Purim – Recognizing Miracles

We are now in the moon of Adar (the 12th moon) where our joy is increased. But we are living in the galut (dispersion, exile) among the very anti-Semitic goy who try and make life for us Jews very difficult. Here in South Africa, our government is instituting a boycott of any Israeli products, persecuting us Jews and having many marches against us because they claim that we live according to an apartheid regime and that we are villains and evil. But is that really true?

But do we live by apartheid? And if so what kind of apartheid are we talking about?  If we are evil then how is this evil defined?  And then, would such opinions not depend on others point of view?  Looking at a torah life as the only way of life and survival may indeed seem stupid or evil from the outside. The Torah makes it very clear that Yisra’el is a kadosh nation. The question is, what does it mean to be kadosh?

Kadosh simply means, “separate” or, “set apart.” The Christian bible translates this Hebrew word, “kadosh” as “holy.” HASHEM made it very clear that we are not allowed to be like the other nations. Are we not to follow the commands and precepts found in the Torah, no matter where we are? To do this, we must separate ourselves in a torah life and culture, not so? Anti-Apartheid (Anti-Kadosh) literally means, “forced conversion,” which is a very wicked act. It is exactly what happened during the Spanish Inquisition where many Jews we killed. Anti-Kadosh, in this sense, is Anti-Semitic.

Now I need to make it very clear that the kadosh'ness' of the Jews is in no way the same as that of the other apartheid regimes, like what happened in South Africa. Us Jews do not hate or mistreat people from other nations or cultures. In fact, Although we are one of the smallest nations in the world, we are the second largest financial, humanitarian aid contributor among all nations. We have a deep love for people and live to be a light to the world bringing morality and righteousness, no matter where we may be.

Unfortunately, because we have not stayed kadosh, and most times, not been able to do so, there is a great amount of Jews that have assimilated into other cultures and religions. This has always been viewed as a great crisis among religious Jews. We have seen throughout history that Jews have been forced to assimilate and convert to other cultures and religions or face the penalty of being kicked out of the community, country or even killed. This is still happening at this moment all around the world to some degree or another, whether it be terrorist attacks, pressure from the governments, boycotts or simple hate speech against us.

So how are we to increase our joy? We could even be justified in being angry at the injustice and clear violation of our human and religious rights that our own governments show us. But no, we are not angry at all. In fact, we rejoice and really do increase our joy. But how is this even possible? There is one simple word that explains how it is possible, “Emuna.”

Through all this tribulation that we are going through, it is fitting that Purim is being celebrated now. Purim is the remembrance and celebration of the great miracles and protection that the Almighty grants us, His nation, Yisra’el. We read the story Esther on this day, which has so many lessons for us.

The story of Esther is about how we were exiled and were living under the Persian King. One of the King’s generals, Hamman, was an evil man and convinced the King to make a decree that all the Jews must be killed because they live by a different set of laws and separate themselves from the people among whom they live (the Persians). So the Jews were to be destroyed because they were living in apartheid.

But HASHEM had His hand over the situation at every single moment. HASHEM caused this to happen, even though it seemed bad. And As Jews we so many times feel that HASHEM has departed from us, and in worldly terms we may even have every right to moan about being persecuted. But this is not what we do. Such events caused us to fast and repent and turn to HASHEM for their salvation. Everything happened as it should have and at the right moments too. In the end, the evil Hamman and his sons were hanged on the very gallows that Hamman built for the hanging of the righteous Jew called Mordechai. At the end we Jews were not only saved then, we also gained all the respect of the King, something we did not have before.

Emuna teaches that there is only One being that is in control of everything and that everything that happens is from Him. And that everything that He does is for the good, even if it may seem bad.

The Name of the Almighty does not appear even once in the entire book of Esther. In fact it is the only book in the entire Tanakh that does not contain the Name at all. This teaches us, among other things too, that even though it seems that HASHEM has hidden Himself from us, that He is still actually in control and watching over us.

The ultimate goal in life is “tikkun” (soul correction) and everything that happens to us happens for the sake of tikkun, because HASHEM loves us.

That is why us Jews can be happy and Joyful at all times, no matter what our circumstances are at any time. We know that everything is for the good.

May we all continue to do teshuva (repentance) and grow closer to HASHEM, by the study and obedience to His Torah so that we may continue to joyfully say: BARUCH HASHEM no matter what our circumstance. To be kadosh (set-apart) is to be satisfied with being different, as we prefer to be what HASHEM wants us to be, no matter where we are or what the circumstances.

Purim Same'ach

Do we really live by the Scriptural culture?

Believing in and serving the Almighty is not an add-on to ones life. I have heard very many people say that one should put the Almighty first in ones life, then I reply, “WHAT… as if He could be second!!!” The fact is that The Almighty and His instructions for us have to guide us in every single aspect of our lives. It has to become our culture to live by every single Word that comes from the mouth of the Almighty.

The Scriptures have to become our way of life and way of thinking in everything that we do, it should become our culture. The majority of people in this world belong to some religious organization of some kind. The largest religion in the world today is undoubtedly Christianity by far. When I hear or read about this fact, the words of the Messiah that comes to mind is found in the book of Matthew, “Enter in through the narrow gate! Because the gate is wide – and the way is broad – that leads to destruction, and there are MANY WHO ENTER IN THROUGH IT. Because the gate is narrow and the way is hard pressed which leads to life, and THERE ARE FEW WHO FIND IT” (Mat 7:13-14)

With the words of the Messiah in our thoughts, would one want to be part of the majority (the many)? The Messiah made it very clear that this is a matter of life and death. Should we not pay more attention and study to test everything in order to prove it true so that we follow the truth that leads to life? If we do not do so, then we are simply putting our own lives and the lives of our families into the hands of other people.

Let me use a practical example quick. I have two uncles, the one is a middle class worker and the other is a rich financial expert who makes a lot of money from the stock market. One day my middle class uncle asked my rich uncle to invest some of his hard earned money on the stock market for him so that he too could have some extra cash. My rich uncle agreed to do so and took his money to invest.

Now my uncle, that gave his hard earned money, trusted my other rich uncle because he was his own brother and believed he had his best interests at heart. What happened is that because my rich uncle was not investing his own money, he was not too worried about it and sort of forgot to look after his brother’s investment. In the end, he made a loss with his brother’s money. Now it was not because he did not care about his brother, but simply because he was more interested in making more money for himself or simply because any loss of that investment would have no effect on him directly.

This example has exactly the same principle as mentioned above. Are you putting your life in the care of other people, who in the end are more worried about their own lives and “forget” to look after your “investment,” namely your life? That is why it is written that we are to test everything in order to prove that it is right. We are responsible for our own salvation and therefore need to study the Scriptures for ourselves in order to know what is righteous and what is not. We then have to change our lives to the extent that it is perfectly in line with the Word/Instruction of the Almighty. “It has been written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of יהוה (YHWH)” (Mat 4:4). He is the only one who knows what is best for us.

Now, whenever someone, who is walking in the ways of the Scriptures and teaching the ways of the Almighty, encounters a Christian, they are usually accused of the following, “you are trying to Judaise me and the other people.” But is this statement true? Absolutely not!!!

