"...Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye...we ought to obey God rather than men." -from Acts 4:19, 5:29.
Yesterday in my devotions, I was reading again the well-beloved story of Daniel in the lions' den; Daniel, chapter 6. Not only is our God the creator of all, but He maintains power over His creation at all times; He is indeed, the Living God.
Daniel was the victim of those that "frame mischief by a law" (Ps. 94:20); but how would this effect the relationship he had with God? Let's look at the highlights of this account;
"Then this Daniel was preferred...and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion or fault...Then said these men, we shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God...All the presidents of the kingdom, and princes...consulted together to establish a royal statute...that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions...Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree." -Daniel 6:3-9, abridged.
"Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and...he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime." -from Daniel 6:10, abridged; bold type added for emphasis.
We all have heard this story, and probably many times over. No one really ever thinks that Daniel may have done the wrong thing, do they? Yet to hear some people spout references to Romans chapter 13, you'd think that Daniel had likely "missed the memo" from God! For that matter, if he did, then so did the apostles in the passage quoted at the beginning of this article. Throughout scripture, prophets and disciples of the Lord have defied the authorities of their time. As it is written;
"Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men." -I Cor. 7:23.
When it comes to Romans 13, I really like the summary that I found through Chuck Baldwin entitled, Romans 13 revisited; please take the time to read this vital account. Suffice it to say, those who take Romans 13:1-7 to mean, "do whatever your authorities tell you", are ignoring the testimony of the scriptures; and common sense. I personally like the opening of I Peter 2:13, which says;
"Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake."
As this phrase implies, there are ordinances of man, and ordinances of God. You pay your taxes, obey traffic laws, etc. Many of the ten commandments have been adopted as laws. But if the rule of man's law tells you to be silent about Jesus Christ, you cannot obey it! God's law is contrary to this, and must come first.
What concerns me the most, is this compromising age in which we live. I think many who profess Christ, if Daniel's circumstance were somehow transferred to them, would be agreeable with it. After all, it's only for 30 days, right? Or maybe they would be very secretive with prayer, unlike Daniel- who prayed with his windows open, and facing Jerusalem.
Those compromises of which I speak take place on ordinary levels, in situations that are faced daily. The workplace is often the culprit for denials of Christ. Years ago, an attendant at a service station approached me; informing me that I am not to leave gospel tracts at the pumps. He had seen me place one there, as indeed I had done many times. This man said he was a Christian; but "company policy" dictated that I not leave them.
I thanked him for doing his duty (I can understand if he felt obliged to tell me; it was his job), but told him that I must do mine, as well. Unfortunately, he seemed to think that his position on the matter was alright; the gospel could be shared in other places, but not there!
We cannot accept such proclaimations, brethren- EVER! If we listened to all of those "regulating" the message of the gospel, few would even hear it, let alone be saved. When we hold a workplace rule above God's directions in His Word, we are serving mammon, not Christ! And, NO! We cannot do both (Matt. 6:24). How do you rationalize that only some will be able to hear the gospel, based solely upon their physical location? What about eternity? This temporal world will soon dissolve, and then all that will last will be what we have done with the Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of our heavenly Father.
It can never be said in defense to God, that the "commandments of men" prevented you from fulfilling the directives of God! If you seek employment, but the place you've applied forthrightly forbids you from carrying out Biblical instruction, you need to look elsewhere. If the place in which you already work adopts policies that are in conflict with your faith, you can, (A) Continue on in your job, upholding the Word of Truth as you have before, or (B) Quit.
Jesus promised that when we "Seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness", that our needs will be provided for (Matt. 6:33; read passage, v.24-34). God is the supplier of all our need (Philipp. 4:19), and the provider of "every good gift, and every perfect gift (James 1:17); we need to learn trust in our God, far beyong what we see (Heb. 11:1).God, by His mercy and grace, has done this for us; one particular incident I will share...
Through an employment agency, I landed a job in a large warehouse, doing inventory. After about a month of work, I was offered full-time with the company directly; it was a good-paying job, and I accepted. But things really began to change, once this happened; I felt like I had sold my soul.
To get in, a regular application had to be made; one that required lies to be told for acceptance. My 1st app. was rejected, but after consulting others about it, my 2nd was accepted. "Please, Lord, forgive me!" was the cry I lifted up. Then, upon orientation day, posters in our room encouraged lying about who you are, and also greatly put down belief in God! I couldn't believe it! Outwardly, the company would say that they were for respect, and fair treatment for all; the message during orientation didn't support that false pretense, at all!
Lastly, the "straw" that broke it apart, was the scheduling. As a temp, we worked 5 days, with weekends off. Now, our schedule was being continually changed; even hourly at times, so that one could never make any plans. One imperative of my working any job, was that I would have adequate time with my wife, and would be able to continue with our website, writing articles. Now, this job was trying to steal that which had been prioritized for God. When my schedule got changed for the last time, I noted that by this change, I would have gone 3 consecutive weeks with only one day off each week! I pointed this out to my supervisor, hoping that he would rectify this situation. Needless to say, he didn't even try to.
At this point I had to make a decision, but inwardly, I already knew where the Lord's will lay. The next day, I submitted my resignation, but only with one week notice (I knew the temp agency would re-supply another worker). God made a way for me to witness greatly in departing, and I thank Him for that; I was officially with the company 6 weeks, though there were 5 additional weeks through the agency.
It was mid-month when I quit, and we couldn't see how the bills would be met. The Lord gave me the faith to step out, and trust Him, though any actual relief was unseen! Well, within those 2 weeks, we received two unforeseen gifts, of $500, and $200; a total of $700 was supplied, more than enough to carry us forward! By the time we needed more, both my wife & I had new jobs.
Brethren, there is a price to pay when following Christ. We are simply not always going to be comfortable, as is promised in John 16:33, Acts 14:22, and II Tim. 3:12. Yet it is absolutely imperative that we stand for Him that we call Lord (Luke 6:46), and not live like we are ashamed of His words (Mark 8:38).
