by Rod Thomas | Sep 11, 2015 | Blog
Listen to What the Father Says
Part 5 of Parashah 47
The third aspect of Moshe’s direction to us as it relates to Yahovah preparing us to enter the Land of Promise (verse 5 of the 13th chapter of Deuteronomy—it is the 4th verse in the NAS, KJV DBY, NLT, ASV, YLT, ESV, NIV and NRS) was for us to “listen to what He says” (CJB). And as I read this, I wondered to myself, what does “listening to what the Father says” look like to us living in the 21st century?
This was somewhat puzzling to me as I recalled that day that was recorded in the 19th and 20th chapters of Exodus, where we stood at the base of Mount Sinai and witnessed and heard our Creator speak directly to us, His Torah and establish His covenant with us. This day was the precursor for the Day of Pentecost and Yom Teruah (aka The Day of Trumpets). This day was unlike any in history. This day the Creator of all that is revealed Himself to us as a nation; a people; His possession. But we fretted at the wonders and the sight of His majesty, power and might. It was recorded:
15 ¶ All the people experienced the thunder, the lightning, the sound of the shofar, and the mountain smoking. When the people saw it, they trembled. Standing at a distance, 16 they said to Moshe, “You, speak with us; and we will listen. But don’t let God speak with us, or we will die.”17 Moshe answered the people, “Don’t be afraid, because God has come only to test you and make you fear him, so that you won’t commit sins.”18 ¶ So the people stood at a distance, but Moshe approached the thick darkness where God was. (Exo 20:15-18 CJB)
Just a quick note here: you’ll often hear or see me reference instances in Israel’s ancient history in the first person–such as “when we stood at the foot of Mount Sinai.” I am not channeling any spirits from that time. I am not insane thinking that I am reincarnated from that time. I am simply putting into perspective the history of ancient Israel in relation to our heritage. Let me explain: Shaul wrote to the Roman assembly of believers: “But it is to you Gentiles, I am speaking: as I am a Shaliach to the Gentiles (i.e., a Hebrew sent to the Gentiles) I honor my ministry; if, perhaps, I provoke emulation in the children of my flesh and may revive some of them. For if the rejection of them was a reconciliation of the world, what will their conversion be but life from the dead? For, if the first-fruits are set apart, then the rest of the dough (it came from is) also: and if the root is set apart, then also the branches. And if some of the branches were plucked off; and you, an olive from the desert, were in-grafted in their place and have become an heir of the root and fatness of the olive-tree; do not boast over the branches. For if you boast, you do not sustain the root, but the root sustains you. And should you say “the branches were plucked off that I might be grafted into their place.” Very true. They were plucked off because they disbelieved; and you stand by faith. But do not be uplifted in your mind, but fear. For if Elohim spared not the natural branches, perhaps he will not spare you. Behold now the goodness and the severity of Elohim…” Rom. 11:13-22–AENT. Thus, when I refer to incidents that occurred to ancient Israel, I will often reference those events in the first person as I seek to put into perspective our new identity in Messiah and Israel. I’ve found that once I embraced our spiritual heritage, everything associated with the Faith became more real to me and I hope and trust that by you understanding this about me, my writings and recordings, you will gain a greater appreciation of who we truly are in Y’shua Messiah. And I will say with some caution so as to not offend those who might disagree with me: I truly believe that most of us who have come in to the Hebraic Roots of the Christian Faith are not just spiritual Israel, but possibly even of the lineage of physical Ephraim. This will be something I explore in future episodes of Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections. But for now, let’s continue with the topic at hand.
So we chose to have Father speak to us through Moshe as opposed to having Him speak to us directly. We gave up a most auspicious opportunity to hear directly from the Creator of the universe as to what it is He expects from us as His own treasured possession among all peoples of the earth; His kingdom of priests; His holy nation. (Reference Exodus 19:5-6) And then today, Father does not speak to us audibly as He did on that day at the foot of Mount Sinai; although some might take exception to that. I realize that Yah’s Spirit will at time speak to us directly as I believe He has spoken to my spirit on several occasions by His Ruach HaKodesh. I’m talking more about audibly speaking to us: like our spouses, children, bosses, friends, neighbors, etc., speak to us such that we hear them with the use of our ears and we can understand them. This is how we humans communicate with one another—one party speaks and the other party receives/hears/listens to the message, and if necessary, the receiving party responds. But in all honesty, Yahovah/Yahweh does not, with the exception of the rarest of occasions, speak to us in an audible fashion. So then we in the 21st century find ourselves in the same boat as we were in the Sinai Desert—requiring the Father to speak to us through His chosen vessels—be it His written word; His chosen teachers; via the move of His Spirit around and in us; or by our general observations of the world around us.
The problem I find with NOT hearing directly from Yahovah/Yahweh as He originally intended His communications to us to be heard, is the risk of Father’s Word being distorted or not reaching us accurately and precisely as He originally transmitted it. We see this evident in so many ways. Take for example our Bibles—we are learning more and more these days how various passages in our bibles have been tampered with by unnamed men who took it upon themselves, for whatever reason or personal or group agenda, to alter the original message. Despite the many disagreements to this by certain segments of the Christian community, it is an established fact that many passages in our bibles have been tampered with over the centuries. How do we know this: manuscript comparisons—Hebrew and Greek scholars comparing the thousands of existing manuscripts of the books of the bible have confirmed variations between those manuscripts. Certainly, one could question the validity of any of those manuscripts being used in the comparisons, but the scholar looks to the oldest existing manuscripts to see what was recorded and the oldest manuscripts will by default become the “standard,” so to speak, whereby the more recent manuscripts are judged. The scrolls found in the Qumran caves have proved to be of greatest value in setting the bar as it relates to determining what the original message was. Scholars have placed the age of the scrolls/manuscripts recovered from the Qumran caves to have been copied by the Essenes between 200 BCE and 68 CE. (Reference: http://www.centuryone.com/25dssfacts.html) Many of these Qumran manuscripts make up some of the oldest manuscripts in existence and as a result, these have become the standard by which many of the later manuscripts are judged.
Thus, we are faced with a dilemma as it relates to hearing from Father through the reading of His Word. If scrupulous men have taken upon themselves to tamper with God’s Word throughout the centuries, how do we know that we are hearing exactly what Father has intended for us to hear? Or is it important for us to hear or listen to Yahovah? Well, that question is easy to answer—indeed it is important for us to listen to the instructions of our Creator and more importantly, obey those instructions. Thus we have been commanded to “listen to what Father says.”
Michael Rood touches upon this issue in the introduction to his Chronological Gospels. (Please note: I realize that many who will hear this audioblog or read this blog may not agree with many of Mr. Rood’s teachings. I realize and accept that fact. However, I am a firm believer that Mr. Rood has taught and teaches today a great deal that is true. I reference that of Mr. Rood’s teachings that I have affirmed for myself to be of sound truth through my personal research and study. That which he teaches that is controversial and has limited biblical or extra-biblical support, I try to avoid making any substantive reference to in this or any of our postings.) According to Rood, “a fatal error has been introduced into an otherwise flawless mathematical system (speaking to the time frame that the feeding of the 5,000). In the 4th verse of John chapter six, eight words were inserted into later copies of the Greek text in order to artificially lengthen the ministry of Y’shua. It is the pinnacle of intrigue that these eight words were appended to the very section of Scripture that guaranteed that the forgery would eventually be exposed. And it was revealed by the one miraculous event recorded by all four Gospel authors: the feeding of the 5,000.“ Rood goes on to identify those inserted words as “And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.” (John 6:4) Apart from other sighted discrepancies which makes this sentence suspect of forgery, we in the Hebrew Roots of the Christian Faith should be able to identify a glaring problem with this sentence and that is the phrase, “…a feast of the Jews.” For we know that the annual holy days—the moedim—are Yahovah’s Feasts (also described as the Feasts of the Lord); so clearly it would be evident that Yochanan, the writer of this gospel record, a Jew, would not have used this phrase “a feast of the Jews” to describe one of the annual feast days that he no doubt would have been very familiar with. The other glaring problem with this passage is that bread was served to the 5,000, and if it was indeed Passover–more precisely the week-long Feast of Unleavened Bread, then serving the bread would have been in direct violation of Torah as the time of Passover required us to eat “unleavened bread.” As an investigator by career choice and trade, these issues surrounding this passage of John, are quite suspect to me as it should be to any who are familiar with the Hebraic Roots of our Faith. It would clearly seem to me that someone, other than the Apostle Yochanan (aka John), wrote or appended this Johannine passage.
The research Rood conducted in putting together The Chronological Gospels, especially as it relates to this crucial event—the feeding of the 5,000–led to him coming across manuscripts that predated the manuscripts that most of our English bibles are based upon. Those earlier texts DID NOT have the phrase or sentence, “And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.” This is prima fascie that forgers have taken hold of our bibles and for whatever reason, altered the original writings.
