Response to a “grace only” Christian

COMMENT FROM A CHRISTIAN: “I totally agree we are not to sin, but we do this not by trying to obey LAWS but by the very heart of God who lives within us"

OUR RESPONSE:

Try telling that to a cop who catches you speeding, or in the process of killing someone! Laws are given for a reason: So that ALL will know what the boundaries are. A lawless society will quickly implode because many, if not most, will do whatever is right in their own eyes and, consequently, end up in trouble in one way or another.

God gave us Divine Rules to follow so that HIS people could know and learn how to be holy - “set apart” - in an evil, pagan world.” Without His Torah (Divine Instruction in Righteousness, which is what Torah means) we would have NO blueprint for moral, holy living!

Even Y'shua didn't do his own will or stray from Torah! (As the WORD – John 1:1, 14) He SPOKE the Torah into being! As YHWH’s human Messiah, he came to do everything his Father commanded….

Luke 4: 43 "But he (Yeshua/Jesus) said, "I must preach the good news of the Kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent."

Luke 8: 1. And it happened after these things that Y'shua was going around in the cities and in the villages and was preaching and declaring the Kingdom of Elohim.

And take a look at this:

Acts 28: 23 "From morning till evening the Apostle Paul explained and declared the Kingdom of God and tried to convince people about Yeshua from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets."

Acts 24: 14. But this indeed I (Paul) acknowledge, that in that same doctrine of which they speak, I do serve the Elohim of my fathers, believing all the things written in Torah and in the prophets.

So, while His death, burial, and resurrection are an important part of the Good News, it's not the whole story! God isn't just in the business of "saving" people. As Creator and law giver, He is in the business of teaching us how to be good subjects in His Kingdom to come!

If "Jesus abolished Torah at the cross" then why was EVERY believer completely Torah observant for one hundred years after Yeshua's death, including the Apostle Paul who was "caught" being Torah observant 29 years after Yeshua's death (Acts 21:23-24)! Was Paul a hypocrite, saying one thing and doing another; or were his teachings, perhaps, misunderstood?

Humans HAVE to have rules, because their hearts are, by nature, evil, and that is why YHWH said FOUR TIMES IN A ROW that ALL who accept Him must do exactly as HIS people do! (See Numbers 15:12-16.)

Note that there were TWELVE tribes before YHWH on Mt. Sinair, along with a “mixed multitude” – not just “the Jews.”  Yes, YHWH ordered the Tribe of Yehudah to guard His Torah (Genesis 49:10, Micah 4:2) but that didn't mean it was only for "the Jews" as so many erroneously believe. Take a look:

Genesis 49: 10 The scepter will not pass from Y'hudah, nor the ruler's staff from between his legs, until he comes to whom [obedience] belongs; and it is he whom the peoples will obey.

Micah 4: 2 Many Gentiles will go and say, "Come, let's go up to the mountain of ADONAI, to the house of the God of Ya'akov! He will teach us about his ways, and we will walk in his paths." For out of Tziyon will go forth Torah, the word of ADONAI from Yerushalayim.

Mankind MUST have divine rules for holy living because, without them, we tend to get into trouble:

Judges 17:6 In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes. (CJB)

Proverbs 21:2 Every man's way is right in his own eyes, But ADONAI weighs the hearts. (CJB)

Proverbs 24:12 If you say, "See, we did not know this," Does He not consider it who weighs the hearts? And does He not know it who keeps your soul? And will He not render to man according to his work? (CJB)

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 re-read the above in case you missed it: Any Torah-less non-Jew/Hebrew/Israelite who does not yet believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is an "alien"/foreigner. However, if they do wish to accept Him, then they are to do exactly as those who are already belong to Him!

It is very dangerous to cherry-pick YHWH’s Word – the Word that tells us we MUST have both Torah AND Yeshua…

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)

Revelation 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said to me, See that you do not do this; I am your fellow-servant and of those your Brothers who have the testimony of Y'shua. Worship you Elohim: for the testimony of Y'shua is the Spirit of Prophecy. (AENT)

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.

How did Y'shua walk? IN TORAH!

