Repentance IS REQUIRED

It’s Not a Suggestion

By brother R Michel Lankford

FACT: We are commanded by Messiah to go into all the world and MAKE DISCIPLES; notice that He does not say to go make church members, but to make DISCIPLES by baptizing, and teaching people HOW to OBEY EVERYTHING that Messiah has commanded us (Matthew 28:19-20). Beloved, I have been in many churches in my time, and I have yet to enter a single church congregation that ever even offered to teach this, let alone one that actually did it.

FACT: The FIRST public Commandment the Messiah gave in the Apostolic Writings, was that we should REPENT, (Matthew 4:17).  In Hebrew, (the language of the original Scriptures), to repent is, (Hebrew Strong’s # 7725 transliterated shoov, or  T'Shuvah). It quite literally means to destroy one’s own ways, and to RETURN to YHWH (יהוה), and HIS Ways.

In Greek to repent is, (Greek Strong’s #3340 METANOEÔ. From the Biblical literal sense of the word, to repent means to change one's mind, to change one's purpose and to change one's actions AWAY from what God defines as being sin, and then TURNING and progressively walking TOWARD what God says is righteous, good and pleasing to Him. So from God's point of view we have only successfully repented when we change our mind, when we change our purpose and when we change our way of life AWAY from what He calls sin, and then we walk TOWARD what God says is good and pleasing to Him.

FACT: It is IMPOSSIBLE to biblically repent without the Torah. Think about it. How can you possibly destroy your own ways, and then RETURN to YHWH (יהוה) and RETURN to HIS WAYS, without learning and obeying HIS Commandments and RETURNING to His Instructions? So in reality, you cannot even begin to obey Messiah’s first public command in the New Testament without the Torah, because forsaking your own ways and returning to YHWH (יהוה) and His Ways; that’s what it means to repent biblically. So how can you return to Yahweh and to Yahweh’s ways without learning and keeping His Commandments?

We see some perfect pictures of repentance in the Apostolic Writings. The prodigal son, (Luke 15:11-32)

Please notice:

·          The wayward son came to himself, (he changed his mind - Luke 15:17).

·         He changed his purpose and intentions, (Luke 15:18).

·        He changed his way of walking AWAY from his sin, and he RETURNED to His father, and to his father’s authority (Luke 15:19-20).

We often love to talk about the Father’s Compassion, His forgiveness, and His enthusiastic willingness and jubilant restoration of His wayward son; and thanks be to YHWH (יהוה), that this is His Character, because we all need it. However, in our enthusiasm to experience the restoration part of the teaching, we often neglect and sometimes even ignore THE central fact of the teaching:

The wayward son was restored AFTER he repented, NOT before. And without genuine biblical repentance, there would not have been a restoration party. Do not deceive yourself:

·         If the young man had stubbornly held onto the same rebellious mindset he had when he left; if he had not changed his mind, if he would not have been willing to return home, then he would not have been restored. There was no possibility of a restoration party until the boy changed his mind.

·         If the young man had not changed his purposes away from his previous rebelliousness; if he had not purposed in his heart to return to his father, there would have been no restoration party at all.

·         If the young man had not taken physical steps; if he had not walked away from his pigpen; if he had not taken physical steps to walk away from his wayward life, and then physically taken steps toward his father’s house, there would not have been a restoration party at all.

 

A True Understanding of Biblical Grace

Yes, we must not underestimate the generosity of the father, but we must not forget that without a genuine biblical repentance there is no restoration. Do not be deceived. If the young man had not gone through the three critical stages of repentance, he would have died in that pigpen, much to the heartbreak of his loving father. Without genuine biblical repentance, there is no restoration party.

Yes, if we are willing to have our mind changed so that we come into agreement, with YHWH (יהוה) Almighty, He will give us His grace. He will open our eyes so that we compare our lives to His Word, He will open our understanding, and we will be able to recognize our sin, and see our true need for restoration, because that’s what the true grace of God does. However, if we insist that we’re already okay, that we’re already righteous, and that we don’t need to change our mind so that we are more in agreement with (יהוה) Almighty; then we actually deny our need for the grace that (יהוה) Almighty offers, and we could die in our pigpen.

Yes, if we have any willingness to change our purposes and intentions AWAY from what (יהוה) Almighty defines to be sin, and we are willing to change our life’s purposes TOWARD what (יהוה) Almighty considers to be good, then the Almighty Creator will give us all the Grace we need, to change our purposes AWAY from sin and TOWARD what pleases YHWH (יהוה), because that’s what the grace of Almighty God was intended to help us do successfully. However, if we deceive ourselves; if we tell ourselves that it doesn’t really matter if we learn and DO what (יהוה) Almighty considers to be good, because after all, He knows my heart; in that case we actually are denying our need for the grace of God, and we could die in our pigpen.

Once the young man had changed his mind and come to his senses; once he had changed his intentions and he purposed to RETURN to his father’s household and to his father’s authority, the young man had to put real physical feet to that decision. He had to DO something that was consistent with his new righteous mindset, and his renewed purposes and intentions. He had to pick up his feet. He had to WALK AWAY from his pigpen, and he had to physically start walking TOWARD home. If he had not chosen to start walking home, the father would not have met him on the road and that young man could have died in that pigpen.

Yes, if we have the willingness to forsake our old life, and then to learn, to seek, and to actually RETURN to what is pleasing to (יהוה) Almighty, then He will give us all the grace that we need to pull that off successfully, because that is what the real and true grace of God does.

The problem is that most Christians today have a COUNTERFEIT definition of grace. Most are erroneously taught that Grace allegedly means that we should not have to DO anything. Most are taught by tradition and practice that if you actually believe you have to DO something, then you are not walking in grace, you are supposedly walking in works, and you are therefore wrong, according to most traditional and modern Christians.

The real reason for their gross error is that they do not use the Bible, (they don’t even use the New Testament) to define what the Grace of God really is. Even Paul the apostle of grace clearly states that part of the function of God (יהוה) Almighty’s Grace is to make us both zealous and ABLE to do what YHWH considers to be good and pleasing to Him, (Titus 2:11-15; Ephesians 2:8-10; Philippians 2:13; just to name a few). The heresy that we should not have to do anything at all, because we are under grace is a complete and abominable lie! The pastors and teachers, who are promoting such a deception, need to be zealous about repenting. They need to forsake their false teachings, and they need to return to (יהוה) Almighty’s Word and teaching His Ways, before they lead themselves and their congregations into the Lake of fire, (Revelation 21:8).

Part of the function of YHWH’s Grace is to bring us into repentance, (Romans 2:4), but we still have to DO the repenting. If we are willing, YHWH Almighty’s Grace will help us to change our minds, so that we will be able to forsake our old way of thinking, and change our mindset to agree with the Creator, but we have to choose to let Him do it, and must choose to come into agreement with what His Word actually says, (Romans 12:1-2; Philippians 2:5; Matthew 4:4).

Many Christians erroneously believe that grace means that it is the Father’s job to forcibly take you out of your pigpen without you having to change your mind. Some of you foolishly believe that it is the Heavenly Father’s job to forcibly drag you out of your pigpen, and drag you home so that you don’t die; all the while you are still resenting and resisting the Father’s authority.

So many Christians want the blessings of belonging to the Father’s household without submitting to the 

Father’s Authority. That’s not grace. That’s lawlessness. Many Christians don’t understand the true biblical picture of grace where the wayward son starts walking toward home.

They mistakenly believe that grace means the Father finds you in whatever pigpen you choose to wallow in, and that He should forcibly carry you home piggyback, whether you make any real choices to change or not, so that you wouldn’t have to walk a single step of obedience, because after all, we are under grace. That’s not grace. That’s lawlessness.

We do newcomers to the faith a grave disservice when we mislead them to believe that all they have to do is raise their hands, walk up front, say a few words that didn’t even originate from their heart, because we tell them that all they have to do is repeat after us the words that we tell them to say, and then they are all good.  Then as they progress in most Christian congregations, they will learn that they are under Grace, so it doesn’t really matter if they learn to obey YHWH, or if they learn to walk like Messiah walked, because they’re under grace, so they shouldn’t have to do anything, right?!