Now, as insignificant as this specific example of the bible being altered in places might seem to most self-professing Christians throughout the world, it should be of tremendous importance to us in the Hebrew Roots of the Faith. This example is a clear indicator that the brother of our Master, who penned the epistle of Jude, was right in his assessment that “…certain men [have] crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.” (Jude 1:4 NAS) For we’ve established without any uncertainty, the absolute importance of hearing or listening to what Father has to say to us. For any distortion or error in Father’s Word could lead many of us astray, as so many in churchianity find themselves today.
Now, I don’t believe all is lost, despite what the naysayers will throw at us regarding the perceived unreliability of the biblical text. Father has, throughout the centuries, preserved His Word in many sundry ways. He has sent us His anointed teachers and His Spirit to ensure that His Word is delivered in as pristine a state as we, the receivers of the Word, are willing to receive. I truly believe Father is committed to our understanding what it is He has for us to know about Him and His expectations for us as His people. Oh, the Word of Yah is so wonderful, despite the attacks it has suffered at the hands of men who have personal and organizational agendas. When we fall in love with the Creator of the universe and we hunger and thirst after Him and His righteousness, and seek to know and please Him, nothing will prevent us from hearing His voice accurately.
Father spoke to the Prophet Isaiah in this regard and what Isaiah recorded—in my humble opinion–is one of the most profound and assuring verses to be found in the whole of Scripture in regards to the Word of Yahovah reaching its intended audience unsullied:
CJB Isaiah 55:1 ¶ “All you who are thirsty, come to the water! You without money, come, buy, and eat! Yes, come! Buy wine and milk without money – it’s free! 2 Why spend money for what isn’t food, your wages for what doesn’t satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and you will eat well, you will enjoy the fat of the land. 3 Open your ears, and come to me; listen well, and you will live – I will make an everlasting covenant with you, the grace I assured David. 4 I have given him as a witness to the peoples, a leader and lawgiver for the peoples. 5 You will summon a nation you do not know, and a nation that doesn’t know you will run to you, for the sake of ADONAI your God, the Holy One of Isra’el, who will glorify you.” 6 Seek ADONAI while he is available, call on him while he is still nearby. 7 Let the wicked person abandon his way and the evil person his thoughts; let him return to ADONAI, and he will have mercy on him; let him return to our God, for he will freely forgive. 8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways,” says ADONAI. 9 “As high as the sky is above the earth are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 For just as rain and snow fall from the sky and do not return there, but water the earth, causing it to bud and produce, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater; 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth – it will not return to me unfulfilled; but it will accomplish what I intend, and cause to succeed what I sent it to do.” (Isa 55:1-11 CJB)
When we gave up that opportunity to hear directly from Yah on that fateful day at the foot of the mountain, from that point on Father spoke to us through His chosen vessels—first Moshe; then Joshua; then His appointed Judges; then His prophets; the righteous Kings of Israel (as well as the evil kings of Israel who rejected Yahovah’s Torah and led us away from Father, the actions of which resulted in our punishment and destruction as a nation); then Y’shua and His chosen Apostles. After Master left us, He sent us His Ruach HaKodesh (aka the Holy Spirit). The Ruach Kodesh also reveals and delivers Yahovah’s word to us. After the Apostles left us, we were left with the following means by which we today can accurately hear/can listen to what the Father says:
- His recorded Word or as popularly known, the Bible–utilizing consistent, sound bible study practices and referencing a wide range of bible resources that Father in his providence and infinite wisdom has made available to us
- His Ruach HaKodesh–His Holy Spirit–His voice that speaks to our hearts, minds and spirit
- His anointed teachers–those who teach the truth and who do not compromise the Word for personal or denominational agendas
- Our personal and collective life experiences
- The people and situations that we come into contact with on a frequent and infrequent basis
These mediums by which the Father speaks to us are readily accessible to most of us in one form or another. However, and this is a huge problem that we face in our Faith as well as in all of Christianity, we tragically fail to optimize the opportunities to hear from Father. What I mean by this is that many of us fail to even pick up and study our bibles at any appreciable frequency. Many of us would prefer to have someone tell us what “thus sayeth the Lord.” This is one of the biggest reasons why Christianity is in the terrible rut it’s currently in. For centuries, many of us have sat under the teachings and doctrines and rules and laws of churches and denominations. Instead of hearing what Father has to say to us, we’ve given ourselves over to hearing what the church or a denomination has to say to us. By our not consulting and eating up our bibles each and every day, we leave ourselves open to missing vital information that we need to properly function as ambassadors of the Most High to this evil and perverted world. I discuss this very issue in my multi-episodic series entitled “Understanding the Bible” and I would humbly encourage you to take the time and listen to or read those postings. In those postings I discuss the tragedy of biblical illiteracy in the Hebraic Roots and Christian Faiths. The Bible, for all intents and purposes, is the primary means whereby Father speaks to us. Most of us are acutely aware of this. Being self-professing children of the Most High, we require constant instruction in order to live and fulfill the Creator’s will for us in this world. Yet our laziness and fear of reading and studying the bible prevents us from properly functioning as children of the Most High. The only way to fix this is to resist the enemy’s efforts that prevent us from delving into the riches of our bibles each and every day.
Which brings me to the next problem: the cares of life. The cares of life get in the way of our listening to and hearing from Yahovah/Yahweh. When we were in the Sinai desert under the leadership of Moshe, we didn’t have anything to distract us or take our attention away from hearing what Father had to say to us. The only reason we failed to obey what Father instructed us to do was because of our inclination as human beings to resist and even oppose the ways of our Creator. Shaul wrote this to the Roman assembly:
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:1
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.1
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.1
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. (Rom 8:1-8 KJV)
Today, with all the things constantly ongoing in our lives: careers, families, bills, current events, television and the internet, we are faced with rationing out time in a cramped life for Yahovah. This should never be the case for any of us. But for the vast majority of us, it sadly is. The cares of life drown out the quiet, small voice of the Ruach (Spirit) as it attempts to get our attention and communicate with us the will and commandments and love of the Father. How many of us go through an average, busy, hectic day, and at the end of that day, realize that we made no time for the Father. We find that we did not receive a Word from Father for that day. Instead, we received word(s) from children, husband/wives, bosses, co-workers, the television, the radio; everyone and anything but Father. This is the absolute best scenario for the enemy to have and it serves their purposes and goals to a “t.” Listening to Yahovah takes some work. It’s not something that we naturally do–it’s a foreign-alien practice to us as humans. We cannot entirely rely upon preachers, teachers or church-leaders to deliver the spiritual goods to us, although Father certainly speaks to us through his anointed teachers. But beyond that the teachers and preachers, we must listen and hear from Yahovah through fervent, heart-felt, meditative prayer. We must listen/hear from Yahovah through the reading of Yah’s Word and allowing the Ruach to reveal His truths to us. We must listen/hear Yah by quietly and observantly taking the time to appreciate Father’s creation. I realize this may seem completely unconventional to most, but when we take the time to experience and appreciate Yahovah’s creation, the Ruach uses those rare moments to reveal many things about the Creator of the Universe to us and that is another opportunity to listen and hear Father.
Sometimes it comes down to simply turning off the electronics, getting in to our closets, putting our bibles on the desk in front of us, clearing our minds of all the stuff that it has been filled with the day prior, and availing ourselves to the infilling, leading and revelation of the Ruach Kodesh. We make room for everything else in our lives, but we tend to place Yahovah at the bottom of each day’s to-do and personal appointment lists. If we find that we’ve run out of time, we may give Father an obligatory nod of the our spirit and promise to do better the next day and move on with our lives. Father demands more from us. He demands to be first in our lives. He purchased us with the blood of His Son and has branded us with His Ruach Ha Kodesh. ( 19 Or don’t you know that your body is a temple for the Ruach HaKodesh who lives inside you, whom you received from God? The fact is, you don’t belong to yourselves; 20 for you were bought at a price. So use your bodies to glorify God. (1Co 6:19-20 CJB) Thus we are to become and exist in this world as His loyal servants. Not as “robots” or some form of automatons, but exercising the unique gifts and character in the service of His Kingdom. Once we realize what the “real deal” is, we can hear and listen to Yahovah. And when those impediments to hearing and listening to Yahovah have been done away with, we can live that life abundant that Master provides. Master said,
“ 7 ¶ Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (Joh 10:7-10 KJV)
Lastly, we can learn and hear from Yahovah through a recall of our individual life experiences, as well as through the life experiences of others whom we may come into contact with. How many times have we come into contact with someone and hear their testimony and have been profoundly affected by their testimony or their story? How many times have we, conversely, looked back and have seen the path we’ve taken and have learned something so profound that it literally changes our lives and the direction of our walk with Messiah right then and there? It’s happened to me on a number of occasions. That which profoundly affects and changes our lives may seem to others as insignificant. But that seeming insignificant thing can be used by the Spirit (Ruach Kodesh) to teach us something about Father; about ourselves; and about the world around us, through that simple reflection. We often tend to devalue our own experiences and interactions with others. However, it’s these varied and seeming insignificant (as well as the significant) life-experiences that have played such a great role in my spiritual development—looking back over an experience or interaction, and seeing something there of a critical spiritual nature, and then internalizing and acting upon that revelation. These times offer opportunities for Yahovah to communicate to us His will for our lives and His commandments of us as His chosen ones.
