Luke 15:11-32 
The Parable of the Lost Son
¹¹ Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. ¹² And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. ¹³ And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with^[d]prodigal living. ¹⁴ But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. ¹⁵ Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. ¹⁶ And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.
¹⁷ “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! ¹⁸ I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, ¹⁹ and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’
²⁰ “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.²¹ And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
²² “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. ²³ And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; ²⁴ for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.
²⁵ “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. ²⁶ So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. ²⁷ And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’
²⁸ “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. ²⁹ So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. ³⁰ But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’
³¹ “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.³² It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’ ”

The story of the prodigal son has always been one of my favorites!
What is more comforting than to know that after failing miserably, we can and will be accepted, forgiven, and loved?
Yes, the older brother got a little cranky, but I’m guessing he eventually warmed up to the idea.
Over about 33 years in mainstream Christian churches, this was always taught as a feel-good story.  And on the surface, it is absolutely a feel-good story.
But is there more to it?
I think there is.

The teachings I’ve always heard were based on the perspective that no matter how hard we fall, no matter how bad we fail, Yehova (God) is willing to forgive and accept us back into His fold.
I have always heard the grace side of this story – and it is wonderful.
But let’s take a look at some other key details, specifically, verses 18-19 and 21.
What do we see here?
We see humility.
We see submission to the Father.
We see a change of heart.
We see a changed man who is willing to serve, even in a lowly position.

Throughout my life, I have met many people active in religion, but they are not “changed people”.  They are not humble, or submitted, or displaying a change of heart.
Yes, they are active in and very dedicated to religion, but it is always on their terms.
“I’ll do this thing, but I’ll do it my way.”
In this story, we see a humble young man who is willing to do anything and everything the Father says, without expectation of reward.
He commits himself to being a servant on someone else’s terms, not his own.
This is exactly what this means:
Luke 9:23-24
And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.”
and this…
Romans 6:11
“Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to Yehova in Yeshua Messiah.”
and this…
Romans 12:1-2
Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of Yehova, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to Yehova, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of Yehova is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
and this…
Galatians 5:24
Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
and this…
Romans 8:12-13
So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh– for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
and this…
Romans 6:6-7
knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin.

If we truly want to come to the Father and be His, we must come fully and completely submitted to His will and to His ways. We can’t just do religion according to our own thoughts and ideas.
Did Yeshua Messiah [Jesus] say this?
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who finds a religion that works for him and makes him happy.”
No, not at all.
He actually said this:
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.”
This ties right into the story of the prodigal son.
Come to the Father.
Do so with a submitted heart, full of humility.
Do so with a willingness to follow the ways of the Father.
Do not bring your own terms and conditions.

Another good lesson here is to not be like the older brother.
Do not be disgruntled in such a scenario.
Forgive and rejoice that one has turned back to the Father!!
Just like James tells us:
James 5:19-20
¹⁹ My brothers and sisters, if any among you strays from the truth and someone turns him back, ²⁰ let him know that the one who turns a sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.
A soul is being saved from death!!
Rejoice!!
And as we are told in Jude:
Jude 1:22-23
²² And have mercy on those who are wavering— ²³ save them by snatching them out of the fire…

Now that we’ve discussed this story from a personal level, is there anymore meaning to this story?
There is, in fact!!
Yehova created the Hebrew nation by calling Abraham.  Genesis tells us about the lives of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Jacob had twelve sons who became the twelve tribes of the nation of Israel.
The nation split into two kingdoms, the northern kingdom of Israel (ten tribes) and the southern kingdom of Judah (two tribes).
Both kingdoms strayed from the ways of the Father.
Judah remained in covenant, but Israel was divorced from the covenant and scattered among all the nations of the earth. Why? Because they went whoring after other gods, and turned their backs on Yehova, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Over many centuries, the people of the House of Israel were absorbed into the Gentile nations. 
But…  
We are told by Yehova Himself as well as the prophets that one day, the tribes of the House of Israel will be regathered – when they turn back to Him! 
He will once again join them to Judah, and make a whole nation of His people once again. But Judah will not be happy about it at first.

The story of the prodigal son maps out the history of Yehova’s chosen people, and illustrates for us what is to come.
A submitted and humble heart by the House of Israel, a welcoming back into the fold, just as scripture foretells.
And a jealous older brother, the House of Judah.

I for one can’t wait!!

 

 

 

 

This study is going to take awhile, so I’ll be posting multiple parts as I go.
What idea are we exploring?
What if being saved from our sin by Yeshua Messiah [Jesus] is a completely different event and concept than being granted salvation and everlasting life?
Why would I ask such a question?

Consider this in Ephesians:
Ephesians 2:8-10
⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not from yourselves—it is the gift of God. ⁹ It is not based on deeds, so that no one may boast. ¹⁰ For we are His workmanship—created in Messiah Yeshua for good deeds, which God prepared beforehand so we might walk in them.
We are told point blank that we are saved by grace through faith, and that it is a gift.
And verse 9 is as clear as clear gets:  “It is not based on deeds.”
But immediately after, we are told that we are created for good deeds, that Yehova has prepared for us.  We are given information that we are expected to do deeds.

James tells us this about our faith:
James 2:17-20
¹⁷ So also faith, if it does not have works, is dead by itself.
¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith without works and I will show you faith by my works. ¹⁹ You believe that God is one. You do well. The demons also believe—and shudder! ²⁰ But do you want to know, you empty person, that faith without works is dead?
We are told that unless we have works, we have no faith.
While Ephesians 2 tells us we are saved with faith and not with deeds, we find out in James that we have no faith without said deeds. How do we make sense of this?

There are three statements in Revelation [the Revelation of Yeshua Messiah commonly known as Jesus] indicating that doing works, keeping the commands of Yehova [God], is absolutely necessary.
We are told who make up the remnant of the church:
Revelation 12:17
¹⁷ So the dragon became enraged at the woman and went off to make war with the rest of her offspring—those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Yeshua.
This is the Revelation of Yeshua Messiah.
He identifies His church body as those keeping the commandments of God.
Works!! Deeds!!
The very deeds that Ephesians 2:10 tells us about!

We are told who the saints are, the elect:
Revelation 14:12
Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Yeshua.
This is the Revelation of Yeshua Messiah.
He identifies His saints as those keeping the commandments of God.
Works!! Deeds!!
The very deeds that Ephesians 2:10 tells us about!

Yeshua Messiah then tells us who will be allowed into His kingdom:
Revelation 22:14
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.
This is the Revelation of Yeshua Messiah.
He identifies who is allowed into New Jerusalem as those keeping the commandments of God.
Works!! Deeds!!
The very deeds that Ephesians 2:10 tells us about!
He does not say those who ‘believe’ are allowed in.
He says those who do works, keeping the commandments of Yehova, are allowed in!!
If you study about New Jerusalem, you’ll find this is heaven.
This is where those who are granted eternal life and salvation will reside with Yehova.
No one can be given eternal life without access to the Tree of Life, and it is contained in a City that is only accessible by those who do works, those who keep the commandments of Yehova.

How important is it to Yehova, that we keep His commandments:
Deuteronomy 32:46-47
“Set your heart on all the words with which I warn you today, so that you command your children to guard to do all the Words of this Torah. For it is not a worthless Word for you, because it is your life…”
We are told that keeping His commands is our life!!
We are told the same in Ecclesiastes 12:13
¹³ A final word, when all has been heard:
    Fear God and keep His commandments!
For this applies to all mankind.

Yeshua Messiah tells us it is very important:
John 14:15
 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”
and this…
John 14:21
²¹ He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me.
and this…
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.

Why are we told that we are saved by grace and faith alone without works, but then many scriptures tell us works are necessary to enter the kingdom??

If we are “saved” when we turn to Messiah, repenting and asking Him for forgiveness, then why does He say this:
Matthew 24:13
^{13 “}But he who endures to the end shall be saved.”
If we are saved already, then what does enduring until the end look like?
What does that entail?
What must we do?

1John 2:3-6
³ Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. ⁴ He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. ⁵ But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. ⁶ He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

If we are “saved” when we turn to Messiah, repenting and asking Him for forgiveness, then why is it necessary to work out our salvation?
Philippians 2:12
¹² Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
We are told that working out our salvation is tied to obedience.

Why does Paul say this:
1Corinthians 9
²⁴ Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. ²⁵ And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.²⁶ Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. ²⁷ But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

Typical church doctrine tells us to come to Jesus, accept Him and be saved.
Is Messiah the starting line and the finish line in the race we must run?
What does Yeshua Messiah tell us?
John 14:6
⁶ Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
He tells us that He is not the finish line.
He tells us that we come to Him and He is the starting line.
But then, we must continue on.
Where must we continue?
To the Father.

Romans 10:13
¹³ For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Various scriptures listed above tell us that entering the kingdom of heaven requires us to keep the commandments of God.  
But to be saved, all we need to do is confess that Yeshua is Lord.

Matthew 7:21-23
²¹ “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. ²² Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’²³ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
We see a distinction in this direct quote of Yeshua Messiah.
While Romans tells us those who call on His name will be saved, we see that a different criteria is given to enter the kingdom of heaven.
Not those who call on His name, but only those who do the will of the Father.
What is the Father’s will? His commandments, His instructions, His Torah.
Psalm 40:8
I delight to do Your will, O my God,
And Your law is within my heart.

I find this interesting:
2Corinthians 7:9-11
⁹ Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. ¹⁰ For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
If salvation comes when we ‘accept’ Yeshua Messiah, confessing He is Lord, then why is Paul speaking about something leading to salvation afterwards?

This tells us that salvation comes later, as a separate event.
Looking at Romans 10 again, we see a difference between confessing and repenting.
Romans 10:8-9
⁸ But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): ⁹ that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

We are told that confessing leads us to being saved in Romans.
We are told in 2Corinthians that repenting leads us to salvation.
Let’s take a look at these two words:

con·fess
/kənˈfes/
verb
admit or state that one has committed a crime or is at fault in some way.
“he confessed that he had attacked the old man”
admit, acknowledge, reveal, make known, disclose, divulge, make public, avow, declare, blurt out, profess, own up to, tell all about, bring into the open, bring to light;

repent  
re·​pent | \ ri-ˈpent
verb
1: to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one’s life
2a: to feel regret or contrition
b: to change one’s mind

We can see that to confess and to repent are very different things.
To confess is to acknowledge and admit, and leads to being saved.
To repent is to change your behavior, and it leads to salvation.

I will continue to study this in depth, and will post additional parts to this study.
In the meantime, please consider this idea and pray about it.
I’ll continue to explore the idea in scripture that being saved and being granted salvation are two separate events.
Possibly, we are saved from our life of sin when we come to Messiah, but we are granted salvation when we change who we are and endure til the end?