Judaising someone is teaching them to follow Jewish traditions and teachings. There is a difference between Judaising and Scripturalising the belief/faith. Although the Scriptural way of life very much resembles that of what the Jews do in many ways, it is not exactly the same in the sense that the Jews (at least the Rabbinics) have many extra laws and “interpretations” of certain passages. But does it make everything they (Orthodox Jews) do incorrect? Certainly NOT.

Let us look at a few things that are different between the Orthodox Jewish faith and the Scriptural faith. Then we will look at the Scriptural faith and compare it to the Christian faith to see if that meets the Scriptural requirements.

A few Jewish traditions that are not Scriptural:

1)   Men have to wear a “kippa” (yarmulke) on their heads.
2)   Not allowed to eat meat and dairy in the same meal.
3)   Not allowed to have a blue thread in the tzitzit (Scripture requires us to wear tzitzit with a cord of blue in it)
4)   Have a set worked out calendar instead of watching for new moon (but only differ by a day or so when there is a difference)

Now let us look at a few things that are required by Scripture, that the Christians do NOT observe:

1)   Wear tzitzit (tassels) on the four corners of our garments (Num 15:38-40, Deut 22:12, Mat 9:20, 14:35-36, Mark6:56, Luke 8:43-44)
2)   Keep the Sabbath (Christianity does not keep the Sabbath) (Hebrews 4:9, Mat 24:20, Ex 31: 13-16, Isa 56:1-2, 58:13-14, 66:22-24, Deut 5:12, Ex 20:8-11, Jer 17:22 etc)
3)   Circumcision, which is an eternal sign of the Covenant given to Avraham (Christianity does not believe in circumcision) (Eze 44:9, Jer 4:4, Gen 17:10-14, Ex 12:43-44, Luke 2:21)

4)   Observe the Mo’edim (appointed times and feasts) as written in Lev 23 (Christians keep pagan holidays instead.) See – Christmas, Easter, Birthdays, New Year, Valentines day etc.
5)   The Name of the Almighty is (יהוה) and is His Name forever (Ex 3:15). (Christianity substitutes it with the names of pagan idols) See – God, Lord.
6)   Eating kosher foods only. (Click here to learn more)

The Jews do all of the above as it is required by the Scriptures, but Christians do NOT.

Now let us look at a few things that Christianity holds to as true doctrine, but is not at all Scriptural:

1)   The Trinity. (Click here to understand why this is not Scriptural.)
2)   The Law being done away with, lawless. (see – Mat 7:21-23, 24:12, 2 Cor 6:14, 1 John 3:4, 2 Thess 2:3 and 9, 2 Peter 3:17, Romans 2:12-13, 3:31, 7:12, John 14:21, Rev 12:17, 14:12, 22:14, 1 John 3:10, Mat 13:41-43, James 1:22)
3)   Faith without works, which is the keeping of the Torah (see – James 2:14-26, Romans 3:31)
4)   Only have to believe in “Jesus” to be saved. (Mat 10:22, 24:23, Mark 13:13, Click here too)
5)   The cross is a Christian symbol. (but is it Scriptural? Click here to learn more).

6)   Forgiveness of adultery… “he who is without sin, cast the first stone”

There are so many more that I could mention here, but I am sure that you get the point now.

The fact of the matter is that the Faith of the Scriptures is a Hebrew faith. The father of the eternal covenant is Avraham, to whom the Almighty made the covenant with. Christianity claims to be “sons of Abraham” and yet, they do not resemble Abraham in any way. Avraham was called an “Ivri” (Hebrew), where Christians follow a Roman religion.

Are we really trying to Judaise people? No… in fact, we are trying to Scripturalise people. The fact that someone who starts living according to the Scriptures might seem to look like a Jew or act like a Jew in many ways (in the eyes of the world), is because the lifestyle of the Jews are based mostly on the Scriptures. In fact, the Jewish nation is identified by the Torah, but most of them also follow extra laws that comes from the Talmud which was written by the Sages.

Christianity claims to be followers of the Messiah, but one thing that they simply cannot grasp is that the Messiah was and is a Jew (Y’hudi) and held to everything that is written in the Hebrew Tanakh. He lived according to the Scriptures and taught that we need to follow in His footsteps. I still remember a time when the church made arm bands that had the letters, “WWJD” written on them for the youth to wear. Those letters stood for, “What Would Jesus Do.” The wearer of the arm band would wear it as a reminder to do as “Jesus” would do in any situation. This was ironic as none of them ever did as the Messiah did or would do, for the simple fact because they had no idea what the Messiah would do in the situation because Christianity does not teach the true Messiah.

The fact of the matter is that Christianity has taken what is Scriptural and replaced it with other Westernized, Roman traditions of pagan cultures and religions.

Do you want to belong to the Hebrew faith of the Messiah and all His followers… or do you want to be a part of the Western Roman religion that has rejected the Scriptures in favor of their own personal teachings (doctrines) that are not at all Scriptural?

I am a Jew who follows a Jewish Rabbi who is my Messiah who teaches us to follow the Torah in every way.

The Armor of Elohim

Many people have heard the story or passage about “the armor of God”, but how many people really understand what it means and what the application of the armor is? It has become a “buzz word” among the Christians without the actual knowledge or application of what is being taught.

Once a person turns to the faith and belief of the Messiah יהושע (Yehoshua), that person joins a battle field where there are many attacks from the enemy. Satan (the adversary) and all his evil forces are the enemy that constantly tries to destroy anyone who turns to follow the government and rule of the Almighty.

There are also a few misconceptions about the armor of Elohim, for instance, it is taught that you must daily put on the armor of Elohim. But I ask you, where does it say daily, or everyday? It just says put it on. Are you not also in need of the armor at all times, even while you sleep? Another thing is that we all need to put on the ENTIRE armor, otherwise it is of no use at all. One piece of the armor cannot function without the others. We will get into that in more detail as we go through this article.

Let us now work through the passage where Shaul teaches about the armor of Elohim:

“Put on the complete armor of Elohim, for you to have power to stand against the schemes of the devil (Accuser).” (Eph 6:11). Here it is very clear that the complete armor is needed in order to stand against whatever the devil has to give. If you do not have the complete armor on, the rest of the armor is of no use and does not function, you cannot have one piece of armor on without the rest, it is a package deal. The Accuser will always find an opening and will always attack you there at your weakest point. That is why the entire armor is needed to stand against his attacks.

“Because we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against authorities, against the world-rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual matters of wickedness in the heavenlies.” (Eph 6:12). So we do not fight one another, but rather the false teachings and false spirits that lead and deceive others. If we all wore the armor of Elohim, then we would all stand together on the same team in total agreement with one another. There are, however, only a very few that truly wear the armor of Elohim, and these people are attacked even by flesh and blood. This is only due to the fact that those attacking are being lead by the evil spiritual forces. By wearing the full armor of Elohim, we will be able to stand up against everyone and everything.

“Because of this, take up the complete armor of Elohim, so that you have power to withstand in the wicked day, and having done all, to stand.” (Eph 6:13). Once again, Shaul teaches the importance to wear the FULL armor of Elohim. If we do not have the full armor on, then we will not be able to stand in the “wicked day.” What day is this “wicked day?” it is the day of judgment where we are going to stand in front of the Almighty, and the devil (Accuser) is going to accuse us of all terrible things. Unless you are wearing the full armor of Elohim, you will fall to his accusations and be guilty of sin. If, however, you are clothed with the full armor of Elohim, you will be able to stand up against any accusation that the Accuser may give.

