Chapter 5
Rebuilding the Wall in Our Hearts
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 (Matthew 5:17-18).
As has already been mentioned previously in this book, the greater majority of the Christian world today believes that the Law of Elohim was nailed to the Tree of Calvary of Y’shua. Thus, they reason, it no longer needs to be kept.
There are so many blessings like conversion, wisdom, enlightenment, and great joy (see Psalm 19:7-8); including the blessing of spiritual protection (as discussed in last chapter), which are bestowed upon those who follow Christ’s pattern obeying YHWH’s Law. Considering the tremendous benefits of obedience to the Law, it is easy to see a sinister motive behind the idea that it was abolished.
Who would have a motive for removing the Law, the wall of our protection, from Elohim’s people? Who has a vested interest in keeping Christians defenseless against his onslaughts? Satan does, of course! It is said, “All’s fair in love and war.” Certainly it gives the devil a great advantage to have removed the wall of our defense. He is a cunning, evil, mastermind; who desires to destroy every soul. As such, what sort of tactics should we expect him to employ? Even to an earthly military commander, it is a well known fact that blowing out your enemies’ defenses makes your attack much more effective.
Not only is the protective wall effectively removed, but also in rejecting it, the written transcript of Elohim’s divine character, Satan has caused his prey to offend their heavenly Protector, so that they step out of the realm of His blessing.
We are in a war zone, here on earth. Make no mistake. Each of us in engaged in a fight, the outcome of which will determine our eternity. No wonder Peter was inspired to warn us with such urgent words:
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). (See also Revelation 12:7-12.)
Actually, Satan does not have the power to tear down the defenses that Elohim has put in place for our protection. The only way he can remove us from this safeguard is to get us to tear it down. What bait could Satan use to get Christians to willingly destroy their greatest defense against him?
In Christ’s day, when the devil came to tempt our Saviour, he often quoted Scripture. But it was a misuse, a twisting of the meaning and message in the text. Christ, whose spiritual perceptions were kept clear through constant communion with the Father and through proper Bible study (His Bible was largely the Torah at that time!) met Satan’s veiled lies with a clear, “It is written…”
Satan has come to the Christian world with the same tactics, twisting Scripture. Through this method, he has enticed Christians to nail the Law to the Tree of Calvary, thus denying ourselves the protection which obedience to it affords us.
Let’s look at the main Scripture Satan has twisted in order to entice Christians to disregard the Law of Elohim. It’s found in Colossians two. Here, Paul wrote about the sacrifice of Christ on Calvary and the results to sinful man.
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross (Colossians 2:14).
There are a total of seventy-seven places throughout Scripture (including the New Testament), which specifically tell us to keep the Law or commandments. In addition, there are six texts, which tell us to obey the Law and the commandments. This means that Elohim tells us to walk in full obedience to His Law eighty-three times (See Appendix I) throughout the Scripture. Yet somehow, one text in Colossians is enough for many ignorantly to toss out all the rest.
Amazingly, even Christ’s own words are not enough to convince many, who claim to follow Him, that His Law is eternal. For He said, plainly:
…Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the Law till all be fulfilled (Matthew 5:18).
As is mentioned in the preface of this book, taking one or two Scriptures and disregarding all the others on any given subject is how people come up with so many doctrines throughout Christianity today. Using our personal interpretation to determine the meaning of Scripture will lead us into error every time.
The Bible teaches us that we will keep the Law, which will be possible by the help of Elohim (see Matthew 19:16-26). Y’shua told us that we will keep the Law and that all of it would remain in effect unless and until heaven and earth pass. Scripture does not contradict Scripture. When it appears that there is a contradiction, we must pray harder for understanding and diligently search the Word for clarification. One pure and consistent truth will always come from the Word of Elohim and this one truth will be found through a complete harmony of every text on the subject. In light of this, let us re-examine Colossians 2:14.
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross (Colossians 2:14).
First, let us consider what we know it does not say. Considering the weight of the other Scriptures, we know that this text is not telling us that the Law of Elohim is nailed to the Tree of Calvary, and thus taken away.
