What Must I (Not Need to do) in order to be Saved?
I normally link the passages I reference. But I believe it’s important for people to get in the habit to search His Word to see if what someone says is really true (Acts 17:11). I hope you will do just that. The Word is first and foremost beyond anything I say. Look it up and read context.
Forgive the formatting, I worked and worked on it, and it would not work with me 🙂 See how works do not save us? 🙂
My friend Amanda Harris writes:
This may be one of the most important posts you have ever read. To be saved, simply believe the Good and True Message/ Announcement of the Cross: that Christ has satisfied God concerning your sin debt by taking away all your sins through his death on the cross. The fact he rose from the dead proves He is who He said He was — the perfect Son of God.
What do I NOT need to do in order to be saved?
Do any of you ever look back and wonder what ‘gospel’ you may have told someone in your past? Especially those of you who were raised as a Roman Catholic, SDA, or even from a ‘lose your salvation’ or a ‘repent from sin’ church? What did we get wrong?
In the ‘evangelical churches’, there was so much confusing ‘church speak’ added as well to things we ‘must do’. Beyond that, churches use coined phrases that are flat out wrong and just not found in His Word. And nothing to do with receiving the free gift of eternal life.
Catch phrases like ‘surrender all‘, ‘repent of your sins‘, ‘make Him the Lord of your life‘, ‘put Him on the throne‘, ‘count the cost’, ‘pick up your cross’, ‘give your life to Christ’ are used by some evangelists as part of what you must do in order to be saved. Give me a moment without getting upset. I am not saying don’t surrender to Him, or commit yourself to Him, or any other good thing. But I am saying, this is not what the Word of God asks people to do in order to receive the free gift of eternal life. Shouldn’t you want to keep the message clear?
Some churches use paraphrases like NLT or Living Bible, which add the words ‘from sins‘ to the singular word repent. Those words just aren’t there and should not be added to God’s Word. It’s understandable why they people get mixed up and not just from bad teaching.
What is the meaning of Repent? How am I Saved?
I heard so many different requirements from different pastors and teachers when I fell into some of the lordship style churches in my young adulthood. So, I decided to read through Acts again. But this time I really wanted to see what info the apostles shared that people needed to believe. Sometimes what was said was a synecdoche (sharing part of something which would represent the whole thought) — such as Paul speaking of the judgment and resurrection to the Philosophers in Acts 17. It obviously included all of who Christ is and what He did). Throughout the book, it was about what Jesus had done. In many places it qualified that we did not have to ‘do’ anything other than believe, although there are a few places that might seem unclear. But at the council seen in Acts 15, it was made clear that our hearts are purified by faith. The same way the Jews who believed had been purified. No one has ever been saved (or given the free gift of eternal life), by keeping the law (Gal 2:16). This is the struggle the Galatians were having. Maybe why Jesus told the crowd the thing they should ‘do’ is to believe on Him (John 6:28-29).
I saw the word repent used in Acts and pondered it. I also saw in other books, the word repent used alone apart from believe, such as “repent or likewise perish”. (Turn from sin or perish?) So I set about studying every single time the word repent or repentance was used in the Bible. I knew this in my youth, but a Christian High school was the beginning of error from teachers and students of every denomination. Going back starting from the beginning, I saw that God repented first (Genesis 6), and actually God repents more than anyone in the Old Testament. So I became certain that ‘turning from sin’ was completely out as a definition for repent. After all many religions ‘turn from sin’ and are not saved. (I was to find there was more than one word that was translated into repent/repentance) and that one of the forms meant regret (never used in receiving eternal life).
I also noticed with interest that ‘turning from sin’ (not called repentance) was seen as a good WORK in Jonah 3:9-10. God was the one who repented (from deciding to destroy them), because He saw their WORKS >that they turned from their evil ways. So Ninevah (the nation) was saved from physical destruction (later to be destroyed) because they did good WORKS in turning from theeir sin..
So I was beginning to see many times that repent by itself could not mean turn from sin. Could someone repent and turn from sin? Of course. I was to find that someone could repent and turn TO sin. But ‘turning from sin’ is just not the definition of the original Biblical word translated as repent. Turning from sin can be a good work, maybe even a righteous work. But Titus 3:4-7 says it is not by any works of righteousness that we are saved. Romans 4:1-6 makes it clear it is by belief that Abraham was declared righteous, not by works. Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us;
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
See more on the meaning of Repentance throughout history. A list of Scholars, Pastors, Bible publishers, Theologians, Lexicons, Church fathers, 1st century historians and more.
