Tag: Torah

The Call to Be Ambassadors for Messiah

Ambassador –
* a diplomatic official of the highest rank, sent by one sovereign or state to another as its resident representative ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary.
* a diplomatic official of the highest rank sent by a government to represent it on a temporary mission, as for negotiating a treaty.
Plenipotentiary –
* a person, especially a diplomatic agent, invested with full power or authority to transact business on behalf of another.

The above definitions are taken from Dictionary.com. They represent what the role of an Ambassador is while serving in a foreign land. They do not live in the land permanently. They still hold to the principles of the land that they represent. They can engage in particular aspects of the hosting nation. However, they must hold true to the convictions of the sending nation. Ambassador’s take their instruction from the King or the Governments that they represent. Although, they are individually themselves. They have distinct characteristics, mannerisms, and linguistic styling. Yet, they conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the office, presenting a unified message.

The Ambassador is there on a diplomatic mission, in some cases to restore relations or in others to negotiate treaties. They come with full authority and in place of the sending King or Government. This allows them to conduct business with confidence. The Ambassador also knows that their mission is temporary. That they are not a citizen of the host country but simply passing through. This reminder keeps them balanced and helps them to remember where their allegiance lies.

In 2 Corinthians 5:18-21 we read this:
“All this is from Elohim. Who reconciled us to Himself through Messiah and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. That Elohim was reconciling the world to Himself in Messiah, not counting men’s trespasses against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore we are ambassadors for Messiah, as though Elohim were making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Messiah: Be reconciled to Elohim. Elohim made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf. So that in Him we might become the righteousness of Elohim.”

It is simply foolishness, naive even, to think that Elohim would make Yahoshua, who knew no sin, to be sin on our behalf, so that He could enable us to live a life of sin. No, He is the same yesterday, today and forever. John writes, “And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. Whoever says, ‘I know Him’ but does not keep His commandments is a liar! The truth is not in him. However, whoever keeps His Word, in him is the love of Elohim perfected. By this we may be sure that we are in Him. Moreover, whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked.” Later John writes, “Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices Torahlessness, sin is Torahlessness. You know that He appeared to take away sins, and in Him there is no sin. No one who abides in Him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen Him or known Him.” (1 John 2:3-6 & 3:4-6)

How can we say that we represent the King, if we don’t do as He says?
How can we say that we represent the Kingdom, if we do not practice its laws?
How can we say that we have become the righteousness of Elohim, if we won’t even follow the instructions of righteousness?

As an ambassador of the Kingdom of Heaven, we live where we live as representatives of the King of Heaven. One day that Kingdom will be here on earth. When Yahoshua our Adonai and King returns in the clouds to rule in Jerusalem. Until then the Kingdom is within us and we as representatives of the King must live as such. We follow the laws of the land because we live in the land. We answer to a higher authority who has instructed as such. We speak truth in love in hopes of reconciling others through Messiah unto Elohim. This gospel message is one of repentance. A turning from the former way of living and following the instruction of the Rabbi.

How can we say that we represent the King? We claim the name of Messiah Yahoshua and His lifestyle. How did He live? “We live not by bread alone, but by every WORD of Elohim.” What word was Yahoshua referring to? His Instruction handed down by the Prophets, those written by Moses, those breathed by Elohim. Did Yahoshua eat meat considered unclean? No, not by definition of Torah. Did Yahoshua break the Sabbath Day or change it? No, not by definition of Torah. Did Yahoshua dismiss the Feast Days? No, not by definition of Torah. Did His death and resurrection somehow negate these things? No, not by definition of Torah, or the teachings of Paul and the other Apostles.

How can we say that we represent the Kingdom? “Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” The Sabbath will be observed in the millennium and Heaven. The dietary law will be observed in the millennium and Heaven. The Feast Days will be observed in the millennium and Heaven. If we are asking for His Kingdom come, His will be done on earth as in Heaven . . . How can we say this and not do what we know we can do? To follow the Sabbath isn’t too hard or difficult. To follow dietary law isn’t too hard or difficult. To observe the Feast Days isn’t too hard or difficult. To honor Elohim is NOT TOO HARD or DIFFICULT. It is absurd to think that it is too difficult to keep the Sabbath but pretend to keep Sunday. It is absurd to think that it is too difficult to keep the Feast Days. Yet, people celebrate Christmas, Easter, Halloween, Valentine’s, Saint Patrick’s, Fourth of July, Veterans, Memorial, Super Bowl, etc., without hesitation.

How can we say that we have become the righteousness of Elohim? We can say this when we repent and follow Yahoshua. What does it mean to repent? To turn from sin. Literally that is what it means. Not just to be sorry that we are sinning but to do a one-eighty. We repent, we ask for forgiveness, we put on the new self. We enter into covenant relationship. The new covenant is the old covenant but written on our hearts. We can read this in Jeremiah and Hebrews. The difference is simply that now we have the Living Spirit of Elohim. The Ruach Hakodesh (רוח הקודש) empowers us to do so. By this we put on Messiah Yahoshua. His Name, His lifestyle, His Word, His Truth.

If you are a follower of Yahoshua you are an AMBASSADOR! LIVE AS ONE! You are a representative of the KING of kings and the MASTER of masters. He has called you to bare His Name. You are to show His lifestyle. Extend the message of reconciliation to all who will listen. Part of this includes living within the culture yet separate from it at the same time. We are to live set apart, while living among the inhabitants of the community we live. We don’t demand others change. We live in such a way that others see Messiah in us. This stirs a want for change. We live as examples of the Way.

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

Seek first the Kingdom

We often quote this Scripture passage. It says, “Seek first the Kingdom of Elohim and His Righteousness. As a result, all these things shall be added to you.” “All these things,” refers to items necessary for living, like food, water, and clothing. Over time, many verbal additions have been made to its meaning. Not all of these additions fit the context of the verse. But that isn’t what i want to focus on, rather, what are we to seek. In Adonai’s prayer we are taught to pray, “Our Father in Heaven, Holy is Your Name. Your Kingdom come. Your Will be done. On earth as it is in Heaven.” We will pray together this prayer in our gatherings and think that what we want is the Father’s Will. However, we have thrown out the Fathers Will and replaced it with man’s tradition.

