"Now I testify again to every son of man that is circumcised that he is a debtor to do all the Torah. You have made the Messiah of no effect; these would be justified by the Torah and from favor you have fallen. For we by the Ruach (Spirit) which is from trust, await the hope of righteousness. For in the Messiah Yah'shua (Yehsua/Jesus) neither is circumcision anything nor uncircumcision, but trust which is perfected by love" (Galatians 5:3-6, HRV).

How would observing Torah make the Messiah of no effect when Yah'shua (Jesus) said we are to observe every single letter of it? Answer: the Old Covenant Torah with all its ceremonial pointers and Priesthood which have been fulfilled in Christ. We are to observe New Covenant Torah without the Ceremonial Statutes and Levitical Priesthood. And that means circumcision in the flesh is abolished.

There is much talk in Patriarchal circles about the required unquestioning obedience of wives to their husbands. And this is correct ... as far as the letter of the Torah goes. However, there is a superior Way in Messiah which is based on TRUST (faith) - and trust alone. If a wife does not trust her husband (for whatever reason - justified or unjustified) - then her obedience will be spiritually dead. Only trust, which is perfected by love, will yield that kind of perfect obedience required of her which is required by Torah to justify her in Yahweh's sight.

What this means is that whilst a wife has divine obligations of obedience, it is the obligation of the husband to bring about those spiritual conditions of trust and love that will allow her letter-obedience to spring into life. That means he must make himself trustworthy and loving, not by artificial means or in order to impress, but by a genuine walk with Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) for righteousness' sake.

He is responsible to be truthworthy and loving and she is responsible to obey. Each is an independent stewardship. But only the one gives life to the other.

Author: SBSK