The New Halakah
Halakah is defined in Jewish tradition as rules handed down in Torah which are to guide everyday behavior. In other words it is defined as walking according to God’s revealed commands.
This has not changed but we now operate under the New Covenant Jeremiah 31:31-33
Review – Because of what Messiah Yeshua had done for us we have received great blessings. We may enter into the Holy of Holies clothed with holy garments. Commissioned and entrusted with the mysteries of God.
1 Peter 1:10-12 – Concerning this salvation, the prophets… searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Messiah in them was pointing … It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, … things even angels long to look into.
Our day to day walk – The first three chapters of Ephesians lays down theological truths about our walk. The last three chapters deal with how we are to live day to day. How does our relationship with Yeshua help us deal with problems and trials in our day to day living?
Behavior & Beliefs – Ephesians 4:1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called? Does our behavior match our beliefs? Does our walk match our words?
The Old way vs. the New – In Ephesians 2:2 we learned that prior to faith we walked in a worldly way. This is our default mode, whether in religious life or in our a secular life. We were dead in sin but now alive in God. The Old way vs. the New – We wandered wherever the winds of this world blew…But now in Messiah we can walk in righteousness and holiness if we walk in Him.
SO… Where are we going? How are we living? Do our lives truly reflect His glory & majesty? How we are to walk – We have been called by God to live a life that demonstrates God’s great love for man. How we live, How we walk is of supreme importance. It’s not a matter of appearance but of perspective. Paul’s example – Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:1 that we need the right perspective. We need to understand that we are prisoners of the Lord.
Paul’s words carry authority because he lived this out imprisoned in Rome for his faith.
Flesh vs Spirit – Paul call’s us to a WALK that is WORTHY of our calling. We tend to WALK apart from the Lord in our own strength, in our own way. We tend to believe that we must act and God responds to our efforts. If I pray enough, give enough, do enough, then God will bless me.
Flesh – BUT in reality that doesn’t work. It only leads to frustration & disappointment! WHY? Because we can NEVER DO ENOUGH. We need to change our perspective Ephesians 4:2-3
The Right Attitude – Ephesians 4:2-3 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Paul gives us 3 characteristics of the right attitude:
The First Characteristic – Humility and Gentleness – The opposite of asserting yourself.
Some of God’s people aren’t happy unless their ideas are acted on, and their vision is embraced.
Humility & Gentleness – BUT the way of the cross is humility and self-sacrifice. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves… look not to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Messiah Yeshua: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, humbled himself and became obedient to death even death on a cross!
Bearing with one another – 2. Then Paul says to walk bearing with one another in love. Literally ‘patient endurance’ longsuffering. This is a Fruit of the Spirit. The Bible says that obedience is better than sacrifice.
Bearing with one another – Hebrews 5.8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. When we are walking in the Spirit, controlled by the Spirit, led by the Spirit… we will be long suffering. We don’t react to an unkind word. When we are wronged, hurt, and wounded… we don’t retaliate. We surrender our rights.
Walking in Unity – 3. Then Paul writes that we should bear with one another in love. V. 3 This is a call to unconditional love for one another.
It is the kind of love God has for us. It is not something in ourselves but through Messiah.
Walking in Unity – In Romans 12.18 we are told: If it is possible, as much as it depends on you, live peaceably with all men. We are to make every effort. It is not easy but we are to do all we can to love one another in unity and in peace.
How Unity comes – It comes when we abide in the Shema the “echad” of God. Vv 4-6
Ephesians 4:4-6 There is one body and one Spirit– just as you were called to one hope when you were called– one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Unity is in Messiah – Unity is in Yeshua… He must be our focus. When we are conformed to Him, unity will happen, but we must abide in Him.
John 15:4 (NASB)
Unity is in Messiah – We are One Body – A FAMILY of Believers where Yeshua is our head. Through Him we are filled and empowered with One Spirit. One Hope in our calling. We are all moving toward one goal, to see Yeshua face to face.
Unity is in Messiah – One Lord – the Shema – Romans 10:8ff: That is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, “Yeshua is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Abiding in Messiah – One Faith – Faith is the entrance to the kingdom. One Mikvah – Water immersion – a public confession of faith – and cleansing. One baptism of God’s Spirit. One God and Father – He is the Father of all. The greatest thing about God is not that he is a king, not that he is a judge, but that He is a father… who loves us dearly.
Walk Worthy
Finally, He is in all – God is all-powerful, omnipresent. Omniscient. Acts 17:28 for in Him we live and move and exist. So Paul begs us, pleads with us, exhorts us… Walk worthy of our calling! Walk in humility… Meekness… Longsuffering… Bearing with one another.
Because of His grace… His love… His life flowing through us. Let’s let our behavior match our beliefs.
