Showing posts with label Father. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Father. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Can you accept discipline or does your pride get the better of you?

How are you going to react when you are shown that what you believe to be true, is actually false? All of us who have come out of the Christian faith have had to face this scenario. But after coming out of the Christian faith, the great majority of people fall into a Messianic or Hebrew Roots group, thinking that they are now following the true faith.

Now the true test comes in here when you are confronted with truths and facts that contradict what you thought to be true. How are you going to react when you realize that what you believe to be true is, once again, wrong? 

The unfortunate thing is that the majority of people still subscribe to false teachings, as it suites them, and rejects the factual evidence of the truth. Many people do so as they cannot believe that they can be fooled again and many times are too embarrassed to acklowledge this, and that they would rather run away from the facts, than accept them. Is this not pride getting in the way of truth?

Many of the Messianic and Hebrew Roots people come to realize the Hebrew-ness of the Scriptures and get a very basic knowledge of the Hebrew language and culture. Then they act as though they are experts in the Hebrew language and at the same time come up with so many errors by breaking every Hebrew grammatical rule possible. And when they are approached with the facts, they fight with the person trying to help them. The same goes for the cultural aspect, e.g. the "feasts" and shabbat.  They are taught about them but also that it is not actually necessary to DO them.  For example, they are taught that it is only necessary to have a shabbat meal on the Friday evening and then can do whatever they like!

Let us look at one of the biggest errors that I am speaking of:

The majority of the Messianic and Hebrew Roots people proclaim the name of the Messiah as “Yahushua” or “Yahuwshuwa” or something similar. These are not correct. Yes, the Name of the Father (Yahu) is in His Son’s Name and is joined to the word ‘shua’ which means save. So the Name of the Messiah means “YHWH is our salvation” but joining these two words together to give us the Name of the Messiah is where the people go wrong. You see, we need to understand Hebrew grammar before we can just join these two words together. Let me explain:

When joining two words together, the suffix (in this case “shua”) always retains its form, whereas the prefix (in this case “Yahu”) always shortens its syllables. For example, NATHAN + YAHU = NeTHANYAHU, and YAHU + NATHAN = YeHoNATHAN. This is always the case, and I challenge anyone to go and look it up in any Hebrew dictionary or lexicon or grammar book and show me that this is not true.

So the true Name of the Messiah is YAHU + SHUA = Yehoshua, which still holds the meaning of “YHWH is our salvation”

This is just one example of many!

Now when I have tried to help people with this factual evidence, I have been met with hostility and hatred without them being able to prove these facts wrong. These people who claim to be believers in the Torah of YHWH refuse to accept truth and rebuke the righteous people who lovingly try to help them… where have you seen this before? It looks a bit Christiany to me. These people look at the facts and claim that it is only opinion… what foolishness!!! How can you say that it is an opinion when it is factually documented and cannot be disproven? It would be good to be like the Bereans and go and search the Scriptures (Tanakh) to search for the truth.

After such hatred, I posted on my Facebook wall that “all those who are not interested in the truth, should rather unfriend me as I will be proclaiming only the truth” I could not believe how many Messianic and Hebrew Roots people unfriended me almost immediately. This proves to me that the Messianic and Hebrew Roots is not the true faith of the Messiah Yehoshua. I have also stated the fact that I have not met one Messianic or Hebrew Roots follower that keeps the Torah of YHWH. They say they do, but their actions say otherwise.

Let me tell you about the instance when I walked into a Messianic book store to ask them if I could leave some pamphlets there for guitar lessons. I was immediately asked, by one of the store owners, if I was Torah observant. I could not believe my ears. I had a beard and wore tzitzit that was clearly visible, and that person could not identify me as a Torah observant person. This is because the Messianic people are not taught the true meaning of the Torah and therefore, cannot recognize the Torah or its followers, even if they were hit in the face with it. I realized that I was speaking to a Christian who had a little bit of a Hebrew flavor. The book store had more Christian books than anything else. No wonder they are so ignorant of the true faith. 
People want to mix their Christianity with SOME Hebrew flavour, but do not see that the two cannot mix.

This is unfortunately the truth about Messianic and Hebrew roots groups, they are Christian groups with a Hebrew flavor. They get together in small groups where a “leader” will teach them what the Scriptures say. Every group has a different set of beliefs (denominations) like, those who follow the lunar Sabbath, or those who subscribe to the false teaching that a Scriptural day starts at sunrise and some even sacrifice lambs still and many other false teachings like these. Not one of them keeps the Torah in its entirety.

Neither the Messiah nor His disciples were Messianic or Hebrew Roots, but rather obeyed the Torah of YHWH fully. They did not have a title, nor did they follow anyone else, but learnt from the Torah of YHWH, which the Messiah magnified.

Now… only those who are righteous will humble themselves and accept the truth, no matter how silly it makes them look.

Let us look at a few verses that were written by the wisest man to have lived (Other than the Messiah of course).