Look at what is happening with immigration now. Not just in our country but around the world. One of the biggest complaints is that these immigrants are not entering through legal means. Once they are in, they do not assimilate into the culture. Instead, they demand that their own culture be recognized. Do you think Elohim views humanity this way? Can we find instances where we have entered the Kingdom illegally? Are we now demanding that our traditions take precedence over the Kings? We are told to die to ourselves. That we are to put on the new man, and to walk in the fruit of the spirit. Yes, we are individuals but we are to lay down our understanding and pick up the cause of Messiah.

Yahoshua says, “I am the door, no one enters but through Me.” He says, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John says of Yahoshua, “And the WORD became flesh and dwelt among us.” Yahoshua declares, “If you had believed Moses, you would believe Me, for Moses wrote about Me.” Yahoshua, is found in the Torah. He is essentially the Torah made flesh as John describes Him. Yet in vain we worship Him with our traditions. In vain we come to Him seeking our will. In vain we come to Him demanding He change with our culture.

Let’s take a look at this parable spoken by Yahoshua, found here in Matthew 22:1-14. i will be breaking it up to add my own commentary.

Beginning:
“Once again, Yahoshua spoke to them in parables. “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to call those he had invited to the banquet, but they refused to come. Again, he sent other servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner. My oxen and fattened cattle have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.‘ But they paid no attention and went away, one to his field, another to his business. The rest seized his servants, mistreated them, and killed them.”

This is what the Israelite’s have done to the prophets of Elohim throughout time. This is what is recorded in the Tanakh. Over and over again the Hebrew nation ignored the prophets and in many instances had them killed. They tried to worship Elohim in the traditions of man, in the traditions of the people around them. Even though they were given the precise instructions, which is what Torah means, instruction. Rather, they picked up and added to His instructions until what was happening was not at all what Elohim desired. For example, here is Jeremiah 7:17-19. “Do you not see what they are doing in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? The sons gather wood, the fathers light the fire, and the women knead the dough to make cakes for the Queen of Heaven. They pour out drink offerings to other gods to provoke Me to anger. But am I the One they are provoking? declares Yahweh. Is it not themselves they spite, to their own shame?”

Continuing:
“The king was enraged, and he sent his troops to destroy those murderers and burn their city. Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the crossroads and invite to the banquet as many as you can find.’ So the servants went out into the streets and gathered everyone they could find, both evil and good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to see the guests, he spotted a man who was not dressed in wedding clothes. ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ 

Yahoshua comes and is rejected by the people He came to restore. So the remnant who believed were sent out like the kings servants. They were sent to preach the Gospel to the nations. This is the gentiles who have entered into the wedding banquet. He invites both the evil and the good. Although it isn’t mentioned specifically, we can understand that those who were invited wore the appropriate attire. They put on the new self. As we read in Ephesians 4:20-24. “But this is not the way you came to know Messiah. Surely you heard of Him and were taught in Him—in keeping with the truth that is in Yahoshua. To put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires. To be renewed in the spirit of your minds; and to put on the new self. Which is created to be like Elohim in true righteousness and holiness.” The clothes in the parable taught by Yahoshua, is a lifestyle. When the servants went out to the people to invite them to the banquet. The people who accepted the invitation had to assimilate into the culture of the wedding banquet. They had to put on new clothes, take off the old self and put on the new.

Continuing:
“But the man was speechless.”

There is a point when Yahoshua will separate the sheep from the goats. Another parable talks about the wheat and the tares. They look the same until the wheat is fully ripened and then you can tell the difference. The wheat puts on the fullness of its expression and bows. In the parable of the wedding banquet the man is speechless when approached by the king. Many are going to be surprised on the day the King returns because they haven’t put on the new self. They haven’t assimilated into the culture of the Kingdom. They are attempting to live duel lives. They look like wheat but they are tares. How can you know you aren’t a tare? Are you living by the principal, “Your Kingdom Come, Your Will be done.” Are you, “Seeking first the Kingdom of Elohim and His Righteousness?”

Continuing:
Then the king told the servants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.”

The conclusion of this passage is a warning. Some believe they are participating in the banquet. However, they have not assimilated themselves into the culture of the Kingdom. They haven’t embraced the new self. Instead, they believe that a simple acknowledgment of Yahoshua as King is enough for salvation. They think they can live as they want because of grace. This is due to incorrect word definitions or translations and poor teaching and instruction.

There is a word at the end of this passage, chosen, so wonderful it has become a show title. We can look at the world and history and see that Elohim has chosen people. We can look at Noah who found favor and was chosen to build an Ark. We can look at Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the birth of Israel. We can look at the Prophets and we can look at the Disciples. These stories of the chosen people of Elohim. The word here in Greek is ἐκλεκτός it means picked out, selected, chosen. However, the root of this word is ἐκλέγομαι and it is reflective of response. This is reflected in the passage above, “many are called.” This implies the choosing. Nevertheless, “but few are chosen,” is more reflective of the response, to respond to being chosen. ἐκλέγομαι or eklegomai is a verb it is the action and or outcome of the thing. In the verse we are the thing, the many that are chosen. The verb indicates both to be chosen and to choose. We are called, as even Judas was called, chosen. He didn’t respond with choosing to accept the fullness of the calling. In John 6:66 we read of a mass desertion. Many of Yahoshua’s Disciples left Him that day. He then asks the Twelve, “Are you going to leave also?” Their choice? “Where would we go for you have the Words of Eternal Life.” In light of the fullness of Scripture, we understand that this word for Chosen is two sided. It requires action and response. “For Elohim so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. That whoever believes in Him shall not parish but have everlasting life.” Many are called, few choose to accept. This is the message lost in translation.

Countless times we are warned that many believe they are saved and are not. “Many will say to Me; Adonai, Adonai, haven’t we done many wonders in Your Name?’ And I will say to them, ‘Depart from Me you who practice Torahlessness.'” How do we know that our names are written in the Lambs Book of Life? First, look in the mirror. Which clothing do you have on? That of the culture of man or the culture of the Kingdom? Are you arrayed in your own belief or are you immersed in the instruction of Yahoshua? Are you adorned in self-righteousness or are you baptized into the Righteousness of Messiah Yahoshua? Do you look like The Rabbi? Have you chosen to accept your calling?

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

The Chosen Veil

Many of us live veiled lives. Covering those parts of our life, history, story, that are least flattering, even shameful, even if it is only by our own definition. Many spend a lifetime living under a veil. Some live with veiled faces to block out that which seems too difficult, or based on experiences are deemed unnecessary. Some have worn a veil so long they don’t even know they are wearing one. It has become a part of them as much as the nose on their face.

