Why The Church Ignores All of Ephesians 2

How many times have you heard Pastors and/or Bible Teachers quote Ephesians 2:8?  Many times, I would imagine. Here is Ephesians 2:8-9, for reference:

Eph. 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, (9) not a result of works, so that no one may boast.  (ESV)

Much is made of the fact that your saving grace in Messiah is freely gifted to you, and once accepted, you have "Salvation".  This is true, btw.  No question about it.  It is a required belief in Christianity, imho.

However, what's supposed to happen after accepting this free gift?  In most sermons this is never mentioned, at least the ones I've heard.  Let's discuss it.

(ESV) Ephesians Chapter 2:

Eph. 2:1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins (2) in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience - (3) among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. (4) But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, (5) even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ - by grace you have been saved - (6) and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, (7) so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (8) For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, (9) not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (10) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

(verse 10 is emboldened by me for emphasis)

(11) Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands (12) remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. (13) But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (14) For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility (15) by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, (16) and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.

(verses 14-16 are emboldened by me for emphasis)

(17) And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. (18) For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. (19) So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, (20) built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, (21) in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. (22) In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

(verses 19-22 are emboldened by me for emphasis)

OK!  Let's go back to the beginning and begin our discussion.

Before Ch. 2 is Ch. 1, of course.  Ch. 1 emphasizes Messiah's authority and dominion over all of us in the assembly (ekklesia, Commonwealth of Israel, church).  The subject then switches to the individual member of the assembly.

We have already established the truth of our free gift of Salvation.  Salvation, however, is the beginning of the race, as Sha'ul (Paul) suggests in 2 Timothy 4 and 1 Corinthians 9.  Indeed, running a race is used throughout the Bible describing our life in living for God (https://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/bible-verses-about-running/).  Verse 10 tells us what our free gift of Salvation sets us up for; that we should walk in the good works that God has prepared beforehand!

Whoa!  Wait a minute!  You mean we have accepted the free gift of Salvation without works, so we may not boast, only to walk a way of life (the race) of good works?  Yes!  That's right!

The question now becomes; what are these good works that God has prepared beforehand?  Remember, the New Testament did not exist when these words were written, only the TANAKH (Old Testament).  The only works described in the TANAKH that God himself has prepared are the instructions found in Torah, the first five books of the Bible.  Your acceptance of the free gift of Salvation establishes that you will now try your best to walk (live your life) the way the instructions in Torah tells us.

In the very next paragraph the reason for this is established.  The reason is to bring both the uncircumcised and the circumcised together under one body, one assembly, by abolishing the man made commandments of ordinances.  This word, "ordinances" is the word dogma in GREEK.  Dogma is defined as; civil, ceremonial, or ecclesiastical decrees; man made rules, man made doctrine that govern a spiritual body such as a church or synagogue.

You see, man cannot establish doctrine.  We are fallen beings.  Only God can provide guidance.  It has been given to us:

Proverbs 4:2 For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.  (KJV)

Neither Sha'ul or Yeshua ever spoke against the instructions in Torah.  Instead they spoke against the man made religious rulings of the Rabbi's.  Those rulings, those man made ordinances, have been with us always.  When a Rabbi tells you to wear a kippa or not to heat up your previously prepared food on Shabbat, or not to turn on your house lights on Shabbat; or a Pastor tells you to worship on Sunday, or tells you once you have received the free gift of Salvation, all of your continuing sins are automatically forgiven (including the ones where you know better): these are man made laws!  We are to ignore them!

Folks, the Bible is very simple.  Do your best to follow the Almighty's instructions, not man's.  As Ephesians 2 states, Yeshua is the head of the Household of God, not man.  We are to follow His commandments, His instructions in Torah.

Is it any wonder the church doesn't wish to speak of this?  In fact, they will tell you these ordinances that have been abolished are the instructions in Torah, when clearly the text defines them as man made ecclesiastical rulings!

Can Yeshua be the Messiah if He abolishes Yehovah's perfect law?  No, it makes no sense whatsoever, and by saying He does, it blasphemes Yeshua's character and turns Him into someone working against the Father!

