Tag: Lawless

Understanding Repentance and Return in Faith

Understanding Repentance and Return in Faith

“Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of Adonai.” Acts 3:19

Repent: repentance is not only seeking forgiveness but also turning around. It is a 180 degree life course correction, from a life of sin. Peter in his second sermon found in Acts also states return, return to what? It is a return to righteousness, it is the opposite direction of sin. If sin is the transgression of the law, one can have confidence that to return means to return to the instruction of God. A return not to law as we define it today but to what the word law means, Torah, Instruction, the things commanded by God to be obeyed by man. Perhaps this point could be debated if we only read this verse however, Peter continues.

“And that He may send Yahoshua (Jesus), the Messiah appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time.” Acts 3:20-21

Peter is giving continued validity to the Tanakh and its teachings on repentance. From the pages of Torah to the writings of the prophets, the message is “IF”, if you will turn from your wicked ways and follow Yahweh’s commandments, He will bless you and the land. As Peter says, “that times of refreshing may come from the presence of Adonai.” You see Peter is referring to the time between Yahoshua’s coming, his death, resurrection, and His ascension into the heavens, until He returns in the clouds to rule and reign from Jerusalem as King.

What did Yahoshua declare to Pilate? “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” (John 18:37). What is truth? His Word is Truth! And therefore if we are of His Word then we hear His voice, and if you hear His voice do not harden your heart but repent of your sin. What is sin? John writes in 1 John 3:4 – “Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.” Lawless, without or outside of Torah, the instruction, the things commanded by God to be obeyed by man.

For the entirety of my ministry I preached repentance, and to believe in the Name of Jesus for salvation. Although, now I use His Hebraic name Yahoshua, the message is still the same. However, with one major change, ‘IF’. For roughly three and a half years Yahoshua taught repentance and walking in humility with the Father. What does it mean to walk in humility? It is to set aside yourself and live for Him, by His instruction. Yahoshua came to present the Torah as a living, breathing, instruction manual of how to live righteously, set apart for the kingdom. One must ask the question, “What is one to repent of?” The answer of course is sin. That begs the question, “What is sin?” If sin is Torahlessness which John states than repentance is by its very definition observance of Torah.

In Luke 13 Yahoshua tells this parable: “A man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any. And he said to the vineyard-keeper, ‘Behold, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?’ And he answered and said to him, ‘let it alone, sir, for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer; and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.'” Luke 13:6-9

If we compare this parable and the scene Mark tells in 11:12-14 we will see something striking. “On the next day, when they had left Bethany, He became hungry. Seeing at a distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if perhaps He would find anything on it; and when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” And His disciples were listening.” This scene takes place at the end of Yahoshua’s earthly ministry just after His Triumphal entry into Jerusalem. He went straight to the Temple looked around and departed.

What is the significance you ask? There was no fruit in the lives of the Pharisees or other ‘Religious’ leaders. They had replaced much of Torah with their own traditions of man. It is the same thing the western church has done today. The Word calls us back to Himself throughout its pages from Genesis to Revelation. Yet, most will separate the ‘Old’ from the ‘New’ and miss the whole point of the story. The Torah was not found in the people. They were void of righteousness i.e. the righteous acts of the saints, which is obedience to the Ways of God. “The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; And with all your acquiring, get understanding.” Proverbs 4:7 – The whole passage is on gaining and keeping wisdom, about faith and the heart. It is and always has been a heart issue!

“The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; Who can understand it? I, Yahweh, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doing.” Jeremiah 17:9-10

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit.” Psalm 51:10-12

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.” Psalm 139:23-24

We have a promise in all of this spiritual battling that rages for our very souls. “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

We read in Act 5:32 – “And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom Elohim has given to those who obey Him.” To whom is the Holy Spirit given? To those who obey Him. Are you obeying God or man? Are you seeking His ways or are you trapped in a man made religion that is on the wrong side of the spiritual battle?