The Book of John
One pastor I heard spoke of the Book of John, and how it was written for the purpose that people would come to believe that Jesus is the Christ (anointed one), the Son of God, and that believing we might have life (eternal) in His name. This is true.
I read through John over and over again so many times. Probably 100 times (I had a gospel of John I carried with me everywhere). I saw some of the signs (miracles) that had been prophesied in the OT recounted in John. Not all of them were listed (as John said in 20:30).
I read about the different ways He identified Himself as God in the flesh, or His Deity (Jesus’s I AM statements). John writes about Jesus’s death on the cross for all of our sins (Col 2:13-15). I read of His burial and His resurrection (as He told His disciples ahead of time). His resurrection witnessed by many is recorded in John as well (see also 1 Cor 15:3-11).
But — there is one thing you will not see in the evangelical book of John.
- You will not see turning from sin to receive eternal life (John 5:24).
- You will not see being sorry as a requirement for receiving eternal life (John 6:47).
- You will not see any works or feelings at all written as necessary to receive eternal life (John 6:28-29). You may certainly be sorry, or you may feel joy, but no feelings can contribute to the free gift.
- In fact, in the book of John (written for evangelical purposes), you will never see the word repent used at all.
The Meaning of Repent throughout history
Don’t take my word for it. Check for yourself in these older lexicons throughout time. Here are a few from the links above. In studying out the word repent over time, I came to understand the true meaning vs. the one the Roman Catholic church had taught (which was to be penitent, or do penance). Metanoeo/metanoia simply means to think differently. In brief, one could think differently or change one’s mind, about something good or bad, and in turn do something good or even bad (see Shepherd of Hermas blow). But in salvation it is changing your mind about the truth.
Maybe you might be familiar with some of these teachers/pastors. Here are some quotes by them regarding the meaning of repentance.
- Charles Ryrie (1925-2016) in Balancing the Christian Life (1969): “The word repent means, of course, to change one’s mind about something.”
- Lewis Sperry Chafer (1871-1952) in Systematic Theology, vol. 3 (1947): “The word metanoia is in every instance translated repentance. The word means a change of mind.”
- Dwight L. Moody (1837-1899) in The Gospel Awakening: “Repentance is a change of mind.” B. H. Carroll (1843-1914) in An Interpretation of the English Bible, vol. 10: “We may, therefore, give as the one invariable definition of New Testament repentance that it is a change of mind, from which it is evident that its domain is limited. It is necessarily internal, not external.”
- C. I. Scofield (1843-1921) in The Scofield Reference Bible (1967) on Acts 17:30: “Repentance is the translation of a Greek verb metanoeō, meaning to have another mind, to change the mind, and is used in the N.T. to indicate a change of mind in respect to sin, God, and self.”
- H. A. Ironside (1876-1951) in Except Ye Repent (1937): “But here it seems necessary to say that it is the Greek word, μετάνοια, metanoia, which is translated ‘repentance’ in our English Bibles, and literally means a change of mind.
- James M. Gray (1851-1935) in Bible Problems Explained: “Repentance means a ‘change of mind,’ and the moment one takes Jesus by faith to be his personal Savior, that moment he has experienced and manifested that change of mind. I am now speaking, of course, of the initial act of salvation.”
- J. Dwight Pentecost (1915-2014) in Things Which Become Sound Doctrine (1965): “From the Word of God we discover that the word translated ‘repent’ means ‘a change of mind.’ It means, literally, ‘a turning about’; not so much a physical turning about as a mental turning around, a change of course, a change of direction, a change of attitude.”
- William Pettingill (1866-1950) in Bible Questions Answered: “Strictly speaking, the word repentance means a ‘change of mind.'”
- John Walvoord (1910-2002) in The Revelation of Jesus Christ (1966): “The second aspect of his exhortation [in Revelation 2:5] is embodied in the word repent (Gr., metanoeson, meaning ‘to change the mind’).”
- G. Michael Cocoris (I read his book on repentance) in Evangelism: A Biblical Approach (1984): “Repentance is basically a change of mind. [Metanoeō], the Greek word translated ‘repent,’ is a compound made up of two definite Greek words. The fist is meta, ‘after,’ and the second is noēma, ‘mind.’ Thus, the two together mean ‘afterthought,’ or ‘change of mind.’ The word describes an inward change of thinking or attitude.”