“Stand, then, having girded your waist with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,” (Eph 6:14). Here we start to learn what the armor of Elohim is. The first item of the armor that is mentioned is the “waist girdle” or “belt” of TRUTH. Truth is the opposite of lies and falsehood. Truth is based upon facts and evidence. Truth is what comes out of the mouth of the Almighty, it is what is written. Any writing that changes the original truth is considered false. That is why it is so important to go back to the original writings, rather than relying on the many false translations that we know as Bibles today. The “waist girdle” is what holds your sword, without truth, you cannot have any weapon to fight or defend yourself with.

The second piece of armor mentioned in this verse is the breastplate of righteousness. Without righteousness, you do not have a breastplate to protect your vital organs, like your lungs and heart. Righteousness is the opposite of sin. It is the obedience of the Instruction of the Almighty which is His Torah, “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves servants for obedience, you are servants of the one whom you obey, whether of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness?” (Rom 6:16). This next verse explains that everyone that does not do righteousness, that is keeping the Torah of YHWH, is not of the children of the Almighty but are rather the children of the devil. To be part of the children of the Almighty, you have to live by His rules, which is His Word also known as the Torah. “In this the children of Elohim and the children of the devil are manifest: Everyone not doing righteousness is not of Elohim, neither the one not loving his brother” (1 John 3:10)

If you do not live righteously, then you do not have a breastplate to protect your vital organs in the Day of Judgment and the Accuser will give you up to death in that Day of Judgment.Having to stand in the wicked day can also mean the day/days that believers are attacked, and one's enemies devise and carry out evil plans against you, so that we do not fall and turn away from Elohim and His ways. These are also to do with schemes of the devil.

“and having fitted your feet with the preparation of the Good News of peace;” (Eph 6:15). The Scriptures indicate beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Good News originated at the very beginning of time. The True “gospel” has always incorporated the Almighty’s Torah (instruction in righteousness) in building a relationship between YHWH and humankind. “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit in you, and cause you to live by my Torah, and ye shall keep my statutes and judgments, and do them” (Ezekiel 36:26-27). Here we clearly see the basis of the Good News, that YHWH Himself shows favor and mercy to His people who will live according to His Word. The Good News is the revelation of YHWH’s Eternal Favor (grace) that saves and empowers His people to be able to stop transgressing (breaking Torah) against Him. Torah is YHWH’s blueprint for moral, righteous living. To attempt to annul Torah is to teach a different “gospel” than what the Talmidim (disciples) and Shlichim (Apostles) originally taught.

False gospels preach that Y’hoshua or “Jesus” is “the gospel” and/or that belief alone in Y’hoshua brings salvation. However, Adam and Chawwah (Eve) “got saved” long before Y’hoshua came to earth, because YHWH is Salvation. Y’hoshua is the door to salvation but belief in his atoning blood is utterly futile without being “re-born” spiritually and keeping His Father’s Commandments (becoming Set Apart). Even the demons believe in YHWH and the fact that there is only One Elohim; but demons are certainly not Set Apart unto YHWH, and therefore belief in itself without a righteous lifestyle is simply false religion. The false gospel has removed the TERMS & CONDITIONS of salvation, covenant and atonement and replaced them with a cerebral belief system or Christian religious label (identity); whereas the Renewed Covenant demands a complete change of lifestyle once Torah (instruction in righteousness) is written upon the heart.

Increased popularity of a false gospel will in no way make it acceptable to YHWH or His Mashiyach. Even if every soul on earth put their faith in a false gospel, it would not cause YHWH to change His Word to comply with man’s opinion. YHWH is His Word and His Promise and He cannot change Who He is! The false gospel is a theology that pits Y’hoshua against the Word of YHWH (Torah). Those who lead the charge of the false gospel adamantly speak against the terms and conditions of the Renewed Covenant. The Good News is that YHWH our Creator is a Loving, Merciful and Forgiving Father, which is why “the sacrifices of Elohim are a broken spirit: a broken and contrite heart.” This Love of the Father is clearly demonstrated in Y’hoshua haMashiyach as an offering for all souls to turn to YHWH, to enter His Kingdom and turn away from transgression of His Word (Torah).

“above all, having taken up the shield of belief with which you shall have power to quench all the burning arrows of the wicked one.” (Eph 6:16). The shield of Belief is spoken of as “above all.” This is because none of the rest of the armor is of any use without belief. If you have truth and not belief, then the truth is of no use, just as the others are of no use either. It is exactly the same as not being able to have belief without truth and works. “So also belief, if it does not have works, is in itself dead” (Ya’akov/James 2:17). Once again, it is a package deal, it cannot function without the other pieces of the armor, and without the shield of belief/faith, none of the other armor is of any use. This shield stops any fiery attacks that the wicked one may shoot at you. If you do not have belief, then you will not be able to stand against any attacks and will fall.

“Take also the helmet of deliverance, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of Elohim,” (Eph 6:17). Now this is an interesting verse that has a specific aspect that many people do not understand. All Christians agree that the sword is the Word of the Almighty, but what they do not understand is what exactly the Word of the Almighty is. Let us ask ourselves some questions, “Who wrote this letter? When was it written? and what existed as the Word of the Almighty in that time?” Let us now answer these questions. The letter to the Ephesians was written by Shaul (Paul). It was written in the time of early to mid 60’s AD. Now the key is to what was available in that time as the Word of the Almighty. One thing to notice is that the “New Testament” was not written or compiled yet and it certainly was not considered to be the Word of the Almighty. A lot of it had not even been written yet as most of it was mere letters sent from one believer to other believers. Ephesians was even written before some of the Gospels were.

So what was and still is the Word of the Almighty that Shaul and all the other disciples always referred to? It is the Tanakh (Old Testament) of course, the Tanakh is the Word of the Almighty and always will be as it is eternal. Shaul and many of the disciples studied and referenced the Tanakh in their letters and Gospels too. The Messiah Yehoshua quoted the Tanakh repeatedly and every time He said, “it is written…” so that we can know for certain that it comes from the Word of the Almighty which is the Tanakh.

The Word of our beloved Creator is also called Scripture. The Tanakh is the only thing that is or can be considered as Scripture. The “New Testament” is not the Word of the Almighty. But rather 4 witnesses to the happenings of the Messiah and also a collection of letters, written from believers to other believers who all followed the Scriptures (Tanakh). Let us see, for example, what one believer wrote in his letter to the other believers, “All Scripture is breathed by Elohim and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for setting straight, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of Elohim might be fitted, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Now you have to once again remember that the “New Testament” did not exist at the time of the writing of this letter, and that the Scripture being referenced here is the Tanakh. That proves that the Tanakh is the one and only writing that is considered the Word of the Almighty and the only thing that is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for setting straight and for instruction in righteousness. It is also our only guide to show us what good works are.

It is sad that the Church teaches its followers that it is an Old Testament and yet have no facts to support this evil thought. It is the Living Word of the Eternal Creator and Almighty YHWH. The term “New Testament” is also an evil man made title that has no facts to support it. The correct term is “brit chadashah” which means “Renewed Covenant,” NOT “new”. The term “New” implies that the other is “Old” which is not true but rather a false teaching. The Messiah did not bring a New Law, He came to renew the One perfect law that is eternal and taught us how to obey it. He also does not have any authority to change even one little part of the law at all.