Listening to and hearing from Yahovah comes to us by many obvious and not-so obvious means. It’s not from just reading our bibles, although the greatest messages from Father come directly from our study and reading of the bible. But Yah’s Word comes to us from virtually every aspect of our lives; some obvious and some not so obvious. Thus, we must shut up, crank up our hearing (be it physically or spiritually), and just avail ourselves to hear what Father has to say to us. We don’t have Father speaking His Word directly in to our ears as He did on that fateful day at the foot of the mountain. We forfeited that opportunity. We don’t have Moshe, the prophets or the apostles to provide us direct instruction from Father. But what we do have is the written Word, the Ruach Kodesh, Yahovah’s anointed teachers and the many life-experiences that provide us endless opportunities to hear from our Creator. That is our Torah Challenge for today fellow saints-in-training: to listen to and hear from Yahovah by whatever means He chooses to deliver His Word to us. How we go about listening to and receiving that Word is entirely up to us as individuals. But we better damn well figure out and get it done—sooner than later.
Shalom and may you walk in the power and might of His Ruach Kodesh. Sincerest blessings to you all.
by Rod Thomas | Sep 10, 2015 | Blog
By Grace are You Saved
Part 2 of the series: Grace and the Law
In part one (1) of this series entitle Grace and the Law, we critically looked at some of the key bible passages that our cousins in fundamental and charismatic churchianity (or Christianity as popularly referenced) have used over the centuries to support their claim that Torah was done away with and replaced by the hijacked (my wording) doctrine of grace. Allow me to conduct a brief review of those controversial passages so that we all have a central place to begin our quest for a sound, biblically-based response to our Faith’s most staunch critics.
Restating the problem simply, traditional and charismatic Christianity contends that Torah has been done away with by the work of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Furthermore, our cousins in the Christian religion contend that any attempt or even thought of adhering to the Laws or Commandments of God (or as we prefer to call these collectively, Torah) are tantamount to a transgression of God’s grace through faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ; that we are placing our eternal hope in works that could never pay the price of our redemption. Finally, the Jew showed us that it is impossible to keep Torah, thus any effort to keep Torah will be met with utter failure and any claim of faith in Jesus Christ, a total mockery. According to the Christian, Jesus kept Torah perfectly during His life and ministry here on earth. Therefore, we who would claim Jesus as our Lord and Saviour no longer are required to keep Torah. In other words, everything has been taken care of by the Creator or Jesus Christ—in other words, don’t worry, be happy—occupy until Jesus returns and raptures us from this earth and takes us to heaven where we’ll reign with Him for all eternity.
Conversely, we in the Hebraic Roots/Messianic Believers in Y’shua Messiah/Netzari communities contend that we are compelled by our love for the Father and in strict obedience to our Lord and Master, Y’shua HaMashiyach, to be Torah honoring, observant and obedient. We see our salvation as a free gift from Yahovah, the God of Avraham, Yitz’chak and Ya’akov. Furthermore, we contend that our freedom from sin and the resulting eternal life came to those of us who would claim Y’shua HaMashiyach as our Messiah, as a result of His atoning death on the execution stake on Calvary more than 2,000-years ago. It is our love for our Creator and our loyalty to our Master Y’shua HaMashiyach that we, without reservation, without the slightest hesitation, obey the Father’s Torah and adhere to His way of life for mankind. Our salvation is tied to Torah by way of our qualification for that free gift of salvation. We are able, contrary to popular Christian belief and teachings, that one may live Torah perfectly as a result of the infilling of the Ruach Kodesh (aka the Holy Spirit) and it is this divine arrangement that the Christian wrongly interprets as “grace.” Despite the many seeming anti-Torah passages in the Brit HaDashah (aka the New Testament), primarily from the pen of Rav Shaul (aka the Apostle Paul), we of the true Faith once delivered to the first-century saints by Y’shua HaMashiyach realize the truth of what Shaul was trying to get across to the recipients of his many epistles. We contend that Westernized—Paulinized churchianity has failed to properly execute sound biblical exegesis of his writings and thus it is really these (that is the westernized Christian) that have fallen from grace, not us. This is not a finger-pointing exercise, but a thing of seeking the truth as revealed to any who would seek it via (1) the revelation of the Ruach Kodesh; (2) bible scholarship that is devoid of denominational assertiveness and influence; and (3) commonsense that the Creator endowed each of us with at birth.
I, unfortunately, am of a mind that our two sides can not be reconciled to any appreciable degree without one side conceding to the claims and accusations of the other. It would mean we in the Hebraic Roots of the Christian Faith abandoning a fulfilled life of discipline, love and peace in Torah for a contrived life of “live as you please” or “as you see fit” and “occupy until Christ returns.” It would mean we would become subject to the traditions, laws and rules of men. Essentially, it would mean going over to a life of religion that Y’shua came to free us from. I came from that and many of you came from that as well. We’ve come to realize and greatly appreciate the freedom that has come as a result of our giving ourselves over to our Master Y’shua as opposed to giving ourselves over to men; to a church; to a denomination; to a religion. Y’shua told us that He came that we would have life and experience that life in abundance. (John 10:10) As wonderful as life may appear in churchianity, her members have spoken loudly with their feet and their wallets. The Barna Group reported a few years ago that people are leaving tradition/fundamental Christianity in droves—some estimates place the number in the millions over the course of the last decade. The primary reason given by those who have left Christianity is a lack of spiritual fulfillment and their lives having not been challenged during the time they were members of the church. Conversely, all indications are (and unfortunately there is no data that I can find to back this up) that our Faith is growing and that large numbers of folks are coming to a knowledge of the Hebraic Roots of the Christian Faith. These are finding rest for their weary souls and a refreshing for their diminished spirits. Indeed, the Ruach is moving in our Faith. It is a wonderful time to be a part of the true Faith once delivered.
Last episode we looked at a few controversial passages that may cause some of us problems when trying to defend and explain to non-Torah observant believers in Jesus Christ (or traditional/fundamental/charismatic Christians) why we believe Torah is still viable for every believer in Y’shua Messiah. As well as it’s important that we make sure within our own minds and spirits that we understand what Shaul meant when he wrote these seeming anti-Torah passages. Let’s go over them quickly before we move forward. They are as follows:
Ephesians 2:8,9— 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. Is Shaul saying here that grace through the simple act of faith eliminates any need for works in a believer’s life? What does Shaul mean when he says “not of works?” What is this “works?” What does a “workless” life look like as it pertains to those who depend solely upon grace through faith?
Romans 6:14—14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. I discussed last episode that sin, despite what Shaul appears to be saying, remains commonplace in many congregations and churches throughout the world. Since it would stand to reason that Shaul is not speaking to actual sin that believers are prone to commit—that is the violation of Torah; is it then reasonable to conclude that Shaul is actually referring to something else here? Could it be that Shaul is creating an analogy here whereby he is actually referring to any negative influences or affects that sin will have in opposition to the believer’s eternal life?
Romans 7:6— 6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.1 According to this passage, it would seem that Shaul is saying that the law was not good for us and if we were to serve in the newness of spirit, then we had to be delivered from the law. Is Shaul saying here that the Law had problems associated with it? Was the Law problematic? Was the Law bad? Was the Law a mistake that needed correcting? Was the Law a failed experiment? If we choose to honor and obey Torah, have we placed ourselves in spiritual harm’s way, so to speak?
Galatians 3:10-14– 10 ¶ For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. 11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. 12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. 13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Is Shaul here saying that Torah observers are under some kind or type of curse? If so, what is there about the Law that makes it a a curse? If the Law is deemed to be a curse through the auspices of the Holy Spirit that was working in and through Shaul, and that Holy Spirit was provided to Shaul as a gift from Y’shua HaMashiyach, why would Father have placed upon us a cursed thing such as Torah? What would that say about our Creator? Are we then victims of the Law?
Lastly, Galatians 5:2-4– 2 ¶ Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. 3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. 4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. Are we who are Torah observant truly fallen from grace? For that matter, what does “fallen from grace” really mean? Do our cousins in churchianity, who love to use this passage as an assault upon us and our Faith, truly understand what this actually means? Is it true what our cousins in churchianity say about those of us who follow Torah—that if we choose to obey the Law, if we are found to have violated one of the 613-commandments or laws, that we are guilty of breaking the entire Torah? Does breaking one of the commandments actually nullify the rest or make one guilty of breaking the entire Torah? Is circumcision a dead or done-away with commandment? If we who are of the true Faith once delivered, who have chosen to be Torah observant, make the work of Y’shua Messiah of no effect unto us? If so, why?
