Some Christians who study the Hebraic roots of Christianity say they are now Torah Observant. (The Torah is the Old Testament, most notably the first five books from Genesis – Deuteronomy). It is also called the Law, but should more correctly be called God’s Instructions for Holy Living. The word Torah comes from the Hebrew root word for “arrow” - if you study and live by the Torah, you are a straight arrow for God and will be right on target . To sin is to miss the bullseye. When I began to dig at those Hebraic roots, I, thought the correct thing to do would be to be Torah Observant. However, I think it’s wiser to be “All-Scripture observant”. The Old Testament does not trump the New Testament, and vice versa. How do I know this? Because of II Timothy 3:16 – “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for training in righteousness.” When the great Apostle Paul wrote this to Timothy, only the Torah had been recorded so when he said “All Scripture” Paul was referring to the Old Testament. Now we have the New Testament Scriptures as well, so I submit to you that BOTH the Old Testament AND the New Testament should be studied since both are God-breathed and will train one in righteousness.
Just as in the New Testament Paul says that all Scripture is awesome, in the Old Testament David says practically the same thing in Psalm 119:160 – “All your words are true; all your just regulations will stand forever.”(“forever” -not just until the New Testament comes into play).
Red Alert : in the beginning of the Bible in the Torah - we are cautioned “ be careful to obey all the commands I give you. You must not add anything to them or subtract anything from them.”( Deut. 12:32). In one of the last verses of the Bible we are similarly warned : “And if any man shall take away from the words of the Book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the Book of Life, and out of the holy city" (Revelation 22:18-19). I don’t know about you, but I think it’s pretty important to take ALL of the Bible under serious consideration, and not toss out the verses that we don’t agree with. And, in case you’re one of these people that thinks “well, God meant that THEN, but not for NOW”…… look at this: " I, the Lord, do not change” (Malachi 3:6) So, it’s pretty clear to me that God’s Word - both Old and New Testaments - is all good, stands forever, and should not be disregarded in order to suit our opinions or political correctness…..Shalom