Repentance to do or turn towards evil
- Shepherd of Hermas (c. 140 A.D.) in Shepherd of Hermas, Vision 3, chapter 7, transl. J. B. Lightfoot, The Apostolic Fathers: “These are they that heard the word, and would be baptized unto the name of the Lord. Then, when they call to their remembrance the purity of the truth, they change their minds [metanoeō], and go back again after their evil desires.”
- Polycarp (69-155 A.D.) in A Translation of the Epistles of Clement of Rome, Polycarp, and Ignatius, transl. Temple Chevallier: “The Proconsul said unto him [Polycarp], ‘I have wild beasts ready; to those I will cast thee, unless thou repent.’ He answered, ‘Call for them, then: for we Christians are fixed in our minds, not to change [i.e. not to repent] from good to evil.”
(Cited from GraceNotes no. 92)
- One can even repent from goodness to sin! Plutarch, the Greek historian, writes of two criminals who “spared a child, and then afterwards, repented and sought to slay it.” This is not repenting from sin, it is repenting to sin! The very opposite meaning so often ascribed to “repentance” in common culture. (cited from Ron Shea, Repentance part 2, redeemingmoments.com)
If you’d really like to know more on the meaning of repentance, here are a couple more links to consider:
“Repentance and Salvation” by Ron Shea
“Repentance” by Pastor Thomas Cucuzza
So in salvation (from hell), the meaning of repent is to change our minds from something we might have previously thought would save, to think differently about the truth of the gospel. It is not a word you need to use, but if you do, explain it. Once we have believed on Jesus and His work for us, the Bible is clear, we should do works worthy of Him. These works demonstrate to others that we have had a change of thinking (repent), when we believed. As Jesus said, “let your light so shine before men that they might see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matt 5:16).
But we also see in Scripture that some eternally secure believers not only did not demonstrate good works, but they did some despicable things (James 2-4; 1 Cor 5:1, 1 Cor 11:29-32; Gal 5, book of Hebrews, etc.). They committed sexual immorality that was “not even named among the heathen”, and the congregation didn’t care that this one was having sex with his father’s wife. Yet it was still said that their soul would be saved.
Conditional Security
We already know a saved person cannot be lost (John 10:28-29). We are sealed with His Spirit until the day of redemption (Eph 1:13-14; 4:30). We are not sealed until the ‘day we walk away,’ as some in the false teaching of Conditional Security will tell you. There are many false teachers out there that make that their sole agenda to convince whoever they can, that you can lose your salvation. They will say you “walk away from it,” (or forfeit it somehow), because you “still have free will”. Simply not true according to Jesus.
When we believe, we are given to Jesus and sealed with His Spirit. A King’s seal (regarding His possessions or anything at all), are never undone at the whimsy of His subject’s ‘free will’.
Please see more on that here.
I remember some Bible teacher (in my past — once I was out of stinkin’ thinkin’), asking something along these lines; “Since the gospel is what is the power of God unto salvation, shouldn’t we be very sure we are keeping it clear?”
Man, smh… I was not keeping it clear in any way. Who knows what I was adding? I’ve prayed for any in my past that I cannot remember or somehow make it right with them. Lead a laborer in the harvest to the ones I can’t remember. My desire was to get the gospel right, but I was bouncing all over the place trying to cover the bases.
Can your own gospel get muddied?
Don’t fool yourself, anyone’s gospel can be muddied if we listen to those in error. Paul warned elders day and night for 3 years in tears(Acts 20:25-32).
He was also afraid the Corinthians would put up with those who brought a different Jesus, a different gospel, a different spirit (2 Corinthians 11:3-4). They had already been misled regarding the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15).
The Galatians had quickly turned from the truth to an accursed gospel (Galatians 1:6-10). They were adding law as a means to justification and to finishing their walk and were back under bondage (Galatians 3-4).
The Hebrews were considering going back under the Temple sacrifice. This was a very grievous sin, and the Scriptures have this to say about it:
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 church in Colosse needed warned about those trying to cheat them through philosophy, deceit, according to tradition of men, or principles of the world, but not according to Christ. People were judging them about food, drink festivals, new moons, sabbaths which were all a shadow of things to come. The true substance is Christ. Believers do not need to subject ourselves to regulations. Paul said it had an appearance of wisdom, but it was self-imposed religion, false humility, etc. (Col 2:8, 16-23).