The First public Commandment Messiah gave was to repent, (Matthew 4:17). To repent literally means to change our mind, to change our purposes and intentions, and to change our way of walking, away from what (יהוה) Almighty considers to be sin, and to progressively RETURN and walk TOWARD what (יהוה) Almighty considers to be good and pleasing to Him. That’s the First public Command Messiah gave in the apostolic writings. We cannot even begin to walk successfully with YHWH and the Messiah He has sent, until we learn how to biblically repent successfully.

If we are willing, YHWH’s Grace will help us to change our purposes and intentions AWAY from what (יהוה) Almighty’s Word considers to be sin, and to change our purposes TOWARD what the Almighty Creator considers to be good. That’s what God’s true grace actually does. But we must be willing to compare our intentions with rightly divided Scripture, and NOT ASSUME that our intentions and purposes are already right because we THINK were well-meaning.

If we are willing to seek, to find, to walk and to persevere in the Strait and narrow path that leads to Eternal Life, (Matthew 7:13-14), then YHWH’s Grace is there to help us to succeed at seeking it. YHWH’s Grace will help us to succeed at finding it, but we still have to DO the seeking. If we are willing to walk in the Strait and narrow path that leads to life, Yahweh’s Grace will definitely help us to walk that path successfully, but we still have to DO the walking. If we choose to learn how to persevere in walking the Strait and narrow path, until it leads us to life, then YHWH, and His Grace is willing and eager to help us succeed at persevering until we win, until we overcome, and until we are victorious, but we still have to DO the actual persevering.

Of course, everyone who asks receives, but we have to continue to DO the asking, until we are certain that we have received it. YHWH’s Grace helps us to know what to ask, and to persevere in asking until we truly receive, but we still must choose and we must continue to DO the asking until we receive (Matthew 7:7-8).

Of course, everyone who seeks finds, but we are the ones who must be faithful and we have to continue DOING the seeking until we are certain that we have found it. YHWH’s Grace helps us to seek, but we still must do the seeking.

Of course, to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened, but we must be certain that we are knocking at the correct door, and we must be diligent to continue knocking at the correct door until it opens, but we must also be prepared to enter into, and to live in that room once the door opens, because it will eventually open. We must persevere in knocking until it does. YHWH’s Grace helps us to do the knocking, but we still have to DO the knocking until the doors open.

YHWH Almighty’s Grace is there to help us to repent successfully once we make the decision that we want to learn and do repentance that YHWH and Messiah will accept. YHWH’s Grace is there to help us to learn what repentance is and how to do it successfully in our own lives, but we still have to DO the actual repenting. God’s Grace helps us to do the repenting. God’s grace does not remove the need to repent.

Beloved, there is no restoration without the repentance. If the young man had not changed his mind and recognized his depraved condition, he would not have come to himself. If the young man had not changed his intentions and purposes; if he had not intended to return home with purpose and volition, he would not have been restored. If he had not purposely taken steps to walk away from his pigpen and to return to his father’s household and authority; there would have been no new fancy robes. There would have been no ring of authority put on his finger, if he had chosen to remain in the pig wallow. There would’ve been no fancy new shoes. There would have been no fatted calf Barbecue party so to speak. There would have been no tearful kisses and jubilant welcomes home.  Pease do not deceive yourself. There is no restoration without the repentance.

Brother Michel Lankford

Sacred Name Concerns

By Brother R Michel Lankford

Just prior to last week’s 7^th day Sabbath, I received a request from someone on Facebook to discuss the issue of the Sacred Name. We were just entering into the Sabbath of YHWH, and so at that time I could not do the research to come up with the well-considered response that her question truly deserved, and so I wrote to her that I would be glad to research and answer her question after YHWH’s Sabbaths of Unleavened Bread. To be more precise, here is the more exact quote of her question:

“Please Robert shed more light on the mention of the holy name of our creator, some branches of church of God condemn the mention of this name(Yahweh),which is the way forward especially for a very new member in that church.?”

First, let me say that I thoroughly appreciate this sister’s question. I thank her for asking it. Thank you sister.

Secondly, let me say at the outset that I DO NOT have ALL the knowledge, all of the understanding, nor do I possess the absolutely incontrovertibly PERFECT application of every single Scripture, in either portion of the Whole Testament. At the moment, my knowledge and my understanding on this and every subject is only, IN PART. Therefore, my prophesying and my teaching is also only IN PART. For as of today I see through a mirror dimly, I have NOT YET reached the point where I know and understand perfectly, as I am perfectly known by YHWH, (1 Corinthians 13:9-13). I would further add that any human being, who is not honestly humble enough to admit this at the outset, is probably not trustworthy enough to teach you, because they may have an unseen agenda to lift themselves up, rather than to build up the body of Messiah.

All that having been said, just because I admit that I don’t know EVERYTHING, that doesn’t mean that I don’t know ANYTHING at all. Those particular things where YHWH has opened my eyes and given me understanding, those things which I have diligently studied, those things which I have learned, those things which I have diligently practiced, and those things where I have seen the fruit and result in my life and the lives of others; of those things I am certain. The things that I have come to KNOW; those things I know, and I am passionately ZEALOUS to grow in, to practice, and to teach those things where our Heavenly Father has given me Grace to understand. I make no apologies for spreading the truth as Abba YHWH has given me Grace to understand it, even though others may take offense.

I said all that because we need to understand that people are incredibly emotional and passionate about what they believe. They may be partially correct, or entirely correct on a given issue. They may be partially incorrect or even entirely wrong or even deceived on a given subject, but if they firmly BELIEVE something to be true, whether they are in fact right or wrong, if they believe it, they will be passionate about it. This is especially true when you are dealing with people’s relationships with the Creator and with Messiah, (the Creator en-fleshed).

Learn to Treat Absolutes as Absolute

I absolutely believe that we should passionately pursue truth and excellence as disciples. We must NOT compromise on issues where the Almighty has clearly spoken and it is provable through the Weight of Biblical Evidence. Within Scripture, there are things that are biblically established ABSOLUTES. However, there are also things in Scripture which are not as clearly spelled out, they are not as easily understood, and where the meaning and the application of the Scripture is not as easily provable, and they are therefore debatable.

One of the snares of the adversary is that he loves to get believers to treat absolutes as though they were debatable, and to get believers to treat debatable things as though they were absolute. This causes no end of UNNECESSARY division among believers.

It’s a critical key to maturity in discipleship that we should learn to discipline ourselves to clearly distinguish the difference between the biblically provable absolutes and the biblically debatable things. We must learn to treat absolutes like they are absolutes, and to treat debatable things as debatable things. Part of discipleship maturity is about warning not to confuse those two concepts.

For example, the need to bionically REPENT is a provable, definable, biblical absolute. If I teach that it is part of our job as human beings to learn what the Almighty Creator desires and requires.

If I teach that it is part of our responsibility as human beings to CHANGE our mind AWAY from what the Almighty considers to be sin and to turn our thinking TOWARD what YHWH considers to be good, then I am teaching correctly. For that is what it means to repent. 

If I teach that it is part of our responsibility to TURN our purposes and desires AWAY from what the Creator considers to be sin, and to turn our purposes and intentions TOWARD what the Creator has defined to be good, then I am teaching correctly because that is part of what it means to repent biblically. 

If and when I teach that we must turn our life’s directions AWAY from what the Creator considers to be sin, and that we must progressively turn our lives and walk TOWARD what YHWH Almighty considers to be good, then I am teaching correctly, because that is what is required in order to repent biblically. There is clear evidence of that throughout the entire Testament of Scripture. Both the weight of biblical evidence and original language studies bear out the definition I just described. That is NOT a debatable issue. It is a biblical absolute.