Everyday, we choose our veils, and for the most part it goes unnoticed by the world. Today, i hope to challenge you, to see the veil you maybe walking with and in that awareness, perhaps, begin to lift it. View life, love, liberty, with a new lens. The other day i was reading in 2 Corinthians. i marked this passage found at the end of Chapter three.

“Therefore having such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech, and are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not look intently at the end of what was fading away. But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains un-lifted, because it is removed in Messiah. But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart; but whenever a person turns to Adonai, the veil is taken away. Now Adonai is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of Adonai is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of Adonai, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from Adonai, the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:12-18)

Yahoshua said, “For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?” This is a scathing rebuke of the religious leaders of the day. Along with Paul’s letter to the Corinthians in which he says, “But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart.” They didn’t want to know truth because it would disrupt their traditions. The same is true today. Many refuse to look at Moses and his writings as significant outside of a historic perspective. When in reality it is the very essence of who Yahoshua is, was, and is to come. Within the writings of the prophets as well, we find Yahoshua, and His coming Kingdom. Nowhere is there a new path, just new understanding in that it is written on our heart and on our minds. Can we make atonement for ourselves? No. Could the Israelites? No. The sacrificial system that was in place was a foreshadowing of Messiah. It was never sufficient. So based on this many claim all is done away with, and they are wrong.

What we do know is that in the millennium, the sacrificial system will be reinstated. For atonement purposes? No. If you read the Passover instruction, or First Fruits, Pentecost, the Feast of Tabernacles, pick one, what you read about is a prescribed gathering in which there was a feast. A massive party around the earthly Thrown of Elohim. The sacrifices were eaten by the people. Offerings were brought to the Levites because they didn’t own land, didn’t farm, didn’t tend flocks, they were ministers in the Temple and to the people. Is there a Temple now? No. Are the Levites within the land dependent upon others for their livelihood? No. So there is much of the Instruction, the Torah, that we are unable to observe. This doesn’t negate the whole but rather accentuate the purpose of Torah and that has always been relationship with Elohim.

Yahoshua says, “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by Himself; He can do only what He sees His Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows Him all He does. Yes, and He will show Him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed.” John 519-20 ~ If Elohim never changes, the system never changed but our understanding of it is skewed because of bad interpretations throughout the years dating all the way back to Yahoshua. “For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me.” Shouldn’t we get to know Moses if we truly want to understand Yahoshua? In Messiah’s High Priestly prayer found in John 17 He says, “I have revealed You to those whom You gave Me out of the world. They were Yours; You gave them to Me and they have obeyed Your word.” What word? The Torah and the living Torah made flesh in the person of Yahoshua.

Yahoshua later says, “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You. May they also be in Us so that the world may believe that You have sent Me. I have given them the glory that You gave Me, that they may be one as We are one— I in them and You in Me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that You sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me.” Elohim cannot deny Himself, He cannot lie, He cannot contradict Himself, therefore our understanding must align with the whole of Scripture. To walk according to the Gospel, the good news of Messiah, is to Walk in Unity with the Instruction of the Father through the Torah, the book of Instruction. To walk in the Commandments of Elohim and His statutes of which are possible today.

What of Elohim’s instruction can be followed? That which reflects the heart of the Father. His 10 Words, the Ten Commandments, to Love Elohim with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves sums up the whole of the law. Yet, what does it look like to love and honor Elohim if not to observe His Torah? To walk as the Rabbi walked in perfect unity with the Father and in response to His prayer for us in John 17. To be one with Him as He is one with the Father, to be in Him and He in us as the Father and the Son are one. What veil are you living under, what tradition of man is clouding your vision, what response will you give Messiah when He says, “Why do you call me Adonai, Adonai, and not do what I command?“

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

cj

Remnant (narrow is the way and few find it)

“And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.” Matthew 7:23
i wonder how many read this passage of Scripture and think that this is for the world and not those who think they are in the “Church.” Let’s look at the whole of this passage and break it down. “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 will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Adonai, Adonai, did we not prophesy in YOUR NAME, and in YOUR NAME cast out demons, and in YOUR NAME perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’ ” This passage of Scripture, if it doesn’t make you tremble, should at least admonish you to take Paul’s advice, “So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;” (Philippians 2:12).

Before we dive into what Adonai meant we need to understand what the title Adonai means? Well, first it is translated into English as Lord, and therefore defined as; a person who has authority, control, or power over others; a master, chief, or ruler. We use the term Lord mostly today which derives from the greek and comes from the root, BA’AL. This is why i like the to use Adonai, which comes from the Hebrew and is more fully translated as, “MY Master.” So according to Yahoshua, in the end, many will say to Him, “Adonai, Adonai!” These people coming to Him will recognize Him as their Master, their Lord. They continue to say, “didn’t we do . . .” They believe they were working in the Name of Yahoshua. Saul, later Paul, when he was persecuting the followers of the Way, before his conversion on the road to Damascus, thought he was doing the Will of Elohim. Yet, admittedly, he lacked true understanding of and relationship with YHWH. He was following mans tradition and not the Will of the Father in heaven. Today, likewise, many are following mans tradition and lack relationship with the Father and the Son. Yet, they strive in the name of . . .

To be a true disciple, one must walk in the way of the Rabbi, the Teacher. To put on Messiah. To become like him. Paul even says, “Imitate me as I imitate Messiah.” What did Messiah do? Only that which the Father said. Yahoshua is recorded as saying, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” He also says, “Why do you call Me Adonai, Adonai, and not do what I command you?” i have said this a lot recently, but it is worth repeating, Yahoshua is the WORD of Elohim made flesh. He is the fullness of Torah, not the end of it. He is the example of Torah, not the abolishment of it. He came to live it out so that we could imitate Him not throw it out. He came to set the record straight. He admonished the religious leaders of His day for their man made traditions and rules and commands. He would do the same today.

Let’s look at Paul for a minute as he confesses his passion for his understanding of Elohim. “I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Yahoshua of Nazareth. And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I cast my vote against them. And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme, and in raging fury against them I persecuted them even to foreign cities.” (Acts 26:9-11) ~ Here Paul tells us that his zeal for Elohim led him to persecute that which he did not understand. Even though he was versed in Torah, and the prophets. What he should have known he did not recognize because of his commitment to the Pharisaic traditions. This has been something religious leaders have done since the dawn of time, attempting to worship in their own way. Even with clear instruction not to.