There are many people who claim that the Tanakh is a curse and imperfect that had to be done away with and replaced by something better by the Messiah. Now consider what they are saying… they are saying that the Word of the Almighty, that even teaches us of the Messiah, is a curse and imperfect… would you like to say that to His face one day when you stand before Him? It is a perverse twisting of Scripture to think that the Word of the Almighty is in any way not perfect.

Now to get to the helmet of salvation/deliverance, the verse just says that you need to also take it. Now keep in mind that salvation is not possible without belief, truth, righteousness and the Good News combined, which are all necessary before you can wear the helmet of deliverance. What use is a helmet without a breastplate and a shield and a sword and a girdle to hold your sword? The meaning of our beloved Messiah Yehoshua's Name is, "YHWH is our salvation."

“praying at all times, with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, watching in all perseverance and supplication for all the set-apart ones” (Eph 6:18). Here we can see that the armor is not only spiritual, but physical too. Prayer is a physical act which needs to be done in the spirit. Righteousness comes from physical acts, truth comes from a physical studying of the Word of the Almighty and without the study of His Word, then the Sword is useless to you, and without any of these, belief is not possible as belief comes from the study of the Torah.

The term, “set-apart ones” is speaking of the believers in the Messiah who guard to do the Word of the Almighty. They are those who are set-apart from this world. You cannot be set-apart and still look like the world and do the things of this world. We need to look like and do the things of the Messiah, we need to walk in His footsteps and live like He lived, hating everything that is unrighteous and doing the Word of His Father in heaven. “Blessed are those doing His commands, so that the authority shall be theirs unto the tree of life, and to enter through the gates into the city” (Rev 22:14)

Do miracles determine a belief system to be true?

There are many many people who follow the Christian faith, and will not consider any other belief, because they have witnessed a “miracle” performed by a Christian minister or missionary or evangelist etc. at one time or another. Some have even witnessed many “miracles.” But do miracles prove a certain belief system to be the true faith of the Almighty?

The Christian Church of today, especially the “super” churches, are all about performing miracles in order to con their followers to throw their hard earned money at the church. There are even super rich Christian television networks, like TBN, that preach to the public in every single show or sermon, that they should give their money to them, even if it is their last cent. Then they claim that if they do, then a “wonderful” miracle will happen and that the people who give money to them, will be financially blessed or healed of a physical ailment. This all is a load of rubbish as these people take the last little bit of money from old ladies and drive around in the most expensive cars and live in the most expensive houses, and even own multiple houses, and some even have their own private jets too, like Kennith and Gloria Copeland and still continue to fool the poor people into supporting their wealthy lifestyle. What do these faithful followers of theirs get in return? Absolutely nothing, not even a miracle.

There are however some genuine miracles that have been performed by Christian leaders. Does this, however, prove that Christianity is the true faith of the Almighty? In order to answer this, we need to see if the Christian faith is based upon the Word of the Almighty. The litmus test to see if anyone is in the true faith of the Messiah, is to see if that person walks as the Messiah walked. “For this is favour, if because of conscience toward Elohim anyone bears up under grief, suffering unrighteously. For what credit is there in enduring a beating when you sin? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure, this finds favour with Elohim. For to this you were called, because Messiah also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps” (1 Peter 2:19-21). Also read here, “The one who says he stays in Him ought himself also to walk, even as He walked” (1 John 2:6).

Are the Christians following in the footsteps of the Messiah? Let us have a look at a few examples of what the Messiah did, and then compare them to the Christians and see if they are the same.

1) The Messiah - wore tzitzit (tassels)

“and begged Him to let them only touch the tzitzit of His garment. And as many as touched it were completely healed” (Mat 14:36)

“came from behind and touched the tzitzit of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped” (Luke 8:44)

1) The Christian – Does not wear tzitzit

In fact, whenever I see one of my old Christian friends, and they see my tzitzit, they always ask me, “what is that for?” This is because they have never been taught the true Messiah. If the Messiah came and walked into a church, they would not recognize him, and would actually say that He is one of those Jews, who’s Torah does not apply to them at all.

2) The Messiah – Kept the 7^th day Sabbath

“At that time יהושע (Yehoshua) went through the grain fields on THE Sabbath. And His taught ones were hungry, and began to pluck heads of grain, to eat” (Mat 12:1).

“And pray that your flight does not take place in winter or on the Sabbath” (Mat 24:20). Here the Messiah is speaking of the end times, which has not happened yet, that he is saying that THE Sabbath is still in effect. That when the time comes that the believers in the Messiah have to flee, that we should pray that it not be on THE Sabbath.

“And they went into Kephar Naḥum, and immediately on the Sabbath He went into the congregation and taught” (Mark 1:21)

“And Sabbath having come, He began to teach in the congregation. And many who heard Him were astonished, saying, “Where did He get all this? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such miracles are done through His hands?” (Mark 6:2). It is very clear that the Messiah kept the Sabbath day.

2) The Christian – Does not keep the Sabbath

In fact, the Christian teaches that the Sabbath does not apply to them any more and that they have been set free from it. WHAT??? They have been set free from rest? Is not the Sabbath a delight? I would hate to be set free from a delightful rest.

The Church admits that they have changed the day of rest from the 7^th day to the 1^st day of the week in commemoration of the worship of the Sun (Sun-Day) and also to show the Churches authority above the Scriptures. They do not even hide this fact and have arrogantly published this and even brag about this.

Would you rather follow the sun-worship 1^st day, or the day that the Almighty has established and that the Messiah Himself kept and taught us to keep?

3) The Messiah – ate only clean (kosher) food.

We all know that the Messiah never committed any sin. This means that he kept His Fathers Torah (Instruction) perfectly. We read in Lev 11 about what foods are clean and which ones are not clean. The Messiah never ate anything animal that is unclean.

We can know this as we have a record of one of His followers (disciples) that walked with Him daily, that tells us that he has never eaten anything unclean. “But Kĕpha said, “Not at all, Master! Because I have never eaten whatever is common or unclean.”” (Act 10:14). Here Peter is saying that he never ate anything unkosher (unclean). This is even the time that he walk with the Messiah. All the followers of the Messiah will never eat anything that is unclean according to the Word of the Almighty, Leviticus 11.

3) The Christian – Eats unclean (unkosher) food.

The Christian learns by his church that we do not have to follow the Instruction of the Almighty anymore. They do however have to follow the instruction of the church. Shouldn’t this alone raise suspicion?

The church teaches that only “God” can change His Laws and that He gave Peter the permission to eat unclean foods, that are detrimental to our health and cause many deceases like cancer. They quote Acts 10, but then fail to read further where it gives the description of the vision given to Peter. It was never intended for him to eat unclean meat. Read more about that here.

4) The Messiah – Prayed using the Name of His Father YHWH

The Messiah came to make known the Name of His Father. The Jewish practice of those days, and still today, is to keep the true Name of the Almighty secret out of fear of using it in vain. The Messiah never subscribed to Jewish traditions, but rather kept His Fathers Word where it is written, “And Elohim said further to Mosheh, “Thus you are to say to the children of Yisraĕl, ‘יהוה (YHWH) Elohim of your fathers, the Elohim of Aḇraham, the Elohim of Yitsḥaq, and the Elohim of Ya’aqoḇ, has sent me to you. This is My Name forever, and this is My remembrance to all generations.” (Exodus 3:15).

