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- New Page | Answers 4 Saints
Our Mission At My Site, we are dedicated to exploring innovative solutions. Our team is passionate about checking things out and providing exceptional service to meet your needs. "If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left." Option 1: Direct & Natural (Engaging Study Guide) Scripture Reference: Hebrews 10:26 "If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left." What is "Willful Sin"? In this setting, willful sin means knowingly and permanently turning your back on Yeshua. It warns those who fully understand the truth yet consciously choose to walk away and reject Him. Why "No Sacrifice Remains": Yeshua is the Father's ultimate, complete, and final offering for human sin. Once an individual rejects Yeshua, there is no second savior, no Levitical altar to run back to, and no alternate plan of Option 3: Side-by-Side Clarification (Common Misconceptions vs. Biblical Meaning) What It Does Not Mean What the Scripture Actually Teaches It does not mean someone loses their standing because they stumble into ordinary human failure or daily struggles. It specifically warns against apostasy—a settled, deliberate decision to abandon faith in Yeshua entirely. It does not mean the Father refuses repentance from a contrite heart seeking forgiveness. It addresses those who knowingly treat Yeshua’s blood as unholy, leaving themselves with no other sacrifice to cover their sins. Proponents emphasize that Yehovah (יְהֹוָה) is not a 16th-century Christian invention. It is documented with full pointing in over 1,000 Hebrew Bible manuscripts, including prominent early texts like the Leningrad Codex and the Aleppo Codex. They argue Masoretic scribes who guarded letter-by-letter accuracy would not have recorded "mistaken" vowels across centurie The Consonants (יהוה / YHWH): Appear 6,828 times in the Hebrew Masoretic Text. In the Dead Sea Scrolls (dating 2,000+ years ago), scribes often wrote these four consonants in archaic Paleo-Hebrew script to set the sacred Name apart from the surrounding square Aramaic-Hebrew script. 1,000 times across other medieval manuscripts), while the shortened two-vowel form served as the standard scribal reminder (qere perpetuum) to pronounce "Adonai".
- Heaven | answers4saints.com Truth beyond an reasonal doubt
Are you looking for scriptural truth about who is going to Heaven and who isn't answers4saints.com has answers. All Christ taught about obedience, grace, and righteousness, the Christian church does the opposite. Christ kept the Sabbath, the food laws, God's feast days, God's laws, and statutes. Gods 613 commandments New Testment Commandments Deuteronomy 13 TEST God's Ten Commandments Definitions with consequences Bible Verses by Topic Complete JewishBible CJB
- Where In Scripture Does It Say? | Answers4saints.com
"Do you want to believe what the Bible says or what you have been taught it says? I can prove it The Final Verdict "The cross was never meant to be a place where the Law died; it was the place where the Penalty was paid so that you could finally be empowered to obey. If you come to the cross but flee from the Commandments, you haven't been saved —you've just been comforted in your rebellion."You’re like a convict handed a full pardon who chooses to stay locked up just for the free meals." Stop turning back. The same Yeshua who bled for you is the same God who wrote the Commandments with His own finger. "You cannot have the King without His Commandments. Choose the whole Truth, or you have nothing at all." Betrayal of God Names matters 12 tribes of Israel The "Shock and Awe" Indictment: Pillars of Deception The Messiah is the only person in history who never sinned "He demonstrated how to love God and neighbor by perfectly fulfilling the Torah (Instructions) observing the Sabbath, eating clean, and honoring the Appointed Days. He commanded us to follow in His footsteps. Therefore, those who claim to be His followers while living in direct opposition to His way are betraying Him; they pose as friends while actively working against the very commandments He established." The Scriptural Definition of Sin (The Lawless Ledger) Modern religion has rewritten the definition of sin to match human comfort, cultural trends, and denominational tradition. You think sin is an abstract, emotional concept—just 'doing your best but missing the mark' of a vague moral feeling. But the Creator does not judge by human opinion or majority belief. He judges by a fixed, immutable legal standard. The Confrontation: "You want to determine what is or is not acceptable based on what your culture tolerates, what your church tradition excuses, or what feels right to your own conscience. But your opinion is entirely irrelevant in the courtroom of the Almighty. If you want to know what sin actually is, you must pull back human philosophy and look directly at the literal text. Read 1 John 3:4 and Proverbs 28:9." The Verses: * The Definition: "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." (1 John 3:4) The Hearing: "One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination." (Proverbs 28:9) The Shock: "If God commands it, obedience is righteousness; if God forbids it, disobedience is sin. The standard is not what people think, but what God has spoken. When you audit your life against the literal text, the checklist of lawlessness is devastatingly clear:" The Mandate for Self-Examination You have to execute a brutal, honest audit of your own soul right now, in the quiet of your own prayer life. The Almighty does not want you guessing about your legal standing before the throne. The Confrontation: "Most people spend their entire lives assuming they are completely safe because they checked a religious box, said a prayer years ago, or sit quietly in a church pew. But the Scripture does not tell you to trust your feelings or your traditions. It issues a direct, commanding order to cross-examine your own lifestyle against the raw truth of the Word. Read 2 Corinthians 13:5." The Verse: "Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!" The Shock : "Is your faith a living, breathing part of who you are, or are you just going through the religious motions? This test asks a critical question: Are you operating in the flesh or the Spirit? The ultimate tragedy is to wait until Judgment Day to find out you failed the exam . If you choose to ignore His house rules today, you are setting yourself up to stand before Him only to hear the most devastating, final legal verdict ever spoken: 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness' (Matthew 7:23). The Greek word there is anomia—meaning the active violation or rejection of His Torah. He doesn't say He forgot you; He says He never knew you because you treated His Commandments as optional. Examine your calendar, your walk, and your obedience right now while there is still time to repent, turn back (Teshuvah), and walk in His Truth." The Verdict of Blocked Prayers The Bible teaches that there are times when God refuses to hear a person's prayers because of persistent sin, rebellion, or hypocrisy. Unrepentant Sin "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me." (Psalm 66:18) Refusing to Obey God "He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination." (Proverbs 28:9) Practicing Sin While Pretending to Worship "When ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood." (Isaiah 1:15) Rejecting God's Calls "Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer." (Proverbs 1:28) Harboring Bitterness or Unforgiveness Yeshua taught that we must forgive others if we expect forgiveness from God (Mark 11:25–26). The Hope Blocked prayers are not necessarily a final verdict. Throughout Scripture, when people genuinely repent and turn back to God, He is merciful and willing to hear them. "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven..." (2 Chronicles 7:14) The biblical pattern is clear: God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. When a person repents, seeks Him sincerely, and walks in His ways, the barrier between them and God is removed . The Duty of Every Parent The Almighty leaves no ambiguity regarding the primary mission of a parent. It is not to outsource the spiritual training of your children to a youth pastor , a Sunday school, or a secular system. It is a full-time, round-the-clock immersion program. The Confrontation: "Many parents think they are fulfilling their duty by simply taking their kids to church once a week or making sure they are good citizens. But the Creator demands that His instructions become the literal atmosphere of your home. If His Torah is only discussed on a designated morning, you are failing the blueprint. Read Deuteronomy 6:6-9." The Verse: " And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontals between your eyes . You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." The Shock: "Look at the four-part daily schedule God lays out: when you sit down, when you walk, when you sleep, and when you wake up. That isn't a church service; that is a lifestyle. By failing to write His Commandments on your doorposts and teach them diligently to your sons and daughters, you are raising a generation of spiritual orphans. If you do not actively bind His Truth onto their hands and minds, the world will gladly step in and bind its own lawless system onto them." The Vertical and Horizontal Test The scriptures also apply this uncompromising standard to how we treat others. True alignment with the Almighty requires a structural reality that works both vertically (between you and God) and horizontally (between you and your fellow man). The Confrontation: "You can pretend to be perfectly holy in your vertical relationship with God—raising your hands in prayer and studying the text—but the true test of your faith is horizontal. Scripturally, love and hate are not merely internal emotions; they are actionable behaviors. If you ignore, mistreat, or fail to guard the physical and spiritual life of your brother, the Bible strips away your religious cover. Read 1 John 4:20." The Verse: "If a man say, 'I love God,' and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?" The Shock: "Scriptural, hate is an action. It is defined by what you do or fail to do regarding your brother's spiritual and physical wellbeing. You cannot claim to walk in the light of the Creator while leaving your brother to stumble in the dark or suffer in need. If you refuse to love the tangible image of God standing right in front of you, your claim to love an unseen God is a complete illusion. You are failing the horizontal test, which means your vertical foundation is already compromised." 1. The "False Messiah" Checkmate Most Christians claim to follow the Messiah but spend their lives ignoring his direct orders. The Confrontation: "You say you follow Christ, but you follow a version of him your pastor invented. In Matthew 7:21–23, the Messiah says he will look people in the face—people who called him 'Lord' and did miracles in his name—and say, 'Depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.'" The Shock: "I f you believe the Law is 'done away with,' you are, by definition, practicing lawlessness. You are literally the person being described in that verse. You aren't headed for heaven; you’re headed for the 'Depart from me' line." 2. The "Cross vs. Crime" Reality Force them to look at the cross not as a sentimental symbol, but as a grizzly, literal execution of justice. The Confrontation: "Why did the Messiah have to die? If God could just 'cancel' the Law, he could have forgiven us without the cross. The only reason blood had to be spilled was because the Law is permanent. It demanded a death penalty for your crimes." The Shock: "By saying the Law is gone, you are spitting on the cross. You are saying he died to satisfy a Law that didn't even need to stay in place. Connect Colossians 2:14—he nailed your crimes there, not his Father's commands. The speed limit didn't change; your ticket just got paid." 3. The "Mark of the Beast" Warning (End Times Focus) Since the world is racing toward the end, confront them with the Bible's literal definition of a saint. The Confrontation: "Everyone is terrified of taking the Mark of the Beast, but nobody is looking at the Mark of the Saints. Read Revelation 14:12." The Verse: "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." The Shock: "It’s a two-part requirement. You claim to have the 'faith' part, but you’ve thrown away the 'commandments of God' part. According to the last book of the Bible, if you aren't doing both, you are not a saint . You are an easy target for the enemy because you’ve already been trained to disobey God under the cover of 'Grace.'" 4. The Linguistic Deception: "Jesus" is Not His Name This is the structural truth that proves how deep the church's deception goes. They changed his identity to change his Law. The Confrontation: "You claim to worship him, but you don't even know his real name. The letter 'J' didn't even exist in any language until about 500 years ago. Nobody in Jerusalem ever called him 'Jesus'—there was no such sound in Hebrew, Greek, or Latin." The Verse: Acts 4:12 states, "There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." The Shock: "His actual Hebrew name is Yeshua (יהושע), which means 'YAH is Salvation.' The name itself defines his purpose. The church stripped away his Hebrew name and handed you a Greco-Roman replacement. Why? Because once they disconnected the Messiah from his Hebrew identity, it became incredibly easy to disconnect you from his Hebrew Law. You are praying to a translation while ignoring the real Lawgiver." 5. The Repentance Trap: Forgiveness Without Turning This shatters their false sense of eternal security. The Confrontation: "You think you are forgiven, but you have never actually repented. You’ve been told that repentance is just an emotional prayer, but the Bible defines it as a legal U-turn." The Verse: 1 John 3:4 states, "Sin is lawlessness [breaking the Law]." Acts 3:19 commands, "Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out." The Shock: " Repentance means turning away from sin. If sin is defined as breaking God's Law, then repentance means turning back to the Law. If you are still intentionally ignoring the Law, you haven't turned back from anything. You are still walking in the exact same direction. Your 'grace' is a fraud, your 'faith' is dead (James 2:17), and your unrepented record of debt is still active." 6. The Sabbath Subversion: Worshiping the Sun This exposes the weekly, blatant defiance of the Fourth Commandment—the only commandment God explicitly told His people to "Remember." The Confrontation: "You go to church on Sunday and call it the 'Lord's Day,' believing the Sabbath was either changed to Sunday or nailed to the cross." The Verse: Exodus 20:8–11: "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy... the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God." Ezekiel 20:20: "And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the LORD your God." The Shock : "God never authorized a change from the Seventh Day (Friday sunset to Saturday sunset) to the First Day. Constantine and the Roman Catholic Church officially moved it to Sunday in 321 AD to align with pagan sun worship. By keeping Sunday, you are honoring Rome's authority, not God's. Yeshua Himself kept the Seventh-day Sabbath (Luke 4:16). If you are willfully breaking the Sabbath every single week, you are carrying the sign of rebellion, not the sign of the Creator." 7. The Dietary Defiance: Eating the Unclean This strikes directly at daily physical behavior, exposing how Christians use church tradition to justify what God explicitly calls an abomination. The Confrontation: " You pray over a plate of pork or shellfish and think your prayer purifies it. You believe Peter’s sheet vision in Acts 10 or Paul's letters gave you permission to eat whatever you want." The Verse: Isaiah 66:15 –17 (An End-Times prophecy of final judgment): "For behold, the LORD will come in fire... those who sanctify and purify themselves to go into the gardens... eating pig's flesh and the abomination and mice, shall come to an end together, declares the LORD." The Shock: "God does not change His mind about what defiles the body (Leviticus 11). In Acts 10, Peter explicitly states that the vision was about men, not meat ('God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean'). When the Messiah returns in fire to execute judgment, He is explicitly targeting those who are eating unclean animals. Your pastor's theology will not protect you from the fire of Isaiah 66." 