Brethren and friends 2Pe 1:2 / 2John 1:3 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of Yahweh God, and of Yahshua the Messiah, Son of the Father, in truth and love.  I bring you my epistle, which is not a new epistle; but one you hopefully have heard before and maybe understood in whole or in part from the beginning of your calling. It could equally be YOUR epistle written from the same information source as mine and delivered to  whomever you meet. It is of The Gospel.  The best Good News the human race has received and for which it was waiting about 4,000 years.    Paul, one of the original apostles of the gospel said Gal 1:8  But though we, or an angel from heaven,

preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.  He added

Gal 1:9  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.  And so, since I fear God, I am not going to preach another gospel.  I know congregations like story type sermons, where the giver takes a few verses of the bible and gives their speech around it for an hour; but in so doing they run the risk of misrepresenting the context or other of the scripture.  Also risk the consequences of such misrepresentation; eternal damnation by adding to or taking away from what Yahweh has given.  Thus because my soul may be on the line in succumbing to such desires, I shall present my epistle along the lines of Luke.  A collection of bible information from witnesses of the same.  Witnesses as taken from the bible itself.

Origin of the Gospel / The Messiah         

I will not start from the foundation of the earth as did apostle John except for quoting these few verses to remind you of from whom the Messiah came, who He was and a nut shell of His characteristics. 

Joh 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Joh 1:2  The same was in the beginning with God. Joh 1:3  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. Joh 1:4  In him was life; and the life was the light of men. Joh 1:5  And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.  1Jn 1:2  (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) 1Jn 1:5  This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 1Jn 1:7  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, ..

In these verses we are told the Word was God.  They are the same.  Then that God is light making all three the same.  And that light, God or the word cannot be comprehended by darkness in which we are elsewhere told not to walk.

God’s plan and purpose of the Messiah.

It was always God’s plan that we, his created, walk physically and spiritually in the light and not darkness.  Before He made us he made physical light for our physical feet.  The sun and moon.  Then spiritual light for our spiritual feet.  Obedience to His instructions whether in the Garden of Eden, walking in the wilderness to the Promised Land or through the present world to His promised everlasting life.  Psa 119:105  Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.  Pro 6:23  For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:

At first He walked with us, through our obedient ancestors.  Though He did this with individuals and families like Noah, Enoch and Abraham, Peter, Steven and Paul start their account from when God’s first nation, Israel was created.  Actually the bible speaks of no other nation of God.  Others are pagan, heathen or Gentile all meaning the same; non God and unholy.  Peter’s accounts are in the last half of Acts chapters 2 and 3.  Stephen’s in chapter 7 and Paul’s from 13:16.  You can read those at your leisure to understand the fact that what we call the New Testament are just additional chapters to the Old Testament.  The division should not be there as the apostles Peter, Steven and Paul make clear with their accounts starting from Abraham or Egypt.  Add to that the Gospels which start from creation and we see it is one continuous history of God’s people and promised Messiah. 

Mat 1:1  The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Mat 1:2  Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren; …

Mar 1:1  The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; Mar 1:2  As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee…. (taken from Malachi 3:1).

Luk 1:5  There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. Luk 1:6  And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

Joh 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Act 7:37  This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear. Act 7:38  This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us: Act 7:39  To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt, 

So whether you see the “he” that was in the “church in the wilderness” to be Moses or the Messiah Himself, it is clear the church of Acts and the whole New Testament, is the same as the congregation that was led in the wilderness.  Today’s so called Christian church should be a direct continuation of the congregation of the wilderness taking on the batten of the oracles that was given to them to give unto US.  However, we are not to drop the batten and return to Egypt; but hold onto it to our promised land of eternal life. 

Remember the wilderness congregation coming out of Egypt consisted of a variety of nationalities. Exo 12:38  And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle.  It will be the same in the last days.  Rev 18:4  And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.  Each of our last day is the one on which we die and since tomorrow is not promised to anyone, we should do our “come out” today.  We should live each day in obedience to God’s laws and “come out” of any organisation that does not.  Repent as soon as we can.  In fact all of who we call Israel were actually Egyptians since they were all born in Egypt.  Israel by descendants; but Egyptian by birth.  So when you hear God gave His laws to Israel, remember who made up Israel.  Those who wanted to be part of God’s separated people, came out of the Egyptian world with them.  Similarly, we are God’s people by descendants; but of the world by birth.  They were born in darkness as are we.  They were called out of Egypt, as are we from the world.  Those who were not in Egypt to hear the calling had an opportunity to join when they did hear the calling.  I will just give one example of an individual who made this choice using Ruth 1:16 … thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:.  More relevant to us is Isa 49:6  And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth. Which Paul quotes in Act 13:47.  In the new Testament those attaching themselves to God’s people are called proselytes (Acts 2:10 , 13:45) or those that fear God as Cornelius in Acts 10:2. 

