Are We Favored By God?
Modern church culture has elevated the status of man far beyond where we should be according to the scriptures.
We’ve been taught that we are loved no matter what.
We’ve been taught that we’ll enter into the kingdom of heaven, no matter our behavior, so long as we believe that Jesus is the Son of God.
It isn’t that we can do no wrong, but that we are sinners and we will be forgiven and accepted, no matter if we do wrong.
Is this a healthy outlook?
Is this true?
Can we count on this idea in the end?

Let’s take a look at some scriptures:
Acts 10:34-35
34 And opening his mouth, Peter said, “Truly I see that Elohim [God] shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation, he who fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.”
God does not show favor to men, but adheres to the criteria He has set before men.
Who is accepted by Yahweh? [God]
We are given two criteria in this bit of scripture:
1— those who fear Yahweh
2— those who work righteousness

Do we see this anywhere else in scripture?
Of course we do.
Let’s take a look at words from the wisest man to ever live – Solomon:
Ecclesiastes 12:13
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the entire matter: Fear Elohim and guard His commands, for this applies to all mankind!

Again, we see two criteria given as the whole duty [or the purpose] of mankind:
1— Fear Elohim [God]
2— Keep His commandments

But the first set of scriptures did not say to keep His commands. It said to be workers of righteousness.
Is there a definition of righteousness in scripture?
Yes…   Let’s take a look:
Deuteronomy 6:24-25
²⁴ Yahweh commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear Yahweh our Elohim—for our good always, to keep us alive, as is the case this day. ²⁵ It will be righteousness to us, if we take care to do all this commandment before Yahweh our Elohim, just as He has commanded us.’

According to God, righteousness is keeping His commands.
Does it matter that this is Old Testament scripture?
Church culture teaches that Old Testament scripture, especially the law, is no longer applicable.
What does Messiah [Jesus] say about it?
John 7:16
16 יהושע [Yeshua Messiah, Jesus, the Son of God] answered them and said, “My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me.”
Jesus taught what God taught, which is the Torah, His instructions, His Old Testament Law.

We see it again in John 12:48-50
48 He who rejects Me, and does not receive My Words, has one who judges him: the Word that I have spoken shall judge him in the last day.
49 “Because I spoke not from Myself, but the Father who sent Me has given Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak.
50 “And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, as the Father has said to Me, so I speak.”

And again in John 14:23-24
23 יהושע [Yeshua Messiah, Jesus, the Son of God] answered him, “If anyone loves Me, he shall guard My Word. And My Father shall love him, and We shall come to him and make Our stay with him. 24“He who does not love Me does not guard My Words. And the Word which you hear is not Mine but of the Father Who sent Me.

All the way back in Deuteronomy Yahweh [God] told us that He would send Yeshua Messiah [Jesus] and that He would put His own words into Yeshua’s mouth:
Deuteronomy 18:18-19
18 I shall raise up for them a Prophet like you out of the midst of their brothers. And I shall put My Words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. 19 And it shall be, the man who does not listen to My Words which He speaks in My Name, I require it of him.

Yahweh goes further, to warn us that if we do not listen to His Words coming from Messiah’s mouth, that He will hold us accountable for it!!
These should be scary words to us. 
We should know these things, and they should motivate us to righteousness. Fear is a great motivator and is ok:
Proverbs 9:10
The fear of Elohim [God] is the beginning of wisdom
and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Let’s take another look at the church culture idea that we will be loved and forgiven, no matter what.
We see this warning in John 3:36
36 He who believes in the Son possesses everlasting life, but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of Elohim [God] remains on him.

We are told point blank that if we do not obey the things Messiah says that we will not be granted eternal life.
In conjunction with that, the wrath of God remains upon us, which means we do not receive Messiah’s forgiveness.
Is this even possible?
Surely this must be a mistake.
Are we told this anywhere else in scripture?
Yes, we are.
Numbers 15:30-31
30 But the being who does whatever defiantly, whether he is native or a stranger, he reviles יהוה [God], and that being shall be cut off from among his people.
31 Because he has despised the word of יהוה [God], and has broken His command, that being shall certainly be cut off, his crookedness is upon him.’ ”

What does this tell us?
1— anyone who sins defiantly
2— just ancient Israel? Nope – native or a stranger – this means YOU
3— this person reviles God
4— this person is cut off from among God’s people
5—Why? Because he has despised the Words of God
6— by breaking His commands
7— he will be cut off (excluded)
8— and his sin remains upon him (unforgiven)

If you are not a fan of Old Testament scripture and think it is not applicable today, let’s look at this same concept in the New Testament, saying the same thing but in much more horrifying detail:
Hebrews 10:26-31
²⁶ For if we keep on sinning willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, ²⁷ but only a terrifying expectation of judgment and a fury of fire about to devour the enemies of God. ²⁸ Anyone who rejected the Torah of Moses dies without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses. ²⁹ How much more severe do you think the punishment will be for the one who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, and has regarded as unholy the blood of the covenant by which he was made holy, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? ³⁰ For we know the One who said, “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay,” and again, “Yahweh will judge His people.” ³¹ It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
What do we find here?
1— If we sin willfully after knowing the truth
2— there no longer remains a sacrifice [we are unforgiven]
3—but instead we get
4— a terrifying expectation of judgment
5— what kind of judgement? A fury of fire that devours you, the enemy of God
6— trampling Jesus underfoot by sinning willfully is worse than violating the Torah law
7— doing so insults the spirit of grace [the very grace that sinning Christians are counting on and proudly proclaim]
8— Yahweh will judge His people.
9— we should be terrified of ‘falling into the hands’ of the Living God and His wrath in an unforgiven state

If these things were important, you’d think God would have warned us!!
Yes, this is very true, and He did.
Too many times to count.
But here are a couple:
Deuteronomy 12:28
28“Guard, and obey all these words which I command you, that it might be well with you and your children after you forever, when you do what is good and right in the eyes of יהוה your Elohim.

