Tag: Obey

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

Markers of Genuine Revival in Scripture

Markers of Genuine Revival in Scripture

What does repentance look like? How would that translate into revival? Are there markers for such a thing? What does a counterfeit revival look like? If I am to take up the great commission, what does that look like? These are the questions we will dive into today. If one is to walk the Way of the Rabbi we must know the answers to these questions. But first, a parable, it is called, “The Parable of the Two Sons.”

A parable: (Matthew 21:28-32)

“What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’
“‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
“Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.
“Which of the two did what his father wanted?”
“The first,” they answered.
Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you. The tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness. And you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.”

Repentance:

Repentance simply means, to turn from, to change one’s mind. James the brother of Yahoshua wrote, “to know what is good and not do it, that is sin.” In the parable of the two sons the father represents God. He comes to his kids and asks them to work in His field. The first one says, “I will not.” He later changes his mind gets up and goes to the field to work. This is repentance. We could look at this from several points of view, Honor your father and your mother, for one. And in a way that is the point here. The son, hears a request from his father to go and do. The son refuses. He later reconsiders his response, gets up and goes to work. He changed his mind, chose to honor his father’s request and goes to work.

When we know the good we ought to do and do not do it that is sin. In the parable it was honoring the father’s request. In our life sin is the same. The father has laid out for His children a way of life. If we obey it we do good. If we do not do it, we sin. By its very definition, we are in rebellion and therefore, we are sinning. 1 John 3:4 tells us exactly what sin is. “Everyone committing sin also commits lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.”

To the reader of John’s letter they would have understood lawlessness to mean, without Torah. The one practices Torahlessness is in rebellion of God and His instructions. Torah simply means instruction. The Father has given us His instruction and it is up to us whether we will obey it or not. For most of my life I didn’t think that the instructions of God were still in effect. That somehow Messiah did away with the Fathers instruction. That is until I truly began to seek Yahoshua. The Word made flesh. The Messiah. The Son. “So Yahoshua replied, ‘Truly, truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing by Himself. Unless He sees the Father doing it. For whatever the Father does, the Son also does.'”

I began to realized, although, I said Yes to the salvation, I said no to His instruction. His Word that over and over and over again states that it is good. That it is not a burden. That Yahoshua, and His disciples, kept and followed the Torah. The instructions of the Father to His children. Since that revelation I have repented, I have changed my mind based on Scripture and the definition of sin. I now choose to obey the Father’s instruction, I am doing what He has asked of me. And He asks of all who say they follow Him.

What Does True Revival Look Like?

Throughout the Scriptures Revival is defined by a group of people turning back to the instructions of the Father. The excitement of the Apostles in Acts 21:20 of the Jews coming to faith leaps off the page. “When they heard this, they glorified God. Then they said to Paul, ‘You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed. And all of them are zealous for Torah.'” They were turning back to the instructions of God and leaving behind the rituals and traditions of men. We understand them today as the rabbinic traditions. This was what was known as legalism, not following the instructions (Torah) of God.

Every revival recorded by the Prophets involved a return to Torah. A return to Feast Days, Sabbath observance, making a distinction between clean and unclean animals and what is food. There was a public reading of Scripture so that the people would know and do. This is Revival. It isn’t simply saying “yes” to the Father but actually doing what the Father says. Following His instructions.

Unfortunately, many make a distinction between the Children of Israel and the church as if Messiah has two brides. When throughout Scripture it is revealed we are one in Messiah. Romans tells us that we are grafted in. The Torah tells us there is one law, one instruction, one Torah, for all.
“You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you. And you shall love him as yourself. For you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I Am Yahweh your Elohim.” Leviticus 19:34
“There shall be one law for the native and for the stranger who sojourns among you.” Exodus 12:49
“One law and one rule shall be for you and for the stranger who sojourns with you.” Numbers 15:16

The instruction to the gentiles coming to faith in Messiah does not negate this. So many will point to this passage in Acts 15:29 and say, “see this is it! I am free in Messiah!” “You must abstain from eating food offered to idols, from consuming blood or the meat of strangled animals. And from sexual immorality. If you do this, you will do well. Farewell.” However, they neglect to read the context of this message. It is the same of every situation of life. When you properly train an employee you start out with the basics. Do these things and the rest will come through your training. In this letter to the gentile converts there is reason given.

Acts 15: 19-21 gives us the defining purpose. “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not cause trouble for the Gentiles who are turning to God. Instead, we should write and tell them to abstain from food polluted by idols. Also, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals, and from blood. For Moses has been proclaimed in every city from ancient times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.” You see they believed that these gentile converts would be getting trained in the synagogues every Sabbath!

