In what do you delight yourself?

There is an Afrikaans saying, “Wat die hart van vol is, sal die mond van praat.” Which in English means, “whatever your heart is filled with, will come out of your mouth.” In other words, if you delight yourself in sports, for instance, you will speak about sport with your friends. If you delight yourself in art, then that is what you are going to speak about, etc. Another thing is that you are going to surround yourself with people who also have the same delights and interests. As the saying goes, “birds of a feather flock together.”

Now the reason you are reading this article on this website, is because you are interested in, or seeking the truth about Scripture. Now this article is sort of a continuation of the previous article I posted on this website, namely, “Seek and you shall find.”

What is it that you delight yourself in? There are only two real options that you can choose from, either you delight yourself in the Almighty, or you delight yourself in the things of this world. These two things are always in opposition with each other. “Do not love the world nor that which is in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. Because all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world” (1 John 2:15-16)

It should now start becoming apparent to you that one cannot delight in both things, or in one thing in the morning and the other during the day etc. You have to choose which one you are going to delight in and live your entire life according to that choice.

Now the Scriptures also classify the people who delight in the Almighty and also those who delight in the world. “Blessed is the man who shall not walk in the counsel of the wrong, And shall not stand in the path of sinners, And shall not sit in the seat of scoffers, But his delight is in the Torah of יהוה (YHWH), And he meditates in His Torah day and night” (Psalm 1:1-2)

This passage found in Psalm 1 gives a lot of information. Firstly, it makes a differentiation between the wrong, who are the sinners and scoffers (of the world), and those who delight in the Torah (instruction) of the Almighty

Secondly, the people who are righteous are those who meditate in the Torah (first 5 books of the Scriptures, Genesis – Deuteronomy) day and night. That means that every thing they do, and every choice they make is in accordance to what is written in the Torah of the Almighty.

Thirdly, it makes it very clear that the Torah is a delight to the righteous. Only the sinful world finds the Torah of YHWH the Almighty to be tedious or even a curse. This is because the Torah is of the Spirit and the flesh rebels against it. “It is the Spirit that gives life, the flesh does not profit at all. The words that I speak to you are Spirit and are life” (John 6:63 ) and also, “For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace” (Rom 8:6).  Just by knowing this simple point can help you to realize in what it is that you desire.

Now there are many people who claim that they are lead by the Spirit and are shown things by the Spirit and yet do not have any desire to do what is written in the Torah, which is the Word of the Almighty. This is proof that they are being lead by a false spirit as the true Ruach (Spirit) of the Almighty, will never speak against the Torah and will always point us back to the written Torah. If they say the Spirit taught them anything that is contrary to the Torah, then they are a liar or are filled with a different spirit (demon). “The one who says, “I know Him,” and does not guard His commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (1 John 2:4)

It is made very clear in the Scriptures as to what the pleasure of the Almighty is. He takes pleasure in us loving Him and following all that is written in His Torah. “I have delighted to do Your pleasure, O my Elohim, And Your Torah is within my heart” (Psalm 40:8). We can learn a lot from the man who is spoken of as being ‘the man after the Almighty’s own heart’. If such a man, who understood the desire of the Almighty, took so much delight and pleasure in learning and doing all that is written in the Torah of the Almighty, then how can anyone call it a curse? “Make me walk in the path of Your commands, For I have delighted in it” (Psalm 119:35), “That I might delight myself in Your commands, Which I have loved” (Psalm 119:47), “Their heart has become like fat, Without feeling; I have delighted in Your Torah” (Psalm 119:70), “Let Your compassions come to me, That I might live, For Your Torah is my delight” (Psalm 119:77).

I could go on and post MANY more verses that proclaim the love of the Torah of the Almighty by the beloved servant of the Almighty, King David. But is he the only one who ever delighted in the Torah? “For I delight in the Torah of Elohim according to the inward man” (Rom 7:22). Here we can see that Sha’ul (Paul) too had the same desire for the Torah of the Almighty as David did.

We can also learn a lot from science and from scientists too. Let us have a look at a statement (or rather a scientific law) that was named after the scientist called Isaac Newton. The third law of Newton is, “for every action, there is an equal but opposite reaction”. This law is true in the spiritual realm as well. Just as much as the Almighty loves those doing righteousness, He too hates those who work wickedness, “For You are not an Ěl taking delight in wrong, Nor does evil dwell with You. The boasters do not stand before Your eyes; You hate all workers of wickedness” (Psalm 5:4-5).