So, if someone claiming to be a biblical teacher does not teach repentance, or does not teach how to repent according to how the Bible defines that term, then I can and I SHOULD righteously take issue with such a teacher, because the Bible is so definitively clear on that issue.

For another example, the Bible is incontrovertibly clear about the fact that we must turn away from things such as idolatry and adultery, and that if we do not turn away from such things, we will then be condemned. The Bible teaches this as a clear concept throughout the Whole Testament of the Scriptures. It is indisputable to anyone truly seeking to obey the Almighty Creator. So we can teach in favor of returning to Yahweh and in favor of repenting from adultery and idolatry without any fear of contradiction, because these are absolutely abundantly clear.

 

Understanding the Opposing Extremes

There are other issues one finds in Scripture, which are NOT AS CLEAR as the absolutes described in the above section. The Sacred Name issue is not nearly as clear and well spelled out as other issues in Scripture.

Now within the Sacred Name issue there are extremists on both fringes. There are extremists who believe that the Name of the Creator is SO sacred, that it should NEVER be spoken by a human being. For the purpose of identification, I will call this group, the Nicknamers. They give YHWH a nickname in substitute for using the Creator’s actual name. This is how the majority of believers, both rabbinical Hebrew and rabbinical Babylonian Christians are trained by tradition and practice. So they are by far the most popular group. That is the traditional view of rabbinical, (not biblical, but rabbinical), Judaism to this day. Protestant Christianity and our English Bibles picked up the same habit as well. Since this belief is so deeply entrenched in their traditions, and since the scribes and Pharisees were responsible for the transcribing and preserving of the Scriptures, the habit of SUBSTITUTING the Creator’s Name, with titles referring to Him instead of using His Name, is a long-standing tradition which has become so habitual that it is now second nature to many.

On the opposite extreme, you have a group which I will identify as the Sacred Namers. The Sacred Namers are those who believe that one should ONLY use the Sacred Name of YHWH, and nothing else. Some of the Sacred Namers even go so far as to say that unless one uses the Sacred Name, (and uses it in the spelling and vocalization and pronunciation which THEY believe to be the only correct one, then such a person is not truly saved, because in THEIR estimation they have not truly called or been baptized in the name of YHWH). I kid you not, I have seen that argument. I tell you the truth. I believe that BOTH extreme camps of the issue are WRONG.

The Nicknamers Are Wrong

These are the extremists which often claim that even attempting to pronounce His actual Name is an unholy sin. These are the people which often favor removing all direct identifiers from the Sacred Name. In English these people would use replacement nicknames and titles for our Creator such as LORD, God, or G-D leaving out a letter, the Almighty, the Almighty One, the Almighty Creator, the Eternal One, and so forth. In Hebrew circles, the traditionalists who favor the substitution tradition will use terms such as B’Shem, meaning, “The Name,” to substitute for the actual Name of the Creator.

The substitution tradition has so widely permeated the human experience that even our English Bibles picked up this bad habit. For example, we know for a fact that even the consonant letters for the Hebrew name of the Creator (יהוה). Reading from right to left, this reads: YOD-HAY –VAV-HAY; these were removed from our English Bibles and replaced with the English phrase, “the LORD in all capital letters. This was done in part for English readers who knew nothing of Hebrew to read the Scriptures, but let us also be brutally honest and truthful. There was also a HUGE anti-Hebrew and anti-Semitic agenda that had infested organized Christianity since the early 300s A.D. Since Emperor Constantine and subsequent Roman emperors and succeeding governments made an  all-out concerted effort to forcibly separate Christianity from its true first century BIBLICAL Hebrew foundations.

As a result, both the rabbinical Hebrew tradition and the Roman anti-Semitic traditions have effectually conspired together so that the Name of the Creator, even the consonants, (known as the Tetragrammaton), is largely unknown today among most Christians. We know for a fact that the Bible translators removed the consonants of YHWH’S Name, (the Tetragrammaton) from the Scriptures, some 6,832 times, and made generic label substitutions, as far as we can prove.

Here is why the Nicknamers are WRONG, biblically speaking. Scripture is incredibly CLEAR and definitive that we are NOT to ADD to, and we are NOT to SUBTRACT from what YHWH יהוה has commanded us. That’s definitive Scripture, (Deuteronomy 4:2; Deuteronomy 12:32; cf. Revelation 22:18-19).

Furthermore, we are COMMANDED by YHWH (יהוה), to teach His Name to our children, (Deuteronomy 6:4-9, 13; cf. Isaiah 63:16; Ezekiel 39:7; Psalm 105:1; 1 Chronicles 16:8; 1 Chronicles 23:12-13). These are just very few of many examples. So when you remove YHWH’s Name altogether, and one then substitutes it with a nickname, that is clearly violating Scripture. There is no getting around that. Substituting YHWH’s (יהוה) Name and replacing it with something else, one is clearly violating Scripture if one reads and believes the Bible. So eliminating the Name from memory is clearly WRONG.

 

Not Using YHWH (יהוה’s) Name in Vain

One of the popular validations and supposed justifications for removing the Sacred Name from the Scriptures and for substituting the Sacred Name with nicknames and titles instead of using His Name was the idea that we are commanded not to use (יהוה’s) Name in Vain. Now, the desire not to use YHWH’s name in vain is absolutely right and laudable. However, the method in which the Nicknamers went about supposedly trying to keep that Commandment was by VIOLATING other Biblical Commandments of the Heavenly Father. This is completely wrong. When one is trying so hard to make sure that they don’t break a Commandment, that they end up creating new laws, rules and regulations, and by doing so they actually end up BREAKING other Biblical Commandments; that is known as the concept of  “Putting fences around fences,” (Luke 11:37-54). Please do not forget, that we are COMMANDED NOT to ADD to, and NOT to SUBTRACT from what YHWH (יהוה) Almighty has commanded, (Deuteronomy 4:2; Deuteronomy 12:32; Revelation 22:18-19). So when we create human traditions which put more burdens and obligations on people then YHWH (יהוה) has actually decreed; that’s a sin. Likewise, when we create human traditions which remove or gives people permission not to do what YHWH (יהוה) has decreed, that is also sin.

In actual fact, by refusing to use the Father’s Name at all in an effort to avoid using His Name in vain, they are in effect actually MAKING the Name VAIN. Because the term vain in Hebrew and Greek includes the idea of rendering or causing to become empty meaningless, or void of purpose and meaning. So, by not using the name of YHWH (יהוה) at all, it does end up losing its fullness. If you don’t use it at all, it ends up not having any real purpose, and people lose the meaning. So in effect by not using the Creator’s Name at all, that is in fact causing it to become a meaningless and vain thing which is not fulfilling its purpose. So by not using the name of YHWH at all, we are in fact causing His Name to become a vain thing.

 

The Sacred Namers Are Also Wrong

While I completely agree that removing the sacred name of YHWH (יהוה), and substituting it with a nickname, or avoiding His Name altogether is OBVIOUSLY WRONG from a biblical standpoint, I also think that some of the Sacred Namers are also wrong in some things, and that some are stepping into VERY dangerous territory. Here’s what I mean.

Among some Sacred Namers there are some who INSIST that unless one knows and uses the Sacred Name of YHWH (יהוה) exclusively, then such a person is not truly saved. I kid you not, I have read of people making that argument.

Within this Sacred Namers camp, there are still other extremists, who believe and teach that you MUST use THEIR particular spelling, and THEIR particular pronunciation or vocalization for the Sacred Name of YHWH (יהוה). Some go so far as to say that unless you use THEIR pronunciation and vocalization, you are not truly saved and you need to be re-baptized into THEIR pronunciation of the Sacred Name of YHWH (יהוה).

Here is the kicker. Even among those who ardently believe that we should use the Sacred Name of YHWH (יהוה) exclusively, there is passionate disagreement on how exactly it should be spelled, and how exactly the Sacred Name should be pronounced or vocalized. Even among Sacred Name proponents, there can be heated disagreements on the pronunciation and vocalization issue.