Why should we walk in this path of instruction (Torah)?  Does it do anything for our Salvation?  No!  Of course not!  What it does, however, is give us a guide to follow as we live a holy (separate) life, at liberty from the bondage of man made rules and the vain philosophies of this fallen world.

John 14:15  “If you love me, you will keep my commandments."  (ESV)

1 John 2  (1) My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. (2) He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. (3) And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. (4) Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, (5) but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: (6) whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.  (ESV)

1 John 3:4  Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.  (KJV)

Psalm 119:142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.  (KJV)

Psalm 19:7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.   (KJV)

Hebrews 10  (26) For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, (27) But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. (28) He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: (29) Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?   (KJV)

The Observer

Life After Death Series - Final Entry

After searching through all Scripture, Old and New, it appears that none support the man-made and widely held belief that one goes to heaven or hell when one dies.  All leanings in such a direction come strictly from man and his denominational opinions, paganism, and commentary.

Early Church history confirms that it was men who began to alter the original teaching of the Blessed Resurrection at the time of Yeshua's return on the Day of the LORD.

A very nice summation of Scriptural teaching on this subject has been done by many.  My favorite is presented here and is from the Church of the Great God, written by Richard T. Ritenbaugh.  Why trust this particular man?  It is because he uses Scripture at every point to show what the biblical understanding is and not man's opinion.  You can read it yourself and see what it says.  If you still believe in going to heaven or hell at death after reading the Scripture yourself, that is up to you and is between you and Yeshua.

However, I cannot express enough how dangerous this man-made teaching can be - that one goes to heaven or hell at death.  It causes all sorts of chaos; people trying to speak to the dead, the belief that God is unjust because He punishes people before their judgement, the use of such teaching by Church Ministers to frighten and cajole people to accept false doctrine, teaching folks that some burn forever in sadistic punishment, using the threat of a burning hell to manipulate the people, etc.  I myself have experienced such threats, hatred, and condemnation simply because I have disagreed with a particular man-made doctrine.

Lets take a look at Mr. Ritenbaugh's summation:

Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. (NKJV)

We must briefly consider whether man has an immortal soul. Our understanding of the Scriptures compels us to maintain that he does not for several reasons:

Job recognized that man has a spirit (Job 32:8), which Paul shows in (I Corinthians 2:11) endows humanity with intellect. This spirit in man comes from God (Zechariah 12:1) and returns to Him when we die (Ecclesiastes 12:7; Acts 7:59). It records our experiences, character, and personality, which God stores until the resurrection of the dead. However, the Bible never describes this spirit as immortal or eternal; in fact, I Corinthians 2:6-16 explains that man needs yet another Spirit, God's, to be complete and discern godly things.

The Bible flatly asserts that all people die: "It is appointed for men to die once" (Hebrews 9:27). Ezekiel says clearly that souls die: "The soul who sins shall die" (Ezekiel 18:4, 20; see Romans 6:23). Jesus warns in Matthew 10:28 that God can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.

In death, life and consciousness are gone. "The dead know nothing," says Solomon in Ecclesiastes 9:5, and he later adds, "There is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going" (verse 10). In Psalm 146:4, the psalmist writes about a man's death, "His spirit departs, he returns to his earth; in that very day his plans perish" (see Genesis 3:19).

Scripture also confutes the idea that people go to heaven or hell after death. Peter says to the crowd on the day of Pentecost, "Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. . . . For David did not ascend into the heavens" (Acts 2:29, 34). Our Savior confirms this in John 3:13: "No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven." The biblical usage of Sheol and Hades simply means "the grave."

Men cannot have immortality unless God gives it to them. Paul writes, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23). In I Corinthians 15:53 he tells the saints, "This corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality." At the first resurrection God will give "eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality" (Romans 2:7). If we already had immortality, why should we put it on or seek it?

Only God has immortality. He is, Paul writes to Timothy, ". . . the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality" (I Timothy 6:15-16). John says of the Word, "In Him was life" (John 1:4), meaning as Creator of all things (verse 3), He had life inherent. Jesus affirms this in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." Men must go through Him to receive eternal life.

With such overwhelming proof, the doctrine of the immortality of the soul proves false. Man is not immortal, nor does he possess any "spark of God" unless God has given it to him through the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:11). A Christian's hope of life after death rests in the resurrection of the dead (I Corinthians 15:12-23). Conversely, the wicked only await eternal death as recompense for their evil lives, not eternal life in torment.