1 Timothy 1:56-7, 4:1-5; Titus 1:13-14 speak of believers who strayed from the truth:
- Some desiring to be ‘teachers of the law’.
- Others fell away from the faith because they were listening to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons.
- Others took heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men.
Anyone can be led astray if we do not carefully take heed to the doctrine (1 Timothy 4:16). There are many churches led by wolves. Others are led by novices. Yet others, by those who are proud. And some who simply do not beware of the leaven as Jesus warned. Friends, Guard your heart and mind in Him — be noble (Acts 17:11; 1 Thess 5:21).
When still in error, I went down the ‘Romans Road’. I used the early language of ‘ask Jesus into your heart’. I used the methods, the ‘steps or alphabet of salvation’, etc. etc. But it never ends. That’s why it gets worse and worse for those who corrupt minds from the simplicity that is in Christ. Please consider this article for subtle ways we can distort the gospel by using unbiblical language.
But Instead, look to His Word as the condition of receiving eternal life. We are told over and over, and over and over again:
“BELIEVE on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved.”
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. John 1:12
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:18
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. John 5:24
Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. John 6:29
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. John 6:47
In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (Holy Spirit) John 8:37-39
(The Blind man, one of my favorite stories)
Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him. John 9:35-38
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world. John 11:25-27
WHY WON’T PEOPLE SEE THESE SIMPLE WORDS & BELIEVE HIM?
Whoever believes in Him shall:
> Never die.
> Never perish
> Never be Lost
> Never be plucked out of His hand
> Never be cast out
> Never be forsaken
> Never be separated from His love
> Never come into condemnation
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Great, great and clear instructive study on what NOT to do to receive eternal life, esp. to rightly divide/understand the correct and very simple meaning of ” repent ” from the original Greek. … So many believers and also more largely, the general followers of ” Christendom ” (a very large number of – if not a majority, sadly to say, have not placed their trust in Jesus alone/His saving work) just have been misled on this understanding.
Again great study there, Holly.
Hi David. It’s always great to hear from you again. It pains me (as I know it does you), to see so many following that broad path, while thinking they are on the narrow way. May some seek the truth in prayer considering it, and looking these things up for themselves.
God bless you this week.
Amen and God bless; look fwd to future insights.
Holly,
Great study. I have missed you. I did not want to take up any of your time when you were going through the rough time with Adam. How is he doing?
Anyway, this article has come at a good time. About 2 months ago I saw that the tract rack at church was flooded with a “Gospel” (not) tract that is heresy. It is the “God’s Bridge To Eternal Life” tract put out by Majestic-Media. A quick internet search will find it. In block 6 of this tract it states as a requirement for salvation “You must repent of your sins” as the first step, then to believe in Christ. So, upon investigation I discovered that it is our Senior Pastor that is pushing this tract. He does not like confrontation but he is getting it from me. I don’t want to be doing this but I have no choice. The book of Jude demands that I contend for the faith. I have written to him twice as to how this tract is a false Gospel. All I can get out of him is “I like it.” This man has been a pastor for 40 years and has a Phd in theology from Bob Jones. So much for the Phd. This whole thing makes me sick to my stomach but I cannot back down. Most likely it will end up with me presenting a case to the board of Deacons. Kay and I might be looking for a new church. We really don’t want to do that. I have no idea what is going to happen with this. As you might be able, please pray for me in this.
Dennis
P.S. I have a new email address (below)
Dennis, I have thought of you and Kay several times recently, so I am very glad to hear from you. I sent you an email in 2021 and didn’t hear back so I wondered if you changed emails (I’ve updated).
I am so glad you are going to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered, many did it for those who would follow hem. Maybe he would consider the article from Charlie Bing’s site. It came about from a student who looked back on writings in antiquity and came up with many from history that support the truth of the words metanoia and metanoeo meaning change of mind or thought.
You said he doesn’t like confrontation, but what you are doing is seen in Acts 17:11 and Paul commended those from Berea for doing it. He praiseed them. Why is he not? Does he not appreciate iron sharpening iron? (Proverbs 27:17). Or does he not realize in the multitude of counsel there is safety (Proverbs 11:14).
None of us really likes doing it, but you are partaking in Christ’s sufferings when you do. The Bible says you will rejoice with exceeding joy when He appears. And it continues to say (in 1 Peter 4) that “if you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.”
