I was raised much like some of you in a denomination. From going to Sunday School as a small child to singing the songs and learning the heart-warming messages in the early bible stories. Like many of you I listened to the words of a Pastor/Evangelist/Guest Speaker, I heard what THEY said the bible was teaching and I blindly accepted it because hey, they probably know more than me. I mean they went to seminary and have all the degrees and backing of the Southern Baptist Convention or whatever organization that claims to have the authority to declare whether or not someone knows enough about the bible to be a Pastor. It wasn't until I began to study for myself that I began to learn that these men were wrong. And they were wrong about A LOT.
I first began to become persuaded by the words of the bible around the age of 16 or 17. I had been saved since I was 12 and had been reading and studying scripture EVERYDAY since then. I carried a bible to class everyday in school from grades 8 - 12. I lead studies. I lead people in the "Prayer of Salvation"(which is one thing I came to learn isn't found in scripture). I lead small groups, taught lessons, was a leader in my Church from the age of 15 before moving churches and then being placed into yet ANOTHER leadership position, which I stayed in for 3 years before leaving. I am in no way unlearned in scripture. From the time I was 14 I began to study and learn both Greek and Hebrew. I've traveled on mission trips, built churches, lead many to the LORD, helped lead discipleship programs. I've had the opportunity to travel to Israel, visit The Western Wall, speak to Torah Scholars, Rabbis, and even read for myself, in person, the Dead Sea Scrolls as well as numerous other manuscripts. I am in no way lacking in knowledge of scripture.
I do not say these things to boast but to bring to attention that I am not just some "Internet Scholar". I have studied, I have learned, I have taught, and by the measures of multiple denominaitonal authorities including the Southern Baptist Convention, Church of God, Assemblies of God, as well as others I am certified and ordained to Pastor churches under the umbrella of these denominations.
I digress. The entirety of Scripture is one fluid story. From Genesis to Revelations it is one story about one people, one nation, one bride being wed to one groom. Errors do not come from Scripture, but come from Men. Ideologies built around man and man's understanding is always going to fall short. From teachings of a "Rapture", a "Trinity", and widely accepted and in all reality modern teachings that aren't reflected in scripture, such as "Dispenationalism" and the arguing of "Exegesis"; The "church", that is the Modern Traditional Coorprative buildings and organizations filled with men who put their word above the word of God and would rather make the Scriptures say what they want them to say than actually admit their fault and live the way the Scripture teaches.
I was posed with a thought around the age of 15 from one Francis Chan, a popular teacher in the Christendom. Francis was speaking and he got on the topic of understanding scripture. He poses teh question: If it were you. Only you and the Bible, God's word. If it were you and the bible ALL ALONE on a desserted island, and you were to read this book what would you believe? If you were stripped of all background knowledge, no denominational bias, having never heard of the Bible or Jesus and you read this book that we hold in such high esteem, what would you walk away believing? Just you and God's word. I am willing to bet that no one who honestly and whole heartidly seeks after such truth, stripping away all other opinions and commentary, would leave that island believing the same way as you do now. We believe what we are taught to believe. So often have we taken the words of others as the authority in what is truth for no other reason than someone as a title attached to their name. Such a practice is demonstribly in error.
We have been taught to treat the "Old Testament" and the "New Testament" as two wholly different books for two completely different people:
The "Old Testament" was for the Jews and the "New Testament" is for the Christians, THIS IS IN ERROR.
The "Old Testament" is categorized into what is called "The Law(Torah)", The Prophets(Nevi'im), and The Writings(Ketuvim)
The Torah being the 5 books attributed to Moses: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy.
The Prophets including: Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings(known as the Former Prophets).
As well as: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zachariah, and Malachi(known as the Latter Prophets)
The Writings being a collections of Poetry, Narrative, and Other Writings: Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Songs of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Ezra, and Chronicles.
The entirety of these books still follow the telling of a single story: That God, made man to fellowship and honor HIM. Mankind was to be a faithful Covenental bride. Mankind fell and became unrighteous due to disobedience to God's word. This leads to a division, a separation from God and Mankind. God would call those to HIMSELF who would honor and be faithful to HIM. HE chooses the descendants of Abraham to establish this Covenant. Abraham's descendants would become the Nation of Israel, the set apart people who were to be the Bride in the Covenant.
