conclusion made from this today is that we no longer need to be concerned about transgressing the law of Yahweh because Yahushua saved us from the law. Let's examine this concept.

Note that there is a "subtle" difference. In one sense, we all believe that we don't have to keep the law.

If I had to keep the law to be saved, I would be lost! And so would we all

For we have all broken it

The "subtle" difference is that some teach we don't have to keep the law to be saved, so they conclude that we don't ever have to concern ourselves about keeping those commandments ever again

But we SHOULD be seeking to keep those commandments as a response to His love for us

The former is the wrong attitude and the latter is the right attitude

One insults the spirit of grace, the other embraces it and shows appreciation for it!

For scriptural confirmation though, let's look again at 1John and a couple other verses

1John 3:4 - Whoever commits sin trangresses also the law, for sin is the transgression of the law.

Romans 3:20 - Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Romans 4:15 - Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.

"By the law is the knowledge of sin", "sin is transgression of the law" and "where no law is, there is no transgression" all make it crystal clear that sin is disobedience to Yahweh's law.

It isn't saying that it used to be that way. It is saying that it currently is that way!

TODAY, sin is still disobedience to Yahweh's law

Therefore, those who say today that we don't need to be concerned about transgressing the law of Yahweh are also saying that we don't need to be concerned about sinning!

Now let's look again at the previous verse we examined:

Romans 6:14 - For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under favor.

Romans 6:15 - What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under favor? By no means!!

How much clearer can it get?

Should we sin (transgress the law again) because we are not "under the law" (held to its standards for salvation) but are "under grace/favor" (given favor because of our reception of Yahushua's righteousness/law keeping in us)? Of course not! Whose slave or servant do we want to be, anyway?

Romans 6:16 - Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

Sin (transgression of the law) leads us on the road to death. It was the road we all were previously on. But obedience brings us to righteousness!

Do you want to be a servant of sin unto death? Then blatantly break Yahweh's law and teach others to do so!

Romans 6:17 - But YAHWEH be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

Romans 6:18 - Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

With this understanding, O how Paul's writings become so much clearer! The confusion can come to an end

And now we can understand why Paul said:

Galatians 5:17 - For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

Galatians 5:18 - But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

If we are led by the Spirit, we are far removed from being under the law (condemned), for walking in the Spirit is walking in the ways of Yahweh.. keeping His law

But based on the attitude of many, one would think that those who walk according to the flesh are the Sabbath keeping, feast keeping, tassel (tzit tziyot) wearing believers in Yahweh.

But these commandments are no more "walking in the flesh" because they are a physical commandment than to partake in "Baptism" which is also a physical commandment

In fact, the law is SPIRITUAL

Romans 7:14 - For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

It is so spiritual that when Yahushua (who is the WORD) speaks... His words ARE SPIRIT

John 6:63 - It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

He was the Word from the Beginning. Thus, He was also the WORD in the Torah.

Walking in the Spirit is not disobedience to the Torah/Law, but rather.. obedience!

Walking in the flesh isn't Torah/law observance, it's breaking the Torah!

But millions are deceived by a false concept! :(

Galatians 5:22 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

Galatians 5:23 - gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

If all the law is summed up in "Love", then why wouldn't keeping the law be a fruit of the Spirit? For the law is all about love

If we have love, then the Torah/Law is going to be kept

Those who walk in the Spirit are obedient, righteous individuals. It is our flesh (and mainstream teachers of error) that bring us to disobedience. Paul even points out there is no law against these things.

Isaiah 5:20 - Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

Matthew 5:17 - Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

Matthew 5:18 - 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.

Matthew 5:19 - 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: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Beware of false prophets!

We should seek to be great in the kingdom of heaven, and desire to do and teach others to do His commandments! Yahweh have mercy on us!

Romans 7:24 - O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

Romans 7:25 - Thanks be to YAHWEH through Yahushua the Messiah our Saviour. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of YAHWEH; but with the flesh the law of sin.

Romans 8:1 - There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in the Messiah Yahushua, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Romans 8:2 - For the law of the Spirit of life in Messiah Yahushua hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

The law was weak in that it could only show us the difference between righteousness and unrighteousness. It could not make us righteous. Again, we need Yahushua for that!

We need Him to fulfill the righteous requirements of the law where we have failed. We need to submit to Yahweh's righteousness in Him.

But now that we have been delivered, we must walk in the Ruach/Spirit!

Romans 8:3 - For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, YAHWEH sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

Romans 8:4 - That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Think about that!

Through Yahushua the righteous requirement of the law is fulfilled in us..

who is 'us'?

those who "who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit"

Now, Paul begins to clearly define the differences between the two:

Romans 8:5 - For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

Romans 8:6 - For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

two opposites

And what is the difference between one who is carnally minded (which brings death) and one who is spiritually minded (which brings peace)?

Romans 8:7 - Because the carnal mind is enmity against YAHWEH: for it is not subject to the law of YAHWEH, neither indeed can be.

