Examining Paul - Part 1 - "The Dilemma" by Stacey Fitzgerald

(all scripture references are from the et Cepher translation, 3rd edition, unless otherwise noted)
*Note - You will see in my own writing that I use the restored Names for the Father and the Son as follows: YHWH for the Father, so that the reader can pronounce it ’Yahuah’ , ‘Yahwah’, or “Yahuweh’  depending upon their understanding; and Yahushua for the Son. The et Cepher translation uses YAHUAH for the Father and YAHUSHA for the Son.
 
PART ONE: A DILEMMA OF TRUTH
I came to “know the Lord” as is said in Christian circles, when I was just 7 years old. I “prayed the prayer” and “asked Jesus into my heart.” I was told I was now “saved.” My understanding at that time was simple - I had been saved from an eternity in hell and promised eternal life in heaven. I knew my sins, whatever those were to a 7 year old girl, were all forgiven. It was a simple childlike faith.
 
I began from that point to learn more about Jesus and the bible, memorizing the order of the books and many key scriptures like the 23rd Psalm. I grew in my faith and in my understanding. I read the whole bible, front to back, when I was a teenager. In fact I did that multiple times. I committed my life to Him and vowed to never put anything above Him.
 
As an adult, I grew more in knowledge and in intimacy with My Savior. I began to study His Word in the Greek and Hebrew to better understand context and meaning. I wrote and sang songs of praise, worshipping Him in private and with the worship team at the churches we attended every Sunday. I served in other areas of ministry as well - the nursery, children’s church, even as a youth pastor for a time, and often in women’s ministry leadership and teaching. My heart belonged fully to Him and I wanted to know Him and make Him known, to use whatever gifts He’d given me to serve Him and others.
 
When I first began to grasp the Hebraic roots of my Christian faith, I jumped in with both feet, eager to learn and continue to follow Him along the path He had been leading me on since I was 7. I discovered the true Names of the Father and the Son, the blessing of the Sabbath day, and came to a progressive understanding of the loving instructions of the Torah and the gift of His Appointed Times.
 
As is natural for someone with a teaching motivation, whenever I learn something of value I want to share it with others. I couldn’t wait to tell my Christian friends and family members that God actually had a Name! We didn’t need to use the English translation substitute of “the LORD” and could actually declare His Name, YHWH, and make it known! And the Name of the Son was not Jesus but Yahushua, meaning YHWH is salvation! He truly had come IN the Name of the Father!
 
I gushed out my joyful exuberance over the delight of keeping His Sabbaths and His Feasts, pointing out scriptures upon scriptures that had become so full of meaning and understanding to me after years of seeking, studying, and walking out my salvation.
 
What I quickly found was that while a few truly shared my enthusiasm, many others did not. And some of those in the “did not” category disagreed with what I was seeing in scripture and even sought to “straighten me out” at times.
 
Interestingly, all of these rebuttals with little to no exception came from a very select few books in the bible, namely the letters of Paul. It seemed as though there were church doctrines, almost exclusively supported by scriptures from Paul’s writings, that actually contradicted what I was seeing in the other scriptures.
 
I was often told that I was going back to the “law” and the “old” testament and that I was in danger of being legalistic or basing my salvation on works instead of on grace. But I was already saved, wasn’t I? That’s what my childlike faith had given me, right? And weren’t we supposed to grow in good works, in knowledge and understanding, in maturity and perfection as Paul himself wrote in many of his letters?
 
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of MASHIACH (Messiah), let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of belief toward YAHUAH, of the doctrine of immersions, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgement.   Hebrews (ivriym) 6:1-2
 
Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect; but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of MASHIACH YAHUSHA. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of YAHUAH in MASHIACH YAHUSHA. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if any of ye be otherwise minded, YAHUAH shall reveal even this unto you.   Philippians 3:12-15
 
For the grace of YAHUAH that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us to reject that which is not of YAHUAH and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and in the Fear of YAHUAH, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of YAHUAH HA’GADOL (the Great YHWH), and our Savior YAHUSHA HA’MASHIACH (Yahushua the Messiah); Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise you. Titus 2:11-15

It seems from these few verses and many others from Paul’s writings, that he supports the idea of growing in good works and moving on toward some sort of goal or “perfection.” As I will fully expound on from the book of Acts in Part 2 of this series, Paul testifies about how he follows Torah and teaches Torah as the map toward this maturity in our salvation. 
 
Yet there are many other scriptures, lines from Paul’s letters, that seem to indicate that he teaches this Torah or “law” has been done away with, like Romans 6:14 that states “…you are not under the law, but under grace.” Does Paul contradict himself? 
 