Who is the remnant? Who are the saints?  Who get to enter the City and have access to the Tree of Life?
Those who keep the commandments.
It is not those who are simply ‘saved’ according to the scriptures reviewed so far.
We have a race to run.
We must endure to the end.
We must work out our salvation.
We must keep the commandments of Yehova.
We must have the faith and testimony of Yeshua Messiah.

The idea that I am exploring is not common.
But if true, it makes sense of many scriptures that seem to be in some sort of conflict.
If being saved and being granted salvation are two separate events, then lots of puzzle pieces fall into place.
I am not stating this as fact, but it is an idea I am studying and will continue to do so.
Feel free to study this idea and pray about it and give me your feedback!
Stay tuned for more…

 

What if being saved from your sin by Yeshua Messiah [Jesus] is a completely different event and concept than being granted salvation and everlasting life?

Study to come…

Stay tuned.

Is it all just a test?
If so, how many people are passing?
How many are failing?

Early in the bible, the Creator of all things presented mankind with His instructions.
He says that His instructions bring life and blessing, and that not following His instructions brings death and curses.
Is it because He is hateful, and gives us a bunch of craziness to follow?
No, not at all.
It is because He is the Creator of all things.
He knows what will work and what will not work.
He is the designer, the engineer, and the manufacturer.
He has the authority, the understanding, and the knowledge to create our “owner’s manual”.

Most educated religious leaders teach that His instruction manual is no longer applicable.
But in His instructions to us, Yehova states over and over again that His instructions are forever, for all generations, a perpetual covenant, and never-ending.

Most educated religious leaders teach that His instruction manual is only for those ancient people and for the Jews today.
In His instructions to us, Yehova states that His instructions are for both the native born Hebrew and for the sojourners among them.  They are for everyone who wants to be Set Apart from the world and be His people.

Most educated religious leaders teach that the law was an imperfect system that did not work, and had to change. We are told in the scriptures that the Torah, His law and instructions, are truth and are perfect, and never change.

Today’s typical church doctrine sides with the idea that His instructions were temporary, only for the Jews, and have changed since the coming of Yeshua Messiah.
When asked about this doctrine, the leaders always go to the writings of Paul to define their thoughts and beliefs.
Call me crazy (lot’s do, no worries!!) but I will establish my beliefs and doctrine based on the very words of Yehova [God] and Yeshua [Jesus].

If the bible begins a statement with:
“And God said…”
“Yeshua said…”
“Thus saith the Lord…”
Or other such ideas, these words will get top billing.  I will pay particular attention to these words and believe them and incorporate them into my life, thoughts, words, and actions.
Next in the pecking order is someone who speaks for Yehova.
For example, look at verse Jeremiah 1:9
Then Adonai stretched out His hand and touched my mouth and Adonai said to me, “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.”

In this instance, I know that Jeremiah is speaking directly for Yehova.
Those who are speaking for Yehova, and we are told so (like in Isaiah 6), these words will get particular attention as absolute truth.

After that, we have many words, verses, and chapters of information in the bible that give us historical information. We get insight to conversations that were had throughout time, and descriptions of events and happenings.
We get explanations and commentary from people who lived during various times.
Do I think these scriptures are incorrect or untrustworthy?
No, I do not.
But I do realize that some of these scriptures depict portions of conversations (or letters) and we do not have all of the transcripts.
So to put it plainly, I absolutely believe the scriptures are true and accurate.
I do not trust that our understanding of them is always true and accurate, sometimes because we don’t have all the information, just as Peter warns us in 2Peter 3:14-17.

Is there a way we can be absolutely sure of our understanding?
Yes, there is. We are given some foundational criteria in the Torah, in the form of a test.
Actually, multiple tests.
Let’s look at one test given in Deuteronomy 13.
Here is the entire text of the thirteenth chapter, and we’ll break it down later into sections:

“Whatever I command you, you must take care to do—you are not to add to it or take away from it.
2 “Suppose a prophet or a dreamer of dreams rises up among you and gives you a sign or wonder, 3 and the sign or wonder he spoke to you comes true, while saying, ‘Let’s follow other gods’—that you have not known, and—‘Let’s serve them!’  4 You must not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams—for Adonai your God is testing you, to find out whether you love Adonai your God with all your heart and with all your soul. 5 Adonai your God you will follow and Him you will fear. His commands you will keep, to His voice you will listen, Him you will serve and to Him you will cling. 6 That prophet or dreamer of dreams must be put to death! For he has spoken falsehood against Adonai your God, who brought you out from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery, to entice you from the way Adonai your God commanded you to walk. So you will purge the evil from your midst.

7 “Suppose your brother—your mother’s son—or your son or daughter, or the wife of your bosom, or your best friend of your own soul misleads you secretly, saying, ‘Let’s go and serve other gods’—that you and your fathers have not known, 8 from among the gods of the peoples around you, near you or far off from you, from one end of the earth to the other. 9 You are not to give in or listen to him, your eye is not to pity him, and you are not to spare or conceal him. 10 Instead, you will surely put him to death. Your hand should be the first against him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people. 11 You are to stone him with stones to death because he tried to entice you away from Adonai your God, who brought you out from the land of Egypt, from the house of slavery. 12 Then all Israel will hear and be afraid, and never again will they do such an evil thing as this in your midst.

13 “Suppose you hear it said in one of your cities, which Adonai your God is giving you to dwell in, 14 that worthless fellows have gone out from among you and enticed the inhabitants of their city, saying, ‘Let’s go and serve other gods’—that you have not known. 15 Then you are to investigate, search out and inquire thoroughly. If indeed it is true and the matter certain that this abomination has been done in your midst, 16 you will surely strike down the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying it and all that is in it and its livestock with the sword. 17 You are to gather all its plunder into the middle of the street, and you are to burn with fire the city and all its plunder—all of it to Adonai your God. It will be a ruin forever—it shall never be built again. 18 Nothing from the ban should cling to your hand, so that Adonai may turn from the fierceness of His anger and show you mercy, and have compassion on you and multiply you, just as He swore to your fathers— 19 when you listen to the voice of Adonai your God, keeping all His commands that I am commanding you today, doing what is right in the eyes of Adonai your God.

Some people are not familiar with this at all.
Many who are familiar recognize this chapter as a test for a false prophet, and they are correct.
But what many people miss is that Deuteronomy 13 gives us, each and every one of us, an important test.
And here is my question:
Are we passing or failing this test?
Let’s start taking a closer look at this chapter, bit by bit.

Verse 1
“Whatever I command you, you must take care to do—you are not to add to it or take away from it.”

This single verse is an enormous test for everyone.
Simply put, Yehova is telling us to follow His instructions.
We are not to ever remove any of His instructions, and we are not to ever add to His instructions.
Sadly, religion is ALL ABOUT taking away and adding to His instructions.
Most people in the world align themselves to a particular religion, denomination, or church.
Should we be doing this?
Or should we be aligning ourselves to the Creator of all things?
How many people in the world today and throughout time have passed this simple test in verse 1?
…you are not to add to it or take away from it.
Maybe the answer lies in this direct quote of Yeshua Messiah:
Matthew 7:13-14
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.”

And this one as well:
Luke 13:22-30
22 And He continued on His journey through the towns and villages, teaching and making His way to Jerusalem. 23 And someone said to Him, “Master, are only a few being saved?”
Then Yeshua said to them, 24 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able. 25 Once the Master of the household gets up and shuts the door, and you’re standing outside and begin knocking on the door, saying, ‘Master, open up for us,’ then He will say to you, ‘I don’t know where you come from.’ 26 Then you will start to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your company, and You taught in our streets.’ 27 But He will say, ‘I tell you, I don’t know where you come from. Get away from Me, all of you evildoers!’”
28 “There will be weeping and the gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. 29 And they will come from the east and west and from the north and south, and they will recline at table in the kingdom of God. 30 And indeed, some are last who shall be first, and some are first who shall be last.”

Please consider Deuteronomy 13:1 very seriously.
Examine your life.
Pray about it.
Are you passing this test?

Let’s take a look at verses 2-6
2 “Suppose a prophet or a dreamer of dreams rises up among you and gives you a sign or wonder, 3 and the sign or wonder he spoke to you comes true, while saying, ‘Let’s follow other gods’—that you have not known, and—‘Let’s serve them!’  4 You must not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams—for Adonai your God is testing you, to find out whether you love Adonai your God with all your heart and with all your soul. 5 Adonai your God you will follow and Him you will fear. His mitzvot you will keep, to His voice you will listen, Him you will serve and to Him you will cling. 6 That prophet or dreamer of dreams must be put to death! For he has spoken falsehood against Adonai your God, who brought you out from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery, to entice you from the way Adonai your God commanded you to walk. So you will purge the evil from your midst.

Let’s summarize:
1 – A prophet gives a sign
2 – That sign comes true
3 – But the prophet says, “Let’s follow a different god”
4 – We must not listen to this prophet!!!
5 – Blah
6 – Blah, blah
7 – Blah, blah, blah
8 – That prophet must be put to death
9 – He has taught falsely
10 – and enticed you away from Yehova and His commands
11 – so purge the evil from among you (kill the false prophet)

You’ll notice steps 5 thru 7 are not very accurate.
This is the portion of Deuteronomy 13 that people miss.
The other parts should be quite simple:
If a prophet is teaching us to not follow Yehova’s commands, then they are teaching us to follow a false god and we are not to listen, and we are to kill that prophet, so they are unable to contaminate the people/nation of Yehova.

But let’s look closely at steps 5-7, comprised by verses 4 and 5.
4 You must not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams—for Adonai your God is testing you, to find out whether you love Adonai your God with all your heart and with all your soul. 5 Adonai your God you will follow and Him you will fear. His mitzvot you will keep, to His voice you will listen, Him you will serve and to Him you will cling. 

Each and every person alive today and who has ever lived is being tested by Yehova.
False prophets are not just an anomaly in life.
Yehova uses them for His purpose, to test each and everyone of us.
Will we listen to Yehova?
Or will we listen to men who teach against Yehova?
What are the standards given in verses 4 and 5?
1 – Yehova is testing us
2 – to find out???
3 – if we love Yehova
4 – how much? With all our heart and soul (that is His standard)
5 – Will we follow Yehova?
6 – Will we fear Yehova?
7 – Will we keep His commands?
8 – Will we listen to His voice?
9 – Will we serve Him?
10 – Will we cling to Him?

As you can see, there is much going on in these two short verses.
And here is the gist of it:
If we follow the teachings of men, churches, denominations, and religions — and their teachings are not exactly the same as the instructions given to us by our Creator, then we are failing this crucial test. We have followed the words of a false prophet, teaching us a new god that we did not know before.  This false prophet may get some things right, but it is not the things he gets right that defines him as false.
It is the things he gets wrong that makes him a false prophet.
So a teacher who says Yehova’s instructions, any of them, are done away with is teaching falsely, trying to change in our minds who Yehova is.
We cannot add to or take away from Yehova’s instructions and still say we are following Him.  His character and His renown is wrapped up in His words to us.  If we change them, then we have changed Him, and it is a new god of our own imagination that we are following.
Jeremiah warns us about this:
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?