They say you must ‘repent of your sins’ but never qualify ‘how many’, ‘how long’. Anything less that God’s perfect standard will not do. James 3:1 should hold some fear for him. Jesus doesn’t care about his degree. He cares about those who faithfully and honestly manifest the truth to others (2 Tim 2:15; Isa 66:2; 2 Cor 4:2). I pray the Spirit will convict him that he placing burdens on others that he himself cannot lift (seen when Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees in Matt 23). Is turning from sin a good work? We know it is because Scripture shows us this in many places not just Jonah 3. But it IS a work. And he cannot add works, or he is accursed Paul said in Gal 1:6-9).
So happy you are standing for the truth in the message of salvation. No matter if it turns out the way you hope, someone will hear you. His Word will not return void. Praying for you.
Holly,
Thank you very much for your reply. Please send an email to my new email address. I am sure that you are very busy so I don’t expect lengthy dialogue but would very much like to reconnect.
Great post.
Thanks Mark.
As I know you know, this could have been a 10 part article with all the false conditions people add to the gospel.
Entire Lawkeeping comment removed.
Moshe, you’re at the wrong blog. We’ve tried before, but the New Testament is not a ‘simple cheap counterfeit fraud’.
You make your boast in the law. But you cannot keep the law perfectly, only Yeshua did. There is a time coming very quickly that the prophet Daniel spoke of. 7 more years is yet to be fulfilled. And you will either be worshipping that man who sets himself up as God in the Temple, or you hopefully will have your eyes opened to God’s Four Severe judgments that will transpire on the earth.
Time is short, and you are trusting in yourself that you are righteous.
God desires Justice and Mercy. And He calls us to belief, but you are blinded right now by the god of this age. The Torah cannot save. The justice for breaking the law is death.
Holly greetings :)))
By your Apostle Paul: You’re not under “Torah common law”. So consequently to declare “cannot keep” – utter speculation. Goyim never accepted the Torah. Not at the revelation @ Sinai nor today. An honest answer: “You cannot keep that which you do not accept”.
How does the Torah define “righteous”? Employing abstract terms which your NT rhetoric never defines – no different from the 8 years of Obama’s “CHANGE” = pie in the sky nonsense. Another example of NT Greek rhetoric nonsense: Love. How does the Torah define this key verb. Church NT believers turned to Greek term agape LOL. Torah rejects outright Greek philosophy with its syllogism deductive logic formats to interpret the k’vanna of Torah commandments.
Still another example of empty Greek rhetoric: “fulfill the words of the prophets”. LOL The Torah, later prophets, nor Holy Writings ever once employs this foreign NT gospels addition! This rhetoric directly violates the Torah: do not add or subtract.
Mercy the 4th Oral Torah middah which the Church fathers have always denied; these foreigners do not know the distinction which separates t’shuva from their silly nonsense word “repentance”. The 5th Oral Torah middah which the church foreigners deny “Grace”! LOL What distinguishes Mercy from Grace based upon a Torah definition of these two tohor spirits? You foreigner church fathers never asked this most basic of questions. And you do not know.
Goyim have never accepted the revelation of the Torah at Sinai – ever. The First Commandment revelation of the Name … never once found not in your bible sophomoric Greek or Latin translations nor in the Arabic/Muslim koran! Proof that Goyim to this very day never accepted not the 1st nor the 2nd Sinai commandments. Further proof: where was JeZeus during the Church European Shoah which exterminated 75% of Western European Jewry “murdered” for the crime of being Jewish? You call JeZeus God!
Moshe, Greetings yourself. I’m not going to post your second comment (which I did read), but the readers are not likely to understand Hebrew or terms like halakhic, nor should they have to. It is not cleanly from the Word itself but by other sources (as you know).
So you attack the translations, all to prove your your theory of the Name being a commandment. But Yeshua or Jesus in English (no Zeus in it), will have the final word and you will know and declare with your mouth, that He is God. You will say, Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. You will bow your knee.
Yeshua, is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:11-12 (see also Psalm 118:19-23,Isaiah 28:15-18 that this refers to). BTW, you assume I am Goyim, my grandfather was a rabbinical scholar that fled Hamburg after a fatwa went out on him and his family.
No one has ever kept the law perfectly. Only Yeshua. Your ‘honest answer’ falls short of His Word.