Deuteronomy 4:1-2 ~ “And now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the rules that I am teaching you, and do them, that you may live, and go in and take possession of the land that YHWH, the Elohim of your fathers, is giving you. You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of YHWH your Elohim that I command you.”

Revelation 22:18-19 ~ “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, Elohim will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, Elohim will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.”

These warnings should be taken extremely serious. They are not just statements made in the wind but are reflective of the heart of Elohim who desires a personal relationship with his creation. Micah declares, “Does YHWH take delight in thousands of rams, In ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my firstborn for my rebellious acts, The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does YHWH require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your Elohim ~ The voice of YHWH will call to the city And it is sound wisdom to fear HIS name:”

The first covenant with Israel was one of blood and stone. The new covenant is one of flesh and spirit. However, it is still with the house of Israel. “Behold, the days are coming, declares YHWH, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with 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. For they did not continue in my covenant, and so I showed no concern for them, declares YHWH. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares YHWH: I will put MY laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their Elohim, and they shall be MY people.” This passage in Hebrews is from Jeremiah 31:31-34.

So if this new covenant is simply the old covenant written on the hearts of Israel and Judah, how do the Gentile nations become partakers? Paul writes to the Romans, “Rather through their [Israel and Judah] sin salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous.” And later he writes, “For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?” But by what means and for what purpose but to make salvation available to all as it was meant in the Torah! By being joined together with Israel, simply grafted in as Paul explains is this same letter to the Romans. “But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partakers with them of the rich root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you.” There is no distinction of people but there is a distinction of those who are in covenant with YHWH. That is . . . we ‘SHEMA’ which means, hear and obey.

“Shema Israel, YHWH our Elohim is One. You shall love YHWH your Elohim with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” It is with the heart that we love, with our soul we commit, with our mind we come to know and in our strength we serve. The two greatest commandments, love Elohim, and love our neighbor, this reveals the heart of the covenant. “You shall have no other gods before Me,” this reveals our commitment, much like the marriage covenant and why it is used as a symbol of our relationship to Messiah. We are told to meditate on His Word day and night, to know Him, is to love Him. Finally to serve Him with all we have and all we are for some everything comes easy because they have little. For others it is difficult because they have much.

This brings us back to the beginning. Narrow is the path that leads to life and few find it. “Why do you call me Adonai, Adonai, and not do as I command?” His command is the Torah, the unmistakable relationship covenant bound by our desire to keep in fellowship with our Creator. There are two paths, a religion that is based on mans tradition is the same as no religion at all which is to say without relationship. For can one truly say they know Elohim and yet forsake His Ways? But to be in covenant doesn’t mean perfection but it does mean holiness. It does mean striving. It does mean running the race to win, by training to run the race. Practice Torah, for it is the instruction manual, the guid book, to acting justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with Elohim. Do not find yourself on the other end of the saying, “Depart from ME, I never knew you, you who practice lawlessness.”

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

The Way of the Rabbi — “It is written!”

The Way of the Rabbi — “It is written!”
Luke 6:40 — “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.”

“And Yahoshua, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry.” (Matthew 4:1-2) As we read this many will only look at what we will highlight in a minute, however, this statement says a lot. For forty days, Yahoshua fasted and was tempted. We will look at three of them because that is all we get a glimpse of yet, still, i am confident that the response the entire time is the same; “It is written.” You can read the entire account in Matthew 4:1-11 and Luke 4:1-13.

Yahoshua, tired and hungry is tempted by the devil yet again, “If you are the Son of Elohim, command this stone to become bread.” Remember now, Yahoshua has been fasting for forty days. The Scripture says, “He was hungry.” The devil may not be all knowing but he is aware and knowledgable. In that awareness and knowledge of Scripture he will tempt you right where you are with exactly what might work, if you are not equipped to fight him off. The devil knows the Scriptures better than most if not all of humanity, and he knows how to twist it to make his temptation seem even as truth. Yahoshua, who is the Word made flesh was equipped to give the right answer. “Yahoshua answered him, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of Elohim.” The Way of the Rabbi is to confront temptation with Scripture. Yahoshua, here quotes from Deuteronomy 8:3 — “And He humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every WORD that comes from the mouth of YHWH.” As He quotes the later part of this passage, i can’t help but think that in this He was also thinking, that the Father knows of what we need. As later when asked to teach on prayer, Yahoshua says, “give us this day our daily bread.” This is the Way of the Rabbi, to hunger and thirst for righteousness. To search the scriptures daily, to meditate on them day and night. Let’s continue with temptation number two . . .

“Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to Him, ‘If You are the Son of Elohim, throw yourself down, for it is written, “‘He will command His angels concerning You,’
and
‘On their hands they will bear You up, lest you strike Your foot against a stone.'”

One wouldn’t think of this as being that great a temptation. Unless you take into account all that would befall Yahoshua. When i read this temptation i am reminded of the moment Yahoshua was taken to the cliff to be thrown down by the Pharisee’s. Just after Yahoshua reads from the Prophet Isaiah in the synagogue, “The Spirit of Adonai is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of Adonai’s favor.” After reading this passage He rolled up the scroll and said, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” Hearing this those in the synagogue were filled with wrath. They drove Yahoshua out of town to the cliff and were intent on throwing Him over the edge. However, just when you thought His end was near, “But passing through their midst, He went away.” The devil will tempt us to put Elohim to the test, to seek for signs and wonders, yet His promise is to be there for us in our times of trouble. There isn’t a need to test Him but to trust Him. Yahoshua responds to the devil, “Again it is written, You shall not put Adonai your Elohim to the test.” This response comes from Deuteronomy 6:16 the following verse reads, “You shall diligently keep the commandments of YHWH your Elohim, and His testimonies and His statutes, which He has commanded you. And you shall do what is right and good in the sight of YHWH, that it may go well with you, and that you may go in and take possession of the good land that YHWH swore to give to your fathers.” This is extremely important context! For the Way of the Rabbi is to do the will of the Father, to follow His commandments and statutes. Why? Because, when we live as instructed, we don’t need to worry about such things for He will take care of us. As the lesson found in Luke 4:28-30 reveals, “But passing through their midst, He went away.“