Reading the Bible from cover to cover is the only way to know whom you are serving….

There are times I am convinced that my only reason for being is to get people to READ the Bible, from cover to cover, LOL! It seems many (if not most) have never figured out that you can’t read a book by skipping around or cherry-picking parts of it. Unfortunately, that is how many read the Bible, and then feel themselves qualified to discuss or even teach it...

Many absolutely cannot see that the Bible BEGINS with Genesis, which reveals the beginning of everything including mankind; and ends with Revelation, which sums up the end of man’s reign on earth, and reveals the enormous mistake on the part of those who refused both – adherence to Torah AND acceptance of YHWH’s Messiah:

John 17:3 Now this is life that is eternal, that they might know You, that You are the Elohim of Truth, and he alone whom You have sent, the Mashiyach Y’shua. (AENT)

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. 7 Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command. On the contrary, it is an old command, which you have had from the beginning; the old command is the message which you have heard before. (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)

Revelation 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said to me, See that you do not do this; I am your fellow-servant and of those your Brothers who have the testimony of Y'shua. Worship you Elohim: for the testimony of Y'shua is the Spirit of Prophecy. (AENT)

Revelation 20:4 And I saw thrones, and (persons) sat on them, and judgment was given to them, and to the souls that were beheaded for the testimony of Y'shua and for the Word of Elohim: and these are they who had not worshiped the beast of prey nor its image; neither had they received the mark upon their forehead or on their hand; and they lived and reigned with their Mashiyach those thousand years. (AENT) (See also: Revelation 1:1-2; 1:9.)

Y'shua and all the Apostles CONSTANTLY referred to and quoted from Torah! When confronted by Satan, Y'shua did NOT quote Himself; He quoted from the Torah (Luke 4:1-12)! The Bible from Genesis to Revelation ... all of it goes hand in hand!

Unfortunately, we have on one side people who insist that the “New Testament” is a complete myth, and therefore YHWH’s Messiah is a farce; while the other side insists “those Old Testament rules were only for the Jews, and we’re totally under grace.” BOTH sides, according to the whole of the Bible when read in context, are severely mistaken!

So, PLEASE, people - be VERY careful because false teachers abound! They surround themselves with folks who blindly support them and who are ready, willing and able to take you away from GOD's TRUTH! PLEASE learn to double-check and verify against Scripture EVERYTHING you see, read or hear! Don't ever blindly trust ANYONE!

Jeremiah 14: 14 YHWH replied, "The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I didn't send them, order them or speak to them. They are prophesying false visions to you, worthless divinations, the delusions of their own minds.

2 Timothy 4:3-4: For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths....

The Bible - from Genesis to Revelation - is ONE, continuous revelation from YHWH. Like any other book, it MUST be read in proper sequence, from start to finish. Skipping parts of it only leads to confusion and false conclusions. Don't be among those who cannot grasp that simple concept....

Homosexuality keeps being shoved down our throats!

My husband and I love to watch the program "Sunday Morning" on Sunday mornings. But this morning, it was deleted after the third segment started because of its relentless "gay" theme. America has, in just one generation, become completely tolerant of anything and everything (except, of course, the Bible).

Suddenly, it's "okay to be gay!" One popular singer, with haughty gaze straight into the camera, said: "I'm proud to be queer in America!"

Well, that's really too bad, because The Creator is not proud of those who commit deliberate, willful sins - especially sins against their own body, which is supposed to be our Temple! HE calls it an ABOMINATION! I don't care how many ways people will try to twist it, HE abhors homosexuality and any other sexual sin!

Shame on America for being so liberal, so tolerant and so BLIND to the Word of YHWH!

Leviticus 18: 22 - You are not to go to bed with a man as with a woman; it is an abomination. (CJB)

Revelation 22:14-16: How blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they have the right to eat from the Tree of Life and go through the gates into the city! 15 Outside are the homosexuals, those who misuse drugs in connection with the occult, the sexually immoral, murderers, idol-worshippers, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. (CJB)

1 Corinthians 6:9-10: "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters, nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (CJB)

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

For those who believe "God is nothing but endless grace and love, and "do your own thing, whatever it might be," let's do a quick study of Romans 1:18-27:

Romans 1:18. For the wrath of Elohim from heaven is revealed against all the iniquity and wickedness of men who hold the truth in iniquity 19. Because a knowledge of Elohim is manifest in them; for Elohim has manifested it in them.

