The Hebrew word Shama - carries a double meaning - It means 'hear something said and do what you heard said'.

What was Paul saying when he made this statement? Was he having a discussion and comparing keeping the Torah verses not keeping the Torah? Was Paul comparing and contrasting the Torah given at Mount Sinai to the grace of YHVH manifested through the death of Messiah when He died on the tree? Was Paul discussing and teaching how we are saved in Messiah? What is the meaning of Paul's statement, "... for ye are not under the law but under grace".

THE MOST MIS - UNDERSTOOD VERSE
IN THE NEWER TESTAMENT

What is the #1 most quoted yet misunderstood verse in the whole New Testament? It is probably the statement made by Paul, ". . . for ye are not under the law but under grace". How is this so? Why is this so? It is because Christians DON'T read and study their Bibles. They only KNOW parts of the Bible which they have HEARD while attending church. They only KNOW what they have been TOLD to believe. They only know what they have been TOLD to believe regarding the understanding and interpretation of various Bible passages. But why? Because the Bible says that the people of YHVH are SHEEP.  SHEEP are FOLLOWERS.  Sheep FOLLOW  other SHEEP. Sheep DO what the other sheep that go ahead of them DO.

MOST CHRISTIANS CAN QUOTE:

A testimony from Eddie Chumney of Hebraic Heritage Ministries Int:

"I started attending church when I was around 5 years old. Since that time, I have attended various churches. I have listened to hundreds or thousands of sermons through tapes, radio or TV. I have been around THOUSANDS of Christians during my lifetime. While most Christians don't know their Bible very well, ALMOST ALL Christians can quote to you when having a discussion about following Torah and being a believer in the Messiah: '. . . for ye are not under the law but under grace.' Why are Christians so familiar with this verse? It is because they have heard the verse quoted from their Christian leaders OVER and OVER in emphasizing to them that a believer in the Messiah should NOT follow the Law [Hebrew Torah meaning Instructions] because we live under the 'Dispensation of Grace.' But is that what Paul was teaching when he wrote that statement? In this study, we will discover that this verse is being quoted OVER and OVER and OVER  by Christian leaders and the quote has been and still is being taken OUT OF CONTEXT.

MOST CHRISTIANS CAN'T TELL YOU THE CONTEXT OF THE VERSE:

Most Christians can't tell you where the verse, '. . . . for ye are not under the law but under grace' is in the Bible or the CONTEXT of the verse. Therefore, let us examine the CONTEXT and teaching of Paul regarding this verse portion. But first, let us examine Paul's teaching in general about salvation in Messiah and the role of Torah in the life of a believer in the Messiah.

SAVED BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH

Paul clearly teaches in the NT that our salvation in Messiah is by grace through faith (trust).

So, we are saved by grace through faith. We are NOT saved by our own good merit or our own good works.

SAVED UNTO GOOD WORKS

Does our salvation by grace through faith mean that we DON'T pursue GOOD WORKS? The answer is that someone saved in Messiah WILL PURSUE GOOD WORKS. However, the GOOD WORKS DON'T SAVE them. GOOD WORKS is a RESULT of being SAVED by GRACE through FAITH. Jesus called it fruits. "You will know them by their fruits"; a warning on how to identify false prophets. Matthew 7:15-20.

LIGHT SHINE = GOOD WORKS

Messiah taught that GOOD WORKS is associated with your LIGHT shining.

What is LIGHT?

TORAH / KEEPING COMMANDMENTS = LIGHT

Therefore, when Messiah was saying, you are the LIGHT of the WORLD . . .  let them SEE your GOOD WORKS, He was telling those that believed that He is the Messiah to FOLLOW TORAH.

TORAH / KEEPING COMMANDMENTS = HOW WE WALK

We are to WALK in GOOD WORKS. "Walking" is a Hebrew idiom for "following Torah". The Jewish people refer to the way in which you seek to follow Torah is HALACHAH. HALACHAH comes from the Hebrew word HALAK which means, "to walk". So, keeping the commandments / Torah is the WAY that one WALKS.

PAUL TAUGHT . . . . SAVED BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH

PAUL TAUGHT . . . . SAVED BY FAITH TO KEEP TORAH

Again Eddie Chumney in his testimonial: Ever since I was five years old, I don't think that I EVER remember anyone in church, on radio or Television quote Paul's teaching of Romans 3:31: 'Do we then make void the Torah (Law) through faith? God forbid, we establish the Torah (Law).