There are many who have studied this issue longer than I have, but just in my short time of studying this issue, I myself have seen multiple variations on the spelling and vocalization of the Sacred Name of YHWH (יהוה). These variations include:

YAH

YAHWEH

YEHUAH

YEHOVAH

YAHWAH

There may be even more variations, but these are just the ones I remember seeing in my own studying. The proponents of each of these claims to have biblical reasoning and biblical backing for their own preferred vocalization and pronunciation of the Sacred Name of YHWH (יהוה). I hate to point out the obvious, but it seems that I don’t have much choice. Each of the five factions believe that YHWH (יהוה) has given THEM revelation of how the sacred name is to be used and pronounced or vocalized. Beloved of YHWH (יהוה), I hate to burst your elitist bubble, but all five of your factions CANNOT be 100% correct. The odds are HUGE that even if one of your factions is correct, the others are wrong. It is even possible that all of these five different vocalizations MIGHT be off by a little bit, in any event.

As I said in the beginning, part of maturing as disciples is that we need to learn to treat Biblical absolutes as biblical absolutes. We need to treat debatable issues as debatable issues, and not mix up the two concepts.

Since there are multiple variations of pronunciations and vocalizations and spellings, even among those who believe that we should use the Sacred Name, of YHWH (יהוה), it is glaringly obvious that this particular issue IS in fact a DEBATABLE issue, whether you like it or not. It is not as definitive as the Sacred Namers may wish to believe that it is, because if it is not a debatable issue then WHY is there so much passionate DEBATE, even among yourselves?

The sad fact is that we are at least FIVE languages removed from the original Hebrew. We are at least 5000 years removed from the original Scriptures, and the culture that originally received it. Whether we like it or not, mistakes are going to happen in translation, and pronunciation or vocalization, and in our understanding and application of what is written.

• ·         Do I believe that removing the Sacred Name of YHWH (יהוה), from the written Scriptures is wrong, and that such a practice was and is a violation of written Scripture? Of course I do. There is ample Biblical evidence to prove that point.

• ·         Do I believe that attempting to restore the Sacred Name of YHWH (יהוה), into the mindset and understanding of believers is a good and righteous goal?  Of course I do.

• ·         Do I believe that believers should abandon replacement theology, dispensational theology, the pagan-based religious traditions invented by men, and that we should all repent, that we should return to YHWH (יהוה), and follow His Instructions in the example of the Messiah with all of our heart? Absolutely I do! That is my goal as a disciple, and that is what I attempt to practice and to teach, as YHWH gives me Grace to do so.

·         My problem is that there are enough absolute definitive Biblical Instructions which I am still trying to learn to practice and to teach correctly, that I don’t have time to argue and debate over the obviously debatable issues.

·         My solemn warning to the Sacred Namers is this. I speak especially to those who insist that they have the definitive pronunciation and vocalization, and to those who insist that any believer who does not use THEIR particular pronunciation and vocalization as they believe it should be used, then such a believer is not saved or accepted by YHWH. Be exceedingly careful how you judge. The fact that there are different opinions even among yourselves about how the Sacred Name should be pronounced and vocalized obviously means that the issue is NOT as biblically clear as you might wish to believe that it is. My question to you is, what if it turns out that you have the wrong pronunciation and you have gone through your life CONDEMNING others for not using your pronunciation, when all the while it turns out that your interpretation was in fact incorrect all along? Since you spend your time condemning other brothers and sisters, who were honestly trying to OBEY Torah as you are, since you spend your entire life condemning other brothers and sisters who were trying to obey the prophets as you are, since you spend your life condemning brothers and sisters who were trying to obey Messiah just as you are; if it turns out that your pronunciation is the wrong one, but you have spent your life condemning others over this issue, then what mercy will you receive from YHWH (יהוה) if your pronunciation and vocalization happens to be the wrong one? For even Messiah has clearly said that to the measure that you use to judge others, you will also be judged. The measure you use to assess punishment that will also be meted out to you (Matthew 7:1-2).

If it turns out for some reason that you have the incorrect pronunciation or vocalization of the Sacred Name of YHWH (יהוה), how would you want our Heavenly Father to treat you in such a case? Then how should you treat your brother, whom you think is in error? Do not misunderstand me. 

I am NOT suggesting that we should always live and let live. I am NOT suggesting that we should ignore definitive identifiable biblical commands, or that we should excuse concepts that the Bible calls sin in the name of Grace; because that is a sin. However, where the Bible is not as clear, and where well-intentioned Bible students are attempting to obey, but they may not all agree on exactly HOW to be a DOER of a passage, let us leave room for Grace, so that we will not be judged or condemned if it turns out that our interpretation is the one found to be in error.

Conclusion: Be Gracious and Generous in Honestly Debatable Matters

 

In closing, let me say this. Do not forget that the Messiah Himself used the principle that the Kingdom of Heaven is made up of little children. He also said that unless we are converted and become like them, then we will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven (see Matthew 18:1-6).

Now when a little one begins their relationship with their parents, they are not very articulate. Most of the time all they can do is scream and cry to make their needs and desires known. In the cases where one has a good and loving parent, just the fact that the little one is dependent upon them and crying out to them for help is enough to motivate these loving parents to come to the child’s aid. Most of the time when the child is crying the loving parents are eager to discover why he’s crying out to them and to try to meet those needs and sometimes even those wants that the little one cannot yet express. 

As he grows, the little one may form the word “da-dah” for their father, and mama for their mother. Later they learn to articulate mommy, or daddy. Now, do loving parents ever say to their child that until you can articulate my name perfectly well, I’m not letting you into relationship with me? No way!! Just the fact the little one is learning who their mommy and who their daddy is; just the fact that the child is expressing his or her dependence upon their parents and that the child is wanting mom and dad to help; that is more than enough to motivate mommy and daddy to love, to nurture, to provide and to assist that precious little one whom those loving parents so deeply treasure. Is that not true? Messiah is the One who Himself gave us the example: As it is written:

If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” (Matthew 7:11, NKJV see Matthew 7:7-11).

• No, we should NOT remove Yahweh’s (יהוה) Name from the Holy Scriptures.

• Yes, we should learn, we should respect, and we should teach the Sacred Name of Yahweh (יהוה), as best as we can.

• No, we should not let this issue EVER become a stumbling block to people who are calling out to the Creator, who were seeking for the Almighty to be their Daddy, and who are honestly seeking to learn their Heavenly Daddy’s Word, and His Ways. Because woe be it unto us if we take someone who is honestly trying to OBEY the Father, and we cause these little ones to stumble who are trusting their Heavenly Father, especially over things that cannot be definitively proven. That is neither good nor safe. 

Let us remember to treat biblically definitive things like they are definitive things, and let us remember to treat debatable things as debatable things. So by all means, let us be gracious, especially in debatable matters. Abba-YAH, mercifully give us grace not to confuse the two concepts.

Brother Michel Lankford

But Abba, Paul Told Me I Could… (Part Four) Romans 8:5-8

By Brother R. Michel Lankford

In This Study:

- Paul was NOT teaching that we should be CARNAL MINDED in order to walk in grace.

- How can the same things which Paul said is carnal minded; is hostile against God; is what cannot please God; and is what leads to death; how can these same things be the Grace of God at the same time?

REMEMBER: Paul wrote this letter to a predominantly Gentile congregation who came to faith in Messiah. Paul wrote this letter approximately 25 years after the death and the resurrection of Messiah, (so we were already in the so-called, ‘Age of Grace,’ when Paul wrote these words). Paul taught this predominantly Gentile congregation that the Law and the first writings, (the Old Testament), is still valid for teaching and training Gentile Christians, (Romans 15:4-6; 1 Corinthians 10: 1-6, 11-12).