Now the devil attempts to tempt Yahoshua in a way many are tempted today. To submit to him and in so doing gain the riches of this world. “Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And He said to Him, ‘All these I will give You, if you will fall down and worship me.‘” There is an easy road that leads to destruction, this is what the Word tells us and many walk it. Even if the road isn’t easy but full of hardship, people will blame Elohim, yet they are not submitting to His way of life. The devil needn’t worry so much about them for he already has them. But the ones who are trying to walk the Way of the Rabbi are tempted, in this way, to just live free, “do as thou wilt, shall be the whole of the law.” It is the temptation of Messiah here, “don’t worry about all that stuff, just submit to me and it is Yours.” Finally, Yahoshua having had enough of the games says, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship Adonai your Elohim and Him only shall you serve.’ Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to Him.” In Yahoshua’s response He is quoting from Deuteronomy again, 6:13, the fullness of that passage reads; “It is YHWH your Elohim you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by His name you shall swear. You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are around you, for YHWH your Elohim in your midst is a jealous Elohim, lest the anger of YHWH your Elohim be kindled against you, and he destroy you from off the face of the earth.” WOW! We are to “seek first the Kingdom of Elohim and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.” We don’t need to submit to the devil and his temptations for we serve a Elohim who knows our needs, our wants and our desires. We are to resist the devil in this way, “IT IS WRITTEN!” and he has no choice but to flee.

However, in order to do this one must be versed in Scripture! You must know what it says, why it says it, and be confident in the promises of Elohim. Paul, who is often mis-interpreted, was a Torah observant follower of Messiah Yahoshua and he told Timothy this . . . “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. He goes on in his letter to warn Timothy, “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. We live in a time of itching ears, a time where people are looking to teachers who widen the path, pervert the Word of Elohim, twist it and make a mockery of it. Yet, we are given a more perfect way, the Way of the Rabbi.

“A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.” Luke 6:40
“If you love Me, you will keep my commandments.” John 14:15
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6
“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.” John 15:4
“Sanctify them in the truth; Your Word is Truth.” John 17:17

As Yahoshua said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” So is the Torah described. The Torah is known as the Way, the Path, and Instruction. As we have seen above Yahoshua is Truth, and the Torah, the Word, is Truth. He is Life, Yahoshua is life and the Torah is the life, “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every Word of Elohim.” Yahoshua said, “If you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote of Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?” Yahoshua said, “If you abide in My word you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Not free to sin or live in rebellion to YHWH and His Word but to live free from the penalty of sin and death. For by grace we have been saved and not of works that anyone should boast. Yet, we are still to live in communion and covenant with Elohim by keeping His word. It isn’t too cumbersome, His yoke is easy and His burden is light. We are to love YHWH with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. To abide in Him and in His Word. Yahoshua is His Word, made flesh, He didn’t come to contradict Himself but to reveal and make full the wonders of Elohim the Father.

Let me conclude with this verse, “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: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them . . . when the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.” Luke 6:46-49. This is the Way of the Rabbi.

You are loved,
cj

The Coming of the Lawless One

“The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore Elohim sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12

Let us start here with the idea of the coming of the lawless one. First, we need to figure out what this term lawless one means. We also need to understand what it meant to first century believers. Penned by Paul shortly after his first letter to the Thessalonians about 51 AD give or take a year. His purpose is to encourage the people of the Way, as they suffered persecution from the pagan culture that surrounded them as well as assimilated Israelite’s, also known as gentiles. The first and second century believers were a sect of Judaism known as “the Sect of the Nazarene”. They were apart of the Synagogue, went to the Sabbath meetings, observed the feasts, and various traditions, overly so in some cases and under in others. This is why the Jerusalem council met and unfortunately why part of the clarification has been misinterpreted today. The church has been evolving for two thousand years, not all for the good, but not all of it bad either. Some question the idea of the church wavering so, and i simply point to the book of Exodus, or Judges, or Jeremiah, or . . . pick one book found in the Tanakh, and you will see that within a generation things can fall apart. Or just look around at the political and cultural landscape today and you can see easily how fast things can change. So it isn’t a stretch to think that man could mess up what Messiah left.

So with this understanding we can easily see that lawless meant Torah-less without Torah. i think the most egregious misinterpretation of Scripture was to render Torah as law. When it is better translated, instruction, or path, or way. But even if we use the term law the idea doesn’t change. To be without Elohim’s instruction is to be outside the will of the Father. Without His path, His way, one is thereby lawless. Someone who believes the Torah has been done away with needs only to wrestle with the question, what is sin.

i believe many in the Christian Church when they read; “The coming of the lawless one,” think the Constitution of the United States or governing body. When in actuality the coming of “the lawless one is by the activity of Satan. With all power and false signs and wonders.” Therefore, the lawlessness ascribed to here is that of Elohim’s law, and not the law of the land created by man. This is not to say that we are not to adhere to the laws of the land, we are! i am simply stating the fact that the lawless that is referred to here is Torahlessness. To make this point more clear, we can look at the idea of sin, what is sin? Simply, as John writes, “Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.” (1 John 3:4). Again, this law that is being broken is Torah, which again isn’t law at all but instruction. Reminder, the Torah although translated law is more accurately translated to instruction, or path, or way. Remember when Yahoshua said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life”? Or think about when John writes, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” This is the idea, that Yahoshua is the living Torah. He didn’t come to do away with Himself but to bring fullness to the way of the Father, Yahweh.

So then what is the activity of the lawless one? It is the spirit of Anti-Christ, or Anti-Messiah. To oppose, or in opposition of truth, it is the “do as thou wilt”, mantra of the satanic bible. When Yahoshua walked with His disciples He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Me.” The Torah or better yet, the Way, Path, or instruction can be broken down in that statement. The Torah is the way. The Torah is Truth — “Your Word is Truth”. The Torah is Life — “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every Word of Elohim.” Now, Yahoshua, as John describes is “The Word made flesh. . .” Which makes total sense that the Anti-Messiah will come in opposition to the Torah or the Instructions of Yahweh and the living Word, Yahoshua.

