Sunday August 2, 2009 The month of August is Dead Sea Scroll Month at Light of Messiah Congregation Toronto and for the entire month we are taking an in-depth look at the Dead Sea Scrolls. I will deliver a series of three messages, in seminar form with Power Point notes for the more studious which are designed to enlighten any student of the Bible to the similarities between the scrolls and the Newer Covenant. Was either John the Baptist or Yeshua members of the Qumranic Community? Who where those who occupied Qumran in the first century? The first in a series of three messages is available to be viewed on www.MessianicReport.com, “Yeshua and the Dead Sea Scrolls.” This message gives a bit of background on the community of Quran’s documents, such as “The Manual of Discipline” and “The War Scroll.” Further, we saw the similarities to The Sermon on the Mount and the Manual of Discipline through the phraseology used by the writers. The messages to follow in this series are “The History of the Dead Sea Scrolls” which will delve into the “Who, What and Where” of the scrolls from 1948 until the present. This message can be viewed on August 8th. Finally, “The Dead Sea Scrolls and the First Believers” will be aired on August 15th, with the points of similarity between the DSS community at Qumran and the first believers through the study and comparison of their texts. The Messages on the 8th and 15th will be aired live at approximately 11:10 EST and if you are able to join us live you are invited to view the following movies which will be broadcast in the main Toronto Sanctuary at 1:30 PM EST:· The Secrets of the Dead Sea Scrolls· Enigma of the Dead Sea Scrolls· The Mystery of the Dead Sea ScrollsOn August 16th there is a tour of the Royal Ontario Museum to view the scrolls. Please join us if the opportunity arises and if you need more information please call toll free in Canada 877-250-8906, or from outside Canada you may call 416-250-8906. Sunday June 7, 2009
Welcome back….I ask that you continue to pray for the requests listed below from June 4th, as there are so many exciting things happening around Light of Messiah Int. I truly believe that with your prayerful support our community builders will be succesful to complete the work in front of them.
I would like to continue w/Sha’ul’s Messiah & the components of the Kerygma.
5. Yeshua ascended into heaven & sat down
For Sha’ul Messiah was now our intercessor & was actively working in heaven on our behalf as he states in 1 Timothy 2:5-6, “For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Messiah Yeshua, Who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.”
- Yeshua is coming again as Judge
There was no doubt for Sha’ul that Yeshua would return for he wrote in his epistles many things concerning Messiah’s return & His ministry to follow…
- Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. "O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 7but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. 1 Corinthians 15:50-57
- But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Yeshua. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Messiah will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore, comfort one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
• Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming 2 Thessalonians 2:6
Sha’ul’s Messiah was & is the Messiah of the Book & all Sha’ul knew was that he would serve Him all the days of his life, yes, for him Messiah was his all in all!
Thursday June 4, 2009
Boker Tov! I have just returned from a very important series of meetings from which, I pray, will allow LOMMI a broader platform across Canada & most important, some of the support needed to plant more Messianic congregations! As a matter of fact LOMMI is on track to begin planting a congregation this year (Keswick, ON) & possibly 2 more next year (Ottawa & an undisclosed location for the moment). If our work expands to the Philippines & Poland, which appears to be the way God is leading, our current community builders Richard Sisson (Philippines) & Eugene Banak (Poland) are working extremely hard to build core groups in these 2 countries, we will easily be planting more congregations a year or two than any other Jewish planting organization!
LOMMI has planted 3 congregations in the last 5 years & has expanded its work to include Not-for Profit Religious Charitable Organizations in Israel (Ohr HaMashiach) & the United States (Beth El Shaddai Messianic Fellowship/ Publishing Inc.). LOMMI also has 3 congregations in the US (Temple Aviv Judea, The Bridge & Beth El Shaddai Messianic Fellowship).
Right now LOMMI is looking for more Community Builders! Every individual (Community Builder) entering LOMMI is enrolled, in what we call, our 2-Year Program. This program includes over 2 years: Classes (i.e., Survey of the Torah, Messianic Theology, Jewish History, The History of Anti-Semitism, Values Driven Leadership, Raising Biblical Support & more!). Internship in a local Messianic Congregation and/or another agreed upon internship, which would enhance the quality of training for the individual’s upcoming ministry.