So he was NOT teaching AGAINST the written Old Testament as so many Christians believe and claim today. On the contrary, Paul repeatedly taught IN FAVOR of the WRITTEN Law and the Scriptures. Paul REPEATEDLY taught AGAINST BREAKING the Commandments of God throughout many of his writings in the Second Writings, (New Testament), this is part of the reason that many of us do NOT ACCEPT the false doctrine that Paul the apostle taught that we should now break and do the opposite of Yahweh’s Laws Commandments and Instructions given to Moses because we are saved by grace through faith in the Messiah.

We do not believe that this is what Paul taught for two reasons. First, it forces too many other parts of Scripture to become false, and it contradicts many things which Paul himself taught and said in many of his own writings. Therefore the doctrine of lawless grace is simply not biblical and not true; regardless of its popularity and long-standing favor, it’s a false doctrine.

The BIBLE SAYS, as it is written:

“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” (Romans 8:5–8, NKJV- With emphasis)

Paying Attention to What Paul SAID:

Q:  What are the two distinct mindsets that Paul the apostle is discussing here?

A: Paul is clearly discussing the distinct differences between a mindset that is controlled by the sinful nature versus a mindset that is controlled and renewed by the spirit.

Q: Which mindset does Paul favor in his teaching? Does Paul recommend that we adopt and maintain carnal mindedness? In the passage, does Paul favor the idea that we should allow our minds to be controlled by our sinful nature and its passions? OR, according to his own teaching in the passage, does Paul favor that we adopt a mindset that is renewed and controlled by the Spirit?

A: It should be obvious and clear to anyone who can read that Paul is clearly teaching AGAINST having a mindset that is controlled by our sinful nature, (carnal mindedness), and he is advocating IN FAVOR of us adopting and maintaining a mindset that is renewed and controlled by the spirit, which is the OPPOSITE of carnal mindedness.

Why? He clearly said, “For to be CARNALLY MINDED IS DEATH.” Therefore, Paul CANNOT be promoting carnal mindedness, because he already said it leads to DEATH. Conversely, Paul is advocating having a mindset controlled by the Spirit, (as opposed to being led by our sinful nature), because having A MINDSET THAT IS LED BY THE SPIRIT, IS LIFE AND PEACE, according to Paul. According to Paul, being truly led by the Spirit is also proof that you are a child of God, (Romans 8:14).

Q: How does Paul specifically define and describe the carnal mind which is controlled by the sinful nature?

A: Paul clearly describes being carnally minded which leads to DEATH with the following description:

(a). The carnal mind is at enmity against God; (meaning to be hostile against and make yourself an enemy of God by your mindset).

(b). The carnal mind which is hostile against God, does not subject itself to the Law of God.

(c). The carnal mind which is hostile against God, CANNOT subject itself to the Law of God.

(d). Those who live in carnal mindedness and have a mindset controlled by the sinful nature, CANNOT please God.

Please remember and do not forget that Paul specifically said that this mindset which is hostile against God, which does not subject itself to the law of God, which is unable to subject itself to the law of God, is of the sinful nature and leads to DEATH, not eternal life, but DEATH.

Q: Why does Paul say that the carnal mind is hostile or an enemy against God, what is the cause of this enmity or hostility according to Paul?

A: Paul gives a clear definition of why the carnal mind is an enemy hostile against God. “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; “FOR IT IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE LAW OF GOD.”

FACT: According to Paul’s own teachings, being in a place or situation where we do not subject ourselves to God’s Law; that is NOT a sign that you are, “Under Grace,” according to Paul, not subjecting yourself to the Law of God is a sign that you are being controlled by your sinful nature and your carnal mind. That’s not God’s Grace.

FACT: According to Paul’s own teachings, being in a place or situation where we do not subject ourselves to God’s Law; that is NOT a sign that you are, “Under Grace,” it’s a sign that you are hostile against God, and that you are at enmity, (an enemy against God, not a friend). Therefore, not submitting to God’s Law CANNOT be God’s Grace at work.

FACT: According to Paul’s own teachings, being in a place or situation where we do not subject ourselves to God’s Law; that’s NOT a sign that you are, “Under Grace,” it’s a sign that you CANNOT be pleasing to God. That CANNOT be God’s Grace at work in our lives.

FACT: According to Paul’s own teachings, being in a place or situation where we do not subject ourselves to God’s Law; that’s NOT a sign that you are, “Under Grace,” that is NOT a sign that you are walking in a way that leads to eternal life; not subjecting yourself to God’s Law is a sign that you are walking in DEATH, according to Paul, because that’s the end to which being carnal minded leads. It does not lead to life, it leads to death.

DILEMMA:

• Since not submitting to God’s Law is a sign of carnal mindedness and a sign of being hostile against God, how can it be the Grace of God, not to submit to His Law?

• If Paul was teaching you not to subject yourself to Yahweh’s Law, then he would be teaching you to be carnal minded, by his own definitions.

• If Paul was teaching you not to subject yourself to Yahweh’s Law, then he would be teaching you to be hostile against God, and to make yourself God’s enemy, by his own definitions. How can it be God’s Grace to make yourself God’s enemy?!

• If Paul was teaching you not to subject yourself to Yahweh’s Law, then by Paul’s own definition, he would be teaching you NOT to please God.

• Paul himself said that being carnally minded, (which includes not subjecting ourselves to the Law of God), leads to DEATH. It DOES NOT lead to Eternal Life, but it leads to DEATH according to Paul. So how can the same thing which Paul just said causes death, also be the Grace of God working at the same time?! It’s impossible!

Contrary to what we have been trained to believe by habit and tradition, the apostle Paul WAS NOT teaching us to DISOBEY and to do the opposite of Yahweh’s Laws Commandments and Instructions, as a matter of Grace . By his own definitions, if he was teaching us to disobey and do the opposite of Yahweh’s Laws Commandments and Instructions, Paul would then be teaching us to be carnal minded. He would be teaching us to be hostile against God and to make ourselves God’s enemy. He would then be teaching us NOT to please God, and Paul would be teaching us to walk in DEATH and not life, according to his own teachings.

Moreover, when Paul taught as he did in Romans 8:5-8, he was also AGREEING and being consistent with what God had already said through the prophets, through the Messiah, and through every other apostle. In teaching as he did in Romans 8:5-8, Paul was upholding in confirming the rest of Scripture, and not contradicting it as he would have been opposing Scripture, if he had been teaching a lawless grace, which most Christians mistakenly accept in Paul’s name.

Brother Michel Lankford

But Abba, Paul Told Me I Could…Part 3

By Brother R. Michel Lankford

In This Study:

-          Series Review - What’s This All about?
-          In Reality Paul Taught Torah Principles to Gentile Congregations  (Romans 15:4-6)
-          Paul Teaches Torah Principles to Gentiles in Corinth, (See 1 Cor. 10:1-14)

Series Review:

-          A Christian FANTASY has developed that Paul the apostle supposedly taught that Christians should no longer keep, but are allegedly now supposed to do the OPPOSITE of our Creator’s Laws Commandments and Instructions given to Moses, because we are saved by Grace through faith in the death and the resurrection of the Messiah.  The simple reality is that no matter how widely believed, accepted and widespread this doctrine is throughout modern-day Christendom, the reality is that such a belief is in fact FALSE DOCTRINE, even by New Testament, (Second Writings) standards. The fact is that The Weight of Biblical Evidence simply DOES NOT SUPPORT the idea that Paul was truly teaching us to do the opposite of God’s Laws Commandments and Instructions, because we are under grace. No matter how desperately modern Christians desire this to be true, no matter how passionately they believe this false doctrine to be gospel, it simply is NOT the TRUTH, even by New Testament standards.

-          Part 1: We explored 9 specific BIBLICAL reasons, (even New Testament ones), why we KNOW that Paul was NOT TEACHING believers AGAINST KEEPING the Creator’s Commandments. The 9th reason in that critically important list is that IF Paul was truly teaching that Christians should NOT keep God’s Laws Commandments and Instructions given to Moses, Paul would then be CONTRADICTING HIS OWN TEACHINGS, found in many of his own writings. This entire teaching series is intended to biblically detail both what Paul was, and what Paul was not teaching according to Paul himself. Taking everything Paul said into consideration, it’s NOT even remotely possible that Paul was teaching against the Commandments of Almighty God.