People will instantly say in rebuttal, “Do you keep all the law?” Well no i don’t. And a simple cursory reading of the Tanakh will show why. Some laws are only for women, i am not a woman. Some laws are only for married men, i am not married. Some laws are for Priests and Levite’s, i am not a Priest or a Levite. Some Laws are for the High Priest, i am not the High Priest. Some Laws are for living within Jerusalem, i am not in Jerusalem. Do you get the point? So what laws do we follow? Yahoshua, said, “Love Elohim with all your heart, soul, mind and strength; and the second, love your neighbor as yourself. On these two the whole of the law and the prophets hold together.” Notice they hold together and not replace. Also, they are not new, both are “Old Testament” quotes. If we truly love the Father and His Son, the King of the Heavenly Kingdom, should we not then live under their rule? Which according to Deuteronomy 30:11 and 1 John 5:3 “And His commandments are not burdensome.” Some will say, these apply only to Jews, but Exodus 12:49 says, “There shall be one law for the native and for the stranger who sojourns among you.”

So, what is one to do? The law doesn’t save us, we can keep the law all day long but if we don’t have a relationship with Elohim through Yahoshua the law is useless. This was Paul’s point and James who says, “Faith without works is dead.” Micah, sums it up this way, “He has shown you oh man, what is good, and what does Elohim require of you, but to Act Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly with your Elohim.” This would look like following the 10 Commandments, not just 9 of them. This would look like “Pure and undefiled religion is this, to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” This would look like, “When you did it to the least of these, you did it unto Me.” (Matthew 25:40). This would look like walking in the footsteps of the Rabbi Yahoshua, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” This would look like, “All Scripture is breathed out by Elohim and therefore profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of Elohim may be competent, equipped for for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16).

Another way to look at it is this, we are the bride of Messiah. The most used marriage passage is 1 Corinthians 13. If we love Yahweh as much as we say we love Him, and if we love His Son Yahoshua as much as we say we love Him, then 1 Corinthians 13 should apply. “…but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong doing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. . . So what remains is faith, hope and love, so abide in them; yet still the greatest of these is love.” And remember what Yahoshua said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life . . .” He is the instructor and the instruction, the instruction made flesh, the fullness of the shadow of things to come. He is the revealer of all truth and we must walk in His way.

“If you love Me . . .”

You are loved,
cj

Every Wind of Doctrine ~ conclusion

“We love because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19

“You know that He appeared in order to take away sins, and in Him there is no sin. No one who abides in Him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen Him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as He is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of Elohim appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of Elohim makes a practice of sinning, for Elohim’s seed abides in Him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of Elohim. By this it is evident who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of Elohim, nor is the one who does not love his brother.” 1 John 3:5-10

In all my reading, in all my study, no one i know would disagree with the idea presented here by John. John who was the only one of the twelve to be at the foot of the cross. Yahoshua, as He hung on that stake looks down at him as he stands next to his earthly mother, Mary, and said, “‘Woman, behold, your son!’ Then He said to (John) His disciple, ‘Behold, your mother!’ And from that hour the disciple (John) took her to his own home.” This relationship between Yahoshua and John was a special bond it cannot be denied. Therefore, we should consider his words. Many will say that they do that it is Scripture but proceed to hold the letters of Paul above the letters of John. Mainly because it is easy to interpret Paul as excusing sin. Which Peter himself recognized, Peter another of the twelve writes in one of his letter, “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 the knowledge of our Adonai and Savior Yahoshua Messiah.” 2 Peter 3:15-18

Paul himself writes to the Ephesians, “So that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Messiah.” Ephesians 4:14-15 — So, therefore let us conclude the matter by defining two words, sin and truth. What is sin and what is truth? In order to not be blown about by every wind of doctrine we must understand what sin is and what truth is . . . Without these definitions the warnings given about following false doctrine become increasingly more dangerous. This is why we cannot expect any definition that is outside of Scripture itself.

To drive this point home lets look at what Paul writes to Timothy a young pastor. “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Messiah Yahoshua. 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 complete, equipped for every good work.” The things learned from childhood within the sacred writings is the Torah, the Tanakh, the books of the law and prophets. It is also these books that Paul tells Timothy, “All Scripture . . . Profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness.” He wasn’t referring to his letter or any of his letters for that matter. Do i hold to the teachings in what is known today as the New Testament, Yes, but i hold them in light of the Tanakh, as they point to the same Messiah that is revealed in the sacred writings.

This brings us to the definition of truth as Paul says, “Speaking truth in love.” What is truth? In John 17 we read the Highly Priestly prayer of Yahoshua and He says, “Sanctify them in the truth; Your Word is TRUTH.” Who’s word? Elohim’s word is Truth, Yahoshua was praying that we be set apart by the WORD of TRUTH, the writings of the Torah, and the Prophets. And so then what of sin? Sin is as John writes, “Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.” The word law is Torah so the word here is sin is Torahlessness. So if speaking truth is speaking the Torah and living without Torah is lawlessness than the doctrine we are to live by is found in the Torah.

Some will raise the idea that the Jerusalem council, the earliest council, gave the gentiles only a few things to observe. “Abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood.” They see this as a final seal of approval on the gentiles. We, however, need to consider the entirety of the meeting. What was going on in its totality. The debate was to put upon them a yoke that they nor their fathers were able to bear. Much of the discussion was on extra things added on by the Priests and Rabbi’s over time. As is summed up by James final statement, “For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.” (For context you will find the full entry in Acts 15:1-33) — It was assumed, that these new gentile believers would be attending synagogue on the Sabbath. And in deed they did and formed the Sect of the Nazarene. These Nazarene’s were later persecuted, and kicked out of the synagogue because of their belief in Yahoshua as the Messiah. To which they formed house churches that still held to the Sabbath until the 2nd or 3rd century.

Because of this misunderstanding many wrongly say that the Torah is too hard to keep. Well, then Elohim is a liar, “For this commandment I give you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off.” Deuteronomy 30:11 — And John is a false teacher, “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 —

So what then shall we do as believers in Yahoshua Messiah? “Abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood.” As well we should, “For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.” Attend a church that proclaims the whole of Elohim’s word and holds true to its teachings. You should begin to honor the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. You should begin to look at the difference between man’s tradition and Elohim’s instruction. It is an exciting journey. However, be warned, it is also difficult and narrow but in the end completely worth it.

This is me speaking the truth in love, Love Elohim with your whole heart and do your best to obey His commandments. Grow in grace and knowledge by studying the whole of Elohim’s Word, tear out that dividing page in your Bible that says New Testament on it and read it as one collection of divinely inspired books that point to one Elohim and one Savior Yahoshua Messiah.

