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  • Is Jesus a Christian? | Answers 4 Saints

    Is Jesus a Christian? There was only one person in the entire Bible that did everything right He taught us how to love our neighbor love God and He said if you love me keep my commandments. But we Christians do the opposite Torah, God's Book of Love Instructions For many are called, but few are chosen.” God cannot stand the prayers of anyone who disobeys his Law. Proverbs 28:9 Jesus vs. Yeshua: Are They Really the Same Messiah??? Understanding God's Grace | The Most Incredible Gift Explained in 5 Simple Points THREE Requirements of a True Christian... Is Baptism Necessary? Jesus’ TRUE Gospel Has Been SUPPRESSED | Learn What the Kingdom of God Actually Is Are you a REAL Christian? | Here Are 4 Ways to Prove It The Gospel Jesus Preached Is Different than What Most Have Been Taught Divided in Truth or United in Error The Bible Reveals Our Origins, Future, Purpose, Salvation, and Destiny Where was Jesus born

  • The Purpose Of Life | Answers4saints.com

    The Three greatest questions of life 1. Where did I come from? 2. Why am I here? You are here to fear God, and keep His commandments for this is the duty of all mankind. 3. Where am I going? Your lifeline determines whether you will spend eternity with God. The purpose of life The purpose of life video The Ten Commandments 613 and 1500 commandments What Does It Mean to Walk Like Christ? Be aware of The RabbiI when talking about the New Testament. Romeans 11:25 The Three greatest questions of life 1. Where did I come from? The answer is in Genesis 1.1 God created everything 2. Why am I here? That's found in Genesis 15:6 and Ecclesiastes 12:1 Your here to determine your destiny, fear God, and keep His commandments for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will judge every secret thing whether good or evil Hebrew 9:27 3. Where am I going? that's in Genesis 25:8 Your lifeline determines whether you will spend eternity with God in the new Jerusalem on earth or whether you will spend it in the lake of fire. Weeping and gnashing of teeth your choice. The Fear of God is Utmost …12And by these, my son, be further warned: There is no end to the making of many books, and much study wearies the body. 13 When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the whole duty of man. 14For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether good or evil. Ecclesiastes 12:13 If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination. Proverbs 28:9 7 Psalm 101:7 No one who practices deceit shall dwell in my house; no one who utters lies shall continue before my eyes. 7 I will not allow deceivers to serve in my house, and liars will not stay in my presence. Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity. [f ] I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” Chist 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." He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Yeshua Messiah so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. Galatians 3:14 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 The phrase "salvation is by grace through faith, not by works, so that no one can boast" comes from the Bible (Ephesians 2:8-9) and emphasizes that salvation is a free gift from God received by faith, not earned through good deeds. While works are not the source of salvation, they are a natural and evidence of a genuine, transformed life that results from receiving God's grace through faith. Every verse requires Obedience Every command is an act of obedience refusal is a deliberate act of defiance We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, who is given by God to those who obey him.” Acts 5:32 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: Must Live Whoever claims to live in him must live as Yeshua did.1 John 2:6 Must Do But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. James 1:2 Love John 14:15, which states, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments". Salvation Matthew 19:17, as stating, "If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments". Faith , James 2:17 states, "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead" Baptism & Repentance Acts 2:32 Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven, and you will receive the gift of the … Sabbath Exodus 20:8. The full passage, Exodus 20:8-11, explains that six days are for labor, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord, a day to do no work to honor the creation and God's rest. Works Ephesians 2:10, which states, "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them" Food laws Leviticus Chapter 11. This chapter details God's instructions to Moses and Aaron regarding which land animals, water animals, birds, and flying insects the Israelites were permitted to eat and which were considered detestable. Born again Yeshua Messiah replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”John 3: Gods appointed days Leviticus 23:1-4, which describes the Lord's appointed feasts (also known as God's holy days) that the Israelites were to proclaim as sacred assemblies at their appointed times. This chapter details the Sabbath and other festivals like the Passover and Festival of Unleavened Bread. Worship God in Spirit and truth John 4:24, where Jesus states, "God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth". This passage emphasizes that genuine worship comes from a transformed inner being (the "spirit"), empowered by the Holy Spirit and unhindered by physical location, and aligns with the revealed truth of God's word and character, Endures to the end Matthew 24:13 in the Bible states, "but the one who endures to the end will be saved" Grafted into Israel – Ephesians 2:12–13 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Confess Matthew 10:32 is Jesus's command that "everyone who confesses me before men, I also will confess before my Father who is in heaven" Calls on the name Romans 10:13-15 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