Setting the Stage
As I stated in the previous post, these are some tough passages to confront for those of us Torah observant believers in Y’shua Messiah. What I find very interesting is that Christianity has gone out of her way to apply a very literal read of these passages and has effectively made Rav Shaul, or as the Westerner prefers to refer to him as the Apostle to the Gentiles Paul, into the most effective anti-Law (aka Torah) agent in all of history.
We inherently know that a plain read of these Pauline passages can be profoundly misleading. We also know that biblical illiteracy is at the heart of the misunderstanding and mistranslation of these passages. The purpose of this episode is to take each of these passages and determine whether or not the plain read of that passage provides an accurate meaning of that passage based on sound biblical interpretative practice and exegesis. We will resist denominational influences to guide our study. We will not allow our individual cultural and personal biases to prevent our gaining a true understanding of these passages. All we want to do is to resolve once and for all what Shaul meant when he wrote these passages and whether or not he stood for Torah observance in the life of the believer in Y’shua Messiah. I want to know if I truly understand why it is important for all believers in Y’shua Messiah to be Torah observant, especially in light of these seeming anti-Torah passages of Shaul. If we fail to prove that the plain reading of these passages does NOT reject Torah observance by us believers, then we are in a dilemma: are we Torah observant because someone told us we needed to be but we really have no true biblical basis for our beliefs and actions? Or are we simply making things up in our heads and living according to how we feel we should live? I don’t know about you, but I want to be in line with the will and commandments of Yahovah/Yahweh/Yahuah and His Son Y’shua HaMashiyach.
So let’s get started. But first, let’s establish some ground rules for this study: (1) we acknowledge the primacy of Scripture to determine how we live our lives in Y’shua Messiah. (2) We believe that Shaul was a sent one from Y’shua and therefore he has authority to instruct us in the ways of our God. (3) We acknowledge that the only way to gain a true understanding of the bible is through the revelation of the Ruach Kodesh (aka the Holy Spirit) and applying proper exegetical principles to our study of Scripture. Those exegetical principles include: (a) allowing the bible to interpret itself; (b) avoid taking one verse alone to establish doctrine, but to examine every other applicable verse in comparison; (c) studying each passage in question in context—that is, what is the true issue being addressed; who is writing the passage; what was going on in history at the time the passage was written; who was the author’s intended reader and audience; how do the surrounding verses connect with the verse/passage in question? And (d), when examining the use of certain key words in the passage in question, gain an understanding as to how that same word is used in other passages of the bible.
That which we don’t cover we’ll pick up where we leave off in the next episode. Again, I believe that we can not downplay the importance of this subject as it relates to our Faith and our being able to defend what it is we believe and why we believe that which we say we believe and practice. Too many of us assume that we don’t need to defend our actions or our Faith. Yet when we are confronted by someone who opposes our Faith, or we are asked by someone in search of truth to explain our Faith, we choke—we present a poor witness. Our Master gave His best for us when He walked this earth 2,000-years ago. Shouldn’t we do likewise? I don’t want to disappoint Him nor do I want to do anything that will diminish the opportunity for someone to find truth in the midst of a jacked-up world. We have all the answers to this world’s many woes. That being said, my goal, my intent, my mission in life is to be ready to give anyone who asks me about my Faith. Rav Kefa (aka the Apostle Peter) wrote in his first epistle:
ESV 1 Peter 3:15, 16 but ain your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, balways being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and crespect, 16 ahaving a good conscience, so that, bwhen you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.
Does the Creator’s Grace Eliminate Torah Entirely?
Ephesians 2:8,9— 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
This verse seems to aptly support the doctrine of “sola gratia” that I referenced last episode/last posting. Sola gratia, if you recall, is the Latin phrase meaning “grace only” or “grace alone.” The concept of sola gratia came out of the Protestant Reformation and was to stand in stark contrast to the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church that seemed to suggest that salvation was achieved through the grace of God and also by the merits of “one’s own works performed in love.” (Wikipedia-sola gratia) Although this was a hardcore belief of those behind the reformation, the truth of the matter was that the Roman Catholic Church “explicitly affirmed the doctrine of sola gratia in the year 529” in the Councils of Orange and of Trent. It was the doctrine of “sola gratia” that emerged from these councils and was explained as such: that salvation is made possible only by grace and that faith and works “are the secondary means that have their origins in and are sustained by grace.” The protestant reformers, however, seized upon and took the concept of sola gratia to a higher level, taking works entirely out of the equation and actually labeling works as Legalism. Bottom line, as it relates to the protestant reformer’s concept of sola gratia—which today constitutes the same view of most fundamental,traditional and charismatic denominations throughout the world—is that “salvation is entirely comprehended in God’s gifts (that is, God’s act of free grace), dispensed by the Holy Spirit according to the redemptive work of Jesus Christ alone.” (Wikipedia—sola gratia)
Now, one must agree that there is a problem with the doctrine or concept of “sola gratia” and that problem is what is referred to in Wikipedia as “Antinomianism.” Antinomianism argues that “if someone is saved, he/she has no need to live a holy life, given that salvation is already in the bag” so to speak. And isn’t this perspective a primary cause for the schism; the chasm; the thing that divides our two faiths? It is indeed clear that our love and obedience to Torah is nothing short of a gross offense to Christianity as a whole. The problem, however, is not with us but with the Christian who is sorely mistaken, not only in their understanding of the concept of “grace,” but also in their reasoning and understanding as to why we are Torah observant.
So as it relates to this passage of Ephesians, what do we know about the purpose and intent of this letter? Who was Shaul’s intended audience or readers? What could have prompted this statement from Shaul? Well, scholars tell us that Ephesus was located on the east side of the Aegean Sea in Asia Minor which is part of modern Turkey. Shaul’s first visit to Ephesus is recorded in Acts 18:18-23, which appears to be one of the stops Shaul made on his second missionary journey. The assembly in Ephesus appears to have been a mixture of Gentiles and Jews who seemed to be primarily congregating at the local synagogue, which was common place throughout the Roman Empire of the first century. With that, we know then, that a mixture of Torah observance, Judaism, and maybe even some paganism was being practiced amongst the members of that assembly. It so happens that Ephesus was famed for its Temple of Artemis or Diana. So like everywhere else that Shaul’s foot print was felt, Shaul had a rough road to haul—trying to coral believers from every walk of first-century life, into the true Faith, must have been an impossible task.
This portion of the Ephesian letter, interestingly enough, seems to be focusing on the Gentile half of the assembly. Shaul writes:
“For it is by His grace we are rescued, through faith; and this is not of yourselves, but it is the gift of Elohim: Not of works, or else anyone glory (in themselves). For we are His creation who are created in Y’shua the Mashiyach for good works which Elohim has before prepared for us to walk in. Wherefore be mindful that you formerly were carnal Gentiles; and you were called the uncircumcision by that which is called the circumcision and which is the work of the hands of the flesh. And you were, at that time, without the Mashiyach; and were aliens from the regulations of Israel; and strangers to the covenant of the promise; and were without hope and without Elohim in the world. But now, by Y’shua the Mashiyach, you who before were afar off, have been brought near by the blood of the Mashiyach. He is Himself our peace, who has made the two (become) one, and has demolished the wall which stood n the midst, and the enmity, by His flesh; and in His flesh (the) enmity and regulations of commands (contained) in his commandments are abolished (so) that in himself (an occurrence of the divine nature or qnoma), he might make the two into one, establishing peace.” (Eph. 2:8-15 AENT)
Now there are a few things to consider as we examine this passage in context. Instead of taking just verses 8 and 9 at face value, we have now taken on a sizable chunk of Shaul’s letter to the Ephesian assembly. Now, most of churchianity when referencing Ephesians in their arguments in support of sola gratia and the abolishment of the Law or Torah, will focus only on verses 8 and 9. However, there is a severe problem in referencing just verses 8 and 9 when discussing the issue of grace and the law, and that is one receives an incomplete understanding of what Shaul has to say on the subject.
To begin with, Shaul goes on to say in verse 10 that we (Gentiles) have newly been created “for good works which Elohim has before prepared for us to walk in.” Does this not hit you like a brick wall as it hit me? What is Shaul saying here? He’s saying that we who were Gentiles, having been made new by the work of Y’shua, are now created “for good works” and those good works were prepared by Yahovah (as opposed to Elohim) for us to walk in. The NAS and ESV says of those good works, that they were “prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” And the natural question that we must ask is, what are those good works that were prepared beforehand that we should walk in them? Well, the phrase “good works” is found in 23 verses in the KJV. Now, we must be careful to discern the different Greek words used to describe “good works” which are “agathos” and “ergon” respectively. In some passages, the word “good” is “kalos” which means beautiful, handsome or excellent. Shaul uses “agathos” in this Ephesians passage. Invariably, however, the Greek word “ergon” is used to denote “work.”