So that was and remains Yahweh’s plan.  To cleanse the world of unrighteousness and bring His creation back to living as He intended.  A planet of justice and peace where you can be an inhabitant. The problems and injustice you may have experienced in your life, will not be there.  Isa 11:1  And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: Isa 11:2  And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; Isa 11:4  But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. Isa 11:5  And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. Isa 11:6  The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.  Isa 66:22  For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. Isa 66:23  And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD. Isa 66:24  And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh. 

That is the big picture of nations.  Now let us focus on the smaller part of the plan.  How it affects us individually.  Same principle, individuals make up a nation.  If they collectively obey and repent, it equals the nation obeying and being saved as the account of Nineveh in Jonah.  In simple concise terms Ezekiel 33 explains.  An extract being:

Eze 33:11  Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live:   2Pe 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (see also Eze 18:32).

Eze 33:12  Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turns from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sins.   It is every man and woman for themselves.  No righteous person can save another nor the wicked condemn another.  I never understand those who pray for people when they die that they get into heaven.  Is it not too late by then? 

Eze 33:13  When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.  Here we have the multitude of previous righteousness being blotted out by one final iniquity. 

Eze 33:14  Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right; Eze 33:15  If the wicked … walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die. Eze 33:16  None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live. (Read also Eze 18).

Purpose of the Messiah’s coming and apostles preaching.

Luk 1:79  To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. Rom 15:18  For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed.  The sum of the gospel is to give eternal life.  Mat 19:16  And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?   Mat 19:17  And he said unto him, .. if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.   Joh3:15  That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.  All the gospels confirm keeping the commandments results in eternal life.  Believing in the Messiah gives the same.  So keeping the commandments should also equal the belief in the Messiah.  The commandments are not limited to 10; but “every word of God” (luk 4:4 which is a quote from Deut 8:3).  Infact if we really knew our bible we should see most of the advice given in the New Testament including the epistles are rephrasing of those found in the Old unless a modern day analogy was needed as the roman soldiers uniform.  A short example being Eph 6:2  Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) taken from Ex 20:12; Ephesians 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;  Eph 6:17  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:  Isa 11:5  And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.  Isa 59:17  For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments.  Psa 119:172  My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness. Psa 119:142  Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth. Rom 2:20  … which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. 

Eph 6:15  And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Isa 52:7  How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!

So you see brethren, it is not a New Testament or gospel; but the same Old manifested or rephrased.  Luk 21:8  And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: 2Pe 2:1  But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, … 1Jn 4:1  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.  2Co 11:13  For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 2Co 11:14  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 2Co 11:15  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. 

So let us scripturally try the spirits and teachers that say not to keep any of God’s commandments or that they have been changed.  That 1Ti 1:7  Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.  Plainly, they do not know what they are talking about. All scripture must agree and support each other.  Saying the same thing.  Isa 8:20  To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.  1Ti 1:9  Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane… and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine.  In other words, for all who do not know and live by it.  Remember light is truth and something has to be wholely true to be truth.

Pro 6:23  For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:

Psa 119:11  Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Joh 8:12  Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

1Jn 5:2  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

1Jn 5:3  For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

1Jn 2:3  And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

1Jn 2:4  He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. (John 2:24 says we are to worship God in spirit and truth).  2Jn 1:4  I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.  Psa 119:142  Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.

Joh 8:31  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.  Here we have JEWS, keepers of the Law who also believed in the Messiah being told by Him, if they continued doing what they are doing they are his disciples. 

1Jn 1:6  If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

1Jn 1:7  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. Here we are told, to get the cleansing of Yahshua’s blood we must walk in the light of Yahweh God.  Obviously those who do not may be deceived in thinking they are cleansed. 

