are Babylon painted to look like Zion, deceiving all the nations into her spiritual adultery and fornications. The whole world follows this beast with horns like a lamb (Rev.13:11), with many names, and power given him to extend his authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation. These sects and denominations pretend that Christ is their husband but these false churches are the whore of Babylon, for they substitute superstitious ritual for obedience to Messiah's commands to repent, His teachings (Torah), His requirements, His warnings, His required holiness (set-apartness), His Gospel, His Kingdom, His promised freedom from sin, and His cross of self-denial - the Missing Cross to Purity. This mystery of iniquity is permitted by Yahweh to test the elect's commitment to truth.
Objection #2
The second objection that believers often make is Yah'shua's teaching that His yoke is "easy" and His burden is "light" (Mt.11:28-30) and the cross is not easy or light, losing your life is not easy or light, suffering is not easy or light. However, they are missing the point entirely because they do not understand the contrast which is the hell of carrying Satan's load on your back and trying to save yourself compared with Yah'shua's Way!
Life-Shattering Experiences
Yah'shua calls those who have sickened of the worldly life and the pig fodder of its supposed rewards; it seems that few come to Him unless they have had a life-shattering experience and are forced, out of desperation, to seek for the truth. Coming to Him in this life to be purified is very easy, compared to being purified in Hell. You will be purified here voluntarily, or there, involuntarily. While here on the cross, you have His encouragement, His forgiveness, His constant help, and His arranging the world around you to speed your progress. Your cross is a picnic in the park compared to His cross. The end result of the cross is freedom, peace, and rest - a rest from the labours of the world; to sit down IN Messiah, following His promptings and guidance, propelled by the power of the Ruach haQodesh, comforted by His peace, love, and joy. Without holiness (set-apartness), no one will see Yahweh. Without a pure heart, you will not see Elohim.
The Only Way is the Way of the Cross
The cross is the only way. There are so many who claim to be Christians or Messianic who are enemies of the cross whose end is destruction, for their god is their belly (their lusts) and whose glory is their shame, because their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, from where we look for the Saviour, the Master Yah'shua the Messiah, who will change our vile body, so that it may be transformed to be like His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able to subdue all things to Himself (Phil.3:18-21).
Conclusion
Brethren and sisters, since a promise of entering into His rest still stands, let us greatly fear, as the first talmidim or disciples did, lest any of us should come short of it (Heb.4:1). Let us get on with the task of going to and waiting on the Master, so that He can perfect holiness in us - all done by grace - as we abide obediently in His shebahlev - His Covenant Heart - as sons and daughters of the Living Torah, Yah'shua the Messiah.
I pray that this study, though lengthy and at times repetitive, has been a blessing to you. This has more or less been our message since the beginning of this ministry though perhaps it lacked the clarity and force back then as it has today. Let us end all the pretence of the 'instant salvation gospel' and bring all Scripture together as one, allowing Yahweh to reveal the harmony and purpose of His design for our degenerate race. To me, it feels a bit like starting again, for the truth - once faced and acknowledged - has a tendency to hit one hard. There is, however, nothing wrong in that because with truth comes confidence, and with confidence, determination. The grace of our Master Yah'shua is free and in abundance if we will but accept and apply it to repentance and reformation. And then, when the curtain closes, and it is time to return home, we will - Yah willing - meet the returning Messiah in our hearts and recognise that we are, finally, like Him, and shall dwell with Him forever. Amen.
SUPPLEMENTARY STUDY
The following is a supplementary study for those who wish to understand how the promoters of false grace twist the sctiptures. Their error, as should not be plain, is looking at only a few of the verses in Paul's lengthy letter to the Romans, ignoring the whole of the letter. Here is how they did it, starting with Romans 3:10:
- "There is no one righteous, not even one" (Romans 3:10)
- "There is no one who understands, no one who seeks Elohim (God)" (Romans 3:11)
- "All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one" (Romans 3:12)
False argument: 'No one is righteous, no one decides to seek Elohim (God) themselves; Elohim (God) draws us to Himself. Therefore, no one can boast.'
- "Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin" (Romans 3:20)
False argument: 'We cannot obtain righteousness by following the Law.'
- "But now a righteousness from Elohim, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify" (Romans 3:21)
- "This righteousness from Elohim (God) comes through faith in Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) to all who believe. There is no difference" (Romans 3:22)
- "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of Elohim (God)" (Romans 3:23)
Correct argument: 'Righteousness comes through faith in Yah'shua (Jesus); no matter what you have done, righteousness is available through faith' BUT this is not instant righteousness, as they incorrectly assume.