“If you love Me, you will obey My commandments.” John 14:15

“So you shall keep My commandments, and do them; I am Yahweh. You shall not profane My Holy Name, but I will be sanctified among the sons of Israel; I am Yahweh who sanctifies you.” Leviticus 22:31-32

“So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh– for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” Romans 8:12-14

We who are under grace are not devoid of Torah, by no means! We are to put on Messiah who is the Word made flesh. The one who sanctifies us and puts us on the good path. As the Proverb states: “He who turns away his ear from listening to the Torah, Even his prayer is an abomination.” Proverbs 28:9 – Psalm 119:53 states, “Righteous indignation has seized me because of the wicked, who forsake Your Torah.” Those who know God’s commands but choose not to obey them, that is the one being described here. As a reminder again 1 John 3:4 tells us what is sin. “Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is Torahlessness.“

My hope is that you will be challenged in heart and mind to search out the Scriptures. To seek what the good way is and to walk in it. That you will desire good works that have been prepared for you to do and that you will do them. Deuteronomy 6:17 “You should diligently keep the commandments of Yahweh your Elohim, and His testimonies and His statutes which He has commanded you.” To put to death the old self and put on the new self, this is repentance, turning from sin (outside of Torah) to righteousness (in Torah).

“All who sin apart from the Torah will also perish apart from the Torah, and all who sin under the Torah will be judged by the Torah. For it is not the hearers of the Torah who are righteous before God, but it is the doers of the Torah who will be declared righteous. Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the Torah, do by nature what the Torah requires, they are a Torah to themselves, even though they do not have the Torah. So they show that the work of the Torah is written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts either accusing or defending them on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Messiah Yahoshua, as proclaimed by my gospel.” Romans 2:12-16

“I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Messiah Yahoshua, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Adon Yahoshua Messiah.” 1 Timothy 6:13-14

“For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.” 1 John 5:3

The lawless one, the deceiver of nations, the prince of this world, is a lier and a thief. Yahoshua came to present Himself the living Word and as He declared to Pilate, “and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the Truth.” Yahoshua already told us what Truth is; “Your Word is Truth.” (John 17:17; 18:37) – Yahoshua said, “I am door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

“IF My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 – Wickedness is being outside of Torah, sin is Torahlessness, the repentant heart will humble itself and pray and seek the Face of God through Yahoshua, turning from wickedness and sin (rebellion to the Torah for those with Torah and for the Gentile born outside of Torah but by nature turning and doing the work of Torah as it is written on the heart through faith) to righteousness in Messiah by faith that He who began a good work in you will see it through to completion.

Humbly return to His Ways, this is the Way of the Rabbi.

You are loved,
cj

The Power of Endurance in Faith

The Power of Endurance in Faith

Endure.
1. to hold out against; sustain without impairment or yielding; undergo.
to endure great financial pressures with equanimity.
2. to bear without resistance or with patience; tolerate.
I cannot endure your insults any longer.
3. to admit of; allow; bear.
His poetry is such that it will not endure a superficial reading.

“Those who have ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the Messianic communities. To him who endures, I will give the right to eat from the Tree of Life. Which is in God’s Paradise -‘Eden.’” Revelation 2:7

“Those who have ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the Messianic communities. He who endures will not be hurt at all by the second death.” Revelation 2:11

“Those who have ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the Messianic communities. To him who endures I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone, on which is written a new name. A name that nobody knows except the one receiving it.” Revelation 2:17

(“Those who have ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the Messianic communities.”) “. . . only hold fast to what you have until I come. To him who endures and does what I want until the goal is reached.” Revelation 2:25-26 (29)

(“Those who have ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the Messianic communities.“) “He who endures will, like them, be dressed in white clothing. I will not blot his name out of the Book of Life. In fact, I will acknowledge him individually before My Father and before His angels.” Revelation 3:5 (6)

(“Those who have ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the Messianic communities.”) “I will make him who endures a pillar in the Temple of My God, and he will never leave it. Also I will write on him the name of My God. As well, the name of My God’s city, the new Jerusalem. Which is coming down out of heaven from My God, and My own new name.” Revelation 3:12 (13)

(“Those who have ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the Messianic communities.”) “I will let him who endures sit with Me on my throne. Just as I myself endured and sat down with my Father on his throne.” Revelation 3:21 (22)

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to take the prize. Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict discipline. They do it for a crown that is perishable, but we do it for a crown that is imperishable.” 1 Corinthians 9:24-25

Endurance, is an important part of the Way of the Rabbi. He taught us by His actions. Not just His life, but even more so in His death, enduring death, beaten, pierced and hung on a tree. Paul, continues the passage above by saying, “Therefore, I do not run aimlessly.” No he ran with a purpose. He said, imitate me as I imitate Messiah Yahoshua (Jesus). We are not to live aimlessly, lawlessly, or without purpose. No we have been given instruction for our purpose and charged with an enduring mission.