Upon completion of the 2-Year Program the individual will have raised their personal support for the work ahead of them through a variety of channels & a charted course for building community, predetermined & charted by the 2_Year Program assessment & by the individual’s calling & giftedness. Their calling & giftedness are then put into service at the agreed location & then upon entering the community they can then begin their Community Building efforts.
If you feel called to Messianic Community Building, we need you! We need more candidates for our 2-Year Program in order to fulfill this awesome vision. We must to enroll at a minimum 15-25 more gifted & called individuals over the next 2 years to accomplish what is necessary to send more laborers into the fields…
So, please pray for more workers & if you know someone who may be called to this field of building please have them contact us <a href="mailto:info@MessianicReport.com"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; color: #ff9f29; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none">info@MessianicReport.com</span></a>. We here at <span style="color: #222222">LOMMI</span> remember that God has promised always to keep for Himself a Remnant, & our Community Builders are continually out there searching for them!</span></p><span></span> <span> Blessings, Don</span></font></font></div><div><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> Sunday May 30, 2009</font></font><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> Shavuot has just ended & we are now off into the fields for a summer of labor…Richard has just returned from the Philippines with his wife Miriam 7 their 2 children. <span> </span>An update on their work & the ministry accomplished will be given this week our Shabbat service from Toronto. You can join us @ 11:00am…as we broadcast our Torah service & message to follow. This week’s message is Finding God in Prayer part 2.
To continue with, Did Sha’ul’s message followed the Kerygma? I think when we come to the 3rd & 4th points of the Kerygma: 3. Yeshua suffered, died & was buried
4. Rose again & ascended to heaven & sat at the right hand of God
Sha’ul clearly taught that Messiah appeared to him & this was his life changing miracle & from that point on all he know was, that to live is Messiah & to die is gain…Sha’ul taught that Messiah died for our sins according to the Scriptures & that He was buried & that He was raised on the third day according to the S 1 Corinthians 15:3b-4
For Sha’ul there was nothing but what God had said…in Word & in deed & Sha’ul’s Messiah, was God’s Messiah…
Monday May 18, 2009
Good Morning! Today I would like to share a wonderful praise report & ask that you pray for the continued success of Light of Messiah Ministries International as we have many wonderful opportunities to share our faith & our work upcoming in the near future.
Also, pray for our worker Richard who is in the Philippines as I wrtie to you…Here is his most recent report:
Shalom, Rabbi Don and Darryl how are you? Thank you for your email and most of all thank you for your prayers and support. The Lord has been very gracious of using us to reach out to many people and He used us as a channel of blessings.
The following were our activities:
1. Our evangelism activities on the first week yielded the following results
a. Exposed the Word to about 250 people.
b. There were 168 people who received the Lord
c. There were 87 people who wanted to join the Bible study
d. We gave over two hundred Bibles to the local congregations for them to give it to those who are interested for Bible study.
e. We conducted kid’s day. We conducted feeding and gift giving to over 50 kids. We also shared the Word to the little ones.
f. We endorsed them to local congregation for follow-up
g. I conducted seminar on Passover and other God’s appointed Feasts and was attended by four different pastors and their deacons for 20 people. They were all very excited and received our message well
h. I also became a speaker in the Sunday school and Worship service at Sunbeam Bible Baptist Church, introduced them our ministry, and gave them a message from our Jewish roots.
2. Our evangelism activities on the second and third week are as follows:
a. I conducted a 4-hour seminar about Passover and God’s appointed Feasts and was attended by 11 pastors and some of their elders. I have them tasted all the elements of the Passover. They were ecstatic and excited about what we shared. Some even hinted that they might practice them in their congregations.
b. I spoke in the morning service of Bethany Baptist Church Pangarap and shared to them our ministry and the Jewish roots of our faith.
c. We reached out to many people through Film showing and there were over 200 people was exposed to the Word and there were about 20-30 people accepted the Lord and about half of them wanted to have a Bible study. We endorsed them to the local Baptist congregations there.
d. I spoke at Bustos Bible Baptist Church and presented the Passover and other Feasts to their evening service and was attended by over 100 people and the Pastor and the congregation was excited to hear our message.
e. I spoke to the Sunday morning Service of Bethany Baptist Mission and was attended by over 50 people and told them about our ministry and our message regarding Jewish roots of faith and they too were excited to hear the message.
f. We shared the used Christians books from Canada to different pastors who attended the Passover seminar and many Christian leaders were blessed.