'ESTABLISH THE TORAH'.

However, I have heard THOUSANDS of TIMES:' . . . . for you are not under the law but under grace'

If Paul taught in Romans 3:31 that AFTER we are SAVED by GRACE through FAITH (Romans 3:28:30) that we are to ESTABLISH (follow) the TORAH . . .

If Paul taught in Ephesians 2:10 that AFTER we are SAVED by GRACE through FAITH (Ephesians 2:8-9) that we are CREATED unto MESSIAH to do GOOD WORKS . . . .

Then how do we think that Paul taught differently quoting the verse, ' . . . . for you are not under the law but under grace' ???

It is because we have taken the verse, ' . . . . for you are not under the law but under grace' OUT OF CONTEXT and have TWISTED the teachings of Paul.

THE UNLEARNED - TWIST THE TEACHINGS OF PAUL

Peter wrote the following:

        KJV II Peter 3:15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation;    
        even as our beloved brother PAUL also according to the WISDOM given unto him
        has written unto you;

        KJV II Peter 3:16 As also in ALL his (Paul's) EPISTLES, speaking in them of      
        these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are
        UNLEARNED and unstable TWIST, as they do also the other scriptures, unto
        their own destruction.

WHO ARE THE UNLEARNED?

The unlearned don't know or follow Torah and many to most of the time even look into it. The learned on the other hand follow Torah or better defined as practice the Torah.

KJV Deuteronomy 31:12 Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and your stranger that is within your gates, that they may hear, and that they may LEARN, and fear the LORD your God, and OBSERVE to do all the words of this LAW (Torah):

KJV Psalm 119:7 I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have LEARNED thy righteous JUDGMENTS.

Peter wrote that those who are "unlearned" (those ignorant of the Torah don't follow Torah). Instead they TWIST the teachings of Paul. Why? It is because there is a TERMINOLOGY to understanding TORAH like:

#1)   Wisdom = Walking in Torah

#2)   Light = Walking in Torah

#3)   Truth = Walking in Torah

The UNLEARNED won't recognize the 'coded' words used by the Messiah or by Paul in the way in which they taught and lived out Torah.

MESSIAH SPOKE IN PARABLES
SO THE UNLEARNED WOULD NOT UNDERSTAND

KJV Matthew 13:10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why do you speak to them in parables?

A 'parable' is a CODED message.

The TORAH is taught as a PARABLE.

KJV Psalm 78:1 {Maschil of Asaph.} Give EAR, O my people, to my TORAH: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

KJV Psalm 78:2 I will OPEN my MOUTH in a PARABLE: I will utter dark sayings of old:

Messiah taught in PARABLES (coded Torah language).

KJV Matthew 13:11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the

MYSTERIES of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

The word, 'mystery' is a CODED Torah understanding. There are four primary levels to interpreting Torah.

    #4)   Sod: Deeper 'hidden' meaning of a Torah text. The 'hidden' meaning is the
             HEART (true meaning) of the TORAH

Messiah said that the 'Mystery' (SOD) level of Torah is given to His disciples (those that follow Torah). Those who are 'unlearned' (don't follow or understand Torah) won't understand the 'hidden' teachings of the Messiah.

            KJV Matthew 13:12  For whosoever hath (has the desire to follow Torah), to
            him shall be  given,  and  he  shall  have  more  abundance:  (more  Torah 
            knowledge) but whosoever  hath not  (doesn't have a desire to follow Torah), 
            from  him shall be taken away (his knowledge of the Bible will be so basic that
            they have trouble understanding the BASIC things like a believer  in YHVH
            through  Messiah will follow Torah) even that he hath.

            KJV Matthew 13:13  Therefore I speak to them in parables: because they
            seeing SEE NOT; and hearing they HEAR NOT, neither do they understand.

             Matthew 13:34-36  NASB All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in
            parables (allegories), and He did not speak to them without a parable. (35)               This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: "I WILL OPEN MY   
              MOUTH IN PARABLES; I WILL UTTER THINGS HIDDEN SINCE THE
              FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD." (36) Then He left the crowds and went
              into the house. And His disciples came to Him and said, "Explain to us the
              parable of the tares of the field."

LITERAL AND REDEEMED JACOB ARE BLIND

Who sees and sees not? Who hears (tries to follow the ways of YHVH) and hears not? It is the LITERAL house of Jacob (whom we recognize today as JEWS) and the REDEEMED house of Jacob (whom we recognize as CHRISTIANS).