"...So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God." -Dan. 6:23.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Christ calls us to be "losers"
"He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal." -John 12:25.
To serve our Lord Jesus Christ is truly an "other-worldly" way of life, way of thinking. In the end, we will seem like the biggest losers of all time, in the fallen world's view. Getting along with others, striving to be "tolerant" in the eyes of mankind, should be of no value to the true believer. We serve the Lord at His Word, and this is a contradictory lifestyle to those around us- including many that verbally profess the name of Christ!
"It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?" -Matt. 10:25.
This is why it is so ironic to describe a person as having a "successful" ministry. I can readily hear Jesus saying, "Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you!" -from Luke 6:26. Success in God's eyes will be welcomed by very few (I Cor. 1:18,19).
Think of Peter, in his intended defense of Christ. He had walked with the messiah, God in the flesh, for 3 and a half years; what amazing things he had seen! But Jesus is foretelling of His death? How could that happen? Yet it was a fulfillment of prophecy; God's will. Peter didn't realize that by his bold, proclaimed intention to defend his Lord, that he was actually contradicting scripture (Mark 14:27-30). Even Satan and his minions didn't know what Jesus was up to, for the profound plan which God had in mind. Please read I Cor. 2:5-8. Let's face it; God's ways are infinitely high above our own (Is. 55:8,9).
And this point of "losing" is where we have arrived in these last days. The very intent of this article is to encourage your stand for Christ, here at the end. There will be enormous pressure to conform; to "go along, and get along", as they say! The push for unity has taken priority over Biblical obedience, and this is an offense to the Living God we serve. More & more laws will be passed to inhibit our faith; we must pre-determine within ourselves to serve Christ, no matter what physical consequences may await.
The Bible describes our lot in these last days; we will need to keep our priorities straight, with an eye on the eternal, not the temporal (II Cor. 4:18). Let's start with verses from Daniel chapter 7;
"And I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them: Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the saints possessed the kingdom."
Verses 21,22.
"And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High... But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion... And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High..." -from verses 25-27.
"Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake... But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." -Matt. 24:9,13.
"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." -Rev. 12:11.
"And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them..." -Rev. 13:7.
Not a very pretty picture, is it? Yet persecution & tribulation have always been the staple diet of true believers, though it will become far worse here at the end. Just consider;
- The faith of Moses, Hebrews 11:24-27.
- The calling of Ezekiel, 3:4-7.
- The words of Christ to His 11 true disciples in John 15:19,20, 16:33.
- The calling of Saul, in Acts 9:15,16, 14:22, 20:22-24.
"Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." -II Tim 3:12.
Brethren, we are not of this Earth, and our battle is not against flesh & blood (Eph. 6:12). When trouble comes your way, be slow to compromise in the name of "getting along", and quick to bring things before God in prayerful examination. Satan likes to disguise his afflictions, so that believers won't see that they are suffering for their faith. If a citizenship in heaven is what you desire, you need to start preparing today.
"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand fo God. Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory."
- Colossians 3:1-4.
To serve our Lord Jesus Christ is truly an "other-worldly" way of life, way of thinking. In the end, we will seem like the biggest losers of all time, in the fallen world's view. Getting along with others, striving to be "tolerant" in the eyes of mankind, should be of no value to the true believer. We serve the Lord at His Word, and this is a contradictory lifestyle to those around us- including many that verbally profess the name of Christ!
"It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?" -Matt. 10:25.
This is why it is so ironic to describe a person as having a "successful" ministry. I can readily hear Jesus saying, "Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you!" -from Luke 6:26. Success in God's eyes will be welcomed by very few (I Cor. 1:18,19).
Think of Peter, in his intended defense of Christ. He had walked with the messiah, God in the flesh, for 3 and a half years; what amazing things he had seen! But Jesus is foretelling of His death? How could that happen? Yet it was a fulfillment of prophecy; God's will. Peter didn't realize that by his bold, proclaimed intention to defend his Lord, that he was actually contradicting scripture (Mark 14:27-30). Even Satan and his minions didn't know what Jesus was up to, for the profound plan which God had in mind. Please read I Cor. 2:5-8. Let's face it; God's ways are infinitely high above our own (Is. 55:8,9).
And this point of "losing" is where we have arrived in these last days. The very intent of this article is to encourage your stand for Christ, here at the end. There will be enormous pressure to conform; to "go along, and get along", as they say! The push for unity has taken priority over Biblical obedience, and this is an offense to the Living God we serve. More & more laws will be passed to inhibit our faith; we must pre-determine within ourselves to serve Christ, no matter what physical consequences may await.
The Bible describes our lot in these last days; we will need to keep our priorities straight, with an eye on the eternal, not the temporal (II Cor. 4:18). Let's start with verses from Daniel chapter 7;
"And I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them: Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the saints possessed the kingdom."
Verses 21,22.
"And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High... But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion... And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High..." -from verses 25-27.
"Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake... But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." -Matt. 24:9,13.
"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." -Rev. 12:11.
"And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them..." -Rev. 13:7.
Not a very pretty picture, is it? Yet persecution & tribulation have always been the staple diet of true believers, though it will become far worse here at the end. Just consider;
- The faith of Moses, Hebrews 11:24-27.
- The calling of Ezekiel, 3:4-7.
- The words of Christ to His 11 true disciples in John 15:19,20, 16:33.
- The calling of Saul, in Acts 9:15,16, 14:22, 20:22-24.
"Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." -II Tim 3:12.
Brethren, we are not of this Earth, and our battle is not against flesh & blood (Eph. 6:12). When trouble comes your way, be slow to compromise in the name of "getting along", and quick to bring things before God in prayerful examination. Satan likes to disguise his afflictions, so that believers won't see that they are suffering for their faith. If a citizenship in heaven is what you desire, you need to start preparing today.
"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand fo God. Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory."