20. For, from the foundations of the world, the hidden things of Elohim are seen by the mind in the things he created even his eternal power and divinity, so that they might be without excuse 21. because they knew Elohim and did not glorify him and give thanks to him as Elohim, but became vain in their imaginings and their unwise heart was darkened.

22. And, while they thought within themselves that they were wise, they became fools. 23. And they changed the glory of the incorruptible Elohim into a likeness to the image of a corruptible man,[1] and into the likeness of birds and four-legged animals and reptiles on the earth. (AENT)

[1] Rav Shaul rejects the idea of making a deity out of a human being, something he himself is often being wrongly accused of. The key is the phrase “corruptible man” which is put in contradistinction of Y’shua who fulfilled prophecy by virtue of having the Ruach haKodesh, the Spirit of YHWH, inside him. If Rav Shaul did not approve of others turning images of men into false deities, he would certainly not approve of what Christendom has done today.

The Son did the Father YHWH’s will; his human side submitted to the divine. This is what opened the door for repentance for all of us; therefore, all who follow Y’shua must also yield unto YHWH rather than follow a deity who lessens the Name of YHWH and abolishes Torah.

Romans 1:24. For this cause, Elohim gave them up to the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies with them. 25. And they changed the truth of Elohim into a lie; and worshipped and served the created things, much more than the Creator of them, to whom belong glory and blessing, forever and ever: Amen.

26. For this cause, Elohim gave them up to vile passions: for their females changed the use of their natures[2] and employed that which is unnatural. 27. And so also their males set aside the use of females, which is natural, and burned with lust toward one another; and, male with male, they did what is shameful, and received in their core substance[3] the just recompense of their error. (AENT)

[2] The Image of Elohim is both male and female (B’resheet/Gen. 1:27). To deny the distinctions of male/female gender is to spurn the One who created male and female according to His own Image.

[3] The word translated as “themselves” by Murdock is much better rendered as “core substance” one of several important meanings for qnoma, which also refers to an occurrence (not a separated “person”) of a nature. This verse states that punishment for sexual sin is not in the external body, but in a foundational place where the very essence of humanity resides.

And finally, here's a real wake-up call:

1 Corinthians 6: 18-20: Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body. (CJB)

When YHWH calls something "an abomination," HOW could anyone possibly believe that He will turn a deaf ear and blind eye to THEIR sin?

Y'shua died ONCE to remove our past sins. He's NOT returning to "die" again; he is returning as the Lion of Judah who will cleanse the earth of its filth! (Genesis 49:8-10; Revelation 5:5)

Parashah 31: Emor (Speak) Leviticus 21:1 through 24:23

Shabbat shalom, everyone!  This week’s Torah portion can be found on our website. It consists of the following readings:

Parashah 31: Emor (Speak); Leviticus 21:1 through 24:23.

Haftarah (Writings and Prophets): Ezekiel 44:15-31.

B'rit Hadasha (New Testament): Matthew 5:38-42; Galatians 3:26-29.

This lesson is absolutely POWERFUL - with its basic messages being the holiness YHWH expected of His cohenim (priests); and the giving of YHWH's "designated times" - His Feasts - all of which bear the statement that they are to be observed "forever" and/or "throughout your generations."  For more, please click on the link.

Y’shua was and is YHWH’s Messiah!

We've all heard counter-missionaries insist that since "Jesus" isn't mentioned by name in Torah (or even in all of the Tanakh), he clearly can't be the Messiah. Well, truth is, the same applies to the person whom the Jews will eventually SAY is the Messiah, because he is ALSO NOT named there!

Scripture is progressive! It doesn't reveal everything within the first chapter of Genesis (or even in the last chapter of Deuteronomy) concerning what God is going to do! For instance, Torah doesn’t mention any of the prophets by name, nor are we told about Deborah,the first female Judge over all Israel; yet, they're eventually revealed in Tanakh....