For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) in the day when God shall judge the secret of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. Romans 2:14-16
You do not understand the word ekklesia. People of a religion, that meet in a building do not a Christian make (part of the universal church). Tell me which historical books are your favorite from the Holocaust. It is a true story that means much to me. Many believers helped save many Jews because they love them. So I know of many stories of His deliverance as I’ve read many, many recounts from survivors of that time.
I love and pray for the Jewish people. I pray for the peace of Jerusalem and I do not stop (Isaiah 62). And they will all look upon the one they pierced and mourn (Zech 12:10). The prophet Zechariah foretold your King coming to you, humble, sitting on the colt of a donkey. The second time He comes is as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. He foretold that He came in His Father’s name, and another will come in His name, and the Jews (some) will accept. This is the ‘man of Peace’ who will deceive many, but will set himself up as God in the third temple.
Look, I do not prove myself to you. But as much as you may understand academics, and Torah, you do not know the whole counsel of God. I wonder how well you know the book of Daniel, or Isaiah. And I doubt you’ve looked into the ‘New Testament’ (new Covenant). But if you knew your Scriptures, you would know the time of His arrival, and you missed the time of His visitation.
Your Messiah is coming again, but it won’t be to set Himself up as God in the Temple. He will come from the heavens, and He will go to Edom/Bozrah, and He will fight the nations who all come up against His people Israel, and He will set His feet down on the Mount of Olives and it will split in two forming a valley. You will remember these things hopefully before it happens to you.
We believed when He first came — I pray you will understand and come to believe, before the appearing of the Sh’khinah of our great God and the appearing of our Deliverer, Yeshua the Messiah.
Yeshua said, “Before Abraham was, I AM.”(ἐγώ εἰμι)
Jesus’ Deity is shown throughout Scripture, and not invented at Nicaea as you claim. I already shared Scripture that demonstrates Jesus Himself claimed Deity, and the Sadducees and Pharisees accused Him of doing just that, calling it blasphemy.
The New Covenant is not just somehow internalizing Torah. And Gentiles do not replace Israel in the grafting, we just partake of the blessing given to Abraham, in the Seed that would come. And that Seed is Jesus Christ.
Jesus fulfilled the Suffering Servant in Isaiah (and yes I know that Rabbis say it is Israel). Messiah did come before the destruction of the Second Temple as Daniel prophesied would happen. And He fulfilled over 300 Old Testament prophecies, but as we see today with the blindness of the far left, no matter what you show them or how many truths you present, they cast it behind their backs (Psalm 50:16-17) and stop up their ears.
After He laid down His life willingly, and took it back up as He said He would, He was exalted to the right hand of the Father (Psalm 110:1). He did it in great love.
You claim the Mosaic law is somehow unchanging and rate the prophets according to your own (or rabbi’s) judgment. But we see both unilateral and bilateral covenants. The Abrahamic and Noahic covenants were long before Mount Sinai. The promises to Abraham, were ratified further down to Isaac, then Jacob and throughout God separates the wheat from the chaff. The Mosaic Covenant was conditioned upon obedience, for blessing or cursing. No one has ever kept the law.
The ministry of John was a fulfillment of prophecy in Isaiah and Malachi. There are different words for repent/repentance (as I’m sure you know) and are not the same. Even the 70 translated different words differently, and some indicated a change of mind/thinking for metanoia/metanoeo.
You commented that your words went over my head. That’s ok, I am not troubled by the insults of one who rejects the New Testament. I pray for you in love, hoping that one day you will see before it’s too late. I do know you will see, but hopefully sooner than later.
No one has ever been justified by the law. The law was not even present with Abraham, but was added 430 years later due to sin. We know Genesis 15 states that Abraham was justified by faith. And that message continues through the Old and the New Testament.
I already answered you regarding the Holocaust, but this is what happens when a person elevates themselves and lords it over others. They do not have ears to hear. They shrug their shoulders and stop up their ears. They want to be heard for their many words. Human evil caused the Shoah. The enemy has hated Israel since it’s inception and has sought ever since to destroy them (Revelation 12). And in the last 7 years yet to be fulfilled in Daniel’s prophecy upon Israel (the land) and their people, for refusing to allow the land to rest, they will have their last chance. Jesus said another would come in His name (like Messiah or Immanuel) and him, ‘you’ (religious Israel) will accept. Jesus came unto His own, and they received Him not.