Defining Markers of a Follower of the Way:

A disciple of Messiah looks like the Messiah. Yahoshua 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.” Disciple simply means student. One who is under instruction. What is that instruction? It is the Instruction of God it is Torah. It is Honoring the Sabbath Day to keep it Holy. It begins with the word ‘REMEMBER’, probably because God knew we would easily forget it.

It is Honoring the Feast Days. In the Millennium those who do not go up to honor the Feast of Tabernacles will be cursed. This indicates that we will be honoring the Feast Days when Messiah is on earth as KING OF KINGS. Paul tells the Corinthians to “Keep the Passover.” This is after the resurrection. The earliest believers were keeping the Feast of Passover.

Paul instructs Timothy to keep to all that he was taught in his youth. That all the Torah and Prophets are good for teaching. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God. It is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly prepared for all good works.”

Counterfeit:

If sin is as John defines it in 1 John 3:4. “Everyone committing sin also commits lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.” Than we will be able to see who is and who isn’t truly following Messiah. There are many who have said, “Yes,” to Messiah. There are few who have actually went into the field to work. They have been sold a lie, half truths, a false gospel, and they don’t know it.

Yahoshua (Jesus) said, “If you love Me, obey My Commandments.” John 14:15
Yahoshua (Jesus) said, “Why do you call me, ‘Adonai! Adonai!’ but not do what I say?” Luke 6:46
Yahoshua (Jesus) said, “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 did we not 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.'” (Lawlessness = being without Torah, without Instruction) Matthew 7:21-23

Peter warns of twisting Scripture in his epistle. “And count the patience of our Adonai 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 with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability.”

A counterfeit conversion or repentance, looks like the son who said, “yes,” but did not go. Proverbs 28:9 gives a very stark warning. “If a person will not listen to Torah, even his prayer is an abomination.”

The Call:

“And Yahoshua (Jesus) came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

“Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law. This will remain until all is accomplished. If anyone annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, they will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:17-19

We are called to be set a part. A holy nation, a priesthood to our God. We are instructed in the ways to honor and worship Him. They are not of mans invention but are written within the pages of His Holy Scriptures. This is the Way of the Rabbi. Get out into the field, repent of your lawlessness and come under the instruction of the Father through Messiah Yahoshua.

You are loved,
cj

The Significance of Sabbath Observance Today

The Significance of Sabbath Observance Today

i have thought about this series for some time. How do i share my understanding in a way that leads you, the reader, into curiosity? To inspire a deeper look into Scripture. To light a fire within you to be like the people of Berea. Who received with joy, the words being taught to them. But then went and searched the Scriptures to see whether or not it was true. There are plenty of posts you can go over in which i will have touched on these ideas presented here. Although, not so succinctly as i will try in this series of posts. i will present the options and then give my ‘why’s’ trying to be fair to both sides in the end. These are the topics i will present over the next few days. Yahoshua or Jesus (see post); Rabbi or Teacher (see post); Adonai Elohim or Lord God (see post); Feast Days or Holidays (see post); Sabbath or Sunday (Current Post). It has been my goal to persuade you to begin to evaluate your ‘why’s’. To ask the question of yourself, “Am I using mans justification or Elohim’s Word, to determine my beliefs?” Let’s wrap this series up.

Sabbath or Sunday:
In my last post i went over the idea of Feast Days or Holidays. Presenting the idea of the significance of Elohim’s Feasts. In the description of the Feast Days in Leviticus you will find the Sabbath Day. In fact it leads the way. Leviticus 23 begins — Then Yahweh said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelite’s and say to them, ‘These are My appointed feasts, the feasts of Yahweh that you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies. For six days work may be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of complete rest, a day of sacred assembly. You must not do any work; wherever you live, it is a Sabbath to Yahweh.

The Sabbath wasn’t new to Israel. The Creator of the Universe in the beginning said, “Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. And by the seventh day Elohim had finished the work He had been doing. So on that day He rested from all His work. Then Elohim blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because on that day He rested from all the work of creation that He had accomplished.” From the beginning of time Adonai was demonstrating the necessity of rest. He designed it as a day of reflection, a day to gather, a day to feast. You begin with a gathering in which you feast together with those in your family and community of faith. You commemorate the very first Sabbath each week at the end of six days of labor. Reflecting on the goodness of Elohim.

The Sabbath Day wasn’t just demonstrated to us by Yahweh Himself, He instructed us to observe it. In the passage above from Genesis 2 and in the Ten Commandments given at Mt Sinai. Exodus says, “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to Yahweh your Elohim, on which you must not do any work—neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant or livestock, nor the foreigner within your gates. For in six days Yahweh made the heavens and the earth and the sea and all that is in them, but on the seventh day He rested. Therefore Yahweh blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.” This is the fourth commandment. It is the most detailed of all the commandments given to Moses on Mt Sinai.