Let that sink in for just a moment…
If we follow man’s traditions and teachings instead of Yehova’s instructions and commands, then we are failing the test.
How serious is this to Yehova?
Very serious, to the point of death.
Those who speak against His Word are to be put to death.
Not to punish the offender, but to keep them from corrupting Yehova’s people.

Are we sure Yehova is serious about this?
Let’s look at verses 7 thru 12:

7 “Suppose your brother—your mother’s son—or your son or daughter, or the wife of your bosom, or your best friend of your own soul misleads you secretly, saying, ‘Let’s go and serve other gods’—that you and your fathers have not known, 8 from among the gods of the peoples around you, near you or far off from you, from one end of the earth to the other. 9 You are not to give in or listen to him, your eye is not to pity him, and you are not to spare or conceal him. 10 Instead, you will surely put him to death. Your hand should be the first against him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people. 11 You are to stone him with stones to death because he tried to entice you away from Adonai your God, who brought you out from the land of Egypt, from the house of slavery. 12 Then all Israel will hear and be afraid, and never again will they do such an evil thing as this in your midst.

If someone, even our own family members, try to get us to follow another god (by not following Yehova’s instructions and commands), what are we to do?

1 – recognize that a false prophet could even be our brother, our wife, a close family member
2 – if they encourage us to stray from Yehova’s words and His ways
3 – Do not give in
4 – Do not listen to them
5 – Do not pity them (this is hard, since they are family!!)
6 – Do not spare them
7 – Do not conceal them (aiding and abetting)
8 – We are to put them to death! (this is even harder!!)
9 – Our hand shall be the first against them
10 – And the rest of the community shall take part as well
11 – They are to be stoned to death
12 – Why?  Because they tried to lure us away from Yehova and His ways
13 – This will protect the nation of Israel
14 – How?  They will hear and be afraid
15 – To oppose Yehova and His ways
16 – And they will not try to lure people away from Yehova from among the people.

As you can see, this is a big deal!!
This is a huge deal!!
Yehova says not to add to or take away from His word.
He then tells us to kill anyone who does so, even if it is our own family, because they are a false prophet.
He tells us that this is a test for us, to find out if we love Him.
Are we passing or failing this test?
I spent over 30 years in mainstream Christianity, failing this test.
But when I began studying the scriptures and believing what they say, I began passing the test.
Let’s pause for a moment and evaluate this a bit, and make sure we do not stray from the good news:
We are told in the scriptures that not a single person except Yeshua Messiah has lived without sin.  All have fallen short of the glory of Yehova.
Because of this, we all need a Savior.  Yeshua Messiah is our Savior.
We are forgiven of our sins if we repent and turn to Him.
We are saved by grace through faith.
Please do not misunderstand my message here, that obeying the instructions of Yehova is all there is to the truth of scripture.
Following the ways of Yehova is very important, but even more important is knowing that we have failed and Yeshua is our solution, our Savior.
But His sacrifice and the hope we have in it does not mean we are to not follow Yehova’s instructions and commands.

Now, back to the idea of killing people if they stray from Yehova’s instructions while enticing others to do the same.
In our minds, this sounds harshly unbearable.
People will dislike this blog post at the mere mention of it.
But keep in mind, these are the instructions given by the Creator of all things.
It is not about having a society of people killing their loved ones left and right.
It is about maintaining integrity of their nation, to prevent the entire nation from going astray.
We all know how this turned out.
Not good.
Right now, the ten tribes of the House of Israel are scattered among all the nations of the earth.
Why?
Because they did not pass the tests presented in Deuteronomy 13.
They allowed people to entice them away from Yehova.
They let this evil happen in their midst.
After much patience, Yehova finally divorced them from the covenant and scattered them among all the nations.

Yehova does not want us killing family members left and right. That is not His desire.
He wants a nation of people that love Him, hear His voice, and cling to Him.
Right now in 2019, we are not able to obey this instruction, to kill false prophets.
We are not a covenant nation, living under the governance of Yah’s instructions.
We are scattered among the nations of the earth, subject to the authorities of those nations.
If we killed neighbors or our own family members for straying from Yah’s ways and enticing others to do so, we would quickly find ourselves scorned from society and placed in prison, possibly on death row.
But, make no mistake.
There will come a time when Yehova will end this exile.
We will be gathered from the nations, and we will again form a covenant nation that is governed by the Torah.
Jeremiah 16:14
14 “Therefore, the days are quickly coming,” declares Adonai, “when it will no longer be said. ‘As Adonai lives, who brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt.’ 15 Rather, ‘As Adonai lives, who brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north and from all the lands where He had banished them.’ So I will bring them back into their land that I gave to their fathers.”
When this occurs, I fully expect that all of His instructions will be implemented and obeyed. And I fully suspect there will be some who rebel and test the waters, and pay severe consequences for it, just as happened to Korah in Numbers 16.

Now, let’s continue by looking at the end of Deuteronomy 13.
Yehova gives us additional instructions concerning the failing of these tests, once the nation has been established, with cities.
Deuteronomy 13:13-19
13 “Suppose you hear it said in one of your cities, which Adonai your God is giving you to dwell in, 14 that worthless fellows have gone out from among you and enticed the inhabitants of their city, saying, ‘Let’s go and serve other gods’—that you have not known. 15 Then you are to investigate, search out and inquire thoroughly. If indeed it is true and the matter certain that this abomination has been done in your midst, 16 you will surely strike down the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying it and all that is in it and its livestock with the sword. 17 You are to gather all its plunder into the middle of the street, and you are to burn with fire the city and all its plunder—all of it to Adonai your God. It will be a ruin forever—it shall never be built again. 18 Nothing from the ban should cling to your hand, so that Adonai may turn from the fierceness of His anger and show you mercy, and have compassion on you and multiply you, just as He swore to your fathers— 19 when you listen to the voice of Adonai your God, keeping all His mitzvot that I am commanding you today, doing what is right in the eyes of Adonai your God.

We get clarification here that Yehova is completely serious about these matters.
In verse 7, we learn that we are to make these harsh corrections in our communities, even if the false prophet is our brother, our own children, our own wife, or our best friend. Yehova makes this test and these instructions VERY PERSONAL.
But now we see these instructions, not on a personal level, but as a nation of people.

What do we see here?
Let’s break it down.
1 – If in one of our cities (in a covenant nation following Yehova)
2 – worthless people
3 – entice others to stray from Yehova
4 – Investigate and verify to be sure (because the consequences are severe)
5 – strike down the inhabitants of this city
6 – with the edge of the sword
7 – utterly destroying all
8 – both people and livestock
9 – gather their belongings and burn them
10 – and burn the city as well
11 – so that nothing remains, not even memories
12 – nothing is to remain, not people, not livestock, not plunder
13 – and Yehova will have mercy and grant blessing to you
14 – when we listen to Yehova’s voice
15 – keeping His commandments
16 – doing what is right in His eyes

The last phrase is very important.
What is right in His eyes is more important than what is right in our own eyes.
Is this punishment horrific and tragic?
Yes, it is.
Some people will hate what Deuteronomy 13 says.
Some people will hate what this article says about Deuteronomy 13.
Some people will say, “I will not worship a God who is capable of such things.”

Why is this?
Because they do what is right in their own eyes, and do not see the big picture.
Yehova designed a perfect Creation, with a perfect plan.
If people stray from Him and His ways, it creates a huge mess [which is what we have world wide today].
Just look around.
People strayed from Yehova’s ways, and because of it, we have a global mess.
Even our educated religious leaders teach us that Yehova’s instructions are old, done away with, didn’t work out, or were only for ancient people.
Where has that gotten us?
We now have a world full of lawless people, doing what is right in their own eyes.

Deuteronomy is a very difficult lesson.
Yehova instructs us to do some very difficult things.
But He gives us a pleasant and perfect option.
Simply pass His test.
Do not stray from Him.
Love Him with our whole heart and our whole soul.
Hear His voice.
Cling to Him.
If we do these things, if we pass His test, then none of these horrific and tragic consequences will plague our lives. As we know, people have not passed His test for many generations and many centuries.
But Yehova has promised to restore His people.
It will happen just as Jeremiah 16 and many other scriptures tell us.

I encourage anyone reading this to do your best to pass the test.
And if you still think this test is old and obsolete and not for us, I share these verses from the New Testament with you:

1John 2:3-6
The Test of Knowing Him
³ Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. ⁴ He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. ⁵ But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. ⁶ He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

Do you see?
The test is still in effect!!
This says we don’t even know our God if we do not pass this test.

1John 5:2-3
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. 

And just to finish…
Yeshua Messiah is our Savior.
Our salvation will come from Him and Him only.
He is the solution for when we fail these tests.
But it is still our goal to pass the test.
We should not give up on passing the test, thus placing more weight on the sacrifice of Yeshua.

All of Romans 6 is about this very idea!!!
1What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

From Slaves of Sin to Slaves of God
15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! 16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? 17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. 19 I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.
20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Most Christians today have absolutely no clue what Deuteronomy 13 says if asked.
For those who have studied it, many will reply that it is about the test of a false prophet.
While partially true, this is missing the most important lesson of Deuteronomy 13.
Deuteronomy 13 is completely about whether or not we add to or take away from His instructions, and about whether or not we love Him.
He then gives us tragic details to show us how serious He is about this.

Please pray on these things.
Study it for yourself.
Especially if you hate what Deuteronomy 13 says, or if you hate this blog post.

Quite a few times I have been accused of using fear tactics by sharing the warnings of scripture.  I took a few minutes and studied the concept of fear in scripture.
Like it or not, Yehova, the Prophets, Yeshua Messiah, and the Apostles all speak about fear. All give harsh warnings in the scriptures, and the consequences are quite severe if we fail to heed these warnings.
[and there was weeping and gnashing of teeth]
I do not speak of these things to criticize or condemn others.
I do not speak of these things because I have no love for others.
I study and pray and research these things because I do have a great love for others.
Family, friends, and strangers alike.
People need to know the whole of scripture, not just the parts they like.

There are many promises and blessings throughout the scriptures, and they are wonderful!  We should love them, and most people do.
My blog here is not meant to diminish or undermine any of the promises in scripture.
The purpose of my blog, for the most part, is to warn others about the tragic consequences of failing to heed the warnings.
Many people will take the promises to the bank, without realizing they are conditional.

Yes, we are given if-then scenarios all throughout scripture.
The promises of our Creator require something of us.

Deuteronomy 11:26-28
²⁶ “Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse: ²⁷ the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you today; ²⁸ and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way which I command you today, to go after other gods which you have not known.