Messiah rules over a REDEEMED house of Jacob.

            KJV Luke 1:33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his
            kingdom there shall be no end.

Why does the LITERAL house of Jacob and the REDEEMED house of Jacob see but see not and hear but hear not? It is because the LITERAL house of Jacob have walked away from the LIVING TORAH (Messiah) and the REDEEMED house of Jacob have walked away from the WRITTEN TORAH.

            KJV Isaiah 42:18 Hear, ye DEAF; and look, ye BLIND, that ye may see.

            KJV Isaiah 42:19 Who is BLIND, but MY SERVANT? or deaf, as my
            messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and BLIND as the
            LORD'S SERVANT?

     KJV Isaiah 42:20 SEEING many things, but thou OBSERVE NOT;          
     OPENING the EARS, but he HEARETH NOT.

     KJV Isaiah 42:24 Who gave JACOB for a spoil, and Israel to the
     robbers? did not the LORD, he against whom we have sinned? for they
    would NOT WALK in his WAYS, neither were they obedient unto his
    TORAH.

So, Messiah spoke in parables so that those who follow Torah will understand what He taught and increase in their Torah knowledge. Those who don't follow Torah won't understand the teachings of the Messiah.

I Corinthians 2:12-16 NASB  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, (13) which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. (14) But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. (15) But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. (16) For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ.

THE UNLEARNED ONES TWIST THE SCRIPTURES
TO THEIR OWN DESTRUCTION

What is the DESTRUCTION of the UNLEARNED (those that don't follow Torah in Messiah) ??? They are LEAST in the Kingdom or they are NOT the Bride of Messiah.

KJV Matthew 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall BREAK one of these LEAST COMMANDMENTS, and shall TEACH MEN so, he shall be called the LEAST in the KINGDOM of heaven: but whosoever shall DO and TEACH them, the same shall be called GREAT in the KINGDOM of heaven.

PAUL WAS GIVEN WISDOM = KNOWLEDGE OF TORAH

KJV II Peter 3:15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother PAUL also according to the WISDOM given unto him hath written unto you;

What is this WISDOM which Paul was given? It is the KNOWLEDGE of TORAH and the desire to FOLLOW TORAH.

KJV Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for LACK of KNOWLEDGE: because thou hast REJECTED KNOWLEDGE, I will also reject thee, that thou shall be no priest to me: seeing thou hast FORGOTTEN the TORAH of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

KJV Malachi 2:7 For the priest's lips should KEEP KNOWLEDGE, and they should SEEK the TORAH at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.

KJV I Chronicles 22:12 Only the LORD give thee WISDOM and UNDERSTANDING, and give thee charge concerning Israel, that thou mayest KEEP the TORAH of the LORD thy God.

KJV Psalm 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of WISDOM: a good understanding have all they that DO his COMMANDMENTS: his praise endures for ever.

KJV Deuteronomy 4:5 Behold, I have taught you STATUTES and JUDGMENTS, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should DO so in the land whither ye go to possess it.

WHAT DID PETER SAY?

Peter said that Paul was given WISDOM (knowledge along with understanding of Torah) by God and those who were UNLEARNED (didn't know Torah) TWIST (wrongly interpret) the teachings of Paul to their OWN DESTRUCTION (keep them from receiving blessings from YHVH for DOING His commandments thus being GREAT in the Kingdom.)

KJV II Peter 3:15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother PAUL also according to the WISDOM given unto him hath written unto you;

KJV II Peter 3:16  As also in ALL his EPISTLES, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are UNLEARNED and unstable TWIST, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

WHAT DID PAUL MEAN WHEN HE SAID:
'...for ye are not under the law but under grace'

So based upon what has been written in this article so far, what really did Paul mean when he said, '...for ye are not under the law but under grace' ??? To begin with, we need to read this verse in CONTEXT. This verse is found in Romans 6:14.

            KJV Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye    
            are not under the law, but under grace.

So, if this is the 14th verse of Romans 6 what is the CONTEXT? What is said in Romans 6:1-13 which forms the CONTEXT of Romans 6:14?

            Let's now examine Romans 6:1-14.

            KJV Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that    
            grace may abound?

Paul begins by asking a question. Should we SIN so that GRACE may abound? Before we can understand Paul's question, we need to understand the definition of sin.