Upcoming activities for the remaining of our stay here are as follows:
1. We will have Kids day this coming Saturday and we will do feeding to less fortunate children and gift giving as well. We will do this with the cooperation of Bethany Baptist Mission.
2. We have one more evangelism activity next week with the cooperation of another congregation.
3. We have another kids day as the box of used toys we sent from Canada arrived already and we are planning to do this on May 23 just a week before we leave for Canada.
4. I am working on to speak about God’s appointed feast to another congregation but it is still under negotiations.
5. I am also training one of my Christian friends here in the concept of our messianic movement and I really praise the Lord for the open-heart and mind of this person. He already started to practice dietary commandments and Sabbaths. After we did a Shabbat dinner together, he wanted to practice them as well with his family.
Please continue to pray for our activities and for our health and safety as we continue to desire to be used by the Lord for His work.
We also long to be back there as we miss you all.
God bless you all.
Richard and family
Thursday May 14, 2009
Sorry for the week long absence I had a head cold & I am still working through it & thanks for those who were praying.
Also, I would ask for your continued prayers for our representative Richard S. who is now in the Philippines teaching pastors & others about the Biblical Roots of our faith & the need to reach Israel w/the Good News of Messiah. Richard will be there for another week & 1/2. Pray for his success in the Lord & his & his faimly’s safe return.
Now on with point #2 of the Kerygma & Sha’ul’s message…
#2 Yeshua worked miracles & did good according to the prophecies concerning Messiah ben Yoseph (the suffering son like Joseph & his typology as a messianic figure who suffered for the salvation of his family).
Boker tov, Sha’ul’s message followed the Kerygma quite closely.
However, in Sha’ul’s writings we do not find any many references of Yeshua’s miracles & the good works He did in His life, except from the perspective of one who came after the eyewitness accounts. What do I mean? Sha’ul was not an original disciple, he did not bear witness to any real physical miracle Yeshua accomplished while living among us, that we know of… & this can be noted from the language he uses. In Ephesians 2:8-10 we are encouraged by Sha’ul that we have been saved by grace through faith & not that of ourselves, but it is the gift of God so that no man can boast. But, he continues & states that, “We are His (God’s) workmanship in Messiah Yeshua created to walk in the good works He (God) laid before us.” OK, where are the works He (God) laid before us so that when we became “new creatures” (2 Corinthians 5:17) we could walk in them? It has to be the Torah, Prophets & the Writings! Because when Sha’ul wrote this the letters & the Gospel accounts of the Newer Covenant were not yet all written & brought together. In other words, they were unknown to all except the few who had them locally at that time. So, therefore, for Sha’ul Yeshua was the Messiah, who walked in those good works first for us to follow as an example. But, there was one miracle that Sha’ul was a witness to, the Damascus road experience where the risen Messiah appeared to him. After this, the Messiah was his all in all. Proof positive that Messiah had come, fulfilled the Messianic prophecies concerning Messiah ben Yoseph & kept Torah, returned to God that we might follow:
· Concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead… Romans 1:4
• Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.
Romans 7:4
Next, the death, burial & resurrection of Yeshua in Sha’ul’s Kerygma…blessings, Don
Wednesday May 6, 2009
Boker tov & may the God of our Messiah bless you today & always…
Yeshua’s message never changed, but did Sha’ul’s message follow the Kerygma? Because there is no variation in the message of the Good News we should find the exact same message in Sha’ul’s writing as we find in the Good News accounts. the Good News, Kerygma, Gospel is simply:
- Yeshua (God) became man born of a virgin
- Work miracles & did good
- Suffered, died & was buried
- Rose again & ascended & Sat at the right hand of God
- Is coming again as Judge
- Therefore, repent of who you think the Messiah is…
I believe that Sha’ul’s message followed the Kerygma & this can be noted from the first point of the Kerygma (I will go point by point):
- Yeshua (God) became man born of a virgin(Almah)
Was Sha’ul’s Messiah God born of a virgin?