As it pertains to this particular passage, Thayer’s Greek Lexicon suggests ”ergon” is “that which is required and approved of Yahovah (as opposed to God), in the same sense of Mashiyach.” And we can safely presume that which is required and approved of by Yahovah and Mashiyach as related to “works” is commandments or rules, or as I will boldly propose here, Torah. Yes, I believe Shaul is suggesting here that we Gentiles, through the work of Mashiyach, have been fashioned to do “good works” which I surmise to be Torah. There are several biblical verses that I point to as support for my contention:
Titus 2:11-14—For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”
What is Shaul writing about here? He’s talking about the grace of Yahovah bringing salvation to the world and that grace teaching us to live Godly lives as we await the Saviour’s reappearing. And we know that it is not up to man’s discernment or determination as to what is Godly and what is not. Father alone is the stipulator of what is Godly. Yet Father has not left the determination as to what is Godly or not Godly up to chance or up to trying to read His mind. He revealed what is Godly and what is not by His Torah. It’s not rocket science.
Titus 2:1-10—But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: that the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; that they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children. To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.”
Hello! All of these qualities are not unique to Shaul’s teachings. They come right out of Torah. Good works!
2 Timothy 3:17—But thou hast fully known my doctrine (writing to Timothy), manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus (here’s that reference to living Godly lives again) shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou has learned and has been assured of, knowing of whom thou has learned them; and that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures (none other than the Tanakh—the Torah, the prophets and the writings—but primarily Torah, because the New Testament had not been created as yet), which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all “good works.””
Here we go again, good works being tied directly to scripture, or better, tied to Torah.
And there are several others that I will not overtax with you. But suffice to say, that Shaul seems to be tying the concept of “good works” or “ergon agathos” to being Torah observant.
But then there is the other aspect of works that we must not overlook here and that has to do with Shaul tying works directly to “law.” The phrase “works of the law” is used some 5-times in the KJV. (Reference: Rom. 9:32; Gal. 2:16; 3:2, 5, 10)
So I think we have enough to put into some semblance of understanding what Shaul is saying in Ephesian 2: 8—and that has to do with providing a quasi definition of grace; that being grace through our faith in Y’shua HaMashiyach, has rescued us from the world and from eternal death. That rescuing came as a free gift from Yahovah/Yahweh and all we had to do is accept that rescue. In doing so, however, we have received the power to live godly lives. And what does living godly lives look like? It’s all contained in Torah. We have become new creatures. Being former Gentiles (but now Israelites—having crossed over and grafted in) we lived according to the ways of men—evil, sinful, without Yahovah in our lives. Taking on that newness of creation, we have the wherewithal to walk according to His ways or as Shaul wrote: created for good works which God “prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” What is this good works that Shaul is referring to? It’s Torah. So already we see that Shaul has not discarded Torah observance by believers, especially Gentiles. But Shaul clearly indicates here that grace has saved us from the world and from destruction and has provided us the means by which we may walk in accordance to Yahovah’s stipulated way of life for mankind.
Oh, I have no doubt that the more stubborn and obstinate Christian will insist that “good works” as referenced here by Shaul throughout his writing has nothing to do with Torah, but will instead provide a definition or explanation of the phrase “good works” that is consistent to his/her western understanding of what good works means. The problem with this line of reasoning is that there will be thousands, if not millions of perspectives on what constitutes good work. Like opinions, everyone has their own idea of what constitutes good work. But let’s break it down folks: our opinions amount to nothing more than “dung” in the sight of the Almighty. And if anyone is a serious believer in Y’shua HaMashiyach, or for that matter, Jesus Christ, and they are pure in their agenda, then he or she must concede that it’s all about Yahovah/Yahweh/Yahuah/God/Father. It is His opinion, and His opinion alone that matters. So let’s get off our high horses and stop being arrogant fools. Any concept of what is good, especially as it relates to works, must absolutely come from Father and can not come from man, as much as we may like to thing that we have the right stuff to determine what is good and what living a good and godly life looks like.
But let’s not stop here fellow saints, we’re heading towards the stretch as it relates to this Ephesian passage—and hang on, this is where it really gets exciting and brings home for us the truth about Torah living in relation to grace! Hallelujah.
Verse 11, Shaul, a Benjamite, a former Pharisee and at the time of this writing, an Apostle—a sent one directly from our Master Y’shua Messiah—lovingly reminds us of our past. We were carnal gentiles. The KJV, ESV, NAS, ASV words it, Gentiles in the flesh. But the literal rendering of the Greek text (along with the DBY and YLT) reads nations in the flesh. In other words, we were not Israelites and we were certainly not Jews. Thus looking at us from the Jewish and Israelite perspective–from Shaul’s perspective, we were so-called “uncircumcised.” Being of the so-called “uncircumcised,” we were aliens, devoid of commonwealth of Israel, or better rendered in the Greek, we were lacking Israeli-citizenship—verse 12. For all intents and purposes, we were “outsiders.” We were despised and rejected by the Israeli nation, especially by the Jewish nation. Being outside the realm of the true Israelites—not speaking of Judaism per se, but of true Israelis who’s lives were governed by Torah—we were NOT privy to the covenant promises that came by virtue of being an Israeli; especially an Israeli who had Mashiyach as their Master and Yahovah as their God. Thus we were in a hopeless state. Destined for eternal damnation. But the Father, in His infinite wisdom and love for mankind, made provision for even us, being, existing in our hopeless state. He inserted Himself in the affairs of men to offer a lifeline to any who would grab hold to it. It was no longer a case whereby we would have to live out our lives in a hopeless state. It was not situation that we had to convert to Judaism to have the remotest chance and part of the covenant. No! Not this time! It was an opportunity for complete inclusion in the commonwealth of Israel; full access to the blessings of the covenant. What should have cost us our lives for access and inclusion, cost us nothing—just acceptance. But with that acceptance comes responsibility. That responsibility is that we perform. Perform what? That we live and operate in the realm of “good works,” for we have been made—we have been prepared—for such. That is who we become—it is who we are identified as. It is what we look like. It is how the world sees us from then on. Good works. It’s not negotiable as the Christian would assert.
Being born here in America, my citizenship comes to me free of charge. However, if I am to be; if I am to remain a citizen, there are things that I am expected to do—obey the laws of the land; pay my taxes; make a living; contribute to society in some way or another. If I fail to obey the laws of the land or pay taxes or make a living for myself and my family, I will not realize the full benefits of American citizenship. In fact, I may even lose my citizenship (in a low-level way I would add) by being incarcerated.
Despite what the Christian believes and teaches and lives, there are no free lunches as it relates to our relationship with Father. He does indeed offer us the gift of eternal life that comes without charge to us—but oh what price was paid for that gift. In order to receive and keep the gift, we must qualify for it. Father is not going to promote any human to the place of being one of His children; a king; a priest; His elect in a state of rebellion; hating Him by virtue of being disobedient to His will and His commandments. Does it make any sense, Christian, to think and believe that we can live anyway we damn-well please, reject Father’s laws and commandments, and enter into His Kingdom as honored citizens? Would you allow your children to live in your house in total rebellion and disobedience and receive complete and unfettered freedom and privilege? Well, some of you do, and that’s a shame. But let me just tell you, Yahovah don’t play that. He has purchased us with the blood of His son. Shaul wrote to the Corinthian assembly: “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price…” (1 Cor. 6:19, 20) We’ve accepted that gift. We now live in His house. He has house rules. Therefore, we are compelled to live in His house under His rules. His rules are contained in Torah. Thus, we must be Torah observant, even as believers in Y’shua Messiah. If we elect to not obey His rules—His Torah—well, that’s a story for another day.
Conclusion:
If there is anything to be gotten from this exercise, it is the absolute necessity of sound biblical exegesis that include contextual analysis—context, context, context. If we were simply to take verses 8 and 9 of this 2nd chapter of Ephesian, from a purely plain reading perspective, we could very easily walk away having an unshakable impression that sola gratia is the name of the game today and that Torah observance by believers in Jesus Christ is not only unnecessary, but completely in opposition to the sacrifice of the Saviour and the doctrine of grace. Employing bible sound bites to explain and support Christian doctrines is a prescription for destruction; at the least, a prescription for living an unfulfilled and potentially sinful life.
References:
- Wikipedia—Sola Gratia
- The Aramaic English New Testament (AENT)
- Friberg Greek Lexicon
- Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary on the Whole Bible
- Nelson’s Complete Book of Bible Maps and Charts
- Michael Rood
- Thayer’s Greek Lexicon
Music by Dan O Music
by Rod Thomas | Aug 14, 2015 | Blog
I came across Rob Skiba this past May while attending his breakout session at the 2015 United in Torah Conference in San Diego, California. I had never heard of Rob Skiba prior to attending the conference. Since coming into the Faith I had for all-intents-and-purposes ended abandoned my interest in eschatology, end-time prophecy and the like, with the exception of my recent reading of Michael Rood’s “The Mystery of Iniquity–The Legal Prerequisites to the Return of the Messiah.” Rob’s topic at the conference was entitled “The Yahuwah Triangle.” This 3-hours breakout session exposed me to not only concepts from the Book of Genesis that I had never heard of before–that being the concept of who and what Nephillim truly were–as well as present-day concepts related to the pagan origins of our nation and the end-times being somewhat of a repeat of Genesis chapter 6. I left his presentation completely overwhelmed and completely wanting more from this man of Yahovah.
