The difference between Grace, Righteousness and Holiness

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GRACE, RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND HOLINESS:

As most of us know, “GRACE” has always been around; it’s all about what YHWH can and will do for us. For instance, He gave “grace” to Adam and Eve after they sinned, by allowing them to continue living by exiling them from the sanctuary of the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:22-24). He could have killed them on the spot, but He didn’t.

Same thing for Noah and his family; the Bible tells us Noah was the only righteous man on earth at the time, and YHWH spared him from the flood that killed everyone else on earth (Genesis 6).

And much later, He sent us His Divine Son, Messiah Yeshua, to proclaim, preach and teach the Kingdom of Elohim (Luke 4:43 and 8:1), and do everything his Father commanded John 6:35-40), and then to die as our Redeemer, Substitute, Salvation (Matthew 1; Luke 2, Matthew 27). Those things are all examples of His “Grace” and love for us!

“RIGHTEOUSNESS” refers to the fact that we should be conducting ourselves according to YHWH’s Torah (Divine Rules for Holy Living/Instructions in Righteousness, found in the first five Books of the Bible). Obedience to His Rules is what sets us apart from the world where evil abounds.

RIGHTEOUS LIVING IS WHAT MAKES US HOLY! That “holiness” (the quality or state of being holy, or to be “godly” or “devout”) is imparted to us after we accept YHWH and His Divine Rules for holy living, His Messiah, and His generous offer of Eternal Life.

And there you have it: GRACE, RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND HOLINESS go hand-in-hand. It’s NOT a “one-way street”; it is a relationship!

1 John 4: 12. No one has ever seen Elohim; but if we love one another, Elohim abides in us and his love is perfected in us. 13. And by this we know that we abide in him and that he abides in us, because he has given of his Spirit to us. 14. And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son, a Redeemer for the world.

15. Whoever confesses Y’shua to be the Son of Elohim, Elohim abides in him and he abides in Elohim. 16. And we have believed and known the love which Elohim has towards us: for Elohim is love, and whoever abides in love, abides in Elohim. 17. And hereby is his love perfected with us; that we may have open countenances in the day of judgment; because as he was, so also are we in this world.

18. In love there is no fear; but perfect love casts out fear; because fear exists in peril, and he that fears[*] is not perfected in love. 19. Let us, therefore, love Elohim; because he has first loved us. (AENT)

FOOTNOTE: This refers to the fear of man, the fear of loss and every other form of fear, except the Fear of YHWH. The Fear of YHWH helps to perfect the love of YHWH. A young child is taught about boundaries to protect and sustain the child’s welfare. The more wisdom and understanding a child has of their boundaries and environment, the more likely they will not fall into danger. Young children do not have the knowledge that their parents do; neither does mankind have all the knowledge that YHWH has. Only a fool would overstep the boundaries established by YHWH, this is not done by wise and understanding individuals.

May ADONAI bless you all as you continue to strive to be holy and righteous in His Eyes!

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ADDENDUM:  A Christian posing as a Messianic believer on Facebook decided to challenge my teaching above - and, honestly, I already knew how it would end up, but I decided to give it a try in hopes that SOMETHING might stick.  I am posting our brief exchange below.  If you’re interested, please read on….

CHRISTIAN’S REPLY TO MY ARTICLE ABOVE:  2 Corinthians 5:21.  He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

I do believe we are to follow our Father's instructions on how to live a set apart, holy life. But that is not what makes us righteous.

MY RESPONSE: Thanks for your response. Could you tell me in your view what makes us righteous?

CHRISTIAN’S REPLY: Our Faith in the shed blood of Messiah as an atonement for sin. As it says in 2 Corinthians 5:21.

MY RESPONSE: Oh yes, that is absolutely true! However, in the meantime, we are expected to repent and turn from our sins and, unless we walk in the way that Yeshua walked, we cannot possibly be what YHWH expects us to be. We cannot be holy if we’re walking in our own way and still behaving in a carnal way, etc. The only way to be truly holy is to be obedient to YHWHs divine rules. 

For instance, once we accept Yahweh and Yeshua, we are supposed to start keeping the seventh day of Sabbath and all the feasts - which are commanded. We are also supposed to be eating only clean foods. The church doesn’t teach that, which is a real shame because they are actual commands that apply to all.

CHRISTIAN’S REPLY: Yes, I agree. But that is AFTER we're made righteous by the shed blood of the Lamb by faith, else we could say our obedience saved us, we cannot ever be obedient enough, all OUR righteousness is as filthy rags. We obey by the power of the Holy Spirit not by our own will. 2 Corinthians 5:21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

 MY RESPONSE: You seem to be all about Yeshua and the NT writings - and not about YHWH and "the whole picture." I do get what you are saying, but you are adhering to the much-misunderstood writings of Paul. I mean, how did Enoch suddenly disappear to be with God in Genesis 5:24? And Elijah in 2 Kings 2:10-11? How did Noah - the only man on earth at the time - get saved from the Flood? (Gen 6) Yeshua hadn't died yet to remove anybody from their past sins!

Same thing with all of our forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and a whole host of others. They were considered righteous and holy BECAUSE they obeyed YHWH's Rules for holy and righteous living. Righteousness and holiness go hand-in-hand.

Simply "believing" and having faith, doesn't get you into Eternity.  That is a myth that is taught in Christian churches.  Satan "believes" and "has faith" - and his future is in the Lake of Fire!  (He – someone who had apparently forgotten that he was just a “created being” had so much faith that he tried to take over the whole corporation because the idea of becoming and even BEING God was really appealing to him!)

The Truth is, WE MUST DO something to BE holy and righteous!   There are tons of passages in Torah that show this.  How do you know you're being righteous unless you adhere to the things written and commanded by God in the Torah?  Both Yeshua and Paul attested to that fact over and over again, and everything they discussed referred back to the Torah and the commands written therein.