What is Paul saying and why does it seem that his teaching alone sometimes contradicts the teaching of the Messiah Yahushua, the Torah and Prophets, and the teaching of the other apostles in their letters? I had to understand - it’s my nature and my desire to know my Creator, to understand His Truth and His Ways, and to make Him known. I did not want conflict between me and other believers and I knew from His Word that all who seek Him will be found by Him, when they seek Him with ALL THEIR HEART. (Jeremiah 29:13, Deuteronomy 4:29, Proverbs 8:17, Matthew 7:7, Luke 11:9)
 
There really did seem to be a sort of arm wrestling match going on between some of what Paul said and what he did. I could see why some of my friends and family disagreed with me.  Yet while some were truly seeking to understand, others seemed to be cherry picking certain scriptures to justify doctrine they had been taught and currently believed. I wondered - what are they defending here? Paul…church doctrine…religion…or truth? And I thought - did we really want to know the truth even if it did rattle some of our previously held beliefs and doctrines? Do we, like Paul, truly want to know Our Messiah?
 
But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for MASHIACH. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of MASHIACH YAHUSHA my ADONAI (master): for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win MASHIACH, and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is of the Torah, but that which is through belief in MASHIACH, the righteousness which is of YAH by belief: That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect; but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which I am apprehended of MASHIACH YAHUSHA.   Philippians 3:7-12
 
I decided for myself the answer to that question was unequivocally yes! I wanted to KNOW my Savior - who He really is and what He says is true. I’m willing to admit that I don’t know it all and that I will for certain continue to learn and grow as I seek Him, study His Word, and spend time in His presence. I purposed to humbly come before Him daily and seek Him with all my heart, allowing His Ruach (Spirit) and His Word (Truth) to teach me all things.
 
With determination I set out in prayer and study to better understand Paul’s letters and his teaching in light of the rest of scripture. What I found, and am still finding, is that to better understand Paul’s letters we must look at how he lived and what he taught, as well as the foundation of his understanding - the Torah. In doing so, what seems difficult to understand becomes quite simple.
 
Did you know that the apostle Kepha (Peter) himself warned that Paul’s teachings were difficult to understand and that misunderstanding could lead to twisting scripture and even destruction?! Let’s look at what he wrote:
 
Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for a renewed heavens and a renewed earth, wherein dwells righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless. And account that the long-suffering of YAHUAH is salvation; even as our beloved brother Pa’al (Paul) also according to the wisdom given unto him has written unto you; as also in all his cepheriym (books, letters, writings), speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable pervert, as they do also the other Scriptures, unto their own destruction. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the Torahless, fall from your own steadfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our ADONAI and Savior YAHUSHA HA’MACHIACH and of YAHUAH the Father. To Him be glory both now and forever. Amen.   2 Kepha (Peter) 3:13-18
 
I want to be diligent and be found of Him in peace, without spot and blameless! I want to grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Father and the Son! I want to know the Truth!
 
There is no dilemma in Truth. The word “dilemma” implies a difficult choice between two or more options that may not, in and of themselves, offer a complete and satisfying outcome. So dilemma only exists when we don’t understand the Truth. Yahushua Himself IS the Truth (John 14:6). And the Truth doesn’t bring confusion, it makes us free.
 
Then said YAHUSHA to those Yahudiym (Jews) which believed on Him, If ye continue in My Word, then are ye my Talidiym (disciples) indeed; And ye shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall make you free.  Yahuchanon (John) 8:31-32
 
Friends, I believe that when we pray and study His Word diligently He will give us eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to understand. (Jeremiah 29:13, Hebrews 11:6, 1 Chronicles 28:9)
 
What I want to share with you all in this 3 part series is what I found after my own diligent prayer and study:
       1 - Paul was falsely accused in his day of breaking and teaching against Torah
       2 - Paul defended himself and proved that he both kept and taught Torah
       3 - The real issue was that Paul taught Torah THROUGH the risen Messiah, Yahushua
       4 - We today falsely accuse Paul of the same crime - breaking and teaching against Torah
       5 - There are verses in many English translations of Paul’s writings that seem to contradict his own testimony of keeping and teaching Torah
       6 - Peter offers us the solution to understanding Paul and the other scriptures
 
In this post (Part 1) I hope to have shined a little light on what appears to be a dark dilemma coming from the letters of Paul - a choice between “law” and “grace”. What I hope to solidify in Parts 2 and 3 of this series is that there is no dilemma, no either/or choice to be made. The Truth lies in understanding the necessary synergy of Torah (law) and grace, Spirit and Truth.
 
But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in ruach (spirit) and in truth: for the Father seeks such to worship Him. YAHUAH is that RUACH: and they that worship Him must worship Him in ruach and in truth.   Yahuchanon (John) 4:23-24
 
Will you join me on this journey of becoming a true worshipper? I truly hope so!