I think most people don’t realize the actual meaning of the Semitic word that gets translated “believe”.
The Gospel should read thus: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever YIELDS, TRUSTS, OBEYS AND IS STEADFAST AND FAITHFUL in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.’
This is the full meaning of “Emunah” which is done a great injustice by being translated “believe” in English.
Please remember, when the Bible talks about ‘commands’, it actually refers to God’s Torah (first 5 books of the Old Testament; incl. commands like keeping the Sabbath, dietary laws, keeping God’s appointed festivals), where all of God’s commands/instructions are listed. It has been translated into Greek as ‘nomos’ (standard) which then became ‘law’ and ‘commands’. If you see these words used in any verse, it is the Torah, nothing more and nothing less. When Jesus/Yeshua or Paul teaching from Scripture, they are referring to the Torah.
NB: obeying God’s commands is NOT for salvation. Salvation is based on God’s grace and in our faith in the redemptive works of His Son on the cross. But when we call ourselves ‘believers’, we desire to obey them because the commands are now written on our hearts, not on tablets of stones anymore.
Some verses from the NT for you to reflect on:
– Matt.7:12 [The Golden Rule is taken from the Torah]
– Matt. 5:17-19 [Those who teach against Torah will be least in the Kingdom of Heaven]
– Matthew 7:21-23 [Depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ >> Torah-lessness]
– Matt.22:36-40 [Jesus taught the greatest commandments from the Torah using the Torah]
– Luke 10:26-28 [Yeshua encouraged Torah observance by elevating the weightier commandments. Why would He do that if the Torah should not be taught anymore?]
– Luke 16:17 [It is easier for heaven & earth to pass away than for Torah to do so]
– Luke 24:27 [Jesus taught by using the Torah]
– John 7:24 [Jesus taught to judge righteously, which is a law from Lev.19:15]
– John 7:49 [Jesus said those who do not know Torah are accursed]
– Acts 13:39 [Paul taught the Torah and the Prophets in Synagogue. Thus he can’t be possibly against it?]