The Sabbath Day was important to Yahweh. He demonstrated it and commanded it. He held Israel to a standard regarding it. Isaiah writes, “If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on My holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, and the holy day of Yahweh honorable; and if you honor it, not doing your own ways, or finding your own pleasure, or speaking your own words, then you will delight yourself in Yahweh, and I will make you ride on the heights of the land and feed you with the heritage of your father Jacob.“. (Isaiah 58:13-14) It was a covenant sign between Yahweh and His people. Exodus 31:13-17 — “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, ‘You shall be careful to keep My Sabbaths, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am Yahweh who sanctifies you… You are to observe the Sabbath, for it is a holy day to you. Everyone who profanes it shall be put to death… It is a permanent sign, a covenant forever“.

There is no passage of Scripture that changes or modifies the Sabbath in any way. No reputable scholar will argue this point. Yahoshua said, “I am Adon (Master) of the Sabbath.” He kept the Sabbath, attending synagogue faithfully on the Sabbath. While His body lay lifeless in a tomb. One could say that both metaphorically and physically Yahoshua rested on the Sabbath. The Apostles all kept the Sabbath. Throughout the book of Acts we read about Sabbath observance. So where does the modern tradition of Sunday observance come in? What verse changes the day? The answer is none. Not one single verse. It is impossible to argue the other side because it doesn’t exist. The only place that references a change to the Sabbath Commandment is the Catechism of the Catholic Church Article 3.

Unfortunately, in their own Catechism they incorrectly number the commandments calling the Sabbath Commandment number three instead of four. Presumably, to allow for their engraved images. They take great delight in their ability to change times and seasons. This action is expressly forbidden in Scripture. It is also warned against. Found in both Deuteronomy (4:2) and Revelation (22:18-19). The act of changing times and seasons is written of as being from the spirit of Anti-Christ. Daniel 7:25 says, “He will speak words against the Most High and try to exhaust the holy ones of the Most High. He will attempt to alter the seasons and the Torah; and [the holy ones] will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time.”

The Sabbath is a blessing! It is not too difficult to do. Science has shown that resting as prescribed by the Sabbath command is extremely beneficial to good health. In all areas of our lives, physically, spiritually, emotionally, mentally. It was demonstrated by Elohim, observed by Yahoshua and His disciples. We are instructed to be like Yahoshua. Paul writes, “Imitate me as I imitate Messiah.” I believe that not observing the Sabbath day puts us at odds with Elohim. Scripture indicates it is a sign for all generations. It also says it is for the foreigner. It is for the servant. So one cannot say it was only for Israel. So what will you do? Will you obey mans tradition or Elohim’s Word?

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

The Dangers of Success: Lessons from Jeroboam and Aaron

The Dangers of Success: Lessons from Jeroboam and Aaron

What do Moses, Aaron, Gideon, Samson, Solomon, Elijah, David, the Hebrew Nation, cj, and countless others have in common? When successful, at peace in rest and comfort, a relaxed spirit allowed Satan an opening. Success can lead to a sense of self-righteousness and pride. This happens if one is not careful to remember the One Who brought the success. We can say all day long that: “Every good and perfect gift is from above. Coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights. Who does not change like shifting shadows.” But if we allow our own feelings to interfere, and we say, “Look what I have done!” We crack the door open for the devouring lion. There is much to be proud of. We can say, “Look at what Elohim chose to do through me.”

Success has another ugly head, the one that defies Elohim to maintain its power. We can look at many stories in Scripture to find this to be true. Today, I want us to look at Jeroboam. He was the first King of Israel after the Kingdom was split in two. It was taken from Solomon’s son, Rehoboam. In fact modern Israel is only one of the tribes of Israel, Judah. Jeroboam, in a move to keep his new found Kingship made some terrible decisions. 1 Kings 12:25-33 Tells the story, we will look at parts of it here.

“Nevertheless Jeroboam said to himself, “Now the kingship will return to the house of David. For if these people continue going up to offer sacrifices in the house of Adonai in Jerusalem, their hearts will turn back to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah. Then they will kill me.”

Jeroboam found that his success was in jeopardy. He feared an awakening of the heart to Yahweh which would bring about a reunification of the Kingdom. If the people sought Adonai Elohim they would desire His ways over mans. So to establish his rule he made some changes.

“After seeking advice, the king made two calves of gold. He then said to the people, “You have been going up to Jerusalem long enough! Here are your gods, Israel, who brought you out of the land of Egypt!’ He placed one in Beit-El [Bethel] and the other in Dan. The affair became a sin, for the people went to worship before the one [in Beit-El and] all the way to Dan [to worship the other]. He also set up temples on the high places and made priests from among all the people, even though they were not descended from Levi.”