Brethren, believing in the Messiah is to keep His father’s law. They are the same.  God’s laws cannot be changed or cancelled.  Were that the case He would have done so rather than go through the huge effort of sending and killing His son.  Simply change the law.  Here are similarities between the Law and the Messiah. Psa 40:7-8 “Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart”.  Yahshua came from and would return to His father in heaven by doing His will, using the laws and commandments as His guide.  Jesus confirmed He had not come to destroy or change the “Law”.  In fact, He came to magnify it.  Show how it is to be kept.  Shine a light on it and make it clear through clarification and examples.  Isa 42:21   “The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable”.  Yahshua was the living Law.  Scripture speaks of their attributes in the same way. Truth, Joh 14:6,   Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Psalm 119:142).   Holy; Acts 4:27 & Rom 7:12  Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Perfect, Heb 5:9, And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

Psalm 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.  Righteous; 1 Cor 1:30 and Psa 119:172  My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.  Light; John 8:12 and Proverbs 6:23.   Just; Romans 7:12 and Act 22:14  And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou should know his will, and see that Just One, and should hear the voice of his mouth.  Abide forever; John 8:35 and Psa 111:7  The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure. Psa 111:8  They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.

Should be in the heart;  Eph 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love.  Psa 40:8  I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.  Gives freedom, no condemnation and liberty;  Rom 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  James 2:12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. 

Rejecting the Law is rejecting Yahshua and visa versa, which brings wrath.  Joh 3:36  He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.  Neh 13:18  Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath.   Yahshua was pure; in Him was no sin. 1 Joh 3:4 defines sin as transgression of the Law, going against Jesus; “whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law”.  Therefore, how can any Christian professing to follow Christ think they are no longer under the law; under Jesus’ directive?  That they are now free to commit sin against God and man  Rom 7:7  What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known….  Psa 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: Psa 19:8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.  Psa 19:11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. (See Psa 119:18, 97-8, 115, 165).  Psa 89:34 My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. 

What is the reward or wages of sin, breaking the Law, going against God or Jesus?  Death not rest (Rom 6:23)!  Separation from God.  So if you wish to “rest” in Jesus, keep ALL His and His father’s commandments.  Whether you get to heaven in obedience to the Law or faith in Jesus; following for what he stands, do as he did. 

SO Gal 1:6  I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:  Which IS another message; though there be some that convince many with a perverted gospel of a Christ.  With the turn of one page they change from keeping God’s Laws to not.  Either the page separating the Old and New Testaments or the one between the gospel of John and the book of Acts; seeing that Yahshua kept the commandments.

2Co 11:4  For if he that cometh preacheth another Yahshua, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.  Gal 2:17  But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. 

Today’s denominations preach the liberty of grace without obedience to the law.  The sunshine of the New Testament without the presumed rain of the Old.  We need both, the commandments of God and faith in His son’s blood for the forgiveness of confessed transgressions.  Both rain and sunshine can bring life or death.  Rain to provide water for our food and sunshine to make them grow.  The commandments is the food to our olive tree and faith in the messiah our growth.  Too much or little water and the crops can fail without irrigation measures.  Too much rain can also give us pneumonia.  Yet too much sun creates a desert and we die without water in a quicker time than without food.  Isa 51:7  Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law. Rom 2:26  Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?  Rom_3:21  But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;  Rom_8:4  That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  Rom_10:4  For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.  Php_3:9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:                                                                                                                        

1Jn 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 1Jn 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  1Jn 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.  One way the deceiver convinces many they are right with God is that they are cleansed from their unconfessed sins.  From transgression of the Law by stating there is no law to be transgressed or certain parts of it, which they are transgressing, has been nailed to the cross.  So they do not have to confess or repent of the transgression nor change their ways.  Sadly, here we read a prerequisite stipulation of the cleansing is the confession.  In other scriptures the repenting i.e. Act 3:19  Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out,…  Luk 13:3  I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.  Rom 2:12  For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;  The non law keepers do not even get a hearing to be judged or plead a case.

Blessings of following God.

I think we all know and accept there are blessings in following the law.  If not earthly ones, then definitely in the life promise to come. So I will not spend any time on what you already know and are convinced.

Consequence of not following God.

Mat 7:21  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Mat 7:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

Mat 7:23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Psa 119:1  Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.

Psa 119:2  Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.

Psa 119:3  They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.  Num_15:31  Because he hath despised the word of the LORD, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him.  Psa_1:6  For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.  Col_2:22  Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?  2Th_2:10  And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 

Who gets into the new heaven and earth? Rev 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.  Heb 5:9  And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

Mat 25:32  And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:  And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.  Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: …Mat 25:41  Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 

The Scriptures teach that fire is the final destiny of all who refuse to follow Yahweh’s instructions inclusive of faith in His son Yahshua.  2Pet 2:9 "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgement to be punished".  Job 21:30 "The wicked is reserved to the day of destruction".  Matt 13:40 "As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. Rev 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. Rev 22:15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.  Lev 20:6 And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.  Eph 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. Rev 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. 

Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. Isa 65:17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.  (Read Isaiah 65).  The new life would be as it should have been, as you would like.  No more pain, crime or misery.  You could not be happier nor can fully imagine.  Try to make it there by keeping God’s commandments. 

Exhortation of Ending.

3Jn 1:2  Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.  3Jn 1:3  For I rejoiced greatly, when I HEAR OF brethren walkING in the truth.  AND AM SURE YAHWEH GOD HAS   3Jn 1:4  no greater joy than to hear that HIS children walk in truth. 

2Co 10:3  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 2Co 10:4  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds. 

Psa 119:97 O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.  Psa 119:98  Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.  Psa 119:99  I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.  Psa 119:115  Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God.  Psa_111:10  The fear of the LORD  is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do  his commandments: Psa 119:73  Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments. 

Psa 147:15  He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly.

Pro 13:13  Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.

Tit 1:3  But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;

1Jn 2:7  Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. 

Now for the story part.  There was very hard working man Jorah, an Israelite who became very rich.  Being rich he knew many of the leaders from his synagogue attendance. A friend of apostle Paul.  He had two sons and a daughter also of Israelite descendant; but his wife had died well before three score and ten.  He thought to himself, why work and accumulate all these riches only to leave it Ecc 2:17  Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit. Ecc 2:18  Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me. Ecc 2:19  And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun.

Never having left Israel, he decided to travel the surrounding lands with his family. To experience life.  He remarried a non Israelite widow who also had three children.  He said his goodbyes to friends and Paul and they set off.  

The first city they resided in was Rome.  As usual he found a local synagogue and went in to worship.  Worship was the same format as in Jerusalem, the reading and expounding of the law; but they did not seem to know about the faith of the Messiah, Yahshua who had come and risen upto heaven.  Not wanting to usurp the authority of the leaders he suggested they write to Paul, who they respected for instruction.  Paul’s reply stated;   Rom 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Rom 2:9  Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; Rom 2:10  But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: Rom 2:11  For there is no respect of persons with God. Rom 2:12  For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;

Rom 2:13  (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.  Rom 2:17  Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, … Rom 2:18  And knowest his (GOD’s) will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; 

It seems Paul was saying it is the same rule for everyone Jew or Gentile, though the Jew has the advantage of knowing God’s will since it is written in the law.  But it is not the hearers or knowers of the law that will be saved; but the doers.

Rom 2:26  Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? Rom 2:27  And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?  Paul seemed to be emphasising the keeping of the law. Whether by the written law or one of faith which he also covered.  

The first part of his reply was to the Jews who knew the law.  Rom 7:1  Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,)…. Rom 7:12  Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

Rom 7:13  Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. Rom 7:22  For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:.  His letter quoted from Hosea, Isaiah and made numerous reference to the Old Testament, and law.  Tying in those scriptures with the Messiah.  He ended that section with Rom 10:9  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  Rom 10:10  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Rom 10:11  For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Rom 10:12  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. Rom 10:13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Rom 10:14  How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?  Rom 10:17  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 

He then addressed the gentiles in the congregation Rom 11:13  For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:  showing how they too can partake of God’s promise and blessings by graffing themselves into His ways.  His Olive Tree Israel.  By renewing their mind.  The letter no longer spoke in terms of the law; but from their point of view.  The only two places he used the word “law” to them is Rom 13:8  Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

Rom 13:10  Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. 

Six months later Jorah took his family to live in Corinth.  He had heard so much about it from the merchants with whom he traded in Jerusalem.  Wow, did the congregation there have problems.  So again Jorah suggested writing to Paul for guidance and his reply seemed to be taken from the law of which Jorah knew a little; Lev 18:8, Deut 22:30 27:20 to be precise.  1Co 5:1  It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.  1Co 5:5  deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.  Jorah and the congregation appreciated Paul’s guidance. Showing how the law should be applied to their specific problems even the unleaven bread Passover law to their actual behaviour  1Co 5:7  Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 1Co 5:8  Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 

It was obvious from Paul’s letter he was disappointed in them not being wise in the law 1Co 6:5  I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren? 1Co 6:6  But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.  When he departed from advising out of the law he made it clear  1Co 7:6  But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.  1Co 7:10  And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: 1Co 7:11  But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife. 1Co 7:12  But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: …    1Co 7:25  Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.  1Co 14:37  If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. 