The fear of יהוה (YHWH) is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and discipline” (Proverbs 1:7)

Blessed is the man who has found wisdom, And the man who gets understanding;
For the gain from it is better Than gain from silver, And its increase than fine gold” (Proverbs 3:13-14)

He dies for lack of discipline, And in the greatness of his folly He goes astray” (Proverbs 5:23)

Listen to discipline and become wise, And do not refuse it” (Proverbs 8:33)

He who heeds discipline is in the way of life, But he who refuses reproof goes astray” (Proverbs 10:17)

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, But he who hates reproof is stupid” (Proverbs 12:1)

Poverty and shame are for him Who ignores discipline, But he who heeds reproof is esteemed” (Proverbs 13:18)

He who ignores discipline hates himself, But he who listens to reproof gets understanding” (Proverbs 15:32)

The fear of יהוה is the discipline of wisdom, And before esteem is humility” (Proverbs 15:33)

Listen to counsel and accept discipline, So that you are wise in your latter end” (Proverbs 19:20)

Bring your heart to discipline, And your ears to words of knowledge” (Proverbs 23:12)

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But he who listens to advice is wise” (Proverbs 12:15)

I think that you get the point. I love discipline as it leads me to righteousness and keeps me on the narrow road. I accept it with joy and thanksgiving.

Now are you going to follow the way of righteousness and accept discipline and knowledge with joy and thanksgiving? Or are you going to remain proud and reject knowledge and truth? This is the difference between being wise or being a fool.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Romans 4 - Belief and Works

What, then, shall we say Avraham our father, to have found, according to the flesh? For if Avraham was declared right by works, he has ground for boasting, but not before Elohim. For what does the Scripture say? “Avraham believed Elohim, and it was reckoned to him for righteousness.”  (Rom 4:1-3)

Now these three verses seem to contradict what Ya’akov (James) taught when he said “You see, then, that a man is declared right by works, and not by belief alone” (James 2:24). But the fact of the matter is that they do not in any way contradict each other. Ya’akov wrote much clearer and to the point than Shaul’s writings. You see, Shaul is teaching against the religious system that demands that you keep to all their laws and traditions that are followed by the flesh and not by belief. Avraham first believed and therefore his actions or works revealed his belief. This is exactly what Ya’akov also teaches, “So also belief, if it does not have works, is in itself dead. But someone might say, “You have belief, and I have works.” Show me your belief without your works, and I shall show you my belief by my works” (James 2:17-18). You cannot have belief without works, nor can you have works without belief.

For us to be declared righteous is a gift, but we need to follow the instruction of YHWH (His Torah) in order to receive this wonderful gift. It is ludicrous to think that we are declared righteous and still live our lives continuing in the abominations of this world. Throughout the entire Scriptures, there is a common theme, if you transgress the Torah of YHWH, it is an abomination and YHWH turns away from you, but if you guard to keep His Torah, then He is with you always. Nothing has changed, even until now, and that is exactly what the Messiah and His followers teach.

And to him who is working, the reward is not reckoned as a favour but as a debt. And to him who is not working but believes on Him who is declaring right the wicked, his belief is reckoned for righteousness, even as Dawiḏ also says of the blessedness of the man to whom Elohim reckons righteousness without works: “Blessed are those whose lawlessnesses are forgiven, and whose sins are covered, blessed is the man to whom יהוה (YHWH) shall by no means reckon sin.”” (Rom 4:4-8). Once again, Shaul is explaining the difference between being ‘under the Law’ and being ‘subject to the law,’ he is also teaching repentance and the engrafting of the Goyim (Gentile, wild olive) into the good olive tree here.

To those who are trying to earn the reward by doing ultra religious works and traditions believe that the reward is owed to them as they do these works without faith. This is not, in any way, having a relationship with the Almighty. Does this mean that Shaul is teaching that we do not have to keep the Torah of YHWH? Not at all, as we can see that when the wicked repent, they will be declared righteous and their past sins are covered. This does not mean that they can continue to transgress the Torah of YHWH as that would deem that person wicked again and not righteous.

Is this blessing then upon the circumcised only, or also upon the uncircumcised? For we affirm: Belief was reckoned unto Avraham for righteousness. How then was it reckoned? Being in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.” (Rom 4:9-10) Avraham confirmed his understanding righteousness-credit by obeying YHWH and getting physically circumcised! Shaul never teaches that it is not necessary to be circumcised in the flesh, but rather that you first build your belief and faith (circumcision of the heart), then by learning the Torah of Mosheh and having the desire to do the will of YHWH, then a person will, out of his own, choose to become circumcised in the flesh out of obedience to the will of the Almighty.

Shaul is also teaching to the Jews and the Gentiles here when he refers to the circumcised (Jews) and the uncircumcised (Gentiles, even though some of the Gentiles could be circumcised in the flesh too). The thought that Gentiles do not have to subject themselves to the Torah of YHWH is not ever taught throughout the Torah, in fact, the person who is accused of doing so (Shaul), is teaching the total opposite here by saying that everyone, Gentiles included, who convert to the Faith OF Yehoshua the Messiah, has to subject themselves to the Torah of YHWH just as the Messiah Himself did.