Does this at all ring a bell? Look at what Aaron did at Mt. Sinai while Moses was on the mountain. “When the people saw that Moses was taking a long time to come down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said to him, “Get busy; and make us gods to go ahead of us; because this Moses, the man that brought us up from the land of Egypt — we don’t know what has become of him.” Aaron said to them, “Have your wives, sons and daughters strip off their gold earrings; and bring them to me.” The people stripped off their gold earrings and brought them to Aaron. He received what they gave him, melted it down, and made it into the shape of a calf. They said, “Israel! Here is your god, who brought you up from the land of Egypt!” On seeing this, Aaron built an altar in front of it and proclaimed, “Tomorrow is to be a feast for Adonai.” We are a fickle people.

Coincidentally, Jeroboam, like Aaron instituted his own feast days. “Jeroboam instituted a festival. In the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, similar to the festival held in Jerusalem. He went up to the altar in Beit-El to sacrifice to the calves he had made. He placed in Beit-El the priests he had appointed for the high places. He went up to the altar which he had set up in Beit-El on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, in the month which he had chosen on his own, and instituted a festival for the people of Israel; he went up to the altar to burn incense.”

Sadly mans tradition of creating his own feasts to celebrate and honor Elohim has continued. The church today ignores His appointed feast days. They essentially call Elohim a liar. “Yahweh said, ‘And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and you shall keep [it] a feast to Yahweh throughout your generations; you shall keep it a feast by an ordinance forever.’” Apparently, forever means, just until I change My mind, except, He is the same yesterday, today and forever. Or they will argue that the Feasts are for Israel. Yet again they ignore two things. First, that the gentiles are grafted into Israel. Second, that the feasts were to be celebrated by those who would join themselves to Israel. Instead, the church has said, “We will celebrate Christmas and Easter. We will call Sunday holy. God will like it because we said so.”

You know who else has this mindset? Yahoshua talks about this in Matthew 15:9 “And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.” Isaiah wrote something similar, “Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men.” Ezekiel writes, “Her priests do violence to My Torah and profane My holy things. They do not distinguish between the holy and the common. They teach that there is no difference between the unclean and the clean. And they shut their eyes to the keeping of My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them.”

What would happen if the church today began to seek Yahweh as His word describes. Isaiah says in 58:13-14 “If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on My holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day of Yahweh honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly; then you shall take delight in Yahweh, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth, I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of Yahweh has spoken.” Imagine seeking after Elohim as He desires us to, it sounds pretty awesome to me. This is the way of the Rabbi.

Do you think Satan has a hand in the western church? In that he is influencing it to stray just enough off course that they dishonor Elohim. All the while thinking that they are worshiping Him. It’s been done before. Ecclesiastes tells us that there is nothing new under the sun. Paul thought he was doing the will of Yahweh when he was persecuting the followers of Yahoshua. Then he came face to face with Him. He realized then he was fighting the very Elohim he was trying to protect. The Sabbath is important to Elohim. Throughout the Torah and the Prophets He declares it. To the point that Elohim exiled the nation. So why would we think any different today.

Jeremiah writes in chapter 7, 8 Look! You are relying on deceitful words that can’t do you any good. 9 First you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, offer to Ba‘al and go after other gods that you haven’t known. 10 Then you come and stand before Me in this house that bears My name and say, ‘We are saved’ — so that you can go on doing these abominations! 11 Do you regard this house, which bears My name, as a cave for bandits? I can see for Myself what’s going on,” says Adonai.

The western church has been so successful that pride has crept in. No one wants to admit that they are wrong. They have fallen in love with their traditions that they ignore Elohim’s Feast Days. This is a dangerous practice. And we should be asking the questions. What did Yahoshua mean when He said, “If you love Me, OBEY My commandments”? What are we doing? Who are we honoring? What is truth?

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

“I Believe!”

Yahoshua is
The Way
The Truth
The Life
Torah is
The Way, Path, Instruction
The Truth, Your Word is Truth
The Life, Man shall not live by bread alone BUT by every WORD of Elohim
Yahoshua is Torah
The Word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1)

Yahoshua said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Salvation is found in Messiah alone. We are told, “For by grace you have been saved and not of yourselves, lest anyone boast.” Again in another place it says, “All who call upon the name of Adonai will be saved.” “So what must I do to be saved?” The question was asked, the answer given, “Believe in Adonai Yahoshua and you and your household will be saved.” What does it mean to believe? For when asking Yahoshua for a miracle a man said, “I believe, Adonai, help my unbelief.”