4) The Christian – Does not know the Name of the Almighty, prays to pagan idols.

The Christians place their trust and faith in the name of pagan idols every time they pray in the name of “God” or in the name of “Jesus”. Both these names are of the names of pagan idols (click on the names highlighted to see where they come from).

The Name of the Messiah is “Yehoshua.” The name “Jesus” is not a translation of Yehoshua, but comes from the Greek Iesous, which originates from the Egyptian Sun-deity called “Isis”

The name “God” is of just as bad a origin as the name “Jesus”

The reason for the Christian not knowing the Name of the Almighty and His Son the Messiah is because all the English Bibles have substituted the Name of the Almighty and His Son the Messiah and many other names and words with those of pagan idols.

English is a very young language and only came to be after the joining of the true faith and paganism from the time of Constantine in the year 321 AD. He started to create Christianity as we know it to be today and hid the truth from the people. (Also read about thefounders of the all gentile church here).

“And there is no deliverance in anyone else, for there is no other Name under the heaven given among men by which we need to be saved.” (Act 4:12). Here we can see that we cannot be saved by the name of “Jesus”, but only by the true Name of the Almighty.

5) The Messiah – Kept all the moedim (appointed times and feasts)

“And the festival of the Yehuḏim was near, the Festival of Booths” (John 7:2). Here we can see that the Messiah did attend the feast of Sukkot.

Like we have seen from above, the Messiah never sinned once. This means he kept all the moedim that the Almighty teaches us that we must do (Leviticus 23). We cannot know or understand salvation if we do not keep all the appointed times of the Almighty.

Also notice that sin is described by breaking the Torah of the Almighty. Is it not taught by the Messiah that we must go and “sin no more?”

5) The Christian – Keeps all the pagan feasts and none of the moedim of the Almighty

The Christian does not keep any of the moedim of the Almighty. In fact, the Christian rather keeps all the pagan feasts and celebrations. Many do not even know this, but blindly follow the Church into their own destruction.

Christmas, Easter, Valentines Day, New years day, Birthday celebrations. All these are pagan celebrations and are an abomination to the Almighty. All of them originate from Sun-worship, which is forbidden by the Word of the Almighty.

Now I can go on and on about the many teachings and practices and traditions that the Christians follow to prove that Christianity is not the faith of the Messiah as they do not do as the Messiah did. The Messiah never came and died for us so that we may continue in sin. What was an abomination to the Almighty before, is still an abomination to Him now.

So now we can see that the Christian faith does not follow the teachings of the Messiah. But what about the miracles that happen within the church? Let us read what the Word of YHWH says about this, “When there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he shall give you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder shall come true, of which he has spoken to you, saying, ‘Let us go after other mighty ones – which you have not known – and serve them” (Deut 13:1-2). Here we see that even false prophets and dreamers of dreams (those who receive “divine” visions) can perform miracles too. Does that make them righteous? Let us carry on and see what the Almighty says, do not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for יהוה (YHWH) your Elohim is trying you to know whether you love יהוה (YHWH) your Elohim with all your heart and with all your being” (Deut 13:3). Okay, now we can see that that person who is performing those miracles that does not follow the Messiah should not be listened to. It is also a test for those who do follow the Word of the Almighty, that they know His Word and can see when someone is not teaching them truth, even though he performs miracles. It is to see whether they love the Almighty to do and follow His Word, or will they fall for and follow other doctrines that are not taught by the Almighty or His Messiah.

So what then are those, who desire to do the Will of the Almighty, to do? Walk after יהוה (YHWH) your Elohim and fear Him, and guard His commands and obey His voice, and serve Him and cling to Him” (Deut 13:4). Here we clearly see that we need to fear the Almighty and guard to obey all His Commandments and obey His voice.

What then should be done of that false prophet that teaches us to follow the ways of Sun-worship? And that prophet or that dreamer of dreams is put to death, because he has spoken apostasy against יהוה (YHWH) your Elohim – who brought you out of the land of Mitsrayim and redeemed you from the house of bondage – to make you stray from the way in which יהוה (YHWH) your Elohim commanded you to walk. Thus you shall purge the evil from your midst” (Deut 13:5). The Almighty hates the people who teaches others to turn away from His Instructions. He says that they are evil and need to be put to death. Now we cannot go around and put every Christian preacher to death, as that would land us in jail. However, they will stand in front of the Almighty one day and will have to try and explain why they turned so many people away from Him, and to their destruction.

We should not fellowship with such evil people nor should we stand for or follow anything that they teach, as it will be turning us away from obeying the Word of the Almighty.

Now many will say that this only applied to the “Old Testament” times and does not apply to them any more. Is it not written that the Almighty is the same yesterday, today and forever? But let us also read what is written in the “New Testament” for those who ignorantly throw the Word of the Almighty (Old Testament) out the window, “For false messiahs and false prophets shall arise, and they shall show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones” (Mat 24:24). This does apply to today.

Let me leave you with a piece out of the “New Testament” that perfectly describes the Christian Church of today and of the English Bible too. “But there also came to be false prophets among the people, as also among you there shall be false teachers, who shall secretly bring in destructive heresies, and deny the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction on themselves. And many shall follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of” (2 Peter 2:1-2). The Christians speak evil of those who are keeping and obeying the Word of the Almighty. They even say that the Torah, which is the Word of the Almighty, is a curse. Is this not speaking evil of the Almighty Himself?

Also realize that the person who wrote the above verse also kept the Torah of the Almighty, as did Shaul (Paul), who wrote the majority of the “New Testament,” as did all the disciples and followers of the Messiah. Those who do not keep the Torah of the Almighty are those who are teaching a different doctrine to the Messiah and are the evil prophets spoken of above.

Another thing, if we are to have a relationship with the Almighty and His Son, that also means that we need to love Him. What are we taught about loving the Almighty? “He who possesses My commands and guards them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I shall love him and manifest Myself to him.” (John 14:21). So only those who guard to keep the Commands love the Almighty and are loved by Him.

The Voice of YHWH

This past weekend that just past was a double rest day, the weekly Sabbath and then Shavuot (Feast of Weeks) the next day. It was so lovely to gather with fellow believers and to learn out of the Torah of what YHWH has given us. I would like to share with you something that really shook me. Let us read some of the Scripture to see what I am talking about (I have highlighted the parts that are relevant to this article):

“And now, if you diligently obey My voice, and shall guard My covenant, then you shall be My treasured possession above all the peoples – for all the earth is Mine

and you shall be to Me a reign of priests and a set-apart nation.’ Those are the words which you are to speak to the children of Yisra’ĕl.”

And Mosheh came and called for the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which יהוה (YHWH) commanded him.

And all the people answered together and said, “All that יהוה (YHWH) has spoken we shall do.” So Mosheh brought back the words of the people to יהוה (YHWH).

And יהוה (YHWH) said to Mosheh, “See, I am coming to you in the thick cloud, so that the people hear when I speak with you, and believe you forever.” And Mosheh reported the words of the people to יהוה (YHWH).

And יהוה  said to Mosheh, “Go to the people and set them apart today and tomorrow. And they shall wash their garments,

and shall be prepared by the third day. For on the third day יהוה  shall come down upon Mount Sinai before the eyes of all the people.

 “And you shall make a border for the people all around, saying, ‘Take heed to yourselves that you do not go up to the mountain or touch the border of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall certainly be put to death.