- Colossians 3:1-4.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Speak up! It's time for vocal faith
"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." -Romans 10:17.
Faith in Jesus Christ, and Christ alone; that is the way of salvation (John 14:6, Acts 4:12). As believers, we understand that apart from receiving the atoning work done by Jesus on the cross, no one can be saved.
"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags..." - from Is.64:6.
"He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." -John 3:18.
"As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one." -Rom. 3:10.
"But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe." -Gal. 3:22.
Yet it was from a long time ago that I observed a fundamental shift in the presentation of the gospel. It was a shift away from the promotion of Christ, and toward church attendance. Back in the 1970s, I can remember witnessing as a teen. The emphasis was on salvation through Christ, above and beyond all else. It is truly wonderful to know how God's love reaches to all people, regardless of social standing. The scriptures confirm this focus;
"Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father... But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." -John 4:21,23,24.
But the focus now has become CHURCH. You will hear inquiries of, and invitations to church, but seldom of anything else. This means, of course, a church organization which meets in a building; not the Biblically referred to church, which is the spiritual body of Christ. If while speaking, a person reveals that they are a Christian, the response usually is, "What church do you go to?"
In our day, this "shift" in emphasis makes perfect sense. As we head toward a worldwide single religion, you can readily get members of different "faiths" to agree on church attendance as important (Though the non-Christians may not refer to their place of worship as a "church."). Due to such a shift in practice, the blessed name of Jesus Christ usually gets left behind.
Many think that the way they live will be sufficient testimony; this is lie from Satan! The Bible refutes this type of reasoning. Now, I am not saying that a person's life is not an evidence; it always will be, and should be. "Faith without works is dead." - James 2:14-26. "Cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness" -from Matthew 25:30. But the name of Jesus must be lifted up in the literal, vocal sense.
Think of the problematic inferrences from the philosophy, "I don't preach to people; I let them see how I live." 1) You are promoting a works-type salvation (Eph. 2:8,9; Titus 3:5,6). 2) You are proudly promoting yourself ( Luke 18:13,14; I Cor. 10:12). 3) Perhaps most important, you are denying Christ by neglect of the incredible atoning work that He did ( Rom. 5:8,9; I Cor. 3:11). 4) You are showing the unimportance of Jesus in your life, the one that you call "Lord"; people always talk about what is important to them (Luke 6:45,46).
Ultimately, it is the SCRIPTURE that will speak to the importance of vocalization. Bold or italicized type has been added for emphasis of the point;
"But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed." -Rom. 10:8-11.
"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?... So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." -Rom. 10:13,14,17.
Pretty conclusive, isn't it? Brethren, I say these things not especially to condemn you, but to "provoke" you unto good works! PRAY for a greater infilling of the Holy Spirit. Pray for opportunities to share, and the wisdom of words. Also, "try the spirits" to see whether or not they be from the Lord. Church promotion should be a low priority; I can guarantee you that churches are filled with many souls on their way to eternal damnation. God is looking at the inward parts, not the outward behavior (I Sam. 16:7).
Start making it a priority to speak up for the Lord that you claim to love.
"Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." See Matthew 7:21-25.
Faith in Jesus Christ, and Christ alone; that is the way of salvation (John 14:6, Acts 4:12). As believers, we understand that apart from receiving the atoning work done by Jesus on the cross, no one can be saved.
"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags..." - from Is.64:6.
"He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." -John 3:18.
"As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one." -Rom. 3:10.
"But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe." -Gal. 3:22.
Yet it was from a long time ago that I observed a fundamental shift in the presentation of the gospel. It was a shift away from the promotion of Christ, and toward church attendance. Back in the 1970s, I can remember witnessing as a teen. The emphasis was on salvation through Christ, above and beyond all else. It is truly wonderful to know how God's love reaches to all people, regardless of social standing. The scriptures confirm this focus;
"Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father... But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." -John 4:21,23,24.
But the focus now has become CHURCH. You will hear inquiries of, and invitations to church, but seldom of anything else. This means, of course, a church organization which meets in a building; not the Biblically referred to church, which is the spiritual body of Christ. If while speaking, a person reveals that they are a Christian, the response usually is, "What church do you go to?"
In our day, this "shift" in emphasis makes perfect sense. As we head toward a worldwide single religion, you can readily get members of different "faiths" to agree on church attendance as important (Though the non-Christians may not refer to their place of worship as a "church."). Due to such a shift in practice, the blessed name of Jesus Christ usually gets left behind.
Many think that the way they live will be sufficient testimony; this is lie from Satan! The Bible refutes this type of reasoning. Now, I am not saying that a person's life is not an evidence; it always will be, and should be. "Faith without works is dead." - James 2:14-26. "Cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness" -from Matthew 25:30. But the name of Jesus must be lifted up in the literal, vocal sense.
Think of the problematic inferrences from the philosophy, "I don't preach to people; I let them see how I live." 1) You are promoting a works-type salvation (Eph. 2:8,9; Titus 3:5,6). 2) You are proudly promoting yourself ( Luke 18:13,14; I Cor. 10:12). 3) Perhaps most important, you are denying Christ by neglect of the incredible atoning work that He did ( Rom. 5:8,9; I Cor. 3:11). 4) You are showing the unimportance of Jesus in your life, the one that you call "Lord"; people always talk about what is important to them (Luke 6:45,46).
Ultimately, it is the SCRIPTURE that will speak to the importance of vocalization. Bold or italicized type has been added for emphasis of the point;
"But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed." -Rom. 10:8-11.
"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?... So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." -Rom. 10:13,14,17.
Pretty conclusive, isn't it? Brethren, I say these things not especially to condemn you, but to "provoke" you unto good works! PRAY for a greater infilling of the Holy Spirit. Pray for opportunities to share, and the wisdom of words. Also, "try the spirits" to see whether or not they be from the Lord. Church promotion should be a low priority; I can guarantee you that churches are filled with many souls on their way to eternal damnation. God is looking at the inward parts, not the outward behavior (I Sam. 16:7).