The word translated ‘Believe’ in each of these instances is from the Greek. It is πιστεύω pisteúō, which means: to commit to, to entrust oneself, to place oneself into. It is participatory. You see, it says that “even demons believe and tremble,” believe or to think to be true. If simply believing something to be true was enough then it wouldn’t be contrasted. But it is and thus it requires action on our part. To commit ourselves to Yahoshua. It is what He was stating when He said, “I am the way,” we are to commit to His way. “I am the truth,” we are to commit to His truth. “I am the life,” we are to commit to His lifestyle. In so doing we commit, we entrust ourselves to Him, and we place ourselves into Him, into His Word.

This is the point James was making. He wrote, “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” Yahoshua stresses the same point, “Why do you call me Adonai, Adonai, and not do as I say?” When Matthew 5:17 is brought up in a discussion it is often dismissed as irrelevant. People argue it was said before his death and resurrection. There is no disputing when it was said. For relevance, to argue its dismissal, you must then believe nearly everything Yahoshua said is now irrelevant. Here is what Yahoshua said, “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law (Torah) or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish them. Instead, I came to fulfill them.” Fulfill by bringing fullness and greater understanding. You can see this to be true by simply reading on in the passage. He continues, “Whoever relaxes even one of the least of these commandments will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever teaches others to do the same will have the same result.” This He said. He affirmed, “With certainty I tell you, not one dot or one tittle will pass away from the Torah.” This will continue “until all is accomplished.” The whole of Scripture to include the millennial reign of Messiah here on earth. We know this because Yahoshua speaks about the Law (Torah) and the Prophets. It is not just the Messianic prophecies of His coming, His death, and His resurrection.

So what are we to do? We are to follow the example set out for us by Yahoshua and His Apostles. We are to follow the instruction of Torah. As stated in earlier posts, we can not follow all of it nor did Israel. This is based on where we are geographically. It also depends on who we are by gender and what we do by occupation. Also, presently, there isn’t a Levitical Priesthood or a Temple, which also eliminates certain instructions found in the Torah. What then can we follow? We can without hesitation follow the Ten Commandments, to include the fourth one. Which says, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. You shall labor for six days and do all your work. But the seventh day is a Sabbath to Yahweh your Elohim. On it, you shall not do any work. This includes you, your son, your daughter, your male servant, your female servant, your livestock, or the sojourner within your gates. In six days, Yahweh made heaven and earth. He also made the sea and all that is in them. Then, Yahweh rested the seventh day. Hence, Yahweh blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.” Honor Elohim’s Feast days as well of which the Sabbath is the first one mentioned. A weekly reminder of our eternal rest in Yahoshua. We can also follow the dietary instructions. These prohibitions have been proven a more healthy way of eating anyway.

These instructions are not cumbersome as some describe them. In fact knowing this argument would arise it was preemptively spoken of in Deuteronomy 30:11. “The commandment I give you today is not too difficult for you. It is not beyond your reach.” In 1 John it is reaffirmed. “For this is the love of Elohim, that we should keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.” So how does one show that they believe? What is the mark of a believer? But by doing what Messiah instructed us to do. “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” We are called to love Elohim and to love our neighbor. A summery of the Ten Commandments but also stand alone commandments of which both are found in the ‘Old Testament.’ Micah mentions what Elohim requires of us. We need to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our Elohim. It has always been about relationship with Yahweh. A personal relationship in which we walk with Him, hand in hand with our creator. His commands are for our advantage and our obedience is a sign of our commitment, it says, “I believe.”

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

Contend for the Faith

“See that no one leads you astray.” Matthew 24:4
“And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another.” Matthew 24:10
“I tell you, He will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?” Luke 18:8
“Why do you call Me ‘Master, Master,’ and not do what I tell you?” Luke 6:46

“And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer and to rise from the dead and saying, ‘This Yahoshua, whom I proclaim to you, is the Messiah.’” Acts 17:2-3
“And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks.” Acts 18:4

Everywhere we read, “Scriptures,” in the New Testament, it is referring to the Old, every, single, time. The Scriptures in the New support the Old, they do not contradict them. If what you read in the New seems to contradict or change the Old, you need to re-examine your understanding. Unfortunately, for many the Old is done away with which allows them to make the New say anything they want in order to justify their way of living. Beginning with this post i will be diving into the idea of being ready to give an answer to everyone who asks and contend for the faith of those in Messiah Yahoshua. Today i want to point out the idea of the Sabbath.

