What Does It Mean To Be A Christian?
(What the Bible Teaches)
You may be surprised to learn that this
loose definition and most of the current practices of Christians are fairly new
and were not practiced by the original “Christians”. What may be even more
shocking is that being a Christian is not, and was never defined by the Bible as
a stand-alone religion separate from what the Bible teaches. Rather the Bible
proves that being a Christian is a condition or state of being or becoming
anointed! In other words being a Christian is simply the condition or act of
being anointed by receiving the Holy
Spirit. In essence we are Christians not so much because we are followers of our
Messiah, but because like him, we have also received the set-apart spirit of our
Heavenly Father. Hence being a Christian is a condition (or state) of being
‘anointed’, sealed, or marked by our Father when we receive the Holy Spirit.
This study will prove that nowhere in the Bible are we told or taught that being
a Christian is to be a separate religion apart from what was given to the
Israelites, the Jews.
12 For there is no
difference between Jew and Gentile-the same Master is Master
of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, "Everyone who
calls on the name of Yahshua will be saved."
Most people have been taught to believe that
the original Christians were gentiles. Nothing can be further from the truth! In
fact this study will also prove that the original Christians were not gentiles
but they were in fact, Jewish believers who were keeping, and who taught Old
Testament Laws. In other words, they lived a life guided by Old Testament Laws,
Decrees and Statutes (The Torah) and they accepted our Savior as the prophesied
“Anointed One.”
4 And so John came,
baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the
forgiveness of sins.
John was recognized as “the Baptist” a
person who baptized or immersed, after he began his work of baptizing, not
before. If he would have gone about doing carpentry during his ministry, today
we would refer to him as “John the carpenter”. The message that he shared
with the people of course and the mission that our Father appointed for him was
to go about and immerse. Hence he became known as John the “Baptist” or
‘John the one that immerses.’ Similarly to this example, the disciples were
going about telling people to both be baptized (the message of John) and then be
“anointed” by receiving the Holy Spirit. In essence the core of their
message was to be baptized so that you can receive the anointing of the Holy
Spirit. So just as John was referred to as ‘the immerser’ because of his
ministry, the disciples were referred to as ‘christians because of their
message of the anointing. They knew what the Bible teaches us, that Yahshua our
Savior was baptized, received the anointing of the Holy Spirit, and thus all of
us who believe in him must likewise be baptized to receive the gift of the Holy
Spirit.
guaranteeing what is to come.
Our Savior verifies that it was through the
Spirit of His Father that he received the anointing and that what Isaiah had
written centuries earlier was being fulfilled in Him:
Luke 4:18; 20-21
18 "The Spirit
of Yahweh is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for
the blind, to release the oppressed, 20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it
back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were
fastened on him, 21 and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture
is fulfilled in your hearing."
Acts 2:33 verifies that our Savior did in
fact receive the promise of the Holy Spirit and that he is now seated on the
right hand of our Father:
33 Exalted to the
right hand of Elohim, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit
and has poured out what you now see and hear.
“The
Holy Spirit” given to believers
Just like Yahshua, those that believe in him
were also given the Holy Spirit.
2 Tim 1:14
14 Guard the good
deposit that was entrusted to you-guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who
lives in us.
1 Thess 4:6-8
7 For Elohim did
not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, he who rejects
this instruction does not reject man but Elohim, who gives you his Holy Spirit.
Ephesians makes it clear that those of us
who have been called out were predestined to be called and we were given the
Holy Spirit as a means to seal (mark) us for the glory of Yahshua. All of this
was done so that through Yahshua we would receive forgiveness from our sin, on
our roadway to salvation. Hence the Holy Spirit is given to us as a guide to
lead us to our Father Yahweh through the one that He loves, Yahshua!
Eph 1:3-14
3 Praise be to the
Elohim and Father of our Master, Yahshua Messiah who has blessed us in the
heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Messiah. 4 For he chose us in
him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In
love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Yahshua Messiah, in
accordance with his pleasure and will- 6 to the praise of his glorious grace,
which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption
through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of
Elohim’s grace 8 that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9
And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure,
which he purposed in Yahshua, 10 to be put into effect when the times will have
reached their fulfillment-to bring all things in heaven and on earth together
under one head, even Yahshua. 11 In him we were also chosen, having been
predestined according to the plan of
him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in
order that we, who were the first to hope in Yahshua, might be for the praise of
his glory. 13 And you also were included in Yahshua when you heard the word
of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him
with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our
inheritance until the redemption of those who are Elohim’s possession-to the
praise of his glory.