Isaiah 57:1 The righteous person perishes, and nobody gives it a thought. Godly men are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous person is taken away from the evil yet to come. 2 Yes, those who live uprightly will have peace as they rest on their couches. (CJB)

Please re-read verse 2 above, and then carefully look at what Yeshua said, below:

Matthew 5: 17 Don't think that I have come to abolish the Torah or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete. 18 Yes indeed! I tell you that until heaven and earth pass away, not so much as a yud or a stroke will pass from the Torah - not until everything that must happen has happened. 19 So whoever disobeys the least of these mitzvot (words/commands) and teaches others to do so will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But whoever obeys them and so teaches will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness is far greater than that of the Torah-teachers and P'rushim, you will certainly not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. (CJB)

Has everything happened that must happen? Have heaven and earth passed away yet? Yeshua even said He didn't come to abolish but to complete/fulfill. That did not mean "put an end to" having to DO the things that comprise holy, moral, righteous living...

Rev. 12:17 - And the dragon was enraged against the woman; and he went to make war upon the remnant of her seed who keep the Commandments of Elohim AND have the testimony of Y'shua. (AENT)

Rev. 14:12 - Here is the patience of the Set Apart believers who keep the commandments of Elohim, AND the faith of Y'shua. (AENT)

Leviticus 20:26 "...you people are to be holy for me; because I, Adonai, am holy; and I have set you apart from the other peoples, so that you can belong to me." (CJB)

How can you be "set apart" (holy and righteous) UNLESS you're adhering to more than just that last fourth of the Bible called the New Testament? What did Jesus remove there, except our certificate of debt of our PAST sins?

Leviticus 15:31 "In this way you will separate the people of Isra'el from their uncleanness, so that they will not die in a state of uncleanness for defiling my tabernacle which is there with them." (CJB)

Numbers 19:20 "The person who remains unclean and does not purify himself will be cut off from the community because he has defiled the sanctuary of Adonai." (CJB)

You have to DO something to "purify" yourself from the filth of "the world." Even the Priests (who certainly "believed and had faith") who entered the Holy of Holies out in the wilderness had to wash themselvesbefore entering the Tent...

1 Peter 1:15 13 Therefore, get your minds ready for work, keep yourselves under control, and fix your hopes fully on the gift you will receive when Yeshua the Messiah is revealed. 14 As people who obey God, do not let yourselves be shaped by the evil desires you used to have when you were still ignorant. 15 On the contrary, following the Holy One who called you, become holy yourselves in your entire way of life; 16 since the Tanakh says, Be holy for I am holy...

Now check out the following. Myriads "believe" and "have faith in Jesus" - yet they can't be bothered with keeping the following COMMANDED Appointed Times:

Exodus 31: 13 "Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: 'Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you."

Exodus 31: 16 "Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. 17 It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.'"

The Mo'edim/Appointed Times/Feasts are outlined in Leviticus 23 which states after each feast: "it shall be a statute for ever in all your dwellings throughout your generations." Yeshua didn't come to remove those. Why would he? They serve to make us holy AND righteous in YHWH's Eyes!

Only those who live righteous and holy lives will enter the Kingdom. And YES, we tend to fall off the Path sometimes - but that's where Grace comes in, for we are forgiven whenever we repent and return to continue being righteous and holy. 🙂

“You are to be holy because I am holy.”

Revelation 22:14 Blessed are they who DO His (Master YHWH's) Mitzvot, that they may have a right to the tree of life and may enter through the gates into the city. (AENT)

CHRISTIAN'S REPLY:  (She started quoting tons of passages out of Galatians in hopes of showing me the error or my ways ... which I'm not posting here because it will make this article twice as long as it already is.)

MY RESPONSE: 

I knew this is how this would end up!  You're free to believe whatever you wish. Just know that ALL you've done is to quote from the NT, complete with a Greek, NT-only mindset in hopes of showing me "the error of my ways." There is an indepth response on my website to anyone who attempts to use the Book of Galatians to “prove” that “Jesus trumps” all, including his Father’s Torah – which, by the way Yeshua TAUGHT! 

CHRISTIAN’S REPLY: LOL I was in NO WAY arguing against Torah. The fact you see the NT as you do tells me all I need to know.

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COMMENT TO MY READING AUDIENCE:

I didn’t bother to respond to that person anymore. (It's frustrating to see that people never actually ANSWER my questions; rather, they simply slough over them and continue posting THEIR arguments, replete with twisted Scripture passages.)

Be that as it may, I’m sharing this exchange here because it is a perfect example of the kinds of challenges that believers in YHWH/Yeshua/Torah get to deal with constantly.  I chose to come out of Christianity nearly 30 years ago, and all my teachings reveal that fact – and yet, “they” continue to crawl out of the woodwork” in hopes of either converting me AWAY from the “whole Bible concept” altogether, or at least "enlighten" me to the fact that NOTHING but "Jesus" matters, in the grand scheme of things.

The bottom line is that, if someone is convinced of their own beliefs (even those that in no way line up with Scripture) there is absolutely NOTHING you can say or do will change their minds.  Nothing.  Not even direct quotes from Yeshua, or Father YAH Himself.

 

They’re not “Jewish feasts,” they are “eternally mandated Feasts of YHWH!”

I DON’T FOLLOW A SINGLE “JEWISH FEAST” IN THE TORAH; I follow the “eternally mandated Feasts of YHWH.” His festivals all have special meanings, and – just as the Seventh Day Sabbath is our “weekly date with God,” those seven feasts/festivals are our yearly “dates” with Him. Why would anyone wish to reject a “date” with our amazing ELOHIM?