-          Part 2: Paul taught the value and importance of the Torah and the Old Testament to Gentile Christians in Rome, (Romans 15:4-6).

The BIBLE SAYS, as it is written:

Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted.” (1 Corinthians 10:1–6, NKJV - with emphasis)

Paying Attention to What Paul SAID:

Q: To WHOM was Paul Addressing this letter?

A: Paul the apostle was writing this letter to believers in Corinth. These were believers in Jesus Christ, (Yeshua the Messiah), who were based in the Roman commercial trading and shipping center of Corinth. Originally a Grecian province it was later rebuilt by Julius Caesar in 46-44 BC. It became a major trading and shipping center in the Roman Empire. Although there was a Hebrew synagogue in the city, it was predominantly a pagan and Gentile commercial trading center.  It was filled with pagan temples and over 1000 temple prostitutes filled with worshipers who worshiped Roman, Egyptian and Grecian gods.

Q: Who is Paul’s most likely audience here? Was Paul writing to a congregation made up of Hebrew born believers or predominantly Gentiles who came to faith in Christ?

A: These were most likely Gentile people in Roman Corinth, who have accepted the Lordship and Messiah-ship of Yeshua of Nazareth the Son of God. The letter itself also indicates that Paul was writing to Gentile and not primarily Hebrew born believers in Messiah. As it is written: You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led.” (1 Corinthians 12:2, NKJV)

Q: Were these words from the apostle Paul to the Corinthians written BEFORE or written AFTER the death and resurrection of Messiah? (Again, I only address this because many people get mistakenly hung up on that point, because they’ve been trained to believe that God’s Standards of right and wrong somehow fundamentally CHANGED, after Messiah died and rose again for our atonement). This idea is NOT TRUE of course, but the notion is so deeply ingrained in people’s thinking, that it must still be addressed. So, was Paul’s letter to the Romans written BEFORE or AFTER the death and resurrection of the Messiah for our atonement?

A: Paul wrote his letter to the Corinthian Christians circa 55 A.D; Messiah died for our atonement in circa 33 A.D. So Paul wrote this letter to Messiah followers in Corinth, some 22 years AFTER Messiah paid for our atonement with His death and resurrection.

Q: Almost without exception, every instruction in 1 Corinthians 10 is a direct reference to a Torah Commandment or a Torah example. WHY does Paul specifically SAY to these New Testament Gentile Christians at Corinth, that the Torah is STILL VALID for them? What reasons does he specifically give them that the Torah and the First Writings are STILL VALID for the Gentiles?

A: Paul taught Gentile believers at Corinth. He specifically told them that the Torah is still valid and useful for them, and he told them WHY it’s STILL VALID for the Gentile: “Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted.” (1 Corinthians 10:6;cf. 10:11-12). He then proceeds from that point and goes on to teach the Gentile Corinthian Christians, and he specifically, and repeatedly uses the Torah to teach them, throughout all of chapter 10 and in many other places throughout the book of Corinthians.

MYTH BUSTING: There is a prevailing MYTH in modern-day Christianity that insists on FALSELY teaching that Paul the apostle supposedly taught believers to DISOBEY and do the OPPOSITE of Almighty God’s Laws, Commandments, and Instructions, given to Moses, because we are saved by grace through faith in Messiah. The mythology goes on to teach, that the First Writings, (a.k.a. the Old Testament), are supposedly exclusively for the Hebrews or Jews, and supposedly Gentile Christians need only concern themselves with the Second Writings, (a.k.a. the New Testament).  People who teach these absurd myths as if they were Christian doctrine often use their favorite bits and pieces of Paul’s epistles, (often excluding anything else Paul specifically taught and said), in an effort to further support this outlandish falsehood.

The reason that I do not accept this popular myth is because Paul the apostle himself repeatedly contradicts it, in his own teachings and letters. Therefore, since Paul contradicts these supposed doctrines himself, he could not be teaching what we have been told he was teaching, because Paul’s own teachings deny it. Paul himself taught the OPPOSITE of these ideas, both to the Gentile congregations in Rome, (Romans 15:4-6), and again here (1 Corinthians chapter 10).

So this is now the SECOND predominantly Gentile congregation in the New Testament where Paul was teaching of the value and importance of the Torah and the First Writings; first that we may gain instructions from them, and second that we should learn from ancient Israel’s bad examples; that we should not copy their mistakes in disobeying God’s instructions.

Q: IF the First Writings of the Scriptures, (the Old Testament), are only for the Jews, and if they do not concern the Gentile Christians at all, as so many believe and teach today, then WHY is Paul teaching the exact OPPOSITE concept to TWO separate Gentile congregations; one in Rome, and one in Corinth?

A: Paul was OBVIOUSLY NOT TEACHING that the first writings were not valid for Gentile Christians, because he specifically taught the OPPOSITE concept to two separate Gentile congregations in Rome and in Corinth, as we’ve seen so far. We will see even more examples as we continue studying Paul’s words.

Q: The apostle Paul specifically said, “Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted.” (1 Corinthians 10:6). So these things were written so that we would learn from ancient Israel’s mistakes, and so that we would NOT copy or repeat ancient Israel’s mistakes. Isn’t that right? Once again the Old Testament was written for us to learn from according to Paul.

Since these things were written to become OUR example so that we would NOT repeat Israel’s mistakes, let us do what Paul suggested we do here. Let us learn from Israel’s example. Please pay attention to this CRITICAL question.

Q: Was there ever a time in all of Scripture where Israel HEARD God’s Instructions, where they BELIEVED what God said, and after they had OBEYED what GOD COMMANDED them to do, God then turned around and punished them for OBEYING His Commandments after the OBEYED Him? In all of Scripture, did God EVER punish these people for OBEYING His Word?

A: You will NEVER see an example anywhere in rightly divided Scripture where Israel OBEYED God’s Instructions, and where God then criticized and punished them for OBEYING what He commanded them to do. Although the examples are few and far between, whenever Israel DID OBEY God’s Instructions, God then honored, praised, and rewarded them when they OBEYED Him.

Q: Did God ever refer to the ancient Israelites as rebellious, as unfaithful, as stiff necked or, as an obstinate people? When did God refer to ancient Israel with such adjectives? Did he refer to them with those adjectives when they were OBEYING His commandments, or when they were DISOBEYING His Instructions?

A: God ONLY referred to the ancient Israelites as rebellious, as unfaithful, as stiff necked or, as an obstinate people, when they were DISOBEYING His Commandments. He NEVER referred to them that way when they were OBEYING what He commanded them to do.

Just a Few of the Many Examples of Torah Used in 1 Corinthians 10

• 1 Corinthians 10:1 - (cf. Exodus 13: 21-22; Exodus 14: 21-22, 29) - the pillar of cloud by day; the pillar of fire by night… Baptism pictured in the Red Sea Exodus crossing.

• 1 Corinthians 10:3 - (cf. Exodus 16:4, 15, 31, 35; Deuteronomy 8:3); Learning to live by God’s Word, and what He provides.

• 1 Corinthians 10:5 - (cf. Numbers 14:29, 37; Numbers 26:64-65); God judges and punishes His people in the wilderness for disobeying Him; Lesson: Many people who were intended to inherit God’s blessings and dwell in the Promised Land, did not make it because of rebellion and disobedience. Correlation: Messiah HIMSELF also SAID, that many people who claim to know Him as Lord will not enter into or inherit the Eternal Kingdom, because they practiced ANOMIA, (Lawlessness); they refused to learn and to do God’s will (Matthew 7:21-23). 