• …From whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen. Romans 9:5
• But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law. Galatians 4:4
Sha’ul uses the language of the Diaspora in using the Greek word gune for Mary the mother of Yeshua, of whom he simply states, “…was born of a woman (gune)…” Which, in times past can be found to mean a virgin! Yes, in the Greek language gune was used for a virgin. However, the point of Sha’ul here is not one of defending the birth of Yeshua, he was merely pointing out Yeshua’s birth in respects to time and linage. Yes, I believe he is following the Kerygma or, the content of the teaching. As he said, “I received the hand of fellowship” this was of course for the message he preached.
Next, point # 2 & more of Sha’ul’s Kerygma…
Wednesday April 29, 2009
Good Morning, Sha’ul states in Romans 10:4 that Messiah is the "end" of the Torah for all who believe…what does this mean?
Throughout the centuries, many have accused Sha’ul (Paul) of creating the "Christian Jesus." By this, they mean that the message Paul took was one of a Messiah, which he, personally made into a God…the real Jesus did not claim to be God, Paul, who also started Christianity made him God. Was Paul’s Jesus a Messiah of grace, who was against the Torah? Many have said Paul preached that Yeshua did away with the Torah…this could not be further from the truth… The Good News, the Gospel, the Kerygma, or the content of the teaching is this…
- Yeshua (God) became man born of a virgin
- Worked miracles & did good
- Suffered, died & was buried
- Rose again & ascended & sat at the right hand of God
- Is coming again as Judge & to Reign for 1000 years
- Therefore, repent of who you think the Messiah is…
How did Sha’ul view the “Messiahship” of Yeshua in light of the Kerygma, or Good News? For Sha’ul, Yeshua was from the stock of Israel & a possession for all of Israelites to cherish (9:5). He is also the One Who is the “telos gar nomou” or, “the end of the Torah” in Romans 10:4. The word telos is used in the Gospels mainly to mean something coming to an “end” & the usage is much like the apocalyptic writings of the day in Israel. However, this is not the way Sha’ul always uses the word & also in the Diaspora, the word telos had a variety of ways of being understood… Telos gar nomou/the goal of the law Telos in Classical Greek In its original meaning telos was “the turning point, the hinge, the culminating point at which one stage ends & another begins a later goal. Hence, it was the literal change, which brought the goal, such as, the goal of an ethical life.
Telos also has five major meaning usages within this context:
1. Achievement
2. Completion
3. Obligation (such as taxes)
4. Offering (religious)
5. Detachment Group
As the Greek language evolved & the Scriptures had their translation into the Greek language, we must remember that Hebraic thought was also translated into the Hellenistic mindset. This completed itself through the choice of words made by the scholars, whom used Greek words to interpret Jewish Theology, History & Eschatology. The word telos was used in place of 7 other Hebrew terms as well as 12 cognate forms within those 7 (i.e., “eis to telos” literally means “for ever”).
Telos in the Septuagint also refers to:
1. Numbers 31:28; 37-38 – A “tribute” offering to the Lord
2. 2 Chronicles 31:1 signifying the end of a series of events
3. Daniel 11:13 – the end of events4. Job 14:20 – denoting “once for all.”
Telos in the Newer Covenant period Greek sees the use of this word about 40 times. In the Synoptic Gospels it is used to mean mainly the “the end,” the end, or the close of this age. This language is also very similar to the other Jewish writings of the day. Yeshua even used this word in the same fashion:1. Matthew 10:22 & 24:62. Mark 13:7 & 133. Luke 21:9
However, to Sha’ul telos differs a bit, as he seems to carry a Diaspora understanding & definition to the word more so than those of the Synoptic Gospel writers…even John’s single usage of the word does not denote the end of the age, merely the end of Yeshua’s physical life for the moment. John’s whole discourse is on how Yeshua will not leave them as “orphans” & that He is returning (John 14:8 & 28).