“Then Yahoshua (Jesus) came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations. Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. And teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

What is it that Yahoshua instructed? He exemplified the Torah, bringing it to fullness, revealing its purpose. The Torah is the instruction manual on how to live set apart lives from the nations. It reveals to us how to live obediently, holy, sanctified lives. Without it we are lawless making us no different than the nations. To keep the Torah is not to do away with Faith in Messiah. It is done because of our faith in Messiah. Revelation 14:12 says, “Here is a call for the endurance of the saints. Who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Yahoshua (Jesus).”

In Yahoshua’s charge to His disciples in Matthew 28 quoted above He says, “. . . all that I have commanded you.” At no point did Yahoshua instruct His disciples to do away with the Torah. No not once but to do away with man’s tradition. He challenged the religious leaders on their interpretation and their added rules. He clarified, and lived out the Torah perfectly. It is by His grace through faith that we are saved but we are called to live set apart.

Many will read this and say it is impossible to keep all the commandments of God. Yet in their next breath quote Philippians 4:13. “I can do all things through Messiah who strengthens me.” All but keep the commandments of God, that I cannot do. Oh you of little faith, hypocrites and weak willed fools. Paul’ s words are true and align with the instruction of Messiah perfectly.

Is it difficult in a fallen world to live set apart lives under the instruction of God? YES! A hundred times yes. But that doesn’t mean we are free to practice lawlessness (Torahlessness) and say we are under grace. By no means! We are to endure and in that endurance we will be blessed, protected, and welcomed into the Kingdom. This is the Way of the Rabbi.

You are loved,
cj

Living Under Grace: Understanding God’s Commandments

Living Under Grace: Understanding God’s Commandments

Oh how burdensome it is to take a day off each week. To dedicate it to rest and restoration. To honor God and His instructions. It is a heavy yoke to carry. Oh that there would be a simpler way than resting in His presence. Oh thank You Lord Jesus. He completed it so I don’t have to. No longer am I burdened with what the children of Israel were burdened with for thousands of years. They couldn’t do, for it was too hard. Even though You constantly called them back to it and told them if they turned from their own ways. If they followed you again and kept Your statutes You would bless them again. Yet, you must have known that it was too hard and that they would fail. You punished them so that you could send Jesus and make it easy on us gentile believers. No longer burdened with living a life that sets us apart. Thank you for freeing us from the law of sin and death. Thank you for giving us thousands of years of illustrations of punishing a people so we could be free. Free to live however we want, for all things are permissible, for grace sake.

Does this statement sound absurd? It should, yet for many Christians this is exactly what they believe. Oh, they won’t say it out loud but deep down they believe it. They have to. If they don’t then they will be forced to recognize their constant depravity. And their need for walking out the commands of God. They will be forced to consider the whole of God’s Word. They cannot rely only on the few verses they cling to in order to break the commands of God. Does this sound too harsh? It’s better than eternal darkness and complete everlasting separation from Yahoshua (Jesus). Who is King of kings, and Master of masters.

Henry David Thoreau an early American poet and philosopher said; “I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of a man to elevate his life by a conscious effort.” The writer of Revelation, pens this statement; “Here is a call for the perseverance of the saints, who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Yahoshua (Jesus).” It is both, and, not either or. We must do what we can to honor the commandments of Elohim and couple that with our faith in Yahoshua. It is not by works that I am saved. It is by living within the instruction of Yahweh that I show myself as having faith. I believe, therefore, I do.

Jude writes, “Beloved, although I made every effort to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt it necessary to write and urge you to contend earnestly for the faith entrusted once for all to the saints. For certain men have crept in among you unnoticed—ungodly ones who were designated long ago for condemnation. They turn the grace of our God into a license for immorality, and they deny our only Master and Adonai, Yahoshua Messiah.” How does one deny Yahoshua while claiming faith in Him? Simple, they say His teachings were for the Jews. That He came to fulfill the law so that we don’t have to. They deny statements like “I did not come to abolish the law, but to bring it to the full.” He challenged the religious leaders of the day and the man made traditions they held above the Word of God.

Ezekiel writes about the shepherds who don’t feed their sheep. “Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and tell them that this is what Adonai Elohim says: ‘Woe to the shepherds of Israel, who only feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed their flock? You eat the fat, wear the wool, and butcher the fattened sheep, but you do not feed the flock.” There are many pastors getting fat off the flock today. They aren’t scattering them. They are deceiving them with false messages of prosperity and even making a mockery of grace itself.