8. The Pagan Calendar: Rejecting God’s Appointed Times This exposes the replacement of God's holy calendar with Roman, sun-worshipping traditions. The Confrontation : "You zealously celebrate Christmas and Easter—days rooted entirely in pagan fertility cults—while completely ignoring the Holy Feast Days that God established forever." The Verse: Leviticus 23:2 states , "The feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts." They belong to Him, not just ancient Judah. Daniel 7:25 warns that the enemy power would “think to change times and laws.” The Shock: " The Roman church changed the times and the laws, and modern Christianity happily followed them. You ignore Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the Day of Atonement—which the Messiah and the Apostles strictly kept—and replace them with traditions God explicitly commanded His people never to touch (Deuteronomy 12:30–32). You are keeping Rome's appointments while standing up the King of the Universe on His." 9. The Legal Contradiction You claim the blood of Yeshua washed away your sins. But 1 John 233:4 says sin is the breaking of the Law. The Confrontation: "How can you celebrate being saved from your sins while simultaneously bragging that you don't have to keep the Law? If the Law is gone, then sin no longer exists, and you didn't even need a Savior. Read 1 John 3:4." The Verse: "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." The Shock: "If you refuse to keep the Commandments, you are saying, 'I want to be forgiven for breaking the rules, but I reserve the right to keep breaking them.' That isn't faith; that is a legal insult to the Judge. You are asking for a pardon while holding the weapon you used to commit the crime." The "Love" Deception Most people say, "I don't need the Commandments; I just love God." The Confrontation: "You claim to love the Creator, but you refuse to listen to how He wants to be loved. The Bible doesn't let you define love your way. Read 1 John 5:3." The Verse: "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous." The Shock: "If you turn away when confronted by the Commandments, you are proving that you don't actually love God—you love the feeling of being forgiven. You love yourself, not the Creator." The "Narrow Gate" vs. The "Wide Cross" People want a "Wide Cross" that accepts everyone regardless of their rebellion. But Yeshua described a Narrow Gate. The Confrontation: "Modern religion has invented a broad path where you can confess Messiah with your lips but live like the rest of the world. But the real Yeshua didn't offer a frictionless road. Read Matthew 7:13-14." The Verse: "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." The Shock: "The Gate is narrow because the Commandments are the boundary. If you turn around when you see the requirements of the Sabbath, the Dietary Laws, and the Appointed Times, you are choosing the Wide Road. You are essentially saying the price of following the real Yeshua is too high. You would rather have a comfortable lie than a difficult Truth." The "Great Disconnect" (The Hypocrisy of the Covenant) This is the "Great Disconnect" of modern Christianity. People treat the cross like a drive-through window for mercy, but they treat the Commandments like a wall they refuse to climb. The Confrontation: "You want the benefits of a King without honoring His jurisdiction. You claim the protection of the Blood of the Covenant, but you flatly reject the Terms of the Covenant. You cannot sign a legal contract, claim the inheritance, and then tear up the stipulations. Read Hebrews 10:29." The Verse: " Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?" The Shock: "If you are delivering this as a 'Shock and Awe' message, you have to expose the hypocrisy of wanting the Blood of the Covenant while rejecting the Terms of the Covenant. To take His blood for your cleansing while calling His Sabbath or His dietary instructions 'done away with' is to treat His sacrifice as a cheap license for lawlessness. You aren't honoring the Savior; you are treating the ultimate cosmic execution as a get-out-of-jail-free card so you can keep running your own life." . The Cowardice of the Partial Convert "You are willing to walk to the cross because it feels like a gift, but you turn your back the moment you see the Commandments. You want a Savior, but you refuse a Lord." The Confrontation: "You have a selective faith that only accepts the parts of God that give you comfort while fleeing from the parts that demand your submission. You want the security of His sacrifice, but you are too terrified to let Him govern your schedule, your plate, or your lifestyle. Read Luke 6:46." The Verse: "But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do the things which I say?" The Shock: "A partial conversion is nothing more than spiritual cowardice. It is the mindset of a person who wants the crown but despises the crown's authority. True conversion requires a total surrender of your self-will. If you only obey God when it aligns with what you already wanted to do, you aren't serving the King—you are still serving yourself." The Proof of Love In John 14:15, Yeshua directly links love to action, removing all room for emotional sentimentality or lip service. The Confrontation: "You can weep at the altar, raise your hands during the worship songs, and tell anyone who will listen how much you love Jesus. But the Messiah Himself does not measure your love by your goosebumps or your tears. He measures it by your track record of obedience. Read John 14:15." The Verse: "If ye love me, keep my commandments." The Shock: "To claim you love Him while walking in open defiance of His Torah—ignoring His Sabbath, His Dietary Laws, and His Appointed Times—is a profound delusion. You are treating the King of Kings like a casual boyfriend whom you can sweet-talk while completely ignoring his boundaries and expectations. True love isn't an emotion you feel; it is a legal, actionable commitment to submit to His authority." Testing Your Profession In 1 John 2:4, the Scripture sets an absolute, uncompromising standard for anyone who claims to belong to the Almighty, emphasizing that lip service without a changed life is a falsehood. The Confrontation: "You tell people you have a personal relationship with the Creator. You check the box on your social media profile, wear the jewelry, and claim to 'know' Him. But the Bible has a brutal, single-sentence test to determine if you are telling the truth or telling a lie. Read 1 John 2:4." The Verse: "He that saith, 'I know him,' and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." The Shock: "This isn't a suggestion; it's a legal verdict from the Word of God. According to the Apostle John, if you boast about knowing the Savior but refuse to guard His Torah—His Sabbath, His Dietary Laws, and His Appointed Times—the Bible doesn't call you a 'growing Christian' or a 'believer under grace.' It calls you a liar. If your profession of faith doesn't alter your lifestyle, your calendar, and your obedience, your testimony is nothing but a fraudulent presentation to the world." The Distinction (Stumble vs. Betrayal) You have to know the difference between a servant who trips on the path and a rebel who walks off it. The Confrontation: "Many people excuse their lifelong disregard for God's instructions by saying, 'Nobody's perfect, we all stumble.' But there is a massive legal difference between a soldier who falls in the mud during battle and a deserter who runs to the enemy's camp. Read Proverbs 24:16." The Verse: "For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again, but the wicked shall fall into calamity." The Shock: "A stumble is a mistake made while trying to stay on the narrow path, followed by immediate repentance (Teshuvah). Betrayal is the intentional decision to walk away from the path because you prefer your own way over His. Bottom Line: Betrayal is knowing the Master’s house rules and choosing to treat them as optional. When you know the Sabbath, the Dietary Laws, and the Appointed Times are His standard, yet you deliberately choose to treat them as suggestions, you aren't stumbling—you are walking in open revolt." The Reality of False Conversion: Just Getting Wet True salvation demands a total legal surrender: absolute repentance, a dedication to obedience, and the execution of baptism. If you go through these motions without a radical change of mind and direction, you are simply getting wet. The Confrontation: "People treat baptism like a magical ritual that automatically punches their ticket to heaven, regardless of how they live afterward. But water cannot wash away a rebellious heart. You walk out of the water just as lost as you went in, because an unrepented record of debt cannot be canceled. Read Acts 5:32." The Verse: " And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him." The Shock: "To legally belong to the Creator, you must receive His Holy Spirit and actively walk in His Truth. But here is the hard line: God will never give His Holy Spirit to those who choose to live in disobedience. If your lifestyle still rejects the Sabbath, the Dietary Laws, and His Appointed Times, you are operating without the Spirit of Christ. You haven't been born again; you just went for a swim while holding onto your sins." The Execution of Spiritual Blindness Without the indwelling of the Spirit, a devastating spiritual sentence is carried out against you. The Confrontation: "You think you can reject the Master's instructions and still have spiritual clarity. But the moment you walk away from His Torah, a legal judgment takes place in your mind. You are stripped of your discernment, leaving you completely vulnerable. Read Isaiah 29:10." The Verse: "For the Lord has poured out on you the spirit of deep sleep, and has closed your eyes, the prophets; and He has covered your heads, the seers." The Shock: "Without the indwelling of the Spirit, a devastating spiritual sentence is carried out against you: The Standard of True Alignment True alignment with the Almighty cannot be faked, bartered, or replaced by a pastoral ritual. It requires a two-part structural reality. The Confrontation: "Many believe that a regular church attendance record, a title, or a recommendation from a pastor gives them legal standing before the throne. But the Judge does not accept human credentials or forged paperwork. Read John 4:24." The Verse: "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." The Shock: "True alignment requires a two-part structural reality: An Internal Transformation executed strictly by the Holy Spirit. An Unwavering Commitment to worship Him in Spirit and in absolute, uncompromised Truth. Without both, you are standing in a courtroom trying to present a fraudulent contract to the Judge. You cannot bring the 'spirit' of emotional worship while throwing out the 'truth' of His Commandments, nor can you bring cold ritual without the Spirit. If you lack either one, the contract is null and void, and you are legally exposed before the Court." The Resurrection: The "True" Hope In the Hebrew mindset, the reward isn't "going to heaven" as a disembodied soul. The reward is the Resurrection of the Body at the end of the age. The Confrontation: "Modern religion has invented a sentimental, unbiblical fairy tale about floating off to heaven on a cloud the moment you die. This pagan view of a disembodied afterlife completely bypasses the central hope of the scriptures: the physical resurrection from the dead. Read John 3:13 and Acts 2:34." The Verses: * Yeshua’s Fact: "No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven." (John 3:13) David’s Fact: "For David did not ascend into the heavens..." (Acts 2:34) The Shock: "The Biblical Timeline is clear: when a person dies, they return to the dust—entering a state of sleep in Sheol—where they remain until they are awakened by the Master at the 'Last Trumpet.' By replacing the Resurrection with an instant escape-to-heaven philosophy, you strip the return of Messiah of its ultimate power. You don't go to Him in the sky forever; He comes down here to awaken His saints from the dirt, conquer death, and establish His physical Kingdom on the earth." The "Thief on the Cross" Objection This is the verse most often used by the carnal mind to "prove" that people go to heaven immediately when they die, bypassing the resurrection. The Confrontation: "People point to the thief on the cross as a get-out-of-jail-free card for an instant escape to heaven. They use one sentence to wipe out the entire biblical timeline of the resurrection. But they are completely missing the grammatical and historical reality of the text. Read Luke 23:43." The Verses: * The Thief's Request: "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." (Luke 23:42) Yeshua's Response: "And Jesus said to him, 'Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.'" (Luke 23:43) The Shock: " The original Greek text had no punctuation or commas. Where a translator places the comma completely changes the meaning: Interpretation A (Traditional): 'Truly I tell you, today you will be with me...' Interpretation B (Hebrew Context): 'Truly I tell you today, you will be with me in paradise.' The absolute proof is that Yeshua Himself did not go to Paradise or heaven that afternoon. He went into the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. Three days later, He told Mary Magdalene in John 20:17, 'Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father.' If the Master Himself hadn't gone to heaven yet, the thief wasn't there either. Yeshua was giving a solemn promise on that specific day of crucifixion that the thief would ultimately have a place in the future, physical Kingdom at the resurrection." The "Truth Only" Summary According to the literal text, when a person dies, they "rest" or "sleep" in the grave (Sheol). They remain there, unconscious of the passage of time, until the Resurrection at the return of Yeshua. The Confrontation: " Stop looking for an escape hatch into a disembodied, spiritualized ether. The Almighty created man from the dirt of the ground, and His ultimate plan has always been a physical, earthly inheritance. The focus of the end times is not about us going up to live with Him—it is about Him coming down to live with us. Read Revelation 21:3." The Verse: " And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.’" The Shock: "The 'True' destination for the righteous is not a distant heaven, but a restored Earth where the Master sets up His throne. You are not going to spend eternity floating away from the physical creation; you are going to be resurrected into an incorruptible body to rule and reign right here on the ground. To cling to the traditional 'heavenly reward' is to fundamentally misunderstand the destination of the Narrow Road." To address the "true rapture" using the Truth Only approach, we must distinguish between the popular modern "Left Behind" theory and what is actually written in the original Greek and Hebrew manuscripts. The Confrontation: " Modern church culture has fed you a comforting fairy tale of a secret, silent escape pod designed to snatch you away before things get difficult. You’ve been trained to look for a backdoor out of tribulation instead of preparing your house to endure it. Read 1 Thessalonians 4:17." The Verse: "Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we shall always be with the Lord." The Shock: "The word 'Rapture' does not even appear in your English Bible. It comes from the Latin rapio, translating the Greek harpazo (to snatch or seize). But the modern church has completely twisted the mechanics, the timing, and the purpose of this event to fit a narrative that the ancient prophets and apostles never taught." 1. The Timeline: Pre-Tribulation vs. Post-Tribulation The most common modern teaching suggests that believers disappear before a time of trouble. However, if we look at the literal words of Yeshua, the sequence is completely reversed. The Verse (Matthew 24:29-31): "Immediately after the tribulation of those days... they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds..." The Shock: "In the literal words of the Messiah Himself, the 'gathering'—what you call the Rapture—happens after the tribulation, not before. The modern church is prepping people for an escape that isn't coming, leaving an entire generation completely unequipped to stand firm in the face of the enemy." 2. The "One Taken, One Left" Misconception Many people use Matthew 24:40 ("two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left") to describe a secret vanishing act of the righteous. But in a Hebrew context, being 'taken' is a death sentence. The Verse (Matthew 24:38-39): "For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be." The Shock: "Go back to the pattern of Noah's day. The ones 'taken' were not the righteous flying away to safety—the ones 'taken' were the wicked who were swept away by the judgment of the flood to their destruction! The ones 'left behind' were Noah and his family, the righteous who remained on the ground to inherit the cleansed earth. You are actively praying for the wrong outcome." 3. The Historical Origin of the Secret Escape If this secret, pre-tribulation flight plan isn't in the literal words of Scripture, where did it come from? The Fact: "This doctrine was virtually unknown for the first 1,800 years of Church history. It was popularized around 1830 AD by John Nelson Darby, who developed a system called 'Dispensationalism.' It became cement in the American mind when it was printed in the study footnotes of the Scofield Reference Bible in 1909. You are risking your spiritual survival on a 19th-century human invention that was cross-referenced into your margins." 4. The Hebrew Concept: The Royal Meeting In the ancient world, when a King or a Bridegroom approached a city, the citizens did not run out to meet him so they could escape with him back to his home. They went out to escort him into their territory. The Verse (Matthew 25:6): "And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’" The Shock: " In 1 Thessalonians 4:17, the Greek word for 'meet' is apantesis. In ancient custom, and in every other New Testament usage (like the Parable of the Ten Virgins), apantesis means going out to greet an arriving dignitary and immediately turning around to escort him back to where he was heading. The 'Rapture' is not a flight away to heaven for seven years; it is a glorious, royal welcome in the air to meet the arriving King, Yeshua, as He descends to execute judgment and establish His permanent Kingdom right here on E arth."