Acts 13 tells us that the disciples received
the Holy Spirit, because as it was noted above, the Holy Spirit is the mark that
connects you to Yahshua the Messiah and in turn you belong to Yahweh the Father:
Acts 13:51-52
52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
The
Disciples are called "Christians"
As already mentioned some people think that
the gentiles, non-Jews were called Christians and that this title or designation
was exclusive to them. In other words, Christians were believers who were not
Jews and they had a whole new way of worship which separated them from the Old
Testament Laws. Nothing can be further from the truth! The Bible makes it clear
that it was the disciples not the gentiles who were called Christians. These men
were Jews who not only kept the Old Testament Laws but also taught none-Jews,
gentiles (converts) to do the same.
Acts 11:25-26
25 Then Barnabas
went to
This title or designation/name given to the
disciples stuck with them throughout their ministry. These men accepted this
recognition because they understood that being called a Christian was not a
religion or a separation from the Old Testament Laws. But rather it was a
condition of their faith in Yahshua the Messiah. They understood, that being
called a Christian only meant that they were in the condition of being
“anointed” by the Holy Spirit because of their faith in Yahshua. Let us take
a minute to dissect this word so that we can have a better understanding of what
it means.
We learned that Yahshua was the anointed
one of Yahweh. In Hebrew he would have been called “Yahshua Ha Mashiach,”
which in English it would mean “Yahshua the anointed one.” Much like John
the Baptist means “John the one who immerses;” “Yahshua the Christ” simply means “Yahshua the anointed one.” The word Christ
is simply the English form of the Greek word “Christos” which means
“anointed one”. So to reiterate, the title or word ‘Christ’
simply means “anointed.” The
Hebrew word for anointed is “Mashiach” however most people are familiar with
the more modern word “Messiah”; In either case, Christ, Mashiach and/or
Messiah all mean “anointed”:
John 1:41-42
41 The first thing
Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "We have found the
Messiah" (that is, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Yahshua.
If we had a copy of the book of Acts written
in Hebrew and if we all spoke Hebrew this would all be much easier to
understand. However given the fact that we have the Holy Spirit, we are able to
discern truth from the available (Greek) material that we have. Having said
that, we can utilize the Greek to make the point and recognize what Yahweh wants
us to understand about his ways and His plan of salvation. In other words we
don’t have to learn Hebrew and we don’t have to have a Hebrew New Testament
for us to understand his overall plan. The set-apart Spirit is able to teach and
clarify our misunderstandings despite any condition that we may be under. It is
imperative however that we understand that the word Christ simply means anointed.
In truth Christ is not our savior’s
last name as some people have been taught to believe. It is simply a condition
of being anointed or set-apart for a
specific purpose. In other words, He was chosen as the only true sacrifice that
could and would take away the sin of the world (John 1:29). Our Savior is the
doorway by which we can enter the spiritual House of our Heavenly Father Yahweh.
None of us would have had this opportunity if it were not for our Master
Yahshua.
Defining
the words ‘Christ’ and ‘Christians’
Now if the Greek word Christ
is simply the singular form of the word “anointed” which it clearly is; the
word “Christians” a word derived from the Greek “Christianos,” is actually the plural form of the word Christ.
Just like the word Christ simply means
“the anointed one” (singular) the word Christians simply means “the
anointed ones” (plural).
To reiterate, notice below that the word Christianos comes from Strong’s word # 5547 which is the word Christos or Christ or the “anointed one.” Therefore the word Christians is simply the plural form of the word Christ and thus it means “the anointed ones.”
NT:5546 Christianos
(khris-tee-an-os'); from NT:5547; a Christian, i.e. follower of Christ:
NT:5547
Christos (khris-tos');… anointed
Hence we can see that both Paul and the
disciples would have accepted being called “The anointed ones” because they didn’t see it as being the
starters of a new religion but rather seeing themselves as Jews, they recognized
that they were being set-apart or anointed
by agreeing to enter into a new covenant through our Savior. The idea of being
consecrated (anointed, set-apart) is found all over the Old Testament. So this
would not have been new or strange to them. They would have understood that in
the Old Testament, prophets and kings would be anointed upon receiving their
kingdom.