When you read the Torah in context, you will see that those feasts are His feasts, NOT for the Jews alone, because – as you can see in Exodus 12:37-50 - a mixed multitude came out of Egypt (and they were expected to adhere to the same rules); and thus, Abraham's generations blessed the world. God’s Holy Days and ways are what sets HIS people APART from the the world...

YHWH expected ALL who accepted Him to do exactly as HIS people did – and that did not change, just because “Jesus died” – because he didn’t come to abolish the Torah or bring any “religion” designed to make up its own rules and ignore the ones His Father commanded. Take a look:

Numbers 15: 13 "'Every citizen is to do these things in this way when presenting an offering made by fire as a fragrant aroma for ADONAI. 14 If a foreigner stays with you - or whoever may be with you, through all your generations - and he wants to bring an offering made by fire as a fragrant aroma for ADONAI, he is to do the same as you.

15 For this community there will be the same law for you as for the foreigner living with you; this is a permanent regulation through all your generations; the foreigner is to be treated the same way before ADONAI as yourselves. 16 The same Torah and standard of judgment will apply to both you and the foreigner living with you.'" (CJB)

Please note that “do the same as” His people is mentioned FOUR times in the passage above. Multiple mentions of something means we really need to pay attention because it’s important to YHWH!

Also note that the “mixed multitude” who came out of Egypt with Moshe, describes most of us today! Once we accept YHWH as our ELOHIM and Yeshua as His Divine Messiah who died to remove our past sins, we are obligated to do just as HIS people do:

1 John 2:3 The way we can be sure we know him is if we are obeying his commands. 4 Anyone who says, "I know him," but isn't obeying his commands is a liar - the truth is not in him. 5 But if someone keeps doing what he says, then truly love for God has been brought to its goal in him. This is how we are sure that we are united with him. 6 A person who claims to be continuing in union with him ought to conduct his life the way he did. (CJB)

(And how did Y'shua walk? IN TORAH! Everything he taught refers back to Torah!)

1 John 2:7 My beloved, I write no new commandment to you, but the old Commandment which you had from the beginning; and the old Commandment is the Word which you have heard. (AENT)

And what is “the Word” which we have heard? Torah commands!

Believers are expected to keep YHWH’s feasts because He commanded them to be kept – and Messiah Yeshua has so far fulfilled the first four of the seven! (Please see our article which contains all the pertinent scriptures: https://therefinersfire.org/feasts3.htm
We see passages the entire Bible that support what YHWH commanded and His Messiah (and, yes, even the much-misunderstood Paul) taught:

Proverbs 28:9 If a person will not listen to Torah, even his prayer is an abomination. (CJB) (See also 1 Peter 3:12, Proverbs 15:29, James 5:16, Isaiah 59:2, James 4:3-8, James 1:6-7, John 15:7, Revelation 21:8, etc.)

Romans 10: 12. And in this, it discriminates neither Jews nor Gentiles. For there is one, Master YHWH, over them all, who is abundantly generous towards every one that calls on him. 13. For everyone that will call on the name of Master YHWH, will have life. (AENT)

John 14:15 If you love me, you will keep my commands; (CJB)

Revelation 12:17 And the dragon was enraged against the woman; and he went to make war upon the remnant of her seed who keep the Commandments of Elohim and have the testimony of Y'shua. (AENT)

Ecclesiastes 12: 13 Here is the final conclusion, now that you have heard everything: fear God, and keep his mitzvot; this is what being human is all about. 14 For God will bring to judgment everything we do, including every secret, whether good or bad. [Here is the final conclusion, now that you have heard everything: fear God, and keep his mitzvot; this is what being human is all about.] (CJB)

People, loving our ELOHIM means we must OBEY His Divine Rules, as they are the ONLY blueprint for moral holy living that He has always expected of those who believe in Him! As mentioned above, His festivals all have special meanings, and they are our yearly “dates” with YHWH.

Halleluyah! What an amazing, gracious God we serve!

Abstaining from all kinds of evil…

THE WORD COMMANDS US TO ABSTAIN FROM EVIL OF ALL KINDS. We've all experienced what happens when we've been introduced to, invaded by, and/or overtaken by "evil" at some point - and it's usually (but not always) because we've ALLOWED it to enter.

(A personal example is that I’ve belonged to at least three congregations over the course of the last 25 years, which ultimately fell apart because the leaders allowed “evil” to enter. YHWH is always watching and, while He does give us time to “set things right,” He will eventually cause a congregation to implode if the evil is not expelled, and/or the perpetrator(s) causing the problems are not properly dealt with. We cannot be a light to the world if we are behaving “like the world!”)

As you know, evil” includes all manner of willful, deliberate sins. It includes acts that are morally reprehensible, offensive, sinful and wicked, causing discomfort or repulsion. It often consists of something that brings sorrow, distress, or calamity. (The scripture passages below will include many examples of what God considers “evil.”)

Be that as it may, those who truly know ADONAI, His Divine Messiah and His Word - from Genesis to Revelation - are better able to discern evil whenever they encounter it, and will squash it, or at least confront the person(s) causing it; thus stopping evil in its tracks.