- 13 | Answers 4 Saints Gods say's
All Scripture is “God-breathed” .Scripture cannot be broken .No letter or stroke shall pass away .The spirit will guide you into all the truth .God’s word is settled in Heaven forever .The word of Yehovah will stand forever .Gods words brings light. God says: Your Pastor says that you are not under the judgment of God's laws His statutes and Sabbaths they have been removed and done away with, fulfilled by Jesus. No law requires no mercy no need for Repentance. Grace and Salvation mean nothing. God says: All Scripture is “God-breathed” 2 Tim 3:16 Scripture cannot be broken John 10:35 No letter or stroke shall pass away Matt 5:18 The spirit will guide you into all the truth John 16:13 God’s word is settled in Heaven forever Psalms 19:89 The word of Yehovah will stand forever Isa 40:8 God's words bring light Psalms 119:130 My people are destroyed by a lack of knowledge. "Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children. Hos 4:6 Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? God's Word or Man's Tradition? — Yes or No Test Does Scripture say that all Scripture is God-breathed? (2 Timothy 3:16) ☐ Yes ☐ No Did Yeshua say that Scripture cannot be broken? (John 10:35) ☐ Yes ☐ No Did Yeshua say that not one jot or tittle will pass from the Law until all is fulfilled? (Matthew 5:18) ☐ Yes ☐ No Does the Spirit guide believers into all truth? (John 16:13) ☐ Yes ☐ No Is God's Word settled in heaven forever? (Psalm 119:89) ☐ Yes ☐ No Does the Word of Yehovah stand forever? (Isaiah 40:8) ☐ Yes ☐ No Does God's Word give light and understanding? (Psalm 119:130) ☐ Yes ☐ No If there is no law, is there any transgression? (Romans 4:15) ☐ Yes ☐ No If there is no sin, is there any need for repentance? (Luke 5:32) ☐ Yes ☐ No If there is no need for repentance, what purpose would mercy and grace serve? ☐ Yes ☐ No Conclusion If you answered "Yes" to Questions 1–10, then consider: God's Word is permanent. Scripture cannot be broken. The Spirit leads into truth, not away from it. Sin requires repentance. Mercy and grace have meaning because sin exists. Every teaching should be tested against Scriptur Your pastor says the law is dead. God says: Ecclesiastes 12:13 That's the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear Yehovah and obey his commands, for this is everyone's duty. Proverbs 28:9 He that turned away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be an abomination. Proverbs 10:8 The wise of heart will receive commands, but a babbling fool will be ruined Matthew 5:17 Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them. 18 For I tell you truly, until heaven and earth pass away, not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 So then, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do likewise will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Romans 2:13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. 1 John 2:4 If anyone says, “I know Him,” but does not keep His Commandments, he is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But if anyone keeps His word, the love of God has been truly perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him: James 1: 25 But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and continues to do so—not being a forgetful hearer, but an effective doer—he will be blessed in what he does. Psalm 19:7 The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.9 The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever the decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous.10 They are more precious than gold than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey from the honeycomb 11 By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.12 But who can discern their own errors? Deuteronomy 11:19 Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home when you are on the road, when you are going to bed, and when you are getting up. Jeremiah 31:33 “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. There are over 20 verses that prove beyond reasonable doubt that God's perfect law is still intact. (please review “Is the law really done away with?”) Your pastor says the law is a yoke around your neck: God’s says: Deuteronomy 4:8 And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day? Deuteronomy 30:11 This command I am giving you today is not too difficult for you to understand, and it is not beyond your reach. Revelations 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life and may enter in through the gates into the city. Your pastor says the Sabbath is changed God says: Ezekiel 22:26,27 "Her priests (your pastors) have done violence to My law and have profaned My Holy things; they have made no distinction between the holy and the profane, and they have not taught the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they hide their eyes from My Sabbaths, and I am profaned among them. 27 "Her princes within her are like wolves tearing the prey, by shedding blood and destroying lives in order to get dishonest gain.… (there is not one verse in the entire bible changing it) Ezekiel 20:12 And I gave them my Sabbath days of rest as a sign between them and me. It was to remind them that I am the LORD, who had set them apart to be holy. (You will not find one scripture in your personal Bible that changes or removes God’s Holy Sabbath) Your pastor says: Jesus declared all meat clean God says: Mark 7:19 “For it doesn't go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body." Church doctrine added the following to scripture “In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.” Ponder this: If Jesus said this, he couldn’t be our Savior. He would be sinning, breaking God’s command regarding dietary instructions. Be on your guard, if you encounter any verse that conflicts with all other scripture. (scripture identifies what is food, not man) Isaiah 65:1 I have stretched out My hands all day long to a rebellious people, 2 Who walk in a way that is not good, According to their own thoughts; 3 A people? who provoke Me to anger continually to My face; 4 Who sacrifice in gardens, and burn incense on altars of brick;4 Who sit among the graves, and spend the night in the tombs; Who eat swine’s flesh, And the broth of abominable things is in their vessels; Isaiah 66:16 For by fire and by His sword, The Lord will judge all flesh; And the slain of the Lord shall be many. 17 “Those who sanctify themselves and purify themselves, to go to the gardens After an idol in the midst, eating swine’s flesh and the abomination and the mouse, shall be consumed together,” says the Lord. Your pastor says: "And so I judge that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. God says: Acts 15:19 It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not cause trouble for the Gentiles who are turning to God. …20 Instead, we should write and tell them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals, and from blood.21 For Moses has been proclaimed in every city from ancient times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.” Most of us skip over verse 21 this is the Torah the first five books of the bible. Have you ever heard this at any bible study? This is all that is required for salvation. Your pastor says: the law is only for the Jews: God’s says: Galatians 3:26 You are all sons of God thru faith in Christ Yeshua 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ? 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, (or Christian) slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Yeshua 29 And if you belong to Christ then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise. Romans 8:7 For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God's laws, and it never will. That's why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God. Your pastor says: Paul says, you are under grace, not the law. Paul says: Galatians 5:17 For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to one another, so that you do not do what you want.…18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. 1 Corinthians 11: 1 You are to imitate me, just as I imitate Christ. Acts 24:14 "But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the Elohim of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed ● Romans 8:14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God Your pastor says: Not to judge people by what they eat or drink or how they celebrate holidays or God’s Sabbath day. Paul says: Colossians 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a holiday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. God is telling his children not to let the Gentiles judge for being obedient keeping God's laws and statues, all these will be observed in the millennium. This passage is taken from the letter to the Colossians, a group of people newly coming out of pagan customs and into Christ fellowship. Paul is cautioning new followers not to listen to the criticism of pagan worshippers. Pagan worship is contrary to God’s law and statutes Your pastor says: We are under a new covenant and not required to keep the laws: God says: Jeremiah 31:33 “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people Jeremiah 31:31 Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah Hebrews 8: 10 For this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days declares the Lord. I will put My laws in their minds, and inscribe them on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people. Ezekiel 36:26-27 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My 23 Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. Your pastor says: the law was nailed to the cross God says: Romans 8: 2 For in Christ Yeshua the law of the Spirit of life has set you free from the law of sin and death Galatians 5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. The “law of sin and death” escorts, or brings us, to Christ by pointing out that we are in bondage/under the curse. It is not until the "law of sin and death" teaches us that we are cursed and in bondage, that we can come to the Messiah in faith as our Savior. Without that knowledge we would have no reason to come to Him. Your pastor says: God changed everything for the Gentiles because Israel couldn't keep His laws, God removed them and took them out of the way. When you answer these questions keep in mind you are judging God's character. Does God's word contradict itself? Does God's word stand forever? Does God do anything without revealing it through His prophets first? Does God lie? Does God change His mind; Does God always keep His promises? 1 Corinthians 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. Isaiah 40:8 The grass withered; the flower faded: but the word of our God shall stand for ever. John 10:35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken: 1 Peter 1:25 But the word of the Lord endured forever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. Amos 3:7 Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealed His secret unto his servants the prophets. Are you going to continue to follow the church that says scripture is changed or done away with, or will you follow God who says scripture cannot be broken? Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Matthew 25:31-34 When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, "Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." The Kingdom of God, then, will be ruled by Yeshua and will be inherited by those who have been glorified upon being resurrected from the dead. The resurrected saints—citizens of God's Kingdom—will rule along with Yeshua over the remaining peoples of the earth (Daniel 7:27; II Timothy 2:12; Revelation 2:26-28; 5:9-10; 20:4-6; 22:5). What are the Laws of the Kingdom? ● Judges 21:25. Law is simply a guide for people to follow to ensure cohesion, agreement, and peace in civil and interpersonal relationships. Without an understood standard, enforced by a sovereign ruler, everyone would act according to his own whim or desire, and nothing good or worthwhile would Judges 2 be produced. The Kingdom of God is no different. I Corinthians 14:33 God is not the author of confusion. His Kingdom will be peaceful and orderly because everyone who will enter it will have voluntarily submitted himself to the law - the commandments - of God. God will not have anyone in His Kingdom who demonstrates, by the pattern of his life, that he will not obey Him. (Matthew 7:21-23; Hebrews 10:26-31). Revelation 12:17 describes the saints as those "who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Yeshua. These two statements - loving God and loving your neighbor as oneself - encapsulate the first four and the last six commandments respectively. The commandments merely define further how to love God and love man . We love God in general by placing Him first, by not adopting physical aids in worshipping Him, by not bearing His name in vain, and by keeping the seventh-day Sabbath holy. We love man, in general, by honoring our parents, not murdering, not committing adultery, not stealing, not lying, and not coveting. ● John 14:15 "If you love Me, keep My commandments. “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him." "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Fathers who sent
- 39 | Answers 4 Saints Grace
or the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want. …18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works so that no one can boast. 🏛️ What Does "Under the Law" Actually Mean? To understand why Paul said we are not "under the law," you have to look at the phrase scripturally, not culturally. In the Greek text, being "under the law" (upo nomon) carries a specific legal meaning: being under the condemnation and penalty of the law because you are a lawbreaker. Think of it like a modern traffic law: If you drive the speed limit, you are not "under" the authority of the flashing lights and the ticket book. You are walking in freedom. The law isn't chasing you. The exact second you choose to break the speed limit, you put yourself "under the law." You are now a criminal caught in the system, waiting for the penalty. Before you came into covenant through the Messiah Yeshua, you were a lawbreaker. You were trapped in protective custody under the law of sin and death (Galatians 3:23). You owed a blood debt you could not pay. When Yeshua died for you, His grace paid your penalty and pulled you out of that prison. He didn't delete the speed limit; He paid your ticket and set you free from the executioner! “Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.” — Romans 3:31 (NKJV) According to the clear blueprint of Scripture, receiving the true, empowering grace of God is not a passive event or a quick mental agreement. It is a profound, life-altering legal and spiritual transaction. True grace is an unearned gift, but it is exclusively given to a specific heart posture. The Scriptures lay down a direct, unbreakable sequence for how a person physically enters into this covenant and receives the gift of the Holy Spirit. This phrase likely references the famous biblical proverb, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." This theme of humility runs throughout scripture as a reminder of the peace that comes from recognizing our dependence on God rather than relying entirely on our own strength. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ] Where it is found: You can read this exact sentiment in the New Testament books of James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5 , which both quote the Old Testament passage from Proverbs 3:34 . [1 ] What it means : Pride pushes people to rely entirely on themselves and act as their own ultimate authority. Because of this, scripture notes that God opposes or resists the proud. [1 ] The reward for humility: Those who are humble acknowledge their limitations and seek God. In return, they are met with His unearned favor, or "grace," which helps them overcome daily struggles and find spiritual rest. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ] 🛠️ The Scriptural Sequence to Receive Grace 1.Confront the Standard of the Word:The Diagnosis. You must look into the perfect mirror of God's Torah (His Law) to understand your true spiritual condition. Scripture states that "sin is the transgression of the law" (1 John 3:4). You must believe that you have broken His commandments, sinned against His holiness, and that you rightfully deserve the sentence of the law of sin and death (Romans 6:23). 2.Experience Godly Sorrow:The Broken Heart. Instead of making excuses, minimizing your actions, or defending your traditions, you allow the truth to smash your pride. You experience a deep, internal grief because you realize your lawlessness has offended the Creator and brought shame to His Name. This is Godly sorrow, which produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret (2 Corinthians 7:10). As the Psalmist records: "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart—these, O God, You will not despise" (Psalm 51:17). 3.Repent (Teshuvah):The Physical Turn. You must execute a radical, 180-degree physical turn. Repentance (Teshuvah) means you stop walking down the broad road of worldly customs, pagan traditions, and self-pleasing appetites, and you turn your face directly back toward the ancient paths of the Father's commandments. You actively cast the abominations out of your life, your home, your diet, and your calendar. 4.Surrender to the Messiah through Baptism:The Covenant Seal. You cast your entire life upon the unmerited mercy, favor, and blood of the Sovereign King, Yeshua. You acknowledge that His death paid the blood-debt you owed for your past lawlessness. You seal this commitment by being immersed in water (baptism) in the name of Yeshua Messiah for the forgiveness of your sins (Acts 2:38). This is where you physically "put on Christ," burying your old, rebellious nature and rising as a brand-new creation (Galatians 3:27). 5.Receive the Holy Spirit to Walk in Truth:The Empowered Life . Once you have repented and entered the covenant, the Father gives you the ultimate gift of grace: the Holy Spirit. The purpose of the Spirit is not to give you goosebumps or make you feel emotional; the purpose of the Spirit is to write the Torah directly onto your heart and mind (Hebrews 10:16), giving you the supernatural power, desire, and strength to physically do what the Word says and establish His Law in your daily walk (Romans 3:31). ⚖️ The Gatekeeper: Humility vs. Pride There is one supreme, universal spiritual law that dictates exactly who receives this gift and who is locked out. Scripture repeats this warning multiple times across both testaments: “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” — James 4:6 / 1 Peter 5:5 / Proverbs 3:34 The Proud Man defends his lifestyle, makes excuses for eating abominations, clings tightly to the annual pagan traditions of his ancestors, and argues with the plain text of Scripture. Because his neck is stiff, the Creator actively resists him, and he can never access true grace. The Humble Man hears the straight, uncompromised shout of the Word, falls on his face, confesses his lawlessness, and asks the King for instructions. Because his heart is soft, the Father pours out boundless grace upon him, lifting him out of the muddy pit of the world and placing his feet firmly on the path of stable, joyful obedience. Grace is entirely free, but it will cost you your pride, your worldly reputation, and your attachment to human traditions. If you want the true, life-saving favor of Yehovah today, humble yourself before the text, submit to the King, and start doing what His Word commands! God’s grace and His Spirit are deeply connected in scripture. The Holy Spirit is considered the very presence of God within a believer , and it is through this Spirit that we receive, understand, and apply God's unearned grace to our daily lives. [1 , 2 ] How Grace and the Spirit Work Together The Source of Grace: Grace is God's undeserved favor and love. It is a free gift given to us through faith in Christ. [ 1 ] The Spirit's Role: The Holy Spirit illuminates these truths, helping us grasp what God has freely given us. The Spirit is often called the "deposit" or guarantee of our salvation. [1 , 2 ] Evidence of the Spirit: When a person has the Spirit of God, their life is transformed. T his transformation produces what the Bible calls the "fruit of the spirit": love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. [1 , 2 ] By this connection, we know that God dwells within us and works through us. You can explore more about how the Spirit empowers believers on Desiring God . [1 , 2 ] Here is the final, binary (Yes/No) Grace Test to prove whether you are operating under true biblical grace or a lawless counterfeit. 