 ‘Not a hand is to touch it, but he shall certainly be stoned or shot with an arrow, whether man or beast, he shall not live.’ When the trumpet sounds long, let them come near the mountain.”

And Mosheh came down from the mountain to the people and set the people apart, and they washed their garments.

And he said to the people, “Be prepared by the third day. Do not come near a wife.”

And it came to be, on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain. And the sound of the ram’s horn was very loud, and all the people who were in the camp trembled.

And Mosheh brought the people out of the camp to meet with Elohim, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.

And Mount Sinai was in smoke, all of it, because יהוה (YHWH) descended upon it in fire. And its smoke went up like the smoke of a furnace, and all the mountain trembled exceedingly.

And when the blast of the ram’s horn sounded long and became louder and louder, Mosheh spoke, and Elohim answered him by voice.

And יהוה  came down upon Mount Sinai, on the top of the mountain. And יהוה  called Mosheh to the top of the mountain, and Mosheh went up.

And יהוה  said to Mosheh, “Go down, and warn the people, lest they break through unto יהוה  to see, and many of them fall.

And let the priests who come near יהוה (YHWH) set themselves apart too, lest יהוה  break out against them.”

And Mosheh said to יהוה (YHWH), “The people are not able to come up to Mount Sinai, for You warned us, saying, ‘Make a border around the mountain and set it apart.’ ”

And יהוה  said to him, “Come, go down and then come up, you and Aharon with you. But do not let the priests and the people break through to come up to יהוה, lest He break out against them.”

And Mosheh went down to the people and spoke to them.

And Elohim spoke all these Words, saying,

 “I am יהוה (YHWH) your Elohim, who brought you out of the land of Mitsrayim, out of the house of slavery.

 “You have no other mighty ones against My face.

 “You do not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of that which is in the heavens above, or which is in the earth beneath, or which is in the waters under the earth,

you do not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, יהוה (YHWH) your Elohim am a jealous Ěl, visiting the crookedness of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,

but showing kindness to thousands, to those who love Me and guard My commands.

 “You do not bring the Name of יהוה (YHWH) your Elohim to naught, for יהוה (YHWH) does not leave the one unpunished who brings His Name to naught.

 “Remember the Sabbath day, to set it apart.

 “Six days you labour, and shall do all your work,

but the seventh day is a Sabbath of יהוה (YHWH) your Elohim. You do not do any work – you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates.

 “For in six days יהוה (YHWH) made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore יהוה (YHWH) blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart.

 “Respect your father and your mother, so that your days are prolonged upon the soil which יהוה (YHWH) your Elohim is giving you.

 “You do not murder.

 “You do not commit adultery.

 “You do not steal.

 “You do not bear false witness against your neighbour.

 “You do not covet your neighbour’s house, you do not covet your neighbour’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, or whatever belongs to your neighbour.”

And all the people saw the thunders, the lightning flashes, the sound of the ram’s horn, and the mountain smoking. And the people saw it, and they trembled and stood at a distance,

and said to Mosheh, “You speak with us and we hear, but let not Elohim speak with us, lest we die.”

And Mosheh said to the people, “Do not fear, for Elohim has come to prove you, and in order that His fear be before you, so that you do not sin.”

So the people stood at a distance, but Mosheh drew near the thick darkness where Elohim was.

And יהוה  said to Mosheh, “Say this to the children of Yisra’ĕl: ‘You yourselves have seen that I have spoken to you from the heavens.

You do not make besides Me mighty ones of silver, and you do not make mighty ones of gold for yourselves.

Make an altar of earth for Me, and you shall slaughter on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your cattle. In every place where I cause My Name to be remembered I shall come to you and bless you.

And if you make Me an altar of stone, do not build it of cut stone, for if you use your chisel on it, you have profaned it.

Nor do you go up by steps to My altar, lest your nakedness be exposed on it.” (Exo 19:5-20:26)

This is a very powerful piece of Scripture. The things that really got my attention is that the Almighty Creator YHWH descended from Heaven and came to earth and spoke in an audible voice to the people. These things that YHWH spoke to the people must have been important that He would verbally speak to the entire male population of Israel. These words just happen to be the Ten Commandments.

Another important thing to point out is that the men who were to come within a certain proximity to YHWH had to cleans themselves and set themselves apart, they were not even to be with their wives for these few days. This is because no uncleanness can EVER come near to where YHWH is. That in this time and day we have to do a daily evaluation of ourselves and repentance for any transgression of the Commands of YHWH so that we too can be clean.

Also notice that the men of Israel agreed to do all that YHWH told them before YHWH told them what it is that He Commands. This is because they understood that it was not about them, but rather all for the esteem of YHWH. What ever YHWH said, they would do.

Now this was an awesome sight. The mountain was rumbling, there was a thick cloud over the mountain with thunder and lightning coming from it. YHWH descended onto the mountain like fire and there were rams horns sounding from the heavens. And then YHWH spoke. Now try and picture this and think for yourself if you too would tremble in your boots just like the Israelites did on that day. Now YHWH did this in order to install fear into the peoples so that they do not sin. Do we have this same fear of YHWH as we should so that we do not sin either? Or has this been driven out of us by religious bullying?

Now the Ten Commandments are very important and still just as relevant today as it was when YHWH spoke these words and wrote them down on stone tablets. What then about the rest of Torah? Well, the rest of Torah teaches us how we can keep to the Ten Commandments. Without the rest of the Torah, we would not understand or be able to keep the Ten Commandments. So we are to diligently guard to do all of the Torah which is the Instruction of YHWH.

Now if we are to be part of YHWH’s treasured possession above all other peoples. Then we are to diligently obey his voice and guard His covenant.

You have to decide for yourself if you are going to do what YHWH requires from you so that you may be saved, or to do what you want to do and not guard to do the Commandments of YHWH unto death.

Legalism

Legalism is a theological term that was coined circa 1830 – 1840. The Concise Oxford Dictionary defines legalism as: (a) preference of the Law to the Gospel, (b) doctrine of justification by works, (c) exaltation of law, (d) formula, or (e) red tape. “Legalism” is a Christian term that Christians apply to Christians, Jews, Muslims and others who promote the function of “Law” as it pertains to righteousness and salvation. The Oxford definition postures that some individuals prefer the Law over the Gospel, pitting the two concepts against each other, when in reality the Gospel was given in conjunction with “Law.” The Law specifies what is good and acceptable conduct according to YHWH, and provides guidelines for righteousness and repentance, which are integral components of “the Gospel.”

From the ancient Hebrew letters that spell Torah (mistranslated as “the Law”), a word picture emerges that means, the “Seal or Covenant-Head of Man-Revealed.” Torah is the Covenant and Seal that YHWH progressively revealed to mankind through Adam, Noach, Awraham and all His chosen prophets and people. The word Torah contains the Hebrew sound “owr” which means light. YHWH declared through Isaiah: “to the Torah (Law) and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:20). The Psalmist teaches that the Word of YHWH (Torah) is a Light unto our paths.

Torah means instruction in righteousness and is likened to a person aiming and shooting at a target. Unfortunately, sometimes we miss the mark and “sin.” A child is not expected to hit the mark as well as an adult, but when YHWH gave Torah He did not make His instructions impossible to “hit” as many have been led to believe.