- Paul clarifies: "For we through the Ruach (Spirit) wait for the hope of righteousness by faith" (Galatians 5:5)
- Paul further says: "You are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness" (Romans 6:16,19)
- And Yah'shua said: "But seek first the Kingdom of Elohim (God), and His righteousness" (Matthew 6:33)
Conclusion: So, by faith we are given the right to approach Yahweh, seeking His grace; but we are not instantly righteous. Otherwise, we would not be told to seek, wait, obey, and hope for righteousness.
- Paul further says: "Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of Elohim (God): I speak this to your shame" (1 Cor.15:34)
These blind guides want to rest on the "imputed righteousness of Christ" to us, based on our faith, as it was with Abraham. True, Abraham received imputed righteousness even before he was circumcised. True, our faith is imputed righteousness. But he went on to be circumcised, just as we must receive the spiritual circumcision - our heart circumcised from sin. As Abraham exercised his faith to leave his home for a new land, so we forsake the world to enter Yahweh's Kingdom. As Abraham exercised his faith by obeying Yahweh's voice, willing to sacrifice Isaac, so we too must be obedient to the voice within. We can't just sit around celebrating our imputed righteousness, which only gives us the right to approach Yahweh for help. No, we must go to Him to receive His cleansing grace to become righteous, the fruit of which is shalom (peace); and the effect of righteousness is quietness and confident trust forever (Isaiah 32:17). Imputed peace, quietness and confident trust forever is the make-believe instant righteousness of make-believe Christians. So, this is the test: You are righteous and justified, if you have the peace that surpasses all understanding; quietness and confidence forever.
- Paul said: "Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Messiah Yah'shua" (Romans 3:24)
But this access to Yahweh does not make us instantly justified, for we seek to be justified in Messiah (Galatians 2:17).
- "And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace" (Romans 11:6)
- "Not of works, lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9)
It is faith and grace that save. We are not saved by works, but by grace resulting from our faith in Yah'shua. Very true! But slaves of depravity twist grace to be instantly complete and to justify doing nothing - even repenting! According to Paul, grace teaches what to deny and how to live in a godly way that leads to purity (Titus 2:11-14). These whitewashed false prophets have the audacity to claim that the cross and repentance is 'works'. Going beyond the ridiculous, they tell you that if you do anything, you will lose your salvation by falling under the Law (Torah), as though that were something bad too. This is a malicious distortion of the truth, dreamed up by lazy, evil men, devoid of any sense of godliness. Works without faith in Messiah count for nothing with Yahweh. But works energised by faith in Messiah are essential.
- Paul said: "I declared...that they should repent, turn to Elohim (God), and do works befitting repentance" (Acts 26:2)
- "The cross is only obedience, and those who oppose it are headed for destruction, for their god is their belly" (Philippians 3:19)
- James said: "You believe that Elohim (God) is echad (one); you do well. Even the demons believe, and tremble. Are you willing to be shown, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?" (James 2:19-20)
- Paul further said: "Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12)
- Again Paul said, grace results in a people "zealous for good works" (Titus 2:14)
- Yah'shua said: "Unless you repent you will all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3). Repentance requires effort on your part.
- "And, As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Be zealous therefore, and repent" (Revelation 3:19). To be zealous is to have ardent desire, to be enthusiastic).
- Yah'shua further said: "Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me" (Matthew 11:29)
- Yah'shua said: "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me" (Luke 9:23)
- Yah'shua said: "I have not found your works perfect before Elohim (God)" (Revelation 3:2-3). Yah'shua wants perfect works.
- Yah'shua said: "Stop toiling and doing and producing for the food that perishes and decomposes, but strive and work and produce rather for the food which endures unto life eternal" (John 6:27)
- James said: "You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only" (James 2:24).
- So works are essential to realising righteousness, purity, salvation, and the Kingdom - given to us by faith and grace.
- Paul again: "I declared...that they should repent, turn to Elohim (God), and do works befitting repentance" (Acts 26:20)
The blind guides say that since grace is free, there is nothing you need to do for salvation. Free is free. I say, true; grace is free, but salvation is not. Salvation comes by the long process of the gifts of grace with faith that is evidenced by works, starting with repentance. We are saved by grace, as the sinful nature dies on the cross; and our death is not evidence of being worthy of Yahweh's gifts - no, just the shame of being so unworthy.
Remember, Yah'shua told his disciples to preach repentance with remission of sins (Luke 24:47). False grace/salvation, keeps the forgiveness and ignores repentance; the blind guides don't even know how to repent.
- Paul again: "What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under the Law (Torah), but under grace? Elohim (God) forbid" (Romans 6:15).
So grace is not a license to continue to sin. We are not condemned while we are waiting to be cleansed, but according to Paul again, we have to continue to work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12).