1 Kings 1:39
39 Zadok the priest
took the horn of oil from the sacred tent and anointed Solomon. Then they
sounded the trumpet and all the people shouted, "Long live King
Solomon!"
As we read earlier the disciples were
anointed, consecrated by the Holy Spirit and they saw it as a blessing. They
didn’t see it as something that gave them the liberty to walk away from the
teachings of the Old Testament. They knew that there were many things written in
the Old Testament that they would still have to keep despite the fact that they
were now being called Christians or rather “anointed ones.” Besides the
example we already gave in Acts, there are two other instances in which the word
Christian is found in the New Testament:
Acts 26:28
28 Then Agrippa
said to Paul, "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me
to be a Christian?"
1 Peter 4:12-19
12 Dear friends, do
not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something
strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice that you participate in the
sufferings of Yahshua, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
14 If you are insulted because of the name of Yahshua, you are blessed, for
the Spirit of glory and of Elohim rests on you. 15 If you suffer, it should
not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a
meddler. 16 However, if you suffer as a Christian [anointed
ones], do not be ashamed, but praise Elohim that you bear that name. 17 For
it is time for judgment to begin with the family of El; and if it begins with
us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18
And, "If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the
unjust and the sinner?"
How
can a Jew be a Christian?
The fact is that the disciples never saw
themselves as Christians as it is
commonly taught today. Today if you asked the question: Can you be both a Jew
and a Christian? Most circles would probably say “No!” However the Bible
teaches that Paul recognized that he was a Jew; remember that we already pointed
out that he did not have a problem being called an “anointed
one.”
Acts 21:39
39 Paul answered,
"I am a Jew, from
Acts 22:2-3
Then Paul said: 3
"I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city.
Under Gamaliel I was thoroughly trained in the law of our fathers and was just
as zealous for Elohim as any of you are today.
Notice that in both examples above, Paul
said “I am a Jew” meaning that he considered himself to be a Jew. The above
incidents occurred long into his ministry. This is important because by this
time he knew that he was commissioned to be a light unto the gentiles, who were
not Jews, and yet he never referred to himself as a Christian who used to be a
Jew.
What about Peter? Did he ever claim to be a
Christian; one who had forgotten that he was a Jew? If he had then he would not
have told Cornelius, the gentile, the following:
Acts 10:28-29
28 He [Peter] said
to them [Cornelius’ family]: "You are well aware that it is against our
law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But Elohim has
shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean. 29 So when I was sent
for, I came without raising any objection….
In analyzing this passage we have many
things to consider, first of all this incident occurred approximately ten years
after our Savior had ascended to heaven. And yet here is Peter telling Cornelius
that he is a Jew and as a Jew he still keeps laws that apply to Jews and given
in the Old Testament. This law that Peter is referring to of course is the law
given to the Israelites not to defile themselves with the idolatrous practices
of gentiles. (See Lev 18:24-30; Deut 7:3-12; compare Ezra 9:11-12) Keep in mind
that this would have been an excellent time for him to say that he became a
Christian when Yahshua arose and that he no longer considered himself a Jew. He
didn’t! But being consistent with his message, he baptized them and they
received the gift of the Holy Spirit. In other words they became members of
those Jews that had been anointed before them. Peter understood that the message
that he had received in the dream was that our Father Yahweh, was not going to
show favoritism. He hints to the fact that salvation is now afforded to all
those who have faith, call on the name of Yahshua; receive baptism (Holy Spirit)
and are obedient to His word. Peter never once eluded or hinted that he was now
able to go and fellowship with the pagan gentiles that were in the custom of
going into their temples on Sunday (the day of the sun) to worship their idols.
Nor did he insinuate that it would be ok for him to eat any of the unclean
animals discussed in Lev. 11. Peter knew that the law in the Old Testament not
to associate with none believers was still active. This line of thinking was
reiterated by Paul in his second letter to the Corinthians:
2 Cor 6:14-16
14 Do not be yoked
together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in
common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is
there between Christ [the anointed one] and Belial? What does a believer have in
common with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement is there between the
It is clear by what we are told in the
Scriptures that Peter understood that he did not have to separate from the
called-out, converted gentiles. Why? Well because as we will see a little bit
later, those gentiles stopped going into the temples on Sunday, the first day of
the week, they stopped worshipping idols and they started keeping the Sabbath
(the Seventh day), the Feasts and the Clean Food Laws.