And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the belief while in uncircumcision, for him to be a father of all those believing through uncircumcision, for righteousness to be reckoned to them also,” (Rom 4:11). Avraham is the Father of many nations. For example, he is the Father of the Arabs, who are mostly Islamic, through Yishmael his son from Sarah’s servant Hagar. Does that mean that Avraham would endorse Islam today? I don’t think so as he stood only for the One true Elohim . Avraham was uncircumcised when Yishmael was conceived, but was circumcised at the conception of Yitschak, through whom the covenant would be. Once again, notice that Avraham circumcised himself and all his household through obedience to the Almighty, should we not do the same?

"and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the belief which our father Avraham had in uncircumcision." (Rom 4:12) Shaul is teaching that Avraham’s physical circumcision came after he believed, after he had faith, after his heart was circumcised, in opposition to a contemporary false teaching that circumcision should come first before belief or faith. At no time does Shaul ever discount physical circumcision; he simply rejects false religious traditions that turned circumcision into device to control new converts. This principle also applies to those who would hurriedly baptize new converts in an effort to show strong numbers, or practicing “forced conversions.”

For the promise that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Aḇraham or to his seed through the Torah, but through a righteousness of belief. For if those who are of the Torah are heirs, belief has been made useless, and the promise has been nullified,” (Rom 4:13-14). Once again, Shaul is rejecting the ultra religious traditions that teach their followers to do all they say in order to be saved. This idea nullifies the promise of the Almighty. Like Shaul has taught before, you cannot have belief without the Torah. Once you come into the faith, then your knowledge will gradually increase as you study the Almighty’s Word, and then you will conform your life to His Instruction. This is all because of belief.

Avraham is heir of the world, just like he is the father of the Hebrews and the Arabs, as we saw above. He is also the father of Rome (Christianity) through Esau, who is Yitschak’s (Isaac) son. Whenever we read of Esau in the Scriptures and in prophecy, we know that he represents the Church (Rome), just as Yishmael represents Islam in prophecy. Once we know this truth, passages in Scripture start revealing things we did not realize. Consider the following verse, “As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated” (Rom 9:13). Jacob’s name changed to Israel whom the Almighty loves. Esau is Rome, whom the Almighty hates.

"for the Torah works out wrath, for where there is no Torah there is no transgression." (Rom 4:15). Like the Hebrew word “Torah”, the Aramaic namusa can refer to the entire corpus of work or to an individual instruction for a person or group (“torah” with a small “t”). This verse literally reads, “where there is no Torah provision against an action, there is no transgression.” The KJV reads, “Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.” Mainstream Christianity translates this to mean that Torah is done away with, but Shaul is teaching the very opposite. Wherever Torah is NOT being taught, people will do what is right in their own eyes, thus bringing the wrath of YHWH upon themselves. You can think for yourself, if the Torah was done away with, then how can we know what sin is? Then we are able to do whatever we want without any consequence. It is just a preposterous idea.

"On account of this it is of belief, that it be according to favour, for the promise to be made certain to all the seed, not only to those who are of the Torah, but also to those who are of the belief of Aḇraham, who is father of us all – " (Rom 4:16)
Having Avraham as a father brings the responsibility of being honorable children, worthy of legacy! Contrary to Christian theology; faith, while credited to Avraham as righteousness, was not the only component of his total righteousness. It is what Avraham did with his faith that brings him near to YHWH. As YHWH Himself declares: “I swore to your father Avraham. I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because Avraham obeyed Me and kept My requirements, My commands, My decrees and My laws” (Genesis 26:4-5).

as it has been written, “I have made you a father of many nations” – in the presence of Him whom he believed, even Elohim, who gives life to the dead and calls that which does not exist as existing, who against all expectation did believe, in expectation, so that he should become father of many nations, according to what was said, “So shall your seed be.” And not having grown weak in belief, he did not consider his own body, already dead, being about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb, he did not hesitate about the promise of Elohim through unbelief, but was strengthened in belief, giving esteem to Elohim, and being completely persuaded that what He had promised He was also able to do.” (Rom 4:17-21). Do you think that Avraham would have had a son if he did not believe? It was unnatural for Sarah to have a child as she was far past the point of being able to conceive. It was only through belief and obedience to the Almighty that this wonderful miracle could take place. Israel is the Almighty’s beloved nation, and they all came into being through miracle after miracle showing us that it is a miraculous nation. We as goy (Gentiles) are now also able to partake in the promise of the beloved nation of Israel, but only if we join ourselves to the ‘good olive tree’ and fulfilling the requirements to do so.