You are loved,
cj

Before Leviticus there was Genesis

“You shall take with you of every clean animal by sevens, a male and his female; and of the animals that are not clean two, a male and his female;” Genesis 7:2

When we talk about the Levitical Laws, and consequently the dietary laws, the landing point for these conversations is nearly always Leviticus chapter eleven. And since it is found in Leviticus the argument then becomes, “Jesus, did away with the law, we are now under grace.” Yet, as the caption above shows, the designation of clean and unclean predates the Law of Moses by hundreds if not greater than a thousand years. For Noah had to know which animals were clean and which animals were unclean before the flood since he loaded the ark as instructed, seven of every clean animal and two of the unclean. Moses simply clarifies this and writes it down for future generation’s education.

Why do i mention this? Clearly, there are more substantive points to be made. Yes, however, i start here because this stems from an earlier post of mine in which we discussed Melchizedek, mentioned in Genesis 14 and again in Hebrews. (You can read the post here.) The idea of clean and unclean go back to the earliest days recorded Biblically, therefore, it should be considered of historical value. When i was steeped in denominationalism one of the tenants of belief derived from this saying, “The Word, History, and Tradition.” First, what does the Word say, second, what does history show, third, what of tradition. Yet, as we have discussed, time and time again, history shows that we have a propensity to sway from the Word, make our own history and thereby making mans tradition superior to Elohim’s Word. What i have come to understand and believe is simply, what does the Word say, and leave it at that.

Two points in what is considered the New Testament many will raise are these: Jesus’ proclamation and Peter’s vision. Let’s first look at Peter’s story, found in Acts 10. Here in the town of Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion. He was also a devout man who feared Elohim as did all his household. He prayed continually and gave generously to Elohim. Elohim instructs Cornelius, to seek out Peter, and so he does. Peter, being an Israelite, a proud one at that, and zealous for Elohim would be a tough nut to crack. He was zealous for Elohim towards Israel and thought it wrong to include gentile nations, Greeks, Romans, Italians, Spaniards, etc. So while the men Cornelius sent to seek out Peter were yet traveling Peter has a vision. It says he was hungry on a roof top praying at the 6th hour or noon as was customary. In his hunger ridden vision he sees a sheet descending from the sky full of animals, reptiles, and birds. A voice pronounces, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” Peter being a devout Hebrew refuses, “By no means, Adonai; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” (This would indicate that nothing within the sheet was considered food, but a sheet full of unclean things) The voice a second time declares, “What Elohim has made clean, do not call common.”

If the story stopped there i would be in full agreement that the vision was in reference to food and therefore all animals, even ones marked as unclean were made clean by Yahoshua. However, this isn’t the end of the story. Remember the men sent by Cornelius, a Centurion, and an Italian? An unclean gentile of the ruling class that took part in the crucifixion of Yahoshua, has sent men to Peter, might the vision have something to do with that? Well lets check in with Peter. “While Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.” The men arrive, explain the situation, and the next day Peter and a few friends travel with the men back to Caesarea to meet with Cornelius. After Peter preaches the message of the good news of Yahoshua, the Word made flesh, the gentiles believe and are filled with the Holy Spirit. At the time Acts was written, roughly 60 AD, the Church was about 30 years old give or take. This story is found somewhere in the middle of that, so lets say 15 years into the life of the Church. There were already factions or as they were known Sects that had arisen within Judaism. Much like Denominations today. When word of the Gentiles receiving the Holy Spirit reached the council back in Jerusalem, the circumcision sect was outraged! “This can’t be! The sign of the covenant is circumcision and gentiles are not circumcised, therefore something isn’t right!”

Peter, then describes and interprets his vision. “. . . This happened three times, and all was drawn up again into heaven. And behold, at that very moment three gentile men arrived at the house in which we were, sent to me from Caesarea. And the Spirit told me to go with them, and making no distinction.” He concludes, “If then Elohim gave the same gift to them as He gave to us when we believed in Adonai Yahoshua Messiah, who was I that I could stand in Elohim’s way? When they glorified Elohim, saying, ‘Then to the Gentiles also Elohim has granted repentance that leads to life.’” You can read the whole account in Acts 10:1–11:18. If this had anything to do with food, anything at all, don’t you think Peter would have mentioned they ate a roast pig or something? The fact is it had and has nothing to do with food but the redemption of humanity through Yahoshua Messiah.

Many will sight Mark 7:19 as a verse in which Yahoshua declares all foods clean. “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?“ (Thus he declared all foods clean.) Notice the parentheses, if your translation has the addendum at all, “Thus he declared all foods clean,” the parentheses indicate that this was added much later, not found in all manuscripts, most likely added erroneously by a pagan convert scribe who enjoyed eating pig. i don’t mean to pick on the pig exclusively, all unclean food for that matter is still unclean and should be avoided. Yet, even still i can hear the voice of some, “But Colossians!” Let’s take a look at Colossians in (my first) conclusion.

“Therefore, let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Messiah. Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, courtships and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from Elohim.” Colossians 2:16-19

Who were the Colossians? First, Colosse was in the Roman province of Asia which is modern-day Türkiye (Turkey). Although, there were Hebrews living in Colosse, they were assimilated into the surrounding culture and therefore considered gentiles to orthodox or Torah observant Israelites. There were of course actual gentiles also living in Colosse, and many had converted to the sect of the Nazarene, or followers of the Way of Messiah Yahoshua. These converts were mainly from pagan traditions of the Greek Culture which was adopted by the Romans. Pagan culture is full of religious overtones, festivals, and feast days, including holy days or modern-day translated Sabbaths in Hebrew, Shabbat.

With this context and understanding, as these pagan converts and assimilated Israelites converted to The Way of Messiah or the Sect of the Nazarene within Judaism it is easy to see why Paul wrote to them to not let anyone pass judgement upon them for their new found ways of living, as Messiah, the Word made flesh, and walk in the dust of the Rabbi. Imitating Him in His obedience to Torah and the Commandments of Elohim. Again, context matters, had Paul been writing to Jews in Jerusalem, one could perhaps take it that Paul was stating do what makes you happy Yahoshua paid the price. But that isn’t the case. These converts were facing persecution for their new found ways and the culture around them was chastising them for observing Torah.