            KJV I John 3:4 Whosoever commits sin transgresses also the law: for sin
            is the transgression of the law.

So, Paul was asking, 'Do we SIN = (BREAK THE COMMANDMENTS) so that grace may abound?

Does it make sense that MESSIAH FORGAVE us of our SIN = BREAKING THE COMMANDMENTS so that we can SIN (NOT follow His commandments) ??

Well, Paul has an answer to that question.

            KJV Romans 6:2 GOD FORBID. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live
             any longer therein?

Paul's answer to this question was: JUST SAY NO!

Shall we purposely SIN = BREAK THE COMMANDMENTS so that we can receive GRACE AFTER we are saved (Romans 3:28-30) ??? YHVH FORBID!

FORGIVEN FROM SIN = DEAD TO SIN

            KJV Romans 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus
            Christ were baptized into his death?       

Now, Paul begins to make an analogy:

Dead to sin = Baptized unto death of Messiah = Died for our SINS

In other words, once we are FORGIVEN of our SIN through Messiah, we are NOT to pursue a LIFE of SIN (breaking the Torah). Our desires should be to seek to be a HOLY people and NOT pursue living a SINFUL LIFE. In we seek to be a HOLY people, we are 'DEAD TO SIN'.

Paul is equating being DEAD TO SIN with the DEATH OF MESSIAH.

            KJV Romans 6:4  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death:
            that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even
            so we also should walk in newness of life.

            KJV Romans 6:5  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his
            death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

Since we are DEAD TO SIN which Paul is comparing to the DEATH OF MESSIAH, we have been "raised up from the dead" (FORGIVEN OF OUR SINS) so we should WALK in newness of life.

WALK is a Torah 'code' word for OBEYING TORAH.

So, Paul is saying that we have been FORGIVEN of our SINS for the purpose of WALKING (obeying Torah) in NEWNESS OF LIFE.

            KJV Romans 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that
            the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

            KJV Romans 6:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.

Paul is saying that now since we have a NEW HEART and have REPENTED of our SINS and thus have our SINS FORGIVEN that the OLD MAN or the FLESH who DESIRED to SIN should be CRUCIFIED so that we don't SERVE the FLESH or SERVE SIN.

A definition of 'natural man' may be helpful here. From the Commentary On The Bible by Jamison, Faussett and Brown, comes one of the best I have heard.

I Corinthians 2:14

natural man — literally, “a man of animal soul.” As contrasted with the spiritual man, he is governed by the animal soul, which overbears his spirit, which latter is without the Spirit of God (Jude 1:19). So the animal (English Version, “natural”) body, or body led by the lower animal nature (including both the mere human fallen reason and heart), is contrasted with the Spirit-quickened body (I Corinthians 15:44-46). The carnal man (the man led by bodily appetites, and also by a self-exalting spirit, estranged from the divine life) is closely akin; so too the “earthly.” “Devilish,” or “demon-like”; “led by an evil spirit,” is the awful character of such a one, in its worst type (James 3:15).

receives not — though they are offered to him, and are “worthy of being received by all men” (I Timothy 1:15).

they are foolishness unto him — whereas he seeks “wisdom” (I Corinthians 1:22).

neither can he — Not only does he not, but he cannot know them, and therefore has no wish to “receive” them (Romans 8:7).

[JFB Commentary On The Bible]

DEAD TO SIN = OLD MAN = FLESH = CRUCIFIED =
DIED WITH MESSIAH

            KJV Romans 6:8  Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also
            live with him:

            KJV Romans 6:9  Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no
            more; death hath no more dominion over him.

            KJV Romans 6:10  For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he
            liveth, he liveth unto God.

            KJV Romans 6:11  Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto
            sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

            KJV Romans 6:12  Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye
            should obey it in the lusts  thereof.

If the OLD MAN has been CRUCIFIED = DEATH OF MESSIAH then NEW MAN = NEW HEART = FOLLOWS TORAH then the rebellious heart to NOT follow Torah and wants to SIN shouldn't have dominion (power) over us.

REBELLIOUS HEART = STONY HEART = NOT FOLLOW TORAH

            KJV Zechariah 7:11 But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the
            shoulder, and STOPPED their EARS, that they should NOT HEAR.