Therefore also “it was reckoned to him for righteousness.” (Rom 4:22). Avraham believed and obeyed, therefore he was declared righteous. Has that concept changed since Avraham? Do we need to only believe without obedience to the Torah (Instruction of YHWH in righteousness) to be declared righteous? Certainly not, as that is never taught in the Scriptures. In fact, you can see a common theme in the Scriptures that when ever someone or a nation turned from doing the Torah of YHWH, then YHWH departed from them and gave them over to their enemies. Does the Almighty, who is the same yesterday, today and forever, change?

And not because of him alone was it written that it was reckoned to him, but also because of us, to whom it shall be reckoned, to us who believe in Him who raised up  יהושע (Yehoshua) our Master from the dead, who was delivered up because of our trespasses, and was raised for us to be declared right.” (Rom 4:23-25). The Messiah came to show us how to live. He was an example for us to follow. He also came as the sacrifice for us when He hung on the torture stake. The sacrificial laws of the Torah have not changed and have not been done away with. Only the blood of the Messiah (Lamb) is sufficient to replace all other blood. Every single sacrifice done before the Messiah, was only a symbol of the Messiah. It was not the blood of the goats and lambs etc. that could make a covering for sin, but only the blood of the Messiah. Those who made sacrifices in the past, did so because they believed in the Messiah and that His blood would make a covering (kippur) for their transgressions.

No one can ever know the Messiah or His role if we do not study the Torah of His Father as it describes His Character and duties and everything else about Him. In order to believe in Him, you need to know Him first.

Do you desire to know the Messiah?

Monday, November 14, 2011

Man is declared right by works, and not by belief alone

The Torah portion for this last Shabbat was very interesting in the sense that it showed us that righteousness can only be reckoned to a person by the obedience to the Commands of YHWH. Avraham believed in the Words of YHWH and it was reckoned to him as righteousness but only because he did the Commands.

Now what Christianity teaches is that all we need to do is believe in “Jesus” and that we do not have to obey the Commands of YHWH anymore as “Jesus” did away with the Torah. Now imagine if this was really true. Would the Messiah have said, “Do not think that I came to do away with the Torah or the Prophets. I did not come to do away with but to fulfill. For truly, I say to you, till the heaven and the earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall by no means pass from the Torah till all be done” (Mat 5:17-18).  Also if the Torah was done away with, then it would give us free reign to do as we please as there is no more a measure by which we can measure ourselves. For the Torah is also the knowledge of sin. If we do not know the Torah, how can we know what sin is, and yet, the Messiah Himself said many times, ‘… go and sin no more…’

Imagine that Noah believed the word of YHWH but did not obey it, he would not have built the boat that saved him and his family and all of mankind would have been destroyed. Imagine Avraham believed but did not obey the Commands of YHWH, he would not have hosted the Messengers of YHWH, nor would he have become the father of many, and he certainly would not have been righteous, nor would he have had a son through whom the people of YHWH would be descendants and the Messiah would not have come. Also Imagine that Mosheh believed but did not obey the Commandments of YHWH, he would not have brought the chosen people out of the bondage of Mitsrayim. Neither would we have the Word of YHWH written down for us today.  

Belief and obedience to the Torah go hand in hand, you cannot truly obey the Torah without belief, and you certainly cannot believe without the observance of the Torah of YHWH. The entire Scriptures testify to this. In fact, the Messiah Yehoshua Himself taught that in the end of days, He will not know those who did not obey the Torah of His Father, “And then I shall declare to them, ‘I never knew you, depart from Me, you who work lawlessness!” (Mat 7:23). Would you like to be forced to depart from the Son of the Almighty, also meaning that you will not inherit the kingdom of YHWH?

Ya’akov (James), the brother of Yehoshua the Messiah, understood this concept very well as he wrote in his letter, “My brothers, what use is it for anyone to say he has belief but does not have works? This belief is unable to save him. And if a brother or sister is naked and in need of daily food, but one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” but you do not give them the bodily needs, what use is it? So also belief, if it does not have works, is in itself dead. But someone might say, “You have belief, and I have works.” Show me your belief without your works, and I shall show you my belief by my works. You believe that Elohim is one. You do well. The demons also believe – and shudder! But do you wish to know, O foolish man, that the belief without the works is dead? Was not Avraham our father declared right by works when he offered Yitschaq (Isaac) his son on the altar? Do you see that the belief was working with his works, and by the works the belief was perfected? And the Scripture was filled which says, “Avraham believed Elohim, and it was reckoned to him for righteousness.”  And he was called, “Elohim’s friend.” You see, then, that a man is declared right by works, and not by belief alone” (James 2:14-24).

Wow, so what Ya’akov is saying here is that in order to be declared righteous, we need to DO the Instruction (Torah) of YHWH and not just believe in it! We see this exact same concept coming from the mouth of the Messiah Himself too, “If you love Me, you shall guard My commands” (John 14:15). He goes on further to say, 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)

Do you love the Son of the Creator, who is the Messiah Yehoshua? If you say yes, do you guard to do all the Torah of YHWH His Father? “And by this we know that we know Him, if we guard His commands. The one who says, “I know Him,” and does not guard His commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever guards His Word, truly the love of Elohim has been perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. The one who says he stays in Him ought himself also to walk, even as He walked” (1 John 2:3-6). Now with this verse in mind, do you really know the Almighty, or do you lie and continue to say that you do not need to obey the Torah anymore but still know the Almighty anyway?