Here is a link to Mr. Ritenbaugh's study.  It has many other useful references.

The Observer

One of the Most Ignored Chapters in the New Testament

Titus Chapter 3

The book of Titus is a letter written by Sha'ul (Paul) to his spiritual brother, Titus, who is presently in Crete.  Because it is a letter, I've decided to get rid of the verse indicators because it reads so much better.  FYI, only Chapter 3 is spoken of in this blog entry.  It behooves one to read the entire short book, but Ch.3 is a vivid illustration of what we do with our free gift of Salvation once accepted.  If you have ever wondered; OK, I accept the free gift from Yeshua and have Salvation - now what?, then this is your answer.  It should be taken to heart by all believers!

Beginning at verse 1, ch. 3 of Titus with Paul advising his friend on what to tell the Cretans (ESV used):

Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.  

[Note:] Some in the Church say that being submissive to our "rulers and authorities" means to never disobey them, no matter what they say or do.  The totality of Scripture does not support this thinking.  We are to be submissive to our rulers in as much as they allow us to follow the instructions of God.  When they begin to deny God, we are no longer obligated to be submissive.  Just look at all the Prophets who were martyred throughout biblical history, Yeshua included, who went against the prevailing authority.  Also, please notice; we are to be ready "for every good work".  A study on the word, "work(s)", in the Bible, always points back to Torah.

... continuing:

For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.  But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

[Note:] ... "he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness,".  Following the instructions in Torah does not "save us", only Yeshua's mercy does.  This "saving" is spiritual, and later, at the blessed resurrection; literal.  This spiritual saving is done by the regenerative washing over us of the Holy Spirit.  This justifies us so we may become His heirs.  Does this mean works are no longer required?  Of course not!  God forbid!

... continuing:

The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.

[Note:]  Although we are saved and justified through Christ and the Holy Spirit, we should still devote ourselves to "good works".  These good works are the instructions given in Torah, which defines sin for us and warns us about not continuing sinning.  The Church, to it's detriment, ignores this admonition.

Final Instructions and Greetings:

When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there.  Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing.  And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.

All who are with me send greetings to you. Greet those who love us in the faith.
Grace be with you all.

The Observer

So Simple, Yet So Profound

Dennis Prager reminds us of who's in charge and why.  Without God, well ... we don't want to even entertain that notion.

The Observer

Where Is the Anguish?

Excerpts from David Wilkerson's "Anguish" sermon.

Does what's happening in the world today bother you?

Below added Jul 11,2021:

And, Just What Is Happening?

Our governments, militaries, and our businesses have ALL jumped on the money making bandwagon called C H I N A !  This is all about having a much larger customer base to drive the ultimate takeover and complete control of the world's population, regardless of country.  China is the new model; a model of centralized and authoritative "soft" tyranny - that is, soft for those who comply, harsh for those who don't.

The political left of the west envy China and their system, which lacks any legal constraint.  That's why, in the U.S., the Democrats (our Marxist political party), hates the U.S. Constitution so much, which is anchored in biblical principle.  Democrats want to be a "law unto themselves", a law which contradicts GOD's Law, as intimated by Sha'ul (Paul) in the New Testament.  They believe that by creating this world system of comfortable slaves it ensures a future without war, strife, and problems of any sort - because they, the Tyrants, will be in charge.  The Republicans in the U.S. (our "conservative" political party) want to be included in this New World Order of things and are complying while trying to appear to be fighting it.  This sort of thing is playing out in most all of our countries.

Money and power are two of the driving forces behind this tyranny, of course.  Many of the actors know they're doing Satan's work and agree with him.  The Antichrist power is on the rise and most people will go along with it, especially our leaders, because it's how they survive and retain power!  What is the best way to destroy love of God in people?  Promote LAWLESSNESS!  The American government is doing this and I'm sure many of you have noticed this in your country.

This also has been the mistake of the Church.  Man's authority and religion has replaced the One True God and His doctrine and guidance, the instructions on how to live our lives - Torah.  And Jesus?  The Church has turned Him into a Greco-Roman Che Guevara, throwing out His Jewishness along with the Torah!  They have also promoted lawlessness.

