Grace OR Law... Grace AND Law... which is it?
by Paul Sides

 

Hebrews 5

Qualifications for High Priesthood

the Messiah Our High Priest Forever
¹ For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices (defined in the Law) for sins (transgressing the Law). ²He can have compassion on those who are ignorant (of God’s Law) and going astray (from the commands of God), since he himself is also subject to weakness (bound by sinful flesh). ³Because of this (his own guilt of transgression) he is required (to repent) as for the people (he makes sacrifices), so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for (his) sins. ⁴And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was.

A Priest Forever
⁵ So also Yahshua did not glorify himself to become High Priest, but it was YHWH who said to Yahshua (upon Yahshua’s baptism for repentance, and filling with the Spirit of Truth):

        "You are My Son,
        Today I have begotten You."

⁶As YHWH also says (of Yahshua) in another place:

        "You are a priest forever
        According to the order of Melchizedek" (Melchizedek was the first Zadok (Righteous) Priest);

⁷who (Yahshua), in the days of his flesh (prior to resurrection), when he had offered up prayers and supplications (for Israel), with vehement cries and tears to YHWH who was able to save Yahshua from death, and was heard (by YHWH) because of his (Yahshua’s) godly fear (of YHWH), ⁸though he (Yahshua) was a Son (of many in the family of Elohim), yet he (Yahshua) learned obedience (over time through a life on Earth) by the things which he suffered (being disciplined by YHWH). ⁹And having been perfected (over time through discipline), he (Yahshua) became (perfected through obedience and) the author (demonstrating The Way, 3 witnesses of water/spirit/blood of 1 John) of eternal salvation to all who obey him (by keeping the commands of YHWH), ¹⁰(Yahshua was) called by God (YHWH) as High Priest "according to the order of Melchizedek," ¹¹of whom (Yahshua) we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing (mind not set on the Spiritual Law of God but on the flesh which transgresses the Law).

Spiritual Immaturity
¹² For though by this time you ought to be teachers (of the Torah, there was no such thing as the New Testament), you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God (the Torah); and you have come to need milk and not solid food. ¹³For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness (the Torah/Law which is Holy, Righteous, and Good), for he is a babe. ¹⁴But solid food belongs to those who are of full age (mature Saints with minds set on Spiritual Law), that is, those who by reason of use (by obedience to the Spirit of the Law) have their senses exercised (trained by the Torah) to discern both good and evil (which is defined by the Law of God).  

Romans 5

Faith Triumphs in Transgression of Law

Death in Adam, Life in the Messiah

¹ Therefore, having been justified by faith (in the promise of YHWH’s Messiah), we have peace with YHWH through our King Yahshua the Messiah (by whose blood we are in covenant with YHWH for forgiveness of transgressing the Law, making complete the Torah), ² through whom (the blood of Yahshua) also we have access (to YHWH) by faith into this grace (forgiveness of our transgressions) in which we stand (keeping the commands but falling short i.e. the battle between Flesh/Spirit), and rejoice (crying Abba Father) in hope of the glory of God (that we will be resurrected Elohim). ³ And not only that (hope in future glory), but we also glory in tribulations (witnessing that Yahshua became perfected through them), knowing (by Yashua’s example) that tribulation produces perseverance; ⁴and perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of YHWH has been poured out in our hearts (the Law of Love, the Torah has been written on the ‘tablets’ of our hearts) by the Holy Spirit (of Truth) who was given to us (as a deposit of future glory in Elohim).

the Messiah in Our Place

⁶ For when we were still without strength (to fully obey the Law of God), in due time (as proclaimed by the Prophets) Yahshua died for the ungodly (the transgressors of the Law). ⁷ For scarcely for a righteous man will one die (it is an amazing thing that someone would even die for a righteous man); yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die (even more rare to die for a good man). ⁸ But YHWH demonstrates His own love toward us (sons of God), in that while we were still sinners (defined as transgressors of the Law), Yahshua died for us (the perfect example of obedience in love). ⁹ Much more then (Yahshua made whole the Law, providing Grace), having now been justified (made just before and one with YHWH in faith) by His (Yahshua's) blood (of the Passover Lamb, the consummation of the marriage covenant), we shall be (upon resurrection) saved from wrath (the second death, the Passover) through him (Yahshua, by the blood of the Passover Lamb). ¹⁰ For if when we were enemies (hostile to the Law of God) we were reconciled to YHWH through the death of His Son (Yahshua), much more, having been reconciled (in covenant with YHWH through Yahshua), we shall be saved (from the second death) by his life (Yahshua defeated death in the resurrection). ¹¹ And not only that, but we also rejoice in YHWH (that we are sons) through our King Yahshua the Messiah, through whom we have now received the reconciliation (to YHWH as future begotton sons of Elohim).

Death in Adam, Life in the Messiah

¹² Therefore, just as through one man (Adam disobeyed YHWH’s commands) sin entered the world, and death through sin (the penalty of sin is death), and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—¹³ (For until the law came sin was still in the world, but sin is not imputed (we were not aware of sin without the Law) when there is no law (the Law teaches us what is Holy and what is sin). ¹⁴ Nevertheless (even without the Law, the penalty of the Law was active) death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam (God’s Holy Law was more than just what Adam did), who (Adam) is a type of (son of God) him (Yahshua) who was to come.

¹⁵ But the free gift (of Grace to complete the Law) is not like the offense (of transgressing the Law). For if by the one man's offense many died, much more the grace of YHWH and the gift (of grace in light of transgressing the Law) by the grace of the one man, Messiah Yahshua, abounded to many. ¹⁶And the gift (of grace in light of transgressing the Law) is not like that (penalty of death for transgressing the Law) which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation (to death of the physical body), but the free gift (of grace in light of transgressing the Law) which came from many offenses resulted in justification (right standing before YHWH and resurrected life of the physical body).

¹⁷ For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in (everlasting) life through (blood covenant in) the one (man), Yahshua who is the Messiah (the Passover Lamb of YHWH).

¹⁸ Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation (to death of the physical body), even so through one man's righteous act (of self denial, obedience, and love unto death) the free gift (of grace in light of transgressing the Law leading to resurrected life) came to all men, resulting in justification (before YHWH) of life (after death). ¹⁹ For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one man's obedience many will be made righteous.

²⁰Moreover the (Holy, Righteous, Good) law entered (was given by YHWH) that the offense might abound (God’s Holiness was made clear by the Law as well as our need for a savoir). But where sin (transgression of the Law) abounded, grace (forgiveness of those transgressions) abounded much more (as YHWH delivered us through His Son and freely reconciled us to Himself), ²¹ so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Yahashua the Messiah (who made whole the Law providing Grace in light of transgression)