A Perfect Fit

Yesterday morning I was half asleep, not thinking about anything, when suddenly an image flashed in front of me. It was a ring on a finger, and it was way too tight for the finger. Next, I saw a ring that was too loose. I immediately knew what this meant and had to draw it. Since sharing this drawing, I know it was Abba who gave this image because of how many people it has already spoken to. None of my doing.

In Jewish custom, a ring is given by the bridegroom to the bride for her to put on her right index finger.

Here is what it means:

The Jews reject Christianity because Christians have left off the Torah (the law spoken of in the first five books of the Bible). The Torah is the very foundation of showing love for the Father and our neighbor (Matthew 22:40). Christianity is a ring too loose.

Christians reject Judaism, because without the Messiah Jesus, you are under a sentence of death and punishment (this is what Paul meant by being "under the law" - he spoke of the law of sin and death). Judaism is a ring too tight (Galatians 3:10).

Those who trust in the Messiah's covering grace to complement their imperfect obedience but firm desire and effort to obey the Torah have found the ring with the perfect fit!

Romans 10:4 (TLV) For Messiah is the goal of the Torah as a means to righteousness for everyone who keeps trusting.

Romans 3:31 (TLV) Do we then nullify the Torah through faithfulness? May it never be! On the contrary, we uphold the Torah. 

We have been deceived to believe that through the grace of Jesus, the holy law of God was nullified. But what was actually nullified? The curse of sin and death, the punishment we are to receive if we think we can keep the law without faith and trusting in the grace of Jesus's sacrifice.

Our Father has been clear throughout scripture that those who put their faith in HIS salvation and not in their works will be saved. Our good works are our duty if we love Him.

Luke 17:10 So you too, when you’ve done everything you are commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy slaves. We have done only what we were supposed to do.’

John 14:15 If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. 

Romans 7:12 So then, the Torah is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. 

Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace you are saved, through faith, and this not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; not of works, that not anyone should boast; for we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God before prepared that we should walk in them. 

Where did this idea that the law was abolished come from? It came from those who saw that Judaism refused to accept Jesus as their savior. Early church fathers became angry that the Jews despised Jesus, and because of antisemitism they began disregarding laws that they deemed no longer necessary and too "Jewish". The amount of laws kept by the church didn't dwindle immediately. In the beginning the followers of Jesus kept all the laws after His resurrection, even the sacrificial laws until the temple was destroyed. But gradually over the centuries, more and more laws were struck off the list. John Calvin was one of the ones who came up with the doctrine that there is a moral law and a ceremonial law, and that the ceremonial law was abolished. No where will you find this kind of teaching in the Bible. Even more recently people still believed in keeping laws besides the Ten Commandments. Ever heard of the shotgun wedding? This was based off the law that a man had to marry and provide for a woman that he had seduced. Imagine if this kind of responsibility was still expected of men today!

The Sabbath law, though kept on the wrong day because of Catholicism, was stalwartly supported by preachers like Eric Liddell and Billy Graham. Only in the past twenty years or so have preachers begun to teach that Jesus is our Sabbath, so we no longer need to keep it. Jesus is our bread too; do we no longer need to eat bread?

Do you believe our Father would give laws, say they were eternal, and then later change and break them so He could show everyone what it is to be perfect? Is He a God that changes? Do you think now we have only nine commandments, or worse, as some churches teach, only two? Do think that Jesus dying on the cross suddenly made homosexuality, bestiality, sorcery, incest and all the other laws besides the ten commandments okay to break? Just some things to ponder on. Ask God to show you. He is incredibly merciful, but He is tired of His people teaching that His instructions of how to show love and truth are things of the past. Obedience to His law is coupled with His grace because none of us can perfectly keep the law. Our effort, though, is necessary.

Think of it this way. If there was no such thing as lawlessness, Jesus's grace wouldn't be necessary. The law has to remain for us to need His grace. What was nailed to the cross? The debt that we owed Him for not being able to keep His laws perfectly. Through His grace and forgiveness, we are made perfect.

One last thing. Watch out for English translations that skew the meanings of verses to put God's law out of our hearts. This is one of the main reasons we have so much lawlessness in the churches today. I'm going to show you very quickly some of the key verses that have been changed from the original Greek in our English translations.

✅ Mark 7:19 (Literal Translation) This is because it does not enter into his heart, but into the belly, and goes out into the waste-bowl, purging all the foods.

❌ Mark 7:19 (ESV) since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.)

Jesus never declared all animals clean. Why do you think you'd still be repulsed to eat a cat or dog or a bat?

✅ Revelation 22:14 (Literal Translation) Blessed are the ones doing His commands, that their authority will be over the Tree of Life, and by the gates they may enter into the city.

❌ Revelation 22:14 (NIV) “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.

✅ Romans 10:4 (TLV) For Messiah is the goal of the Torah as a means to righteousness for everyone who keeps trusting.

❌ Romans 10:4 (ERV) Christ ended the law so that everyone who believes in him is made right with God.

Sad isn't it? This kind of thing is throughout the Bible. Instead of letting God write His law on our hearts, it has been plucked away and thrown out of sight. When is the last time you read carefully through the front of your bible?

Matthew 7:22,23 Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name do many works of power. And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; "depart from Me, those working lawlessness!"

Hebrews 10:16 This is the covenant which I will covenant to them after those days, says the Lord: Giving My Laws on their hearts, and I will write them on their minds...