  • 3 | Answers 4 Saints The Rose

    The Rose represents blessing and rewards, for those who keep Yehovah’s commandments, for those who refuse to practice sinning. The red color represents His blood His life, He shed for our sins, because of our disobedience. It comes with the crown of life. Gods gift to huminity the 10 commandments THE ROSE The Rose represents the blessings and rewards reserved for those who keep Yehovah’s commandments and refuse to live in deliberate sin. Its deep red color points to the life and precious blood of Yeshua , shed for our sins and disobedience, bringing with it the crown of life. The Thorns symbolize weeping, gnashing of teeth, and those left without hope. Because of our transgressions, Yeshua endured severe torture. The Nails represent the condemnation facing those who refuse to repent or keep the commandments —a judgment that ends in the second death. As Job 36:12 warns: “If they do not listen, they will perish by the sword and die without knowledge.” The decrees of Yehovah are completely trustworthy, imparting wisdom to the simple. The commandments of Yehovah are right, bringing pure joy to the heart. The directives of Yehovah are clear, illuminating how we ought to live. Reverence for Yehovah is pure, enduring forever. The laws of Yehovah are perfect truth ; every single one is fair and just. They are far more desirable than gold —even the finest, purest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping directly from the comb. By them Your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward . (Psalm 19:7–11) 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