John 3:16, 19-21, 36
¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

¹⁹ And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.²⁰ For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. ²¹ But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

³⁶ He who trusts in the Son has eternal life. He who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

People are willing to bank on the promise of John 3:16 without realizing there is more written in this chapter.
The additional information, should we study it, confirms that the promise of John 3:16 is conditional.

I have spent the last couple years studying and praying about the warnings in scripture.
This blog is the result of that effort.
Many people, both in Christian circles and in Torah Community, do not like what I share here.
Is it because of me?
Or is it because they do not like the warnings given in scripture?

In any case, I was chastised this week for sharing some of Yeshua Messiah’s direct quotes, some of His warnings.
I was accused of using fear tactics to put stumbling blocks before other believers, or potential believers.
I am not trying to trip anyone up.
I am not trying to scare anyone away.
I am simply taking the warnings in scripture seriously, working out my salvation with fear and trembling [just as we are instructed to do], and I’m encouraging others to do the same.

Philippians 2:12
¹² Therefore, my loved ones, just as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence—work out your salvation with fear and trembling.

What does it mean, fear and trembling?
Why should salvation be scary?
For one, our eternity is at stake!!!
Let me say that again:
Eternity is at stake!!
There is no other concept in our lives that has more importance.
Our schooling, work, family, health, career, finances, retirement, grandchildren, and yes, even religion…
None of these things are important in comparison to our eternity.

Is there a place for fear in this walk?
Is there a reason for us to consider this idea?
Consider these words, a direct quote of Yeshua Messiah (Jesus):
Matthew 7:13-14
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.”

Luke 13:22-30
²² And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. ²³ Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?”
And He said to them, ²⁴ “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. ²⁵ When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’ ²⁶ then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’ ²⁷ But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’ ²⁸ There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out. ²⁹ They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God. ³⁰ And indeed there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last.”

If these words do not cause you to sit up and take notice, then your ‘fear and trembling’ may require some repair work. It may require some calibrating.
Do you believe these harsh words pertain to someone else and not you?
We see in the passage in Luke that Yeshua Messiah is speaking to people who thought they were saved, and yet, they were not.
They were locked out, workers of lawlessness.

I did a search in my bible app for ‘fear.
Fear is mentioned 377 times throughout the scriptures.
Fear of Yehova is mentioned countless times, and I have included a small sampling of these verses below. Fear has a very solid and prominent place in our ‘Christian walk’.

This is what is at issue with my blog posts:
I share the direct quotes of Yehova (God) and Yeshua Messiah (Jesus) in hopes of educating people that They have established expectations for us, and that there are tragic consequences if we do not heed Their warnings. In fact, promises made throughout scripture hinge upon us knowing these warnings and heeding them. [nobody likes hearing this, except those with a healthy fear of Yehova].

We must know these things, and we must take Their words seriously, as they impact our salvation and our eternity!!
Here is a statement made by the wisest man to ever live upon the earth.
He has told us the purpose of man, the duty of all mankind:
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
¹³ A final word, when all has been heard:
    Fear God and keep His commandments!
For this applies to all mankind.
¹⁴ God will bring every deed into judgment,
including everything that is hidden,
    whether it is good or evil.

And here is a sampling [37 of 377 references, about 10%] regarding fear throughout the scriptures:

Exo 20:20
So Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid, for God has come to test you, so that His fear may be in you, so that you do not sin.”

Deut 4:10
The day that you stood before Yehova your God in Horeb, Adonai said to me, ‘Gather the people to Me and I will make them hear My words, so that they learn to fear Me all the days that they live on the earth, and so that they teach their children.’

Deut 5:26
If only there were such a heart in them to fear Me and keep all My commandments always, so that it might go well with them and with their children forever!

Deut 6:13
You must fear Yehova your God and serve Him, and swear by His Name.

Deut 6:24
Yehova commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear Yehova our God—for our good always, to keep us alive, as is the case this day.

Deut 10:20
Yehova your God you will fear—Him will you serve. To Him will you cling, and by His Name will you swear.

Deut 17:19
It will remain with him, and he will read in it all the days of his life, in order to learn to fear Yehova his God and keep all the words of this Torah and these statutes.

Deut 28:58-61
58 “If you do not take care to do all the words of this Torah, the things written in this scroll, to fear this glorious and awesome Name, Yehova your God, 59 then Yehova will make your plagues and the plagues of your descendants extraordinary—terrible and prolonged plagues, severe and prolonged illnesses. 60 He will bring back on you all the diseases of Egypt that you were afraid of, and they will cling to you. 61 Also every illness and plague that is not written in the scroll of this Torah, Adonai will bring on you, until you are destroyed.”

Joshua 4:23-24
23 For Yehova your God dried up the waters of Jordan before you until you crossed—just as Yehova your God did to the Sea of Reeds, which He dried up before us until we crossed over— 24 so that all the peoples of the earth may know Yehova’s hand is mighty, and so that you may fear Yehova your God forever.”

Joshua 24:14
“Now therefore, fear Yehova and worship Him in sincerity and in truth.”

1Samuel 12:14
If you fear Yehova and worship Him, and listen to His voice and do not rebel against the command of Yehova, then both you as well as the king who reigns over you will be following Yehova your God.

1Samuel 12:24
Only fear Yehova and worship Him in truth with all your heart, considering how magnificently He has dealt with you.

2Kings 17:25
When they first began dwelling there, they did not fear Yehova—so Yehova sent lions among them, which killed some of them.

Isaiah 2:10
Enter into the rock and hide in the dust, for fear of Yehova, and the glory of His majesty.

Isaiah 8:13
Yehova-Tzva’ot, Him will you sanctify, and let Him be your fear, trembling at Him.

Jeremiah 2:19
Your own wickedness will rebuke you and your backslidings will chide you. Know then and see how bad and bitter it is for you to forsake Yehova your God. Nor is fear of Me in you.” It is a declaration of the Lord Yehova-Tzva’ot.

Jeremiah 5:22
Do you not fear Me?’ says Yehova. ‘Do you not tremble in My presence?’ For I made the sand a boundary of the sea, an everlasting decree that cannot be broken. Though the waves roll, they cannot prevail. Though they roar, they cannot cross it.

Jonah 1:9
He said to them, “I am a Hebrew and I fear Yehova God of the heavens, who made the sea and the dry land.”

Micah 6:9
The voice of Yehova calls to the city— it is wisdom to fear Your Name— “Pay attention to the rod and to the One who appointed it.”

Psalm 2:11
Serve Yehova with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

Psalm 25:14
The secret of Yehova is for those who fear Him. He makes His covenant known to them.

Psalm 31:20
How great is Your goodness, which You have stored up for those who fear You, which You have given to those who take refuge in You, before the children of men.

Psalm 34:8
The angel of Yehova encamps around those who fear Him, and delivers them.

Psalm 67:8
God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth will fear Him.

Proverbs 1:7
The fear of Yehova is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Proverbs 1:28-29
Then they will cry out to me, but I will not answer!
They will earnestly seek me, but will not find me.
29 Because they hated knowledge
and did not choose the fear of Yehova,

Proverbs 2:1-6
My son, if you accept my words
and treasure my commandments within you,
2 making your ear attentive to wisdom,
inclining your heart to discernment,
3 yes, if you call out for insight,
lifting up your voice for discernment,
4 if you seek her as silver
and search for her as for hidden treasures,
5 then you will know the fear of Yehova
and discover the knowledge of God.
6 For Yehova gives wisdom.
Out of His mouth comes knowledge and understanding.

Job 28:28
And He said to mankind, ‘The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.”’

Matthew 10:28
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.

Luke 1:50
And His mercy is from generation to generation to the ones who fear Him.

Luke 12:5
But I will show you whom you should fear. Fear the One who, after the killing, has authority to cast into Gehenna. Yes, I tell you, fear this One!

John 9:31
We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners; but if anyone fears Him and does His will, He hears this one.

Acts 13:16
So Paul, standing up and motioning with his hand, said, “Men of Israel and God-fearers, listen.

Romans 11:20-22
True enough. They were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but fear— 21 for if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will He spare you. 22 Notice then the kindness and severity of God

Philippians 2:12
Therefore, my loved ones, just as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence—work out your salvation with fear and trembling.

1Peter 1:17
If you call on Him as Father—the One who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds—then live out the time of sojourning in reverent fear.

Revelation 14:7
He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come. Worship the One who made heaven and earth and sea and springs of water.”

I get an enormous amount of negative feedback due to the content of my blog posts.
There are roughly 40,000 Christian denominations in existence today, and pretty much every single one of them disagree with the ideas I present here.
Surprisingly, the majority of the Torah community also disagrees with me.
This is why I am diligent to include bible verses in my studies, often times the direct quotes of Yehova (God) and the direct quotes of Yeshua Messiah (Jesus).

I often pray that one single person — somewhere, anywhere — will be encouraged to follow Yehova wholly and completely because of my efforts. 
I don’t need a big crowd.  Just one. 
That is all I pray for… 
I am not trying to develop a following, which is obvious based on my topic of choice. 

A mainstream Christian pastor friend told me I’m a heretic and that my ideas are dangerous. And then he unfriended and blocked me on social media.  All this, because I quoted Messiah, whom he claims to know and serve.
I sent a list of direct quotes of Messiah to a Torah fellowship leader.  I did not include any comments of my own, simply the words of Messiah.  They told me to stop, that I had no love in me, and that it felt like I was beating them with a hammer.  This was their response to the words of Messiah whom they claim to know and serve.

I’ve been told that I am arrogant, condescending, condemning, critical, hypocritical, and many more accusations I can’t even remember.  All because of the message I deliver in this blog.
I do not have the power to condemn others, nor would I want to.
Only Yeshua has the authority to determine the eternal fate of each man and woman upon this earth, throughout all of time.  The scriptures tell us He will decide their fate using the words of the Torah.
No, I do not judge or condemn anyone.  I simply share some of the difficult ideas in the scriptures, not to be critical of others, but out of love for people who do not know these ideas.

I primarily study the warnings in scripture, and share them with anyone who will listen.
There are lots of ideas in scripture that deliver hope, comfort, warmth, peace, and security. 
People love them!! [as they should].
However, there are also many very harsh warnings in scripture, often coming directly from Yehova and Yeshua!! People seem to not know about them, and when I share them, they get angry with me.
Such is life.

I will keep doing this.
Why?
Because there is but one truth in scripture, and this one truth is comprised of both promises and warnings. This one truth is comprised of all the scriptures, from the first page to the last page.
Our truth must be based on the whole of scripture, not just the parts we like the best.
If we sift out the promises and only study those, it leads to the creation of false doctrine.
The consequences of violated warnings in scripture will result in the promises being taken away [or never really granted in the first place].
People need to know this, even if they hate it.  Even if they hate me for telling them.
I’m good with being the messenger.
I don’t do this to gain a following or to be liked.
I do this for just one. 
Anyone who chooses to follow the words and the ways of Yehova because of my efforts.