- Paul said: "But thanks be to Elohim (God) that though you were previously the slaves of sin, you have obeyed from the heart the fullness of teaching given to you" (Romans 6:17) - he is talking to people then free from sin, having obeyed the doctrine that made them free from sin
- "Having then been set free from sin, you became the slaves of righteousness" (Romans 6:18) by obedience to the doctrine referred to in 6:17, they were made free from sin and became slaves to righteousness.
But now being made free from sin, and having become slaves to Elohim (God), you have the reward of holiness, and at the end, everlasting life (Romans 6:22). You cannot serve Yahweh unless you are free from sin. Everlasting life comes after you have produced fruit to holiness.
- And finally Paul says it all in conclusion: "For if you live after the flesh, you will die; but if you through the Ruach (Spirit) you mortify the deeds of the body, you will live" (Romans 8:13-14)
- "And having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of Elohim (God)" (2 Corinthians 7:1)
So there it is: perfecting holiness. I can't imagine a stronger requirement than to be perfectly holy. This is not make-believe Christianity: this is the real requirement of being a Christian.
Paul again, speaking to mature Christians who have been set free from sin and are enjoying holiness: "But now since you have been set free from sin and have become the slaves of Elohim (God), you have your present reward in holiness and its end is eternal life" (Romans 6:22).
Paul's patient teachings, explaining in detail how salvation works, have been twisted into the devilish doctrine of instant salvation.
So the false grace/salvation doctrines are based on 'cherry-picking' a few verses from the Bible about grace and twisting them to mean salvation, while ignoring the preponderance of other verses throughout the Bible that totally change their meaning considered alone; by promoting 'instant salvation by faith and grace', they excuse evil to be good, they make black white; and they ask you to pay them money for their error, even when they are specifically forbidden to take money (1 Pet.5:2). And Acts 20:29-31 tells us: "Even from among your own selves men will come to the front who, by saying perverse (distorted and corrupt) things, will endeavor to draw away the disciples after them". They were taught by Bible Colleges rather than by Messiah himself. Instant grace is the broad way that leads to destruction, vs. the narrow way that is contracted by pressure that leads to life, which few will find.
The world wants a Christ that excuses them to live their life as they choose; that is why the false, instant grace/salvation has swept the false assemblies and churches - false teachers telling them what their itching ears want to hear: relax, just say you believe in Jesus, get washed by water (baptised), and by magic you are reborn, free to continue your 'new life' in sin - but assured of escaping Hell and going to heaven when you die. Relax, relax, grace, grace. Didn't your common sense tell you the false, instant salvation your preacher sold you was at least a little suspicious?
"Let everyone who names the name of Messiah (Yah'shua/Jesus) depart from iniquity" (2 Tim.2:19, NKJV).
And how are we going to do that? By obeying the Torah and the daily commandments we are given by the Ruach through faith in the grace of Messiah Yah'shua.
Acknowledgements
[1] Hall W. Worthington, True Grace
Endnotes
1
See Amazing Graces and Free Gifts Series
2
See Amazing Graces and Free Gifts - Part 2: Gifts vs. Free Gifts
3
See Shavu'ot
4
See Sukkot
5
See Shavu'ot 2005: We Agree Before We have Listened
6
See Israel and Israelites
7
See Existentialism
8
See Deliverance
9
See The Fallacy of Taking Four Verses Out of Context with the Thousands of Others
10
See Festivals
11
See The Seven Openings and How Do I Get Eternal Life?
12
See Sabbath
13
See Rosh Chodesh
14
See Festivals
15
To understand the phrase "under the law", see Part 1: Unmerited Grace and Merited Favour
16
See The Assassination and Restoration of the Gospel of Paul
17
For example: Romans 8:8; 8:13, Phil 2:12; Galatians 5:19-24; 2 Cor.7:1; 1 Thes.4:7; 1 Cor.15:34; Acts 26:20
18
Wikipedia Francis Howgill and The Life of Francis Howgill
19
Diligence is defined as continually attending to and striving to achieve a goal; laboriousness; perseverance
20
See The Nine Character Tests
21
Of this passage George Fox said: "...grace and truth came by Jesus Christ, who would teach them to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly and godly in this present world. So that every man and woman might know the grace of God, which had appeared to all men; which was saving, and sufficient to bring their salvation. This teacher, the grace of God, would teach them how to live, what to do, and what to deny; it would season their words, and establish their hearts.