1. Theological & Spiritual Meaning Divine Favor : In religious contexts grace is unearned, unconditional love and forgiveness. It is the free gift of salvation and spiritual strength. Mealtime Prayer: A short, spoken prayer of thanksgiving offered before or after eating is widely referred to as "saying grace". [1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ] 2. Behavioral & Interpersonal Poise and Elegance: The physical attribute of moving smoothly, naturally, and with dignified balance (e.g., a dancer's grace). Compassion: Interacting with others by showing patience, kindness, and extending forgiveness, especially during difficult situations. [1 , 2 , 3 ] 3. Practical & Legal Contexts Grace Period: A designated length of time past a due date (like a bill or insurance premium) where a late penalty or cancellation will not be applied. Privilege: In law, a concession, pardon, or temporary exemption granted as an act of mercy rather than a strict legal right. [1 , 2 ] ⚖️ The True Grace vs. Counterfeit Grace Test Instructions: Answer these final 3 diagnostic questions honestly to see how the word "grace" is being applied in your life. Question 1: The Function of Grace The Scriptural Law: “ For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age...” (Titus 2:11-12). The Question: What is grace actually teaching you to do on a daily basis? [ ] YES (True Grace): Grace acts as your trainer, giving you the power to say "No" to the desires of the flesh and the traditions of the world, driving you to live an upright lifestyle aligned with the Torah. [ ] NO (Counterfeit): You use the concept of grace to excuse or tolerate known compromises in your home, calendar, or diet, treating it as a safety net for ongoing disobedience. Question 2: The Relationship to the Law The Scriptural Law: “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it ?” (Romans 6:1-2) / “Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.” (Romans 3:31). The Question: Now that you have received salvation by grace through faith, what happens to your obligation to obey God’s written commandments? [ ] YES (True Grace): You recognize that grace delivers you from the condemnation of the law (the law of sin and death), which frees you to gladly establish, honor, and physically do the commandments in Spirit and Truth. [ ] NO (Counterfeit): You believe that being "under grace" means the Old Testament laws, dietary boundaries, and Sabbaths are "done away with," effectively using grace to render God's Spoken Word void. Question 3: The Threat of Turncoats The Scriptural Law: “For certain individuals... have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.” (Jude 1:4). The Question: When you are confronted with a hard, uncompromised command from the Scriptures (like purging pagan holiday traditions or unclean foods), what is your immediate defense? [ ] YES (True Grace): You tremble at the Word, humble your heart, and seek the Spirit's help to align your lifestyle with the command immediately. [ ] NO (Counterfeit): Your mind immediately jumps to the defense of "I'm saved by grace, not works," which is the exact mechanism Jude warns against—turning the favor of God into a shield to protect your own lawlessness. 🎯 The Conclusion of the Matter True grace is an empowering gift. It does not lower the Father's standard of holiness; it raises your ability to meet it. If your grace results in a clean home, a guarded Sabbath, a scriptural diet, and the keeping of His Appointed Times, you are walking in the true, unmerited favor of the Most High. If your grace allows you to comfortably keep the traditions of Rome, eat abominations, and ignore the Torah, you are caught in a delusion that scripture defines as a dead faith. The tests are finished, the standard is clear, and the witness of the text is absolute. May the true grace of our Master Yeshua give you the strength to stand with the obedient remnant until the day of His appearing! Here are 5 more direct, binary (Yes/No) questions to expand the Grace and Accountability Test. These focus specifically on the ultimate purpose of grace: moving a believer from a state of lawless rebellion to a life of physical, covenant-keeping action. 📋 The Simple Test: Part 4 (The Mechanics of Grace ) Question 4: The Power to Perform The Scriptural Law: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10). The Question: Do you view grace as a passive legal status that merely keeps you out of hell, or do you view it as the active fuel that enables you to perform the "good works" explicitly outlined in the Father's Law? [ ] YES (True Grace): You recognize that grace was given so that your hands and feet could physically walk out the ancient paths and commandments God prepared from the beginning. [ ] NO (Counterfeit): You treat grace as an end in itself, believing that as long as you have the right theology, actual physical compliance with God's laws is optional or secondary. Question 5: The "Sin is the Transgression of the Law" Rule The Scriptural Law: “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” (1 John 3:4). The Question: When you talk about needing "grace for your sins," do you define sin strictly the way the Bible does (breaking the written Torah), or do you use a human, emotional definition of just "being a bad person"? [ ] YES (True Grace) : You use the scriptural definition. You know exactly what commands you broke (e.g., breaking Sabbath, eating unclean), which makes your repentance specific, urgent, and physical. [ ] NO (Counterfeit): You keep your understanding of sin vague and generalized, which allows you to feel "covered by grace" without ever having to stop specific lawless habits. Question 6: The Trampling of the Son The Scriptural Law: “Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?” (Hebrews 10:29). The Question: If you willfully continue in a practice after the written Word has clearly shown you it is an abomination (like eating swine's flesh or celebrating pagan-rooted dates), what are you doing with the blood of Christ? [ ] YES (True Grace): You tremble at this warning. You immediately drop the behavior because you refuse to insult the Spirit of grace by using the Messiah’s death as a license to keep breaking His Father's laws. [ ] NO (Counterfeit): You continue the behavior anyway, assuming the blood of the covenant automatically covers willful, ongoing rebellion because "no one is perfect." Question 7: The Fruit Inspection The Scriptural Law: “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.” (Matthew 7:19-20). The Question : If grace is truly living inside you through the Holy Spirit, it must produce visible, physical fruit that looks like the Messiah's lifestyle. Does your daily lifestyle look like the Torah-observant walk of Yeshua? [ ] YES (True Grace): The fruit is evident. Your calendar, your kitchen, your speech, and your behavior have been structurally altered to match the Master's walk. [ ] NO (Counterfeit): Your fruit matches the culture around you. You look, eat, and celebrate just like the world, using the word "grace" to explain away the lack of biblical fruit. Question 8: The "Not Everyone Who Says to Me" Standard The Scriptural Law: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name...’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” (Matthew 7:21-23). The Question: When you stand before the judgment seat, on what basis do you expect to enter the Kingdom? [ ] YES (True Grace): You trust completely in the grace of the Messiah, which successfully led you to stop practicing lawlessness and instead do the explicit will of the Father. [ ] NO (Counterfeit): You rely on your verbal professions ("Lord, Lord"), your religious activities, or your church attendance, while continuing to live a lifestyle that ignores the written commandments. 🏁 The Ultimate Division True grace is not a tool used to bypass t he Torah; it is the supernatural power that brings you into subjection to it. Every YES is a declaration that the King's authority is absolute over your flesh. Every NO is a warning light that a counterfeit, lawless grace is still comforting you on the road to the harvest of fire. Turn the wheel completely while the gate is still open! 🐐 1. Stumbling in Weakness (Where Grace Abounds) The Father understands that we are dust, and that unlearning the lawless habits of the world takes time. If a person has a sincere heart to obey the Torah, but they slip up due to weakness, ignorance, or an accidental oversight, grace does not leave them. “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Yeshua Messiah the righteous.” — 1 John 2:1 (NKJV) In this case, grace is actively working. The Holy Spirit convicts the person’s heart, they experience Godly sorrow, they confess the specific sin, and they physically correct their behavior. Grace remains good because the person is submissive to the discipline of the house. 🐂 2. Walking in Rebellion (Where Grace is Cut Off) The line is crossed when a person receives the knowledge of the truth, looks directly at what the written Word says, and chooses to keep sinning anyway because it is popular, comfortable, or culturally normal. Scripture defines this as presumptuous sin—sinning with a high hand. When a person does this, God does not just passively watch; a precise spiritual hardening takes place. The author of Hebrews lays down the terrifying legal reality of what happens when a believer chooses ongoing, willful lawlessness: “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment...” — Hebrews 10:26–27 (NKJV) If there is no longer a sacrifice covering you, it means grace has been removed. You have chosen to walk out from under the Messiah’s blood and back into the prison of the law of sin and death. ⚠️ The Three Steps to the Total Removal of Grace When a believer starts sliding backward into the traditions of the world or the appetites of the flesh, the Father typically follows a clear, merciful, yet severe process before grace is completely extinguished: Step 1: Holy Vexation and Conviction The Holy Spirit stirs up trouble in your conscience. Your prayers feel blocked, your peace disappears, and the written Word starts to bite whenever you read it. This is God’s grace trying to pull you back. If you harden your neck here, you move to Step 2. Step 2: Severe Divine Discipline The Father begins to physically shake your life to wake you up. He may allow financial distress, family friction, or the loss of worldly comforts to show you that Egypt has nothing for you. As Hebrews states: "For whom the Lord loves He chastens..." (Hebrews 12:6). This discipline is a severe form of grace designed to smash your pride. Step 3: Giving Over to a Reprobate Mind If a person fights through the conviction, ignores the discipline, and insists on keeping their pagan traditions, their unclean foods, or their worldly compromises, the Father will eventually lift His hand completely. He stops correcting them, stops disciplining them, and hands them over to their own delusions. “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting.” — Romans 1:28 (NKJV) When God "gives someone over," it is the ultimate removal of grace. They can now sin comfortably without feeling any guilt, thinking they are perfectly fine, completely unaware that they are tracking straight toward the harvest of fire detailed in Isaiah 66. Question 13: What Happens When You Twist the Wheel? The Setup: David prayed a critical prayer in Psalm 19:13: “Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me.” The Question: When the light of the Torah exposes a specific sin or worldly tradition currently sitting in your home, what is your immediate, physical reaction? [ ] YES (Under Active Grace): Your heart breaks, you take immediate accountability, and you physically cast the compromise out of your gates, proving that the Spirit of grace is alive and ruling your flesh. [ ] NO (Risking the Removal of Grace): You pacify your mind with excuses, delay the physical cleaning of your house, or assume that "God understands my situation," stepping directly onto the dangerous path of willful defiance. 🏁 The Summary Line God does not remove grace because you are imperfect; He removes grace when you become unteachable. If you can look at a command and refuse to change your lifestyle to match it, you are insulting the Spirit of grace. Turn the wheel completely while you still feel the sharp bite of conviction—because the only thing worse than the discipline of the Father is His silence.
- 21 | Answers4saints.com
The ultimate goal of the Gospel was, and is, not harmony on earth, but PEACE WITH GOD . Yeshua says, "Do not think that I came to bring peace ON THE EARTH", but He did come to make peace between God and humanity I will send them great trouble— REPENT and live . Most Christians dont follow the real Jesus How to Pronounce Yeshua? (CORRECTLY) How to Pronounce YehoVah Breaking the Silence | WHY 99% of Churches Are NOT Telling You This A Rood Awakening! 233K subscribers Subscribe The word was God video IS JESUS A CHRISTIAN? The real Jesus Watchman Message In the message in Hosea, Yehovah is saying my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. He is warning us that it is our responsibility to give them warning from Him, about the coming wrath that is coming on this earth. Our Father repeated these few verses, He wants us to understand that He is serious, and will hold us accountable if we don't warn them (“son of man" denotes mankind generally) Hebrew people, The Yeshua Nobody Wants to Know Based on the text you provided, here is the clear, direct breakdown listing the two different sides of the Messiah, the different types of peace, the different human responses, and the specific things the Father despises. ⚔️ The Two Different Portraits of Yeshua 1. The Yeshua Everyone Wants to Know This is the popular, comfortable image of the Messiah that modern culture and many teachers love to focus on exclusively. It is characterized by: Gentleness, forgiveness, and unconditional love. A Savior who loves His enemies, forgives prostitutes, touches the untouchable lepers, and feeds the hungry. An image that demands very little personal sacrifice from the person looking at it. 2. The Yeshua Nobody Wants to Know This is the demanding side of the Messiah found in Matthew 10, which people often choose to forget or skip over because it causes heavy social and internal friction. It is characterized by: Being demanding and "brutally straightforward" about the cost of discipleship. Holding nothing back and declaring: "I did not come to bring peace, but a sword" (v. 34). Demanding that loyalty to Him and His truth comes before loyalty to your own father, mother, son, or daughter (v. 37). 🕊️ The Two Different Types of Peace The text corrects a major false assumption about the Messiah's mission on earth by splitting "peace" into two distinct categories: Peace on Earth (The False Assumption): The worldly expectation that the Messiah's goal was to bring immediate, horizontal harmony, social ease, and comfort among men on this earth. Yeshua flatly rejects this: "Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth." Peace with God (The True Gospel Goal): Vertical reconciliation between a holy Creator and a sinful humanity (Romans 5:1). This true peace with the Father requires a sword of division on earth, separating those who obey from those who rebel. 👥 The Two Different Responses of Mankind 1. Those Who Turn Away and Refuse to Listen This group chooses their own comfort and traditions over the explicit commands of God. Their actions are listed directly from Isaiah 66: When the Father calls, they do not answer. When He speaks, they do not listen. They deliberately sin before His very eyes. They choose to do what they know He despises. 2. Those Who Acknowledge Him Publicly This is the remnant—the watchmen and the saints—who choose the narrow, demanding road: They acknowledge Him publicly here on earth, regardless of the sword of division or the social cost in their own families. The Reward: Yeshua promises, "Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven" (Matthew 10:32). 🚫 What the Father Openly Despises Isaiah 66:17 draws a sharp line regarding what brings people to a "terrible end" under the flaming fire of His hot rebuke. He specifically despises: False "Sanctification": People who try to "consecrate" and "purify" themselves using pagan traditions, human-made doctrines, or customized religious rituals (symbolized by the sacred garden with its idol in the center). Dietary Defiance: T hose who actively claim to be close to Him while feasting on pork, rats, and other detestable meats that His Torah explicitly forbids. The Watchman's Conclusion: You cannot separate the gentle Savior from the demanding Judge. To accept a Messiah of "peace" while rejecting His sword of division and His laws is to worship a false image. The evidence of true faith is the willingness to stand on the side of the sword that cuts us away from the traditions of men, so that we can be acknowledged before the Father on the day of reckoning. Matthew 10:34-39 By Reverend Bryn MacPhail If I were to ask you today to name some characteristics of Yeshua, what would you name? If you were describing the personality of Yeshua to someone, what adjectives would you use? Think of some in your head, and I will share with you the first ones that came to my mind. The three characteristics that immediately came to my mind were: GENTLE, FORGIVING, and LOVING. My guess is that most of you think of Yeshua in similar terms as well. When I came to the end of chapter 10 in Matthew, however, I got a very different portrait of Yeshua. After reading this section, not many people, until reading this particular section in Matthew, know this side of Yeshua. And if we are aware of this side of Yeshua, we often choose to forget about it. We are anxious to hear how Yeshua loves His enemies, forgives prostitutes, touches lepers, and feeds the hungry, but that's it. The Yeshua we see in chapter 10, verses 34-39–this Yeshua, quite frankly, is the one that nobody wants to know. But if I skipped this section, you would miss an essential side of Yeshua. The side of Yeshua that is DEMANDING. This is where Yeshua is, what you might term "brutally straight forward". He holds nothing back here. "Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword" (v.34). What a shocking statement! Yeshua "did not come to bring peace, but a sword"? Why would He say such a thing? What Yeshua is doing here is He is correcting false assumptions about what the Jewish Messiah's mission was. According to Isaiah 9:5-7, the Messiah is described as the "Prince of Peace". The interpreters of the Hebrew Scriptures took that to mean that the Messiah would be the "Prince of Peace" ON EARTH. That, however, was not Yeshua' mission. The ultimate goal of the Gospel was, and is, not harmony on earth, but PEACE WITH GOD (Rom. 5:1). Yeshua says, "Do not think that I came to bring peace ON THE EARTH", but He did come to make peace between God and humanity (Rom. 5:1). I will send them great trouble— REPENT and live all the things they feared. When I called, they did not answer. When I spoke, they did not listen. They deliberately sinned before my very eyes and chose to do what they know I despise.” Isaiah 66: 4 See, the Lord is coming with fire, and his swift chariots roar like a whirlwind. He will bring punishment with the fury of his anger and the flaming fire of his hot rebuke.16 The Lord will punish the world by fire and by his sword. He will judge the earth, and many will be killed by him.17 “Those who ‘consecrate’ and ‘purify’ themselves in a sacred garden with its idol in the center —feasting on pork and rats and other detestable meats—will come to a terrible end,” says the Lord. Isaiah 66:4 32“Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.34“Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword.35‘I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. Your enemies will be right in your own household! ’l 37 “If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. 38 If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. 39If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it. Matthew 10:34-39 Take Up Your Cross and Follow Yeshua If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me 24 Then Yeshua told his disciples, “. 25 For whoever would save his life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? Matthew 16:24 And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.” John 3: 3And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. 4If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. 5 But those who obey God’s words truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. 6Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Yeshua did.1 John 2:3 He kept the Leviticus food laws, he kept the Sabbath, He kept Yehovah feast days and he kept the commandments. Why don't we follow the only perfect example there is? “Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose.8For I tell you truly until heaven and earth pass away, not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. We are to seek, serve, and obey.