Also notice that it is made very clear that if you profess to follow the Messiah, that you also have to walk as He walked, obeying every Command that is written in the Torah of YHWH.

Let us look at this in a slightly different viewpoint. If I had to walk up to the gates of the White House and say to the guards, “let me in for I know the President!” Do you think the guards will let me enter? Certainly not. Now, if I was standing in front of the gates of the White House, and the President walked out of the White House and saw me, and said to the guards, “Let him in, for I know him well!” I am sure you will agree with me that that would have a different result to the first instance.

The idea of the story is that it does not matter if you know the President, but rather, does he know you? This is exactly the same principle concerning, do I know the Messiah, or does the Messiah know me? In Matthew 7, He makes it clear that if you do not DO all that is written in the Torah of YHWH, then he will profess that He never knew you.

I do not know about you, but me and my house, choose to live according to the Instruction of YHWH and to do all that is written in the Torah of YHWH so that we may find favor in His eyes and inherit eternal life. “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).

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Romans 2 – Judging, practice what you preach and circumcision

Romans chapter 2 has a couple of teachings that are misquoted so many times and used for so many false doctrines. The one that is the most evident is that of, ‘Don’t judge me, because if you judge me, then you will also be judged.’ Another one is that of, if one subjects themselves to follow the Torah, then that person is under the law. This chapter is also one of the most used verses used to justify that one does not need to be circumcised in the flesh. All of these points are totally false and I will show you why in this article, by using what Shaul wrote here in Romans 2.

One key point that we do not always remember about the letters that Shaul wrote is that they did not originally have chapters or verses, but were written as a continual piece of writing as they were letters sent to the Gentile believers living in Rome.

There are many valuable lessons that can be learnt from Shaul’s letters and even in this chapter in Romans. But in order to learn from these lessons, we need to understand what is being taught in the correct context. If we do not read it in its correct context, we stand the chance of failing to learn what Shaul was teaching, and even worse, we could learn the total opposite of what is being taught, like millions of people around the world because they follow the people who incorrectly interpret Shaul's teachings.

Now let us break this chapter into sections, and I will point out the things that Shaul was really trying to say. 
Therefore, O man, you are without excuse, everyone who judges, for in which you judge another you condemn yourself, since you who judge practice the same wrongs. And we know that the judgment of Elohim is according to truth against those who practice such wrongs” (Rom 2:1-2). This verse is so wrongly used by millions of people to try and hide or justify their sinful behavior. As soon as someone tries to point out their error(s), the first reaction to this is a very defensive reaction with the phrase, something like this, “don’t judge me, for you will also be judged if you do!”

People only judge when they deviate from the ‘Judgment’ of YHWH. Quoting His Judgment and staying within His Judgment is not being judgmental! Only when one deviates from the Judgment of YHWH, then that person elevates himself above YHWH and will then be judged by YHWH accordingly.

The church has taught us all to be too thin skinned, so that we are incapable of accepting correction for our sinful actions, which is a very dangerous matter, and can lead us into destruction. The fact of the matter is that the majority of the time, when someone points out errors, it is done out of love, in order to help that person become aware of the problem and to fix the problem. Even if the rebuke seems harsh, it is not to be met with a defensive reaction, but rather a personal soul searching on the matter to see if the matter is true. Then we can repent of the error and continue to grow in faith.

And do you think, O man, you who judge those practicing such wrongs, and doing the same, that you shall escape the judgment of Elohim? Or do you despise the riches of His kindness, and tolerance, and patience, not knowing that the kindness of Elohim leads you to repentance? But according to your hardness and your unrepentant heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of Elohim, who “shall render to each one according to his works”: everlasting life to those who by persistence in good work seek for esteem, and respect, and incorruptibility; but wrath and displeasure to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness” (Rom 2:3-8). Here Shaul is speaking to those who are hypocrites, who judge other people while, they themselves, do the same evils. He is also clarifying that a person only judges if he judges outside the judgment of YHWH (as stated above).

Notice how Shaul points out that those who practice the same wrongs by which they judge others are hard and unrepentant and that these people will be met with the wrath of YHWH in the day of wrath.  These people will be judged by Elohim through His Torah (righteous judgment of Elohim) according to their works.