Paul, was in the synagogues every Sabbath as was his custom. There he reasoned with both Jews and Greeks (Gentiles), using the Scriptures to show that Yahoshua was the Messiah. The Apostles, understood the significance of the Sabbath. In fact you wont find a scripture in which they were not honoring or reasoning, or teaching on the Sabbath. In Exodus 20:8-11 we read:

“REMEMBER the Sabbath day, to keep it HOLY. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to YHWH your Elohim. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days YHWH made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore YHWH blessed the Sabbath day and made it HOLY.”

This, the fourth commandment is the one emphasized the most with the second being the 2nd commandment, regarding carved images and idol worship. Can you name a denomination that uses carved images and encourages praying to statues or idols? Hint, it is also the organization that claims its authority by way of its changing of the Sabbath day from the seventh day of the week to the first (See: “The Convert’s Catechism of Catholic Doctrine” Rockford, IL: Tan Books & Publishing, 1977; pg. 50 — and —Catholic Catechism, Part Three, Section Two, Chapter One, Article 3- I, II). Interestingly enough the Catholic 10 commandments removes the second commandment which commands us not to carve images or worship idols, and expands the 10th Commandment into two, “You shall not covet your neighbors spouse,” and “You shall not covet your neighbors goods.” Not to be misunderstood while giving the 10 Commandments, which is better translated, 10 Words, YHWH reminded them, “But showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love Me and KEEP My Commandments.” Daniel warns us this would happen, Daniel 7:25 says, “He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time.”

Peter and the Apostles declared, “We must obey Elohim rather than men. The Elohim of our fathers raised Yahoshua, whom you killed by hanging Him on a tree. Elohim exalted Him at His right hand as King and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom Elohim has given to those who OBEY HIM.” Acts 5:29-32. And Jude writes, “Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our Elohim into sensuality and deny our only King and Master Yahoshua Messiah.” Jude 1:3-4

There is one Sabbath Day. Can we worship Elohim on any day? Yes, of course we can! However, if we are to emulate the Messiah, as Paul says, “imitate me as I imitate Messiah,” and both Yahoshua and Paul honored and kept the Sabbath day, should we then not also keep the Sabbath day as Elohim instructs us?

“REMEMBER the Sabbath day, to keep it HOLY. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to YHWH your Elohim. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days YHWH mad heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore YHWH blessed the Sabbath day and made it HOLY. (Exodus 20:8-11)

REMEMBER, you are loved,
cj

Know His Voice

“When He has brought out all His own, He goes before them, and the sheep follow Him, for they know His voice.” John 10:4

You know what i find interesting, this verse in John is 10:4 and 10-4 is radio speak for “understood” basically, “Okay, I hear you and understand.” i don’t know where the radio call signs come from or what influenced them but i wouldn’t be surprised if somehow it was related to John 10:4. Knowing and recognizing the voice of Yahoshua is key and becoming increasingly critical as we step into the last days. Yes, i do believe we are entering the last of the last days. It is my goal to be as responsive to the voice of Yahoshua as my dog Shiloh is to mine. i want to recognize His voice as so familiar it is like that of my boys recognizing the voice of their dad, me.

We need to be so in tuned with Yahoshua that we hear, recognize, and obey. We may hear a similar voice, but if it goes against Elohim’s Word it is a counterfeit. Now we may hear and we may recognize, but if we do not obey we are only fooling ourselves. We need all three to truly walk with Adonai Yahoshua. Perilous times are upon us as described in 2 Timothy 3 and 4.

“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of Elohim, having an idea of divinity, but denying its power. Avoid such people.” (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

“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.” (2 Timothy 4:3-4)

This instruction to Timothy is a warning much like that of Yahoshua’s teaching in John 10 — “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. . . He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.” (John 10:10, 12-13)

People who truly don’t know the voice of Yahoshua will follow that of the thief, and the stranger, who brings teachings that tickle the ears but harden the heart. Yahoshua continues in John 10 —

“I am the good shepherd. I know My own and My own know me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.” (John 10:14-16)

Who are the other sheep not of this fold? The fold He is talking about is Israel, the other sheep are those out of the gentile nations. We must learn to recognize His voice. Also, notice that we become one! There are not two separate people, but one people of Elohim through Yahoshua. We did not replace Israel, and we are not on a different level or end time path, we are one! Paul instructs Timothy, “All Scripture is breathed out by Elohim and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of El may be competent, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

The “All Scripture,” Paul is referring to here is what we know today as the Old Testament. Yahoshua never quoted the New Testament, obviously, as it hadn’t been written. All the Apostles, taught as Yahoshua taught, from the “Old.” Yahoshua, is the Word made flesh, as John describes— “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with Elohim, and the Word was Elohim. He was in the beginning with Elohim. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made.” A few verses down John adds, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory , glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” In essence, Yahoshua is the Torah. More than just the five Books of Moses, He is the major and minor prophets, He is the books of wisdom, He is the Word made flesh. He cannot contradict Himself.

