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I’m Tom Nicholas — a pastor, teacher, and community builder living in Billings, Montana. My life and ministry flow from one heartbeat: to see the Church alive — Spirit-filled, rooted in Scripture, and moving with Jesus into the world. I serve as a pastor, chaplain, and mentor, helping people grow in faith, leadership, and everyday discipleship. Whether around a campfire, in a coffee shop, or through digital spaces, I believe the gospel belongs where life happens — in the field, among the people, and around the table. Through The Church Alive, I write about biblical leadership, spiritual formation, and building vibrant, missional communities that reflect the love and courage of Christ.

1. THE MORAL FLOW OF SCRIPTURE

From God → Love → The Ten → Torah Categories → Statutes → Messiah → The New Covenant Life

🌿 INTRODUCTION

This document lays out the entire moral logic of Scripture — the structure that undergirds the Torah, the Prophets, the teachings of Yeshua, and the writings of the apostles.

This is the map.
All future study (Document 2, Document 3, Document 4, and your published studies) will follow this framework.

This is the “big picture,” the skeleton upon which we will hang every statute, commandment, and moral teaching.

✡️ LEVEL 1 — GOD HIMSELF (The Source)

Everything begins with God’s character.

God is holy (Lev. 11:44–45; 1 Pet. 1:16)

God is righteous (Ps. 119:137; Rev. 16:5)

God is just (Deut. 32:4)

God is love (Deut. 7:7–9; 1 John 4:8)

From God’s nature flows the meaning of holiness, purity, righteousness, and love.
Torah is not arbitrary—it is a revelation of who God is.

✡️ LEVEL 2 — THE TWO GREAT COMMANDMENTS

These summarize the entire Law and the Prophets (Matt. 22:36–40).

  1. Love God with all your heart, soul, and might (Deut. 6:5).
  2. Love your neighbor as yourself (Lev. 19:18).

All commandments, judgments, and statutes show how to love God and neighbor faithfully.

✡️ LEVEL 3 — THE TEN WORDS (The Ten Commandments)

These are the pillars of the moral universe, split into two halves:

Love God (Commands 1–4):

  1. No other gods
  2. No idols
  3. Honor God’s Name
  4. Keep the Sabbath

Love Neighbor (Commands 5–10):

  1. Honor parents
  2. Do not murder
  3. Do not commit adultery
  4. Do not steal
  5. Do not bear false witness
  6. Do not covet

All the thousands of details — the statutes and judgments — flow out of these ten.

✡️ LEVEL 4 — TORAH CATEGORIES

These are the three major types of commandments:

1. Edot — Testimonies

Identity-forming laws that bear witness to God’s character and covenant.
Examples: Sabbath, festivals, priesthood, tabernacle.

2. Chukim — Statutes

Holiness and purity laws that define boundaries.
Examples: sexual purity, clean/unclean laws, separation laws, ritual purity.

3. Mishpatim — Judgments

Ethical, civil, and relational laws.
Examples: justice for the poor, property laws, restitution, violence, ethics.

These three categories will structure the entire in-depth study.

✡️ LEVEL 5 — THE MORAL SUBCATEGORIES (“The Many”)

Under Edot (Testimonies):

  • Covenant identity
  • Sacred space
  • Priestly holiness
  • Worship structure
  • Appointed times
  • Blessings/curses
  • The Shema
  • Offerings and sacrifices

Under Chukim (Statutes):

  • Sexual Purity (all forms: adultery, fornication, incest, homosexuality, bestiality, rape, prostitution, seduction)
  • Ritual Purity (childbirth, discharges, skin diseases, dead body impurity, clean/unclean foods)
  • Holiness Codes (Lev. 17–26)
  • Idolatry Boundaries
  • Separation Laws
  • Clothing/seed/mixtures

Under Mishpatim (Judgments):

  • Life & Violence (murder, assault, kidnapping, manslaughter, blood vengeance)
  • Property & Theft (stealing, restitution, lost property, borrowing, damage)
  • Social Ethics (care for widow/orphan, foreigner, courts, economic justice)
  • Marriage & Family (vows, divorce, inheritance, rebellion, levirate marriage)
  • Economic Justice (Sabbath year, Jubilee, tithing, wages, hospitality)

This is the “many” — the specific laws that show how to love God and neighbor in concrete life.

✡️ LEVEL 6 — MORAL PRINCIPLES UNDERLYING EACH STATUTE

Each statute teaches:

  • God’s values
  • What protects life
  • What preserves purity
  • What strengthens families
  • What guards worship
  • What forms justice
  • What heals relationships
  • What reveals God’s heart

These will be drawn out in Document 2 and Document 4.

✡️ LEVEL 7 — MESSIAH FULFILLS, DEEPENS, AND INTERNALIZES THE LAW

What Yeshua does with Torah:

1. Reveals its full meaning

Matt. 5:17–48 — intensifies the commandments to the heart level.

2. Lives it perfectly

Heb. 4:15 — sinless obedience.

3. Completes its prophetic purpose

Luke 24:27.

4. Brings the New Covenant

Jer. 31:31–33 — Torah written on the heart.

5. Applies the judgments spiritually

1 Cor. 5; Matt. 18 — church discipline replaces civil penalties.

6. Internalizes purity

Mark 7; Matt. 15 — purity laws fulfilled in the heart.

7. Forms a new humanity

Eph. 2 — one new man in Messiah.

8. Empowers obedience through the Spirit

Rom. 8:3–4.

This is where we bridge the Torah categories into New Covenant life.

✡️ LEVEL 8 — NEW COVENANT APPLICATION

Not civil enforcement, but:

  • heart transformation
  • Spirit empowerment
  • love as the fulfillment (Rom. 13:10)
  • church discipline (Matt. 18; 1 Cor. 5)
  • holiness of life (1 Pet. 1:15)
  • restoration and mercy (Gal. 6:1–2)
  • righteousness from the inside out (Matt. 23:25–28)
  • justice and mercy (Matt. 23:23)
  • purity of heart (Matt. 5:8)

This will be the heart of Document 3 and Document 4.

✡️ LEVEL 9 — THE KINGDOM TO COME

All commandments — testimonies, statutes, judgments — look forward to:

  • Messiah’s reign
  • New creation
  • Restoration of Israel
  • Judgment of evil
  • Perfection of righteousness
  • Fullness of holiness
  • God dwelling with His people

The Law is not abolished — it finds its ultimate Telos (completion) in the Kingdom.