A seven year covenant will be made with Israel and many nations soon according to OT prophets. But half way through this man will break the covenant, set Himself up as God in the Temple. You’ll be required to take the mark of this man upon you and you will be required to worship him. Some in Israel will refuse and flee, likely for Petra. And they will be supernaturally kept by God as in the Exodus.
You don’t want to be alive during this time Moshe.
Hello again Holly,
I have a trouble to share, I was wondering if you could help me with?
For the past 3 years, I have been a complete apostate, I have turned my back on God entirely, I have listened to many staunch anti-christian youtubers and I do not feel reconciliation with God is possible, especially when I ponder on the warnings from the book of Hebrews.
Is there any helpful resource you can point me in the direction of, to help me let go of clinging onto my past, and trust God wholeheartedly, so I can be assured? I know I have done wrong, and I have stopped listening to those anti-Christ YouTube channels. Is that evidence of God’s conviction and perhaps correction?
Many thanks.
– Liam
Hi Liam, listening to youtubers and tiktokkers, can definitely unsettle a person. So many false teachers out there. The Reconciliation with God was made once for all by Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross (Rom 5:10-11; Heb 10:10-14). That is a one time thing which perfects us forever in His sight. But we still have our experience here in this lifetime. Remember the story of the Prodigal Son? He really didn’t even have the right heart, he was just hungry. Oh he would say he was sorry, but it was so he could get out of his terrible situation. But his Father wasn’t looking for anything from His son, He just wanted His son home in His arms.
God has much more love than earthly fathers, and He just wants you home. 1 John 1:9 says when we confess (just agree with God) that it was wrong, everything is right again. Not for Him, He was always waiting. He is the faithful one, just tell Him about it and move foreward. Try to not think of words like ‘wholeheartedly’, instead, just talk to God like the friend He is and tell Him you need His help. There is a hint here in a story with Mary and Martha about our walk with Him:
Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”
And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”
So the hint I see is talking to Jesus, spending time with Him, hear His Word. God’s Word is our ‘necessary food’ Job said. Just remember, we don’t look for evidence in behavior. We need His Word for assurance. That’s why John said He wrote, so that we would know we had eternal life (1 John 5:31 and John 20:31 regarding the entire book of John).
So get into the Word, a little every day. Talk to Him while you’re reading it. Just do it. Pray and ask for Him to help. It’s what I did when I had gotten so far off track years ago. No matter what, His Word and prayer is always the answer. This is what He says He will do for you if you will apply yourself to His knowledge.
Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise,
And apply your heart to my knowledge;
For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you;
Let them all be fixed upon your lips,
So that your trust may be in the Lord;
I have instructed you today,
even you .
Have I not written to you excellent things
Of counsels and knowledge,
That I may make you know the certainty of the words of truth,
That you may answer words of truth
To those who send to you?
Proverbs 22:17-21
Remember, Jesus answered Satan with “It is written” (Matt 4, Luke 4). Knowing the Word will strenghten our shield of faith (Rom 10:17; Eph 6:17).
Remember, He is always waiting. The Shepherd always loves and goes after His lost sheep.
Thank you Holly for your thoughtful reply, I will do what I can to apply The Lords word to my circumstance. I will start out small, with a reading of Proverbs, and see how things develop from there, with prayer. I am encouraged, thank you.
I once heard a man say “satan will do whatever he can to keep people away from reading the Bible.” I feel that is the trap I had fallen into.
Kind Regards, and God bless.
Liam
Hi Liam. That’s what I did. My Bible had gotten dusty. And I knew I should be reading. I told Him I would do something each day if He would help me. I did start with Proverbs and Psalms, but I actually would suggest you start with John. I think it’s super important for us to be reminded of our position in Christ. That we are His and we cannot be taken from Him, nor can we take ourselves from Him.
I think finally I stopped trying to ‘be a Christian’ and accept that I was, not on the basis of anything I had done or had not done, but solely on the basis of what He has done for us all. I finally stared to re-grasp it is by belief in His good news. Because He is to be believed. And that faith pleases Him. So resting that we ARE His child makes it so much easier to grow in Him. Then He gives us this book so we can learn and grow. And it keeps us from the fiery darts of the enemy.
I started with Prov 3:5-6 and Luke 10:38-42 as my premise. But I would listen to no one if I did not practice Acts 17:11 and 1 Thess 5:21. Best thing I ever learned I think.
Praying for you, don’t beat yourself up, remember we all struggle with our flesh and blood and will until we die (Rom 7:24-25).