Genesis Chapter One doesn't reveal that Adam and Eve would end up committing the first known sin which would send the entire world into chaos! It didn't reveal to Adam and Eve that they would have a son (Cain) who would become a murderer or that that son's descendant (Lamech) would become the first adulterer. They also didn't know about the Flood, or that someone named Noah and his family would have to start mankind all over again because of man's penchant for sinning.

God's revelations are progressive; not necessarily mentioned upfront!

According to counter-missionary logic, Torah doesn't mention Kings David or Solomon; therefore,they must not exist! Torah also doesn't mention cell phones, space shuttles, automobiles, computers or Facebooking - but yet we are all familiar with these things!

Daniel 7 gives us a hint about the Messiah - whose name (whether counter-missionaries like it, or not!) was Y'shua:

Daniel 7:13 “I kept watching the night visions, when I saw, coming with the clouds of heaven, someone like a son of man. He approached the Ancient One and was led into his presence. 14 To him was given rulership, glory and a kingdom, so that all peoples, nations and languages should serve him.

His rulership is an eternal rulership that will not pass away; and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed. (CJB)

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] (CJB)

Has anyone besides Y'shua been referred to as "God" or "Prince of Peace?"

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. 3 Therefore he will give up [Isra'el] only until she who is in labor gives birth. Then the rest of his kinsmen will return to the people of Isra'el. 4 He will stand and feed his flock in the strength of ADONAI, in the majesty of the name of ADONAI his God; and they will stay put, as he grows great to the very ends of the earth; (CJB)

The BIBLE contains at least 300 prophecies that have already come to pass exactly as was written, and there is no way they could all be "coincidences."

As a matter of fact, according to mathematician and professor, Peter Stoner, the probability of even just 48 prophecies being fulfilled by one person (referring to Y'shua) is the incredible number of 1 in 10^157 power!

(And, oh by the way, for those who believe that men were never supposed to do anything to ATONE for the sins of others, please see our blog article for a wakeup call – because that is exactly what priests of old did.)

BOTTOM LINE: Y'shua came to proclaim the Kingdom of YHWH and to do everything His Father commanded. He tore down the fences of man's legalism; and neither He nor His Apostles or Disciples ever advocated against Torah!

John 12: 44. But Y'shua cried out and said, He who believes in me, it is not in me he does believe, but in Him who sent me. [1] 45. And he who sees me sees Him who sent me! 46. I have come as the light into this world that all who believe in me might not remain in the darkness! 47. And he who hears my words, yet does not keep them, I do not judge him, for I have not come to judge the world but to give life[2] to the world.

48. He who rejects me and does not receive my words, there is something that judges him. The word that I have spoken, it will judge him on the last day. 49. For I have not spoken from my soul, but the Father who sent me. He gave a Commandment to me what I should say and what I should speak. 50. And I know that His commands are eternal life. [3] Therefore, these things that I speak just as my Father told me, thus I speak.[4] (AENT)

[1] Y'shua does not bring a new Faith, but reveals the original Faith of YHWH the Father.

[2] Y'shua proclaims that he came to give life, then he declares that His father's Commands are eternal life! The Father's "Commands" are instruction in righteousness; this is Torah which contains Commandments, Judgments, Testimony and Witness regarding the Kingdom of Elohim. Those who enter into Covenant with Mashiyach are entering into Covenant with his Father YHWH; therefore, it is evil - an outright lie - to teach that Torah is done away with and replaced by a new theology!

[3] The Commands of YHWH bring eternal life. YHWH's "Commands" refers to all of His Commandments; these are one and the same as every Word that proceeds out of the Mouth of Elohim. These are not Commands only between Y'shua and His Father but they are universal for all souls who will enter into the Malchut Elohim.

[4] Y'shua speaks the Word of YHWH, not his own words; therefore, he conveys the revelation of YHWH according to the Ruach haKodesh without the baggage of man's religious tradition. Religion has a propensity to reinvent or interpret the Word of YHWH to make it "acceptable" to man's standards; whereas Mashiyach came not to please men, but to honor and bring Glory to his Father.