            KJV Zechariah 7:12 Yea, they made their HEARTS as an ADAMANT
            STONE, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts
            hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets:

NEW HEART = HOLY SPIRIT = SEEKS TO FOLLOW TORAH

            KJV Ezekiel 36:26 A NEW HEART also will I give you, and a NEW SPIRIT
            will I put within you: and I will TAKE AWAY the STONY HEART out of
            your flesh, and I will give you an HEART of FLESH.

OLD MAN = FLESH = STONY HEART = DEATH OF MESSIAH

NEW MAN = HEART OF FLESH = WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE = RESURRECTION OF THE MESSIAH

            KJV Romans 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of
            unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are
            ALIVE from the DEAD, and your members as INSTRUMENTS of
            RIGHTEOUSNESS unto God.

So, the CONTEXT of Romans 6:1-13 is that Paul is saying that a believer in Messiah should NOT SIN (break the Torah commandments) because that OLD MAN who desired to SIN has been CRUCIFIED with Messiah so that the NEW MAN who has been FORGIVEN from his SINS should WALK in NEWNESS of LIFE (follow Torah) and be an instrument of righteousness (produce GOOD WORKS by following Torah).

Next, Paul says the FAMOUS VERSE:

            KJV Romans 6:14  For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not
            under the law (Oral Law), but under grace.

            KJV 1 John 3:4  Whosoever commits sin transgresses also the law: for sin
            is the transgression of the law.

SIN (what causes you to break the commandments) shall NOT have dominion (power, compulsion) over you!

In Romans 6:14, Paul is saying (for those who are LEARNED in Torah) should FOLLOW TORAH because SIN (breaking Torah) shall not have dominion over you.

            KJV Romans 6:14  For sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not
            under the law, but under grace.

Once again: Under the law? What law is Paul talking about in Romans 6:1-13? The Torah? NO! He is talking about the LAW of SIN and DEATH; The Law which was and still is known today as the Oral Law of Rabbinical Judaism. Another name for it is the TALMUD. One more name is The Traditions of The Elders.

THE LAW of our FLESH that causes us to SIN shall NOT have dominion over us because that OLD MAN has been CRUCIFIED with Messiah and by being FORGIVEN of our SINS (breaking of the Torah) YHVH has extended MERCY / GRACE to us to allow our SINS to be FORGIVEN and grace that empowers us to overcome the weakness in us as former natural people.

YHVH extends MERCY / GRACE to those empowering them to KEEP His commandments. Without the grace, there is no power available to keep Torah.

            KJV Exodus 20:6 And showing MERCY unto thousands of them that love me,
            and KEEP my COMMANDMENTS.

            KJV Psalm 103:17 But the MERCY of the LORD is from EVERLASTING to
            everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's
            children;

            KJV Psalm 103:18 To such as KEEP his covenant, and to those that
            REMEMBER his COMMANDMENTS to DO them.

WHAT WAS PAUL SAYING IN ROMANS 6:14 ????

            KJV Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are   
            not under the law, but under grace.

THE LAW of our FLESH that causes us to SIN shall NOT have dominion over us because that OLD MAN has been CRUCIFIED with Messiah and being FORGIVEN of our SINS (breaking the Torah) YHVH has extended MERCY / GRACE to us to allow our SINS to be FORGIVEN.

Since MERCY / GRACE has been extended to us to allow our SINS to be FORGIVEN through Messiah dying on the tree, YHVH has given us His MERCY  / GRACE to those that LOVE HIM and WALK in HIS COMMANDMENTS. Those who do so will produce GOOD WORKS.

GOOD WORKS (following Torah and being a LIGHT in a world of darkness) is the FRUIT of someone FORGIVEN of their SINS and who DESIRES to show their LOVE to YHVH through Messiah by KEEPING His commandments. Those who choose to do so will be given MERCY / GRACE by YHVH as they seek with all their heart to be OBEDIENT unto Him, KEEPING His commandments and producing GOOD WORKS (fruits of righteousness) for the GLORY of HIS KINGDOM.

Messiah said:

            KJV John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

I pray that this teaching has been and will be a rich blessing to you in your studies. PLEASE share this teaching with others.

If you would like a TWO TAPE teaching that Eddie has done on understanding Torah and Grace and explaining if Paul taught Torah, the TWO TAPES are $10 US postage paid.

When you order, please make your check out to: (Hebraic Heritage Ministries Int'l) and indicate that you want to order the two cassette tapes on Paul, Torah and Grace and send to:

Hebraic Heritage Ministries Int'l
PO Box 81
Strasburg, OH, USA 44680