He continues, “You have not strengthened the weak, healed the sick, bound up the injured, brought back the strays, or searched for the lost. Instead, you have ruled them with violence and cruelty.” The violence and cruelty today is that they are not teaching the commandments of God but of man. They have created a different religion and their Christ Jesus is the lawless one He himself warned about. They both cannot be true. This is why I choose to use His Hebrew name. This is why I choose to seek Him fully and completely. To know His Word is to know Him for He is the Word made flesh. Thoreau may not have been a true believer but he did get it right when he said, “. . . unquestionable ability of a man to elevate his life by a conscious effort.”

Paul writes, “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Messiah Yahoshua took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Messiah Yahoshua.” Are we striving for “Your Kingdom come, Your WILL be DONE“? Or are we content with mediocrity? Are we content with lukewarmness? Are we content fooling ourselves that what the Word describes as not burdensome, to be too burdensome? “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.” For this is what John 5:3 says.

Ecclesiastes reminds us that there is nothing new under the sun. It is true to this day. Jeremiah records this in the sixth chapter. “This is what Yahweh says: ‘Stand at the crossroads and look. Ask for the ancient paths: ‘Where is the good way?’ Then walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it!’'” Yahoshua said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” Early believers before they took on the ‘christian’ moniker were known as the sect of the Nazarene. They were also known as the people of the way. We know truth to be the Word, “Your Word is Truth”. Life, for all who come and obey Yahoshua will live.

As Jeremiah later writes in the sixteenth chapter. “O Yahweh, my strength and my fortress, my refuge in the day of distress, the nations will come to You from the ends of the earth, and they will say, “Our fathers inherited nothing but lies, worthless idols of no benefit at all. Can man make gods for himself? Such are not gods!” Some churches do have idols, engraved images, but beyond that many have man made traditions. They them place above the Word of Elohim. They justify themselves by taking the words of Paul and twisting them. As Peter warns. If the faith you follow allows for lawlessness, which is Torahlessness, you are outside the ways of Yahweh. Therefore, you are not following Yahoshua Messiah.

“Then I will tell them to their faces, ‘I never knew you! Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness!’” These are Yahoshua’s (Jesus’) words to those who live outside the instructions of Elohim, outside of Torah. The lawless one is coming and he will deceive many. In fact the spirit of the lawless one is already at work. Wake up! The time is drawing short. Put your faith in the true Messiah Yahoshua! The ‘Jesus’ the Apostles taught about and live for and ultimately died for. Not the lawless one being taught today in the majority of churches.

You are loved,
cj

Repetition and Retention: Wisdom from Proverbs

Repetition and Retention: Wisdom from Proverbs

Paul wrote to the Philippians, “Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Adonai. Writing the same things to you again is no trouble for me. For it is repetition that is a good instructor.” Studies show that repetition is necessary to retain information. Even basic retention of simple contextual ideas require 3 to 7 times of hearing the information. While more complex ideas may require 6 to 20 times. Of course emotionally charged or high-stakes information can be retained almost instantly. This has been my motivation over the past few months. Perhaps, presenting it in different lights for slightly different audiences, nevertheless, it is the same concept repeated. It is in this vain that write to you today.

“Behold, days are coming,” declares Elohim,  “when I will send a famine on the land. Not a famine of bread or a thirst for water, but rather for hearing the words of ADONAI.” Amos 8:11

Are we living in the days of famine prophesied by Amos? It sure seems so. No one wants to hear the idea that faith is more than a prayer and Sunday attendance. Reformations and Church splits happen, not because people want things to be more difficult. No, they happen because people want to find the easiest path forward. It is human nature after all to seek ease and comfort. New technologies emerge daily with that simplistic goal in mind, to make life simpler.

Proverbs is a book of wisdom, a collection of thoughts and instruction. It is also laced with warning and a call to obedience, to the instructions of Yahweh. Proverbs chapter one is full of riches. “To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth– Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles. The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (1:2-7)

Some definitions that I think will be helpful. Instruction can mean Torah for Torah is Elohim’s instruction. Righteousness in Greek is dikaiosynē which means, the things commanded by God to be obeyed by man. In other words, righteousness is an act of obedience to God. In Hebrew the word is ṣeḏeq which means pretty much the exact same thing. Solomon who is the author of Proverbs was asked by God what he wanted. Solomon responded, “wisdom.” He wanted to be wise. A wise man seeks instruction and obeys without exception those things commanded by God. For this obedience it is counted to him as righteousness.