OK, now that I’m finished rambling, let’s take a look at an important concept:
Can we develop doctrine from the letters of Paul?

Generally mainstream Christian doctrine includes the idea that the Old Testament Law [the Torah instructions] are done away with, and are no longer applicable.
Many direct quotes of Yehova and Yeshua state the exact opposite.
How is it possible that the bulk of Christianity believe a doctrine that is completely opposite of what God and Jesus tell us?

The letters of Paul, that is how.

Am I saying that Paul defies Yehova and Yeshua?
No, I am not saying that, although there are people in the world who think so.
Paul was called on the road to Damascus to do the work of Yehova, and He accepted this calling.
He is right and true, and he does not defy Yehova or Yeshua.

So what is happening here?
How is it that hundreds of millions, if not billions, of Christians throughout time have believed that Paul’s writings did away with the Old Testament Law?

Before we look any further, let’s take a look at Peter’s final advice to the world.
Going all the way back to the first century church, Peter recognized that Christians were creating false doctrine using the writings of Paul.
Peter warns us about this on his death bed.
When people are on their death bed, they tend to communicate the most important things they know.
They don’t speak of frivolous things. The speak of things that matter the most.
And this is what we get from Peter on his death bed:

2Peter 3:14-17
Final Advice
¹⁴ Therefore, loved ones, while you are looking for these things, make every effort to be found in peace, spotless and blameless before Him. ¹⁵ Bear in mind that the patience of our Messiah 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.

The generation who walked with Yeshua Messiah personally are warning us about using Paul’s letters to create false doctrine.

How serious does Peter take this issue?
Absolutely and very seriously!!
Does Peter tell us this mistake will cause a bit of confusion and everything will be ok in the end?
No.
That is not at all what he tells us.
He says that making this mistake will lead to our destruction.
Uuummmm, that is not good.
He tells us that if we misunderstand Paul’s letters, along with the scriptures (Old Testament is all that existed at the time), that doing so would result in our destruction.
Just in case we missed the importance of his warning, he repeats it again in verse 17. He says that if we follow the ways of the lawless (those who say the Torah instructions are done away with) we will lose our sure footing, being led astray.

This is a big deal.
Fast forward 2000 years and what do we have?
We have 40,000 Christian denominations and countless millions of people violating Peter’s death bed warning.
Let’s review again…
What are the consequences of violating this warning?
Our destruction.

Yeshua Messiah (Jesus) tells us the exact same thing.
Matthew 7:21-23
²¹ “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. ²² Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’²³ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

Yeshua said this not to atheists, but to people who claim to know Him and serve Him.
Does He accept them and tell them all are welcome into the kingdom of heaven?
No, He does not.
He says He does not know them and rejects them, sending them away.
What is the disqualifier?
They were workers of lawlessness.
Being rejected by Messiah, the only One who can save us, is not good.
As Peter stated, it will result in our destruction.
If you’d like to know more about this idea, please read my other 250 or so blog articles. I go into this in great depth, citing scripture every step of the way.

We have a whole bible with direct quotes of Yehova — which we must believe.

We have many direct quotes of Prophets who are saying Yehova’s words [for example, Jeremiah 1:9  Then Adonai stretched out His hand and touched my mouth and Adonai said to me, “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.”]. 
If the Prophets are speaking Yehova’s words, then we must believe them.

We then have many recorded direct quotes of Yeshua Messiah, which we must believe.

We have recorded statements by Apostles who observed and experienced many things alongside Yeshua, and wrote them down for us. We need to believe their eye-witness accounts.

And then we get a wrench in the gears…
Paul’s letters.
I’m not a Paul basher, as he was called on the road to Damascus to do the work of Yehova. 
But still, there are problems to be sorted out.
We cannot build our belief system and our doctrine on quotes of Paul, especially if Yehova, the Prophets, and Yeshua all said something different.

We are being told in Peter’s warning to not use Paul’s letters to change anything in the scriptures.
Part of the problem is this…
Paul’s letters are his responses to various early congregations, typically identified by a region.
There was a second party involved in this ‘conversation’ but we do not have access to the other half of the conversation.
Imagine walking into a room while someone is in the middle of a conversation on the phone.
If we missed part of the conversation and cannot hear the other party, we need to refrain from making assumptions based upon the bits and pieces we do hear.
We especially need to refrain from making assumptions (and creating new doctrine) based on these overheard bits and pieces, especially if what we hear defies the words of Yehova, the Prophets, and Yeshua.

This is exactly what the mainstream churches have done, even though we are warned against it.

There is a consistent theme throughout the scriptures that we are to follow Yehova wholly and completely.
Partial obedience is not accepted, nor is it the target we are aiming for.
For example, Deuteronomy 12:28
Observe and obey all these words which I command you, that it may go well with you and your children after you forever, when you do what is good and right in the sight of Yehova your Elohim.

We are told to obey ALL, not some of His words.

Deuteronomy 5 tells us the same:
32 “Therefore you shall be careful to do as Yehova your Elohim has commanded you; you shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. 33 You shall walk in all the ways which Yehova your Elohim has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess.

Again, ALL and not some.

Yeshua tells us the same thing.
Matthew 28
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

ALL, not some.

Out of the entire Exodus generation, consisting of millions, only two men were allowed to enter the promise land.  Joshua and Caleb were allowed to enter because they followed Yehova wholly and completely.
All others perished in the wilderness because of their grumbling, complaining, rebellious attitude, and by following partially instead of wholly and completely.

Here is a direct quote of Yehova concerning this:
Numbers 32:11-13
1 ‘Surely none of the men who came up from Egypt, from twenty years old and above, shall see the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, because they have not wholly followed Me, 12 except Caleb the son of Jephunneh, the Kenizzite, and Joshua the son of Nun, for they have wholly followed Yehova.’ 13 So Yehova’s anger was aroused against Israel, and He made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation that had done evil in the sight of Yehova was gone.

Keep in mind this is Yehova’s chosen people!!
If He has consequences like this for HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE for not following Him completely, then how will the rest of the people of the world fare?
Obeying ALL THAT I HAVE COMMANDED is the standard.
If people have no heart for following wholly and completely, then the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is going to have a problem with it.
Deuteronomy 13:3-6
…for Adonai your God is testing you, to find out whether you love Adonai your God with all your heart and with all your soul. ⁵ Adonai your God you will follow and Him you will fear. His commands you will keep, to His voice you will listen, Him you will serve and to Him you will cling. ⁶ That prophet or dreamer of dreams must be put to death! For he has spoken falsehood against Adonai your God, who brought you out from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery, to entice you from the way Adonai your God commanded you to walk. So you will purge the evil from your midst.

Now this is where forgiveness and grace come into play.
We can be washed clean from our sin (disobedience) and be made a new creation in Messiah.
But then, we must follow Him wholly and completely.
If you’d like to know more about this, please read Numbers 15:30-31 and Hebrews 10:26-31.

Numbers 15:30-31
 “But the person who sins defiantly, whether native or outsider, reviles Adonai and that person is to be cut off from his people. ³¹ Because he has despised the word of Adonai and has broken His commandment, that person will certainly be cut off—his guilt will remain on him.”

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 Ben-Elohim 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, “Adonai will judge His people.” ³¹ It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

We do not have forgiveness for continued willful and intentional sin.
We must repent and change.
We must have a heart to obey ALL THAT HE COMMANDED.
If we fail, then grace covers us.
If we do not have a heart to obey ALL THAT HE COMMANDED, then it is considered intentional and willful sin, and no sacrifice remains for it.

What about brand new people coming into the faith?
Must they be perfect, following in ALL immediately?
No, Yehova knows that we need to learn.
In Acts, we see a council was convened to determine how to deal with new converts to the faith. They were to be held accountable to four basic ideas that would differentiate them from pagan religions at the time:
Acts 15:19-20
19 Therefore, I judge not to trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God— 20 but to write to them to abstain from the contamination of idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what is strangled, and from blood.

Is it ok to accept, believe, and practice these four basic things and call it good?
Can we have just a simple “belief” and not learn and grow in our knowledge and behavior?
No, we are given this instruction in the next verse:
Acts 15:21
For Moses from ancient generations has had in every city those who proclaim him, since he is read in all the synagogues every Shabbat.

The expectation for all Gentiles turning to God is that they learn the Torah, reading it weekly, and that they should be hearing this on Shabbat. The expectation is to start with minimal knowledge and obedience, but to learn weekly how to follow Yehova, obeying ALL THAT HE COMMANDED.

Our churches fail to do this.
They have accepted a few simple things (important things), and call it good.
They ignore the remainder of what they are instructed to continue in, to learn, and to live.

Is this ok?
Only Yeshua can decide.
Men do not have the authority to make any decisions on the fate of another.

In the meantime, I will continue to teach people the words of Yehova, the words of the Prophets, and the words of Yeshua, to obey “ALL THAT I HAVE COMMANDED.”
It is up to each individual whether they decide to listen or not.
It is up to Yeshua to decide their fate in regard to these things.

As for Paul’s writings, I will not build doctrine on bits and pieces of an overheard conversation, especially if those bits and pieces do not line up with the words and instructions of the Creator of all things. Peter warned us not to do this, and I will not do it.

I hope this helps explain my thoughts on why I study and share the ideas in this blog.
It is not to criticize others, or to judge them.
It is to share some of the difficult warnings in scripture, so that people who are violating those warnings can make an informed decision.

Is it possible that I am completely wrong about all of this?
I suppose so.
But there are too many scriptures that repeat a consistent message.
If I am wrong about these things, then it is good new for countless millions.
But if I am not wrong, it is important to continue to encourage others to follow Yehova wholly and completely, obeying ALL that He commanded.

That is my goal.

 

Deuteronomy 6:25 establishes the biblical definition of righteousness.
It will be righteousness to us, if we take care to do all this commandment before Yehova our Elohim, just as He has commanded us.
Let’s see how it sounds when we substitute the word righteousness with this definition in some New Testament scriptures!!
I expected this study to be interesting, but it turned out to be quite fascinating!!

Matthew 5:6
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
    for they shall be satisfied.”
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for doing all this commandment before Yehova our Elohim, just as He has commanded us, for they shall be satisfied.”

Matthew 5:10
“Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
“Blessed are those who have been persecuted for doing all this commandment before Yehova our Elohim, just as He has commanded us, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of Yehova and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
But seek first the kingdom of Yehova and doing all this commandment before Yehova our Elohim, just as He has commanded us, and all these things shall be added to you.

Matthew 13:43
Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear!
Then those who do all this commandment before Yehova our Elohim, just as He has commanded us will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear!