  

• 1 Corinthians 10:7 - (cf. Exodus 32:1-10; The Golden calf incident; Israel attempts to copy and to incorporate pagan Egyptian religious practices, and they tried to incorporate Egyptian pagan practices into the worship of Yahweh Almighty God. Israel called what they were doing worship to Yahweh Almighty. Yahweh Almighty considered it idolatry, regardless of what is real thought they were doing. Lesson: just because people think they are worshiping Yahweh, does not automatically mean that God approves of it. (cf. John 4:24; Isaiah 56:1-8). The key is to learn, to choose, and to do, what God SAYS is pleasing to HIM. That is worship.

  

• 1 Corinthians 10: 9-10 - (Exodus 12: 23; Exodus 16:2, 17:2, 7; Numbers 14:29-37; Numbers 16: 41-50 etc. etc.). Do not put God to the test, or grumble in difficult times, etc.

This is just a sampling. There are many, many more such examples where Paul teaches Torah principles throughout the books of Corinthians. He repeats himself again:

As it is written:
Now ALL THESE THINGS HAPPENED to them AS EXAMPLES, and THEY WERE WRITTEN FOR OUR ADMONITION, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore LET HIM WHO THINKS HE STANDS TAKE HEED LEST HE FALL.” (1 Corinthians 10:11–12, NKJV - with emphasis)

Q: IF the first writings, (Old Testament) have no real bearing for the Gentile Christians, then WHY does Paul teach Torah principles to Gentile Christians throughout the book of Corinthians? WHY does the apostle of grace teach that these things were written for us, to take admonition and warning from these things?

Q: WHY does Paul the apostle of grace specifically warn Gentile Christians NOT to DISOBEY the Creator like ancient Israel did, if it supposedly doesn’t matter whether you obey what God Commanded or not, because you are, “Under Grace?” WHY did Paul write his he did in 1 Corinthians 10?

Q: If all you need to do is accept Jesus Christ, but obeying God, and overcoming sin and temptation doesn’t really matter, then why did Paul write what he did in 1 Corinthians 10?

Q: If once saved always saved is true doctrine, if it is absolutely impossible to be lost after coming to Christ then, WHY does Paul the apostle of grace warn us that when we think we stand, we need to take heed that we do not fall? If falling from grace is not possible, if failing to inherit the Eternal Kingdom is not possible after coming to Christ, then why does Paul the apostle of grace warn us as he does, in 1 Corinthians 10:11–12?

DILEMMA: Paul specifically wrote to the Gentiles that the things which were written before hand, were written for OUR instruction, so that through the perseverance, (meaning the continuing validity of the Scriptures), we might have hope, (Romans 15:4-6). Now he writes to the Gentiles in Corinth that the things that were written beforehand became our examples, so that we would NOT repeat the same mistakes that ancient Israel did, (1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 11-12).

So now, after all of that, Paul supposedly is going to REVERSE himself.  After teaching us NOT to copy Israel’s mistakes; after telling us NOT to crave evil things, and that the Old Testament was written for our example so that we would NOT DISOBEY God like Israel did; then Paul is supposedly going to suddenly REVERSE himself, and teach us that copying Israel’s mistakes and doing the OPPOSITE of Yahweh’s Laws Commandments and Instructions, (just like the ancient Israelites often did do, and were punished for doing so), this is now supposedly a good thing because of Grace?!! Beloved, he just taught the opposite of that concept right here.

Brother R. Michel Lankford

But Abba, Paul Told Me I Could…

(Part Two)

By Brother R. Michel Lankford

 

 

 

In This Study:

- The Purpose of the First Writings (A.KA. The Old Testament) According to Paul.

- The Continuing Value of the First Writings for the Gentile.

- Understanding the Biblical vs. the Pagan Concept of HOPE.

- Hope & the Bride of the Messiah.

 

The BIBLE SAYS, as it is written:

For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 15:4–6, NASB95)

Paying Attention to What Paul SAID:

Q: To WHOM was Paul Addressing this letter?

A: Paul the apostle was writing this letter to believers in Rome. These were believers in Jesus Christ, (Yeshua the Messiah), who were based in Rome. So these were people in Rome who have accepted the Lordship and Messiah-ship of Yeshua of Nazareth the Son of God.

Q: Who is Paul’s most likely audience here? Was Rome predominantly a Jewish religious city or was it predominantly populated by people with non-Hebrew, and non-biblical religious backgrounds?

A: Of course, anyone with the slightest knowledge of history KNOWS that Rome was certainly NOT the epicenter of Hebrew or Jewish culture and religious life. It was quite the opposite. So the culture was predominantly pagan, (NOT Christian), and it was certainly not Hebrew in nature. So the likelihood is that the Roman congregation was predominantly made up of non-Hebrew born, Gentile believers, who were previously pagans and had now come to faith in Messiah.

Q: What did Paul mean when he referred to the things that were written in earlier times?

A: Paul the apostle HIMSELF refers to, whatever was written in earlier times… So he’s obviously NOT referring to the Second Writings, (a.k.a. the New Testament), first, because those were being written in his present times, not earlier times of his day. Second, because no such volume of Scripture such as the New Testament even exists at this time. It was not widely accepted or distributed as commonly accepted Scripture until after the 300s A.D. so Paul was NOT referring to the Second Writings or the New Testament. By context of the time and place and events which were occurring at the time, as well as the written text, we know that Paul was referring to the so-called Old Testament, or more accurately, the First Writings of the Whole Testament; because the Bible is intended to be ONE WHOLE BOOK, NOT two separate unrelated books, as the majority of Christianity now most commonly uses Scripture by tradition and practice.

Q: Were these words from the apostle Paul to the Romans written BEFORE or written AFTER the death and resurrection of Messiah? (I only address this because many people get mistakenly hung up on that point, because they’ve been trained to believe that God’s Standards of right and wrong somehow fundamentally CHANGED, after Messiah died and rose again for our atonement). This idea is NOT TRUE of course, but the notion is so deeply ingrained in people’s thinking, that it must still be addressed. So, was Paul’s letter to the Romans written BEFORE or AFTER the death and resurrection of the Messiah for our atonement?

A: Paul wrote his letter to the Roman Christians circa 57-58 A.D; Messiah died for our atonement in circa 33 A.D. So Paul wrote this letter to Messiah followers in Rome some 25 years AFTER Messiah paid for our atonement with His death and resurrection. So this was written a quarter of a century after Messiah died and rose again for our atonement. Does Paul say forget everything that was ever written beforehand, because none of it matters anymore? NO HE DOES NOT! He DOES NOT SAY; ignore everything that was ever written beforehand because there is an entirely new system of right and wrong. He says just the opposite. Instead, what does he say?

Q: According to Paul the apostle, WHAT IS the PURPOSE of the Scriptures which were written in earlier times? What was the purpose of the First Writings, or the Old Testament?

A: Paul the apostle specifically SAID that what was written in earlier times, (the First Writings; Old Testament, were written for OUR instruction. This is incredibly important, and it is often conveniently overlooked by traditional Christianity. Today we are often told something to the effect of, the Old Testament doesn’t apply to the Christian today. The Old Testament is supposedly exclusively for the Jew and the New Testament is supposedly exclusively for the Christian. While that interpretation is widely accepted, and very convenient, it is CLEARLY NOT what Paul taught the Christians in Rome concerning the Old Testament, now is it?

What did Paul SPECIFICALLY SAY to the Christians in Rome, concerning the First Writings, or the Old Testament? Notice that Paul specifically said, “Whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction.” Notice that Paul did NOT SAY to these Roman believers that the Old Testament Scriptures were written, for MY instructions, because I was born a Hebrew, and you guys are Gentile, so what was written beforehand does not apply to you. Paul did not say that. Notice also that he did not say, these Old Testament Scriptures which were written beforehand were written for YOUR instruction, because you Gentiles are so ignorant of the Scriptures, therefore you need these things. Paul included himself as part of them, and he included their group as part of himself. He said, “Whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction.”