Start making it a priority to speak up for the Lord that you claim to love.
"Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." See Matthew 7:21-25.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
The Evils of Israel
By Israel in the title, I am referring to the political nation; not the "Israel of God" spoken of in the scriptures, Galatians 6:16.
This deception has been well-planned, and well executed, my brethren. Please do not feel that I am diminshing any of you that still think today's Israel is some fulfilled prophecy of God. I was once taken in by it, also. But it is high time for all of us to awake out of slumber, and see today's nation of Israel for what it really is; the counterfeit of Satan, meant to bring destruction to the Earth, and to bring the antichrist into power. Israel controls the United States, and is the source of the violent unrest that we see spreading worldwide.
It is high time that we behaved as true Christians, before we are eternally separated from Jesus as the "goats." -see Matthew 25:31-46. Wake up! Seek knowledge (Hos. 4:6)! Begin by viewing the 3 consecutive blogs listed, with a link to the first in the sequence;
- 6/21/11: The Planned World Wars.
- 6/22/11: World War III in the Bible, and the misunderstanding of Ezekiel's prophecies.
- 6/24/11: More from Ezekiel, and the Fig Tree prophecy.
This comes to my mind today because of what I've recently run into for my other studies;
- The Death of American Democracy.
- Santorum: Eradicate the Muslims.
One of the most disturbing elements of our nation today, is the incessant killing that we are doing abroad. As the presidential elections draw near, there is only one candidate speaking against the war & terror that we are spreading abroad; and Ron Paul has not even begun to bring his spiritual beliefs into the arena.
All of the other Republican candidates, many of whom are avouched "christians", are Hell-bent (Really, they are bent by Hell!) on war, and destroying Muslims. America is traditionally thought of to be a God-fearing nation; often it is touted to be a christian nation. Why, then, all of these pre-emptive killing sprees that are said to be "just wars"? Hey, I'm all for national defense, when it's actually warranted! To stand against the aggressive socialist empires of Japan and Nazi Germany in World War II seems entirely justifiable. But now we are killing millions who have not done anything to us, nor do we have evidence to suggest that they want to. Rick Santorum may be picked on here for his Iran-war rhetoric, but he is just one in a long line of Republican hopefuls that are espousing the same thing.
Let's make this clear on Iran; they pose absolutely no threat to the U.S. or Israel- but if we harass them enough, or any other nation (Like Russia, China, North Korea, Pakistan, Syria), we may well receive a just recompense for the evil we have been sowing. Iran is surrounded by nuclear-armed countries. Israel and the U.S. have hundreds of nuclear missiles pointed at them right now! If they actually wanted a nuclear weapon, it would be justifiably for DEFENSIVE purposes. Do you really think that Iran would develop one nuclear weapon, or even a handful of them, and then launch an attack that would assure their own destruction? NO!!! The rhetoric that you hear through the media, about "fearing" a nuclear Iran, really means that we would not be able to attack them as we would like to; if they were armed in a way that could bring meaningful retaliation. Israel is the danger; to themselves, Iran, the U.S., and the entire world.
Yet today the professing christian body in America sits idly by, indirectly approving of their government's behavior. They "commit no adultery", but yet commit murder; and therefore are guilty as transgressors of the law (James 2:9-11). The servants of antichrist have become as their soon to be revealed master, and "by peace they do destroy many." -See Dan. 8:25.
Let's start acting like true Christians, and start loving our enemies. Let us live in the way that Christ prescribes, and not according to the wisdom of men. We are not citizens of this world, but seek that which is to come. But if we spend our time & resources trying to preserve our lives in this world, we will not be laying hold of eternal life. Awaken, dear brethren, to the truth; and DO YOUR PART!!!
This deception has been well-planned, and well executed, my brethren. Please do not feel that I am diminshing any of you that still think today's Israel is some fulfilled prophecy of God. I was once taken in by it, also. But it is high time for all of us to awake out of slumber, and see today's nation of Israel for what it really is; the counterfeit of Satan, meant to bring destruction to the Earth, and to bring the antichrist into power. Israel controls the United States, and is the source of the violent unrest that we see spreading worldwide.
It is high time that we behaved as true Christians, before we are eternally separated from Jesus as the "goats." -see Matthew 25:31-46. Wake up! Seek knowledge (Hos. 4:6)! Begin by viewing the 3 consecutive blogs listed, with a link to the first in the sequence;
- 6/21/11: The Planned World Wars.
- 6/22/11: World War III in the Bible, and the misunderstanding of Ezekiel's prophecies.
- 6/24/11: More from Ezekiel, and the Fig Tree prophecy.
This comes to my mind today because of what I've recently run into for my other studies;
- The Death of American Democracy.
- Santorum: Eradicate the Muslims.
One of the most disturbing elements of our nation today, is the incessant killing that we are doing abroad. As the presidential elections draw near, there is only one candidate speaking against the war & terror that we are spreading abroad; and Ron Paul has not even begun to bring his spiritual beliefs into the arena.
All of the other Republican candidates, many of whom are avouched "christians", are Hell-bent (Really, they are bent by Hell!) on war, and destroying Muslims. America is traditionally thought of to be a God-fearing nation; often it is touted to be a christian nation. Why, then, all of these pre-emptive killing sprees that are said to be "just wars"? Hey, I'm all for national defense, when it's actually warranted! To stand against the aggressive socialist empires of Japan and Nazi Germany in World War II seems entirely justifiable. But now we are killing millions who have not done anything to us, nor do we have evidence to suggest that they want to. Rick Santorum may be picked on here for his Iran-war rhetoric, but he is just one in a long line of Republican hopefuls that are espousing the same thing.