Matthew 25:46
46 These shall go off to everlasting punishment, but the righteous into everlasting life.
46 These shall go off to everlasting punishment, but those who do all this commandment before Yehova our Elohim, just as He has commanded us, into everlasting life.

Luke 1:6   [Wow, this one confirms the Deuteronomy 6 definition for us!!]
Together they were righteous before Adonai, walking without fault in all His commandments and instructions.
Together they were those who do all this commandment before Yehova our Elohim, just as He has commanded us before Adonai, walking without fault in all His commandments and instructions.

Luke 1:17
And he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to the children and the disobedient ones to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready for Yehova a prepared people.
And he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to the children and the disobedient ones to the wisdom of those who do all this commandment before Yehova our Elohim, just as He has commanded us, to make ready for Yehova a prepared people.

Luke 23:47
Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he began glorifying Yehova, saying, “Truly this was a righteous Man.”
Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he began glorifying Yehova, saying, “Truly this was a man who does all this commandment before Yehova our Elohim, just as He has commanded us.”

John 7:24
Do not judge by appearance, but judge righteously.”
Do not judge by appearance, but judge by doing all this commandment before Yehova our Elohim, just as He has commanded us.”

Acts 10:22
And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and Yehova-fearing man well-spoken of by all the Jewish people, was directed by a holy angel to summon you to his house and to hear a message from you.”
And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a man who does all this commandment before Yehova our Elohim, just as He has commanded us, and Yehova-fearing man well-spoken of by all the Jewish people, was directed by a holy angel to summon you to his house and to hear a message from you.”

Acts 13:10
…and said, “O you, full of all deceit and trickery, son of the devil, enemy of all righteousness—will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of Yehova?
…and said, “O you, full of all deceit and trickery, son of the devil, enemy of all who are doing all this commandment before Yehova our Elohim, just as He has commanded us, —will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of Yehova?

Acts 17:31
For He has set a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness, through a Man whom He has appointed. 
For He has set a day on which He will judge the world according to doing all this commandment before Yehova our Elohim, just as He has commanded us, through a Man whom He has appointed. 

Romans 3:4
May it never be! Let Yehova be true even if every man is a liar, as it is written, “that You may be righteous in Your words and prevail when You are judged.”
May it never be! Let Yehova be true even if every man is a liar, as it is written, “that You may be doing all this commandment before Yehova our Elohim, just as He has commanded us, in Your words and prevail when You are judged.”

Romans 6:17
But thanks be to Yehova that though you were slaves of sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching under which you were placed; 18 and after you were set free from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness.
But thanks be to Yehova that though you were slaves of sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching under which you were placed; 18 and after you were set free from sin, you became enslaved to doing all this commandment before Yehova our Elohim, just as He has commanded us.’

Romans 8:10
But if Messiah is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the Spirit is alive because of righteousness.
But if Messiah is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the Spirit is alive because of you do all this commandment before Yehova our Elohim, just as He has commanded us.

Romans 14:17
…for the kingdom of Yehova is not about eating and drinking, but righteousness and shalom and joy in the Ruach ha-Kodesh.
…for the kingdom of Yehova is not about eating and drinking, but doing all this commandment before Yehova our Elohim, just as He has commanded us, and shalom and joy in the Ruach ha-Kodesh.

1Timothy 6:11
But you, O man of Yehova, flee from these things and pursue righteousness, Yehovaliness, faithfulness, love, perseverance, and gentleness.
But you, O man of Yehova, flee from these things and pursue doing all this commandment before Yehova our Elohim, just as He has commanded us, Yehovaliness, faithfulness, love, perseverance, and gentleness.

2Timothy 2:22
Now flee from youthful desires; instead, pursue righteousness, faithfulness, love, and shalom, with those who call on Yehova from a pure heart.
Now flee from youthful desires; instead, pursue doing all this commandment before Yehova our Elohim, just as He has commanded us, faithfulness, love, and shalom, with those who call on Yehova from a pure heart.

2Timothy 3:16
All Scripture is inspired by Yehova and useful for teaching, for reproof, for restoration, and for training in righteousness,
All Scripture is inspired by Yehova and useful for teaching, for reproof, for restoration, and for training in doing all this commandment before Yehova our Elohim, just as He has commanded us,

Titus 2:11-14
11 For the grace of Yehova has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 training us to deny unYehovaliness and worldly desires and to live in a manner that is self-controlled and righteous and Yehovaly in the present age. 13 We wait for the blessed hope and appearance of the glory of our great Yehova and Savior, Messiah Yeshua. 14 He gave Himself for us so that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and so that He might purify for Himself a chosen people, zealous for good deeds.
11 For the grace of Yehova has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 training us to deny unYehovaliness and worldly desires and to live in a manner that is self-controlled and doing all this commandment before Yehova our Elohim, just as He has commanded us, and Yehovaly in the present age. 13 We wait for the blessed hope and appearance of the glory of our great Yehova and Savior, Messiah Yeshua. 14 He gave Himself for us so that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and so that He might purify for Himself a chosen people, zealous for good deeds.

Hebrews 1:9
You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore Yehova, Your Yehova, has anointed You with the oil of gladness above Your companions.”
You have loved doing all this commandment before Yehova our Elohim, just as He has commanded us, and hated lawlessness; therefore Yehova, Your Yehova, has anointed You with the oil of gladness above Your companions.”

Hebrews 5:13
11 About this subject there is much for us to say, and it is hard to explain since you have become sluggish in hearing. 12 For although you ought to be teachers by this time, again you need someone to teach you the basics of Yehova’s sayings. You have come to need milk, not solid food. 13 For anyone living on milk is inexperienced with the teaching about righteousness—he is an infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who through practice have their senses trained to discern both good and evil.
11 About this subject there is much for us to say, and it is hard to explain since you have become sluggish in hearing. 12 For although you ought to be teachers by this time, again you need someone to teach you the basics of Yehova’s sayings. You have come to need milk, not solid food. 13 For anyone living on milk is inexperienced with the teaching about doing all this commandment before Yehova our Elohim, just as He has commanded us, —he is an infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who through practice have their senses trained to discern both good and evil.

Hebrews 12:11
Now all discipline seems painful at the moment—not joyful. But later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Now all discipline seems painful at the moment—not joyful. But later it yields the peaceful fruit of doing all this commandment before Yehova our Elohim, just as He has commanded us, to those who have been trained by it.

James 2:24
You see that a man is proved righteous by works and not by faith alone.
You see that a man is proved to be one doing all this commandment before Yehova our Elohim, just as He has commanded us, by works and not by faith alone.

James 5:16
So confess your offenses to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous person is very powerful.
So confess your offenses to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a person doing all this commandment before Yehova our Elohim, just as He has commanded us, is very powerful.
REMINDS ME OF THIS:
Proverbs 28:9
One who turns his ear from hearing Torah
—even his prayer is an abomination.

1Peter 2:24
He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we, removed from sins, might live for righteousness. “By His wounds you were healed.”
He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we, removed from sins, might live for doing all this commandment before Yehova our Elohim, just as He has commanded us. “By His wounds you were healed.”

1Peter 3:12
For the eyes of Adonai are on the righteous and His ears open to their prayer, but the face of Yehova is against those who do evil.”
For the eyes of Adonai are on those doing all this commandment before Yehova our Elohim, just as He has commanded us, and His ears open to their prayer, but the face of Yehova is against those who do evil.”

1Peter 4:18
Now, “if it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what shall become of the unYehovaly and the sinner?”
Now, “if it is hard for those doing all this commandment before Yehova our Elohim, just as He has commanded us, to be saved, what shall become of the unYehovaly and the sinner?”

2Peter 2:21
For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than after learning about it, to turn back from the holy commandment passed on to them.
For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of doing all this commandment before Yehova our Elohim, just as He has commanded us, than after learning about it, to turn back from the holy commandment passed on to them.

2Peter 3:13
But in keeping with His promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
But in keeping with His promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, where those doing all this commandment before Yehova our Elohim, just as He has commanded us dwell.

REMINDS ME OF THIS:
Revelation 22:14 [those allowed into heaven on earth, the City of New Jerusalem described in Rev 21]
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.

1John 3:7
Children, let no one mislead you! The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as Yeshua is righteous.
Children, let no one mislead you! The one who practices doing all this commandment before Yehova our Elohim, just as He has commanded us, is righteous, just as Yeshua is righteous.
REMINDS ME OF THIS:
1John 2:3-6
3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of Yehova is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

1John 3:10
It is clear who are the children of Yehova and who are the children of the devil by this—anyone who does not act righteously or love his brother is not of Yehova.
It is clear who are the children of Yehova and who are the children of the devil by this—anyone who does not do all this commandment before Yehova our Elohim, just as He has commanded us, or love his brother is not of Yehova.
REMINDS ME OF THIS:
Luke 6:46
“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?

The bible also defines sin for us:
1John 3:4
Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. [KING JAMES]
Everyone who keeps sinning is violating Torah – indeed, sin is violation of Torah. [CJB]

In my next study, I’ll substitute this definition of sin into various scriptures that speak of sin.  Stay tuned!

 

“THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS”
This is a famous saying that most of us have heard at some point in our lives.
While this is just a simple statement from pop-culture, it made me consider today’s Torah community.

Pick any topic in scripture, and it won’t take very long to find a very diverse set of ideas pertaining to that topic.
As I understand, there are 26 or more different “biblical calendars” being used in Torah communities.
Some are rooted in Judaism, others in the Creation story, some in Enoch, some rely on studying the Hebrew as best they can, some think the moon establishes our calendar, some think the sun establishes the calendar, some think constellations, some think equinox, some go by the barley being ripe, some think sighted sliver, some think conjunction of the moon, and on and on.

Some groups think a biblical day goes from dawn to dawn, while others side with the long accepted Jewish idea of evening to evening. There are groups who think Shabbat is only for twelve hours on Saturday.
There are many ideas about how to determine when the moedim occur, the biblical feast days.
We can add to the “moedim-pile-of-confusion” the many ways and methods people choose to observe those feast days.
What can we do on Shabbat?
What can we not do on Shabbat?
I’m barely scratching the surface here, and if you’ve paid attention to any of these topics, you know what I mean. There are lots of opinions.

What are we to do?
Some things are quite clear to me.
“Thou shalt not murder.”
I think it is universally accepted that we are not to murder other human beings.
But even as solid as this idea seems, there is much debate at times.
Some Torah instructions require capital punishment, to purge the evil from among you (but this is not murder).  Torah gives instructions for those who kill another by accident (sanctuary cities).
Some believe we are not allowed to defend ourselves against aggressors.
Turn the other cheek, even if they intend to kill you.
Even this basic idea to not murder becomes muddied once the debate begins and people start digging into the details.

