Just a quick quiz on a few scriptures…
Which version of Matthew 7:21-23, a direct quote of Messiah, is correct?
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in Your name, and drive out demons in Your name, and perform many miracles in Your name?’ 23 Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you. Get away from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’”
21 “Everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, as long as you believe in Me and prayed me into your heart. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in Your name, and drive out demons in Your name, and perform many miracles in Your name?’ 23 Then I will declare to them, ‘It doesn’t matter if we knew each other well; heaven is just a big party and pretty much everyone is invited!’”
Which version of 2Peter 3:14-17 is correct, regarding Paul’s writings?
14 Therefore, loved ones, while you are looking for these things, make every effort to be found in shalom, spotless and blameless before Him. 15 Bear in mind that the patience of our Lord means salvation—just as our dearly loved brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom given to him. 16 He speaks about these matters in all of his letters. Some things in them are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist (as they also do with the rest of the Scriptures)—to their own destruction.
17 Since you already know all this, loved ones, be on your guard so that you are not led astray by the error of the lawless and lose your sure footing.
14 Therefore, loved ones, while you are looking for these things, make every effort to be found in peace, sort of spotless and blameless before Him, or as best as you can manage… 15 Bear in mind that the patience of our Lord means salvation—just as our dearly loved brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom given to him. 16 He speaks about these matters in all of his letters. Don’t worry about what Yahuah or Messiah say, but instead read Paul’s writings in bits and pieces, isolated out of context, which the ignorant and unstable twist (as they also do with the rest of the Scriptures)—and if you get it wrong, don’t worry about it. Yeshua Messiah has you covered, no matter what you believe or do, because Grace is awesome.
17 Since you already know all this, loved ones, be on your guard so that you are not led astray by the error of the lawless and lose your sure footing, but even if you do ignore this warning, it’s ok because Messiah doesn’t care and has you covered by His sacrifice, no matter what…
Let’s check out another direct quote of Messiah, again from Matthew 7. Which version is correct?
13 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. 14 How narrow is the gate and difficult the way that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”
13 “Enter through whatever way pleases you most; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to heaven, and those who enter through it are many. 14 How narrow is the gate and difficult the way that leads to destruction, and those who find it are few.”
And another direct quote of Messiah, this time from John 14.
Which seems right to you?
15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”
15 “If you love Me, you will hold your hands high while singing praise and worship songs, and you will volunteer in the church nursery.”
Also from John 14, with Yeshua Messiah still speaking:
21 “He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me.”
21 “He who invites his neighbors to church on Easter and dresses up and plays a part in the Christmas theater production is the one who loves Me.”
And still Messiah speaking in 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.
10 If you refrain from flipping people off in the church parking lot and insure you give 10% of your income to the church so they can purchase commercial properties, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
OK, moving on to what Yeshua Messiah said in Revelation 22, regarding those who WILL BE in His kingdom…
14 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.
14 Blessed are those who wear crucifix necklaces and and wear fancy hats to church on Sunday, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.
How about Numbers 23:19? Which version is correct?
God is not a man who lies,
or a son of man who changes his mind!
God is not a man who lies,
or a son of man who changes his mind, except He will decide later His ‘law’ is a bust and a big mistake, and will have to come up with another plan, and will change everything so that as many people as possible can go to heaven.
This one is a bit longer…
Hebrews 10:26-31
26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,”says the Lord.[f] And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains a sacrifice for sins, because Jesus still has us covered because He just wants us to believe in him, 27 but there is no fearful expectation of judgment or fiery indignation, because “I’m just a sinner saved by grace.” 28 Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more forgiveness and grace, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and swims in the unlimited supply of the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,”says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will not judge His people, but instead, will forgive them no matter what” 31 It is a wonderful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
I don’t write about these things in order to exclude the mainstream church from the Kingdom (not that I have that responsibility, nor would I want it).
I write about these things to show the mainstream church the difference between the warnings in scripture and what they have been taught.
I do this so our loved ones in the church might slow down and evaluate these ideas. I want them to study the words of Messiah, and see if these warnings might apply to them.
I want them to be as the Bereans, to test all things against scripture (all of scripture, not just a select few bits and pieces of scripture).
I do what I do so that our loved ones might discover new truths and align with those truths.