Let's make this clear on Iran; they pose absolutely no threat to the U.S. or Israel- but if we harass them enough, or any other nation (Like Russia, China, North Korea, Pakistan, Syria), we may well receive a just recompense for the evil we have been sowing. Iran is surrounded by nuclear-armed countries. Israel and the U.S. have hundreds of nuclear missiles pointed at them right now! If they actually wanted a nuclear weapon, it would be justifiably for DEFENSIVE purposes. Do you really think that Iran would develop one nuclear weapon, or even a handful of them, and then launch an attack that would assure their own destruction? NO!!! The rhetoric that you hear through the media, about "fearing" a nuclear Iran, really means that we would not be able to attack them as we would like to; if they were armed in a way that could bring meaningful retaliation. Israel is the danger; to themselves, Iran, the U.S., and the entire world.
Yet today the professing christian body in America sits idly by, indirectly approving of their government's behavior. They "commit no adultery", but yet commit murder; and therefore are guilty as transgressors of the law (James 2:9-11). The servants of antichrist have become as their soon to be revealed master, and "by peace they do destroy many." -See Dan. 8:25.
Let's start acting like true Christians, and start loving our enemies. Let us live in the way that Christ prescribes, and not according to the wisdom of men. We are not citizens of this world, but seek that which is to come. But if we spend our time & resources trying to preserve our lives in this world, we will not be laying hold of eternal life. Awaken, dear brethren, to the truth; and DO YOUR PART!!!
Monday, January 9, 2012
Take a Closer Look
"Judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment." -John 7:24.
A couple of days ago, in the course of my normal internet viewing, I came across a video that aroused my curiosity enough to watch it; Homeless Boy Steals Talent Show. Now, I realize that this wasn't directly a spiritual topic, but it did remind me of one. Really, it is similar to that age-old adage, "You can't judge a book by its cover."
The Bible has gone to great lengths to warn us to beware of spiritual deception, yet it seems that most of today's professing church takes these warnings with a grain of salt. Some think that the devil can have no influence over them. Some think that they will readily identify any possible deceptions employed by Satan. Some regard these warnings as true, yet it never seems to apply to their own lives, their church, or anyone that they know. And almost no one takes the Bible seriously on every issue, or considers it irrelevant to our modern day world. These blind assumptions play directly in the devil's hands; he's got you!
So many times I have seen it, and it is so disheartening; lives that started out dynamically, and "on fire" for Jesus Christ have submitted themselves to man-made religious institutions, wrongly assuming them to be truly Christian. The end result is the destruction of faith (Hebrews 11:6), yet it leaves them with a "form of godliness" which has denied the power (II Tim. 3:1-5). It is a way which seems right to a man, but in fact, it leads to spiritual death (Prov. 14:12).
"This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far fro me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." -Matt. 15:8,9.
A long-time pastor announces to his congregation that he is homosexual (Believe me when I say, that very many church congregations wouldn't be offended by this!). How does this happen? Members become disillusioned, having thought that their pastor was a God-fearing man. This I can guarantee, however; if the church membership had been employing the gift of discernment (I Cor. 12:10), and had been "trying the spirits" (I John 4:1), they would have seen through the false-front he was presenting as a "minister of righteousness." -II Cor. 11:13-15. It is never just in one, single area.
How do leaders such as Harold Camping get away with false prophecies of the Lord's return (Matt. 24:36)? He did it twice in 2011, and should definitely be put away from the ministry! Yes, he has since supposedly repented; but how can he be believed? He has made these false predictions before, but the Bible shows us that he never should have.
In spite of the many examples that I could list, it seems today that christians never look any deeper, once a person has made a verbal claim to "know Christ." What is needed here is scrutiny from the Word of God. Hosea 4:6 tells us that God's people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Let's not be afraid to put our values and beliefs to the test, even if that makes us unpopular.
"For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved, But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God." -John 3:20,21.
Jesus talks about this sort of thing in Matthew 7. He declares that not every one who has called Him "Lord", shall enter the kingdom of heaven. Some will have used His name, and even done miracles in His name; but the Lord will declare that they never knew Him (v.21-23). He then shows that it is they that build their spirtual houses upon the "rock" of His Word, and do them, that shall be saved (v.24-27).
Don't misunderstand the Bible's teachings on judging others. If we cannot do that, we will fall. Matt. 7:16-20 plainly tells us that we will KNOW them by their fruits. And remember the focus on the tree, as well. Some may do apparently good works, but this doesn't mean God is behind them! In the garden of Eden, the fruit of the forbidden tree looked very alluring. Yet God had warned them of the tree, therefore they knew that this seemingly delicious fruit would bring about death.
Years ago, after I had backslidden and then returned to the Lord, I began to notice a problem with Billy Graham. Thankfully, today many more are noticing (He openly embraces many differing faiths as one, for an example).
At the time, however, I was noticing one glaring inconsistency in particular; that is, that he was loved and welcomed anywhere he went in the world! Jesus told us that, "A servant is not above his Lord" in Matthew 10:25, and also similarly in John 15:18-20. WHY should Billy Graham be loved, but Jesus Christ hated? At such a point, I either need to believe that the Bible is true, or that somehow its teachings don't encompass Billy Graham. Now, many years after those initial impressions, more supporting truth is coming to the forefront.
It is normal for a true follower of Christ to seek the fellowship of the brethren, and to learn all that they can for help in their spiritual walk. Thus, most will find a church. But no matter what you choose to do in this regard, always put Jesus 1st, seeking the direction of God's Word, and the Holy Spirit (II Tim. 3:16,17; I John 2:27). Don't continually elevate "learned" church leaders to an unholy level of respect. Instead, put them to the test. If they are continually altering God's Word to suit their lives, they do not belong to Christ!
Today's organized church structure is a work of the flesh, not the Holy Spirit. Seek the Lord at His Word; stand up for the truth; PRAY for revival. Simply put Jesus Christ first in every aspect of your life, and take your direction from Him alone. Let Him truly be the Lord of your life that you profess Him to be (Luke 6:46). If you can, take time to read the prophecy, Crumbs for Christ, which strongly relates.