Let me make my second conclusion of this matter with this analogy. Messiah Yahoshua is referred to as the Bridegroom, and likewise His followers are referred to as the Bride of Messiah. In a marriage relationship, if your spouse has grace for you in a matter do you exasperate that grace or do you attempt to change or compromise in order to honor your spouse? It’s not appeasement if it is done in love with the idea of mutual respect and honor. In Revelation 14:12 we read this: “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of Yahweh, and the faith of Yahoshua.” John when writing the commandments of Yahweh is referring to the Torah and he couples that with the faith of Yahoshua, faith of, not faith in, which we can gather by his use of language to mean; to walk as the Rabbi, to walk in the dust of the Rabbi. Or as Paul states, “Imitate me as I imitate Messiah.”

Now my final conclusion from Pauls writing to the Philippians (Phil 3:15-19). “Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, Elohim shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, where to we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an example. For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the stake of Messiah: Whose end is destruction, whose mighty one is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.” We are to be driven by our love for Messiah unto obedience, not out of rule but out of a marital covenant. We are to stand out among the nations, set apart, following the ways of Yahweh. Messiah didn’t come to give us license to live in sin but to show us a more perfect way bound in love for Yahweh, and for His people. And we live this out by loving everyone, we judge those only within the body of Messiah, while we proclaim the truth of salvation to those outside of Messiah. There is a more intimate life that awaits for those who are found in Messiah when He returns.

John 14:15 “If you love Me (Yahoshua), keep My commandments.” i realize this post is a bit all over the place, my apologies, but my heart is for you and my mind is faster than my fingers. my next post will attempt to complete this thought and this series of sorts on Every Wind of Doctrine. However, this is my heart, Messiah came to reveal that there is simplicity in following Him not more burden. He came to reveal and remove the many traditions of man that were heaped on the Israelites and the observers of Torah, to declare, “Come Follow Me! (The WORD made flesh) For My burden is easy and my yoke is light.” He didn’t come so that man could live lawlessly or in Torahlessness, which is of the working of the lawless one himself. And his doctrine which is preached, “Do as though wilt, shall be the whole of the law.” His lie is the same, “You won’t die, for Elohim knows that when you eat of it you will be like Him, knowing both good and evil.” The lawless one twists truth in order to convince humanity to live as him, Messiah Yahoshua, the Word made Flesh, says, “Follow Me.”

Until next time, Act Justly, Love Mercy, Walk Humbly with Elohim.

You are loved,
cj

We haven’t heard . . .

Every Wind of Doctrine 7 . . . “We haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” Acts 19:2

Paul writes to the Philippians, “So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” Some translations render this, “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” So many today are reliant upon others faith, others religion, others understanding, that they fail to search the Scriptures daily, to see whether or not what they are being taught is true. Of course there is a grain of truth in everything which makes discerning untruth more difficult. The devil knows this and therefore has been tempting man from the beginning with truth, wrapped convincingly in a lie. “You will be like the Most High, knowing good and evil.” “Did Elohim actually say . . .?” “You won’t surely die . . .”

When Paul and Apollos were in Ephesus, they came across some disciples, recent converts to the Way, and Paul asked them, “‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?’ And they said to him, ‘No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.’ And he said, ‘Into what then were you baptized?’ And they said, ‘Into John’s baptism.’ Paul said, ‘John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Yahoshua.’ When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of Adonai Yahoshua.’ And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying.” Acts 19:2-6

Being a follower of the Way is simpler than some have made it and still more difficult than many believe. Yahoshua said, “He who would follow Me will lose his own life.” He said, narrow is the Way, and few find it.” He said, “let the dead bury their own and come follow Me.” He said, to James and John, “Come follow Me and I will make you fishers of men.” And they at once left their nets and the family business and followed Him. He said, “Many will say to Me Adonai, Adonai, and I will tell them depart from Me, I never knew you, you who practice lawlessness.” He also said, “My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” He said, “Ask of Me and I will give you living water.” He said, “If you lose your life for My sake, then you will find it.” He said, “I will not leave you alone, I go to My Father, and will send you a Helper, the Holy Spirit.”

When we take into consideration our part in being in relationship with Yahoshua it runs a bit deeper than merely believing. We begin to grow in that relationship. We don’t earn our salvation, we cannot out holy others in order to some how achieve the reward of salvation. Salvation is a gift, given by means of grace, to the heart open to receive it. But as Yahoshua called His disciples, they had to leave something behind, themselves, their old selves. They were made new in Messiah. Given new life, new purpose, a new Way of living. Many will say, that i preach a works based salvation, no, i do not work for nor can i earn my salvation. However, because i am saved, because i have been given new life, with new purpose, i choose to walk the new life, the new Way.

This new Way is as easy as it is hard. “‘But there are some of you who do not believe.’ For Yahoshua knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him. And He was saying, ‘For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.” As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and chose not to walk in the Way any longer. So Yahoshua said to the twelve, ‘Do you want to leave and go your own way also?’” (John 6:64-67)

There are only two ways in this life, The Way, Elohim’s Way, or your own way, the way of Satan. The satanic temple has a saying, “Do as thou wilt, shall be the whole of the law.” This is the lie the devil has been telling many even within the Church today and they are believing it. But this is the working of the lawless one. For Yahoshua, is the Word made flesh, He is the Instruction. i met someone today who said, “Yahoshua is the Word made flesh, and it is our job as flesh to become like the Word.” This is so very true! We are to become like Him, to walk in the footsteps of the Rabbi Yahoshua, who walked in the fullness of the Word of Elohim. “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 came into being through Him, apart from Him nothing can be.” . . . “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among man, and man saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1-3, 14) What is truth? His Word is Truth.

If we are going to walk in the Way, the Way of the Rabbi, the Word, then we must know the Word. We must seek Him, for when we seek Him with our whole heart, we will find Him. When we ask Him for wisdom He will give us wisdom. When we desire understanding, He will give us understanding. He will bring along those who will ask, “Have you received the Holy Spirit?” And if we have not heard, if we do not know, but we seek through the Scriptures as the Berean’s did daily, He will show us, revealing His truth. Which way do you want to go? On what path will you find yourself, on the broad way, easy, do as thou wilt; or will you take the narrow Way, the Way of instruction, “If you love Me, you will obey My commandments.” This word will, is a choice. Choose this day whom you will serve, Elohim Most High, or yourself. Only one leads to life, choose wisely.

You are loved,
cj