However the Nation of Israel was not exclusive to only those born of the seed of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob. After the Exodus from Egypt God brings HIS set apart people, The Hebrews, to Mt. Sinai where the Nation(The People) to be called by the promise of Israel is wed to The Father. However the Nation was made up of more than the 12 Tribes which included: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Joseph(which would split into Manasseh and Ephraim), and Benjamin, The Nation also included "strangers" known as "sojourners". These people were among the "mixed multitude" and co-heirs to the Promise of Israel not of birth, but by faith. These strangers had no natural claim to the promise, but were included in the Promise because they chose to become Hebrews, to "cross-over" into Covenant with The Father.
After the 12 Tribes settled in the Kingdom of Israel, which would be ruled by Judges then Kings, there was a division. The Kingdom split into what is called the Northern and the Southern Kingdoms. The Northern Kingdom called Israel(Ephraim) including 10 of the 12 Tribes of Israel: Asher, Dan, Ephraim, Gad, Issachar, Manasseh, Naphtali, Reuben, Simeon, and Zebulun. And the Southern Kingdom called Judah was made up of the Tribes of Judah and Benjamin. You should notice that the Tribe of Levi is not listed in either Kingdom. That is because the Tribe of Levi were the Priests of Israel and were responsible for maintaining the Temple, which included all of the Sacrifices and Appointed Times. This Tribe was spread across the Northern and Southern Kingdoms, responsible for holding the Tribes of Israel and the sojourners among them to the same standard and maintaining their relationship with The Father.
Eventually, The Northern Kingdom is conquered and the 10 Tribes are dispersed among the "nations"(goyim, gentiles, those out of Covenant). This is known as the Diaspora. All of this as a result of Israel's disobedience to God. Prior to the fall of the Northern Kingdom, God divorces Israel for being an unfaithful bride. It is then that God tells how the Old (Marriage) Covenant will be destroyed and how HE will reunite with the House of Israel and The House of Judah. HE does so through The Messiah, Jesus(Yeshua). Yeshua comes as God in the flesh. Lives in obedience to the Father, as we ALL should. Yeshua tells why He has come, "I come not but for the lose sheep of the House of Israel." In order for God to be reunited with HIS bride, Israel and Judah, according to HIS own laws the only way the Bride is free to marry another after being divorced is following the death of the Husband. God had to die, so that Israel could be released from the Old Covenant and the New could be established. Yeshua's death was for much more than the forgiveness of sin, which is breaking the Law. Yeshua's death also allowed for God to be reunited with HIS bride, lawfully. Yeshua came to unite the House of Israel and the House of Judah in covenant with the Father. To be a faithful bride to an honorable groom. That is the story between God and Mankind.
God made mankind to be a faithful bride. Mankind was unfaithful. God divorces HIS bride. God makes the ultimate sacrifice to pay for the unfaithfulness of HIS lost bride. God is able to reunite with HIS bride because of HIS sacrifice. It is simple.
God then calls HIS people to live a certain way. "Go and sin no more", "be set apart", "live righteously".
Scripture is explicit.
Sin is breaking the Law(1 John 3:4)
Grace is pardon for Sin, which is breaking the Law.
The Messiah, our Savior died, so that we may have Grace for the pardon of Sin, which is breaking the law.
The Gospel was given by the Messiah, our Savior who died, so that we may have Grace for the pardon of Sin, which is breaking the law.
In our Churches we hear the Preacher, proclaim the Gospel, given by the Messiah, our Savior who died so that we may have Grace, which is the pardon for Sin, which is breaking the law.
He who hates sin must uphold the Law. Whoever fights against the Law is upholding sin, whether you you like it or not.
Today, there are men who are fighting God's Law in Church.
The Scripture teaches us where there is no law, there is no sin.(Romans 4:15; 5:13)
If there is no sin, there is no need for Grace, which is pardon for Sin.
If we don't need Grace to be given by a Messiah who died to that we may have pardon for Sin.
Then we don't need a Savior, We don't need a Gospel which is the story of the Savior who died so that we may have Grace for the pardon of Sin.
If we don't need a Gospel, then the Preacher has nothing to say and the Church is left empty.
Yeshua's own word were explicit.
"Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the Prophets. I have come to fulfill the law and the Prophets. Sooner shall Heaven and Earth pass away than for one jot or tittle to ever pass away from the Law." -Matthew 5:17-18
Which begs the question, is the Earth still here? How then could you ever begin to believe the law to be done away with? If so, you make Yeshua a liar and by doing so call Him a sinner. Nullifying the very work done by God to reunite with HIS bride and negating the very salvation of you claim.
I first began to become persuaded by the words of the bible around the age of 16 or 17. I had been saved since I was 12 and had been reading and studying scripture EVERYDAY since then. I carried a bible to class everyday in school from grades 8 - 12. I lead studies. I lead people in the "Prayer of Salvation"(which is one thing I came to learn isn't found in scripture). I lead small groups, taught lessons, was a leader in my Church from the age of 15 before moving churches and then being placed into yet ANOTHER leadership position, which I stayed in for 3 years before leaving. I am in no way unlearned in scripture. From the time I was 14 I began to study and learn both Greek and Hebrew. I've traveled on mission trips, built churches, lead many to the LORD, helped lead discipleship programs. I've had the opportunity to travel to Israel, visit The Western Wall, speak to Torah Scholars, Rabbis, and even read for myself, in person, the Dead Sea Scrolls as well as numerous other manuscripts. I am in no way lacking in knowledge of scripture.
I do not say these things to boast but to bring to attention that I am not just some "Internet Scholar". I have studied, I have learned, I have taught, and by the measures of multiple denominaitonal authorities including the Southern Baptist Convention, Church of God, Assemblies of God, as well as others I am certified and ordained to Pastor churches under the umbrella of these denominations.
I digress. The entirety of Scripture is one fluid story. From Genesis to Revelations it is one story about one people, one nation, one bride being wed to one groom. Errors do not come from Scripture, but come from Men. Ideologies built around man and man's understanding is always going to fall short. From teachings of a "Rapture", a "Trinity", and widely accepted and in all reality modern teachings that aren't reflected in scripture, such as "Dispenationalism" and the arguing of "Exegesis"; The "church", that is the Modern Traditional Coorprative buildings and organizations filled with men who put their word above the word of God and would rather make the Scriptures say what they want them to say than actually admit their fault and live the way the Scripture teaches.
I was posed with a thought around the age of 15 from one Francis Chan, a popular teacher in the Christendom. Francis was speaking and he got on the topic of understanding scripture. He poses teh question: If it were you. Only you and the Bible, God's word. If it were you and the bible ALL ALONE on a desserted island, and you were to read this book what would you believe? If you were stripped of all background knowledge, no denominational bias, having never heard of the Bible or Jesus and you read this book that we hold in such high esteem, what would you walk away believing? Just you and God's word. I am willing to bet that no one who honestly and whole heartidly seeks after such truth, stripping away all other opinions and commentary, would leave that island believing the same way as you do now. We believe what we are taught to believe. So often have we taken the words of others as the authority in what is truth for no other reason than someone as a title attached to their name. Such a practice is demonstribly in error.
We have been taught to treat the "Old Testament" and the "New Testament" as two wholly different books for two completely different people:
The "Old Testament" was for the Jews and the "New Testament" is for the Christians, THIS IS IN ERROR.
The "Old Testament" is categorized into what is called "The Law(Torah)", The Prophets(Nevi'im), and The Writings(Ketuvim)
The Torah being the 5 books attributed to Moses: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy.
The Prophets including: Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings(known as the Former Prophets).
As well as: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zachariah, and Malachi(known as the Latter Prophets)
The Writings being a collections of Poetry, Narrative, and Other Writings: Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Songs of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Ezra, and Chronicles.
The entirety of these books still follow the telling of a single story: That God, made man to fellowship and honor HIM. Mankind was to be a faithful Covenental bride. Mankind fell and became unrighteous due to disobedience to God's word. This leads to a division, a separation from God and Mankind. God would call those to HIMSELF who would honor and be faithful to HIM. HE chooses the descendants of Abraham to establish this Covenant. Abraham's descendants would become the Nation of Israel, the set apart people who were to be the Bride in the Covenant.