The instructions (Torah) of YHWH have been progressively revealed from Adam and Chawwah (Eve) right through to Mashiyach. However, many Christians muse that Torah is “legalism” and something that is supposedly impossible to keep and, consequently, they have replaced Torah principles with the more popular Christian traditions of the post-apostolic Gentile Church founders.

We are introduced to the consequences of breaking “the Law” (Torah) in the beginning of the Bible (Genesis 3) where the very first case of blatant disobedience occurred – an act that impacted the children of Adam and Chawwah and every single generation of man since then! Because of that one act of disobedience, man has been “born into a world full of death and evil” ever since; constantly forced to battle the wiles of the Evil One and facing possible eternal separation from YHWH. Before sin, Adam and Chawwah were clothed in righteousness (the Light of Mashiyach); but haSatan exposed their nakedness through guilt, shame and condemnation. Guilt (which results from wrong-doing is spiritual separation), is a function of the Ruach haKodesh; it is a spiritual force that motivates us to make it right with YHWH and one another. The guilty parties – not knowing whether they will be forgiven their transgression until they confess and present their case – feel sorrow, emptiness, depression and despair for breaking faith and violating the peace and harmony of Mashiyach. The shame that Adam and Chawwah experienced was compounded in the knowledge that their sin had been preventable, and that they had needlessly and willingly exposed themselves to a difficult situation that caused them to risk everything without considering the consequences.

The curses against Adam and Chawwah became part of universal natural law that applies to all inhabitants of the Earth. “Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever…” (Genesis 3:22). Man was formerly a sinless and immortal being who became as the "angelic" hosts to know good and evil; therefore, YHWH provided redemption through death and resurrection. The plan of redemption is the Good News that Mashiyach demonstrated through his resurrection as the “Firstfruits” of all Creation. Mankind has always been sustained according to the Word of YHWH, “For YHWH is our judge, YHWH is our lawgiver, YHWH is our king; he will save us” (Isaiah 33:22).

Long before Y’hoshua arrived on Earth, Torah Observant Jews were teaching that “her seed” points to Mashiyach who is the foundation of all “Good News”: “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; it shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel” (Genesis 3:15). Hebrews 4:2 states that “the Gospel was preached unto them” – therefore, those who left Egypt were given the opportunity to respond to the Gospel; therefore, the Gospel originated long before the First Century.

A popular theological spin on “the Gospel” is that “Jesus kept the Law” (Torah) so that Christians wouldn’t have to. The anti-legalist Christian purports “freedom in Christ” which is simply religious justification to break Torah and put the full responsibility and penalty of past, present and future sins upon “Jesus”. However, those branded as legalists are trusting that Y’hoshua empowers them to be renewed in body, mind, and spirit so as to put away their own carnal flesh that desires to break Torah.

There have been many lawgivers but it is YHWH’s Torah and His Mashiyach that sustains the plan of Redemption. His Word is His LAW! Therefore, all theological posturing that pits Torah against the Gospel is deception. Having Torah “written upon the heart” is at the heart of the Renewed Covenant which completes the revelation of “the Good News.”

“The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, unto Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be” (Genesis 49:10). The Scepter is the imperial rod of divine lawmaking and justice. YHWH holds the Scepter who is Mashiyach. The “lawgiver from between his feet” refers to the lineage of Yehudah (Judah); therefore, successive generations of Yehudah “hold” this Scepter until Shiloh (Mashiyach) takes his seat over all other “lawmakers.” Therefore, the “Way” of righteousness was, is and always will be prophetically connected through the Judaic and Hebraic-based Faith that Mashiyach Y’hoshua revealed to the world. Through belief in him, the Final Sin Sacrifice, we are able to receive YHWH’s Mercy and Favor which assures us eternal life in heaven.

Thanks to His Mercy and Favor – which in no way negates Torah! – we were loved while we were yet sinners. Therefore, how much more do we desire to please our Father? We demonstrate our acceptance of what Y’hoshua did for us by becoming a Torah observant, law abiding people. That is the meaning of the Scripture when Y’hoshua teaches:

“Ask, and it shall be given to you. Seek, and you shall find. Knock, and it shall be opened to you. For anyone that asks will receive, and that seeks, will find. And to him that knocks, it will be opened to him. Or whom among you fathers if his son asks of him for bread, why to him would hold out a rock? And if he asks a fish of him, why to him would hold out a snake? And if, therefore, you who are imperfect know to give good gifts to your sons, how so much more your Father who is in heaven will give good to those that ask Him. All that which you desire that the sons of men should do for you, also like this you do to them. This is for Torah and the prophets. Enter by the straight door, for wide is the door and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many are they, those that go in it” (Matthew 7:7-13).

Most people understand how the Gospel works, but here’s a small example: Early in our children’s lives, we explain to them the cause and effect of good and evil. For instance, we teach them that lying is wrong and that, if the behavior continues, it can destroy their lives. After that, we praise them when they try to behave properly, and punish them whenever they misbehave or fail in their efforts to always tell the truth. Obviously, it is inconceivable to punish a child every time they fail, especially if it is evident that they are genuinely sorry and regret what they did. So instead, we continue to reinforce proper behavior and hug our children and love them even when they fail, and explain that we, too, occasionally failed to “be good” when we were children, because we all have to go through a learning process. The end result of this learning process in the lives of our children is that one day they will realize on their own that lying brings destruction, curses and shame, and it puts them in disfavor with YHWH and others because YHWH hates liars.

This is essentially what YHWH did for us through Mashiyach: Although He had every right to punish us for our disobedience, He chose not to. Instead, after the “Fall” He saw our need as His children to be instructed in righteousness and to be loved and taught. Therefore, He sent His only Son, Mashiyach Y’hoshua, to teach us face-to-face, personally demonstrating how to keep Torah and walk according to YHWH’s will. Y’hoshua demonstrated perfect patience and love towards YHWH’s creation before pouring out his own life as the Final Sin Sacrifice – which forever abolished the need for mankind to kill an innocent animal to atone for our sins. Thus, Law and Favor (Grace) have been applied in a functional way so that all YHWH’s children understand the cause and effect of sin and righteousness.

YHWH’s Good News (Gospel) is the Way of Truth which is a continuum of truth revealed of YHWH’s intent to redeem fallen man. This plan of redemption is what provided protection to Cain after he killed Abel, when YHWH showed great Favor to Cain after he murdered his brother. It was haSatan who had put the envy, hatred, evil imaginations and jealousy in Cain’s mind against his brother. The Law at that time was a spiritual consciousness, and Cain knew that he had committed murder by acting out very wicked thoughts about his brother. Fortunately for Cain, the applied Gospel kept YHWH from killing him, and ultimately also kept him from being killed by others.

In Noah’s days evil was rampant upon the Earth, much like today, and the Gospel went something like this: Get on the boat, or you’ll have to tread water for 150 days without food or fresh water… will you receive “the Gospel” and get on the boat? The Good News applied was that Noah invested 100 years of his life building a big boat. Within that span of time every human being on Earth would have heard of YHWH’s intentions to flood the Earth – but of course, the “riff raff” scorned and mocked the Gospel of Noah…

Abraham and the men of his household agreed to be circumcised and enter into Covenant with YHWH. The Gospel went like this: There is ONE ELOHIM, whose Name is YHWH; either accept the Covenant of Promise or you will not receive YHWH’s blessing. Circumcision symbolizes the separation of good from evil as a part of the flesh is cut away. “For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of YHWH, to do justice and judgment; that YHWH may bring upon Abraham that which he has spoken of him” (Genesis 18:19).