The Almighty even sent a working of delusion for those who do not have a love for the truth, but rather delighted in unrighteousness (worldly desires), “and with all deceit of unrighteousness in those perishing, because they did not receive the love of the truth, in order for them to be saved. And for this reason Elohim sends them a working of delusion, for them to believe the falsehood, in order that all should be judged who did not believe the truth, but have delighted in the unrighteousness” (2 Thess 2:10 - 12).

What is an example of this delusion spoken of above? Christianity is a good example of a delusion that causes people to believe in falsehood.  Now before anyone gets upset by this statement, you have to consider a few points first, namely, why are there so many different translations of the Bible in Christianity, which all differ from each other? Which version is the correct one? Why has the Bible been mistranslated, and then, taught to be correct? Why is it that the Church throws away all the Words of the Almighty and calls them old and irrelevant (contrary to what the Messiah said)? Why does the Church teach doctrines from pagan followers rather than what is written in the Scriptures? Why is it that Christianity teaches that things that were once abominable and hated by the Almighty, are now okay to do?

I could go on and on asking many questions, but the fact is that Christianity creates an environment where the people, who want to carry on with their worldly desires, can come together and get a “guiltless pass” where it is okay to carry on living in sin.

Only those who delight in the Torah are those who are the delight of the Almighty, “Praise Yah! Blessed is the man, who fears יהוה (YHWH), Who has greatly delighted in His commands” (Psalm 112:1).

And what is the fear of the Almighty? “The fear of יהוה (YHWH) is to hate evil. I have hated pride and arrogance, And the evil way, And the perverse mouth” (Proverbs 8:13). Do you hate evil, or do you tolerate it and even delight in it? Do you love the Way of the Almighty (Torah), or do you love the way of the world?

The Scriptures make it very clear that the ways of the world are unrighteous and evil, but the Way of the Almighty, which is written in the Torah, is righteous and perfect.

In which one do you delight yourself?

The Trinity doctrine is a false doctrine

One of the most fundamental beliefs of the Christian faith is that of the “Trinity.” But is this belief based on the Scriptures, or does it originate from a different religion altogether. One thing we need to ask ourselves, can we find it in the Scriptures?

I did a search for something that might support the Trinity doctrine. I did find something in the King James Bible that looked as though the doctrine might be Scriptural. Let us have a look at this section in the Bible.

5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

5:8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one (1 John 5:7-8 KJV).

Now verse 7 clearly speaks of what we today know as the Trinity. But when I started looking at other translations, I came across something startling. It seems as thought the KJV Bible added verse 7, that did not originally exist, into the Bible. Let us see what the other translations say.

5:7 For there are three witnesses-

5:8 the Spirit, the water, and the blood-and these three are one. (1 John 5:7-8 International Standard Version).

Here we see a huge difference. It seems as if the KJV combined verses 7 and 8 into one verse and added their own verse as verse 7 to support their own doctrine. They also added the words, “in earth” into verse 8 in the KJV to suggest that there must be three witnesses in heaven too.

Many of the translations differ from the KJV here as do the early Greek manuscripts. So where does this false doctrine originate from?

The Christian Faith is built on the writings of the early Church Fathers who created what is known as Christianity today. One of these Church Fathers is called Tertullian and he lived in 155-230 CE (AD).

Tertullian was born into a mainstream Gentile pagan family, but later he became a devout Christo-pagan. He found mainstream Christianity very intolerable, so he set out to make broad sweeping reform.

According to Jerome, Tertullian was “distressed by the envy and laxity of the clergy of the Roman church” so he joined with the Montanists (also known as the Cataphrygian Heresy) founded by Montanus. Montanus was formerly following the pagan mother goddess of fertility named Cybele where he learned plenty of things to adapt into Christianity.

One of Montanus’ “achievements” was to fall into a trance and prophecy under the influence of the “Holy Ghost,” insisting that his utterances were the voice of the “Holy Ghost.” Modern day “tongue-speaking” Pentecostal or Charismatic denominations apparently have very similar experiences to those of the church of Montanus. As Montanus’ theologies and influence advanced, he was joined by Priscilla and Maximilla, who abandoned their husbands to follow the call of his “prophetic” ministry.