"So all people (in that which is called the whole Christendom) come to the light that Christ Jesus has enlightened you with, that with it you may see your salvation, and know Christ your Teacher, your captain of your salvation, and the grace that comes by him, that brings your salvation, which grace teaches us, which is sufficient in weakness and temptation that brings salvation, and by it are we saved; and it teaches to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly and righteously; and this is our Teacher which brings salvation. Therefore have all the loins of your minds girded up to wait for the grace to be brought unto you at the Revelation of Jesus Christ; mind Peter's exhortation.
"Now they that turn from the grace into wantonness [unrestraint], and walk despitefully against the Spirit of God, set up teachers according to their own hearts' lusts, and such are always learning under them, being unable to come to the knowledge of the truth, and so go into and remain in the earthly lusts, ungodliness, and into temptations, and weaknesses where there is mourning and complaining, and where the mourners are many; therefore come to the grace of God, and that is it which will let you see your ungodliness, unrighteousness, lust of the world, and unsoberness; that is your Teacher at all times; which will bring salvation if you mind it, and regard it, and take heed unto it; but if you turn it into wantonness [unrestraint], the swift judgments of God will come upon you.
"Therefore mind the grace of God, the Teacher at all times which brings salvation; by which you may see your salvation; by which you may see your salvation brought; for the mighty day of the Lord is coming upon all the unrighteousness of men; the Lord God his Son is appearing towards you; who has all power in heaven and earth given to him, who is the King of kings, the Lord of lords. Therefore mind and receive the light with which he has enlightened you, that you may receive him. Set open your gates that the King of Glory may come in, who stands at the door and knocks; turn to the light, and you open the gate, where the entering of the King of Glory is seen. And come off all the barren mountains that are in the fall out from God's image, life, and power, come from all the wells without water, and tempests and clouds without rain which wander about. Come to the light, and receive the light, that in the light you may receive Christ, and become his sons; that through that you may see the morning star appear where the Sons of God sing together. For woe is to the world which lies in wickedness, for the Lord is come to judge it; and to give all Men the reward according to their works, whether they are good, or whether they are evil: And with the light you may every one know whether your works are good, or whether they are evil, for that which may be known of God is made manifest in you, which God has showed to you, when you do the thing that is unrighteous or worthy of death; by that of God in you, you can tell.
"And when you go from that of God within you, you do not glorify God, as God, but you are strangers from his life; and strangers from the covenant of life; and peace which is in Christ; and so come your foolish hearts to be dark fed and filled with unrighteousness, and upon such come God's judgments and wrath.
"Now they who are made free from the wrath which is to come, they are come to that of God in them; to the light, and so see Christ the covenant of peace, who destroys the devil, and takes away the enmity which is between them and the Lord, through which comes the wrath, woe and misery; by which light, (Christ, God's covenant), man is brought into Peace with God, and saved from the wrath to come, from all the false ways, teachings, false worship, false churches, commands, traditions, rudiments, will-worships, inventions, handy works, worship, lip service, to the light and Spirit of God in your own particulars, that by it you may turn to God, and worship him in Spirit; and walk in the Spirit, Christ Jesus, who was before sin was. For since the beginning that man fell from God, from his power and image, have all false ways, false worships, false churches, been set up; even by that Spirit and power, and wisdom that is out of the Truth, below, which has killed about them. So there is a way in which is the life, and he is the light which enlightens you. Therefore come to the light, and you come to the way, which was before the power of death was, whose name is Christ, and such as are out of the light, are out of him in the ways of death and darkness and captivity; for as the outward Jews were in captivity under Pharaoh so the inward Jews in the Spirit, are in captivity in spiritual Sodom and Egypt, which do not mind the leadings of the Spirit and do not hearken to what it says; for every one must hearken and hear what the Spirit said to the churches, and not to hearken and hear a visible thing; and in that they would edify, build, join, unite, and come into Fellowship."
22
Of course there are exceptions. Sometimes Yahweh raises up the young to confound those who consider themselves to be wise. I think of the child-preachers in China who have converted tens of thousands. But when that happens, there is no mistaking Yahweh's hand.
23
See Pesach
24
One supposes that those who are not saved at the coming of Yah'shua (assuming they are alive) will see Him only upon His return but not thereafter since they are not connected to Him spiritually.
25
See The Mystery of the Second Coming
26
See The Sacred Garden of Yahweh
27
See Rapture
28
See Baptism
29
See Confused by the Confusion and Christian Denominations
Author: Lev-Tsiyon
Comments from Readers
[1] "Thanks. For end-time happenings of the Assembly of Yahweh and the Dragon's deeds and help, Yah. Our hearts must be circumcised. Tremendous explanation of human life and attaining Yahweh's Kingdom" (SR, India, 1 July 2018)
This page was first created on 13 November 2009
Last updated on 13 November 2009
Copyright ©2009 Mishpachah Lev-Tsiyon (MLT) - All Rights Reserved