Mashiyach’s followers were referred to as those of the WAY! Peter issues a clear warning when he said: “For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than after having known it, to turn back from the Set Apart Commandment that was delivered to them” (2 Peter 2:21). The Gospel and “the Way of righteousness” are synonymous with the Kingdom of Elohim which advocates individual personal responsibility to uphold Torah observant, righteous conduct.

Mosheh received “Ten Commandments” written by the Finger of Elohim, but if you went your own way and kindled a fire on Shabbat or ate barbequed pork, you were “cut off” (killed) because YHWH gave us all the choice to either follow or ignore Him. That was the Gospel according to YHWH revealed by Mosheh. As a sovereign individual you can choose life or death by your obedience or disobedience; not by a cerebral theology that makes you “acceptable.” Mosheh preached the Gospel to all the Israelites; however, in the course of time the Levites (leadership) turned away from YHWH: “But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the Torah; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says YHWH of hosts. Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law” (Malachi 2:8-9).

Without “the Law” (Torah) there is no Gospel. Torah reveals and defines good from evil and reveals the elements of Covenant. About 6,000 years of human experience on this planet witnesses that YHWH’s Laws are Set Apart and Just. YHWH’s Law provides the parameters for Freedom, Peace, Justice, Judgment, Equality, protection of personal liberty and property and the protection of the sovereignty of each individual. To pit the Law against the Gospel is a false Gospel as Rav Shaul teaches:

“I am stunned into silence, as if dead, that you have so quickly forgotten Mashiyach who has called you to his favor and gone to another gospel that is non-existent, but there are men who agitated you and desired to pervert the Gospel of Mashiyach. For if us, or even a Messenger from heaven, preach outside from what was preached to you, let them be cursed. As I said before, so I say again: whichever man preaches to you outside of what you have received, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:6-10).

Nearly all Christian denominations ply the term “legalism” against others in one form or another. However, the second definition of legalism is the “Doctrine of Justification by Works.” Essentially any Christian who does “good works” could be disgraced as a legalist; the intentions of their hearts being judged by the naysayers as though their “good works” are done for “justification” or salvation. Rav Shaul (Paul) put it this way: “Who are you to judge another man’s servant?” (Romans 14:4).

The religious stance is that you can do nothing to bring about justification or righteousness for yourself, but in reality, Salvation isn’t a mindset as much as it is a lifestyle, and a transformation from a carnal to a spiritual man. Salvation comes about by being conformed into the Image of Elohim. Each soul must co-labor with Mashiyach for salvation which must be evident in this lifetime, in the here and now; the work or service “of the heart” is to guard the heart and mind from degradation or backsliding into a carnal, worldly lifestyle. It is ironic that the individual who Gentile Christians have discredited for bringing an end to Torah was thus spoken of: “you yourself also walk orderly, and keep the Torah” (Acts 21:24). Paul the Apostle emphatically lived and taught the importance of Torah being written upon the heart!

The dilemma many Christians face is what to do when they discover their church hierarchy has been promoting a doctrine of demons by teaching against Torah. What can be done when Christians point their fingers and call you a legalist for desiring to live according to the Word of the Living Elohim? In reality it is the power of Favor that strengthens each soul to cease from breaking Torah and to stand up for what is right. The religious power of the word “legalism” is simply designed to keep souls in bondage to false religion and keep them from leaving the comforts of “the church,” but there is a huge gulf between being imbedded in a church and being embedded in the Kingdom of Elohim! Apostle Paul taught: “As a result, Torah is Set Apart; and the Commandment is Set Apart, and righteous, and good” (Romans 7:12).

Christians who are often quick to condemn others as “legalists” have never learned the most rudimentary principles of Torah. It was the pre-incarnate Mashiyach who said: “If you shall hearken unto the voice of YHWH your Elohim, to keep His Commandments and His statutes which are written in this book of the Torah, and if you turn unto YHWH your Elohim with all your heart, and with all your soul. For this commandment which I command you this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? But the word is very nigh unto you, in your mouth, and in your heart, that you may do it. See, I have set before you this day life and good, and death and evil; In that I command you this day to love YHWH you Elohim, to walk in His ways, and to keep His Commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that you may live and multiply: and YHWH your Elohim shall bless you in the land where you are going to posses it. But if your heart turn away, so that you will not hear, but shall be drawn away, and worship other elohim, and serve them; I denounce unto you this day, that you shall surely perish, and that you shall not prolong your days upon the land, wither you pass over Jordan to go to possess it. I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both you and your seed may live: That you may love YHWH your Elohim, and that you may obey his voice, and that you may cleave unto Him: for He is your life, and the length of your days: that you may dwell in the land which YHWH swore unto your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them” (D’varim/Deuteronomy 30:12-20).

Torah is freedom. We are either walking in Torah and are free from sin, or breaking Torah and in bondage to sin. All the religious posturing and propaganda in the world will NEVER substitute for truth and righteousness.

The fourth definition to legalism is “a formula” which is defined as: a set form of words, or something definite or authoritative, or a procedure to be followed or something prescribed for a specific occasion. However, this certainly sounds much like a “statement of faith” does it not? This fourth definition simply suggests that one denomination’s (or person’s) formula is better than yours. All preachers have their own “formulas” – the fact that they would preach, hold a “service” or teach others simply means they have their own model of belief, or “formula.” Most theologians have received their credentials from some university so they can “authoritatively teach” denominational formulae. If someone asks, “What must I do to be saved?” any answer could be construed as a “formula.” So, in reality, those who point fingers at your “formula” as “legalism” are simply suggesting that their formula is better than yours.

Finally we come to “red tape” as the fifth definition of “legalism.” Traditionally, official Vatican documents were bound in red cloth tape, and this is also where the 17^th to 18^th Century British Monarchy derived their government tradition. During the Fourth Century, the Roman Empire was “made Christian.” Rome was the “superpower” that controlled all religious and governmental matters and Rome invented her own anti-Torah, anti-Semitic and anti-Mashiyach “Christianity.” Apostle Paul issued a very strict warning: “For the mystery of iniquity does already work: only he who now will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Master shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause Elohim shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believe not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (2 Thessalonians 2:7-12).

The applied thinking of the term “legalism” within Christianity epitomizes the work of the “mystery of iniquity.” There is no better way to define man’s religion than “red tape.” Religion is man’s carnal response to YHWH; it makes rules, traditions, buzz words, status quo trends and puts walls between YHWH and His people. YHWH sent Mashiyach to expose and take down the false traditions of man, but many love the bondage of religious traditions far more than they love the freedom of Truth. What Mashiyach did for us came at a very great price, and it is because of what he did that his followers become empowered to observe Torah by Favor (Grace), not of our own strength lest any man should boast.

All who point their fingers at others and call them legalists are showing solidarity to their own religious tradition. Condemnation of other human beings is, in fact, acting as haShatan’s “little helper.” Where did Christians learn this ministry of condemnation? “For Elohim sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:17). “Judge not, and you shall not be judged: condemn not, and you shall not be condemned: forgive, and you shall be forgiven” (Luke 6:37). Those who label people as legalists are simply asking for judgment to fall on their heads! See Romans 14:12; James 4:10-12; 5:8-11; and Isaiah 58:9.