This is Restoration of Torah Ministries' Weekly Newsletter for the Sabbath Beginning Friday Night at Sundown, August 11, 2023
Shalom and welcome to everyone who is new to the Restoration of Torah Ministries' Weekly Newsletter.
The purpose of this newsletter is to 1) encourage YOU to study the weekly Torah Portion (Parashat HaShavuah in Hebrew) and form a firm foundation for your faith in the Hebrew Scriptures, 2) share information with you that appears on the RTM SubStack, 3) grow in the grace and knowledge of Messiah Yeshua and 4) in general, you'll learn about what's going on at Restoration of Torah Ministries.
A Note From Tony
Shabbat Shalom Everyone!
Last week I mentioned how Paul said things that, well, are fairly contradictory! That shouldn’t surprise us though. There are many of things in the Bible that are contradictory! The question is, “What do you do when you run into contradictory concepts in the Bible?” Unfortunately, most people choose sides, believing one concept and rejecting the other. Most often, the problem is that we really don’t understand either concept properly! That’s why we think we have to choose one OVER the other.
Something else that happens quite often in the Bible is that a statement will be made that makes absolutely no sense, but for some reason, it doesn’t register in our minds as, well, somewhat odd! Case in point. Read Romans 5:20-21:
20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, 21 so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:20-21)
Have you ever really thought about what Paul said here? He said the Torah was given TO CAUSE OFFENSES TO ABOUND!!!! How’s that for a seemingly crazy statement. Have you ever thought about how strange this verse is? Are you getting my. point now that I’ve drawn it to your attention? Paul literally, unambiguously and emphatically said that the LAW/TORAH CAUSES SIN TO ABOUND/INCREASE! Read the bold italicized words in Romans 5:20-21 again and then answer these two questions.
Does it make sense that Adonai would give us a Law/Torah that would cause us to sin more if we try to keep it???????????
Do you know of any person, any parents, any organization, or any civilization that institutes laws so that those subject to those laws will behave worse??????????
As you can see friends, we’ve got quite a conundrum! Why would Adonai give His Torah/Law to people so they would sin more? Seems counterproductive to me!
Actually, there’s a perfectly rational reason why Paul stated what he did, but we will never understand what he meant without understanding the full context of what he was stating. Here are some questions to consider.
Who are the recipients of this stirring up of sin effect of the Torah? In other words, which group of people is subject to this stirring up of sin effect?
When is this stirring up of sin effect of the Torah operable in someone’s life?
Why does the Torah stir up sin in a certain group of people at some particular time?
How does the Torah stir up sin in certain people at some particular time?
Once these questions are answered, then Paul’s statement will make sense! Actually, Romans 5:20-21 is not the only place in Romans 5-8 that speaks of this stirring up of sin effect of the Torah. Paul mentions it numerous times, but with different wording. Paul talks about the Torah stirring up sin all throughout Romans 5-8. In fact, it occurs so often that it’s extremely obvious that the stirring up of sin effect mentioned in Romans 5:20-21 is THE TOPIC he’s hammering away at. Here’s Paul’s introduction of this seemingly strange function of the Torah.
Romans 5:20 - Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.
Now, I will show you were Paul mentions this concept, the very same, identical concept, but with different words. Have a look at these verses and I would challenge anyone to prove to me that he’s not simply stating Romans 5:20 in different words!
Romans 5:20 – Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound.
Romans 7:5 – For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death.
Romans 7:8a – But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire . . .
Romans 7:9 – I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died.
Romans 7:10 – And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death.
Romans 7:11 – For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me.
Romans 7:13 – Has then what is good (the Torah/Law) become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful.
Romans 8:3 – For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh . . .
The verses from 2-8 above are simply alternative ways of saying Romans 5:20 (Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound.). They are what I call equivalent expressions. The verses in 2-8 above simply explain, describe, clarify, define, illustrate, spell out and interpret Romans 5:20! Another illustration of Romans 5:20 is found in 1 Corinthians 15:56
The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. (1 Corinthians 15:56)
So what does this all mean? It means that the stirring up of sin effect of the Torah is a valid purpose/function of the Torah! But . . . we should immediately ask, “Does it make sense for this to be a valid function of the Torah, acting in the lives of the redeemed?” We know Adonai has called us to holiness, right? We know that the path to holiness is sanctification through obedience to His commandments, yes? So, why would He call us to holiness and then make the only path to holiness (keeping His commandments) something that would cause us to be more sinful!!!???? Now that you see 1) the ramifications of Romans 5:20 (and all the other times he mentions Romans 5:20 indirectly through its equivalent expressions) and 2) His call upon us to live holy lives through obedience to His word, how could the Romans 5:20 effect ever be meant to be the norm for His chosen ones. If you’d like to learn more about 1) the stirring up of sin effect of Romans 5:20, 2) the subgroup of people who are subject to it’s effect and 3) the time period in their lives where Romans 5:20 is “fully operational,” then I invite you to study Our True Freedom from the Law/Torah by clicking on the graphic below. It will take you to the RTM YouTube playlist containing 4 video lessons on this subject!
TnT Robinson!
May Adonai open your eyes to behold wondrous things from His Torah!
The Weekly Torah Portion!
All the Torah portions you love in both the 1-Year and 3-Year formats!
Study Lesson for the 1-Year Torah Cycle
The 1-Year Torah Cycle Reading
Shalom All! May Adonai bless you this Shabbat. The yearly Torah reading for this shabbat is entitled R’eih and it extends from Deuteronomy 11:26 - 16:17. The Haftarah reading is Isaiah 54:11 - 55:5, and the reading from the Apostolic writings is John 7:37-52!
Shabbat Shalom!
The Yearly Torah Portion - Parashat R’eih!
Study Lesson for the 3-Year Torah Cycle
The 3-Year Torah Cycle Reading
Shalom All! May Adonai bless you this Shabbat. The 3-Year Torah Cycle reading (#96) for this shabbat is number 1 of 1 readings from the Torah portion known as B’chukkotai, and it extends from Leviticus 26:3 - 27:34. The Haftarah reading is Jeremiah 16:19-21. The Apostolic reading is Luke 9:57-62.
Shabbat Shalom!
The 3-Year Torah Portion - Parashat B’chukkotai!
The Latest Article from RTM . . .
RTM's Music CD - The Sign of the Messiah
The Sign of the Messiah is RTM’s anointed worship CD featuring 11 original songs written by Tony & Tina Robinson. It's available by CD from the RTM marketplace. The CDs are very beautiful and have a full 12-page booklet with all the lyrics written for you in an easy to read format.
It’s also available electronically from ALL major online music stores including - Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, Instagram/Facebook, TikTok/Resso, Google Play/YouTube, Amazon, Soundtrack by Twitch, Pandora, Deezer, Tidal, Napster, iHeartRadio, ClaroMusica, Saavn, Anghami, KKBox, NetEase (beta), Tencent (beta), Triller (beta), MediaNet, Shazam. Just search for Tony & Tina Robinson or The Sign of the Messiah.
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