Tertullian, though, while fumbling in all manner of paganism and spiritism also picked up an “anointing” of the “Holy Ghost” and through demonic inspiration, he compartmentalized the “Godhead” and coined the word “Trinity” which, of course, is one of the most cherished doctrines of the Christian Church today. The “persons of the Trinity” doctrine flourished in the hierarchy-based Christian religion, which also views itself as a pyramid structure. Tertullian wrote using puns, wit, sarcasm and a continual pounding of his opponents with invective and platitude; yet he was the architect of the pinnacle doctrine of Christianity, the “persons of the Trinity.” Tertullian theology is very akin to the likes of Nimrod, Semiramis and Tammuz who were the original trinity of Babylon and he inserted the “persons” of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, making him extremely popular among pagan Gentile Christians.

Other trinities

Let us have a look at some Trinities found that influenced Tertullian and gave him the idea to incorporate it into the Christian religion.

Babylonian: Baal, Semiramis, Tammuz. (alt. Bel, Ishtar, Duzu).

India: Brahma, Shiva (or Devaki), Vishnu (or Krishna).

Egypt: Amon Ra, Isis, Osiris (or Horus).
Greece: Zeus (or Apollo), Demeter (or Athena, Artemis), Porsephene (or Nike).

Rome (Roma): Deus (form of Zeus, also known as Zeus-Father, or Iu-piter, Jupiter); Venus (or

Astarte, Biblia, Charis); Cupid (or Bacchus, Nike).

Celtic: (also known as Druid, Wiccan, Norse, Gaelic); Baal (or Woden, Teutates, Heil);

Ceridwen (or Freya, Frigga, Eostre); Thor (or Balder, Taranis, Dero). (alt. Esus, Taranis,

Teutates).

Canaanite: (and Phoenician); Baal (or Moloch); Asherah (or Ishtar, Easter, Tanit); Rompha.

Chaldean: (and Zoroastrian); Baal Mithras (known as “wise-lord” Ahura Mazda, or Ohrmazd);

Astoreth; Haoma.

Persian: Shamash, Ishtar, Sin. Macedonian / Asian: Dagon (fish idol); Cybele

(or Ceres); Deoius (or Janus).

Mithraic: (Chaldean fusion with Indo-Iranian); Mithras (or Marduk, called Sol by Romans);

Rashnu; Vohu Manah.

Mandaean: Joshaman, Abatar, Hibil Ziwa.

Manichaean: Ohrmazd, Maitreya (New Age “Christ”); Zurvan.

So as you can see, there is quite a list of pagan trinities and that many of them are interlinked with each other, which teaches us that the pagan religions stem from the same root. We can clearly see that the Trinity doctrine originates from paganism.

Trinity in the Scriptures?

For any kind of doctrine or teaching to be true, then that specific doctrine or teaching has to match up to every other part of the Bible. Does the Bible claim that the Messiah is also the Almighty as the Trinity doctrine teaches? Well let us look at a few verses concerning this matter.

“For there is one Elohim, and one Mediator between Elohim and men, the Man Messiah יהושע (Yehoshua)” (1 Tim 2:5)

The above verse clearly makes a differentiation between the Messiah and Elohim the Almighty. Yehoshua the Messiah is the Mediator between us and the Almighty, just like the “Kohen Gadol” (High Priest). In fact, Yehoshua is the Kohen Gadol, “Therefore, since we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, יהושע (Yehoshua) the Son of Elohim, let us hold fast our confession” (Hebrews 4:14).

The Messiah is our High Priest who is the Mediator between us and the Almighty because we are unable to come to the Almighty on our own for the forgiveness of sin. No one who is blemished is able to come into the presence of the Almighty. It is the Messiah who fulfills that roll of presenting His own blood to the Almighty for the forgiveness of our sins on Yom Kippur. If Yehoshua the Messiah was the Almighty and not a being on His own, then it would be impossible to fulfill the role of High Priest.

Let us have a look at another verse, “for us there is one Elohim, the Father, from whom all came and for whom we live, and one Master יהושע (Yehoshua) Messiah, through whom all came and through whom we live” (1 Corinthians 8:6)

Once again we get a very clear distinction between the Almighty and His Son Yehoshua the Messiah. It states that there is only One Elohim, who is the Father, for whom we live, and only one Son who is the Messiah through whom we live. This verse also reveals to us that the Messiah has been around since the beginning. He is also know as the Living Word (Torah). That is why we are to live through Him (the Torah) in order to live for the Almighty.

