Are we sinners, or can we be righteous?

Now I have seen how people have argued and continue to argue on a certain topic in the Scriptures. It even seems that there is a contradiction in the Scriptures where one group of people quote the Scriptures concerning the one idea and the other group of people also quote the Scriptures to say what seems to be a contradiction of that idea. Both these groups do not understand the true nature of the Scriptures, and therefore misinterpret it, as there is certainly no contradiction, but both ideas are 100% in agreement with each other.

Let us have a look at this argument in question.

The first group claims that there cannot be any person who is righteous and that we all continue to be sinners as long as we live. They then quote the following, “If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us” (1 John 1:10). This seems to be a valid argument don’t you think?

The other group says that there are righteous people and that we can live righteously. They then quote a couple of Scriptures like the following, “There was in the days of Herodes, the sovereign of Yehudah, a certain priest named Zecharyah, of the division of Aviyah. And his wife was of the daughters of Aharon, and her name was Elisheva. And they were both righteous before Elohim, blamelessly walking in all the commands and righteousnesses of יהוה (YHWH)” (Luke 1:5-6). They also quote all those who were righteous, like Abraham, Iyov (Job), Noah etc. This too is written and is a valid argument.

The fact of the matter is that both of these arguments, or concepts, are correct. Now how can both be correct at the same time? It is very easy to understand once you understand the character of the Almighty and the character of man.

Let me explain it in a simple way using the Scriptures. The Messiah Yehoshua and Shaul understood this very well and explains to us in many places, for example, “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh. And these are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you desire to do” (Galatians 5:17). Here he is explaining the difference between the flesh and the Spirit. These two fight against one another. You are either living in the flesh, where you are a sinner, or you are living according to the Ruach (Spirit), where you are righteous as you are living according to the Torah of YHWH and not according to your own desires.

Let us read some more, “That which has been born of the flesh is flesh, and that which has been born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:6). Here is what the concept of born again is. It is putting away the sinful flesh, and living according to the Ruach (Spirit) of YHWH. This is to live according to His Instruction, and not our own.

“It is the Spirit that gives life, the flesh does not profit at all. The words that I speak to you are Spirit and are life” (John 6:63). Here we are taught that only those who are righteous, living by the Spirit, gain life. Those living by the flesh, profit nothing unto destruction. Notice also that he says that the words are not his own, but the Words of the Spirit which brings life.

“For we know that the Torah is Spiritual, but I am fleshly, sold under sin” (Romans 7:14). Shaul gave us great understanding here by explaining that the Torah of YHWH is Spiritual, and not just Words written on paper. Those Words on the paper are living Words. The flesh does not live by them, but only the righteous do.

“There is, then, now no condemnation to those who are in Messiah יהושע (Yehoshua), who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:1). What is Shaul saying here? Those who are in the Messiah Yehoshua, are those who are living according to the Torah of YHWH! This totally contradicts what the Church teaches. If we are truly in the Messiah, then we will walk as He did, by obeying the Instructions of His Father, and not walking according to our own flesh, or the teachings of men (Pastors) which is also flesh (carnal) and leads to destruction.

“so that the righteousness of the Torah should be completed in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:4). Once again, Shaul is teaching that righteousness comes from the Torah, and that those walking in the Torah, are walking in the Spirit and not in the flesh.

“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the matters of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the matters of the Spirit” (Romans 8:5). You cannot live according to the flesh and the Spirit at the same time. If you live according to the flesh, your thoughts and ideas will be according to the flesh. But if you live in the Instruction of the Almighty, your thoughts will be on His Torah.

“For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace” (Romans 8:6). How silly are those who claim that Shaul taught us that we do not have to obey the Torah anymore. This is preposterous. Here he is teaching that if you do not obey the Torah of YHWH, then you will land up in destruction, but in order to obtain life, we need to walk in all the Torah, which is the instruction unto righteousness and life.

“But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of Elohim dwells in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Messiah, this one is not His” (Romans 8:9). It is clear that if one has the Spirit of Elohim, then that person will be obedient to the Torah. Those who are not obedient to the Torah, but claim to be led by the Spirit, are total liars. The Spirit of Elohim, will NEVER, teach anything contrary to His Torah. Those who do not have the Spirit, that person(s) is not one of His children.

“For if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you shall live” (Romans 8:13). Once again, Shaul is making it very clear that by living according to the flesh and not according to the Torah, the outcome will be death. But if you live according to the Spirit, then you will put away the fleshly desires, and then you will live righteously and will be given the gift of life eternal.

“Are you so senseless? Having begun in the Spirit, do you now end in the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3). Shaul is speaking to the congregation in Galatia. Rebuking them and calling them senseless as they turned from truth and obedience to the Torah, and continued in their fleshly desires. This will only end up in destruction.

“And I say: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not accomplish the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). The flesh has to be put away in order to obey the Torah. You cannot do both at the same time. Righteous people are not sinners.

“Because he who sows to his own flesh shall reap corruption from the flesh, but he who sows to the Spirit shall reap everlasting life from the Spirit” (Galatians 6:8). How many more times must Shaul teach this, and yet, the Church teaches the opposite. If you do not obey the Torah and do not live your life according to the Torah of YHWH, then you are living according to the flesh. I have heard many many Christians say that they will never work for a Christian boss. This is because Christianity is based on the flesh and reaps corruption. If that boss obeyed the Torah, he would treat his employees with respect and fairness, and also pay them what they were due and on time. Only those who obey the Torah of YHWH, will reap everlasting life.

“Let it not be! But let Elohim be true, and every man a liar, as it has been written, “That You should be declared right in Your words, and prevail in Your judging.” (Romans 3:4). Only Elohim is true and righteous, and every man is a liar. That is why we need to put away our old flesh, and live according to Elohim. If we walk in His instruction, and speak His words, then we speak truth and live righteously.

“But go and learn what this means, ‘I desire compassion and not offering. For I did not come to call the righteous to repentance, but sinners.” (Matthew 9:13). So as you can see, there is a clear distinction between the sinners and the righteous. The righteous are those who are living according to the Torah and not according to their own desires. But there is hope for those who are sinners, it is called repentance. Repentance is a turning away from your old fleshly self, and then continuing in the righteous living of obeying the Torah of YHWH.

Go have a look for yourself, who are those who are called the righteous in Scripture. Also see why they were called righteous. You will find that they were all righteous for the same reason. All of them obeyed the Torah of YHWH.

Let us some it up with the words of the Messiah, “And see, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good shall I do to have everlasting life?” And He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except One – Elohim. But if you wish to enter into life, guard the Commands” (Matthew 19:16-17). Wow… what a statement. Yehoshua the Messiah Himself said that not even He was good! And yet He never sinned. He is saying that there is only one being that is good and that being is YHWH the Creator of all. Yehoshua says that His flesh is not good, but He did not sin because he did all that YHWH His Father commanded Him to do. Yehoshua walk according to the Spirit, just as we are to walk according to the Spirit, and not according to the flesh.

So it is very clear that all of us have sinned, but it is also right that we can become righteous and be called righteous too, in fact, we are required to become righteous in order to obtain everlasting life. And in order to be called righteous, we need to guard to keep the whole Torah of YHWH.