As mentioned at the beginning of this article, the Bible amply instructs us to ABSTAIN from evil. The following (presented in no particular order) are some passages that perfectly outline things our Heavenly Father views as “evil”:

Jonah 2:8 "Those who worship vain idols give up their source of mercy… (CJB)

1 Corinthians 10:14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. (CJB)

Galatians 5:19. For you know the works of the flesh, which are these: adultery, impurity and lasciviousness, 20. idolatry, witchcraft, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, stubbornness, treacheries, heresies, 21. Envy, murder, drunkenness, revelry and all like things. Those who do things like these, they will not inherit the Kingdom of Elohim. (AENT)

Colossians 3:5 Therefore, put to death the earthly parts of your nature - sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed (which is a form of idolatry); 6 for it is because of these things that God's anger is coming on those who disobey him. (CJB)

1 Thessalonians 4:3: For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality.... (CJB)

1 Corinthians 6: 9 Don’t you know that unrighteous people will have no share in the Kingdom of God? Don’t delude yourselves — people who engage in sex before marriage, who worship idols, who engage in sex after marriage with someone other than their spouse, who engage in active or passive homosexuality, 10 who steal, who are greedy, who get drunk, who assail people with contemptuous language, who rob — none of them will share in the Kingdom of God. (CJB)

1 Timothy 1: 8 We know that the Torah is good, provided one uses it in the way the Torah itself intends. 9 We are aware that Torah is not for a person who is righteous, but for those who are heedless of Torah and rebellious, ungodly and sinful, wicked and worldly, for people who kill their fathers and mothers, for murderers, 10 the sexually immoral — both heterosexual and homosexual — slave dealers, liars, perjurers, and anyone who acts contrary to the sound teaching 11 that accords with the Good News of the glorious and blessed God. (CJB)

1 Timothy 1:28 In other words, since they have not considered God worth knowing, God has given them up to worthless ways of thinking; so that they do improper things. 29 They are filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and vice; stuffed with jealousy, murder, quarreling, dishonesty and ill-will; they are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God; they are insolent, arrogant and boastful; they plan evil schemes; they disobey their parents; 31 they are brainless, faithless, heartless and ruthless. 32 They know well enough God's righteous decree that people who do such things deserve to die; yet not only do they keep doing them, but they applaud others who do the same. (CJB)

YHWH has always been very adamant about unholy (evil) behavior. Unholy behavior has consequences, as we see right from the beginning in Genesis 3, when Adam and Eve were kicked out of the Garden of Eden for their disobedience to His Divine Instruction to not “eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. And by Genesis 6, He destroyed the entire earth (except for Noah and his family, who were the only “righteous” people) via a flood BECAUSE of their evil ways!

The bottom line is that YHWH expects HOLINESS – always has! We can see this in passages such as the following:

Leviticus 19: 1 ADONAI said to Moshe, 2 "Speak to the entire community of Isra'el; tell them, 'You people are to be holy because I, ADONAI your God, am holy. (CJB)

Leviticus 19: 19 "'Observe my regulations.... (CJB)

Leviticus 19: 37 Observe all my regulations and rulings, and do them; I am ADONAI.'" (CJB)

Leviticus 20: 7 Therefore consecrate yourselves -you people must be holy, because I am ADONAI your God. 8 Observe my regulations, and obey them; I am ADONAI, who sets you apart to be holy. (CJB)

We are to be holy because HE is holy, and come Judgment Day, there will be no “halfhearted” people entering into Eternity! EVIL DOES NOT EXIST IN YHWH’s REALM!

WHENEVER WE ENCOUNTER EVIL OF ANY KIND, we need to pray for the guidance lovingly provided by the Holy One of Israel who gave us His Torah to live by – a divine set of rules for moral, holy living that echo into the “New Testament” and our very souls; and can heal not only individual lives, but entire congregations of set apart people who understand the need for HOLY living in this lost and doomed world …

Galatians 5:16. I say then: you should walk through the Spirit and the lust of the flesh will not subdue you.  17. For flesh desires a thing that is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires a thing that is against the flesh, and both of these are opposed to one another so that you are not able to do as you wish. 

18. If, then, you are led by the Spirit, you are not under Torah; [1] 19. For you know the works of the flesh, which are these: adultery, impurity and lasciviousness,  20. idolatry, witchcraft, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, stubbornness, treacheries, heresies,  21. Envy, murder, drunkenness, revelry and all like things.  Those who do things like these, they will not inherit the Kingdom of Elohim.

22. The fruits then of the Spirit are these: Love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, faith,  23. Meekness, self-control.  Against these there is no instruction [2] put in place.  24. And those who are of Mashiyach have put to death their flesh with all its passions and lusts.  25. Let us therefore live by the Spirit and surrender to the Spirit.  26. And let us not be of vacant glories that cause us to ridicule one another and envy one another. (AENT)

FOOTNOTES:

[1] The idiomatic expression “under the Torah” refers to a false teaching that has never been true.  The Dead Sea Scrolls confirm that this phrase “under the Torah” refers to strict religious halacha, not obedience to Torah itself.  Torah has not at any time saved anyone! YHWH saves when His people demonstrate a sincere obedience to His Righteous Instructions (Torah).  Blind ritual (or religion) alone without the love of YHWH profits nothing.  YHWH is “the Spirit” of the Renewed Covenant that writes Torah upon the heart. 

[2]  In this context, namusa, the Aramaic cognate for torah, is better understood at its root level, meaning “to instruct,” rather than as a formalized title.  Otherwise, Rav Shaul might be construed as saying that these “Fruits of the Spirit” are not taught in Torah, when (the fact is) they are.  His point is that there is no instruction against fulfilling these fruits of the spirit.

MAY ABBA RICHLY BLESS ALL OF YOU as you continue to learn and grow in His Word!

“WE’RE NOT UNDER THE LAW; WE’RE UNDER GRACE!”

Aaaargh!  I'm so tired of hearing that, because it’s such a huge misconception! Humanity has ALWAYS been “under grace,” and NEVER “under the law” – and nowhere does the Bible state that “the law” was supposed to “save” anyone.

For those who didn’t realize this, “Torah” commands (erroneously referred to as “Law”) are found in the first five Books of the Bible which contain all of ADONAI’s Divine Instructions for Righteousness – without which we would have no blueprint for moral, holy living.

Yeshua (whom Christians call Jesus) never said he came to abolish those instructions. (Why would he?) He came to martyr himself on our behalf; he sacrificed his own life and shed his divine blood to remove our past sins, which become obliterated once we repent and turn from them.