So as we can see, the Bible does not support the Trinity doctrine at all, but some people take bits and pieces from the Scriptures and use it out of context to try and justify their convictions or false teachings. Let us look at one such argument that is used by the Church to try and justify their falsehood. “I and My Father are one.” (John 10:30)

Now does Yehoshua the Messiah claim the be the Almighty when He said, “I and My Father are one.”? Or was He really saying that He and His Father are in agreement with one another? To answer this question, we need to compare it with the rest of what is written in the Bible. “And I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Set-apart Father, guard them in Your Name which You have given Me, so that they might be one, as We are” (John 17:11)

The above verse is speaking of the followers of the Almighty to become one as the Almighty and the Messiah are One. Now, can a group of people suddenly become one person? Or is this verse speaking of a group of people standing in agreement with each other and in agreement to the Almighty and His Messiah? Now let us look at another verse and see if this statement is consistent, “so that they all might be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, so that they too might be one in Us, so that the world might believe that You have sent Me” (John 17:21).

Once again it clearly says that the people stand together in agreement with each other and in agreement with the Almighty and Yehoshua the Messiah. It does not mean that they are one person at all. The Hebrew idiom “being one” means to be in agreement with each other. This terminology comes from the very beginning of the Scriptures, “For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Gen 2:24).

Now I ask you, how many of you have ever witnessed a man and his wife physically joining and becoming one person? No one has ever seen this happen because that is not what is meant by becoming one flesh. It simply means to join together in agreement with each other.

So any one who uses the argument that the Messiah said, “I and My Father are one” to prove the Trinity doctrine, is either not very well versed in the Bible or is simply a liar.

One very important message for us all is that it is saying that the Almighty and His Messiah (the Living Word) call us to become one with them. Now we also know that The Almighty and His Word (the Messiah) are never changing and remains the same today as in the time of the beginning, ”יהושע (Yehoshua) Messiah is the same yesterday, and today, and forever” (Heb 13:8).

We have also seen from above that the Messiah was there from the beginning in the time of Adam. We can also see that He is the same today as He was in the beginning, and He is in perfect agreement with His Father who is the Almighty Master of the universe.

So if we want to learn how to serve the Almighty and follow the Messiah, then we have to go to the Instruction book called the Torah, which are the first five books of the Scriptures (Tanakh). In those five books, the Almighty reveals to us what He requires from us and also the things that He loves and also the things that He hates.

Those five books give us exact instructions on how to live our lives to be pleasing to the Almighty in order to receive favor from Him.

There are many things that the Almighty regards as abominations and teaches us to NOT do them or have them close to us. These things, for example, are eating unclean animals, making moulded images (like the cross) adultery, idolatry, profaning the Sabbath, Murder, Rape and many other things too. Now to think that what was once unacceptable to the Almighty has suddenly become okay to do today is a teaching that is anti-Scriptural and evil.

If we desire to love the Almighty, then we need to do all that is commanded in the Torah. “If you love Me, you shall guard My commands” (John 14:15)

Also.... click here to see John 1:1-3 explained

Are we sinners, or can we be righteous?

Now I have seen how people have argued and continue to argue on a certain topic in the Scriptures. It even seems that there is a contradiction in the Scriptures where one group of people quote the Scriptures concerning the one idea and the other group of people also quote the Scriptures to say what seems to be a contradiction of that idea. Both these groups do not understand the true nature of the Scriptures, and therefore misinterpret it, as there is certainly no contradiction, but both ideas are 100% in agreement with each other.

Let us have a look at this argument in question.

The first group claims that there cannot be any person who is righteous and that we all continue to be sinners as long as we live. They then quote the following, “If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us” (1 John 1:10). This seems to be a valid argument don’t you think?

The other group says that there are righteous people and that we can live righteously. They then quote a couple of Scriptures like the following, “There was in the days of Herodes, the sovereign of Yehudah, a certain priest named Zecharyah, of the division of Aviyah. And his wife was of the daughters of Aharon, and her name was Elisheva. And they were both righteous before Elohim, blamelessly walking in all the commands and righteousnesses of יהוה (YHWH)” (Luke 1:5-6). They also quote all those who were righteous, like Abraham, Iyov (Job), Noah etc. This too is written and is a valid argument.

The fact of the matter is that both of these arguments, or concepts, are correct. Now how can both be correct at the same time? It is very easy to understand once you understand the character of the Almighty and the character of man.