Like ancient Israel, most of the people will not listen to the Prophets, and so, we will incur His judgement.  History repeats itself and so do the prophecies in the Bible.  Stay close to the Father and Son.  Call on their names; Yehovah and Yeshua.

The Observer

Torah in the "New Testament" - 8

Matthew (Mattityahu) Ch.13

Chapter 13 of Matthew is sometimes called the "Parables Chapter" because of the six parables described within the text. What's nice about it is that the parables are explained by Yeshua Himself!

The Chapter 13 Parables are: The Parable of the Sower, The Parable of the Weeds, The Mustard Seed and the Leaven, The Parable of the Hidden Treasure, The Parable of the Pearl of Great Value, and The Parable of the Net.

Please read Chapter 13 carefully and thoughtfully.

Matt. 13:1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea.

Matt. 13:2  And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach.

Matt. 13:3  And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow.

Matt. 13:4  And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them.

Matt. 13:5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil,

Matt. 13:6 but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away.

Matt. 13:7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.

Matt. 13:8 Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

Matt. 13:9 He who has ears, let him hear.”

We wonder why some of the seed took root and flourished and some didn't.  Why is it that some of the seeds fell on a place where it could not flourish. Did those "seeds" do something wrong, or was it just a matter of bad luck?

You have to understand that the seeds are people, people who heard Yeshua's message but did not continue to thirst for the message.  And no, it wasn't bad luck or circumstance which caused them not to flourish.  The "drop" location of the seed indicate people who received the message of Yeshua gladly but had no roots and did not wish to continue to "grow".

Later on, in Matthew 25, Yeshua gives a statement related to this:

Matt. 25:29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. (and is also stated here in Chapter 13)

Is Yeshua saying that those who have something like wealth and prosperity will continue to flourish and continue to increase in wealth while the poor, who have nothing, will have everything taken from them? No! But, surprisingly some people believe that is exactly what Yeshua is saying.

Instead, Yeshua is speaking of the love of the truth and the increasing knowledge of the Father's character. If you love the truth of God's Word you will never get enough of learning about it! And, because you have such love, He will give you more knowledge, as you diligently study the scriptures. People who start out like the seeds described above and become lukewarm, not continuing their search for the truth will wither and die, and whatever knowledge they did have will be taken from them. Why? Because they had no love of the truth!

Of course, Yeshua explains this for His disciples.

Matt. 13:10 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?”

Matt 13:11 And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.

Matt. 13:12 For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

Matt. 13:13 This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.

Matt. 13:14 Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: “You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.”

Matt. 13:15 For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’

Matt. 13:16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.

Matt. 13:17 For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

Matt. 13:18 “Hear then the parable of the sower:

Matt. 13:19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path.

Matt. 13:20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy,

Matt. 13:21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.

Matt. 13:22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.

Matt. 13:23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

Referencing:

Isaiah 6:8 And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”

Isaiah 6:9 And he said, “Go, and say to this people: “‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’

Isaiah 6:10 Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”

Do you have friends or family who study the Bible?  Isn't it interesting that some people barely touch their Bible while others can't seem to leave it alone?  Put another way; some have such an appetite for Truth they can't stop searching for it - I call these people "firehose people", willing to drink from a firehose of Truth - while others have a small appetite for Truth, consuming a bit here and a little there, usually from other people's effort and not their own.  I personally have gone through both phases. Some folks eyes glaze over and they almost fall asleep when Truth is presented to them.  And, in between both extremes, you have people becoming distracted by the inevitable preoccupations of life, thereby losing interest in the Truth.

Chapter 13 is so rich with information I'll leave it here for this blog entry.  I'll pick it back up on the next entry.

Here's hoping all of you are happy and well!

Yehovah spoke to Moses, saying, 

"Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them, 

Yehovah bless you and keep you; 

May Yehovah make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; 

May Yehovah lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. 

"So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them."

The Observer

America Under Judgement

Some have asked me about events taking place in the U.S.A.; the rioting in Leftist cities, the woke campaign of many of our corporations and sports organizations, the so-called "racist" actions of white people and/or the police, etc.  All I will say is that most all of this sinful activity is coming from the political left in this country.