This seems pretty clear to me:
Numbers 15
38 “Speak to the children of Israel: Say to them that they are to make for themselves tzitzit (tassels) on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and they are to put a blue cord on each tzitzit. 39 It will be your own tzitzit—so whenever you look at them, you will remember all the mitzvot (commands) of Yehova and do them and not go spying out after your own hearts and your own eyes, prostituting yourselves. 40 This way you will remember and obey all My mitzvot and you will be holy to your Elohim. 41 I am Yehova your Elohim. I brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your Elohim. I am Yehova your Elohim.”

This is an easy one to understand.
1. Make for yourself
2. Tassels
3. On the corners of your garments
4. For all generations
5. With a blue cord in each
6. When we see them
7. We will remember Yehova’s commands
8. And obey them
9. And be holy
10. And not go whoring after our own desires
11. And Yehova is our Elohim (God).

Nothing to it, right?
Make them and wear them.
Simple.
But people will debate this.
They say this is no longer applicable (did you catch the part about all generations?).
They say this is for the spiritually immature, and they’ve “outgrown wearing tzitzits”
Some say this was for an ancient time and for an ancient people and not for today.
And on and on…

What about when a day starts? Evening to evening, or dawn to dawn?
If one believes the Hebrew word ereb only means evening, it is easy to understand that a day begins at sundown and continues until the next sundown.
But if one sees that the Hebrew word ereb can mean a mixing of light, meaning both pre-dawn and twilight, then the scriptures take on a whole new meaning. A dawn to dawn day becomes possible.
I have been studying this idea, trying to figure out what is “right”.  Since I looked at the idea without bias, I can now see it both ways. I am now mapping out the Pesach events in the four gospels, looking at these details from both perspectives. What will I find? Time will tell…

Here are a couple different ways to look at the same thing:
Consider this, the third day of creation:
Genesis 1:9-13
Then Yehova said, “Let the water below the sky be gathered to one place. Let the dry ground appear.” And it happened so. 10 Yehova called the dry ground “land,” and the collection of the water He called “seas.” And Yehova saw that it was good.
11 Then Yehova said, “Let the land sprout grass, green plants yielding seed, fruit trees making fruit, each according to its species with seed in it, upon the land.” And it happened so. 12 The land brought forth grass, green plants yielding seed, each according to its species, and trees making fruit with the seed in it, each according to its species. And Yehova saw that it was good. 13 So there was evening and there was morning—a third day.

In verse 13, it clearly states: “so there was evening and there was morning, a third day.”
That settles it, right?
Evening is mentioned first, so evening to evening defines a day.
Well, let’s look at it closely.
If there was evening (entering into darkness), and morning (day break), what happened to the rest of the 24 hour period? What happened to the remainder of the day, bringing us back to evening again after morning is mentioned? We have to make an assumption for this model to work. We have to assume that the unmentioned daylight hours bring us back to the next evening.

What if we look at the third day described in this way:
Yehova completes His creation activities on the third day, and then came evening, and then came morning.  Thus a third day.
In this example, we have to assume that Yehova did His work during the daylight hours without mentioning it, while telling us how the day ended – evening following through until morning.

Again, we must make a leap in logic because the information is incomplete.
Both examples require us to make an assumption.
Is one right and the other wrong?
Logic tells us absolutely that one is right and one is wrong.  It can’t be both ways.
But how do we identify which one is right?
Adding to the confusion is the fact that sun, moon, and stars are not created until the fourth day!!!
The very things that we use to identify day and night in our human existence did not even exist yet when Yehova describes His third day in Genesis 1!!

This leaves me in a quandary, to be honest with myself.
Which concept, evening to evening or morning to morning, do I choose to believe and observe?
Do I pick one and argue with and disagree with everybody who chooses the other option?
Some things are very clear in the scriptures, while other things are more difficult to determine.
What is expected of us?
#1 Are we to dig into the details and argue and debate and tell everyone else how wrong they are?
#2 Or are we to read the scriptures, and have a heart to do what they say?

I don’t know about you, but I’m going with answer #2.
If I can’t quite tell how to go about it, choose a way and do it. Pray about it.
But simply submit and follow Yehova, even if there are multiple ideas in the Torah community.
If you find out later there is a better way, feel free to adopt this better way, based on added information. If someone presents another way to you, and it doesn’t click, keep doing what you are doing, with a heart to follow Yehova.  —But be nice to them.

We are commanded to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.
People argue about how to determine when Sabbath is.
People argue about what we can and cannot do.
Some say it is ok to brush our teeth, but not ok to wash a dish.
Some say it is ok to warm up food, but not ok to cook a meal.
Some say it is ok to walk on the beach, but not ok to go on a hike.
And on and on and on…

I used to think I was absolutely right about this and that.
I used to discuss the details of scripture and kindly inform others where they were “wrong.”
Is this what Yehova wants from us? Yes, we should correct one another when the scriptures are clear.  But what if the scriptures are vague?

Don’t get me wrong.  I’m not advocating for being wishy-washy, or to just accept anything.
No, we are not to twist the scriptures into whatever we like.
We are not to ignore statements in scripture and pretend we didn’t see it.
We are to rely on and trust that truth and understanding come from Yehova.
Keep studying. Maybe you’ll find more information that clarifies an idea for you.

But what if two people study the scriptures, and truly have a heart’s desire to obey the scriptures and walk in the ways of the Father, but somehow end up with a different idea or concept?
Are they supposed to battle it out in the Facebook threads, and eventually unfriend and block each other?
I don’t think so.  I can’t find anything in the scriptures about Facebook, but I find plenty of other information about how to love our neighbor as ourself.

If people are not interested in the truth, we are to shake the dust off and move on, just as Yeshua Messiah instructed.
But if people are interested in the truth, and have a different idea than we have, does that make them “wrong”?  How do we know that our idea is “right”?  What if the scriptures are a bit vague?

Yes, some things are stated plainly and clearly.
We should not twist it, change it, add to it, or take away from it.
But what about the things that are not quite clear?
Do we default to Judaism?
Do we go with our favorite teachers on Youtube?
What if we pray about it, but still have a different understanding than others?

Is this intentional?
Is this a test?
Is Yehova trying us, to see how we will act?
What if we can’t nail down the details, even though we try very hard? What if we pray about it, and ask for Yehova to give us understanding, but we still end up with different concepts than others?

Some will throw their hands up, and walk away.  Some will decide this is a big mess and not worth their time.  Is this ‘failing the test’?
Some will decide they are right and everyone else is wrong, and argue non-stop. Is this ‘failing the test’?
What if we simply say, “I may not know exactly how this works, but I submit my will to the Father’s will, and I will do this, the best that I know how,” while being kind and encouraging to others?
Is this ‘passing the test’?

I’m in a new place.
If someone reads the scriptures and sees a different idea than me on how to go about something, I hope to encourage them to walk in the ways of the Father.
What if they think a day starts at dawn, while I think a day starts in the evening, or vice-versa?
Argue until you get blocked, right?
No, that is not how I’m going to approach it.

If someone is violating an idea presented in black and white, I’ll share the scriptures with them that will shine light on the subject. It is up to them what they will do with it.
But if someone is following Yehova with their whole heart, but in a way different than me because the information seems to be vague or difficult, I will encourage them in their efforts. I will encourage them to follow Yehova with their whole heart, just as we are instructed to do:
Deuteronomy 13:4-5
“…for Yehova your Elohim is testing you, to find out whether you love Yehova your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul. 5 Yehova your Elohim you will follow and Him you will fear. His commands you will keep, to His voice you will listen, Him you will serve and to Him you will cling.”

What about sacred namers?
Are we supposed to argue about Yehova, Yahweh, Yahuah?  Shall we part ways over Yeshua or Yahoshua or Yahousha?
What if someone says God or Jesus?  Shall we burn them at the stake?

The lost ten tribes of the house of Israel have been scattered among all the nations of the earth for a very long time.
As we are called back to Torah, it is going to take some time to sort things out.
Is it important that we are absolutely, completely, 100% right about everything?
Is that even possible?
Or is it important for us to be submitted to the ways of the Father, and walk in them the best way we know how? [not advocating for being lukewarm here]

One day, all will be set straight.
One day, we will know exactly what the truth is.
We’ll get this whole truth from the two witnesses of Revelation, or we’ll get it from Yeshua Messiah when He returns, or we’ll get it supernaturally from the Ruach.
Whatever the case, I am confident that a time will come when we are all on the same page.
For now, I will encourage others who have a heart to follow Yehova, even if they have a different idea than me.
Please note, this does not include “rejecting the ways of the Father” or ignoring what Yeshua says in direct quotes.  I am not defending the idea of everybody believing and living out whatever doctrine they make up…

If the devil is in the details, then we should not be arguing and treating each other badly over the details, especially if we don’t truly know for sure…
Now, I encourage everyone to go and play nice with the other kids.

Do your best.
Study.
Pray.
Have faith that this will happen [because it will!!!!]
Isaiah 2:3
Then many peoples will go and say:
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of Yehova,
    to the House of the Elohim of Jacob!
Then He will teach us His ways,
    and we will walk in His paths.”
For Torah will go forth from Zion
    and the word of Yehova from Jerusalem.

We don’t have to figure this all out right now, and we certainly don’t have to argue about it. We are promised the truth will flow to us one day.
Be patient.
Until then, do your best, don’t twist the scriptures on purpose, and follow Yehova with your whole heart, and encourage others to do the same.

Were the children of Israel saved by creating a golden calf and calling it Yehova?
No. Not even a little bit.
Was Yehova pleased with their efforts to worship Him in this way?
No. Not even a little bit.
In fact, Yehova decided to destroy them all because of it.

Exodus 32:7-10
7 And Yehova said to Moses, “Go, get down! For your people whom you brought out of the land of Egypt have corrupted themselves. 8 They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them. They have made themselves a molded calf, and worshiped it and sacrificed to it, and said, ‘This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!’ ” 9 And Yehova said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and indeed it is a stiff-necked people! 10 Now therefore, let Me alone, that My wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them. And I will make of you a great nation.”

Many churches teach that Aaron created a false god, a golden calf, and worshipped it instead of worshipping Yehova.  The details of the story tell us this is not the case.  Yes, they created a golden calf, but they did so in order to worship Yehova with it.  This is a very big difference, showing their intentions were “good”.
How did Yehova view their “good” intentions?

1. Yehova (God) said they have corrupted themselves.
2. Yehova (God) said they have turned aside from the way He commanded them.
3. Yehova (God) acknowledges they created a golden calf and referred to it as Himself.
4. Yehova (God) calls them a stiff-necked (stubborn and rebellious) people.
5. Yehova (God) planned to consume (destroy) them, and start over, making a great nation of Moses.

We can easily see this is a BIG DEAL to Yehova.  This is no simple matter to shrug off.
If it is a big deal to Him, then it has to be a big deal to us.