It is evident that both Peter and Paul
understood that because of our Savior, both Jews and Gentiles could be anointed
by the Holy Spirit. That was one of the missions of the disciples, to anoint
both Jews and Gentiles and to teach them that through Messiah all are equal. All
have the ability to come to the Father and be saved:
Gal 3:28-29
28 There is neither
Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Messiah
Yahshua. 29 If you belong to Yahshua, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs
according to the promise.
We see then that Paul recognized that he was
a Christian by the fact that he was anointed, however he never denied his Jewish roots. Furthermore he
never saw himself as the beginner of a new religion that could go and worship in
the pagan temples that would be open on Sun-day (the day of the sun). In fact
the Bible tells us that he continued to keep the Sabbath according to the Old
Testament. The Bible says that we should keep the seventh day (Saturday) holy,
not the first. During Paul’s time he could have easily started the custom of
going in the temples on Sunday. He could have easily walked into those temples
and taught Gentiles that they were doing the right thing by honoring the first
day of the week but that they just needed to accept the Savior. He didn’t! For
that matter neither he nor the other disciples ever told the believing gentiles
that they needed to start worshipping on the first day of the week. The Bible
clearly teaches that Paul kept the Commandment to honor the Sabbath, the seventh
day of the week.
Acts 17:2
2 As his custom
was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with
them from the Scriptures,
Unfortunately many of those that call
themselves Christians have been taught that many if not all of the commandments,
judgments and precepts given in the Old Testament have been done away with. As a
consequence many of them do not read the Old Testament with as much enthusiasm
as they read the New Testament. You would have thought that Paul himself would
have stated, “Brethren now that we are now Christians and that we can keep
Sunday Holy instead of the Old Testament Sabbath, we don’t have to read the
Old Testament, just read my letters.” Not only did he not teach them such
things but he commanded and taught them to read the Old Testament publicly so
that all would hear the word of Yahweh!
1 Tim 4:11-13
11 Command and
teach these things….devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture,
to preaching and to teaching.
Now obviously he could not have been asking
them to read the New Testament publicly because at the time there was no such
thing. The New Testament was not put together until almost four-hundred years
later. Also he didn’t say read this letter publicly, which he had said at
other times, what he said was read the “Scriptures;”
the Old Testament, publicly. In reference to the Old Testament Paul said:
2 Tim 3:16-17
16 All Scripture is
Elohim-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in
righteousness, 17 so that the man of Elohim may be thoroughly equipped for every
good work.
Many Christians are taught that only the New
Testament should be read and followed and yet here is Paul telling Timothy to
read and to walk according to the ways of the Old Testament. Surely I am not
saying that the New Testament does not have it’s place in teaching and
instructing, however, we must recognize that there is a perfect balance between
obeying the commandments, laws, and decrees of the Old Testament, many of which
still apply, and the examples that we have in the New Covenant.
The
Gentiles (converts) kept the Seventh Day Sabbath
To continue with this point let us regress
to the Sabbath for a minute. We read that it was Paul’s custom to go in the
synagogues on the Sabbath. We find that in some instances people would accept
his teachings and at other times they wouldn’t. There is at least one instance
in which we can prove that Paul never worshiped on Sunday nor did he change the
day of worship from Saturday to Sunday. In
Acts 13 we read of an instance in which Paul and Barnabas were teaching on the
Sabbath day (Saturday). Initially the people accepted their teaching, however on
the following Sabbath, the Jews aroused the crowds and Paul and Barnabas were
forced to leave. Before they left, Paul and Barnabas made a declaration that
since they would not accept the word and the message about Yahshua, they would
instead turn to the Gentiles.
Acts 13:42-47
42 As Paul and
Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak further
about these things on the next Sabbath. 43 When the congregation was dismissed,
many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who
talked with them and urged them to continue in the grace of Elohim. 44 On the
next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of Yahweh. 45 When
the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and talked abusively
against what Paul was saying. 46 Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly:
"We had to speak the word of Elohim to you first. Since you reject it and
do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.