Proverbs 3:1-7
1 My son, do not forget my Torah [Law], And let your heart watch over my commands; 2 For length of days and long life And peace they add to you. 3 Let not loving-commitment and truth forsake you – Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart, 4 Thus finding favour and good insight In the eyes of Elohim and man. 5 Trust in יהוה [God] with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 Know Him in all your ways, And He makes all your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear יהוה [God] and turn away from evil.

But God’s chosen people did not listen to Him.
They did not heed the warnings.
And what was the result?
They were divorced from the covenant (Jeremiah 3:8) and were scattered among all the nations of the earth.  I have gone into great detail showing this in the scriptures in numerous articles. Please review the article “Warning to Torah Community” to see the scriptures telling us about this scattering.

The scattering was not just a physical punishment.
They were not just defeated by enemies and taken as slaves.
While this is bad, really bad, it gets worse.
We are told in the scriptures that the exile was also a separation of the people from Yahweh [God] Himself.  Not only that, but the people are exiled from understanding the Word of God!!
Let’s look at that:
Amos 8:11-12
11“See, days are coming,” declares the Master יהוה [God], “that I shall send a hunger in the land, not a hunger for bread, nor a thirst for water, but for hearing the Words of יהוה [God]. 
12“And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east – they shall diligently search, seeking the Word of יהוה [God], but they shall not find it.

We are told the people will be separated from the Word of God.
They will seek it, but are not able to find understanding. Yes, they have the written word, but comprehension and understanding is withdrawn from them in this exile.
It is a consequence for them turning their backs on Yahweh and not following His commands and not heeding His warnings.
But it gets worse…
This exile, consequence, and punishment is not just for the people who turned their backs on Yahweh.
The consequences also apply to their children:
Hosea 4:6
6“My people have perished for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being priest for Me. Since you have forgotten the Torah of your Elohim, I also forget your children.

Hosea tells us that the people did not follow Yah’s words, rejecting His knowledge.
Because of this, Yahweh rejected not only them, but also their children.
Does this seem unfair?
No, because Yahweh advised them before hand:
Deuteronomy 12:28
²⁸ Take care and listen to all these words that I am commanding you, so that it may go well with you and your children after you forever, when you do what is good and right in the eyes of Yahweh your Elohim.
They were warned by God that their obedience to His Instructions would lead to good things for both them and their children.
This warning is given many other times, not just this once.
Here is one of many other occurrences:
Deuteronomy 4:39-40
³⁹ “So you will know today and take to heart that Adonai, He is God, in the heavens above and on the earth below—there is no other. ⁴⁰ You must keep His statutes and His commands, which I am commanding you today, so that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and so that you may prolong your days in the land that Yahweh your Elohim [God] is giving you for all time.”

Are you beginning to see the importance of following the Words of God?
If you answer with, “But Jesus…” lets look at some more direct quotes of Jesus:
John 14:15
“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”
John 14:21
^“He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me.”
John 15:10
“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. “

Did you see what Jesus said?
Not once, but three times?
It is important to Him that we keep the commandments.
Remember, Jesus taught what the Father teaches, which is the Torah, the Old Testament commandments.

Not convinced yet?
Not even by the very words of Jesus?
Let’s look at some more New Testament scriptures:
1John 5:3
5 Everyone who believes that Yeshua is the Messiah is born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves the one born of Him.
Love God—Live God’s Word
² We know that we love God’s children by this—when we love God and obey His commandments. ³ For this is the love of God—that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.

Still not convinced?
Do you know Jesus?
We are given a test in New Testament scripture to determine whether or not we know Him:
1John 2:3-6
³ Now we know that we have come to know Him by this—if we keep His commandments. ⁴ The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him. ⁵ But whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God is truly made perfect. We know that we are in Him by this— ⁶ whoever claims to abide in Him must walk just as He walked.

Am I showing you things in scripture that your church does not show you?
If you have comfort in the knowledge given to you in church, then what I’m showing you should be terrifying!
The fact that your church has not taught you these things should scare you, not comfort you!!
I don’t say this to frighten you; I tell you this to inspire you to search out the scriptures for yourself. Do not believe me.  Review the scriptures I’ve quoted and make sure I have them correct.  Read whole chapters, whole books to verify context.
Do your homework.
Be as the Bereans, and confirm what you know.
And do not be afraid to be afraid.
Reverent fear of God is healthy, just as the scriptures tell us.
If you are skeptical of the things I’m showing you because they are unfamiliar, please consider this warning given long ago:
Jeremiah 16:19-20
¹⁹ O Lord, my strength and my fortress,
My refuge in the day of affliction,
The Gentiles shall come to You
From the ends of the earth and say,
“Surely our fathers have inherited lies,
Worthlessness and unprofitable things.”
²⁰ Will a man make gods for himself,
Which are not gods?

We are told in the scriptures that we have been taught nothing but lies.
But don’t listen to Jeremiah.
Don’t listen to me.
Study the scriptures and pray for God’s wisdom and understanding.
He will give it to you, for it is promised.
James 1:5-8
⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. ⁶ But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷ For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸ he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Am I saying that no one is favored by Yahweh [God]?
No, I am not saying that.
I am simply saying that God has established criteria, and that we must know His voice and follow Him.  His favor is conditional, because He is just.
I love the good news in scripture.
It is wonderful and true, but it is also conditional.
Study the warnings in scripture and heed them.
Failing to heed the warnings may take away your good news.