Note: The Torah; the first five books of Scripture are often referred to as the books of the LAW, but they are also synonymously referred to the books of INSTRUCTION. So Paul’s choice awards Romans 15:4 highlight the continuing validity not only of the Old Testament, but more specifically the Torah.

He established the necessity of the Old Testament Scriptures as being equally necessary for the Roman believers as he did for himself. Thus, in Romans 15:4, the apostle Paul firmly establishes the fact that the First Writings; the written Old Testament was written to give instruction to every believer, and belongs to ALL believers.

So that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope

CRITICAL: Again, do not forget that Paul is referring to the Old Testament Scriptures, or First Writings. There was no New Testament at the time. Here he refers to the, “Perseverance of the Scriptures.” This refers to the continuing validity of continuing in the First Writings or Old Testament Scriptures. Why do I say that? Well naturally, once you stop walking in something, by definition you are no longer PERSEVERING in it because you have stopped. If something stops being valid, then by definition, it ceases to function, and it is no longer persevering. So the fact that he still refers to the perseverance of the Old Testament Scriptures, and our continuing to be instructed by them, obviously means that he could not be teaching that they are done away with and abolished, or obsolete at the same time. Something is either persevering, or it is obsolete, but it CANNOT be BOTH at the same time.

Another reason why we can gain hope and encouragement through the perseverance of the Scriptures is that they demonstrate that GOD DOES NOT CHANGE. He is RELIABLE, because He is CONSISTENT, and UNCHANGING.

 

God’s Consistency and the Consistency of His Word build our HOPE

Paul the apostle specifically said that what was written in former times was written for our instruction so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. One thing about Yahweh’s reliability, His consistency, and His Unchanging Word, and Character, they all work together to produce both perseverance and hope in us as well. Why? Since Yahweh is so reliable, and unchanging we can more easily act in faith. This builds our hope as well.

Understanding Biblical vs. Pagan HOPE

While this can be difficult for some people to understand, it’s true nonetheless. Even though the Scriptures were translated into many different languages, almost every one of the biblical writers were raised, trained and educated as Hebrews. That means that they filtered, understood, interpreted and applied both their worldview, and the Scriptures through a HEBREW mindset. No matter how this may offend our Gentile pride, or traditional anti-Semitic tendencies, that does not change the fact of the matter. Most biblical writers interpreted reality, and wrote what God inspired them to write from the Hebraic mindset and point of view. They were NOT writing with a Greek, Roman or Babylonian philosophical mindset or point of view in their hearts. They believed, lived and wrote as Hebrews. Yes, anointed and led by the Holy Spirit, but still as Hebrews nonetheless. That’s how the majority of the Scriptures were written, even if some were later translated into Greek for popular distribution. They were still originally written from a Hebraic Biblical mindset, not a pagan philosophical one. Remembering this critical distinction is important because it can change our perception, and how we understand the Scriptures.

The reason this makes such a difference is when you encounter a key word such as, HOPE, for example.

In our traditional Greek style of education, which originated from a Babylonian, Greek, Roman pagan Gentile anti-biblical origin, we tend to think of hope more in terms of a strong wish or passionate desire for something, instead of thinking about it in the way that the Bible describes what it means to hope.

In the pagan Gentile mindset; I want something really badly. My heart yearns for it deeply. I have a strong wish. I pray for, wish upon a star so to speak, therefore, I am said to have hope. Please understand that BIBLICALLY, when you see the word HOPE, the above picture is NOT what it means to have real HOPE from the biblical point of view. When you see the word HOPE in the Scriptures which were written with the biblical Hebraic mindset, the word picture is NOT of a passionate heartfelt wish upon a star. Biblical HOPE is NOT wishful thinking.

From the biblical point of view, to HOPE has a completely different picture attached. In the Bible, to HOPE means to have a CONFIDENT EXPECTATION of a result. The picture is more of a bride expecting to be married, or of an expectant mother, expecting to deliver her baby.

When a bride is confidently expecting to be married, all kinds of preparations and actions take place, both for the wedding ceremony and for her upcoming life with her new Groom. She’s confidently expecting to be a wife, and she prepares herself for the enormous upcoming change in her life that this entails. The same holds true with the expectant mommy, who joyously makes countless preparations to get ready for her newborn. Biblically, this is what it means to hope for something.

 

Hope & the Bride of the Messiah

It’s NO accident that throughout the Second Writings, the body of believers is constantly referred to as the BRIDE of the Messiah. The Holy Spirit uses that context throughout the Scripture ON PURPOSE. How does an expectant bride who truly LOVES her betrothed behave? Does a faithfully engaged and betrothed woman go out and prostitute herself in the streets? Does she look up all of her old high school puppy loves, and does she seek to fornicate with each one of them one more time, before she marries her beloved bridegroom? Does a faithfully engaged woman defile her body and purposely disfigure her face in such a way that will bring disgust and revulsion to the bridegroom whom she supposedly loves and intends to live with forever? Would her future bridegroom and husband be honored with this? Is that the behavior of a faithful betrothed woman who expects to spend the rest of her life with a man she loves and is preparing to marry? On the contrary, that behavior is the OPPOSITE of someone who is hoping or confidently expecting to marry.

The faithfully betrothed bride who is hoping and confidently expecting to marry does the extreme opposite of the behaviors described above, doesn’t she? If she loves her bridegroom, and she is joyously expecting to spend the rest of her life with Him, she will go out of her way to purify herself and to be ready for that relationship. The little black books of phone numbers and romantic pictures with the old boyfriends get burned. The future bride goes out of her way to make sure that there is absolutely nothing that could come between her and the beloved bridegroom that she intends to spend her life with. Her desire is to learn what delights Him, what pleases Him and what honors Him, and the faithfully betrothed woman wants to be that kind of person for her future bridegroom. She anticipates her new life with Him and joyously looks forward to it. She doesn’t want to do anything or live in such a way that would ruin their relationship or future life together. That’s how a faithful bride who expects to be married and spend the rest of her life with her new beloved husband behaves. She is behaving according to her HOPE; according to the future results which she expects to receive. Please keep this CRITICAL picture in mind, because we will be using it again in future studies.

 

 

 

Key Points to Remember - (Romans 15:4-6):

· Paul clearly taught that the First Writings (the Old Testament), is still valid and useful to instruct Gentile Christians in Rome. He clearly was NOT teaching that the First Writings were in any way abolished, done away with, or obsolete as many so commonly believe today. He SAID precisely the OPPOSITE here.

· Paul the apostle clearly SAID that the things which were written in former times were written for OUR INSTRUCTION, so that through the PERSEVERANCE of the SCRIPTURES, we may have HOPE. Since the Scriptures continue to persevere, they continue to be valid, and since we continue to persevere in being instructed by them this builds our HOPE.

· To have the BIBLICAL concept of HOPE is to have a CONFIDENT EXPECTATION of an anticipated result; such as a bride preparing for her wedding, or an expectant mother preparing for her baby. Since the Old Testament is useful to instruct us and to build are confident expectation of an anticipated result, how can the Old Testament fulfill that stated purpose of instructing us and building our HOPE, if it’s been abolished, done away with or made obsolete in any way? When we undermine the Old Testament, we undermine our own hope at the same time.

· Paul specifically instructs us that we are to be of ONE MIND, united to glorify God, ACCORDING TO CHRIST. So did Christ glorify God by DISOBEYING the written Scriptures, or by OBEYING the Scriptures? What was Christ’s mindset and point of view concerning the Old Testament Scriptures? (Matthew 4; Luke 4; Matthew 5:17-20 Matthew 12:49-50; Matthew 15:3; Matthew 15:9; Matthew 22:31; Matthew 12:3; Mark 7:1-13; Mark 12:36; John 15:10; etc. etc.). So how can we be of one mind ACCORDING TO CHRIST, if we have the OPPOSITE point of view of the Old Testament Scriptures, then Messiah had? How can we be of one mind glorifying God according to Christ, if we consistently choose to live the opposite way then the way in which Christ lived?

Brother R Michel Lankford