Here, Paul tells us the “handwriting of ordinances that was against us” was taken away and nailed to the tree of Calvary. Is the Law against us? Certainly not! (See Romans 3:31 and Romans 7:7, 12, 13.) We have seen that it is the catalyst needed for repentance, it is the Standard of heaven and it is the transcript of Elohim’s own character. If we believe that the Law is against us, we are really saying that Elohim is against us!
So what handwriting is against us? Many of us have been taught since we were children that a recording angel attends our every step. Lawless acts, along with heaven-inspired ones, are recorded in the book of our life record. Our works are being recorded. Those with evil works, who are also unforgiven and uncleansed, may not taste of eternal life. Talk about being “against us”! There is no worse handwriting anywhere than the condemning record of our own evil deeds!
And there shall in no wise enter into it (the city of Elohim – see the previous verses) any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they, which are written in the Lamb's book of life (Revelation 21:27).
It was this damning evidence, which would have brought us eternal death that Y’shua’s blood and death on the tree of Calvary has taken “out of the way” (Colossians 2:14).
…The blood of Y’shua Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (I John 1:7-9).
Praise YHWH! Our sins were nailed to the tree of Calvary. Through His precious blood, they are taken out of the way. The way of life is now unblocked. We are free to pass into eternity with Elohim. Through this Scripture-based explanation, a harmonious whole and complete message appears.
Is the record of our sins the only thing that the Bible says was nailed at Calvary? Actually, our record of sin is not the only thing that was expunged through Christ’s death. There are some parts of the Torah, which modern Christians sometimes refer to as the “ceremonial law,” that were ended at Calvary. Let us look at the list of everything that is commonly considered nullified at the Tree of Calvary.
- The Sacrificial system ended at Calvary.
In the midst of the week, He (Christ) shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease (Daniel 9:27).
“Oblation,” according to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance (#4503), means “bloodless offerings.” This refers to the offerings like grain, wine, and others. The word “sacrifice” tells us that the animal offerings and blood offerings were also to end. To see a more detailed list of the sacrifices and offerings, which ended at Calvary, read Numbers 28.
We are still to offer sacrifices, but the sacrifice has changed. Now our lives are to be a living sacrifice. (See Romans 12:1.)
- The Civil Penalties (punishments) for breaking Elohim’s Law were finished at the Tree of Calvary. (See John 8:3-11, Matthew 22:21, and Acts 2:29)
Elohim, Himself, will punish those who break His Law, at the end of the world. (See Revelation 8-21.)
- The idea that only male Levites could be priests ended at Calvary. Now we are all kings and priests of YHWH. “And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen” (Revelation 1:6).
- The requirement that every male, who belonged to Elohim, be circumcised was ended. (See Acts 15.)
Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiff-necked (Deuteronomy 10:16).
- The temple services were completed. To signify this, the unseen hand of Elohim tore the temple curtain from top to bottom at the death of Christ (see Matthew 27:51). After Calvary, Elohim wanted to live in His people. We are to be His temple – not a building or structure. (See 1 Corinthians 3:17.)
Throughout the entire Bible, searching diligently from cover to cover, one will not find any other teaching or system that was nailed to the tree of Calvary. In totality, then, the “ceremonial law,” which was eradicated in Christ’s death was: the offerings of all blood, grain, wine, and other sacrifices; the civil penalties for breaking the Law; the Levitical priesthood; circumcision; and the temple services.
We will not add to or take away from this list. Only what is specifically stated in the Word of Elohim in sound doctrine.
Ye shall not add unto the word… neither shall ye diminish ought from it… (Deuteronomy 4:2).
Clearly, the misconstrual of Colossians 2:14, in nailing the Law to the tree of Calvary, is not Biblical. Just to add fuel to the fire, it seems appropriate to point out, that this teaching contains gaping inconsistencies. When someone who believes the requirements of the Law have been fulfilled in Christ’s death is asked some simple questions, these inconsistencies come out clearly. Perhaps it might first be asked, “So, then, should we be unfaithful in our marriages? Is it now okay to commit adultery?” Mainstream Christians will quickly reply that it is not acceptable to commit adultery after Calvary-, any more than it was before Christ died.