Also notice how clear Shaul is making the distinction between the righteous and the unrepentant sinners. He shows us here that only those who persist in good works (the Torah of YHWH) and seek for esteem and respect and incorruptibility, will inherit everlasting life. And those that do not obey the Torah (truth) but rather obey unrighteousness (anti-Torah) will receive the wrath and displeasure of YHWH.

affliction and distress on every human being working what is evil, of the Yehuḏite first, and also of the Aramean” (Rom 2:9). Aramean, as apposed to “Greek” or “Gentile” who have no ancestral ties to Israel. Almost all our English translations of the Bible have the word “Greek” instead of “Aramean” here, which is again a twisting of Scripture. Shaul is extremely clear throughout his epistle to make proper distinction between these two, although the point of the message is clear that YHWH is no respecter of persons.  

but esteem, respect, and peace to everyone working what is good, to the Yehuḏite first and also to the Aramean. For there is no partiality with Elohim” (Rom 2:10-11). Now do not think that a Greek or any other nationality cannot be saved because the verse reads “Aramean” instead of “Greek”, that is not what Shaul is teaching. Shaul is teaching that esteem, respect, and Shalom (peace) to everyone that obeys the Torah of YHWH, whether it be Jews or anyone else as Elohim accepts everyone who submits themselves to Him. If a person submits to YHWH, then he has to follow YHWH’s instruction which is His Torah (instruction in righteousness).

For as many as sinned without Torah shall also perish without Torah, and as many as sinned in the Torah shall be judged by the Torah. For not the hearers of the Torah are righteous in the sight of Elohim, but the doers of Torah (the law) shall be declared right” (Rom 2:12-13)

So those who sin, not knowing the Torah, will perish without the Torah. In order to gain everlasting life, one needs to have the Torah and subject themselves to it. Also notice how those “under Torah” and those “doers of Torah” are put in opposition to one another; therefore, both cannot simultaneously be in error. This is clarified with the phrase “for the doers of Torah will be made righteous.” So, if Torah-doers are made righteous, it stands to reason Torah itself is NOT passing away! The fact that such deep pro-Torah statements are being sent to Gentiles in Rome speak volumes of how mainstream Christianity is perverting Shaul’s teachings. “Under Torah” means to look to its rituals as a form of magic; a power that needs no purity of intent to bring about blessing, but merely fixed repetition. Torah in itself provides no authority of magic. Rather, Torah has authority because it is YHWH’s instruction to man! So “under Torah” is a false teaching that has never been true according to the Tanakh: YHWH blesses man for Torah observance, which is obedience to His Commandments and obedience to Him. Notice in Matthew 15 how Yehoshua rebukes the Pharisees on this very issue, how they set aside YHWH’s Torah (instructions) in favor of their traditions.

For when gentiles, who do not have the Torah, by nature do what is in the Torah, although not having the Torah, they are a Torah to themselves, who show the work of the Torah written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or even excusing” (Rom 2:14-15)

Shaul does not suggest that Gentiles are spontaneously Mastering Torah. Even common logic will prove this to be true. The point is that they should learn the written Torah without the distraction from Pharisaic or any other man-made traditions which are not rooted in the plain understanding of the Torah.

in the day when Elohim shall judge the secrets of men through  יהושע (Yehoshua) Messiah, according to my Good News” (Rom 2:16). Here is a scary thought for many people, that in the end on the return of the Messiah, those that have sinned but have not been “caught out”, will be judged for all the sins that they committed in secret. YHWH knows your thoughts and even the intentions of your thoughts too. "According to my Good News" is that of the Messiah who also lifted up and magnified the Torah of His Father. So everyone will be judged according to the Torah of YHWH.

See, you are called a Yehuḏite, and rest on the Torah, and make your boast in Elohim, and know the desire of Elohim, and approve what is superior, being instructed out of the Torah, and are trusting that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, an instructor of foolish ones, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and of the truth in the Torah” (Rom 2:17-20). Wow, Shaul makes it VERY clear in this piece that we are all to learn and conduct ourselves according to the Torah! It is very clear through out the entire Scriptures, and stated here again by Shaul, that in order to know the desire of the Almighty, then you must study the Torah. The Torah is a very beautiful Word, however, many false teachers try and claim that it is a curse and that all that subject themselves to it are under a curse.

Is that really what Shaul is teaching? Can that statement or idea be found anywhere in Scripture? Certainly not! The Torah is the Living Word of YHWH, it is the marriage contract between the bride and the bridegroom, it teaches us how to love the Almighty and also to love each other. One can only start reading the Torah and see for themselves that if the world was governed by the Torah (which it will be with the return of the Messiah), then there would not be any hunger or poverty or theft or murders or unrighteousness in any way.

You, then, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who proclaim that a man should not steal, do you steal? You who say, “Do not commit adultery,” do you commit adultery? You who abominate idols, do you rob temples? You who make your boast in the Torah, through the transgression of the Torah do you disrespect Elohim? For “The Name of Elohim is blasphemed among the gentiles because of you,” as it has been written” (Rom 2:21-24)

Now here Shaul is once again addressing the hypocrites, or is at least warning the readers to not be hypocrites. He shows us that if we claim to be followers of the Almighty and we have any influence on other people, even if it is by being observed by how we live our lives, then we are to live our lives totally according to the Torah of YHWH. If we do not do this, then we are guilty of blaspheming the Name of Elohim.