Rob Skiba describes himself as a writer, director, actor and researcher. After hearing his presentation at United in Torah and consuming this book, I describe him as a man on a mission: a mission to reveal the hidden evil that has existed from the time of Nimrod through the founding of our nation, all the way up to the end times of this world. The story and concepts that he brings out in this book are nothing short of jaw-dropping and frankly disturbing. After attending Rob’s presentation at the May conference, I couldn’t wait to get a hold of his materials and gain a better understanding of full message he is trying to get across to our nation and the world.
I got a hold of Babylon Rising and the First Shall be Last shortly after returning from the conference. I found Rob’s prose to be refreshing, compelling and it held my attention throughout the entirety of what is a moderately lengthy read. My understanding and knowledge of Babylonian-Egyptian-Greek and Roman mythology was and continues to be essentially non-existent, but Rob did a fairly good job of keeping a reader like me afloat by providing as much of a primer on the subject as practical, without bogging down the content with a course on mythology and paganism. As I’ve mentioned in a recent podcast and blog posting, I’ve taken it upon myself to research and gain as much of an understanding of the Ancient Near East and its associated religious practices and beliefs. This project I have to admit did not originate with my exposure to Rob Skiba but with Torah Teacher Matthew Vander Els. I came across Matthew’s teachings about the nations of the Ancient Near East and their influences on ancient Israel–this in the fall of 2014 at a Michael Rood conference in New York. Matthew’s presentation convinced me of the importance of having at least a modicum of knowledge and understanding of Ancient Near Eastern customs and practices in order to better understand aspects of our Hebraic Roots. Rob’s presentation this past spring and my reading of Babylon Rising only solidified in my mind and soul that part of our training in the Faith must include a familiarization of ancient paganism and its influence upon the world then, today and tomorrow.
Babylon Rising and the First Shall be the Last was unlike any book on end times I’d ever read. It was an indictment on all that we Americans hold dear in this country: our history, freedom, democracy, liberty, the pursuit of the American Dream and the like. Few of us would ever imagine that much of what we held sacred and true regarding our nation’s beginnings and her government and society are far from the contrived Christian foundation that we were all brought up to believe. Prior to reading this book, I had been primed by a fellow Hebraic Roots brother on the questionable origins of our beloved nation. Then upon reading Skiba’s well written dissertation on this subject, many of the pieces and questions I’d had in my mind for the last several years seemed to fall handily in place.
Skiba spends a great amount of time laying the foundation of how the end times will not be as fundamental denominational writers have long envisioned it be. In fact, Skiba’s version of the end times can be described as a revival of an “oldie” but far from “goodie.” The first three or so chapters focus on the Genesis account of the pre-flood and early post-flood period of man’s history. I would say that the basis or theme of this section of the book would be found in that famous prophecy delivered to us by the Savior that simply says: “For the Son of Man’s coming will be just as it was in the days of Noach.” (Mat. 24:37 CJB) Skiba certainly makes a sound argument against those who would link this prophecy to anything but those things that were transpiring during the days of Noah. What I mean by that is that modern end time teachers have gone out of their way to link end time events to technological advances, Catholicism, financial devastation, religious fanaticism and governmental harassment. Skiba does not preclude that any one of these elements is part and parcel of the end times. Instead, Skiba draws the reader to examine the Genesis record to arrive at an understanding of exactly what the Master was referring to. Without going into the content of the book, suffice to say, the things and situation of Noah’s day is nothing like that which the modern day end time prophets and teachers are putting out. Rob’s thesis is nothing short of shocking and utterly thought provoking.
The second half of the book is devoted to the pagan origins of the United States which I believe will send much of churchianity, or even the secular segment of our nation, spiraling out of psychological control. To see logically and irrefutably laid out before the reader a thesis that shows the United States from the beginning was founded upon paganism and that she has had little connection whatsoever with Christianity is nothing short of a life changing paradigm shift. Bottom line, Skiba orients the reader to see quite clearly that this is not the America that he/she has been led and taught to understand from a Christian perspective. Everything, from our money to our monuments and so-called hallowed halls of democracy in Washington are infected with paganism. So deep is this rabbit hole that one can spend a lifetime simply trying to find one’s way out of the labyrinth of tunnels and dips and corners that lead to the origin of this nation’s government and societal norms.
Skiba spends the the latter portions of the book tying everything together from the perspective that much of what we’ve been taught in our denominations is erroneous. It is this erroneous foundation that will sentence many a would-be believer down a path of destruction at the end times. The sense of false security that is germane to Western churchianty precludes most Christians from ever realizing the truth and it is that lack of understanding, coupled with the sense of false security, that places the whole of Christianity in a precarious situation as it relates to end times. The bottom line Skiba concludes, is that, it really doesn’t matter what it means to us; it matters what it means to God!. And that is where churchianity has slipped off the tracks. It is my prayer that books like Babylon Rising will awaken the Church Triumphant from its millennia old slumber before it’s too late.
Babylon Rising-and the First Shall be Last is an absolute must read for any self-professing believer in Y’shua Messiah. The reader may not agree or believe everything Skiba writes in this book, and that’s okay. In fact, Skiba goes to great pains throughout the book to provide the reader with a disclaimer that much of what is written is Skiba writing on that which he has researched and that which has been revealed to him by the Spirit. It is up to the reader to do his/her own research and come to his/her own conclusions. This is as it should be in every aspect of our Faith–hear, receive, verify, do something with it.
Get this book Saints.
by Rod Thomas | Aug 11, 2015 | Blog, Podcasts
Idolatry-False Prophets and Teachers-and Clinging to Father
Deuteronomy 12:28-13:19
Picking up where we left off in parashah 47, we come upon this portion that addresses three key issues: (1) the consequences associated with inquiring after the gods of those nations we were positioned to destroy; (2) dealing with false prophets and those who would influence us to pursue false gods and stray from Father and Torah; and (3) maintaining a sound and healthy relationship with Father. Each of these key issues are of such importance as it relates to our relationship and walk with Father and they are individually substantive in their scope and practicality.
When I study Torah, the first thing I do is to step back and try to gain as much of an understanding of the global situation at play–at the time that portion was written–as I possibly can, using the best resources that I have available to me at the time. I am a huge proponent of context. In conjunction with this contextual approach, I rely fully upon the leading of the Ruach Kodesh. This bi-fold approach to Torah study, as well as Bible study in general, has never failed me. I may not receive the answers to my questions at that moment, but the answer ultimately comes. And if there’s anything I can say to you to encourage you in your Torah journeys, it would be, to utilize a contextual approach in conjunction with the leading of the Holy Spirit. I do no crack open my Bible—actually fire-up my BibleWorks software—first thing in the morning, until I commune with Father and press Him to reveal His Word to me—His will—His truths, utilizing whatever means He sees fit to do so.
Since coming into the true Faith once delivered, I do not rely upon a church pastor, teacher, preacher, or even denomination to instruct me on how my walk with the Creator should work. Been there, done that. Instead, I’ve learned to rely exclusively upon Yah’s Word and His Ruach haKodesh to learn of His ways. That’s not to say that I am not a student of Torah under the instruction of Yahovah’s Torah teachers. Certainly Father can reveal His truths to me and you through His anointed teachers. But I’ve evolved to realize that in order for each of us to gain the fullest understanding of Torah Yshua-style, we must be as the Bereans were during the time of Rav Shaul (ref. Acts 17:10-15). Essentially, Shaul and Silas had been run out of Thessalonica as a result of their evangelistic work. Shaul and Silas then shuffle into Berea, located southwest of Thessalonica near the Olympian Mountain range in Macedonia. Berea had a thriving Jewish population. These Jews were described of noble demeanor and disposition. These continued in the study of the Scriptures each day and when Shaul delivered the gospel to them they naturally “searched the Scritpures” to verify all that Shaul was teaching was indeed true. As a result of Shaul’s ministry in Berea, many a Berean became a follower of Y’shua Messiah via Shaul. Unfortunately, those troublesome Thessalonicans took it upon themselves, upon learning that Shaul was operating in Berea, to high-tale over to Berea and attempt to put a stop to Shaul’s evangelical operations.
So I’ve come to learn—painfully so I might add—that proper study, prayer, meditation are essential to gaining a firm grasp of the Torah life abundant.
So that brings us to the crux of this portion: that being three key issues of concern Father had regarding us as His people. And quite frankly, as I read through the Deuteronomic portions, I am so taken by the obvious concern Father has regarding how we would fare in the land of promise. Over and over, throughout this book, Father tells us—don’t stray from me! Don’t even think about the lifestyles of the soon-to-be disposed inhabitants of Canaan. Obey my Torah without exception. I am you everlasting portion. I am your focus. I am your all-in-all. You will be my priests of light to a dark world.