“Telos gar nomou- the goal (obligation) of the Torah/Law” according to Sha’ul is a telos of obligation & payment of debt (Romans 13:7). In other places he uses it indicate that he was merely thinking of an end point (1 Corinthians 1:8). For Shaul, telos is the result of understanding the Scriptures (Romans 10:4) or the lack of understanding them (Philippians 3:19). It is the indwelling of the Ruach HaKodesh which now makes sense of the Torah for us focusing us on what the prophet’s saw (1 Peter 1:10-12).
Therefore, if telos also carries the meaning of “the obligation of the Torah/Law…” this could very well theologically fit into the context given Israel concerning her obedience to the Angel of the Lord. “Be on your guard before him and obey his voice; do not be rebellious toward him, for he will not pardon your transgression, since My name is in Him” (Exodus 23:21). This also coincides with John 17:11… Next: Sha’ul’s Kerygma
Wednesday April 22, 2009 Good morning!
I have been thinking a lot lately about what James says in verse 3:6 of his epistle, "The tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body & sets on fire the course of our life & is set on fire by hell." The reason I ponder this is that lately I have been running into many individuals who claim to be believers in Messiah with some even being leaders in the Body of Messiah. Some with titles & some self-appointed. The point being this; what comes out of their mouth by way of slander, gossip & unreliable pieces of information about others is amazingly evil. Please realize when this happens there is an abundance of other symptoms of the same disease, which will manifest as time goes by. In addition, the pride, which goes along with these statements made by these individuals, is what really bothers me. How do you speak about others to someone & think that they do not recognize that you will soon be speaking about them in public? I almost feel sorry for these individuals because it truly is a pitiful state to be involved. It is a sin issue.This type of behaviour in the Body must be counteracted with Biblical principles & fortitude. First, biblical principle states that if a brother has an issue & is speaking about someone to someone else that this is an immediate indicator that the individual has an issue with the person named. Therefore, you, the individual who is about to become the recipient of this bad report about somebody, have the responsibility to tell the carrier of this comment to, "Go & speak to the person involved, not me." Most of all you must tell the carrier of this evil report that, "I will be speaking to the person who you mentioned in this report & I will be telling them what you said & that you will get in touch with that person." This will certainly stop all gossip coming to you. That is if you want gossip to stop coming to you!The Bible states in Matthew 18:15, "If your brother sins (maybe he has offended you), go to him & show him his fault in private…if he listens to you, you have won a brother." Now, what does it mean if someone says as they carry this bad report, "I am only telling you so you can avoid this person and/or trouble!" Well, first, telling more people makes it no longer a private matter & it certainly shows that the individual carrying this evil report could care less about biblical practice. More than likely, though, this individual has not gone to their brother & they do not intend to do so. Therefore, it means that they are not trying to reconcile at all! They want to gather forces against this person & that as James states is allowing the tongue to be set on fire by hell.Please, whatever you do, if someone speaks evil you, do not return the evil. Go to them privately. If you have & they continue, go again…because in the Greek Matthew 18:15 is written to say, "Keep on going to your brother…" Therefore, in the sense, that if it must be done a few times, so be it. However, if they refuse to listen then take witnesses who were, "Eye to eye, mouth to mouth, face to face," (Deuteronomy 19:15). These are to be individuals who were eyewitnesses to the event & not people who are spiritual and/or just plain agree with you. They must be eyewitness to the event! Most of all…is not caught up in the game of gossip because it is truly murder. The character assassination of another person is a murderous event in the sight of God & He will hold each of us accountable for each murder we commit with our tongue. Pray, be bold & do what the bible says….
Monday April 20, 2009
I have an opinion about something that has bothered me for some time now & it is something that is very deeply woven into the fabric of the Messianic Movement & Messianic Judaism, it is the phrase, "Torah Observance." While I am all for the Torah & I am all for God’s Word, I am not all for this phrase for 2 reasons:
(1) I am not sure what the definition of Torah Observance in Messianic Judaism actually is & I see many definitions in action at various times in place to place & it is quite confusing to people. So, what is its definition & is there a better theological "Newer Covenant" definition we could use?
(2) For all of the phrase’s good intent & the good intentions of those who use it, the phrase "Torah Observance" does imply that those using it keep the Torah. If this is true then they would correct their bad behaviour which did not line-up with Torah immediately & I do not see this happening at all.