Let me explain it in a simple way using the Scriptures. The Messiah Yehoshua and Shaul understood this very well and explains to us in many places, for example, “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh. And these are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you desire to do” (Galatians 5:17). Here he is explaining the difference between the flesh and the Spirit. These two fight against one another. You are either living in the flesh, where you are a sinner, or you are living according to the Ruach (Spirit), where you are righteous as you are living according to the Torah of YHWH and not according to your own desires.

Let us read some more, “That which has been born of the flesh is flesh, and that which has been born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:6). Here is what the concept of born again is. It is putting away the sinful flesh, and living according to the Ruach (Spirit) of YHWH. This is to live according to His Instruction, and not our own.

“It is the Spirit that gives life, the flesh does not profit at all. The words that I speak to you are Spirit and are life” (John 6:63). Here we are taught that only those who are righteous, living by the Spirit, gain life. Those living by the flesh, profit nothing unto destruction. Notice also that he says that the words are not his own, but the Words of the Spirit which brings life.

“For we know that the Torah is Spiritual, but I am fleshly, sold under sin” (Romans 7:14). Shaul gave us great understanding here by explaining that the Torah of YHWH is Spiritual, and not just Words written on paper. Those Words on the paper are living Words. The flesh does not live by them, but only the righteous do.

“There is, then, now no condemnation to those who are in Messiah יהושע (Yehoshua), who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:1). What is Shaul saying here? Those who are in the Messiah Yehoshua, are those who are living according to the Torah of YHWH! This totally contradicts what the Church teaches. If we are truly in the Messiah, then we will walk as He did, by obeying the Instructions of His Father, and not walking according to our own flesh, or the teachings of men (Pastors) which is also flesh (carnal) and leads to destruction.

“so that the righteousness of the Torah should be completed in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:4). Once again, Shaul is teaching that righteousness comes from the Torah, and that those walking in the Torah, are walking in the Spirit and not in the flesh.

“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the matters of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the matters of the Spirit” (Romans 8:5). You cannot live according to the flesh and the Spirit at the same time. If you live according to the flesh, your thoughts and ideas will be according to the flesh. But if you live in the Instruction of the Almighty, your thoughts will be on His Torah.

“For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace” (Romans 8:6). How silly are those who claim that Shaul taught us that we do not have to obey the Torah anymore. This is preposterous. Here he is teaching that if you do not obey the Torah of YHWH, then you will land up in destruction, but in order to obtain life, we need to walk in all the Torah, which is the instruction unto righteousness and life.

“But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of Elohim dwells in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Messiah, this one is not His” (Romans 8:9). It is clear that if one has the Spirit of Elohim, then that person will be obedient to the Torah. Those who are not obedient to the Torah, but claim to be led by the Spirit, are total liars. The Spirit of Elohim, will NEVER, teach anything contrary to His Torah. Those who do not have the Spirit, that person(s) is not one of His children.

“For if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you shall live” (Romans 8:13). Once again, Shaul is making it very clear that by living according to the flesh and not according to the Torah, the outcome will be death. But if you live according to the Spirit, then you will put away the fleshly desires, and then you will live righteously and will be given the gift of life eternal.

“Are you so senseless? Having begun in the Spirit, do you now end in the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3). Shaul is speaking to the congregation in Galatia. Rebuking them and calling them senseless as they turned from truth and obedience to the Torah, and continued in their fleshly desires. This will only end up in destruction.

“And I say: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not accomplish the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). The flesh has to be put away in order to obey the Torah. You cannot do both at the same time. Righteous people are not sinners.

“Because he who sows to his own flesh shall reap corruption from the flesh, but he who sows to the Spirit shall reap everlasting life from the Spirit” (Galatians 6:8). How many more times must Shaul teach this, and yet, the Church teaches the opposite. If you do not obey the Torah and do not live your life according to the Torah of YHWH, then you are living according to the flesh. I have heard many many Christians say that they will never work for a Christian boss. This is because Christianity is based on the flesh and reaps corruption. If that boss obeyed the Torah, he would treat his employees with respect and fairness, and also pay them what they were due and on time. Only those who obey the Torah of YHWH, will reap everlasting life.

“Let it not be! But let Elohim be true, and every man a liar, as it has been written, “That You should be declared right in Your words, and prevail in Your judging.” (Romans 3:4). Only Elohim is true and righteous, and every man is a liar. That is why we need to put away our old flesh, and live according to Elohim. If we walk in His instruction, and speak His words, then we speak truth and live righteously.