Proverbs chapter one continues in verse twenty-two, “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?” This ties into Amos’ prophecy perfectly. You see the simple today want simpler. They don’t want to be challenged. They will scream grace, grace, but condemn the sinner. They will say, “I am free from the law.” And brush away verses like James 1:22, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

Yahoshua (Jesus), declared, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but by Me. John describes Yahoshua as “. . . the Word made flesh . . . ” He is the living Torah scroll now emblazoned on our hearts and minds. This is the exact description of the New Covenant. It isn’t new instruction, it is new placement, new empowerment. The penalty of death is gone for the one who has faith in Yahoshua. This does not however give one license to keep on sinning. Paul emphasizes this point by asking the question, “Do we then keep on sinning so that grace may abound? By no means!” What is sin, if not transgression of the Torah (law)? John writes, “Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices Torahlessness (lawlessness); sin is Torahlessness (lawlessness).”

Yahoshua during the parable of the persistent widow, asks a stinging question at the end. He asks, “Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?” Faith as defined by itself in Scripture is action and activity of the things of Elohim (God). It is fidelity to the truth, what is truth? God’s Word is Truth, the Torah, and Yahoshua the Word made flesh. Yahoshua asks another question, “Why do you call me Adonai, Adonai, and not do as I ask?” There is one final statement many will hear on the last day. What is it? “Depart from Me you who practice lawlessness (Torahlessness).”

How is one to know what to do if one doesn’t study the Word? The whole Word. The Word the Apostles referred to every single time they say, ‘the Word”, is the Torah. Yet, so many today don’t have any desire to pick up and read it. In the end are they condemning themselves? For the Word says, the very Word of Elohim will judge at the last day. If the Word is the judge shouldn’t one know the Word? This is the Way of the Rabbi.

Will He find Faith?
You are loved,
cj

The Importance of Obeying God’s Instructions in Scripture

The Importance of Obeying God’s Instructions in Scripture

A few years back I was watching a YouTube video. The video was made by an admitted atheist. In it he was praising the efforts of someone who admitted to trying to proselytize him. However, there was a remark in it that I found interesting, recently, as I was reminded of this video. He was given a small pocket sized Bible of the New Testament, along with Psalms and Proverbs. He said, “Psalms is in the New Testament right?” I don’t blame him for not knowing, that isn’t what I am getting at. What I am getting at is many believe this idea. Many think the Old Testament is irrelevant. They believe this except when they can find generic support for their life.

It isn’t just the idea of finding passages to draw strength from. It is the fact that they deny the relevance of other passages they don’t. The translators haven’t helped humanity either. For example in Proverbs 28:9 it says: “If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.” There are two critical errors in word translation choice that has aided and abetted this idea. First hearing, this is the word שָׁמַע shâmaʻ. This Hebrew word means, intelligent hearing, listening and obeying. This wisdom is telling the reader, don’t turn away from listening to and obeying. What are we the readers not to turn from? The translators would have you think law. Many read this as a bad thing now. “The law is done away with,” they will say. “It has been nailed to the cross,” they will say. Both statements made in illiterate ignorance.

You see the word law is תּוֹרָה tôrâh. The Torah is God’s instruction to His people. So Proverbs 28:9 says: “If one turns his ear from listening to and obeying the Torah, even his prayer is an abomination.” I didn’t say it, Proverbs said it. And the presenters of pocket sized Bibles thought it was important enough to include with the ‘New Testament.’ Which isn’t New, but a retelling of the Old. A call to obedience and a pathway of forgiveness through Yahoshua, (Jesus).

John describes sin in 1 John 3:4. He writes, “Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.” Here again translators make an error. But, even if it wasn’t an error, and if law was a good translation, what John is saying should draw one’s attention. He who practices or abides by a different instruction is living in sin. Sin is being outside of God’s instruction, His Way.

Yahoshua says, “Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations. Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:19-20 – What are some things He commanded? Well, how about Matthew 5:17-19? “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law (Torah) or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill (To bring a deeper understanding). For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

Many will say that we are incapable of following the whole of the law or Torah. And they would be correct. You see I am not a woman, so I cannot, nor should I, follow the instructions for women. I am also not a Levit so am not part of the Levitical priesthood. That also takes out those instructions. I am not a slave owner, or a king, reducing the instruction further. There is no standing Temple so I am not bound by those instructions either. What am I capable of then? Well, I can eat those things God calls food. I can make the distinction between clean and unclean, holy and unholy. I can honor the Sabbath Day and keep it holy.