THAT is what allows us to have eternal life – NOT the Torah commands!

HOWEVER, in order for us to BE holy, it is imperative to OBEY and DO God’s Divine Instructions. Doesn’t that make sense? Is there another way to “be holy?”

For some reason, many today believe that obedience is somehow a BAD thing (some even go so far as to call YHWH’s Torah a CURSE, due to their misunderstanding of Paul’s writings!), and insist all that’s required to “get to heaven” is to “believe in Jesus.”

My goodness – how much clearer could ADONAI have been? Throughout the entire Torah with its awesome stories of our forefathers, we see God saying, “Obey Me so that all will go well with you!” I don't care what language you use, those words cannot be misunderstood!

He had even destroyed the whole world by flood very early on, because NOBODY except Noah bothered to be righteous or willing enough to DO God’s Will by living a holy life. That was "grace" provided for his obedience! He had even showed “grace” to Adam and Eve by allowing them to continue living AFTER they purposely disobeyed Him.

Grace has always been around. Truth is, however, that "grace" never replaced our need to "obey" the rules for holy living...

Yet, somehow, today, “obedience” seems to be irrelevant - even a BAD thing to do, and people will fight you to the death to shove that silly notion down our collective throat because “God is all about grace!” (Well, I challenge you to read and actually study the Torah and Yeshua’s [and Paul’s] comments about what happens to those who refuse to obey…)

Folks, the bottom line is, Grace and Obedience go hand-in-hand. We have never been told that Torah was some kind of a “magic spell” designed to remove our sins. Our past sins are removed via the belief in, and acceptance of the shed blood of Yeshua haMashiach (Jesus the Messiah). That's why YHWH sent him.

HOWEVER, the blood of Messiah does not, and has never, negated the need to OBEY ADONAI’s Divine Instructions to His people live holy, set apart lives - but following them brings obedience, which leads to salvation and blessings.

It’s really that simple.

DON’T PARTICIPATE IN HALLOWEEN! God commands that we abstain from all manner of evil…

HALLOWEEN IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER! How can we honor a holiday that honors evil, the occult, demons, fear and death, when YHWH commanded His people to avoid those things, and Yeshua died to remove our past sins for catering to those things?

Let's examine what ADONAI said about "abominable practices":

Deuteronomy 18:9 "When you enter the land ADONAI your God is giving you, you are not to learn how to follow the abominable practices of those nations. 10 There must not be found among you anyone who makes his son or daughter pass through fire, a diviner, a soothsayer, an enchanter, a sorcerer, 11 a spell-caster, a consulter of ghosts or spirits, or a necromancer.

12 For whoever does these things is detestable to ADONAI, and because of these abominations ADONAI your God is driving them out ahead of you. 13 You must be wholehearted with ADONAI your God. 14 For these nations, which you are about to dispossess, listen to soothsayers and diviners; but you, ADONAI your God does not allow you to do this. (CJB)

Leviticus 18: 1 ADONAI said to Moshe, 2 "Speak to the people of Isra'el; tell them, 'I am ADONAI your God. 3 You are not to engage in the activities found in the land of Egypt, where you used to live; and you are not to engage in the activities found in the land of Kena'an, where I am bringing you; nor are you to live by their laws. 4 You are to obey my rulings and laws and live accordingly; I am ADONAI your God. 5 You are to observe my laws and rulings; if a person does them, he will have life through them; I am ADONAI. (CJB)

1 Thessalonians 5: 19 Don't quench the Spirit, 20 don't despise inspired messages. 21 But do test everything - hold onto what is good, 22 but keep away from every form of evil. 23 May the ELOHIM of shalom make you completely holy - may your entire spirit, soul and body be kept blameless for the coming of our Master Y’shua the Mashiyach. (CJB)

Galatians 5: 19 And it is perfectly evident what the old nature does. It expresses itself in sexual immorality, impurity and indecency; 20 involvement with the occult and with drugs; in feuding, fighting, becoming jealous and getting angry; in selfish ambition, factionalism, intrigue 21 and envy; in drunkenness, orgies and things like these. I warn you now as I have warned you before: those who do such things will have no share in the Kingdom of God! (CJB)

Revelation 9: 20 The rest of mankind, those who were not killed by these plagues, even then did not turn from what they had made with their own hands — they did not stop worshipping demons and idols made of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk.[a] 21 Nor did they turn from their murdering, their involvement with the occult and with drugs, their sexual immorality or their stealing. (CJB)

Revelation 21: 8 But as for the cowardly, the untrustworthy, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those involved with the occult and with drugs, idol-worshippers, and all liars — their destiny is the lake burning with fire and sulfur, the second death.” (CJB)

Ephesians 5: 11 Have nothing to do with the deeds produced by darkness, but instead expose them, 12 for it is shameful even to speak of the things these people do in secret. 13 But everything exposed to the light is revealed clearly for what it is, 14 since anything revealed is a light. This is why it says, “Get up, sleeper! Arise from the dead, and the Messiah will shine on you!” 15 Therefore, pay careful attention to how you conduct your life — live wisely, not unwisely. 16 Use your time well, for these are evil days. 17 So don’t be foolish, but try to understand what the will of the Lord is. (CJB)

DON'T ADHERE TO ANY "HOLIDAYS" THAT MAKE YOU STRAY FROM ADONAI's PATH! Listen ONLY to the Ruach haKodesh (Holy Spirit) that resides in you, for it - like Yeshua/The Word - is a part of YHWH, that helps to keep us on His Holy Path.

1 Corinthians 2:10-11, we see the characteristic of omniscience in the Ruach: 10. But Elohim has revealed it to us, by his Spirit; for the Spirit explores all things, even the profound things of Elohim. 11. For what man is there, who knows that which is in a man, except it be the spirit of the man, which is in him? So also, that which is in Elohim, no one knows, except the Spirit of Elohim.

12. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from Elohim; that we might know the free gifts, which are given to us by Elohim. 13. Which things we also speak; not in the teaching of the words of man’s wisdom, but in the teaching of the spirit; and we teach spiritual matters to those with spiritual focus.

14. For a man in his natural self does not receive spiritual concepts; for they are foolishness to him. Neither can he know them; for they are discerned by the Spirit. 15. But he that is spiritual, judges of all things: and he is judged of by no one. 16. For who has known the mind of Master YHWH, that he should instruct him? But we have the mind of Mashiyach. (AENT)

Reader comment: “There is NO PROOF Jesus ever existed, or that any of the NT writings are real. There is only the Torah and the rest of the Tanak. PROVE ME WRONG!”

Comment from someone who has rejected YHWH’s Divine Messiah and “crossed over” to join the Jewish “counter-missionary” Rabbis and their converts – and now spends his time trying to convert others.  He wrote:

“I no longer believe in the New Testament or your Jesus!  There is NO PROOF Jesus ever existed, or that any of the NT writings are real.  There is only the Torah and the rest of the Tanak.  PROVE ME WRONG!”

OUR RESPONSE:

Thank you for the opportunity to “prove you wrong!” 

Let’s begin by mentioning Messiah’s actual, given, Hebrew Name, “Yeshua” (also spelled as Y’shua, whose name means “Yahweh is Salvation”).  Catholicism came up with the name “Jesus.” 

Secondly, before we attempt to “prove you wrong,” we’ll pose a few questions for you to ponder about your dogged belief in the Tanach, in hopes that you will ask yourself how you can possibly believe that the same God who performed all of the miracles seen there, was somehow incapable of causing His own Messiah to come to earth in a form humans could recognize.

Please read the following (and consider passing it along to your friends - the Jewish “counter-missionary” Rabbis and their followers who spend enormous time and energy bashing Messiah Yeshua, the writings of Paul and the entire New Testament and calling it a myth) and ask yourself, “WHY do I blindly believe these things, since neither I nor my Jewish Rabbi friends and their hangers-on were NOT there to witness them:

1. God created the entire universe and everything in it, including man whom He made from the dust of earth. 

2. God flooded the earth, killing everybody except Noah and his family – who started mankind all over again.

3. Lot's wife turned into a pillar of salt, and later on, Lot's daughters got their father drunk so they could have children. 

4. God sent ten plagues who show Pharaoh who was boss; and later he caused the sea to part, allowing only the Israelites to pass through, while basically wiping out all the Egyptians who followed in hot pursuit. 

5. God supernaturally clothed and fed six million people wandering in the wilderness for 40 years – all while leading them via pillars of cloud and fire. (How was THAT possible, and were you personally there to witness all that? Did YOU eat any of the manna or place any items into the Ark?)

6. God saved from a fiery furnace thee men who went INTO the furnace (Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and a fourth person “who looked like the son of man”). 

7. Elijah ran faster than a chariot and was fed by Ravens. (Hmmm … was that even kosher, and were you personally there to witness that event?)

8. Jonah spent 3 days and nights in a whale’s stomach and lived. (Were you in there with him?)

There are literally TONS of other examples, but since you insist there is no proof for YHWH’s Messiah or any of the NT texts, then explain WHY you BLINDLY believe all of the above - just because these stories were "handed down" by word of mouth...

Now, to the proof that Yeshua existed:

By demanding PROOF, are you suggesting that his Father, YHWH (also transliterated as “Yahweh”) was lying when He said He would send a prophet who was to do everything He ordered him to do?

Deuteronomy 18: 15 "ADONAI will raise up for you a prophet like me from among yourselves, from your own kinsmen. You are to pay attention to him, 16 just as when you were assembled at Horev and requested ADONAI your God, 'Don't let me hear the voice of ADONAI my God any more, or let me see this great fire ever again; if I do, I will die!' 17 On that occasion ADONAI said to me, 'They are right in what they are saying. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their kinsmen. I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I order him.(CJB)

By the way, Yeshua himself said He came to do HIS FATHER's will; not his own!

John 6: 35. Y'shua said to them, I am the Bread of Life. Whoever comes to me will not hunger. And whoever believes in me will not ever thirst. 36. But I have said to you that you have seen me, and you do not believe. 37. All who my Father has given to me will come, and whoever comes not to me I will cast outside! 38. For I came down from heaven, not to do my will, but to do the will of Him who sent me. 39. And this is His will, that of Him who sent me, that all that He has given to me I do not lose even one. 40. For this is the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him, will have life that is eternal. And I will raise him up on the last day. (AENT)

How do you explain away all the eyewitness accounts of Jesus’s life, which were written down by people who would have been alive to know him or the people who knew him personally; or the mention of the "dead in Messiah" who rose from their graves when Y'shua died (Matthew 27:51-53)? How about the letters of the Apostle Paul and the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus who lived around AD 47-100, who referred to our Messiah in his history of Judaism “Jewish Antiquities” from AD 93.

How do you explain away all the Gnostic writings (The Gospel of Truth, The Apocryphon of John, The Gospel of Thomas, The Treatise on Resurrection, etc.); along with all sorts of other writings that mention Jesus? Despite limitations, a few decades following Jesus’s supposed lifetime, mentions of him started to crop up in the writings of Jewish and Roman historians, as well as in dozens of texts by Christians.

And let’s not forget that an entire “religion” was formed around his life, death, burial and resurrection. Those are FACTS! How many other people do you know who managed to affect the ENTIRE WORLD in the way Yeshua did?