Does this mean the political right in America is pure as the driven snow?  No, of course not!  None of us in this world are pure.

Just please keep in mind; most Americans simply aren't involved in any of these current events and the news cycle is being artificially driven to present a false narrative, a narrative owned by the Fascist left.

Still ...  this song (recommended by the Tigress) is quite appropriate at this moment in time:

The Observer

God vs. Man

Continuing for a moment down this "rabbit hole" of man's religion verses biblical belief in the One True God, one great example has come to mind.

While the Roman Catholic Church is an obvious choice with it's Christianized form of Paganism, this is not what I'm speaking of.  Nor am I referring to the RCC's harlot daughters who make up all those Protestant denominations present in the world!

What about Judaism?  It has it's man-made "Oral Law" culminating in the sometimes evil writings of the Talmud.  No ...

Instead, I'm thinking of that most egregious form of Man vs. God; Islam.  If there ever was a man-made religion lacking a basis in Yehovah's Word, Islam is it.

Here is Tom Bradford of "Torah Class" speaking on this subject:

And, Part 2:

The Observer

Torah in the "New Testament" - 7

I'm going to do something a little different for this entry because of some questions that came up.  We'll get back to Matthew a little later.

In the tradition of Socrates, I'll answer questions by asking questions.  These kind of questions may have come to your mind as well. So, here's a few rhetorical ones for you:

... Did Yehovah create Judaism?  ... Did Yeshua create Christianity?  Are all those 40,000 plus Christian denominations and sects teaching what Yeshua said?  ... Are all the Jewish denominations and sects teaching what Yehovah said?  Are Yehovah and Yeshua separate "Gods" who teach different "religions"?  Does the TANAKH (Old Testament) describe a different "God" than the B'rit Hadashah (New Testament)?

The direct answer to all of these questions is an emphatic NO!  Man is the creator of "Christianity".  Man is the creator of "Judaism".  Man is the creator of all those differing slants on biblical truth within Christianity and Judaism.  Man has separated the Covenant writings and is the one who added Chapter and verse.  Man, in other words, is the creator of "Religion"!  Yehovah and Yeshua are the same - in every way.

One must understand, the Truth within the Holy Bible is ultimately taught to us by discernment through the Holy Spirit.  Do we then still need Pastors, Preachers, Rabbis, Teachers, Elders, etc?  Yes, we do!  We need them because no one man has in his mind, body, and spirit all the Truths of God.  In fact, throughout our history only one has claimed that distinction - Yeshua ha Mashiach.  So, over our lifetimes we do our best to learn these Truths by bouncing ideas and doctrines off of each other, and by doing so, some men desire to glom onto a set of ideas and claim them as their own, thereby creating all manner of confusion by insisting only they have the real "Truth".  This is simple human nature.  Compound that human desire of control with what has happened to scrolls, manuscripts, and writings throughout history and we end up with competing groups of zealous fanatics!  Indeed, men have attempted to destroy biblical Truth by altering and influencing the Word over millennia.  What is astounding and miraculous is that biblical Truth still finds it's way to the surface!

Is it any wonder that some of us shy away from being labelled?  We don't want to be known as a Baptist, or Catholic, or Reform Jew, or Orthodox whatever.  I myself don't really like the label of Hebrew Roots or Hebrew Heritage, but we have to have some way of referring to each other as it relates to our basic beliefs.  Again, this is simple human nature.  When people ask me what denomination I am I simply tell them I'm a believer in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and Yeshua ha Mashiach (Jesus the Messiah).  From that point on the discussion becomes a dialogue about what the Bible says and all the details therein, not which men I follow.

This basic Truth - that we are to follow God, not man's religion - is very dangerous to those who desire control.  The Prophets have been murdered throughout history because they espoused this simple Truth.  Yeshua said; 

John 15:18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’ 26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.  (ESV)

Interesting isn't it, that by hearing the Truth one's sin becomes very obvious and guilt becomes apparent?  This is what people don't like and why they hate you.  Our utterance of the Truths of the One True God makes people who hate Him angry and they take it out on you!

Hopefully, you will now understand why some people exhibit such harsh vehemence against you just because of your beliefs.  This kind of interaction with our fellow man will increase as we get closer to His return.

Blessings to You All!

The Observer