In other words, I can certainly keep the 10 Commandments, and the dietary instructions. I can keep His Feast Days and Sabbaths. I then can study the Word daily and learn and grow in my understanding, adjusting my life accordingly. This is the Way of the Rabbi. This is how Paul taught. His instructions do not contradict that which came before because if they did . . . By definition, he would be a false prophet or teacher and we shouldn’t listen to him. However, I don’t believe he was, I simply believe what Peter says about his writings. “And count the patience of our Master as salvation. Just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him. As he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand. Which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away. Especially, with the error of lawless (Torahless) people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Master and Savior Yahoshua Messiah. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” (2 Peter 3:15-17)

Let me leave you with this statement from Yahoshua (Jesus) to ponder from Matthew 7:21-23. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Adonai, Adonai,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven. But the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Adonai, Adonai, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness (Torahlessness).’”

This is the Way of instruction,
You are loved,
cj

Return to Your First Love: Rediscovering Faith

Return to Your First Love: Rediscovering Faith

Greetings in the Name of Yahoshua ha’Mashiah. i hope that this letter finds you well and flourishing in your spiritual journey. That you are daily seeking ways to act justly, be merciful, and walk humbly with Elohim. The reason i write to you is of no little importance but one of grave concern. As in the Revelation of John and his note to the Ekklesia in Ephesus. The church today has left its first love.

You have been lulled to sleep by lazy preaching and you have become lazy yourself. No longer do you test the prophets, and teachers. But with itching ears you seek out those who will not convict you with the word. You would rather sit in filth and be told you are clean than to wash yourself in the word. You have become more concerned on how the church makes you feel. Rather than living in a way that is pleasing to Elohim. This is not intended to be mean but to stir up in you a desire to look at yourself.

i was in an uncomfortable place too. Instead of receiving a letter to encourage me, i had to hit the wall. Oh how i wish someone would have come to me and said, “Wake up oh sleeper! Return to the love you had at first!” But like those in Ephesus i was reminded that God does know me. “I know your works, and your labor, and your endurance. That you are not able to bear evil ones. You even tested those who say they are prophets and are not, finding them false. You have endurance, and have labored for My Name’s sake. Even still you are not weary.”

In the note to the gathering in Ephesus Yahoshua says, “So remember from where you have fallen! Repent and do the first works. Or else, i shall come to you speedily and remove your lamp stand from its place, unless you repent.” When i first came to know Adonai for myself and not through others i was hungry. i could not eat enough of the Word. i could not get enough of fellowship with like minded people. i could not out do the grace given me in doing for others.

Somewhere, i lost that, somewhere, i grew selfish and lazy. i checked the necessary boxes each week but my heart was not in it. i was more concerned for life in the world than seeking the Kingdom. We are told in the Word, “Seek first the Kingdom . . . and all these things will be added to you.” But we seek the world and what is in the world. Then we complain and wonder why we don’t see the Kingdom. We are then fooled into thinking our ways are better than God’s ways. That our traditions are better than His. We then selfishly declare, He will like the way we worship Him for His ways are dead.

Return! Return! Awaken and return to the Ways of Yahweh! For His ways are better than our ways. His ways are a declaration we make that we are His. The Sabbath day is a wedding ring. Eating clean (kosher) is obedience. Honoring the Feast Days are so much more enriching than any man made tradition or holiday. His Days are HOLY, our days are disobedient. He said, “Do not learn the ways of the people around you and worship Me in that way.” Yet that is precisely what the church has done. They say His ways are dead and they have invented ways not found in Scripture to Worship Him. Stolen ideas of pagan practices, and call it redeeming. He says, “tear them down.”

This is not legalism, this is obedience. This isn’t a burdensome yoke, this is freedom from the world and the wrath to come. Soon, i might add. His ways are better than mans. In the end many will stand before Yahoshua (Jesus) and hear these words. They will hear, “depart from Me, I never knew you, you who practice lawlessness.” What law are they not practicing? You will see that they were not practicing the Torah. It doesn’t save us. We are saved by grace but what flows from that grace is a desire. A desire to live a life of obedience. “Observing all that I have commanded You and teaching others to do the same.”