How does this ancient story apply to people today?
Consider this:
Will people be saved today by believing in and worshipping a false Jesus, one who did away with the law?  Just like a golden calf?  Different, but referred to with the same holy name?
Mainstream Christianity teaches that the Old Testament Law is obsolete and done away with, and that trying to follow it is a burden and a curse.
What does Messiah say about it?

Matthew 5:17-18
17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. 

Messiah says He did not come to destroy (do away with, make obsolete) the Law, or what the Prophets taught, which is to follow the Law.
Just to clarify, Messiah goes on to say that until heaven and earth pass away, not a single pen stroke of the Law will change.
Could I be mistaken here?
Could my thoughts be askew, considering the entire Christian world thinks the opposite, that the Law is no longer applicable?
Let’s look at more direct quotes of Messiah to find out.

John 14:15
“If you love Me, keep My commandments.”What does it mean to love Yeshua Messiah (Jesus)?
According to Him, keeping the commandments are how we love Him.
This idea must be important to Him, because He repeats it just a few verses later:John 14:21
“He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me.”
And again…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.”

This is quite obvious.  Messiah wants us to show our love for Him by what exactly???
-Keep His commands.
-Keep His commands.
-Keep His commands.
Three times He repeats Himself.

Mainstream Christianity tells us we must “believe in Him” and that we don’t, or even can’t, do anything beyond belief and faith.
Who will you believe?
Messiah?
Or your pastor?

Do we get any clarification on this idea in the scriptures.
Absolutely, countless times.
Too many to count, but here are just a few:
James 2:14, 17
¹⁴ What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?
¹⁷ Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
James believes we must do something. We must perform works, otherwise we have no faith.  You church even urges people to do works, but they don’t call it “works”.
Volunteer to teach Sunday School.
Volunteer in the nursery.
Volunteer as a greeter.
Volunteer to clean and maintain the building.
Volunteer to drive the church bus, or give rides to the elderly.
Volunteer to donate to the food pantry.
Volunteer to do homeless outreach.
Volunteer to serve on the church board.
Volunteer to serve in the church cafe’
Donate a tenth of your income to the church.
Churches expect their congregations to do much, but don’t ever call it works!!

James 1:22-25
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

Does James tell us to just believe and have faith?
Nope.
He tells us to be doers of the word.
He said to only be hearers of the word is deceiving ourselves.
He tells us that the law is perfect and we obtain liberty through it.
We are told the same thing in Psalms 19:7-11
The law of Yehova (God) is perfect, converting the soul;
The testimony of Yehova is sure, making wise the simple;
8 The statutes of Yehova are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of Yehova is pure, enlightening the eyes;
9 The fear of Yehova is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of Yehova are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them Your servant is warned,
And in keeping them there is great reward.

What details are we told here in this bit of Psalms?
The Law, the testimony, the statutes, the commandments are:
–perfect
–able to convert our souls from death to eternal
–able to make us wise
–are right
–allowing us to rejoice
–are pure
–able to enlighten us
–they are forever
–they are true and righteous. 
–we should desire them more than gold
–they will warn us (towards safety) and the reward is great if we keep them.

Does this sound like the message we get from mainstream Christianity?
No, not at all.
We are told the law, the commands, the statutes are a burden and a curse and that we are not to do them.
That is not what the scriptures say.  Why do our churches teach this?
Are we warned of this?
Yes, we are warned, point blank:
Jeremiah 16:19-20
19 O Yehova, 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 that one day, our entire religious system will get everything wrong.
We are told that their false doctrine is worthless and unprofitable, and will result in “made up gods” who are not gods.
Well, guess what?
We are living in this “one day”.
How do I know this?
Simply by comparing the words of Yehova, the words of the Prophets, and the words of Yeshua Messiah (Jesus) to the teachings of our churches. They are not one and the same.

Should we take this warning seriously?
Can a made up god who is not a god save you?
Nope.
Only the true living God can save us and grant us eternal life.
Do you see?
This is a big deal.

Still skeptical?
Let’s look at more direct quotes of Messiah (Jesus):
Matthew 7:21-23
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

Messiah says only those who do the will of the Father will enter into heaven.
Where do we find the will of the Father?
He wrote it down for us in the Old Testament, the Law.
He gave us His instructions for living, and He expects us to follow His instructions.

Can we be sure of this idea?
Continue on to verse 23.
Messiah says He will reject and send away those who do lawlessness.
This is a big deal!
Which do you want to hear from Yeshua Messiah, the Son of the living God?
“Well done, good and faithful servant”
or
“I never knew you, depart from Me.”?

Surely this idea is completely wrong.
There is no way all of mainstream Christianity has taught us a path to destruction for countless centuries!!

Messiah said this:
Revelation 22:14-15 about who is in the Kingdom and who is not in the 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. 15 But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.

Who is in?
1. Those who keep the commandments, the Law.

Who is out?
1. Dogs and sorcerers
2. The sexually immoral
3. Murderers
4. Idolaters
5. Whoever loves and practices a lie (see Jeremiah 16:19-20 again to identify these lies)

What else does Messiah say?
When the rich young ruler asked Him how to obtain eternal life, how does Messiah respond? Believe and have faith, right?  Nope…
Matthew 19:16-17
16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”
17 So He said to him,  “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, Yehova. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

Seriously, Messiah said that?
Yes, He did.

What else did Messiah say about such things?
Luke 16:27-31
27 “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ 29 Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ ”

Messiah (Jesus) tells us that to avoid torment, we must hear what Moses and the Prophets taught. What did they teach?
They taught the law, which Yehova says brings life and blessing.
Messiah goes on to say that the living who reject Moses and the Prophets will not listen to one raised from the dead either.
With that in mind, consider this:
Yeshua Messiah (Jesus) is One raised from the dead.
If you reject Moses and the Prophets (The Law) are you also rejecting the things that Messiah has told us?

Are the direct quotes of Messiah I’m sharing striking a nerve?
Do you know these things that He said?
Are you convinced by One raised from the dead, or do you reject Him and His words?
Do you favor what your church teaches, or do you favor what your Messiah has instructed?
Do you know this quote of His?
John 10:27-28
27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.
Do you know His voice? Or do you know what your church has [incorrectly] taught about Him?
Are you His sheep?
If you do not know His voice, then you are not His sheep.

Do you know this quote of Messiah?
Luke 6:46
“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?”

Remember Matthew 7:21-23?
People who call Him “Lord, Lord” but do not do what He says are rejected by Him due to their lawlessness.
Messiah does not know them.
What does He say about His sheep?
John 10:14
“I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.”
If you reject the Law and are ‘workers of lawlessness’ then you do not know His voice, you are not His sheep, and He does not know you.

These are not my ideas.  This is simply what the scriptures tell us.  This is simply what Messiah Himself tells us.
Are we given any other warnings on this matter.
Yes, too many to count.
Here is a good one:
1John 2:3-6
3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

What do we see here?
1. Anyone who says they know Messiah and does not keep the commandments is a liar.
2. The truth is not in him.
3. But those who keep His word, the love of God is perfected in him.
4. We are to walk (act like, live like, do the things He did) just as He walked.

Let’s take a look at what the love of God is:
1John 5:3
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.

Ok, pop quiz:
What is the love of God?
1. That we keep His commandments.
2. Refer to John 14:15, John 14:21, and John 15:10 to again review Jesus saying the same thing.

Not only is this the love of Yehova, but we are also told the commandments are not burdensome. But churches teach that the Law is a burden and a curse, and that it is too hard for us.
The same people who tell us the Law is too hard and we are unable to do it also like to quote this:
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through ^[f]Christ who strengthens me.
So which is it?
I can do all things?  Or I can’t do the Law, it is too hard?

Who will you believe?
Pop quiz:
1. I will believe my church, my pastor
2. I will believe Yehova (God), I will believe Yeshua Messiah (Jesus), I will believe the scriptures.

What is your answer?
If you chose answer #1, then please review the purpose of mankind:
Ecclesiastes 12:13
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:
Fear God and keep His commandments,
For this is man’s all.

If you chose answer #1, let’s review who the saints are (the elect, the saved):
Revelation 14:12
12 Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

If you chose answer #1, let’s review who is the remnant of the church:
Revelation 12:17
And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Do you see a theme here?
Do you believe these scriptures?
Or will you reject these scriptures in favor of what your pastor teaches?

Let’s circle back to the Golden Calf that enraged Yehova (God).
Will people today who follow a fake Jesus who did away with the Law be saved?
Will God be pleased with their form of worship?
Nope, they will be destroyed for it. [Depart from Me, I never knew you, you workers of lawlessness].

Here is the mercy and grace, though…
In the golden calf incident, Moses interceded for the people. He prayed for them, and Yehova relented.
There were still consequences, though. About 3000 fell that day by the sword of the Levites.
Eventually, all of them fell in the wilderness, not seeing the promise land, save two.
Joshua and Caleb entered because they followed Yehova wholly and completely.
The others ALL died in the wilderness because they continued with their grumbling, complaining, rebelling against Yehova, and living without faith in Him and His promises.

Numbers 14:26-38
²⁶ And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, ²⁷ “How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who complain against Me? I have heard the complaints which the children of Israel make against Me. ²⁸ Say to them, ‘As I live,’ says the Lord, ‘just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will do to you: ²⁹ The carcasses of you who have complained against Me shall fall in this wilderness, all of you who were numbered, according to your entire number, from twenty years old and above. ³⁰ Except for Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun, you shall by no means enter the land which I swore I would make you dwell in. ³¹ But your little ones, whom you said would be victims, I will bring in, and they shall know the land which you have despised. ³² But as for you, your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness. ³³ And your sons shall be shepherds in the wilderness forty years, and bear the brunt of your infidelity, until your carcasses are consumed in the wilderness. ³⁴ According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, forty days, for each day you shall bear your guilt one year, namely forty years, and you shall know My rejection. ³⁵ I the Lord have spoken this. I will surely do so to all this evil congregation who are gathered together against Me. In this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.’ ”
³⁶ Now the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned and made all the congregation complain against him by bringing a bad report of the land, ³⁷ those very men who brought the evil report about the land, died by the plague before the Lord. ³⁸ But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive, of the men who went to spy out the land.

Today, we need to follow the example of Moses. We need to intercede and pray for those who are lost, but think they are saved — those who love and practice a lie — as we were warned by Jeremiah so long ago. May Yehovah’s mercy and grace be extended to them as well, and may they repent of their ways before they “fall in the wilderness”.

Yes, I know that what I’m saying in this article goes against centuries of teaching.
What I am showing you goes against what hundreds of millions of people have believed throughout time. This is a hard pill to swallow.
But whom will you believe and follow?
The direct quotes of Messiah and the scriptures?
Or do you follow the teachings of men?