Ten Persistent Questions: Why We Keep the Torah

Something phenomenal is happening in our times: many people who confess Yeshua (Jesus) to be their Messiah and Savior are awakening to the spiritual treasures contained in the Torah (the books of Moses, or Genesis through Deuteronomy). While in the history of the Christian Church the Torah has been more or less considered obsolete and as having little or no application to the life of a believer in Yeshua, many are questioning this view and studying the Torah for themselves. What they are discovering is that Yeshua Himself, as well as His Apostles, lived Torah observant lives - that living out the commandments of the Torah is not contrary to a genuine faith in Yeshua as one's Savior and only means by which a sinner may be made righteous before God. A return to keeping the Sabbath, celebrating the yearly Festivals, and aligning one's lifestyle with the standards outlined by the Torah has been the result. Clearly, this return to Torah has not always been warmly received by the Christian Church and her leaders. Strong debates have ensued, and very often the same texts of Scripture are brought to the table as proof that the Torah has been abolished or substantially changed by the coming of Yeshua, and that those who confess Him as their Lord and Savior not only have no obligation to obey the commandments of Torah, but are to be warned away from incorporating such antiquated commandments into their lives.