Would it not make sense if we are to truly understand the Word made flesh that we look at the whole of the Word. “My sheep know My voice and come to Me.” Do you know His voice? Will you be able to recognize it over the noise, distractions, and falsehoods, that are coming in these last days? Are you willing to follow the Good Shepherd when — “Indeed, all who desire to live a divinely inspired life in Messiah Yahoshua will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” (2 Timothy 3:12-13)

We need to to begin to understand Him by reading the very Word He represents. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

Do you know His voice?

You are loved,
cj

Burdensome

“And now, Israel, what does YHWH your Elohim require of you? He requires only that you fear YHWH your Elohim, and live in a way that pleases Him, and love Him and serve Him with all your heart and soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of YHWH, which I am commanding you today for your good.” Deuteronomy 10:12-13

Imagine if YHWH in a desire to reconcile humanity to Himself, were to come to earth as a human. To empty Himself, take on the form of humanity in the person of Yahoshua the only begotten of the Father. How wonderful would it be if the Word of Elohim, was made flesh, to reveal and to write the Law on the hearts of man? To teach us not only to keep the letter of the law but also to reveal that it is a heart issue, this also would be wonderful, would it not? To reveal that circumcision of the heart is the fullness of the command and not only that of the flesh.

Oh wait, not only did this happen but it wasn’t even a new revelation it was simply the WORD made flesh to reveal unto creation the Way, is through the heart. It has always been a heart issue. Where is your heart? Stuck so deep in hyper grace that you are missing the keep My commandments part, or is it so stuck, in the keep My commandments part that you missed the Grace through Faith part? The whole of the story is both and, not either or.

“Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no longer stubborn. For YHWH your Elohim is Elohim of mighty ones and the Adon of masters, the great El, mighty and Awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe.” Deuteronomy 10:16-17

“Behold, the days are coming, declares YHWH, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares YHWH. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares YHWH, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their Elohim, and they shall be My people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know YHWH,” for they shall all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest declares YHWH. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” Jeremiah 31:31-34

Just like every month Elohim creates a new moon, oh wait, the moon isn’t new every month it is the same moon. It is the cycle that is new, a renewing of the moon. The Word made flesh, didn’t come to contradict itself, He came to bring a newness of the cycle. A renewing of the heart and mind. A revelation of what it means to walk with YHWH our Elohim, in the newness of Yahoshua, the Living Word. Yahoshua didn’t bring a new commandment when He said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another:” The newness was in the example, “Just as I have loved you” (Read more on that here). Yahoshua didn’t come to contradict the Word, He is the Word! We are to be like Him.

Paul writes, “I urge you, be imitators of me, as I am of Messiah.” 1 Corinthians 11:1 — Paul also instructs Timothy, “All Scripture is breathed out by Elohim and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of Elohim may be competent, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 — When Paul wrote this to Timothy he was talking about the Torah and the Prophets, he was referring to the ‘Old’ Testament specifically. In fact if we only had Deuteronomy we would still have the gospel message just without the fullness of Messiah revealing it and writing it on our hearts.

“You shall love YHWH your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” Deuteronomy 6:5 — “You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am YHWH.” Leviticus 19:18

Peter writes, “And count the patience of our Adonai 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 with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Adonai and Savior Yahoshua Messiah. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” 2 Peter 15-18

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with Elohim, and the Word was Elohim . . . And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:1,14 Elohim is not a contradiction. The Word is not a contradiction. Yahoshua is not a contradiction.

The Word reveals that there is:
Blessing in Obedience
Victory in Obedience
Eternal life in Obedience
Obedience of:
Heart, mind, body, will, finances, future.

Let us imitate Paul, who kept the Sabbath, kept the feasts, and observed the Torah, for he himself said, “Imitate me as I imitate Messiah.” For Messiah Yahoshua is the very WORD we keep when we walk with Him in fellowship, He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

“By this we know that we love the children of Elohim, when we love Elohim and obey His commandments. For this is the love of Elohim, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.” 1 John 5:2-3

You are loved,
cj

IF

“If you will diligently listen to the voice of YHWH your Elohim, and do that which is right in His eyes, and give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes. I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am YHWH your healer.” Exodus 15:26

IF, is a theme well overlooked in Scripture. No one likes to read the IF. There are many examples i could have pulled from where IF is the clause. But i like this passage in Exodus because of its connection to listening to, and obeying, YHWH. We can hear, or read, and understand what is being said, but IF we do not apply it than we have not obeyed and that is what matters. Oh some will say, we are not saved by works therefore we needn’t do anything. Yet, we read that it was Abrahams faith in YWHW that caused him to do and it was the doing that revealed his faith and that was accounted to him as righteousness. IF carries a lot of weight.