“But go and learn what this means, ‘I desire compassion and not offering. For I did not come to call the righteous to repentance, but sinners.” (Matthew 9:13). So as you can see, there is a clear distinction between the sinners and the righteous. The righteous are those who are living according to the Torah and not according to their own desires. But there is hope for those who are sinners, it is called repentance. Repentance is a turning away from your old fleshly self, and then continuing in the righteous living of obeying the Torah of YHWH.

Go have a look for yourself, who are those who are called the righteous in Scripture. Also see why they were called righteous. You will find that they were all righteous for the same reason. All of them obeyed the Torah of YHWH.

Let us some it up with the words of the Messiah, “And see, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good shall I do to have everlasting life?” And He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except One – Elohim. But if you wish to enter into life, guard the Commands” (Matthew 19:16-17). Wow… what a statement. Yehoshua the Messiah Himself said that not even He was good! And yet He never sinned. He is saying that there is only one being that is good and that being is YHWH the Creator of all. Yehoshua says that His flesh is not good, but He did not sin because he did all that YHWH His Father commanded Him to do. Yehoshua walk according to the Spirit, just as we are to walk according to the Spirit, and not according to the flesh.

So it is very clear that all of us have sinned, but it is also right that we can become righteous and be called righteous too, in fact, we are required to become righteous in order to obtain everlasting life. And in order to be called righteous, we need to guard to keep the whole Torah of YHWH.

Salvation

Many religions claim rite of passage into the World to Come, and some even believe that if you say the “sinners’ prayer” or follow certain “salvation doctrines” that you will be “saved.” Thankfully, there was a man who posed the question to Y’shua: “Good teacher, what is good that I should do that I should have eternal life?” (Matthew 19:16). Some theologians feel this man was a misguided soul because he suggested that he had to “do” something rather than just “believe.” We’ll look at Y’shua’s answer in a moment, but first let’s find out what Keefa (Shimon Peter) was preaching, shortly after Y’shua was resurrected.

“And when they heard these things they were touched in their hearts, and they said to Shimon and to the rest of the Schlichim, “what should we do, our brothers?” Shimon said to them, “Repent and be immersed each of you in the name of Master YHWH-Y’shua for the forgiveness of sins, that you may receive the gift of the Ruach haKodesh. For to you was the promise, and to your children, and to all those who are far away from Elohim will call. And with many other words he would witness to them and he would beseech them while saying, Save (yourselves) from this perverse generation.” And some of them readily received his word and believed and were immersed. And there were added in that day about three thousand souls” (Acts 2:37-41).

Notice that Keefa preached both repentance and immersion in the name of Master YHWH-Y’shua. In this verse MarYah and Y’shua appeared right next to one another; therefore, we know that it is the Spirit of YHWH in Y’shua Who ultimately provides Salvation. Notice also there is not only the required action of repentance and immersion for the forgiveness of sins; but this is done in order to receive the gift of the Ruach haKodesh (Set Apart Spirit). The Ruach haKodesh will not indwell someone who is living in rebellion. The work of the Ruach haKodesh is to write Torah in the inward parts, which is confirmed by the appearance of “fruits” of the Spirit. In other words, each one of us must prepare a place in our hearts to welcome the Ruach haKodesh.

Repentance is an extremely important concept to understand and apply to our lives if we are planning to enter into eternal life. Repentance means “turn to YHWH,” which also means one must turn from sin and keep the Commandments. Getting back to the question about eternal life, here’s Y’shua’s answer: “Now if you desire to enter into life, keep the Commandments” (Matthew 19:17). The answer applies to everyone who has ever drawn a breath. But the fellow wanted a quick fix and asked, “Which ones?” So Y’shua began listing Commandments from Torah (including the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20) and the fellow replied, “All these things I have obeyed them from my youth. What do I lack?” Now, how many have actually kept all the Ten Commandments from their youth, in the original context? Imagine being there yourself; could you respond as this fellow did? Y’shua is clearly teaching that the first prerequisite for salvation is keeping the Commandments!