Almost any professing believer I talk to has heard of George Mueller, who is best known for his faith in working with orphans back in the 1800s. But I have never met anyone of our time that really understands how the Lord led George Mueller with regard to the organized church. He was indeed a church pastor, but took directions from no denominational organization. I leave off this article with his words on the subject, for your consideration;
"I had other objections to being connected to any church or national religious establishment which arose from the increased light which I had obtained through the reception of this truth, that the word of God is our only standard, and the Holy Spirit our only teacher. For as I now began to compare what I knew of the establishment, with this only true standard, the word of God, I found that all establishments, even because they are establishments, i.e., the world and the church mixed up together, not only contain in them the principles which necessarily must lead to departure from the word of God; but also, as long as they remain establishments, entirely preclude the acting throughout according to the Holy Scriptures."
A couple of days ago, in the course of my normal internet viewing, I came across a video that aroused my curiosity enough to watch it; Homeless Boy Steals Talent Show. Now, I realize that this wasn't directly a spiritual topic, but it did remind me of one. Really, it is similar to that age-old adage, "You can't judge a book by its cover."
The Bible has gone to great lengths to warn us to beware of spiritual deception, yet it seems that most of today's professing church takes these warnings with a grain of salt. Some think that the devil can have no influence over them. Some think that they will readily identify any possible deceptions employed by Satan. Some regard these warnings as true, yet it never seems to apply to their own lives, their church, or anyone that they know. And almost no one takes the Bible seriously on every issue, or considers it irrelevant to our modern day world. These blind assumptions play directly in the devil's hands; he's got you!
So many times I have seen it, and it is so disheartening; lives that started out dynamically, and "on fire" for Jesus Christ have submitted themselves to man-made religious institutions, wrongly assuming them to be truly Christian. The end result is the destruction of faith (Hebrews 11:6), yet it leaves them with a "form of godliness" which has denied the power (II Tim. 3:1-5). It is a way which seems right to a man, but in fact, it leads to spiritual death (Prov. 14:12).
"This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far fro me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." -Matt. 15:8,9.
A long-time pastor announces to his congregation that he is homosexual (Believe me when I say, that very many church congregations wouldn't be offended by this!). How does this happen? Members become disillusioned, having thought that their pastor was a God-fearing man. This I can guarantee, however; if the church membership had been employing the gift of discernment (I Cor. 12:10), and had been "trying the spirits" (I John 4:1), they would have seen through the false-front he was presenting as a "minister of righteousness." -II Cor. 11:13-15. It is never just in one, single area.
How do leaders such as Harold Camping get away with false prophecies of the Lord's return (Matt. 24:36)? He did it twice in 2011, and should definitely be put away from the ministry! Yes, he has since supposedly repented; but how can he be believed? He has made these false predictions before, but the Bible shows us that he never should have.
In spite of the many examples that I could list, it seems today that christians never look any deeper, once a person has made a verbal claim to "know Christ." What is needed here is scrutiny from the Word of God. Hosea 4:6 tells us that God's people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Let's not be afraid to put our values and beliefs to the test, even if that makes us unpopular.
"For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved, But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God." -John 3:20,21.
Jesus talks about this sort of thing in Matthew 7. He declares that not every one who has called Him "Lord", shall enter the kingdom of heaven. Some will have used His name, and even done miracles in His name; but the Lord will declare that they never knew Him (v.21-23). He then shows that it is they that build their spirtual houses upon the "rock" of His Word, and do them, that shall be saved (v.24-27).
Don't misunderstand the Bible's teachings on judging others. If we cannot do that, we will fall. Matt. 7:16-20 plainly tells us that we will KNOW them by their fruits. And remember the focus on the tree, as well. Some may do apparently good works, but this doesn't mean God is behind them! In the garden of Eden, the fruit of the forbidden tree looked very alluring. Yet God had warned them of the tree, therefore they knew that this seemingly delicious fruit would bring about death.
Years ago, after I had backslidden and then returned to the Lord, I began to notice a problem with Billy Graham. Thankfully, today many more are noticing (He openly embraces many differing faiths as one, for an example).
At the time, however, I was noticing one glaring inconsistency in particular; that is, that he was loved and welcomed anywhere he went in the world! Jesus told us that, "A servant is not above his Lord" in Matthew 10:25, and also similarly in John 15:18-20. WHY should Billy Graham be loved, but Jesus Christ hated? At such a point, I either need to believe that the Bible is true, or that somehow its teachings don't encompass Billy Graham. Now, many years after those initial impressions, more supporting truth is coming to the forefront.
It is normal for a true follower of Christ to seek the fellowship of the brethren, and to learn all that they can for help in their spiritual walk. Thus, most will find a church. But no matter what you choose to do in this regard, always put Jesus 1st, seeking the direction of God's Word, and the Holy Spirit (II Tim. 3:16,17; I John 2:27). Don't continually elevate "learned" church leaders to an unholy level of respect. Instead, put them to the test. If they are continually altering God's Word to suit their lives, they do not belong to Christ!
Today's organized church structure is a work of the flesh, not the Holy Spirit. Seek the Lord at His Word; stand up for the truth; PRAY for revival. Simply put Jesus Christ first in every aspect of your life, and take your direction from Him alone. Let Him truly be the Lord of your life that you profess Him to be (Luke 6:46). If you can, take time to read the prophecy, Crumbs for Christ, which strongly relates.
Almost any professing believer I talk to has heard of George Mueller, who is best known for his faith in working with orphans back in the 1800s. But I have never met anyone of our time that really understands how the Lord led George Mueller with regard to the organized church. He was indeed a church pastor, but took directions from no denominational organization. I leave off this article with his words on the subject, for your consideration;
"I had other objections to being connected to any church or national religious establishment which arose from the increased light which I had obtained through the reception of this truth, that the word of God is our only standard, and the Holy Spirit our only teacher. For as I now began to compare what I knew of the establishment, with this only true standard, the word of God, I found that all establishments, even because they are establishments, i.e., the world and the church mixed up together, not only contain in them the principles which necessarily must lead to departure from the word of God; but also, as long as they remain establishments, entirely preclude the acting throughout according to the Holy Scriptures."