- Nailed to the cross | Answers 4 Saints
Nailed To The Cross The New Covenant Bottom of the page The New Covenant The Fulfillment of the Law The New Covenant Nailed to the cross Christ Redeemed Us nailed to the cross the law of the spirit and death is hung on the cross redeeming mankind from the curse of sin and death through his death on the cross. You've perfectly summarized a core doctrine of Christianity: redemption from the curse of sin and death through Jesus' death on the cross. Let's unpack what each part of that statement means in Christian theology: "Redeeming mankind": Redeem means to "buy back " or "pay a price for something lost or forfeited." In ancient times, it could refer to buying a slave's freedom or repurchasing property. In a spiritual sense, mankind was "lost" or "enslaved" to sin and its consequences. Jesus "bought back" humanity's freedom. "From the curse of sin and death": Sin: In Christianity, sin is not merely a mistake but an active rebellion against God's holy nature and perfect will. It's disobedience and a breaking of God's law. Curse of Sin : The Bible teaches that sin brought a curse upon creation and humanity. This curse manifests as: Spiritual Death: Separation from God, which is the ultimate source of life. Physical Death : The eventual cessation of biological life. Spiritual Bondage: The inability to overcome sin's power on one's own. Condemnation : The just judgment and punishment from a holy God. The "curse" also relates to the consequences described in Genesis 3 after the Fall – toil, pain, fractured relationships, and mortality. "Through his death on the cross": This is the means by which redemption is achieved. Atonement: Jesus, being fully God and fully man, lived a perfect, sinless life. His death on the cross is understood as a substitute (vicarious) atonement. He took upon Himself the penalty and punishment for humanity's sins, satisfying the demands of divine justice. Sacrifice: His death is seen as the ultimate sacrifice, the perfect Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Victory: While appearing to be a defeat, the cross is also understood as the place where Jesus disarmed the powers of darkness, cancelled the legal debt of sin, and ultimately triumphed over sin and death (especially when combined with His resurrection). In essence, because of sin, humanity was under a divine curse leading to death and separation from God. Jesus, by willingly dying on the cross, paid the ultimate price, thereby redeeming those who believe in Galatians 3:12 The law, however, is not based on faith; on the contrary, “The man who does these things will live by them.” 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” 14 He redeemed us in order that the blessing promised to Abraham would come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. … COLOSSI ANS 2:13-15 13 You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. 14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. New Covenant The New Covenant is a central concept in Christian theology, representing a fundamental shift in God's relationship with humanity, as promised in the Old Testament and established through Jesus Christ in the New Testament. It stands in contrast to the Old Covenant (or Mosaic Covenant), which was established with Israel through Moses at Mount Sinai, centered on the Law. Here's a breakdown of the New Covenant: 1. Old Testament Prophecies of the New Covenant The idea of a "new covenant" was first prophesied in the Old Testament, most famously in: Jeremiah 31:31-34: "Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." Other prophets like Ezekiel also hint at a new spirit and new heart (e.g., Ezekiel 36:26-27). And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. These prophecies highlight the perceived failures of the Old Covenant (people broke it) and hint at a more internal, trans formative covenant. 2. Establishment of the New Covenant in Christ Christians believe the New Covenant was inaugurated by Jesus Christ through His life, death, and resurrection: His Blood: Jesus explicitly links the New Covenant to His blood during the Last Supper: "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." (Luke 22:20; Matthew 26:28; 1 Corinthians 11:25). His sacrificial death is the basis for this new agreement. His Fulfillment of the Law: Jesus is seen as fulfilling the Old Covenant Law (Matthew 5:17), not abolishing it, but bringing it to its intended goal and perfection. He satisfied its righteous demands. His Resurrection and the Holy Spirit: The New Covenant is made effective through the power of the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus sent after His resurrection and ascension. 3. Key Characteristics of the New Covenant The New Covenant contrasts with the Old Covenant in several significant ways: Internal vs. External: The Law of the Old Covenant was primarily external, written on stone tablets. The New Covenant involves God's Law being written on the heart and mind (Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 8:10), implying an internal transformation and desire to obey. Forgiveness of Sins: A central promise of the New Covenant is the forgiveness of sins, where God declares, "I will remember their sin no more" (Jeremiah 31:34; Hebrews 8:12). This forgiveness is achieved through Christ's sacrifice. Direct Access to God: Under the Old Covenant, access to God was mediated through priests and rituals. Under the New Covenant, believers have direct access to God through Christ (Hebrews 4:14-16, 10:19-22). Empowerment by the Holy Spirit: Instead of relying on human effort to keep the Law (which consistently failed), the New Covenant provides the Holy Spirit to empower believers to live righteously and obey God's will (Ezekiel 36:27; Romans 8:3-4). Relationship of Grace and Faith: While the Old Covenant had elements of grace, the New Covenant is overwhelmingly characterized by grace, received through faith in Jesus Christ, rather than through perfect adherence to legalistic rituals or commands (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:21-26). Universal Scope: While the Old Covenant was primarily with the nation of Israel, the New Covenant extends to all who believe, both Jews and Gentiles, forming a "spiritual Israel" or the Church (Galatians 3:28-29; Romans 10:12). 4. Significance for Christians For Christians, the New Covenant signifies: Salvation : It's the basis for salvation and reconciliation with God. New Life: It inaugurates a new way of life characterized by an internal transformation and empowerment by the Holy Spirit. Fulfillment: I t demonstrates God's faithfulness in fulfilling His ancient promises. Foundation of the Church: It is the foundation upon which the Christian Church is built. In summary, the New Covenant, established through Jesus Christ, is understood as a superior and everlasting covenant that brings forgiveness, internal transformation, direct access to God, and empowerment by the Holy Spirit, all based on God's grace and received through faith. Gods Instructions Gods unchanging laws The Fulfillment of the Law The Fulfillment of the Law 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. 17Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them. 18For I tell you truly, until heaven and earth pass away, not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until
- End of America | Answers 4 Saints
The End of America 7 Curses To come upon America, Great Britain Terrorism Lev 26:16 Then I will do this to you: I will bring on you sudden terror, wasting diseases and fever that will destroy your sight and sap your strength. You will plant seed in vain, because your enemies will eat it. Disease Deuteronomy 28:22 The Lord will strike you with wasting disease, with fever and inflammation, with scorching heat and drought, with blight and mildew, which will plague you until you perish. Debt Leviticus 26:19 -20 I will break down your stubborn pride and make the sky above you like iron and the ground beneath you like bronze. 20 Your strength will be spent in vain, because your soil will not yield its crops, nor will the trees of your land yield their fruit. Hunger Deuteronomy 28:43-44 The foreigners who reside among you will rise above you higher and higher, but you will sink lower and lower. 44 They will lend to you, but you will not lend to them. They will be the head, but you will be the tail. Military Defeat Deuteronomy 28:25 The Lord will cause you to be defeated before your enemies. You will come at them from one direction but flee from them in seven, and you will become a thing of horror to all the kingdoms on earth. Cities will be devastated Ezekiel 6:6 Wherever you live, the towns will be laid waste and the high places demolished, so that your altars will be laid waste and devastated, your idols smashed and ruined, your incense altars broken down, and what you have made wiped out. Slavery Deuteronomy 28 64-65 Then the Lord will scatter you among all nations, from one end of the earth to the other. There you will worship other gods—gods of wood and stone, which neither you nor your ancestors have known. 65 Among those nations you will find no repose, no resting place for the sole of your foot. There the Lord will give you an anxious mind, eyes weary with longing, and a despairing heart. Revelation 18:17-19 The Message “All the ship captains and travelers by sea, sailors and toilers of the sea, stood off at a distance and cried their lament when they saw the smoke from her burning: ‘Oh, what a city! There was never a city like her!’ They threw dust on their heads and cried as if the world had come to an end: Doom, doom, the great city doomed! All who owned ships or did business by sea Got rich on her getting and spending. And now it’s over—wiped out in one hour!
- New Covenant | Answers 4 Saints
For he finds fault with them when he says: “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, Have You Ever Read The New Covenant? What is New about the New Covenant? (Hebrews 8) Hung up on Hebrews What is the new Covenant Are You Grafted In? But he answered and said, I am not sent but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel Matthew 15:24 Exodus 24:7 states: "Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people. And they said, 'All that the Lord has said we will do, and be obedient.'" The New Covenant Hebrews 8: 10 For this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord. I will put My laws in their minds and inscribe them on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people. 11 No longer will each one teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest.… Hebrews 8:8-12 8 For he finds fault with them when he says:[a ] “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, 9 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt. For they did not continue in my covenant, and so I showed no concern for them, declares the Lord. 10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 11 And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me , from the least of them to the greatest. 12 For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.” One in Christ Gentiles Grafted In …12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Yeshua you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has torn down the dividing wall of hostility… Jeremiah 31:31-34 “Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord, “ when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah , not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them,” declares the Lord. “But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the Lord, “I will put My law within them and on their heart, I will write it, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people The new covenant is a significant concept in the Bible, primarily prophesied in the Old Testament and believed by Christians to be established by Jesus Christ in the New Testament. The most well-known prophecy of this covenant is in the book of Jeremiah 31:31-34, which states: "Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” Key aspects of this new covenant, as described in Jeremiah, include: * Internalization of the Law: U nlike the Mosaic Covenant, which was written on tablets of stone, the new covenant involves God placing His law directly "in their minds" and "on their hearts." This signifies an inward, heartfelt desire to obey God, rather than a forced, external set of rules. * Forgiveness of Sins: A central promise of the new covenant is the complete forgiveness of sins, with God vowing to "remember their sin no more." * A Personal Relationship with God: The prophecy indicates a time when everyone, from the least to the greatest, will "know the Lord," implying a deep and personal relationship with God that doesn't require an intermediary to teach them. In Christianity, the New Testament explains that Jesus' death and resurrection fulfilled this prophecy, establishing the new covenant through his blood (Luke 22:20). This covenant is seen as a fulfillment of God's promises to Israel, but also as something that extends to all who believe, both Jewish and Gentile. I’m The New Testament explains that Christians—both Jewish and Gentile (non-Jewish) believers—are included in the new covenant. This is a central theme in several New Testament books, especially those written by the Apostle Paul. Here are some key passages that explain this: 1. Ephesians 2:11-22 This passage is one of the clearest and most direct explanations. Paul tells the Gentile Christians in Ephesus to remember their past state: > "Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called 'uncircumcised' by those who call themselves 'the circumcision' (which is done in the body by human hands)—remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world." (Ephesians 2:11-12) > He then explains that through Jesus's sacrifice, this has all changed: > "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility... His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross..." (Ephesians 2:13-16) > This passage shows that Gentiles, who were once "foreigners to the covenants," are now "fellow citizens with God's people and also members of his household" (Ephesians 2:19), all because of their unity with Christ. 2. Romans 11 In Romans, Paul uses the analogy of an olive tree to explain how Gentile believers are included in God's covenant promises. The olive tree represents God's people, with the root being the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) and the natural branches being the Israelites. > "If some of the natural branches have been broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches." (Romans 11:17-18) > He explains that because some of the natural Jewish branches were "hardened" and rejected Christ, Gentile believers have been grafted in. This doesn't mean the Gentiles have replaced Israel, but that they have been brought into the same covenant blessings through faith. 3. Galatians 3:26-29 Paul teaches that faith in Christ is the key to becoming a part of God's people. > "So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise." > This passage emphasizes that ethnic or social distinctions are no longer a barrier to being included in God's family. By belonging to Christ, both Jews and Gentiles become "Abraham's seed" and inherit the promises of the covenant.
- Answers4Saints | Answers 4 Saints
Statics say 84% of Americans believe in the divinity of Christ and 74% profess commitment to him yet America continues downward spiritually to correction and morality why has Christianity not worked? Welcome, Fellow Truth Seekers: Start Your Journey Here Please keep in mind TEST EVERYTHING to scripture. If you have found your way to this page, it is highly likely that your spirit has begun to feel a quiet, persistent unsettling. Perhaps you have spent years—or even decades—sitting in mainstream church pews, loving God with all of your heart, yet sensing an invisible disconnect between the raw, unfiltered pages of your Bible and the traditions taught from the pulpit. You are not alone. Across the globe, the Father is whispering a call to return to His ancient paths, and your presence here is not an accident. This website is a sanctuary for those who are ready to lay down human dogmas, step out of traditional conditioning, and align their spiritual mirrors with the eternal, beautiful instructions of the Father—the $Torah$. Here is a map of what you will find on this platform and how to navigate your journey back to pure, uncompromised biblical truth. Step 1: Take the Self-Diagnostic Before you read a single article, we invite you to bypass the traditional defenses of your mind and take an honest, private look into the scriptural mirror. Take The Lawlessness (Anomia) Test App Our interactive, 10-question diagnostic tool is designed to evaluate your everyday theological beliefs and lifestyles against the objective standard of God's written Law. It is completely anonymous and acts as a powerful diagnostic tool to see if your spiritual "hardware" is tuned to the frequency of obedience or the frequency of traditional lawlessness ($anomia$). Step 2: Explore the Deep-Dive Studies Once you have taken the test, your heart may feel a bit unsettled by the gap between traditional church practices and the written Word. This is completely normal. To help you understand the mechanics of what you are experiencing, we have compiled a step-by-step library of theological and psychological resources: The Mirroring Principle of Idolatry: Understand the cosmic law of spiritual gravity: what you revere, you will resemble. Learn how choosing man-made systems over the Father's voice leads to a spiritual sensory shutdown (eyes that cannot see, ears that cannot hear). The Alignment of the Mirror: Discover why physical commandments like the Seventh-day Sabbath ($Shabbat$), biblical dietary boundaries ($Kashrut$), and even physical tassels ($Tzitzit$) are actually divine optical tools designed to keep your mirror pointed at the Creator. The Pauline Filter: Learn how to dismantle the highly selective, traditional lens used to twist the letters of the Apostle Paul into a shield against keeping the Father's commandments. The Mechanics of Conditioning : Are churchgoers "brainwashed"? Read a compassionate, psychological and sociological breakdown of why our loved ones experience intense cognitive dissonance and defensive reactions when confronted with the truth of the $Torah$. The Spirit of the Lawless One : Peer behind the physical world to understand the spiritual warfare of $anomia$, exploring how systematically bypassing the Creator's Law mirrors the original rebellion of the adversary. Step 3: Find a Soft Landing & Restoration Waking up to the reality of traditional conditioning can feel isolating and overwhelming. The social and emotional costs of walking differently than your family, friends, and church community can trigger immense fear. Read "A Loving Warning to a Churchgoer" If you are looking for a gentle, pastoral explanation of what is happening to your heart—or if you need a letter to share with a loved one that explains this spiritual transition without triggering immediate anger—this resource acts as a healing balm. It explains the mechanics of self-diagnosis, shows you the beautiful path of repentance, and lists clear scriptural proofs to help you take your next steps with confidence. A Note of Encouragement for the Road Beloved truth seeker, turning your mirror back toward the Creator's written instructions is a path of restoration, not bondage. Keeping the Father's commandments is how we physically express our love for Him (1 John 5:3). Take your time. Study the scriptures. Question the traditions you inherited. Ask the Father to remove the veil, polish your spiritual mirror, and restore your eyes to see and your ears to hear the glorious light of His eternal truth. Where to begin? We highly recommend taking The Lawlessness Test first, and letting the scriptures speak directly to you. A Loving Warning to a Churchgoer My friend, Scripture warns that the adversary’s primary goal is not to turn you into an atheist, but to subtly steer you onto his own path of anomia—the spirit of lawlessness that teaches God's instructions no longer have authority over your life (1 John 3:4). You can prove this spiritual blindness is operating in your own heart by looking at a simple, physical instruction like the Fourth Commandment: “But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work...” ($Exodus$ $20:10$). The Creator's written Word plainly designates Saturday as His holy day forever, yet when you look at this text, your eyes read "Saturday" while your traditional training forces you to see "Sunday" or to believe the commandment is abolished. This inability to simply accept and obey what is plainly written—substituting it instead with human church traditions—is the exact "sensory shutdown" warned about in the scriptures; it proves that while you may sincerely love God, you are unknowingly walking the path of the original rebel by treating His eternal $Torah$ as optional. This blindness is not an accident; it is the operation of a profound spiritual law: we spiritually conform to the nature of whatever we worship. When you place your ultimate trust and reverence in a church denomination, a human pastor, or a comfortable system of theology that explains away God's Torah, your soul begins to act as a mirror to that system. You inherit the exact sensory shutdown of the man-made traditions you revere—possessing a Bible you cannot see and a Creator's voice you cannot hear. By taking an honest look at your own daily practices versus the written Word, you are holding up a mirror to your soul and performing a vital self-diagnosis. Your own physical actions are proving that your spiritual hardware has been tuned to copy and reflect a lawless human system rather than the glorious, eternal image of the living God. Proof in the Scriptures: Look Up and Study These Verses If your heart is open to the raw, unfiltered truth of the written Word, please take a moment to look up these scriptures in your own Bible: Is the Sabbath truly done away with? $Exodus$ $31:16-17$: “Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel forever...” Question to ponder: If God declared the Sabbath an eternal sign and a perpetual covenant, by whose authority was it changed or abolished? Does God accept worship that is mixed with human traditions? Mark 7:7-9 (Yeshua's Warning): “Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men... Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.” Question to ponder: Are you honoring Sunday, Christmas, or Easter because the Bible commands them, or because church traditions tell you to? What does God think of prayers from those who reject His Law? Proverbs 28:9: “He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law ($Torah$), even his prayer shall be abomination.” Question to ponder: If we ignore His written instructions, can we truly say we are in deep communion with Him? How does the New Testament define our love for God? 1 John 5:3: “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” Question to ponder: If loving God means keeping His physical commandments, why does modern theology teach that those commandments are a "burden" or "bondage"? This test is specifically designed to expose the subtle, traditional rationalizations that people in the church use to reject God's law. It uses the words of the Messiah Himself from Matthew 7:21-23—where He warns that many well-meaning, miracle-working churchgoers will be turned away because they "work lawlessness" (anomia). The 10-Question Diagnostic Review the statements below. Answer honestly based on your current personal beliefs, teachings, and church practices. 1. The Validity of the Law Do you believe or teach that the Law of Moses ($Torah$) has been "abolished," "nailed to the cross," or "done away with" for New Testament believers? [ ] YES [ ] NO 2. The Definition of Holiness Do you believe that under the New Covenant of "grace," physical obedience to the Creator's Old Testament commandments is completely optional or unnecessary? [ ] YES [ ] NO 3. The Sabbath Day Do you treat Sunday as the Sabbath, or believe the Seventh-day Sabbath (Saturday) was changed or abolished, despite God designating it as a "perpetual, everlasting covenant"? [ ] YES [ ] NO 4. Dietary Separation Do you believe that God's dietary boundaries (Leviticus 11) no longer apply, and that you are free to eat pig, shellfish, or other unclean things because "Jesus made all foods clean"? [ ] YES [ ] NO 5. Adopting Pagan Customs Do you celebrate holidays of pagan origin (like Christmas on December 25th or Easter Sunday) under the belief that "it's about the heart" and "God knows what it means to me"? [ ] YES [ ] NO 6. The Pauline Filter Do you use isolated, misunderstood verses from the Apostle Paul’s letters to argue against keeping the direct, physical commandments of the Father and the Messiah? [ ] YES [ ] NO 7. Labeling Obedience as "Legalism" Do you refer to, mock, or warn others against believers who strive to keep the Seventh-day Sabbath, eat clean, or wear $tzitzit$ (tassels) by calling them "legalists," "Pharisees," or "under bondage"? [ ] YES [ ] NO 8. Dismissing the Feast Days Do you believe that God’s annual Appointed Times ($Moedim$ in Leviticus 23) were "only for the Jews" and have no prophetic value or application for the Church today? [ ] YES [ ] NO 9. Cheap Grace Do you believe that as long as you "love God" and "love your neighbor," you are free to ignore the specific, physical instructions of how the Creator asked to be loved and worshiped? [ ] YES [ ] NO 10. Defensive Reaction to the Law Does hearing the term "Torah observance" or the suggestion that we must physically keep the commandments of God trigger immediate defensiveness, anger, or discomfort in your heart? [ ] YES [ ] NO Diagnosing the Results: What Does Your Score Mean? Count how many times you answered "YES" to the statements above. If You Answered "YES" 1 to 3 Times: Developing Contamination You have started to absorb some of the traditional, lawless dogmas of mainstream theology. While you may still revere the Old Testament, you are allowing human traditions to slowly blind your spiritual eyes to the plain instructions of the Creator. If You Answered "YES" 4 or More Times: The Spirit of Lawlessness ($Anomia$) A score of 4 or more "YES" answers indicates that your personal theology is operating directly under the spirit of $anomia$ (lawlessness). You are actively practicing a belief system that teaches that God's instructions have no authority over you. By defending these "YES" positions, you are using church traditions as a shield to bypass the written Word of God—which is the exact behavior the Messiah $Yeshua$ condemned in Matthew 7 and Mark 7. The Scriptural Reality Check If this test made you uncomfortable, look closely at what the Scriptures say about each "YES" answer: To Statement 1 & 2: $Yeshua$ said: “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets... whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:17-19) To Statement 3: God said: “Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath... throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.” (Exodus 31:16) To Statement 4: The Prophet Isaiah warns that those who consume swine's flesh and abominable things will be consumed together in end-times judgment. (Isaiah 66:17) To Statement 5: God said: “Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared... and enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise. Thou shalt not do so unto the Lord thy God.” (Deuteronomy 12:30-31) To Statement 6 & 7: The Apostle Peter explicitly warned that those who are "unlearned and unstable" twist Paul's letters to their own destruction because they are led away by the "error of the lawless." (2 Peter 3:15-17) To Statement 8: The Apostle Paul instructed New Testament believers to keep the biblical feasts: “Purge out therefore the old leaven... For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast.” (1 Corinthians 5:7-8) To Statement 9 & 10 : The Apostle John wrote: “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” (1 John 5:3) Conclusion Do not let traditional dogmas make the Word of God of "none effect" in your life. Repent of the spirit of lawlessness ($anomia$), point your spiritual mirror directly back to the Creator's written instructions, and let Him restore your eyes to see, your ears to hear, and your heart to obey! Spiritual Blindness and the Mirroring of Idolatry: Why the Church Cannot Comprehend the Torah A common question arises within the movement to return to God's commandments: Why is it that otherwise sincere, Bible-reading churchgoers cannot see, understand, or accept the perpetual validity of the Torah? Scripture reveals that this barrier is not merely intellectual; it is a profound, active spiritual state. When human traditions and man-made theology are elevated above the living instructions of the Creator , a specific spiritual mechanism is triggered: The Mirroring Principle of Idolatry. 1. The Powerless, Dead Idols Scripture is incredibly consistent in how it describes man-made idols. In the Psalms, we are given a vivid description of physical representations used in worship: "They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not..." — Psalm 115:5-6 "They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not; They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths." — Psalm 135:16-17 These idols are characterized by complete sensory shutdown. They possess the outward physical forms of sight, hearing, and speech, but they are utterly devoid of spiritual life, breath, and true perception. To bring this ancient biblical truth into the 21st century, we are going to use the example of a "Dummy" Display Smartphone. It looks perfect on the outside but lacks any internal life, illustrating exactly how a person can have all the outward tools of faith (Bibles, apps, church buildings) while remaining spiritually unresponsive to the actual commandments of God. Here is the updated article with this new modern analogy integrated as Section 3. 2. The Spiritual Mirror: Becoming What We Worship The crucial warning of these passages is not just about the statues themselves, but about the transformational impact they have on those who trust in them: "They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them." — Psalm 115:8 / Psalm 135:18 This is a spiritual law of the universe: We spiritually conform to the nature of the object of our devotion. When we place our trust in man-made theological structures, physical icons, or ecclesiastical traditions that substitute God's commandments, we begin to match their spiritual state. We develop spiritual eyes that cannot see and spiritual ears that cannot hear. 3. The Diagnosis of Spiritual Stubbornness Throughout the scriptures, when God's people fell into unbelief and stubbornness—trusting in their own traditions and rejecting the Torah—the prophets used this exact "idol-mirroring" language to diagnose their spiritual condition: Jeremiah 5:21: "Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not..." Ezekiel 12:2: "Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house." Mark 8:18: Yeshua Himself confronts His disciples with this same warning when they fall into fear and unbelief: "Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?" 4. The Root Cause: Hardening of the Heart Through Unbelief This sensory shutdown is fundamentally caused by a hardening of the heart. When a believer repeatedly encounters the plain text of God's Word but chooses to bypass it to preserve a comfortable, traditional doctrine, a calloused layer forms over their spiritual heart. According to Hebrew thought, the heart is the seat of the mind, will, and understanding. Unbelief acts as a barrier. It refuses to take God at His word. This persistent unbelief leads to a hardened heart (a spiritual thickening/callous). The result is a total inability to process spiritual truth that contradicts human traditions. 5. The Modern Application: The Veil Over the Church This spiritual mirroring explains why many modern churchgoers struggle to understand or accept the Torah. When presented with clear scriptures regarding the seventh-day Sabbath ($Shabbat$), dietary instructions ($Kashrut$), or the Feast Days ($Moedim$), they are often completely unable to comprehend or accept them. Even though the words are right there on the pages of their own Bibles, they cannot perceive them. Just as the dead, traditional systems they trust in are deaf to the living voice of God's law, they too experience a spiritual dullness. Until they repent of human traditions and surrender to the authority of the Creator's written Word, the veil remains over their eyes, keeping them spiritually blind to the beauty, light, and perpetual life of the Torah. This statement echoes 1 John 3:8, which says, "Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning" The Mirroring Principle of Idolatry: What You Revere, You Resemble One of the most profound, yet frequently overlooked, spiritual laws written across the pages of Scripture is what theologians call The Mirroring Principle of Idolatry. Simply put, the principle states: We spiritually conform to the nature of whatever we worship. In the words of biblical scholar G.K. Beale, "What people revere, they resemble, either for ruin or for restoration." When we give our ultimate devotion, trust, and obedience to something, we begin to mirror its characteristics. If we worship a dead, mute, and blind idol—whether a physical statue or a man-made theological tradition—we spiritually inherit its sensory shutdown. Conversely, if we worship the living, speaking Creator, we are restored to reflect His image. 1. The Divine Design: Created to Mirror the Creator To understand why false worship has such a devastating, blinding effect on human beings, we have to look back at our original blueprint. In Genesis, humanity was created with a specific structural purpose: "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." — Genesis 1:27 Humans were designed to be spiritual mirrors placed in the creation. Just as a physical mirror has no light of its own but is designed to perfectly reflect the sun, humanity was designed to face the Creator and reflect His character, holiness, light, and instruction ($Torah$) into the physical world. Worship is the act of pointing our "mirror" toward an object. Whatever sits at the center of our devotion is the exact image our souls will reflect. 2. The Golden Calf: The First Major Replication (Exodus 32) The mirroring principle is vividly demonstrated during Israel's infamous golden calf incident in the wilderness. When Moses delayed coming down from Mount Sinai, the people grew impatient and demanded a physical god they could see and control. They fashioned a golden calf out of their jewelry: "And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel. .." — Exodus 32:4 Immediately after they bowed down and sacrificed to this golden calf, God changed the vocabulary He used to describe Israel. He said to Moses: "Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves... I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiff-necked people." — Exodus 32:7, 9 The Hebrew term for "stiff-necked" ($qasheh$ $oreph$) is agricultural vocabulary used to describe an obstinate, stubborn bull or heifer that refuses to bow its neck to the yoke of its master. By choosing to revere a young, stubborn bull (the calf) rather than the living God, Israel instantly began to resemble the physical characteristics of their idol. They became spiritually "stiff-necked"—unbending, stubborn, and completely unresponsive to the voice of their Master. 3. The Sensory Shutdown: Psalm 115 and 135 The Psalms lay down the explicit mechanical law of how this spiritual replication operates. They describe the physical nature of man-made idols: “They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat.” — Psalm 115:5-7 Then comes the cosmic spiritual warning in verse 8: “They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.” — Psalm 115:8 This is not poetry; it is a spiritual diagnosis. Trusting in a powerless, inanimate representation of godhood causes a complete sensory shutdown in the worshiper: Mouths that speak not: The worshiper loses the ability to speak pure, uncompromised biblical truth. Eyes that see not: The worshiper can look directly at a clear commandment in Scripture (like the Sabbath or dietary laws) and be utterly unable to see or register it. Ears that hear not: The worshiper can hear the voice of the Creator calling them back to His instructions, but they are spiritually deaf to the call. 4. The Prophets' Diagnosis of Israel When Israel later fell into rebellion and rejected the Torah, God did not diagnose them as merely "uneducated." He diagnosed them as idol-mirrors. They had successfully taken on the traits of the blind and deaf Canaanite gods they trusted in: Isaiah 6:9-10: God commissions Isaiah to speak to a people who have spiritually conformed to idols: “Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart...” Jeremiah 5:21: “Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not...” Ezekiel 12:2: “Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house.” By turning away from the Torah, they lost the spiritual hardware required to process spiritual truth. 5. The New Testament Reality: Tradition Over Commandments This is not an exclusively Old Testament phenomenon. Yeshua Himself confrontationaly applies this exact "idol-mirroring" diagnosis to the religious leaders of His day. When the Pharisees challenged Yeshua because His disciples did not follow the "traditions of the elders" (man-made religious rules that bypassed God's written law), Yeshua responded: “Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men... Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition...” — Mark 7:6-7, 13 Later, when His disciples failed to understand a basic spiritual concept, Yeshua turned to them and asked: “Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?” — Mark 8:18 The warning is clear: Any time we substitute God’s plain, written commandments with human dogmas, church traditions, or ecclesiastical systems, we trigger the Mirroring Principle. When we place our trust in a denomination, a popular pastor, or a comfortable system of theology that explains away God's law, we begin to resemble that dead system. We lose our ability to process the direct signal of the Scriptures. Our eyes read "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy" but our theological programming translates it to mean Sunday, or worse, that the Sabbath is abolished. The spiritual data is there on the page, but the "mirror" is pointing at human tradition, rendering us blind to the light of the Torah. 6. The Remedy: Restoration to His Image The Mirroring Principle is a law of spiritual gravity, but it works both for ruin or for restoration. If looking at and trusting in dead idols makes us dead, blind, and deaf, then turning our gaze to the living Messiah Yeshua and His perfect instructions has the exact opposite effect: “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass [mirror] the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” — 2 Corinthians 3:18 When we repent of man-made traditions, take the veil off our eyes, and submit directly to the written Word of the Creator, our spiritual senses are restored. We begin to reflect His character, His holiness, and His Torah. Our eyes see, our ears hear, and we are finally able to comprehend, accept, and walk in the beautiful light of His eternal truth. The Alignment of the Mirror: How the Commandments Counteract Idolatry When looking at the 20 specific practices in the Torah Observance Self-Assessment, it is easy for a modern reader to ask: “What does eating pork, wearing tassels, or keeping a Saturday Sabbath have to do with the heavy, spiritual reality of idolatry?” To the modern Western mind, "idolatry" is a mental or emotional state (putting your career or money before God), while the "Torah commandments" are seen as external, ritualistic rules. However, in Hebrew thought, the two are dynamically and structurally connected. Every single commandment ($mitzvah$) in the Torah acts as a physical alignment tool for your spiritual "mirror." When you reject these physical instructions in favor of human traditions, you actively turn your mirror away from the Creator, pointing it toward man-made systems. This triggers the Mirroring Principle of Idolatry—leading to the spiritual sensory shutdown described in the Psalms. Here is how specific commandments are directly connected to the mirroring of idolatry. 1. The Sabbath ($Shabbat$): Mirroring the Creator’s Rhythm vs. Human Authority To understand how the Sabbath connects to the mirror, look at the signature of the Creator. In the Fourth Commandment, God binds the Sabbath directly to His identity as the Maker of all things: “For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.” — Exodus 20:11 The Connected Mirror: When you observe the seventh-day Sabbath, you physically conform your life, your time, and your weekly rhythm to the exact pattern of the Creator. You are pointing your mirror directly at His face, reflecting His rest, His sovereignty, and His creative authority into the physical world. The Idolatrous Substitution: When mainstream ecclesiastical systems shifted the day of worship to Sunday and claimed the authority to transfer the holiness of Shabbat, they created a man-made tradition. The Mirroring Result : By resting on Sunday based on human church dogmas rather than the written Word of the Creator, a believer's mirror is pointed at a human institution. Because they revere human authority over the Creator’s written Law, they begin to resemble that system—becoming deaf to the plain text of Scripture and blind to the literal Fourth Commandment. 