Continuing through the list, commandment by commandment, we find that we should still not kill, not lie, not steal, not covet, and we should still keep Elohim first in our lives (as is commanded in the first two commandments).
As the questions continue about which commandments we should still keep, we find that, in the minds of most Christians, only one commandment has been nailed to the tree of Calvary. Only the fourth commandment, which is about the Seventh day being the Sabbath, is so offensive to the main-stream Christian mindset that it solely is nailed to the tree of Calvary with Paul’s blessing, based on Colossians 2:14. It really seems pretty silly, when painted in this light. Yet, most of the Christian world today believes exactly that. The Law (oops, we really mean – the Seventh-day Sabbath) was “done away with” because of Colossians 2:14. Clearly, this is not a Bible-based approach to truth.
This same faulty logic was being used in Christ’s day. Referring to the way the religious leaders of His day had difficulty accepting the beautiful truths of heaven, while embracing even the most ludicrous error to avoid the truth, Christ said, “Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel” (Matthew 23:24).
Having examined how and why the precious, protecting wall of the Law of Elohim has been removed from so many Christian lives, we are now ready to set about reconstructing it in our own hearts.
Paul talks about the Lawless heart. He knew, as has been explained previously in this book, that the Law of Elohim was the entire Torah. Thus, as he explains the condition of Lawlessness, he cites both commandments and statutes interchangeably. They are listed as equally part of the Law of Elohim. This is especially evident in Galatians 5:16, 19-21.
Here Paul first describes this beautiful constraint, as experienced in the heart of those who are protected through walking in obedience to the Law. He then contrasts this obedient lifestyle with the lawless lifestyle. To illustrate how Paul gives commandments and statutes equal footing as parts of Elohim’s Law, the following verse will be displayed with parenthesis to explain whether that characteristic is referring to a commandment or to a statute (all of which are part of the first five books of the Bible, and are hence all part of the Law).
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh… Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery (commandment), fornication (statute), uncleanness (statute), lasciviousness (statute), idolatry (commandment), witchcraft (statute), hatred (statute), variance (statute), emulations (statute), wrath (statute), strife (statute), seditions (statute), heresies (statute), envyings (statute), murders (commandment), drunkenness (statute), revellings (statute), and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of Elohim (Galatians 5:16, 19-21).
By mixing the commandments and statutes in this way, Paul is giving a strong hint of the connection between them. They begin to take on the same connected nature of a chain, when we look at the words of Christ.
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 (Matthew 5:19).
James extends this deep connection to the entire Law.
For whosoever shall keep the whole Law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all (James 2:10).
As will be shown next, the Law of Elohim does fit together like a perfectly constructed chain. Thus, it makes sense that if one link is broken, the entire chain is broken. Let us examine the great chain of Elohim’s Law. The top of the Law chain consists of the two Great Commandments, and is forged in Matthew 22:37-40. In the words of Christ:
Y’shua said unto him, Thou shalt love YHWH thy Elohim with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
To make this concept clearer, we will display the commandments and statutes, placing them upon these two Great Commandments, to see how they “hang together.” The first portion of the commandment chain is suspended upon the first Great Commandment. “Thou shalt love YHWH thy Elohim with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”
The statutes listed in the previous diagram are by no means comprehensive. There are many more statutes. And they fit under the categories of the Ten Commandments, much like the content of a chapter explains the chapter title.
The first commandment, which hangs upon the great Law: “Thou shalt love YHWH thy Elohim with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy mind,” is “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3). The theme of this message is that YHWH is to hold first place in the human heart. As the statute texts listed in the above diagram will show, anything that holds a place higher than YHWH becomes a false god: be it people, power, position, influence, riches, time, or any other thing.
The statutes expand the idea of putting YHWH first to include holiness. We will desire to be holy for it pleases Elohim. If He holds first place in our hearts, we will love to do that which pleases Him. In addition, the statutes teach that we will put Him first in our time and our money. Tithe will not be paid at the end of the month, if there happens to be any money left over.