Monday, January 2, 2012
Messianic Judaism: the form of "another gospel"
It was some time ago, that I searched on the internet for a Christian brother through whom I was blessed with much insight into certain areas of spiritual concern, quite a few years now past. I had come upon another situation that his experience might be helpful in, and this is why I sought him out. Please forgive my vagueness, but I do not wish to throw negative gossip his way.
Upon finding him, and what he currently is "up to" in the Lord's work, I was greatly distressed to find that he had become a Messianic Jew. Here is a man who at one time strongly clave to the Word of God, the King James Bible, but apparently now even that Bible has become irrelevant in his life.
It is assumed by many that Messianic Judaism is a legitimate Christian denomination, as it was also by myself for many years. It really isn't my habit to pick apart other brethren (when they are true brethren in Christ), so I am not quick to pick up on deficiencies when it appears they are following the Lord Jesus Christ. Even now, this message comes forth due to the recent prompting of scripture in my daily devotions, rather than being a mere item on some "hit list." As always, it is the Word of God to which we must jealously cling, as this is the confirming hallmark of a true Christian (John 14:23).
A Messianic Jew (MJ) has accepted that indeed, Jesus is the messiah; Orthodox Jews have rejected Him, and therefore are still waiting for his arrival. This of course means that MJs do not practice animal sacrifice, having accepted Jesus' propitiatory atonement through the cross. Beyond that, the rest of their practices are traditionally Jewish. Dietary laws, Sabbath observation, and Jewish holidays are parts of their practice; exact observances, and how strictly they are adhered to can vary.
This religious view, I suppose, has a certain strong appeal; it attempts to tie in the supposed "blessing" of God's chosen people Israel from the Old Testament with the salvation through Christ of the New Testament.
There is a definite propaganda within the organized churches that still supports Israel/Jews as God's people, but a closer examination of the scripture reveals something quite different.
First of all, the "blessings" which God gave to Israel were always conditional; if they obeyed, they were blessed, but disobedience meant being cursed (Deut. 28; Joshua 23:15,16; I Kings 9:3-9). By the time the Old Testament was finishing, Israel (as a whole; not every individual) had totally rejected the Lord; they were done repenting before Him, and it was time for the messiah to appear. When this happened, they again rejected the Lord: this time they did it directly to Him in person (Matt. 23:37,38). This was not only a rejection by the Jewish religious leaders, but by the majority of Jewish people. They loved the kind works of Jesus, but would not accept Him as their God, and creator (Matt. 11:20).
Yes, the Bible alludes to God's people Israel, and their return to the traditional Jewish homeland. But the Bible shows this to be a spiritual application, not a physical one. As we proceed into the New Testament, it is the church, the BODY OF CHRIST that is now considered to be the "Israel of God." See Galatians 6:16. We also have allusions to this in Romans 9:6; "...For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:" And in Galatians 3:29; "And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."
So every Old Testament prophecy of the latter-day Israel is a reference to those who have been saved through Jesus Christ, be they Jew or Gentile. We find prophecies of this in the Old testament, such as in Hosea 1:9,10; "Then said God, Call his name Loammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God. Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God." I dare say that this scripture is confusing, unless you understand it as the rejection of the physical Israel, and the New Testament incorporation of the spiritual Israel. Please see our article The Israel of God for more detail on this subject.
Chapter one of Galatians warns us about serving "another gospel." It is addressing the fall of a Christian church into a works-based religion, and states clearly; "For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor." -Gal. 2:18. Chapter 4, verses 9-11 condemn the special observance of days as a "weak and beggarly" element (this includes Sabbaths) which could indicate a fall from grace.
Dietary laws (which meats to eat) at this point are voluntary, and not required for a believer. I Timothy 4:3-6 makes this exceedingly clear, and this is the consistent teaching throughout the New Testament.
MJs are drifting away from real faith in Christ, and focusing upon outer works of no good value. I found compelling testimony against Messianic Judaism through the apostles in Acts chapter 15...
In this chapter we find that verses 5-32 are devoted to this subject- that's a lot! The issue at hand was circumcision, and the keeping the law of Moses (v.5); which some of the converted Pharisees were claiming to be needful for salvation. After much debate, the Holy Spirit spoke through Peter in resolving this matter. He reminded them how God had put no difference between the Jew & Gentile (v.7-9) back in Acts chapter10. And then he said something truly profound in verse 10; "Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?" -Bold italics added for emphasis. This is, from a Jew, a condemnation of Jewish religious tradition! The very reason for Jesus' coming was to free us from these laws of works, which were never sufficient to save us (Gal. 2:16,21).
So then the conclusion of this matter in Acts 15 is found in verses 20 & 29, the latter being directly of the communication sent regarding this. The issue was, should there be a keeping of the law of Moses; here is the answer; "For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. fare ye well." -v.28 & 29.
That was it! Nothing else about unclean foods, or even Sabbath days was placed upon them. If the apostles continued in certain Jewish traditions, it was likely out of habit, but also for a testimony; it helped to further the witness of Christ amongst the Jews. But you can read this episode for yourself, along with the rest of the related scriptures in the Bible, and readily acknowledge that Jewish works of the law are of no merit in the spiritual sense. Some might still try to argue that MJs are okay, but I think that adhering to scripture closely should always be the primary effort of a true Christian. The book of Galatians is warning early believers about not following another gospel; Messianic Judaism seems to fit the description in that book very well!
It can only be speculated as to why my once devout Christian brother has become an MJ. His testimony indicates to me that he has a desire for a very active kind of faith, and perhaps alternative denominations seemed lifeless. He did also, however, yield quickly to many false teachings of "respected" church leaders, without thoroughly trying the spirits (I John 4:1).