2. Dietary Laws ($Kashrut$): Mirroring Divine Holiness vs. Pagan Syncretism In Leviticus 11, God outlines which animals are clean and unclean. At the very climax of these dietary instructions, He reveals why He gave them: “For I am the Lord your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy... For I am the Lord that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.” — Leviticus 11:44-45 The Connected Mirror: The word "holy" ($kadosh$) literally means set apart, separated, and distinct. God is distinct from the world. By putting a physical boundary on what enters our mouths, we mirror His holiness. We reflect His nature of distinction and order. Our daily eating habits become a physical mirror of His spiritual separation. The Idolatrous Substitution: Pagan idolatry is characterized by the breakdown of distinctions—mixing the holy with the profane, eating whatever the flesh desires, and absorbing the habits of the surrounding culture. The Mirroring Result: When the church teaches that "all things are clean to eat" (relying on misinterpretations of Mark 7 or Acts 10), they remove the boundary of distinction. By eating like the pagan nations, they begin to reflect the pagan worldview of spiritual mixture. They lose the ability to distinguish between what is clean and unclean in other areas of life, rendering them spiritually insensitive. 3. Tassels ($Tzitzit$): The Optical Shield Against Idolatry The commandment to wear fringes or tassels ($tzitzit$) on the corners of four-cornered garments is perhaps the most explicit "anti-idolatry mirror" in the entire Torah: “And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the Lord, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a-whoring [prostituting/worshipping idols]...” — Numbers 15:39 The Connected Mirror: The Torah acknowledges that the human eye is easily captivated by the physical world. Left to its own devices, the eye looks at the world, the heart desires what it sees, and the person conforms to that earthly image (idolatry). The $tzitzit$ serve as a physical, optical interruption. The Mirroring Result: Every time your eyes drift downward, they catch the sight of the blue thread in the tassels. This instantly redirects your focus back to the written commandments of God. It is a physical "guardrail" that forces your spiritual mirror to stay tilted upward toward the Creator rather than drifting down to copy the culture. 4. The Biblical Feasts ($Moedim$) vs. Christmas and Easter: Mirroring God’s Calendar vs. Pagan Cycles The annual Feasts (Leviticus 23) are designated as God's "appointed times." They are His prophetic schedule. Conversely, Deuteronomy 12:30-32 strictly warns: “Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them... and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.” The Connected Mirror: When you keep the Passover ($Pesach$), the Feast of Weeks ($Shavuot$), or the Feast of Tabernacles ($Sukkot$), you are mirroring the literal, prophetic timeline of Yeshua's redemption plan. Your mirror is reflecting the true light of the Messiah's first and second comings. The Idolatrous Substitution: Celebrating Christmas (December 25th) or Easter (with a Friday-to-Sunday timeline) is the exact definition of syncretism—taking the customs, dates, and rituals of pagan sun-god worship and renaming them to honor the Creator. The Mirroring Result: Because pagan customs are dead and have no spiritual breath, those who participate in them eventually inherit the sensory shutdown of those original pagan systems. Even when they are shown the plain scriptural timeline of three days and three nights (Matthew 12:40), or shown that Jeremiah 10 condemns decorated trees, they cannot see or comprehend it. Their theological mirror is reflecting the "dead light" of Christianized pagan traditions, leaving them blind to the brilliant light of God’s actual holy days. Summary: The Torah as the Blueprint of the Divine Image Human beings cannot avoid mirroring. We are created to be reflective surfaces. If we do not point our mirrors toward the written Torah—which is the perfect, physical expression of the Creator’s character—we will naturally point our mirrors toward: The Self (human desires and pride). The Culture (pagan traditions and holidays). Human Religious Systems (church doctrines that bypass God's Law). Every single commandment, from how we manage our finances (usury) to how we cut our hair or dress (mixed fabrics), is designed to shape our mirrors so that we perfectly conform to the image of the Messiah Yeshua. When we obey, our spiritual senses are restored. When we substitute His instructions with human traditions, our spiritual hardware shuts down, and we become just as deaf, dumb, and blind as the powerless idols of old. Identifying Modern-Day "Mirror Idolatry": Behavioral and Theological Signs If the Mirroring Principle of Idolatry is a spiritual reality, then the "sensory shutdown" described by the prophets (Psalms 115, Jeremiah 5, Mark 8) must be visible in the modern religious world. It cannot remain an abstract theological concept; it must manifest as recognizable behaviors and patterns of thought. How do you identify a modern-day believer whose spiritual "mirror" has been turned away from the Creator’s $Torah$ and pointed toward human tradition? The scriptures provide a clear diagnostic framework. When a person is reflecting a man-made religious system rather than the living Word, they exhibit specific, identifiable spiritual symptoms. 1. The "Translational Filter" (Eyes That See Not) The most prominent identifier of modern mirror idolatry is selective scriptural blindness. The Symptom: You can open a Bible, point directly to a plain, unambiguous commandment, and have them read it out loud. Yet, their mind is completely unable to process the plain meaning of the text. How to Identify It: You show them: “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy... the seventh day is the sabbath...” (Exodus 20:8-10). Their "filter" instantly translates this to mean: “Go to church on Sunday.” You show them: “These are the beasts which ye shall eat... whatsoever parteth the hoof... and cheweth the cud...” (Leviticus 11:2-3). Their filter instantly translates this to mean: “We can eat whatever we want because Jesus made all things clean.” The Spiritual Reality: The hardware of their physical eyes is working, but their theological mirror is pointed at a denominational creed. The text of Scripture hits their eyes, but the data is scrambled by their programming before it can reach their heart. They cannot see what is plainly written. 2. The Echo Chamber of Human Tradition (Mouths That Speak Not) In Psalm 115, idols are described as having mouths that cannot speak truth. In modern times, this manifests as an inability to speak pure, uncompromised biblical truth, replacing it instead with human catchphrases. The Symptom: When challenged on a matter of scripture or lifestyle, the person does not defend their position using the direct context of the Word. Instead, they regurgitate the pre-programmed talking points of their religious institution. How to Identify It: They rely heavily on clichés, theological jargon, and ecclesiastical soundbites to bypass obedience, such as: “That’s legalism.” “We are under grace, not the law.” “That was just for the Jews.” “That's a secondary issue.” The Spiritual Reality: They have lost their biblical voice. Instead of speaking the words of the Creator, their mouth has become a speaker grille for the human authorities they revere. They can only echo the soundbites of the system they mirror. 3. The "But God Knows My Heart" Defense (Deafness to Warning) When an idol-mirror is confronted with the pagan origins of their religious practices, their spiritual hearing shuts down, and they retreat into emotional self-defense. The Symptom: When you show them scriptural and historical proof that holidays like Christmas or Easter are rooted in pagan worship (contrary to Deuteronomy 12:30-32), they do not hear the warning. Instead, they redirect the conversation to their own personal intentions. How to Identify It: They will respond with statements like: “But that’s not what it means to me.” “God knows my heart, and I am doing this for Him.” “As long as we are focusing on Jesus, the details don't matter.” The Spiritual Reality: They are spiritually deaf to the warnings of the Torah. By prioritizing their internal emotional state (what it means to "me") over the external written instruction of God, they prove that their mirror is pointed inward at The Self—the ultimate form of modern idolatry. 4. The Collapse of Distinctions (No Spiritual Senses) Holiness ($kedushah$) requires the ability to distinguish, separate, and put a difference between things. When a believer’s spiritual senses are shut down, they lose the ability to make biblical distinctions. The Symptom: They cannot perceive any difference between what God has designated as "Holy" ($kadosh$) versus what man has designated as "Common" ($chol$). How to Identify It: They see no difference between Shabbat (the day God sanctified) and Sunday (the day Constantine and the Roman Church set apart). They see no difference between Passover (God’s prophetic feast) and Easter (a tradition named after a pagan goddess). They believe that because "God created everything," all foods, lifestyles, and worship methods are equally acceptable if done with "love." The Spiritual Reality: Because they worship within a system that has mixed pagan habits with biblical language, they have inherited the system's numbness. They are spiritually colorblind—unable to distinguish the bright line of God’s separation from the gray smear of religious syncretism. 5. Hostility Toward the Hebrew Roots of Faith Just as light hurts eyes that have been in the dark for too long, the true light of the Hebrew roots of the faith often provokes a defensive, agitated reaction from those in mirror idolatry. The Symptom: The mere mention of the name $Yeshua$ instead of Jesus, or the suggestion that a believer should strive to keep the commandments out of love, triggers an immediate defensive posture. How to Identify It: They will accuse those returning to the Torah of "falling from grace," being "Judaizers," or belonging to a "cult." They display a visceral discomfort with the physical signs of obedience (like $tzitzit$ or Sabbath rest). The Spiritual Reality: The physical reality of the Torah acts as a polishing cloth on their mirror. It threatens the comfortable, dusty film of human tradition they have lived under. Because they are not ready to turn their mirror away from their ecclesiastical system, they lash out at the light that is trying to break through their sensory shutdown. Summary: A Checklist of the Modern Idol-Mirror The Prophetic Diagnosis The Modern Behavior "Eyes that see not" Reading a clear commandment on the page but being utterly unable to process its plain, literal meaning. "Ears that hear not" Hearing the warning against syncretism (pagan mixing) but dismissing it because "God knows my heart." "Mouths that speak not" Relying on theological clichés ("not under the law," "legalism") instead of quoting direct Scripture in context. "No breath/distinction" Believing that there is no difference between what is clean and unclean, or what is holy and The "Pauline Filter": How a Misaligned Mirror Distorts the Apostle’s Words If a modern believer's theological mirror has been pointed at human tradition, they must find a way to reconcile the clear, eternal commandments of the Creator with their refusal to obey them. To resolve this cognitive dissonance, they construct what can be called "The Pauline Filter." This is the practice of running the entire Bible—including the plain words of the Creator at Mount Sinai and the direct instructions of the Messiah $Yeshua$—through a highly selective, misunderstood reading of the Apostle Paul’s letters. By doing so, they use Paul as a shield to protect their traditions and justify their transgression of the $Torah$. The Apostle Peter explicitly warned that this exact phenomenon would occur: “...even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest [twist], as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked [lawless], fall from your own stedfastness.” — 2 Peter 3:15-17 How do you identify a believer who is utilizing the "Pauline Filter" to maintain their spiritual sensory shutdown? Here are the behavioral and theological signs. 1. The "Paul Over Yeshua" Hierarchy The most glaring symptom of the Pauline Filter is an unconscious theological hierarchy where Paul's words carry more practical authority than the words of the Messiah Himself. The Symptom: When confronted with the direct, plain instructions of the Messiah, the person will immediately bypass them by quoting an isolated verse from Paul to argue that the Messiah's words no longer apply. How to Identify It: You show them where $Yeshua$ said: “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets... whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:17-19). Rather than accepting this, their mind immediately filters it out. They respond with: “Yes, but Paul says Christ is the end of the law for righteousness...” (Romans 10:4), interpreting "end" (telos) as "termination" rather than "goal/climax." The Spiritual Reality: Their theological mirror is pointed at a denominational construct that pits the Messiah against His own Apostle. Because they cannot process the reality that Paul was a Torah-observant Pharisee who defended the Law (Acts 25:8), they must make Paul the "new lawgiver" to justify ignoring the words of the Master. 2. The "Grace vs. Law" Dichotomy (The Divided Mind) Holiness ($kedushah$) requires unity and alignment. The Pauline Filter causes a severe mental split, forcing the believer to treat God's Grace and God's Law as opposing enemies rather than perfect partners. The Symptom: They operate under the assumption that if you love God’s commandments and seek to walk in them out of obedience, you are actively rejecting His grace. How to Identify It: Whenever you talk about keeping the Sabbath or clean eating, they will defensively respond with: “We are saved by grace, not by works!” (Ephesians 2:8-9). They are completely unable to comprehend that keeping the commandments is the fruit of salvation, not the root of it. They cannot reconcile Ephesians 2:8-9 with Ephesians 2:10 (“created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them”). The Spiritual Reality: They are spiritually colorblind to the purpose of the $Torah$. Because their ecclesiastical system teaches that the Law was a "burden" or a "curse" (misunderstanding Galatians 3:13), they view obedience as a threat to their faith. Their mirror reflects a cheapened grace that requires no physical surrender. 3. The "Colossians 2" Dismissal When confronted with the beautiful, prophetic reality of the Biblical Feasts ($Moedim$), those who use the Pauline Filter will instinctively retreat to a single, highly misunderstood passage in Colossians to shut down their hearing. The Symptom: They use Paul's warnings against pagan, ascetic philosophy in Colossae as a license to abandon God's designated Appointed Times. How to Identify It: You discuss the beauty of keeping Passover or Tabernacles ($Sukkot$). They will immediately quote Colossians 2:16: “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days...” They stop reading there, believing Paul is saying these days are abolished. They are blind to the very next verse (Colossians 2:17), which states these days “are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.” (The Greek literally reads: "let no man judge you... but the body of Messiah," meaning only the local body of believers should judge their observance, not pagan outsiders). The Spiritual Reality: Their mirror is tilted toward a system of lawlessness. They use Paul to justify celebrating pagan-derived holidays (like Christmas) while simultaneously using Paul to condemn those who celebrate God's actual holy days. 4. Total Blindness to Paul’s Self-Defense Perhaps the most ironic sign of the Pauline Filter is a complete inability to see or register the multiple times Paul himself explicitly stated that he kept, loved, and taught the $Torah$. The Symptom: They believe and teach that Paul successfully did away with the Law, despite the overwhelming historical evidence in the book of Acts that Paul went out of his way to prove he kept the Law. How to Identify It: You point them to: Acts 21:24: Where the elders of Jerusalem had Paul perform a public vow to prove to everyone that he “walkest orderly, and keepest the law.” Acts 24:14: Where Paul states under oath: “...so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets.” Romans 7:12: Where Paul writes: “Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.” When shown these plain verses, the user of the Pauline Filter will experience a temporary "system freeze." They will stare at the text, bypass it, and immediately jump back to an isolated verse in Galatians to restore their comfortable programming. The Spiritual Reality: This is the "translational filter" in active operation. The historical reality of a Torah-observant Paul is a direct threat to the theological foundation of the mainstream church. Therefore, the spiritual hardware of the believer must completely block these passages from reaching their heart, preserving the illusion of a law-abolishing Apostle. Summary: Restoring the Mirror of Paul The Misunderstood Paul The Restored, Torah-Observant Paul "Christ is the end of the law..." (Rom 10:4) "Christ is the goal/target of the law..." The Greek word telos means the ultimate aim or completion, not termination. "Not under the law..." (Rom 6:14) "Not under the condemnation/penalty of the law..." Because grace has paid the price, we are now free to obey it. "Let no man judge you..." (Col 2:16) "Do not let pagan outsiders judge your biblical walk..." Keep celebrating the feasts ($Moedim$) which point directly to the Messiah. "The law was our schoolmaster..." (Gal 3:24) "The Torah guarded and trained us..." Leading us to maturity so we can walk in the Spirit of obedience, not lawlessness. common. "Stiff-necked" Refusing to bend the neck to the literal, physical instructions ($mitzvot$) of the Creator. This statement directly references the biblical verse 1 John 3:8 , which states: "The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning." [1 ] Meaning of "Practicing" Sin In Christian theology, "practicing" sin does not mean committing an occasional mistake or lapse in judgment. interpret "practice" as a habitual, deliberate, and unrepentant lifestyle of wrongdoing. According to 1 John 3:4, sin is explicitly defined as the transgression of the Law (Torah). Within a strict Torah-observant framework, all 9 practices listed fail the test and are classified as scriptural transgressions. 1. The Hebrew Name: Acts 4:12, Matthew 1:21 — Replacing the native Hebrew name strips away its prophetic structural meaning: "Yahweh is Salvation." 2. Working on Sabbath: Exodus 20:8-11, Deuteronomy 5:12-15 — The Fourth Commandment explicitly forbids regular vocational labor. 3. Keeping Sabbath Holy: Genesis 2:2-3, Exodus 31:16-17 — Set apart at Creation as a holy day and designated as a perpetual, everlasting covenant. 4. Commandments in General: Ecclesiastes 12:13, 1 John 3:4, Revelation 14:12 — Scripture defines the whole duty of man as keeping the commandments. 5. Unclean Foods: Leviticus 11, Deuteronomy 14, Isaiah 66:17 — Dietary boundaries separating clean from unclean are never repealed in prophecy or Torah. 6. Appointed Days (Moedim): Leviticus 23 — God explicitly calls these "My Feasts." They serve as prophetic dress rehearsals for His redemption plan. 7. Christmas Traditions: Deuteronomy 12:30-32, Jeremiah 10:2-4 — God strictly commands His followers not to learn or adopt the customs of pagan nations to worship Him, regardless of intent. 8. Easter Timing: Matthew 12:40 — A Friday-to-Sunday timeline fails the structural proof of the "Sign of Jonah"—which requires exactly 3 days and 3 nights. 