In Mark 12:29-31 Mashiyach Y’shua teaches: “The first of all the Commandments is “Hear O Israel. Master YHWH our Elohim is one. And you should love Master YHWH your Elohim with all your heart, and with all of your soul, and with all of your mind, and with all of your strength.” This is the first Commandment. And the second that is like it is that. “You should love your neighbour as yourself.” There is no other Commandment greater than these.” Mashiyach taught the central theme of Torah (Deut 6:4-5, Lev 19:18); that all of Torah revolves around love toward YHWH and our fellow man. This Commandment is so primary that Rabbis have suggested that all the rest of Torah is “commentary” – that the rest of Torah provides the details about how to love YHWH and our fellow man. Clearly everyone must keep these two greatest Commandments for salvation; but we must keep them according to the Word of YHWH, not the traditions of men!

Yochanan (John) explains how we are to keep these great Commandments: “And by this we shall be sensible that we know Him, if we keep His Commandments. For he that says I know Him, and does not keep His Commandments, is a liar and the truth is not in him. But he that keeps His Word, in him is the love of Elohim truly completed: for by this we know that we are in Him. He that says I am in Him is bound to walk according to His Halakha. My beloved, I write no new commandment to you, but the old Commandment which you had from the beginning; and the old Commandment is the Word which you have heard” (1 Yochanan 2:3-7). Insisting that we “love YHWH” or that we “know Him” can be two very different things. Notice that those who say they “know Him” and don’t keep His Commandments are liars! How much more then are they liars who say they “love Him” and yet don’t bother to keep His Commandments? Yochanan says he that “keeps His Word” has the love of Elohim truly completed, and this is how we know that we are in Him! Make no mistake, this is the same WORD that David spoke when he declared, “My tongue shall speak of Your Word: for all Your Commandments are righteousness.” (Psalm 119:172).

Rav Shaul (Paul) preached the same message; he emphasized, “circumcision is nothing, neither is uncircumcision; nut the keeping of Elohim’s Commands [is what counts!]” (1 Corinthians 7:19). Shaul also taught that it’s very easy to be seduced by sin, but through the Commandments we are able to recognize what sin is: “For sin, by the occasion which it found by means of the Commandment, seduced me and thereby slew me. Wherefore, Torah is Set Apart; and the Commandment is Set Apart, and righteous, and good” (Romans 7:11-12).

As we approach the end of the Scriptures there is a beautiful promise for all who expect eternal life: “Blessed are they who do His (YHWH’s) Commandments, that they may have a right to the tree of life and may enter through the gates into the city” (Rev 22:14). Is it any surprise that the Commandments of YHWH are tied together with the Tree of Life? At the end of Revelation we return to Gan Eden before original sin, where we see that the Tree of Life is the eternal Kingdom of Elohim. So, if you’ve heard religious people teach that we “don’t have to keep the Commandments” of YHWH for salvation, then ask yourself this: Do those who teach that we don’t have to keep the Commandments keep the Commandments themselves? Probably not – because they want you to join with them in what they do…

Most insist they “don’t have to keep the Commandments” because “Jesus Christ” kept them perfectly for them. Herein is the “Mystery of Iniquity” revealed (2 Thessalonians 2:3-15). The lawless one, also known as ant-Mashiyach, heads the charge against keeping the Commandments in the name of the false Mashiyach. We can therefore clearly determine that this is the “other Jesus” Paul spoke of, who has inspired many souls into disobedience. We must be very careful about any false parallel, since Rav Shaul says that if anyone else, including a heavenly messenger, teaches a Good News other than the original one, that person is cursed! (Galatians 1:9-10).

Those who don’t obey the Commandments don’t want you obeying them either. Some “Christians” even teach that if you keep the Commandments you will go to hell because you’ve fallen from “Grace.” The truth is that Grace (Favour is the correct word, Grace is not the correct translation) is the girt of the Ruach haKodesh that empowers us to keep the Commandments of YHWH by Faith! Nearly everyone who keeps the Commandments of YHWH and observes Torah according to Mashiyach will testify that it is a miracle to be spiritually sustained and keep the Commandments in a world of people who’ve come to hate them for doing so.

In order to truly please our Creator, we must place our trust in Mashiyach Y’shua who teaches: “If you desire to enter into life. Keep the Commandments” (Matthew 19:17). On this same theme Rav Shaul teaches: “When we were dead in our sins, (Elohim) gave us life with the Mashiyach and rescued us by His favour” (Eph 2:5). Dead in our sins mean that we stop breaking the Commandments. The word rescued here literally means “saved.” A variant of this word is what we call “Saviour” in English. In Hebrew the concept of a saviour is literally: “giver of life.”