Y'shua is exactly whom YHWH made him to be: His Messiah!

Can Gentiles have a bar mitzvah for their kids?

READER QUESTION:

Dear Sirs

Would you be so kind and answer a question? We are a group of Messianic Jews and Messianic Gentiles who worship together. Now some of the Jewish members have expressed the wish of having a bar mitzvah for their kids.

The Gentiles on the other hand would also like to have a bar mitzvah for their kids. Do you think it is appropriate for the non Jewish kids to have a bar mitzvah or should one use another name for this? We have found several names on the internet such as “bar Avraham” or “simcha mitzvah”. What is your view on this subject? Your help is greatly appreciated!

OUR RESPONSE:

Absolutely YES, a non-Jewish boy can have a bar mitzvah and a non-Jewish girl a bat mitzvah! Traditional and Orthodox Jews will scoff at the idea because a Jewish child has spent years preparing for his bar mitzvah and may argue it is "only for Jews" but there is no Biblical prohibition of a non-Jewish child and non-Jewish family celebrating this transition to adulthood in the same manner as traditional Judaism. (Numbers 15:14-16; Romans 11:17).

The difficulty lies in developing in the child and the family the importance of the ceremony to the child, the parents, and to the community. It is NOT just "something to do"! It is a demonstration of knowledge and understanding by the child and the acceptance of the child into the community as an adult (with the attendant adult responsibilities.) The bar mitzvah is a "big deal", a major milestone and accomplishment on the road to adulthood, and the child must understand and demonstrate their part in the commitment.

The bar mitzvah is not just a "party for turning 13". So our advice is that you study, study, study the meaning and purpose of the bar mitzvah and when it is held, conduct it with all the honor and dignity the tradition has come to mean in Judaism. This means the child needs to actually study (actually study!), learn, demonstrate understanding and proudly do his part when the ceremony is held. Perhaps one or more of your Jewish parents who themselves experienced the bar mitzvah in their lives can help develop the program in your group. If not, study, study, study what is needed. Here is one potential source: http://messianicfellowship.50webs.com/barmitzvah.html.

And in all your bar mitzvahs and bat mitzvahs, be open and announce that you are aware that holding the honored ceremony for a gentile is looked down upon by traditional Judaism but that it is not your purpose or desire to offend the Jewish community. Rather, just as in Judaism, the family and your community has tried to instill the love of YHWH in the child, and the love of being obedient to Him and expressing that obedience through the Torah. Every child of YHWH, Jew or gentile deserves the right to be recognized in their transition to adulthood for we are all one in Messiah (Galatians 3:38, Ephesians 2:10-13).

By the way, once someone has accepted YHWH as their ELOHIM, they are no longer a "gentile"; they are "Hebrew" (which, in Hebrew, means "to cross over" - which is what Abraham the pagan Chaldean did, both spiritually and physically when he went into the Land YHWH commanded him to go to).

What is your insight on Yeshua’s return?

Question: I was wondering what your thoughts were on Yeshua’s return. I was invited to attend a study soon on a topic that, admittedly, I have not devoted much time to: second coming/end times/tribulations etc. including misconceptions? (rapture, pre-trib etc) Do you have any insights you’d be willing to share on those subjects and/or links to trusted source on them?  Anything is appreciated even if just a summary of your belief on those topics.

Our answer: Far too broad a subject for us to address.  I'm reminded of the old Jewish story:

A rabbi was asked by his students "When should we repent?"

The rabbi responded: "Repent one day before you die."

Of course the students asked their Rabbi, "Does one know when he will die, that he can repent one day before?"

The Rabbi responded: "Therefore repent today, lest you die tomorrow."

(Ecclesiastes 9:8: '"At all times, your clothes should be white, and oil should not lack from your head.")

All of these subjects, "coming/end times/tribulations, rapture, pre-trib, misconceptions, etc." deliver us all in the same place:  Live your life daily so you are "clean" before the Creator so He will welcome you no matter when or how you meet your fate.

...And that is a summary of our belief on these topics!