9. Passover: Exodus 12:14, 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 — Commanded as an everlasting ordinance. Paul explicitly reinforces this to New Testament believers, writing: "Let us keep the feast." Title: Torah Observance vs. Church Tradition: A Biblical Study Guide & Self-Assessment Subject: Biblical Theology and Torah Law (Hebrew Roots Perspective) Topics: The Definition of Sin (The Transgression Test) The Seventh-Day Sabbath (Shabbat) vs. Sunday Tradition Dietary Instructions (Kashrut, Blood, and Fat) God's Appointed Times (Moedim & Passover) vs. Mainstream Holidays Sacred Names (Yeshua vs. Jesus) Daily Commandments (Tzitzit, Shaatnez, and Images) Grooming and Body Laws (Beards, Tattoos) Social and Financial Laws (Usury, Clothing) Summary: This study guide evaluates mainstream church traditions and modern dogmas against the perpetual commandments of the Torah. Drawing from both the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) and the Greek Scriptures (New Testament), it outlines how various modern ecclesiastical customs stand under the "Transgression Test." This test uses 1 John 3:4 to define sin strictly as the transgression of God's revealed law. Key Concepts: The Transgression Test: The process of using Biblical law as the objective measure of sin (1 John 3:4). The Perpetual Covenant of Shabbat: The seventh-day Sabbath (Saturday) was established at Creation and remains a sign between God and His people. The Sign of Jonah: Yeshua’s Messiahship is authenticated by spending exactly three days and three nights in the earth (Matthew 12:40), contradicting a Friday-to-Sunday timeline. Syncretism Warning: Deuteronomy 12:30-32 forbids using the methods of pagan nations to worship the Creator. Holiness Distinctions: Commandment laws regarding fabrics ($Shaatnez$), tassels ($Tzitzit$), and diet ($Kashrut$) serve to separate God's people from the world. Vocabulary List: Torah: "Instruction" or "Law" (the first five books of the Bible). Mitzvot: The individual commandments given by God. Shabbat: The seventh-day Sabbath (Friday sunset to Saturday sunset). Moedim: The Appointed Times/Holy Feasts (Leviticus 23). Yeshua: The Hebrew name of the Messiah ("Yahweh is Salvation"). Shaatnez: A fabric containing both wool and linen woven together. Tzitzit: Fringes/Tassels worn for remembrance (Numbers 15:38). Rosh Chodesh: The New Moon / Beginning of the Biblical month. The Spirit of the Lawless One: How Rejecting Torah Mirrors the Adversary's Rebellion When studying the Mirroring Principle of Idolatry and the profound spiritual sensory shutdown that affects the mainstream church, we must eventually confront the ultimate, sobering reality behind this blindness. Scripture does not treat "eyes that cannot see" and "ears that cannot hear" as mere intellectual deficits or passive, accidental misunderstandings. At its absolute root, persistent unbelief and systematic disobedience to the Creator’s $Torah$ are driven by an active, operational spiritual force. The Bible reveals a stark cosmic truth: those who belong to the adversary, or align with his systems of rebellion, carry and mirror his very spirit. 1. The Operational Spirit of Disobedience (Ephesians 2:2) The Apostle Paul explicitly identified the existence of an invisible, active spiritual current that influences those who walk in disobedience to God’s instructions: “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience...” — Ephesians 2:2 Note Paul's precise vocabulary: "The spirit that now worketh..." The Greek word for "worketh" is energeo, meaning an active, operating energy. It is a spiritual frequency. "...in the children of disobedience." The Hebrew idiom "children of..." denotes a people who take on the exact characteristics, traits, and nature of their source. Just as the Holy Spirit ($Ruach$ $HaKodesh$) actively works inside believers to write the $Torah$ on their hearts and produce the fruit of obedience (Ezekiel 36:26-27) , the spirit of the adversary actively operates in those who reject God’s laws. They become spiritual receptors for the frequency of rebellion, mirroring the character of the "prince of the power of the air." 2. Defining the Adversary’s Character: Lawlessness ($Anomia$) To understand what it means to mirror the spirit of the devil, we must define his primary scriptural characteristics. From the beginning in the Garden of Eden, the adversary’s signature move was to challenge, twist, and undermine the literal commandments of God: “Yea, hath God said... ?” (Genesis 3:1). The Apostle John explains the spiritual lineage of those who make a practice of bypassing God’s written instructions: “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law [anomia]. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin... He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning.” — 1 John 3:4, 8 In Greek, the word for "transgression of the law" is $anomia$, which literally means lawlessness—specifically, living as though the $Torah$ (the Law of Moses) does not exist or has no authority over you. John makes a direct, black-and-white distinction: Those who practice righteousness (aligning with God's $Torah$) mirror the Messiah $Yeshua$. Those who practice lawlessness ($anomia$) mirror the devil, who has been a rebel from the very beginning. When the church teaches that "the Law has been done away with" or that "we do not need to keep the physical commandments," they are unknowingly operating in the spirit of $anomia$. By adopting a theology of lawlessness, they point their spiritual mirrors directly at the original rebel, taking on his spiritual nature. 3. "Ye Are of Your Father the Devil" (John 8:44) The Messiah $Yeshua$ did not shy away from this reality. When confronting the religious leaders of His day—who claimed to worship the God of Abraham but actively rejected the living Word and substituted God’s commandments with human, traditional loop-holes—He diagnosed them with this exact spiritual replication: “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” — John 8:44 How do we identify someone operating under this parental spiritual influence? They cannot abide in the truth: When shown the plain, unadulterated written Word of God, they experience immediate cognitive discomfort and seek to explain it away. They prefer traditional lies: They willingly defend man-made dogmas (like Sunday sacredness or pagan-derived holidays) over the literal commandments of the Creator. They harbor hostility toward obedience: Just as the devil hates those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of $Yeshua$ (Revelation 12:17), those carrying his spirit will exhibit anger, mockery, or defensive hostility toward Torah-observant believers. 4. The Prophetic Blueprint: Changing Times and Laws The spirit of the lawless one has a specific prophetic agenda. The prophet Daniel foresaw that a power would arise in the earth that would attempt to copy the adversary's ultimate desire—to completely sever humanity from the Creator’s covenant boundaries: “And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws...” — Daniel 7:25 The "times" here are the $Moedim$ (God's appointed calendar, Sabbaths, and feasts), and the "laws" are the $Torah$. When modern ecclesiastical systems changed the Sabbath to Sunday, replaced the Biblical Feasts with paganized holidays, and declared the food laws obsolete, they executed the exact agenda of the lawless one. Because churchgoers belong to and revere these traditional systems, they drink in the spirit that built them. They are not merely "uninformed"; they are influenced by a highly calculated, multi-generational spiritual current of $anomia$. This is why they cannot understand, comprehend, or accept the simple, beautiful instructions of the Father—their spiritual hardware is tuned to the frequency of the lawless one. Conclusion: A Battle of Spirits The scriptures leave us with no middle ground. We are spiritual mirrors, and we will inevitably reflect one of two spirits: The Spirit of God ($Ruach$ $HaKodesh$) The Spirit of the Lawless One ( $anomia$) Points the mirror toward the Creator. Points the mirror toward human systems & self. Writes the $Torah$ on the heart (Jer 31:33). Seeks to abolish or bypass the $Torah$. Leads to physical obedience and holiness. Leads to lawlessness disguised as "grace." Restores spiritual sight, hearing, and life. Triggers a complete sensory shutdown and blindness. If we want our family, friends, and churchgoers to escape this blindness, we must realize that we are not fighting against flesh and blood, but against spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:12). Only the raw, piercing truth of God’s Word—combined with the power of the Holy Spirit—can break the hold of the lawless spirit, shatter the mirror of idolatry, and restore their eyes to see and their ears to hear. The decrees of Yehovah are trustworthy , making wise the simple. The commandments of Yehovah are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of Yehovah are clear, giving insight into living. Reverence for Yehovah is pure, lasting forever. The laws of Yehovah are true; each one is fair. They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb. They are a warning to your servant, a great reward for those who obey them. Psalm 19:7 The one who belongs listens and responds to Yehovah's words. If you don't listen and respond , it is because you don't belong to Yehovah." John 8:47 God's promises to those who obey him include: Being blessed Being saved Being watched over Being taken care of Being given what you ask for Being happy Living longer Lacking nothing good
- Is Torah For Everyone? | Answers4saints.com
The one who belongs listens and responds to Yehovah's words. If you don't listen and respond, it is because you don't belong to Yehovah." John 8:47 True and False Conversations "True conversion." This conversion is the foundational, life-altering event where a person turns from a life of sin to a life of following Jesus Christ. It is marked by repentance, faith, and a submission to God's will. "take up your cross and follow me" is found in the Gospels of Matthew , Mark , and Luke . In Matthew 16:24, Jesus says, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me, Sin is treason to God True conversion is where an individual's life is fundamentally changed by the Holy Spirit. John 2:6 Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. James 1:2 But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. Christ came to free us from the curse of sin and death. Christ came to teach us how to live. Christ came to teach us how to love God and our fellow man A false conversion, conversely, is a profession of faith that lacks this authentic inner change, resulting in a life that doesn't align with Scripture says True Conversion A true conversion is seen as a supernatural work of God in a person's heart, leading to a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). Key characteristics include: Genuine Repentance: This involves a heartfelt sorrow for sin, a confession of it to God, and a decisive turning away from sinful practices and desires. It's a change of mind and direction, not just regret over consequences. Saving Faith: True conversion is marked by placing complete trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation, recognizing His death and resurrection as the full payment for sins. Indwelling of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit takes residence in the believer, empowering them to live a new life, understand scripture, and grow spiritually. Love for God and Others : A genuine convert develops a growing love for God and a desire to obey His commandments, particularly the command to love one's neighbor. Desire for Holiness and Righteousness: While not perfect, a true Christian will have a new appetite for righteousness and a diminishing desire for worldly things. There's a clear trajectory of growth away from sin. Bearing Fruit: The transformed life produces "fruit of the Spirit" such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). This fruit is evidence of the inner change. Perseverance: True faith endures through trials, persecutions, and temptations. While struggles occur, the commitment to Christ remains. False Conversion A false conversion is a superficial or incomplete adoption of Christian beliefs or practices without the vital spiritual rebirth. It can be deceptive, both to the individual and to others. Signs of a false conversion often include: Lack of Deep Repentance: The individual may express regret for negative consequences or societal disapproval, but not for the sin itself as an offense against God. There's no fundamental turning away from a sinful lifestyle. Self-Serving Motivation: T he "conversion" may be motivated by external factors like seeking social acceptance, avoiding perceived punishment (like hell, often called "fire insurance"), gaining personal benefits (e.g., financial help, a spouse), or simply wanting an easier life, rather than a genuine desire for God. No Lasting Change in Behavior or Desire: Despite verbal profession, the person's character, habits, and fundamental desires remain largely unchanged, reflecting an ongoing love for the world and its ways (1 John 2:15-16). Lack of Spiritual Hunger: T here's little to no genuine desire for God's Word, prayer, fellowship with other believers, or spiritual growth. Religious activities become burdensome or merely performative. Falling Away Under Pressure: When faced with persecution, difficulty, or the allure of worldly temptations, a false convert often "falls away" because their faith has no deep roots (Matthew 13:20-21, the parable of the rocky soil). Absence of Godly Fruit: There is little to no evidence of the Holy Spirit's transforming work in their life. Any "good works" may stem from self-righteousness or a desire for human praise rather than genuine love for God and others. Spiritual Pride or Legalism: A false convert may exhibit an inflated sense of their own righteousness, judge others harshly, or focus on outward rule-keeping without an internal change of heart. The Bible warns that not everyone who professes faith will enter heaven (Matthew 7:21-23). The ultimate test of a genuine conversion is the long-term fruit produced in one's life, demonstrating an ongoing transformation by the Holy Spirit.
- Test Your Self | Answers 4 Saints
The Diagnostic Test — Spirit of Truth or Spirit of Tradition? Use these four questions to examine yourself or guide a brother or sister through honest self-reflection: 1. The Humility Test (John 16:13 & Acts 17:11) The Question: When clear biblical evidence exposes that an inherited church belief or holiday violates Scripture, what is your immediate response? Spirit of Truth: "Let God be true and every man a liar." You yield to the text, repent, and abandon the tradition, regardless of the personal or family cost. Spirit of Tradition: You become defensive, dismiss the study, justify church custom, or claim "God knows my heart." 2. The Obedience Test (1 John 2:3–4 & John 14:15) The Question: “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” Do you strive to obey His commandments, or do you view His law as a burden? Spirit of Truth: Obedience is your act of love and fruit of repentance. Spirit of Tradition: Uses grace as an excuse for disobedience, claiming the commandments don't apply anymore. 3. The Authority Test (Mark 7:7–9) The Question: When God's Word says one thing and your denomination or favorite preacher says another, who wins? Spirit of Truth: Scripture alone holds final authority over doctrine and daily life. Spirit of Tradition: Denominational catechisms, pastors' opinions, and family heritage overrule the text. 4. The Name Test (Matthew 1:21 & Acts 4:12) The Question: When shown that Gabriel assigned the Hebrew name Yeshua ("Yahweh is Salvation"), carrying the Father's personal redemptive signature, does your spirit leap to honor it, or do you despise its Hebrew origin? Spirit of Truth: Receives the name with reverent joy, marveling at the Father's salvation. Spirit of Tradition: Clings to familiarity and mocks or rejects the original Hebrew truth. Part 3: The Watchman’s Mandate “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me: When I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.” — Ezekiel 3:17–19 To the Reader: This warning is delivered to you not in hatred, but in urgent love. You have now been shown the mirror of Scripture. The difference between what God commanded and what man instituted is clear. In Romans 8:1–14, Paul sets up an absolute, binary divide. There is no middle ground or third category: a person is either governed by the mind of the flesh (sarx) or the Spirit of God (Pneuma). Paul does not frame this test around emotional experiences or external religious performance, but around dominion, mindset, and alignment with God's law. 1. The Starting Position: Condemnation vs. Freedom (vv. 1–4) What God Said: The Mosaic Law was holy and just, but it was "weakened by the flesh"—it could command righteousness, but human nature could not produce it. God fulfilled the righteous requirement of the Law by sending His Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to condemn sin in the flesh. The Mark of Having the Spirit: The believer walks "not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit" (v. 4). The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set them free from the law of sin and death. The Contrast: The flesh is trapped under an endless cycle of command, failure, and condemnation. The Spirit produces an internal reality where the demand of God's Word is actively loved and lived out. 2. The Mindset Test: Setting the Affections (vv. 5–6) "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 set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace." (vv. 5–6) The Mind of the Flesh: Governed by temporal preservation, self-elevation, appetites, and autonomous human reasoning. Its ultimate end is spiritual decay and death. The Mind of the Spirit: Preoccupied with what honors God—truth, holiness, obedience, and kingdom purposes. The Test: What does the mind naturally drift toward when unrestrained? The flesh defaults to self-interest; the Spirit defaults to God's will, resulting in inner stability (life and peace). 3. The Authority Test: Hostility vs. Submission (vv. 7–8) "For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God." (vv. 7–8) This is the diagnostic core of Paul’s argument: The Flesh Cannot Submit: The natural human heart views God's absolute authority as an imposition or a threat to autonomy. Even when outwardly observant, it negotiates, modifies, or excuses disobedience. It is fundamentally at war with "God Said." The Inability to Please God: Good deeds, religious ceremonies, or moral philosophies done under the impulse of the flesh remain unacceptable to God because the underlying will has never surrendered. 4. The Ownership Test: The Indwelling Presence (vv. 9–11) "You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him." (v. 9) Paul’s Binary Conclusion: You either possess the Spirit and belong to Christ, or you do not have the Spirit and are alien to Him. There is no category of a Christian who lacks the Spirit of Christ. The Internal Witness: If Christ is in you, the natural body remains subject to physical death because of sin, but the spirit is alive because of imputed and imparted righteousness (v. 10). The Guarantee: The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead acts as a residing power, imparting resurrection life even to mortal bodies to walk in holiness now (v. 11). 5. The Mortification and Sonship Test (vv. 12–14) "For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God." (vv. 12–14) Active Mortification: Having the Spirit does not mean passive sinlessness; it means active warfare. The true believer does not coddle the flesh or make peace with compromise—they actively put to death the misdeeds of the body through the Spirit's power. Led by the Spirit: In biblical context, being "led by the Spirit" in verse 14 does not refer primarily to mystical nudges about career or life choices; it refers directly to being led away from sin and into righteousness. Summary Table: Romans 8 Diagnostic Diagnostic Marker The Mind of the Flesh (Lacking the Spirit) The Mind of the Spirit (Having the Spirit) Primary Impulse Self-preservation, worldly interest, autonomy (v. 5) Righteousness, divine purpose, eternal truth (v. 5) Relation to God's WordHostile, resisting, unable to submit (v. 7) Submissive, fulfilled by the Spirit's power (v. 4, 7) Spiritual Fruit Death, alienation, inability to please God (vv. 6, 8) Life, peace, reconciliation with the Father (v. 6) Daily Habit Indulging or rationalizing the body's appetites (vv. 12–13) Actively mortifying the deeds of the flesh (v. 13) Identity Debtor to the fallen nature; outside Christ (vv. 9, 12) P ossessed by Christ; confirmed son/daughter of God (vv. 9, 14)
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