However the Nation of Israel was not exclusive to only those born of the seed of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob. After the Exodus from Egypt God brings HIS set apart people, The Hebrews, to Mt. Sinai where the Nation(The People) to be called by the promise of Israel is wed to The Father. However the Nation was made up of more than the 12 Tribes which included: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Joseph(which would split into Manasseh and Ephraim), and Benjamin, The Nation also included "strangers" known as "sojourners". These people were among the "mixed multitude" and co-heirs to the Promise of Israel not of birth, but by faith. These strangers had no natural claim to the promise, but were included in the Promise because they chose to become Hebrews, to "cross-over" into Covenant with The Father.
After the 12 Tribes settled in the Kingdom of Israel, which would be ruled by Judges then Kings, there was a division. The Kingdom split into what is called the Northern and the Southern Kingdoms. The Northern Kingdom called Israel(Ephraim) including 10 of the 12 Tribes of Israel: Asher, Dan, Ephraim, Gad, Issachar, Manasseh, Naphtali, Reuben, Simeon, and Zebulun. And the Southern Kingdom called Judah was made up of the Tribes of Judah and Benjamin. You should notice that the Tribe of Levi is not listed in either Kingdom. That is because the Tribe of Levi were the Priests of Israel and were responsible for maintaining the Temple, which included all of the Sacrifices and Appointed Times. This Tribe was spread across the Northern and Southern Kingdoms, responsible for holding the Tribes of Israel and the sojourners among them to the same standard and maintaining their relationship with The Father.
Eventually, The Northern Kingdom is conquered and the 10 Tribes are dispersed among the "nations"(goyim, gentiles, those out of Covenant). This is known as the Diaspora. All of this as a result of Israel's disobedience to God. Prior to the fall of the Northern Kingdom, God divorces Israel for being an unfaithful bride. It is then that God tells how the Old (Marriage) Covenant will be destroyed and how HE will reunite with the House of Israel and The House of Judah. HE does so through The Messiah, Jesus(Yeshua). Yeshua comes as God in the flesh. Lives in obedience to the Father, as we ALL should. Yeshua tells why He has come, "I come not but for the lose sheep of the House of Israel." In order for God to be reunited with HIS bride, Israel and Judah, according to HIS own laws the only way the Bride is free to marry another after being divorced is following the death of the Husband. God had to die, so that Israel could be released from the Old Covenant and the New could be established. Yeshua's death was for much more than the forgiveness of sin, which is breaking the Law. Yeshua's death also allowed for God to be reunited with HIS bride, lawfully. Yeshua came to unite the House of Israel and the House of Judah in covenant with the Father. To be a faithful bride to an honorable groom. That is the story between God and Mankind.
God made mankind to be a faithful bride. Mankind was unfaithful. God divorces HIS bride. God makes the ultimate sacrifice to pay for the unfaithfulness of HIS lost bride. God is able to reunite with HIS bride because of HIS sacrifice. It is simple.
God then calls HIS people to live a certain way. "Go and sin no more", "be set apart", "live righteously".
Scripture is explicit.
Sin is breaking the Law(1 John 3:4)
Grace is pardon for Sin, which is breaking the Law.
The Messiah, our Savior died, so that we may have Grace for the pardon of Sin, which is breaking the law.
The Gospel was given by the Messiah, our Savior who died, so that we may have Grace for the pardon of Sin, which is breaking the law.
In our Churches we hear the Preacher, proclaim the Gospel, given by the Messiah, our Savior who died so that we may have Grace, which is the pardon for Sin, which is breaking the law.
He who hates sin must uphold the Law. Whoever fights against the Law is upholding sin, whether you you like it or not.
Today, there are men who are fighting God's Law in Church.
The Scripture teaches us where there is no law, there is no sin.(Romans 4:15; 5:13)
If there is no sin, there is no need for Grace, which is pardon for Sin.
If we don't need Grace to be given by a Messiah who died to that we may have pardon for Sin.
Then we don't need a Savior, We don't need a Gospel which is the story of the Savior who died so that we may have Grace for the pardon of Sin.
If we don't need a Gospel, then the Preacher has nothing to say and the Church is left empty.
Yeshua's own word were explicit.
"Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the Prophets. I have come to fulfill the law and the Prophets. Sooner shall Heaven and Earth pass away than for one jot or tittle to ever pass away from the Law." -Matthew 5:17-18
Which begs the question, is the Earth still here? How then could you ever begin to believe the law to be done away with? If so, you make Yeshua a liar and by doing so call Him a sinner. Nullifying the very work done by God to reunite with HIS bride and negating the very salvation of you claim.