So the declaration is made: “We now turn
to the Gentiles.” Did Paul and Barnabas go to one of the many temples that
were opened on Sunday (the first day of the week) where many Gentiles were in
the custom of worshipping? Not hardly! We are told that after they dusted the
feet from their shoes Paul and Barnabas went into another
Jewish synagogue where both Jews and Gentiles were gathered. Undoubtedly the
Gentiles were keeping the Sabbath on the Seventh Day and they would surely have
been familiar with the Old Testament Laws, decrees and judgments.
Acts 14:1
14:1 At Iconium
Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so
effectively that a great number of Jews and Gentiles believed.
In Acts Chapter 14 we are told that many
believed and many more did not. However we are not
told that Paul encouraged the believing Gentiles to stop keeping the Sabbath and
because they were now Christians they should meet with him on Sunday instead of
Saturday. We are not told that because it never happened! We are told however
that eventually Paul and Barnabas had to leave Iconium. They continued to move
about teaching the Salvation of Yahshua to those people that understood that
Yahshua did not do away with the Old Testament but that he was in effect
fulfilling the prophecies that they read about.
Matt 5:17-19
17 "Do not
think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come
to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 I tell you the truth, until
heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a
pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
These believers composed of both Jews and
Gentiles, who were anointed by the Holy Spirit understood that they were simply
a part of the plan of salvation that is mentioned in the Old Testament and they
did not work to establish a way of worship which completely contradicted the Old
Testament. They recognized that you can be both a Jew and a Gentile and be
considered a christian (anointed)
because of our Father’s Spirit. They knew that being a Christian did not mean
that they were establishing a new religion but that they were a part of the plan
of salvation mentioned in the Old Testament and being fulfilled from the period
of Yahshua even until now. They knew that being a Christian is not and was not a
religion but in fact it was a condition of being set-apart or chosen for
salvation.
Our
Savior establishes the Law and the Prophets!
Amazingly many modern Christians are taught
and encouraged to go against the words of our Messiah; In Matt 5:17, He says
that He did not come to do away with
the Law or the Prophets, but they contradict him by saying and teaching that he
did do away with those things. This error comes from the misunderstanding of
what the word fulfill means. Modern Christians are erroneously taught
that since our Savior fulfilled them,
that he essentially did away with them. That teaching does is simply not
supported in the New Testament. The word fulfill in Matt 5:17 is the
Greek word ‘Pleroo’ it is #4137 in
the Strong’s. This word is found 91 times in the New Testament. It is never
used in the sense that modern Christians have been taught. In other words it
does not mean to “do away with” or “to end”. A
good example of this is in the following verse where we find the same word fulfill
that we find in the noted scripture (Matt 5:17).
Matt 3:13-16
13 Then Yahshua
arrived from Galilee at the
Now it stands to reason that if our savior
was saying that he was doing away with the law and the prophets in Matt 5 then
he would also have to be saying that he did away with baptism (He did it so we
wouldn’t have to). He obviously did not do away with baptism and he did not do
away with the law! What he did was that he established the laws and baptism on a
spiritual foundation rather than on a carnal one. In truth, modern Christians
have been taught many things that completely contradict the Scriptures. Each one
of us has to decide whom we will believe, either our Savior who said that he did
not abolish the Law or the prophets or those that say he did!
We
must walk in His footsteps
There is absolutely no proof in the Bible
that the disciples or for that matter that our Savior, ever told the
believers/converts that they were to forget the seventh day Sabbath and instead
worship on Sunday. Not only did the Christians keep the seventh day Sabbath, the
Bible tells us that they kept the Feast Days and many things that still apply.
In essence there is a perfect balance between the Old and the New Testaments.
There are many things in the Old Testament that have not been done away with.
All the things in the New were established or mentioned in the Old. Our Savior
came not to do away with the Law, he came to establish it. The Jewish disciples,
the original Christians, never used the excuse commonly heard today, “He, our
Savior did away with those things so we wouldn’t have to do them.” The
Jewish disciples, the original Christians and the gentile converts taught that
we must also walk in the footsteps of our Messiah.
John 10:27-30
27 My sheep listen
to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and
they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father,
who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my
Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one."
John 12:26
26 Whoever serves
me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor
the one who serves me.
Notice what Paul says:
1 Cor 11:1
11:1 Follow my
example, as I follow the example of Christ [the anointed one].
