The Difference between Tradition and Truth

Rabbi Ken Alpren
Summary by Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
September 4, 2010

"Today you are standing, all of you, before ADONAI your God - your heads, your tribes, your leaders and your officers - all the men of Isra'el” Deuteronomy 29:10

We are standing in His grace, standing in warfare and standing in our deeds. We stand in His grace positionally, not on our merit or what we have done, but in His righteousness based upon His finished work and atoning sacrifice. Romans 5:2, “Also through him and on the ground of our trust, we have gained access to this grace in which we stand; so let us boast about the hope of experiencing God's glory.” See also 1Corinthians 1:30, 1Peter 5:12, Jeremiah 23:5-6.

When we stand in warfare, His power is made available to us through prayer or ‘na’ in Hebrew derived from the Hebrew word for war. We will also stand before Him in our deeds at the Bema. 2Corinthians 5:9-10, “Therefore, whether at home or away from home, we try our utmost to please him; 10 for we must all appear before the Messiah's court of judgment, where everyone will receive the good or bad consequences of what he did while he was in the body.” See also Romans 14:10-12

Traditions can be good or bad. They are good if they enhance the Word of G-d, provide structure, good memories, give anchor or security to truth, or connect us to family and history. Traditions are bad when they are placed on par with Scripture or even replace the Word of G-d and lead us away from truth or keep us in the dark.

Colossians 2:8, “Watch out, so that no one will take you captive by means of philosophy and empty deceit, following human tradition which accords with the elemental spirits of the world but does not accord with the Messiah.”

What does tradition teach regarding the Yomim Norai’im or the Days of Awe?

It is believed there are three books opened before G-d the Judge during the this time; the Book of Righteous, Wicked and In Between. During the Days of Awe, it is believed as tradition that the books are opened and names are written in the Book of Life based upon three methods of atonement whereby forgiveness can be secured and atonement made. The goal is to have one’s name inscribed and sealed for the next year through acts of repentance (teshuva), prayer (tefillah) and charity (tzedakah) tipping the scales in one’s favor. Psalm 118:19-20, “Open the gates of righteousness for me; I will enter them and thank Yah. 20 This is the gate of ADONAI; the righteous can enter it.”

These are the traditions for attaining atonement and securing salvation based upon tradition. But what does the Word of G-d say?

Psalm 119:89, “Your word continues forever, ADONAI, firmly fixed in heaven.” Matthew 24:35, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”

What are the books from G-d on earth?

The Tanakh consists of the Torah (Law or first five books), Navi’im (the prophets) and Ketubim (the writings) and the Brit Chadasha (New Covenant) consists of the Gospel, Acts, Letters and Apocalypse. And unlike traditional Judaism, there is also the Lamb’s Book of Life (Sefer HaChayim) and a Book of Remembrance (Sefer HaZikaron). See Revelation 20:15, Luke 10:20 and Malachi 3:16.

What does the Word of G-d really teach us about our names being written and sealed in The Book of Life?

Our names are written based upon His atonement for us rather than our atonement for ourselves! Ephesians 1:13-14, “Furthermore, you who heard the message of the truth, the Good News offering you deliverance, and put your trust in the Messiah were sealed by him with the promised Ruach HaKodesh, 14 who guarantees our inheritance until we come into possession of it and thus bring him praise commensurate with his glory.”

Titus 3:5, “he delivered us. It was not on the ground of any righteous deeds we had done, but on the ground of his own mercy. He did it by means of the mikveh of rebirth and the renewal brought about by the Ruach HaKodesh”. See also James 1:18, 1Peter 1:23, John 5:24.

This is the hope we can live in and share with others! There is a way, His Way, for our names to be written in The Book of Life, not just for a year, but forever!

Looking closely at Deuteronomy 30:1-6, we can see that this is G-d plan for His people and for us. Israel was dispersed due to disobedience, she will remember and return to the Land (which is already occurring), she will obey the L-rd because she has returned and He has shown her mercy, her heart will be circumcised, Israel’s enemies will be judged and she will receive the full blessing of the L-rd. The circumcision of her heart and ours is by our Heavenly Moil creating an inward renewal and a desire to please Him than to sin At this point, Israel corporately and us individually will love the L-rd with all our hearts and all our beings and we will live.

Further Reading: Deuteronomy 31:10-13, 24-26, Micah 4:1-2, Psalm 119-9-16, 1Timothy 4:13,16, 2Timothy 3:16-17, Colossians 2:11, Romans 2:29, Philippians 2:13, Jeremiah 4:4, Jeremiah 17:5-8, Isaiah 8:20