So if we are spiritually minded, we will be subject to the law of Yahweh! It is the carnally minded that refuse to be subject to Yahweh's Torah/Law. We must walk in the Spirit!

Ezekiel 36:27 - And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

A blessing how it all lines up, is it not? Yahweh's word is in unity. There isn't this Old Testament vs. New Testament going on. Yahweh is not a chameleon, He changes not. Yahushua is the same yesterday, today and forever. He was the Word of Yahweh in the beginning and in the end

So walking according to the flesh cannot be referring to those who observe the law of Yahweh.

According to Romans 8, to be walking according to the flesh is equal to being carnally minded

AND to be carnally minded is equal to not being subject to the law of Yahweh!

Therefore, those who are in Yahushua are walking in the Spirit are subject to keeping the law of Yahweh.

We can not continue to blatantly sin (break the law of Yahweh) so that grace may abound.

May we all walk in Yahweh's Spirit. For Yahweh's word IS Spirit!

John 6:63 - It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

If Yahushua is the Word and His Word is Spirit, we must live and walk according to His words

We must walk in His Spirit!

In Yahushua was this Spirit..and no disobedience was found in Him

Therefore He is the manifestation of the Torah/law to us, He kept it blamelessly

And I will repeat this again and again: We are expected to walk as He walked !

And it is by THIS that we know that we are in Him

1John 2:4 - He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

1John 2:5 - But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of YAHWEH is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.

1John 2:6 - He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

When Yahweh repeats something in His word, we should be careful to heed it. He knows our tendencies

He will often repeat certain things many times over

Now, how many times do we see in His word where He says to keep His commandments???

How many times can we look at the man Yahushua the Messiah and see that He did just that?

And can we not see that He is our example and that anyone saying that they abide in Him should do the same as He did?

We can look at His life as our example because He kept ALL of Yahweh's commandments perfectly.

If He did not, then He could not be our Savior who never sinned

When we are baptized, the old man is no more.. and the new man (Yahushua in us) is raised up. We are a new creation

When He is in us, then Yahweh's Spirit is in us.. for Yahweh's Spirit is surely in Him

He will do in us the things He did while on the earth

If the Ruach/Spirit is in us, we will bear the fruits thereof

And it is through the blood of Yahushua, His righteousness that we can be cleansed from all sin.

1John 1:7 - But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Yahushua the Messiah His Son cleanses us from all sin.

We are saved because He kept the Torah, and that Torah keeping is in us when we receive Him

He is in the light! The word is a light

Psalms 119:105 - Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Proverbs 4:18 - But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

I've heard it said that all the darkness that is in the world cannot put out the light of a single flame. Yahushua, the light of the world should be abiding in us. Yahushua said not to hide it

Matthew 5:16 - Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

It is not pride to let Yahushua shine through you.. it glorifies Yahweh in heaven. But if the light that is in you is NOT a life that is subject to His law, it is not the light that Yahweh seeks to have as a shining example of Yahushua in you

His commandments are commandments because they are commandments! Not suggestions, not helpful hints.. commandments! :)

So let's have the light of Yahushua shine through us every day, yes!!

Let's allow that light to get brighter and brighter as we learn more and more of His life through His example and through the Word of Yahweh

But concerning the past, we are all free from our sins and we all are free to leave behind our old ways where we had ignored and broken Yahweh's perfect law. We are not held to the past!

Drop it, the past is gone!

The old man of the flesh is dead!

The new man, Yahushua the Messiah lives in You!

Let Him live His life He lived on earth.. through you.. unhindered

Walk in His light, walk in His Spirit!

Psalms 19:7 - The law of YAHWEH is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of YAHWEH is sure, making wise the simple.

Psalms 19:8 - The statutes of YAHWEH are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of YAHWEH is pure, enlightening the eyes.

Psalms 19:9 - The fear of YAHWEH is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of YAHWEH are true and righteous altogether.

Psalms 19:10 - More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

Psalms 19:11 - Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.

Psalms 19:12 - Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.

Reveal any darkness in us, O Yahweh?!

Psalms 19:13 - Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

Psalms 19:14 - Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O YAHWEH, my strength, and my redeemer.

Do we believe His word? Then believe verse 11. In keeping Yahweh's law there is "great reward". We need only look at where Yahushua is and know that there is indeed a great reward.

Revelation 3:21 - "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

Wow!

What a reward, and an honor to know and reign with the King of all creation, sitting on His throne

Therefore, in all things let's seek the will of Yahweh in our lives as outlined in His word..ALL of His word...whether it be written 2000 years ago ("New Testament") or 3000 years ago ("Old Testament").

It doesn't matter when He said it. It only matters that He said it. It is all His Word, it is His Spirit, it is the way of Yahweh

In Yahushua we have an example of the word lived out..

We can do likewise, for in Yahushua we have the righteousness and strength we need to walk a path that is narrow, pure and new...

walking in the Ruach!

May Yahweh bless you and may He have mercy on us all!