I wondered as I read through this portion—what did Yahovah know about the people in the land of promise that we didn’t know? What was so bad about those people? What did they worship that would present such a threat to our relationship with the Creator of the Universe? Well, I found it with relative ease that indeed there were some pretty bad folks residing/inhabiting the land of promise. Canaan was a subregion of The Levant which also included the subregions of Ugarit, Ebla and Mitanni (reference Wikipedia.com—Religions of the Ancient Near East). The gods, or as scholars refer to them as deities, were many: Adonis, Anat, Asherah, Asima, Astarte, Atargatis, Attar, Baal, Berith, Chemosh, Dagon, El, Elhyon, Eshmun, Hadad, Kothar-wa-Khasis, Melqart, Moloch, Mot, Nikkal, Qetesh, Resheph, Shahar, Shalim, Shapash, Yam and Yarikh. Human sacrifices and disgusting sexual practices were common to the worship of many if not most of these false gods. So powerful were was the draw that these gods and their associated worship had on those who would adopt these gods as their own, that Father had no other choice than to put lay the Law down to us—over and over. And as harsh and inhuman as the penalty for falling for or pursuing after these religions and their gods may appear to our “enlightened” and civilized world of today, the threat that these nations and their idolatrous ways and their pagan gods posed to mankind’s salvation could not be left up to the hopeful good will of us as a people. Yah had to insist and had to get our attention.
As it would relate to our potential interest in learning about the people whom we’d dispose in the land of promise, nothing holds true more than the old adage that “curiosity killed the cat.” Verse 30 in certain translations suggests that showing or adopting an interest in the prior nation’s practices, culture and religion would naturally lead to our entrapment. The most popular translations utilize strong terms to describe this threat such as ensnare, snare, fall into a trap. The LXX versions do not employ such strong terms of admonishment but simply to take heed not to follow after their ways.The term used in Hebrew is “piel” which translates into English as “to set a trap”
The Babylonian Talmud has an interesting take on this passage of Torah. According to the opinions of the so-called sages and rabbis, one is guilty of seeking after the ways and gods of the disposesd nations if they “say I will worship” or “I will go and worship,” or “we will go and worship.” On the surface and to a Y’shua rejecting Jew, such a stance would be most acceptable. But to a Torah Observing Believer in Y’shua Messiah, there are some inherent problems with this talmudic ruling. As much as it may appear that the rabbis and sages were protecting us from overstepping the boundaries of Torah but insinuating that commission of a violation of Torah comes from utterance of the desire to pursue after false gods. But our Master clearly taught us that our allegiance to Father and rejection of paganism and false religion falls within the category of the “heart.” If we desire after or are consumed within ourselves to adopt the ways of the pagan; if we are taken by the ways of the pagan; if we are not disgusted by the ways of the pagan, then “we have a problem Houston.” Rabbi and sage, it’s not an action that brings about guilt and violation of Torah—it’s the inherent desire, the heart, the mind to commit a violation of Torah that becomes the violation of Torah. And this is the biggest challenge facing the would-be disciple of Y’shua: that being able to discern when and where sin starts and that being in our hearts and mind. As admirable as many might think—that being the sages and the rabbis created the Talmud to put a fence around Torah for us so that we would not violate Torah—their actions were in and of themselves a full-on violation of Torah. Father told us: “Everything I am commanding you, you are to take care to do. Do not add to it or subtract from it.” (Deu. 12:32—CJB) “In order to obey the mitzvot of Yahovah your Elohim which I am giving you, do not add to what I am saying, and o not subtract from it.” (Deu. 4:2) Joshua admonished in the land of promise: “Only be strong and very bold in taking care to follow all the Torah which Moshe my servant ordered you to follow; do not turn from it either to the right or to the left; then you will succeed wherever you go.” (Jos.1:7-CJB)
The talmudic actions of the rabbis and sages did not rescue us from violations of Torah. On the contrary, their actions imprisoned us. These created a religion, that being Judaism. This is what Y’shua came to deliver us from–the thoughts, beliefs and traditions of the so-called elders, sages and rabbis. To the spiritless rabbi and sage, to state one’s desire is the start of the violation of this mitzvah. However, Y’shua came and taught us that by simply “thinking” or entertaining in our hearts to do wrong is violation of Torah.
Verse 31 is interesting for the various extant English translations provide slightly differing takes on pagan worship in comparison to worship of the true God, Yahovah/Yahweh/Yahuwah. Most English translations simply state that we were “not to do this” nor were we to “behave thus toward Yahovah.” My question upon reading this verse was: what exactly were we not to do toward Yahovah? The NLT and the NET actually expounds upon this passage by stating that we were not to worship Yahovah the way the other nations worship their gods. It came to me to consider how churchianity has over the centuries fused pagan practices into the worship of the true God to the point that knowledge of the origins of many of the traditions, practices and beliefs of churchianity have been lost to antiquity. The celebration and observance of pagan holidays, the wearing of crosses and Sunday worship are prime examples of this.
Of particular disgust to Yah was the worship of Molech:
Lev 18:21 And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.
Jer 7:31 And they have built the high places of Tophet, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my heart.
Deu 18:10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,
Jer 19:5 They have built also the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings unto Baal, which I commanded not, nor spake it, neither came it into my mind:
The religion that surrounded Molech worship appears to have been one of the more heinous religions to come our way in the Ancient Near East. Molech worship entailed human sacrifices and gross sexual immorality. Some scholars have even contended that the tradition of coloring easter eggs has it basis in Molech worship where the blood of the babies sacrificed to Molech were used to color eggs for the associated religious festivities. ( Rev. Alexander Hislop’s “The Two Babylons” and Michael Rood’s “The Chronological Gospels”) And even today, we train our children to practice this heinous tradition as the centuries have all but eliminated the repulsive foundation upon which this seemingly innocent children’s tradition was based. Does forgetting the origin of certain traditions make the practice today okay or acceptable? Some would answer in the affirmative. But I hope that those of us who have been freed by Master from the scourge of religion know better and behave better.
Verse 32(13:1)–provides the prescription that will inoculate us from falling into the snare of following after other gods. That prescription quite simply is to carefully keep every Word of Yahovah and not add to or diminish the Father’s Torah. But we’ve the redeemed of the Most High know that we’ve been called to a much higher state of being. Master says that it is not enough to simply avoid physical violations of Torah. We are required to internalize Torah and worship Father in Spirit and Truth. Master taught:
27 ¶ Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.1
30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
31 ¶ It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:
32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery. (Mat 5:27-32 KJV)
Verses 1-4 I found very interesting. Here Yah is insinuating (to me He seems to be insinuating) that some of the things that false prophets proclaim may very well come to light. Just because the prophecy of an individual comes to light doesn’t mean that that prophet is of Yah. In fact, Torah is the only means by which we are to gauge truth and to gauge whether that prophet is of Yah. Prophetic manifestations are not guarantors of truth. I use to be of the mind that the only way to tell a false prophet is if his/her prophecies fail to come true. Certainly these verses helped change my mind and heart on this subject. If a would-be prophet teaches that something is going to happen and it happens as he/she promised, but that prophet also directs or teaches us to abandon Torah and Yahovah, he is a full-on false teacher and preacher. We see this today. We’ve had countless incidents of people who have prophecied about this thing or that thing, and those things have come to light. Many have clung to these individuals despite those individuals teaching a doctrine that is contrary to that of the true Faith once delivered. These individuals, despite their prophecies coming to light, are still false prophets and teachers. These must reject and even avoid. Since we no longer live under a theocracy, we can not nor should we not execute these false ones. Their lot will then be decided by the Master on the last day. All indications are that in the end times, prophetic manifestations will be the undoing of many a believer as the great serpent and his chosen one will perform many lying signs and wonders and trick the world into following his human proxy. That is why we must meticulously study Yahovah’s Word so as to not be bamboozled by the works of the enemy, not only today, but in the future. In this passage, these were to be executed and eliminated from our community because they served no purpose but to incite rebellion against Yahovah and according to the LXX “thrust us out of the way which Yahovah our Elohim commanded us to walk in (verse 6). It gets very personal–even those whom we love, honor and respect in our lives, if they attempt to draw us over to paganism, it became a mandate that we be the first at putting that individual to death along with the rest of the community found to be in violation of Torah. Father instructed that we not have pity or remorse for those whom we have to destroy and who have meant so much to us. (verses 7-12) Thus, it becomes our personal “skin in the game,” so to speak, that we must head the punishment that comes as a result of our accusing the loved offender(s). Heading the execution of the loved offenders would serve to preclude us from making false accusations and then hiding behind the executioners and escape having blood on our hands. This would be done via stoning.