Please read through the book of Galatians carefully, and with prayer. Let this be a reminder that a person's sincerity counts for nothing with the Lord- He requires obedience to His Word, without alterations.
"Ye shall not do after all the things that we do here this day, every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes."
- Deut. 12:8.
Upon finding him, and what he currently is "up to" in the Lord's work, I was greatly distressed to find that he had become a Messianic Jew. Here is a man who at one time strongly clave to the Word of God, the King James Bible, but apparently now even that Bible has become irrelevant in his life.
It is assumed by many that Messianic Judaism is a legitimate Christian denomination, as it was also by myself for many years. It really isn't my habit to pick apart other brethren (when they are true brethren in Christ), so I am not quick to pick up on deficiencies when it appears they are following the Lord Jesus Christ. Even now, this message comes forth due to the recent prompting of scripture in my daily devotions, rather than being a mere item on some "hit list." As always, it is the Word of God to which we must jealously cling, as this is the confirming hallmark of a true Christian (John 14:23).
A Messianic Jew (MJ) has accepted that indeed, Jesus is the messiah; Orthodox Jews have rejected Him, and therefore are still waiting for his arrival. This of course means that MJs do not practice animal sacrifice, having accepted Jesus' propitiatory atonement through the cross. Beyond that, the rest of their practices are traditionally Jewish. Dietary laws, Sabbath observation, and Jewish holidays are parts of their practice; exact observances, and how strictly they are adhered to can vary.
This religious view, I suppose, has a certain strong appeal; it attempts to tie in the supposed "blessing" of God's chosen people Israel from the Old Testament with the salvation through Christ of the New Testament.
There is a definite propaganda within the organized churches that still supports Israel/Jews as God's people, but a closer examination of the scripture reveals something quite different.
First of all, the "blessings" which God gave to Israel were always conditional; if they obeyed, they were blessed, but disobedience meant being cursed (Deut. 28; Joshua 23:15,16; I Kings 9:3-9). By the time the Old Testament was finishing, Israel (as a whole; not every individual) had totally rejected the Lord; they were done repenting before Him, and it was time for the messiah to appear. When this happened, they again rejected the Lord: this time they did it directly to Him in person (Matt. 23:37,38). This was not only a rejection by the Jewish religious leaders, but by the majority of Jewish people. They loved the kind works of Jesus, but would not accept Him as their God, and creator (Matt. 11:20).
Yes, the Bible alludes to God's people Israel, and their return to the traditional Jewish homeland. But the Bible shows this to be a spiritual application, not a physical one. As we proceed into the New Testament, it is the church, the BODY OF CHRIST that is now considered to be the "Israel of God." See Galatians 6:16. We also have allusions to this in Romans 9:6; "...For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:" And in Galatians 3:29; "And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."
So every Old Testament prophecy of the latter-day Israel is a reference to those who have been saved through Jesus Christ, be they Jew or Gentile. We find prophecies of this in the Old testament, such as in Hosea 1:9,10; "Then said God, Call his name Loammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God. Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God." I dare say that this scripture is confusing, unless you understand it as the rejection of the physical Israel, and the New Testament incorporation of the spiritual Israel. Please see our article The Israel of God for more detail on this subject.
Chapter one of Galatians warns us about serving "another gospel." It is addressing the fall of a Christian church into a works-based religion, and states clearly; "For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor." -Gal. 2:18. Chapter 4, verses 9-11 condemn the special observance of days as a "weak and beggarly" element (this includes Sabbaths) which could indicate a fall from grace.
Dietary laws (which meats to eat) at this point are voluntary, and not required for a believer. I Timothy 4:3-6 makes this exceedingly clear, and this is the consistent teaching throughout the New Testament.
MJs are drifting away from real faith in Christ, and focusing upon outer works of no good value. I found compelling testimony against Messianic Judaism through the apostles in Acts chapter 15...
In this chapter we find that verses 5-32 are devoted to this subject- that's a lot! The issue at hand was circumcision, and the keeping the law of Moses (v.5); which some of the converted Pharisees were claiming to be needful for salvation. After much debate, the Holy Spirit spoke through Peter in resolving this matter. He reminded them how God had put no difference between the Jew & Gentile (v.7-9) back in Acts chapter10. And then he said something truly profound in verse 10; "Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?" -Bold italics added for emphasis. This is, from a Jew, a condemnation of Jewish religious tradition! The very reason for Jesus' coming was to free us from these laws of works, which were never sufficient to save us (Gal. 2:16,21).
So then the conclusion of this matter in Acts 15 is found in verses 20 & 29, the latter being directly of the communication sent regarding this. The issue was, should there be a keeping of the law of Moses; here is the answer; "For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. fare ye well." -v.28 & 29.
That was it! Nothing else about unclean foods, or even Sabbath days was placed upon them. If the apostles continued in certain Jewish traditions, it was likely out of habit, but also for a testimony; it helped to further the witness of Christ amongst the Jews. But you can read this episode for yourself, along with the rest of the related scriptures in the Bible, and readily acknowledge that Jewish works of the law are of no merit in the spiritual sense. Some might still try to argue that MJs are okay, but I think that adhering to scripture closely should always be the primary effort of a true Christian. The book of Galatians is warning early believers about not following another gospel; Messianic Judaism seems to fit the description in that book very well!
It can only be speculated as to why my once devout Christian brother has become an MJ. His testimony indicates to me that he has a desire for a very active kind of faith, and perhaps alternative denominations seemed lifeless. He did also, however, yield quickly to many false teachings of "respected" church leaders, without thoroughly trying the spirits (I John 4:1).
Please read through the book of Galatians carefully, and with prayer. Let this be a reminder that a person's sincerity counts for nothing with the Lord- He requires obedience to His Word, without alterations.
"Ye shall not do after all the things that we do here this day, every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes."
- Deut. 12:8.
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