“But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been carried out in Elohim.” John 3:21

This verse doesn’t get as much attention as its famous cousin, John 3:16 but it is equally important. In fact, one could say that the very act of believing is a triple work done in us and through us by Elohim with us. To get around that many will point to the words elect, or chosen, to which i would still point out the IF. Look what history tells us of Israel or what it reveals of the followers of Messiah. Still, walking with YHWH is simpler than some make it out to be.

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does YHWH require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your Elohim!” Micah 6:8 One could easily argue that the Torah, the old covenant, was based on grace.

Paul writes to the Romans about the Law, and when we read Law it is speaking about the Torah. In Paul’s writing he points out the idea that the Law, (Torah) reveals sin without it we wouldn’t know what sin is. He then points out one of the commandments, covetousness, he doesn’t excuse sin in his discourse but rather points out the need for a remedy. Romans 7:24 says; “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” He answers his own question in verse 25, “Thanks be to Elohim through Yahoshua Messiah our Adon! So then, I myself serve the law of Elohim with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.”

What seems to be missed so often in Paul’s writing is he isn’t excusing sin but rather revealing the remedy. Yet, still the remedy comes with the IF. Paul continues in chapter 10:5-13 to address this further but i will highlight verses 8-9; “But what does it say? The WORD is near you, in your mouth and in your heart (that is the word of faith that we proclaim); because, IF you confess with your mouth that Yahoshua is Adonai and believe in your heart that Elohim raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” There is hearing the word, listening to the word, and obeying the word. IF carries a lot of weight.

You are loved,
cj

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Milk vs Steak

There is a fairly popular drink in the health and fitness section of grocery stores called Muscle Milk. i don’t recall if i have ever had it but there is always a chance, i just don’t remember. i do know that my youngest son drinks them on occasion before he goes to the gym or when he was playing hockey i think he would drink one before practice. Anyway, the point is that the drink is supposed to nourish your body and stimulate muscle growth and recovery. How well it works i don’t know, this is in no away an endorsement. i bring it up only to make this point, in 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 Paul writes about milk verses meat.

“But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Messiah. I fed you with milk, not meat, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?”

Earlier Paul writes, “Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of Elohim, which Elohim decreed before the ages for our glory.”
(1 Corinthians 2:6-7)

Growth is a good thing. We should all strive to grow in our understanding and relationship with Yahoshua Messiah. Paul was really writing out of frustration to the Corinthians because they were lacking in the growth department. We can all relate at times to the Corinthians i think, hitting a point in which we become stagnant in our relationship with Yahoshua. On the other hand i also believe we can relate with Paul in becoming frustrated with others seemingly lack of growth even if we have poured into their lives.

One thing is for sure, we are supposed to be learning and growing. There is a beginning, of course, Acts 15:19-21 says; “Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to Elohim, but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood. For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.” Most folks stop reading at verse twenty but it doesn’t stop there verse twenty-one indicates growth will come because Moses is read every Sabbath in the synagogues. Two things are evident here, Moses is read, meaning the Torah, or the Law and when is he read? On the Sabbath. The Gentiles were participating as a sect of Judaism known as the Sect of the Nazarene. It was understood that the Gentile believers would learn and grow. Remember ALL Scripture is profitable for teaching, rebuking, and for doctrine as Paul writes to Timothy (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

There is growth, Philippians 3:12-16 says; “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Messiah Yahoshua has made me His own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of Elohim in Messiah Yahoshua. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, Elohim will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.” Growth is important. It isn’t the works that save us, no we are saved by the Grace through Faith. It is the Mercy of YHWH because of the work of Yahoshua.

Therefore, because of the work of the Yahoshua we respond to Him by growing in obedience to Him. In Luke, Yahoshua is recorded as saying, “Why do you call me ‘Adonai, Adonai,’ and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and does them, I will show you what he is like:” (Luke 6:46-47) Growth is important.

There is a goal. 1 John 5:1-5 says; “Everyone who believes that Yahoshua is the Messiah has been born of Elohim, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of Him. By this we know that we love children of Elohim, when we love Elohim and obey His Commandments. For this is the love of Elohim, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of Elohim overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Yahoshua is the Son of Elohim?”

As James 1:22 puts it; “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” We must be active agents. Milk, is great in the beginning, maybe even muscle milk, but we must, in fact it is absolutely imperative, that we desire the meat of the Word. So that we grow, in that we seek to know Yahoshua, as we are known by Him and not just the new believer but all who call on the name of Yahoshua.

You are loved,
cj

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