There was too many quotations from the law and prophets to mention, but here is last 1Co 10:8  Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. 1Co 10:9  Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.  1Co 10:10  Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.  1Co 10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

So Paul was saying we were not to make the mistakes in the New Testament as those of the Old Testament.  We are to learn from the errors they did and not do likewise.  They were told to keep ALL the commandments inclusive of feast days and to not disobey.  So we are keep and obey. 

After reading Paul’s first letter, Jorah was one of the main participants in its understanding.  His knowledge of the law from his youth, access to the temple rulers and discussions with them over dinner had given him an advantage others did not have.  He also knew Paul personally.  Paul’s teaching about the Messiah who had come, died risen still confused some especially in relation to the law.  A few months later Jorah’s eldest son was travelling so we sent another request for teachings to Paul.  When Jorah’s son returned not only did he bring the reply; but a wife.  

The lifestyle of Corinth was not suitable for Jorah’s family, there were too many temptations and Jorah felt sooner or later he would spiritually lose his children.  He decided to move onto Galatia.  There he found the local synagogue in which to worship and made himself known.  Having originally come from Jerusalem they thought he was another Judacizer, as the bible calls them.  They had some from before saying no uncircumcised person could be part of God’s promise to Abraham.  They before Jorah’s arrival had written to Paul asking if that was true. Jorah asked to read Paul’s reply. 

It seemed that Paul’s answer was no, circumcision was not a necessity of salvation for a non Jew. As soon as he had introduced himself and his authority he went straight into Gal 2:3  But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:  He added Gal 2:7  But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;. Gal 2:8  (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)  Considering Rom 3:30  Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. Eph 4:5  One Lord, one faith, one baptism.    It seems the only difference between Jew and Gentile is circumcision. 

In Galatia again, the relationship between or working of the Law and the Messiah was also confusing.  Gal 2:16  Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.  They could not grasp the concept of justification.  Of being confirmed to be righteous or doing things right, which is the purpose of the Justifier.  Yahshua.  Jorah told them, not to focus or get confused on the correct understanding of “justification”; but on the bottom line Gal 2:17  But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. 

Paul goes on to explain how all are called to be saved through the promise given to Abraham before he was circumcised.  That Christ is the one who saves not physical circumcision.  Gal 5:2  Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. Gal 5:6  For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.  Jorah read that Paul never contradicts the law of the Old Testament and quotes from it often encouraging readers to adhere to it Gal 5:14  For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. (Lev 19:18).  Gal 5:19  Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, … and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.  

As the teachings of the letter started with circumcision in 2:3, it concluded on the same topic Gal 6:12  As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. Gal 6:13  For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. Gal 6:15  For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

Hebrew.  Do not worry about the temple’s destruction.  We Israel and Judah have a new covenant  Heb 8:7; Jer 31:31  Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Jer 31:32  Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: Jer 31:33  But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. Jer 31:34  And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.  

Time has run out, so I will have to leave the rest of Jorah’s story for another time.   I will jump to the last days of his life. 

As he aged, his youthful vigour became a distant memory and he knew the time was approaching for him to leave this world.  One warm sunset evening he was contemplating on his life and future after his death.  Had he lived in accordance to the God of creation? Could it be said of him as it was said of Abraham Gen 18:19  For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment;.  He gathered his now adult children and grand children around him.  And started to tell them the story of his life.  His successes, failures; but reliance on Yahweh God who brought him through all.  How they finally ended up in the country they were now in.  He made it clear they had to stay spiritually living in Israel though not necessarily physically.  He explained to be living in Israel is to be living in the ways of God, His Torah as called in Israel; but law in their present gentile nation.  Not to give the devil an opening into their heart by thinking of life and solutions to its problems through thoughts of the flesh such as lusts of the flesh or colour of one’s skin.  God is a spirit and they were to maintain thoughts from a spiritual existence.  At the end of his speech he concluded: 

Ecc 12:13  Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.  Ecc 12:14  For God shall bring every work into judgement, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. 

remember the commandments are NOT limited to ten BUT ALL written in the book of the covenant by Moses  Exodus 24:7

[crossed out scriptures was to reduce speaking time to allocated 1 hr] 

SHALOM