So, I wish to deal with #2 first, & maybe supply a thought or two on this subject…
(2) I am not sure everybody who say that they are "Torah Observant" are as truely "Torah Observant" as they think they are…remember that James states, "For whosoever shall keep the whole Law (the Torah & all of its commandments) & yet stumbles in one of them, he has become guilty of all." James tells us every man fails & it appears he is speaking to those who are trying keep the "whole Law."
Now, while I am all for the Torah & its commands, believing they are from God Himself & I admit I don’t know what to do with all 613 of the commands. Some seem obscure & others we are unable to keep when not in the land or, when the Temple is not standing, etc. How many do the Believing Jews keep & how many do the Gentiles keep & how do we keep some in practice? All of this & more goes through my mind, however…I believe there is a starting point which can help us…
Romans 8:29 – "For those He (God) foreknew, He (God) predestined them to be conformed to the image of His Son (Yeshua)..."
(1) I am not sure what the real definition of "Torah Obervance" is, but, what I found was this "Discipleship to Yeshua means a lifetime of obedience to the Torah of Moses." This was about the best format for a definition I could find which made sense, howerver, I am not sure about the wording according to the Newer Covenant.
But, what I do know is that the Newer Covenant says we are "being conformed to the image of His Son." Therefore, if Yeshua is the Law (Torah) giver (Exodus 23:20 & Malachi 3:1) & we must be discipled in the Word to see what it looks like to be conformed. Remeber we are being conformed to His image, the image of Yeshua, who said He is the "Lord of the Sabbath" & "One w/the Father, this is accomplished through discipline & practice & only then through serious disicpleship. I believe instead of "Torah Observance" we should state we are being "Torah-Conformed."
"Torah-Conformed" is that through (1) The Study of God’s Word w/ a good teacher & (2) Practicing what we have learned, eventually we will become conformed to the image of the Living Word of God.
Now, back to # 2
(2) So, what are we to do, not follow any of the commands, as some have suggested & make god’s grace cheap? No, I think the real issue is definition of works. Ephesians 2:10 says, "We are His (God’s) workmanship in Messiah Yeshua created to walk in the Good works He (God) laid before us." This means the Good Works written in the Torah are truley "Good Works & we are to walk in them. But, how can we walk in what we don’t know.
The bottom line…Discipleship…and not bad discipleship, or legalistic discipleship…but, start with what you know in a good heart & God will lead you.
"For those whom He foreknew, He predestined them to become conformed to the image of His Son" (Romans 8:29).
Sunday April 19, 2009
I am of the opinion that many in the Body of Messiah are confused over the issues of God’s grace & legalism. I also think that thee individuals who are confused do not personally believe they are confused & to them what they believe makes perfect sense. However, for me, theions I have recieved from them for thier beliefs do not line up with Scripture.
I am told God’s grace free’s us from the Law in Messiah Yeshua. This I believe. But, why all the emphasis on the "we can do nothing" part? I have asked large groups of people to recite Ephesians 2:8-9, which they can do readily, but when asked to recite verse 2:10 this they can not do…maybe you can recite it without looking it up…if not here it is:
For we are His (God’s) workmanship created in Messiah Yeshua for good works which He prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them."
We were not saved by works, but we were saved to do good works which "God has prepared beforehand." Therefore, God’s grace was Yeshua’s atonement on our behalf & the giving of the Spirit (Who moved in the Prophets 1 Peter 1:10-11). The Spirit now illuminates us in the same manner in which He moved witin the prophets, as it says, "...as the Spirit of Messiah within them was indiscating…" The prophets wrote about Him & now for us the Spirit illuminates those writings. The prophets wrote about God’s Rightousness, Yeshua His Messiah & God’s people should do right in His eyes by following His commands. So, where is the list of these works? In the Torah, the Prophets & the writings…for when Sha’ul (Paul) wrote Ephesians there were no "Newer Testament" writings regarded as Scripture yet. Therefore, the "Good Works" were listed for the people in the Bible as they knew it…and now we are being asked to disregard these commands?
Tomorrow, I will tackle the issue of Torah Observance, or are we being Torah conformed?
Links will be placed here for archived blogs, as I do not wish to see one long trail of stuff…
Should Christians Keep
any Old Testament Feasts?
