​​Welcome  to    Joy By Surprise

Faith in the Almighty YaHuWaH and His Son YAHUSHUA the Messiah is the very first step in the process of salvation. We also teach the necessity of obedience to YaHuWaH 's Instructions (Torah). We teach the importance of obedience because millions of believers assume that YaHuWaH 's law became obsolete at the Savior's death at Calvary and that there is no longer any need to keep it. This is a dangerous error, a deadly delusion. The scriptural quotations in this file are given to show how important are the commandments of the Most High. The list is by no means complete: but from the texts given the honest seeker of truth will soon see that disobedience is a very dangerous pastime. Several 'New' Testament verses are included to show that even at the very close of this dispensation, the true church will be 'keeping the commandments of YaHuWaH.'

Millions of Christians idly boast that they are 'not under the law' but 'under grace.' This state, they incorrectly assume, allows them to break certain commandments of YaHuWaH. An increasing number even go so far as to justify homosexuality, fornication, adultery, idolatry and the eating of swine's flesh; actions all forbidden in the Bible. They believe that 'grace' has placed them 'above the law!' Is this what the Bible teaches? Have these believers understood the Bible correctly? Are believers now allowed to break Elohim's commandments? Are homosexuals, adulterers, fornicators, idolaters and Shabbat-breakers sinning? Or do the divine commandments forbidding these things still stand? Let us find out.

To begin with let me list a few verses from the Holy Bible which specifically deal with the Torah of YaHuWaH Elohim of Abraham, Isaac and Israel. I could list many, many more texts, but the sheer number would exhaust the reader. Therefore carefully consider the few listed below.

In view of these sobering texts, and we could bombard the reader with scores more, let everyone beware of dismissing the law of the Most High as though it were of little account. On the great Day of Judgment there is going to be much weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth: and the main reason will be because millions had treated with impunity the Torah of YaHuWaH the Almighty Elohim! So do not let some well-meaning but completely mistaken church leader delude us into thinking that we are 'above the law' of the Almighty Elohim!

YaHuWaH 's commandments are multilevel. This means that they are applicable on several levels: the physical, mental and the spiritual. When we examine the Almighty's Torah we find that at its illustrative (physical) level, many instructions are limited to periods of time we call 'ages' or 'dispensations.' When a dispensation or age expires, then the physical, instructional, ceremonial aspect of certain laws no longer applies. But the moral, high level lessons to which those instructions point, continue for all time. That is why the scriptures teach that:

In other words, the moral kernel of every divine commandment is eternal, everlasting! Let me explain this fact with the help of two examples.

1. The instruction concerning Phylacteries
   Phylacteries are prayer bands, amulets or small boxes worn on the forehead or arm containing extracts from YaHuWaH 's Torah. (Exo.13:1-10, Deut 6:4-9; 11:13-21). At its high level this instruction is eternal. It points to a new covenant procedure when the Most High writes His commandments on the true believer's mind (forehead) and actions (right arm).
2. The instructions concerning Animal Sacrifices
   

   At their low level these instructions called for the sacrifice of certain animals and birds (bulls, rams, lambs, he-goats and pigeons) to gain access to and pardon from YaHuWaH. These sacrifices ceased when the Savior shed His life-blood for us at Calvary; though animal sacrifices continued for the Jews as long as the Temple stood. At their low level the sacrificial instructions were instructional shadows and types. Whereas at their high level they all point to YAHUSHUA the Lamb of YaHuWaH, who alone is able to cleanse the sinner from guilt and make it possible for him/her to gain access to YaHuWaH. In other words the low level instructional requirements of these laws (the sacrifice of animals) no longer applies: but the kernel of the commandment, the high level spiritual requirement is still in force. It demands that a sinner who seeks access to the Almighty must approach Him with faith in the blood of His Son, the true Lamb of YaHuWaH. This aspect of the sacrificial laws is eternal: it will never cease to be. It means that all through eternity, redeemed believers will approach the throne of the Almighty through the merits of the blood of YAHUSHUA the Messiah.

4. Not Under Law. but Under Grace

Is a believer at liberty to sin and disobey YaHuWaH 's Torah? The answer is: a sinner who repents is no longer under the curse and death penalty of the Torah; but is under the grace and mercy of YaHuWaH. In other words, Being 'under grace' means to be a recipient of the Almighty's mercy. When a repentant sinner seeks mercy and pardon from the Holy One of Israel, the death penalty for sin is lifted from that person and placed on the Messiah on the cross and he/she is placed 'under mercy,''under grace.' That person is no longer under the death penalty of the 'law' but is now 'under the grace of YaHuWaH.'

In addition to this happy state, the Holy Spirit is imparted to the believer in order that he/she might live a life of obedience to the Torah. In other words, sin (disobedience) is no longer allowed to have dominion over that believer, provided, of course, he/she wants to be obedient to the Torah.

I repeat: Sin is disobedience to the instructions of YaHuWaH 's Torah. (1 John 3:4) In other words a believer under grace is not above the law! Any solicitor will confirm this fact that: No one is above the law. If anything, a believer - being under grace - is under greater obligation to obey the Torah of YaHuWaH than the person who knows nothing about sin and salvation.

• YaHuWaH 's Torah is set apart (holy), just and good.
• Sin is disobedience of YaHuWaH 's Torah. Sin carries the death penalty and since all of us have sinned, we are all are under the death penalty of the Torah. Once we have accepted forgiveness and mercy, then we are no longer under the 'death penalty of the law;' but are now 'under grace.' But being 'under grace' doesn't mean we can sin without penalty. Please be aware that the penalty for our unintentional sin is applied to Messiah on the cross because we are 'under grace'.
• Obedience attracts blessing.
• Disobedience attracts punishment and cursing.
• Ignorance of the Torah is no excuse.
• YAHUSHUA the Messiah, Solomon and all the Apostles taught obedience.
• YaHuWaH 's Torah is perfect and an important tool in the conversion of souls.
• The Last Day church will be becoming more and more obedient to the Torah.
• YaHuWaH 's commandments are multilevel: and though some low level requirements, such as animal sacrifices, no longer apply, at their high level every commandment of the Most High is eternal.
• Being 'under grace' means to be a recipient of the Almighty's mercy. Being under grace is no excuse for continuing in sin by refusing to follow the Torah. No one is above the Torah!

Those who ignore these facts do so at their peril.