Yahoshua said, “I only do what I see the Father doing.” He only spoke the Words written. He lived it, taught it, and calls His people, called by His Name to walk in it. The Word is Truth. What Word? The Tanakh, the Torah and the Prophets. It is the very Word that Paul instruct Timothy to remember and study and use. For it is good for teaching, reproof, correction, in all righteousness. Righteousness here is defined, “Things commanded by God to be obeyed by man.” If this is true, and surely it is, how can it then be done away with? It simply cannot be.

But some will say, “it is impossible to keep all the law that’s why Jesus came.” Yahoshua came to do the will of the Father. He then says, in every instance of rebuke and correction, “It is written.” What is written? The instructions on how to live, honor, and worship God. This is the Way of the Rabbi. This is how He lived, and this is what He instructs us to live. “If you love Me you will keep My commandments.” For what is sin? “Everyone who practices sin practices lawlessness as well. Indeed, sin is lawlessness (being without Torah). But you know that Messiah appeared to take away sins, and in Him there is no sin. No one who remains in Him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has seen Him or known Him.”

“So remember from where you have fallen. Repent and do the first works. Or else I shall come to you speedily and remove your lamp stand from its place, unless you repent.” And His return draws ever closer!

This is the Way of the Rabbi,
You are loved,
cj

Treading the Word: The Berean Approach

Treading the Word: The Berean Approach

To you, the reader, i write, with this one purpose in mind, that you would be stirred in your soul. A stirring so deep that you desire to read and study beyond this post. In order to gain a greater understanding of the Word of God. For it was the Bereans’ who were considered to be of more noble character. Why? It was for their desire to hear, and to study. That they would know if what they were being taught was true. And what did they study? The Scriptures, the Law (Torah) and the Prophets.

The word declares, “Study to show yourself approved. A workman that doesn’t need to be ashamed, rightly treading the Word of Truth.” The word treading is often translated as dividing. Many a wayward interpretation believes this is to divide up the words of God. Not true. It is to cut a path, maintain the truth, tread rightly the Word of Truth. For God’s Word is Truth. This was the heart of the Bereans’.

When reading the Word, one must ask themselves, to whom is the letter written. Yes, in the end it can be concluded that we are the intended audience. However, it is vitally important that we understand context. This will allow us to tread rightly the Word. To whom was it written? Where did they live? What is the backstory and therefore the overall purpose of the letter? When one knows the answers to these questions it becomes easier to know how to apply the Word today.

For instance, a passage often taken out of context is of the dietary law. Yahoshua is confronted about the washing of hands. The Pharisees question why Yahoshua’s disciples don’t wash their hands. Yahoshua answers it isn’t what goes in the mouth that defiles a man but what comes out of the heart. He challenged the Pharisees extra rituals. This had nothing to do with food and everything to do with extra man made burden. It is well known that an added phase, “Thereby declaring all foods clean.” Which now in most translations if it is present is so with brackets. For it was added much later and does not appear in the earliest of manuscripts.

The context was hand washing. The food on the table was all food. There wasn’t a giant ham on the table with lobster tails and shrimp. What was on the table was food. The question of cleanliness is of tradition. It was said that if a person with unwashed hands touched food, the food was unclean. It didn’t turn to ham it was a steak or a potato that was now ritually unclean. So Yahoshua pointed out that this was not a Torah commandment but a man made ritual. Yahoshua declared that all food considered good by God was not defiled. This was true even if one didn’t wash their hands.

Context matters, audience matters, time and place matter. This is just one example but there are many more. The modern church thinks that the Word of Elohim has been done away with in large parts. Calling the Scriptures old, yes, they are but they are still relevant. They are necessary to know sin, for what is sin? Sin is the transgression of Torah, sin is Torahlessness. The Word talks about the coming of the lawless one. What law is he going to be without? The law of the land? What land? Who’s land? The lawless one will be Torahless. Are you Torahless?

The opposite of Torahless is righteous. Righteousness is those commanded by God to be obeyed by man. Are you obeying the commands of God. Yahoshua said, “If you love Me, obey My commandments.” He also said, “Why do you call me Adonai Adonai and not do as I command?” And “Depart from Me, I never knew you, you who practice lawlessness.” Remember, lawlessness is Torahlessness.

This is the way of the Rabbi. To study to show yourself approved, rightly treading the Word of Truth. God’s Word is Truth.

You are loved,
cj