What Shaul is also saying here is one of the most important keys to deciphering all his letters (which is the majority of the Renewed Covenant). He is saying here that one has to practice what you preach. Now that is a very important statement! Let me explain why, it is taught by all of Christianity that Shaul taught that it is not any more necessary to follow the Torah, because of the death and resurrection of the Messiah. This false doctrine is never supported anywhere in Scripture nor anywhere in Shaul’s letters.

You see, if Shaul taught that we are to practice what we preach, then he himself would also have to practice what he taught, or else he would also be a hypocrite! So if it was not necessary to follow the Torah anymore, then why did Shaul subject himself to following the Torah till the day he died? He did not deviate one bit from the Torah, in fact, he went out of his way to keep the Torah even when he was in captivity.

For circumcision indeed profits if you practice the Torah, but if you are a transgressor of the Torah, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. So, if an uncircumcised one watches over the righteousness of the Torah, shall not his uncircumcision be reckoned as circumcision? And the uncircumcised by nature, who perfects the Torah, shall judge you who notwithstanding letter and circumcision are a transgressor of the Torah! For he is not a Yehuḏite who is so outwardly, neither is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. But a Yehuḏite is he who is so inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in Spirit, not literally, whose praise is not from men but from Elohim” (Rom 2:25-29)

Once again, here is a small piece of Shaul’s letter that is grossly mistranslated and many false doctrines are based on these few verses. The false teachers use this piece to teach that it is not necessary to be circumcised in the flesh. This of course is a totally false teaching.

Once again, we need a key to understanding what Shaul really meant here. Why do we need a key? Because Shaul wrote with a Hebrew mindset as he himself was a Hebrew and used Hebrew idioms. We, who are English speaking, are not Hebrews and do not read the Scriptures with a Hebrew mindset. In order to understand these Hebrew idioms we have to actually learn them and that is what the key is and not some magic formula that was “revealed in a divine way” to a single person, like many false teachers claim when they try and teach a new false doctrine to the people.

Now the key to this section is that of the circumcised and the uncircumcised. Shaul is not necessarily classifying the physical circumcision here, but is rather speaking of two different groups of people. Whenever he talks of the circumcision, he is referring to the Hebrews or Jews as that is how they were known, and the uncircumcision are the Gentiles or those that are not native to Israel.

Now with this point clear, you can read the section in the correct context. Those who are of the ‘circumcision’ who transgress the Torah, will become ‘uncircumcision’. If you do not use the key in this instance, you can try and imagine what people might believe, that those who are circumcised must be uncircumcised…. ? Who is going to have their foreskin sewn back on? OUCH!

No, what is being taught is that the Jews who transgress the Torah, will be cut off from YHWH’s people as stated in Romans 11.

Also, because a person could be physically circumcised and be a thief, liar, murderer, etc.
On the flip side, those who are of the uncircumcision (Gentiles), who keep the Torah of YHWH, will be reckoned as the circumcision (grafted into the good olive tree) again explained in Romans 11. You see, the true faith of YHWH and His Son the Messiah is to love Him and to watch over the righteousness of the Torah and to become righteous by doing the Torah of YHWH.

So are we to be circumcised in the flesh too? Well…. What does the Torah (the Living Word of YHWH) teach us on this subject? I am sure you can look it up for yourself!

So if you read Shaul’s letters in the correct context, it makes so much more sense and dismisses all the false teachings that stem from them. Shaul NEVER taught that it was not necessary to keep the Torah, but rather that it was absolutely necessary to keep the Torah of YHWH in order to inherit everlasting life.




Monday, September 12, 2011

Christianity teaches Lawlessness unto death

Now here is another article that exposes the lies that the Christian faith teaches. It seems that I am mostly writing to expose the Christian religion and not writing against the other religions like Islam, Hinduism Buddhism etc. This is to an extent true for the simple reason that the Christian faith claims to base their doctrines on the Scriptures, which is an outright lie. I also write exposing certain Jewish, Messianic and Hebrew Roots doctrines as they also falsely claim to base most of their doctrines on the Scriptures. 

Probably the biggest lie coming out of the Christian church is that its followers, Christians, do not have to keep the Torah of YHWH, also known as the Living Word or the Word of YHWH, because “Jesus” set them free from the law through his “crucifixion” and being raised up from the grave. They go on to teach their followers that all they need for salvation is to ask “Jesus” into your heart and you will be saved. The problem with these claims is that it is not written anywhere in the Scriptures. It is based on their superstitious man-made doctrines and magic formulas.

It is true that the Messiah set us free from the law through His blood, but what law is being spoken of? The Messiah set us free from the law of sin, NOT the Torah of YHWH which is instruction in righteousness. How could the Messiah set us free from the Word of His Father in heaven that teaches us how to love Him and each other? It is just a preposterous idea.