Some argue that Yeshua wasn't an actual man; however - within a few decades of his lifetime, he was mentioned by Jewish and Roman historians! Even the Babylonian Talmud (Sanhedrin 43a) confirms his crucifixion on the eve of Passover and the accusations against Messiah of practicing sorcery and encouraging Jewish apostasy!

Since you insist Yeshua is a myth, then explain why he is foreshadowed throughout the Tanach, especially in Isaiah 53, and also in every one of the Biblical Feasts. We're also told that the Messiah would be both divine and human; the "seed of a woman" as promised in Genesis 3:15; and his virgin birth was to be a sign to Israel of his Messiahship.

BEFORE WE GO ON, we already know from experience with other “Jesus-rejecters” that you are thinking, “Isaiah 53 is all about Israel.”  But ponder this:  Can Israel DIE for Israel? (No, but Y’shua did! See Matthew 27.) Can Israel be wounded for our transgressions? (No, but Y’shua was! See Matthew 27.) Can people take Israel's garments and divide them? (No, but that certainly happened in Y’shua’s case! See John 19:23.) WHEN was "Israel" wounded for our transgressions or crushed because of our iniquities? Has the world been HEALED by "Israel"? Not hardly!

Yeshua has filled myriads of Tanach prophecies - and people can reject it all they want, but they cannot CHANGE those facts!  (For more facts on Isaiah 53, we would ask you to check out our article.)

And let’s not forget, Yeshua has fulfilled at least 300 Messianic prophecies! We are told of his many miracles in the Renewed Covenant, including turning water into wine, raising the dead, walking on water, etc. He came to earth to represent YHWH (his Father), to teach us how to worship Him, to teach us how to treat each other, and to be our final sin sacrifice. He willingly went to the cross, and then He bodily resurrected and ascended, and the Bible tells us he would return in the future to establish His kingdom upon the earth…

He DIED for you, and has fulfilled many prophecies (with more to be fulfilled in the future – see Matthew 16:21; John 2:19); and yet you want to sit behind your keyboard to bash and trash him?

Yes, it is true that throughout Scripture we see over and over again that YHWH is the ONLY God/Elohim. That Truth CANNOT be denied! Examples:

Deuteronomy 4: 39 ...know today, and establish it in your heart, that ADONAI is God in heaven above and on earth below - there is no other.

Isaiah 45: 5 I am ADONAI; there is no other; besides me there is no God.

In view of the above, can you not see that Yeshua was the MESSIAH; he wasn’t sent to overthrow YHWH and bring a new “religion” – but to proclaim the Kingdom and to do everything his Father commanded? He even PRAYED to his Father (Luke 22:42, Mark 14:36)!

HOWEVER, the Bible ALSO goes on to tell us, that Messiah Yeshua was co-equal of ELOHIM (Philippians 2:6-11; John 10:22-39); yet, at the same time we are NOT told that he was “YHWH” … rather, he was The Word who came from, and has always been WITH YHWH; and thus, he was an indelible PART OF YHWH.

He and YHWH are therefore an “echad” – ONE! But, while walking on earth for a short time, he was a human with a divine “qnoma” (nature) who came to show mankind the Kingdom of God, and illustrate by personal example how to “walk inTorah.”  He came to do everything his Father commanded … and then to “die” and be resurrected to take his place at the “right hand of God.” (Acts 7:55–56)

Isaiah 9:6 For a child is born to us, a son is given to us; dominion will rest on his shoulders, and he will be given the name Pele-Yo'etz El Gibbor Avi-'Ad Sar-Shalom [Wonder of a Counselor, Mighty God, Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace], 7 in order to extend the dominion and perpetuate the peace of the throne and kingdom of David, to secure it and sustain it through justice and righteousness henceforth and forever. The zeal of ADONAI-Tzva'ot will accomplish this. (CJB)

Micah 5: 2 But you, Beit-Lechem near Efrat, so small among the clans of Y'hudah, out of you will come forth to me the future ruler of Isra'el, whose origins are far in the past, back in ancient times. (CJB)

John 1 tells us: ¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was with God in the beginning. 3 All things came to be through him, and without him nothing made had being. ⁴ In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness not has suppressed it. (CJB)

Luke 2: 10. And the Messenger said to them, "Do not have fear, for behold I announce hope to you! A great joy which will be to the whole world. 11. For today is born to you in the city of Dawid the Savior who is Master YHWH, the Mashiyach.[1] 12. And this is a sign to you; you will find an infant who is wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger." 13. And at that instant the great host of heaven appeared with the Messenger, glorifying Elohim and saying, "Glory to Elohim in the highest, and on earth peace and good hope to the sons of men. (AENT))

John 17:1-3: After Yeshua said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: ²"Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. ³Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Yeshua Christ, whom you have sent. ⁴I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. ⁵And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began .(CJB)

Matthew 1: 23...they shall call his name EMMANUEL, which being interpreted is, GOD WITH US. (CJB)

And then Yeshua said: 

John 8: 24 This is why I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not trust that I AM [who I say I am], you will die in your sins.” (CJB)

Now take a look at this comment by Rav Shaul (Apostle Paul), who said Yeshua was seen by more than 500 people AFTER His death! Considering the discussion Rav Shaul just had about his followers not being spiritual babies, this is a very humbling statement! His point is, of course, that many people saw the risen Yeshua before him; and, even more than that, countless others heard him speak, face-to-face.