Notice what Peter says:
1 Peter 2:21
21 To this you were
called, because Christ [the anointed one]
suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
These verses are very clear and consistent
with the message that we should follow in our Savior’s footsteps. He kept the
Holy Festivals, the clean food laws, the Sabbath and he was also baptized
(received the Holy Spirit) as an example for us to follow. The disciples in turn
followed his footsteps and we should too! These converts and Jewish disciples
did not adopt a new religion separate from the Old Testament but understood
through the Holy Spirit that many laws, decrees and judgments are to be
established even to this day:
Matt 5:18
18 I tell you the
truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least
stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is
accomplished.
Given the fact that the new converts were
keeping the Sabbath, being baptized and following in the footsteps of our
Savior; they understood that they were being grafted into the olive tree whose
roots and foundations are from the Old Testament:
Rom 11:13-26
13 I am talking to
you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I make much of my
ministry 14 in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save
some of them. 15 For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what
will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 16 If the part of the dough
offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is
holy, so are the branches. 17 If some of the branches have been broken off, and
you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now
share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, 18 do not boast over those
branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root
supports you. 19 You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I
could be grafted in." 20 Granted. But they were broken off because of
unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. 21 For if
Elohim did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either. 22
Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of Yahweh: sternness to those who
fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness.
Otherwise, you also will be cut off. 23 And if they do not persist in unbelief,
they will be grafted in, for Elohim is able to graft them in again. 24 After
all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary
to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will
these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree! 25 I do not
want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be
conceited:
Works
to earn Salvation or acts of Obedience?
As the anointed ones of Yahweh it is our responsibility to live moral and
quiet lives. We need to love and properly discipline our children. We must stay
away from negative addictions and many of the plagues that affect the people of
this world, i.e. gambling, pornography, divorce, homosexuality, fornication,
adultery etc. We need to love the Father and honor the King. It is not enough to
say that we love our Savior; we must walk in his footsteps and obey him.
Furthermore we must be righteous witnesses so that those who are in error can be
converted (taught) with love and humility. Certainly this message will be new to
many of you, please take this study to prayer, and examine the Scriptures.
Modern Christians have been taught that acts or works to obtain salvation are
not necessary. They are right! However by keeping the Sabbath, the Feast Days,
the Clean Food Laws, etc, we are in fact keeping acts of obedience
not acts of salvation. It is clear that acts of obedience are necessary for us
to receive the blessings that our Father has promised us. By keeping the seventh
day Sabbath, the Clean Food Laws, The Feast Days, the Ten Commandments and New
Moons we join the original Christians (anointed one’s) in keeping acts of
obedience not acts to obtain salvation.
2 Cor 9:13-15
13 Because of the
service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise Elohim for the obedience
that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Messiah, and for your
generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers
for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace Elohim
has given you. 15 Thanks be to Elohim for his indescribable gift!
It is through the acts of obedience by which
we demonstrate our love for our Father and Savior. Our Father has wanted us to
obey him from the beginning. Remember that the first sinful act was disobedience
by Adam and Eve:
2 John 6
6 And this is
love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the
beginning, his command is that you walk in love.
John 14:20-21
20 On that day you
will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever
has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me
will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to
him."
John 14:15-17
15 "If you
love me, you will obey what I command. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he
will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-
Acts of obedience have not and will never be
done away with. It is because of obedience that the disciples and the converts,
gentiles, Greeks, kept the Laws of the Old Testament that still apply to this
day. It was because of obedience that they followed and preached the good news.
Our Father has declared that obedience is more important than sacrifices. Our
Savior although reluctant at first understood the importance of obedience to his
Father; that is why he died on the stake:
Matt 26:39
39 Going a little
farther, [Yahshua] fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father,
if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you
will [as you command]."
Just like our Savior obeyed the commandments
of our Father, we must do the same. We must keep those things that he commanded
not because they bring salvation but because it is an expression of our
willingness to obey Him. We must quit making excuses and following a way
of life that is not supported and that completely contradicts the Scriptures. We
must adopt the mind of those that were called the anointed ones and we must understand that we can be Jews, Greeks,
Gentiles, any race and/or gender and still be citizens of the city that comes
from heaven:
Phil 3:20-21
20 But our
citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Master
Yahshua Messiah, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under
his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his
glorious body.
Let us therefore examine our lives, pray for
truth and understanding and trust that our Savior will hear us! May He call all
those who have ears to hear, eyes to see and an obedient heart! Shalom! HC