The Church has however fooled so many people into believing this heresy. They did this with force and tactics of “follow us or die” during the time of Constantine and during the crusades. Furthermore the Church has brainwashed their followers by translating the Scriptures into Latin, which the common people could not understand, so that the Church could control the people by their own doctrines. Later when the Latin was translated into German by Martin Luther it was then translated from German into the other languages, from where we get our English Bibles from. The problem with this is that it has gone through so many translations that it is so far removed from the original that there are many mistranslations, some unintentional and others very intentional.

Now we have to make a decision to either follow what the Church teaches or what the Messiah teaches. The Church teaches us not to keep the Torah of YHWH, whereas the Messiah teaches us that we must keep the Torah of His Father. Why does the Church teach not to keep the Torah? Because if all their followers kept the Torah, then there would be no need for a church and hence, they will not make money from their followers. Now, as I have mentioned, the Messiah Yehoshua teaches us to keep the Torah of YHWH. You should not believe me because I said so, but rather because of what the Messiah Himself says. Let us have a look at what our Saviour said in one of His parables:

Another parable He put before them, saying, “The reign of the heavens has become like a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed darnel among the wheat and went away. And when the blade sprouted and bore fruit, then the darnel also appeared. And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? From where then does it have the darnel?’ And he said to them, ‘A man, an enemy did this.’ And the servants said to him, ‘Do you wish then, that we go and gather them up?’ But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the darnel you also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I shall say to the reapers, First gather the darnel and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my granary.’” (Mat 13:24)

Now the disciples asked Yehoshua to explain what the parable was about. Now the key to the truth lies in His explanation. Let us read

And He answering, said to them, “He who is sowing the good seed is the Son of Adam, and the field is the world. And the good seed, these are the sons of the reign, but the darnel are the sons of the wicked one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. And the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the messengers. As the darnel, then, is gathered and burned in the fire, so it shall be at the end of this age. The Son of Adam shall send out His messengers, and they shall gather out of His reign all the stumbling-blocks, and those doing lawlessness, and shall throw them into the furnace of fire – there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous shall shine forth as the sun in the reign of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” (Mat 13:37-43)

Notice that the Messiah says that during the end of days, that the Messengers will be throwing those who do not keep the Torah into the furnace of fire. Also notice that Y’shua makes a very clear distinction between the righteous and the lawless. There is no other option, you either keep the Torah of YHWH and are declared righteous or you do not keep the Torah of YHWH and fall into the category of lawless. Let us have a look at another place where Y’shua is teaching on this subject 

Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Master, Master,’ shall enter into the reign of the heavens, but he who is doing the desire of My Father in the heavens. Many shall say to Me in that day, ‘Master, Master, have we not prophesied in Your Name, and cast out demons in Your Name, and done many mighty works in Your Name?’ And then I shall declare to them, ‘I never knew you, depart from Me, you who work lawlessness!’” (Mat 7:21-23)

Once again our Savior is teaching us what is needed to be saved in the end and what the consequence is of not meeting the requirements. These verses are very clear and easy to understand, why then do the readers of the bible not heed these words of the Messiah? This is because they blindly follow the church and its leaders thinking that they have their best interests at heart. But the truth is that all the church is interested in is taking the money off of their followers, and if it means deceiving them, then they will gladly do that and continue to do that to make a profit.

Now because Christians believe that they are the true believers, Let us have a look at what is written in Revelation about who the TRUE believers are, “And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to fight with the remnant of her seed, those guarding the Commands of Elohim and possessing the witness of  יהושע (Y’shua) Messiah” (Rev 12:17). Notice that the true believers are those that keep the Commandments of YHWH AND who have the testimony of Y’shua the Messiah. Now let us not rely on just one verse prove this fact, let us read on, Here is the endurance of the set-apart ones, here are those guarding the Commands of Elohim and the belief of  יהושע (Yehoshua)” (Rev 14:12). Once again Revelation reveals to us who the true believers are, these are those who guard to keep the Torah of YHWH and who have the belief of the Messiah Y’shua. Notice that I have bolded and underlined the 'of' because the church teaches belief IN the Messiah, not of – His faith that he had in his Father.

Now let us have a look at what Revelation teaches us about who is going to enter into life and have access to the tree of life in the end, “Blessed are those doing His (YHWH’s) Commands, so that the authority shall be theirs unto the tree of life, and to enter through the gates into the city, but outside are the dogs (See Deut 23:18 – dogs [male] and whores [female]) and those who enchant with drugs, and those who whore, and the murderers, and the idolaters, and all who love and do falsehood” (Rev 22:14-15). Once again we see that only those who DO the Torah of YHWH will have access to the tree of life and who will enter into the gates of the city of YHWH. There is also a very clear distinction between those who keep the Torah and those who don’t.

So, are you going to chose life by following the Word of YHWH and keep His Torah which is righteous? Or are you going to choose death by following the Church by not guarding to do the Torah (Word of YHWH)?

Now one thing to remember is that once you choose to follow the path of righteousness, you will not fit into any group of people and will be persecuted and hated by your friends, family and any Christian and Jew etc. the Messiah prophesied about his when He said, “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)