1 Corinthians 15:3 For I delivered to you from the first, as I had received it; that the Mashiyach died on account of our sins, as it is written: 4. And that he was buried and arose on the third day, as it is written: 5. And that he was seen by Keefa; and after him, by the twelve: 6. And after that, he was seen by more than five hundred Brothers at once; many of whom survive at the present time, and some of them sleep. 7. And subsequently to this, he was seen by Ya'akov; and after him, by all the Shlichim. 8. And last of them all, he was seen by me, as if I were an unborn fetus.(CJB)

Timothy 3: 16. and truly great, is this mystery of righteousness which was revealed in the flesh and righteous in the spirit, and seen by Messengers, and proclaimed among the Gentiles, and believed on in the world, and received up into glory. (AENT)

Philippians 2:5 And think you so in yourselves, as Y'shua the Mashiyach also thought; 6. who, as he was in the likeness of Elohim, did not regard it sinful to be the coequal of Elohim; 7. yet disinherited himself and assumed the likeness of a servant, and was in the likeness of men and was found in fashion as a man; 8. and he humbled himself and became obedient to death, even the death of the stake. 9. Wherefore, also, Elohim has highly exalted him and given him a name which is more excellent than all names; 10. that at the name of Y'shua every knee should bow, of (beings) in heaven and on earth and under the earth; 11. and very tongue will avow MarYah - that is, Yeshua the Messiah - to the glory of יְהוָֹה  (YHWH) His Father. (AENT)

FOOTNOTE: More than his literal birth name Y'shua (which was and is a common Hebrew name), and more than the perfect reputation that his name represents. Y'shua bears the Name of YHWH, the "name above all names!" Y'shua has the Name and reputation of the Father YHWH in him (John 17:11) and the name means "YHWH is Salvation" (Matthew 1:21). (The angels, for instance, only have YHWH's title of ELOHIM within their names: GabriEL, MichaEL, RaphaEL....)

Colossians 1:15. who is the likeness of the invisible Elohim and the first-born of all creatures: 16. and by him was created everything that is in heaven and on earth, all that is visible and all that is invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; everything was through him and was created by him:(*) 17. and he was prior to all, and by him every thing exists. 18. And he is the head of the body the Assembly; as he is the head and first-born from among the dead, that he might be the first in all things. 19. For it pleased (the Father) that in him all fullness should dwell; 20. and by him, to reconcile all things to himself; and through him he has pacified, with the blood of his stake, both (those) on earth and those in heaven. (AENT)

Footnote: The literal Aramaic reading is "by him," whereas Greek and English texts have "for him." Mashiyach is the creative Word through which everything was made (Psalm 33:6, John 1:1-5, Hebrews 1:1-5). The common Aramaic idiom here and in John is "through his hands" meaning as the Word, Mashiyach crafted all things according to YHWH's blueprints. Mashiyach Yeshua emerges as the Word from YHWH's breath and command and, as such, was with Him in the beginning (John 17:1-11).

For more “proofs” check out a couple more of our articles, which are replete with more Bible passages about our Divine Messiah and Confess Yeshua…

Bottom line is, there is no “real” proof in photos or videos.  IT’S ALL BY FAITH! Unfortunately, people have always, and will continue to twist Scripture to suit their own needs. None of us were there “in the beginning” to personally witness ANYTHING, so ALL we really have is what was passed down and/or witnessed by men! 

It’s up to us to believe it, or not!  But remember:  By refusing to believe in Yeshua, you are guilty of blaspheming the Ruach haKodesh (Holy Spirit) which comes straight from YHWH to provide us HIS TRUTH!

Matthew 12:30. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever did not gather with me, scatters. 31. Because of this I say to you that all sins and blasphemies will be forgiven to the sons of men, but blasphemy that is against the Spirit will not be forgiven to the sons of men. 32. And anyone who says a word against the Son of man, he will be forgiven, But anyone who will speak against the Ruach haKodesh, he will not be forgiven - not in this world or in the world that is to come. (AENT)

Why did Avram say that God would provide a lamb instead of a ram?

QUESTION SENT TO OUR WEBSITE:

In Genesis 22:8 Avraham replied, "God will provide himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son"; and they both went on together.

We know that HaShem spoke to Avram and the above demonstrates Avram’s understanding of what HaShem would provide, yet HaShem provided a Ram? Might Avram have misunderstood or heard?

Or might Leviticus 16 have something to do with the atonement HaShem will provide in a future scenario?(Yom Kippur?) and how does the providing of Yeshua fit in with this?

Leviticus 16:3 "With this Aharon should come into the Set-apart Place: with the blood of a young bull as a sin offering, and of a ram as a burnt offering.

Leviticus 16:5 "And from the congregation of the children of Yisra’el he takes two male goats as a sin offering, and one ram as a burnt offering.

Note that the Ram is only mentioned twice in this whole scenario of Leviticus 16, why?

OUR RESPONSE:

In Hebrew the "lamb" is SEH (shin-hey), and it happens to be in MASCULINE form with MASCULINE verbs. Therefore, the "lamb" IS a "ram", rendered from AYIL (alap-yodh-lamed).
Now here is where it gets interesting. When the male lamb is just part of the flock it is called SEH, but when it is set apart for sacrifice (as a male lamb) it then "graduates" to the word AYIL. Thus, once the ram was designated after being caught in the thicket, he went from SEH to AYIL.

Hebrew Word: Lya

Transliterated Word: 'ayil

Genesis 15:9 And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.

Genesis 22:13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.

Genesis 31:38 This twenty years have I been with thee; thy ewes and thy she goats have not cast their young, and the rams of thy flock have I not eaten.

Genesis 32:14 Two hundred she goats, and twenty he goats, two hundred ewes, and twenty rams,

If that doesn't make sense to you, then we also have to remember that God Himself never said on that particular day He would provide anything whatsoever, let alone a lamb. Abraham and Isaac said it! Abraham trusted YHWH to provide a sacrifice, which is we need to focus on.
While we're on the subject of sin sacrifices, we also must remember that YHWH was merciful enough to accept not just lambs or bulls, but various kinds of sin sacrifices, depending on what the person could afford (i.e, Leviticus 5:7 and 11; Leviticus 12:8; Leviticus 14:22 and 30).