Furthermore, those individuals of the community that Father refers to as “worthless men” (belial) who take it upon themselves to sway our community to “inquire” after false gods and these are found successful in swaying the citizens of that community into a life of idolatry and paganism, the entire town including their livestock was to be destroyed by the sword and all the remains burned in an open space. The resulting ruin would remain as a heap forever (verses 13). Again, the present day westerner is appalled by such a passage. I recall recently watching a television program on Netflix—I believe it was “West Wing.” A discussion broke out between characters of the show on things concerning the Bible and living a Christian life. The lead character of the show, in utter indignation, spoke out against Torah and whom He described as the “God of the Old Testament,” whom He could not tolerate. He could not tolerate the so-called God of the Old Testament because of passage such as this one. That God was barbaric and uncaring. The other character, trying to stick to his steadfast position on Christianity and living in accordance with the things recorded in the Bible ultimately was talked over and his position on the Bible, in particular the Old Testament was demeaned. The lead character quoted numerous Bible verses that supported his position that the so-called God of the New Testament was a much better choice, whose values and proposed religion aptly fit the beliefs and values of the American republic and democracy. Certainly the writers of this show were expressing their true and personal positions on Scripture and Yahovah and I would say, given the popularity of the show at the time, many Americans and members of the Hollywood elite. I recall thinking that such thinking that I could be one of those who felt that way about Yahovah if not but for the grace of Father to free me from my westernized—pagan-based—godless worldview. Sure, from a western perspective, passages like this are hard to swallow—hard to accept. Yah says to those who would balk and be appalled by such commandments and teachings:
8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways,” says ADONAI.
9 “As high as the sky is above the earth are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 For just as rain and snow fall from the sky and do not return there, but water the earth, causing it to bud and produce, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth – it will not return to me unfulfilled; but it will accomplish what I intend, and cause to succeed what I sent it to do.” (Isa 55:8-11 CJB)
Despite our erroneous belief that we are civilized and the life we live is virtuous, Isaiah reveals the truth about us as a race of beings: 6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. (Isa 64:6 KJV) What do we know about compassion? Righteousness? Holiness? What is and isn’t true? None of this comes without revelation from Yahovah and that revelation comes through obedience and study of His Torah and through His Ruach haKodesh. We are a sad lot who think that our righteousness exceeds that of Father. We only delude ourselves and with such ideals and beliefs launch ourselves on a course of certain destruction.
Verses 5 tells us that we are to (1) fear Yah; (2) obey His Torah; (3) listen to what Father says; (4) serve Him; (5) cling or as the LXX reads–attach ourselves to Him (my personal favorite rendering) and (6) follow Him. As I read this I wondered: what does it truly mean to fear Yahovah. I could certainly come up with an explanation that would be based upon my western mindset of what fear of God means and entails. But given that our ways are not His ways and that our ways are often influenced by our own petty desires, hopes and fears, my understanding of what fear of Yahovah looks like would probably be off. Furthermore, what does it mean to keep His Torah; to obey His voice; to serve Him; to cleave to Him and to walk with Him? What does all this look like? What are the practical applications that we as disciples of Y’shua haMaschiyach should apply to our day-to-day lives? Does popular churchianty hold the key to understanding what all that looks like? I seek to examine and arrive at an answer to these crucial questions my next continuation on this parashah and Torah Living Daily Challenge. May you walk in the power and might of His Ruach haKodesh. Until next time—Shalom dear Saint.
by Rod Thomas | Aug 7, 2015 | Blog
Where Do You Worship Yahovah
Deuteronomy 12:10-28
Continuing on in my Torah daily Torah studies, beginning with verse 10 and reading through verse 28, Yahovah provided us clear instruction as to where “Central Station Worship” would be. At this early juncture, that is, just prior to entering in to the Land of Promise, Yah had not revealed to us the exact location of that “Central Station Worship.” In this portion, Yah simply laid out before us that any worship of Him must legitimately be done only where He says it shall be done. In this directive, there was no varying of locations or regions. Leaving to the whims and desires of our forefathers as to the location of Central Station Worship would certainly result in chaos and turf-wars among within our nation. Not to mention, we’re talking about worship of the Creator of the Universe—thus how and where He desires for us to worship Him should be of no concern of ours apart from our strict obedience to these mitzvot (aka commandments). Thus, so as there to be no confusion as to where we would give our “burnt offerings, sacrifices, tenths, the offering of our hand and all our best possessions,” Yah in His infinite design and purpose would chose where Grand Central Station Worship would be stood up. (Verse 10-12) For our worship of Him, which would include sacrifices and offerings—sorry, no praise and worship bands with their rock/hip hop music; no coffee socials; no perusals of bookstores and gathering together of friends to socialize the days away. No, this place of worship would be established for the purpose of honor Yahovah as He stipulated; as He commanded; in accordance with His desires and purpose.
Oh how churchianity has through the centuries taken the concept of the place of the worship of Yahovah and turned it into a forum where man has determined how it would look and function. Gone was the concept of Yahovah establishing the place and content of our worship. Once again, our ego (that is man’s ego) has superseded the commands and desires of our Creator, as it has in every aspect of our individual lives. Fortunately for us today—that is those of us who have come under the Father’s covering and governance—our worship of Him is localized within ourselves. How can I make such a statement? Well, it is common knowledge that the Temple that Father instructed be erected in Yerushalayim had not only become corrupted by our forefathers’ greed and carnality, but also superseded or done away with by the sacrifice and resurrection of our Master Y’shua HaMashiyach. Thus the Temple in Yerushalayim was destroyed in 68 C.E. according to Rood (or 70 C.E. according to most Bible scholars). This void that Father left us with ultimately gave way to a completely different way and place to worship Father. Rav Shaul received a profound revelation directly from our Master Y’shua Hamashiyach about how the renewed covenant had, since His sacrifice, resurrection and administering of the Ruach Kodesh to each of us, had superseded the Temple as being the place of our worship of our Father. He wrote to the Corinthian assembly:
“Everything is in my power: but everything is not profitable to me. Everything is in my power: but none (of them) will have dominion over me. Food is for the belly; and the belly is for food; but Elohim will bring them both to nothing. But the body is not for illicit sex, but for our Master (Y’shua); and our Master (Y’shua) for the body. And Elohim has raised up our Master; and He will raise us up, by His power. Don’t you know that your bodies are the members of the Mashiyach? Will one take a member of the Mashiyach, and make it the member of a harlot? May it never be! Or don’t you kow, that whoever joins himself to a harlot, is one body (with her)? For it is said, the two will be one body. But he that joins himself to our Master (Y’shua), is with Him one spirit. Flee from sexual sin. For every (other) sin which a man commits, is external to his body; but he that commits sexual sin, sins against his own body. Or don’t you know, that your body is the temple of the Ruach haKodesh who abides in you, whom you have received from Elohim? And you are not your own. For you are bought with a price. Therefore you glorify Elohim with your body, and with your spirit, which are Elohim’s.” (1 Cor. 6:12-20 AENT)
Shaul shares some very enlightening things in his correspondence to the Corinthian assembly. Primary and central to all that he wrote it the transition from Temple to body. I believe this was always the goal and purpose of Father; to move us from the flesh/carnal to that of the spirit. Oh how the Master hinted of this to the unknowing, unsuspecting first-century world, as he conversed with the Samaritan woman at the well:
“Y’shua said to her, “Woman believe me, the hour is coming that not in this mountain nor in Urishlim (Yerushalayim) will they worship the Father. You worship something that you do not know. But we worship that we know, for life is from the Yehudeans (Jews). But the hour is coming, and now is when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, indeed. For the Father, He seeks worshippers as these. For Elohim is Spirit, and those who worship, they must worship Him in spirit and in truth.” (Yochanan 4:21-24 AENT)
This revelation Y’shua spoke in response to her question, found in the same chapter, “Our fathers worshipped on this mountain (that is Gerizim), but you people say that the place where one has to worship is in Yerushalayim.” (Yochanan 4:20) In other words, one of the several schisms that separated the Samaritan people from their cousins the Jews is their belief and practice as it related to where they worshiped Yahovah; that of course being the Samaritan believed Mount Gerizim and the Jew Yerushalayim. But Savior revealed that a time was just ahead when the whole debate about where we must worship Father will be a moot point because worship of Yah will become spiritual in nature and the place of worship will be within each and every true believer. This is what the Father has always wanted—”…for these are the kind of people the Father wants worshipping Him.” (vs. 23)
Certainly, destruction of the Temple took the Jewish nation by shock. The Temple was the center of commerce and national and religious pride at the time, although Father’s spirit and glory had long left the edifice and never truly returned—reference Eze. 10. That same Spirit that filled the house in Yerushalayim is the same Spirit and glory that now fills each of us who would be true sons and daughters of the Most High. Despite religion’s efforts to contain Father in a brick and mortar construct that wants for an infusion of funds and manual labor to keep it running, we of the Hebraic Roots/Netzari/Messianic community realize that the focus of worship is no longer a building made by hands. The focus of worship has now become the building that is our bodies. What that worship looks like now—today under the renewed covenant—is somewhat beyond the scope and intent of this posting. However, I would like to invite each of you to take the time out of your busy schedules to listen to two episodes of It’s Not As You Perceive (our sister podcast ministry) that we posted in April of last year. In these two episodes we spoke to the issue and topic of worship as it now stands under the renewed covenant. Here are the links to these two episodes for your convenience.
Until next time, may you be most blessed fellow saints in training—Shalom.