  • Judgement | Answers 4 Saints

    Then comes the judgement 📋 The Final Appointment with God Just as man is appointed to die once, and after that to face judgment,— Hebrews 9:27 Here is the expanded, 10-question version of the test. It drives home the absolute weight of that single, unavoidable appointment with death and judgment, stripping away every possible excuse a churchgoer might use to stall. Question 1: The Timeline of Repentance Traditional church culture often conditions people to think they have plenty of time to align their lives with the truth later on. According to the absolute law of mortality, when does your opportunity to stop practicing lawlessness (anomia) permanently end? A) It extends past the grave, offering a second chance to look at the commandments. B) The exact second your physical breath stops. There are no extensions, no revisions, and no delays. Question 2: The Representation at the Throne When you stand at the judgment seat described in Hebrews 9:27, who will be standing there with you to answer for the way you lived your life? A) Your pastor, your spouse, or your church community to help explain your traditions. B) Absolutely no one. You will stand entirely alone, answering directly for whether you physically walked as He walked. Question 3: The Currency of Judgment Many churchgoers rely on their regular attendance, church titles, or good intentions as their security. When the books are opened after death, what is the ultimate standard of measurement? A) How popular your church was and how sincere your human traditions felt. B) Literal alignment with the unchanging Word of God and the physical footsteps of the Messiah (1 John 2:6). Question 4: The Delusion of "Later" If a conditioned mind looks at a clear commandment today (like the Seventh-Day Sabbath or the dietary laws) and says, "I'll look into that some other time," what are they gambling with? A) A harmless delay that grace will automatically cover. B) A sudden, unannounced arrival at their fixed appointment with death—sealing them forever in a state of unacknowledged betrayal. Question 5: The Passing Grade Fallacy Many churchgoers believe they will pass judgment because they are "better than most people" or because they don't do "the really bad sins." What does the mirror of God’s Law say about this excuse at judgment? A) God grades on a curve and compares you to the rest of the world. B) God compares you strictly to His perfect standard. Breaking even one point of the Torah makes you guilty of lawlessness. Question 6: The Pastor’s Accountability Shield If your local pastor told you from the pulpit that the Seventh-Day Sabbath was changed or that the dietary laws were done away with, whose head will that error fall on when you stand before the throne? A) The pastor will take the blame, and you will be let off the hook for just following orders. B) You will answer for your own blindness. The blind leading the blind means both fall into the ditch. Question 7: The Finality of the Closed Door In Matthew 25, the foolish virgins arrived late, knocked on the door, and cried out to be let in. What does their sudden, permanent rejection teach us about the moment after death? A) That God will eventually relent if you beg long and hard enough after you die. B) That once the door of mortality is shut, the Master's decision is final and absolute. Question 8: The Myth of the Church Altar Many rely on a past prayer, a baptism certificate, or an emotional night at a church altar as a permanent insurance policy against judgment. If that past event didn't result in a lifestyle of physical obedience, what is it worth on Judgment Day? A) It is a valid, unbreakable contract of salvation regardless of how you lived. B) It is a worthless piece of paper that proves you talked the talk but refused to walk the walk. Question 9: The "Depart from Me" Reality In Matthew 7:22-23, the people rejected by Yeshua were completely shocked. They expected a reward. What was the exact reason they were cast away on their judgment day? A) They didn't do enough church activities or build a big enough ministry. B) They practiced anomia—living a lifestyle completely detached from and opposite to God’s Torah. Question 10: The Ultimate Fear of Man If you refuse to obey the Creator's physical commandments today because you are terrified that your friends, family, or church will turn on you, what are you failing to realize about the moment of death? A) That keeping the peace with people on earth is more important than keeping the covenant. B) That every single person you are trying to please today will be completely absent from your judgment. Their opinions will mean nothing when you face the Judge. ⚖️ The Verdict Blueprint If you chose "B" for every answer: Awake to Reality. You understand that time is a luxury you do not own. You recognize that the delusion of traditional comfort will instantly vaporize the moment you close your eyes in death, leaving you alone before the Judge. If you made excuses or chose "A": Stalling in Delusion. You are currently banking on a traditional safety net that does not exist in scripture. You are treating a terrifying, fixed appointment like an optional meeting. "Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth." — Proverbs 27:1 The clock is ticking down to your appointment. Drop the church excuses, face the mirror, and align your walk with the Messiah before your time runs out. This diagnostic test uses the same direct, mirroring method. It contrasts the common theological defenses used to excuse a lawless lifestyle with the stark, uncompromised warnings found throughout the scriptures. 📋 The "Profession vs. Walk" Mirror Test Instructions: Answer these 4 direct questions honestly based on the everyday choices, priorities, and scriptural claims of the modern believer you are evaluating. Question 1: The Definition of Deception If this person reads the warning in James 1:22 ("Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves"), how do they reconcile their own lifestyle? A) They recognize that "doing the Word" means physically mimicking the obedience, Sabbaths, and righteousness of the Messiah, viewing any other path as self-deception. B) They believe that mentally agreeing with theology or sitting in a pew satisfies the text, using "grace" to redefine a hearer as a doer. Question 2: The Fruit of Knowing Him According to 1 John 2:4, "The man who says, 'I know Him,' but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him." When confronted with the actual commandments Christ kept (the Torah), how does this person respond? A) They acknowledge that to know Him is to obey the same instructions He obeyed, striving for total alignment with His walk. B) They claim they "know Him" through an emotional connection or a past prayer, dismissing His actual commands as an outdated yoke meant only for a bygone era. Question 3: The True Measure of Love When Jesus says, "If you love me, keep my commandments," and John reinforces it in 1 John 5:3 ("For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments"), what does "love" look like in this person's life? A) Love is treated as a binding action of physical obedience to the Father's established instructions and statutes. B) Love is treated as a subjective feeling, a sentimental vibe, or an internal emotion that requires no adherence to a biblical calendar, diet, or Sabbath. Question 4: The Reality of Coming Judgment Scripture states in John 3:36 that "anyone who doesn't obey the Son will never experience eternal life but will remain under God's angry judgment." Knowing that the Son explicitly warned in Matthew 5:17–19 that not a single jot or tittle would pass from the Law, how does this person view the final accounting? A) They realize that the Son commands an active turn away from lawlessness (sin) and toward the Torah, making repentance a physical U-turn in behavior. B) They assume their confession shields them from any requirement to obey, believing the Son "fulfilled" the Law so that they are free to ignore it without facing consequences. The Scoring Key: Look back at the boxes checked. If the answers lean toward B, the mirror reveals a sobering truth: it is impossible to claim the destination of the Savior while walking in the exact opposite direction.

  • Quick Self test | Answers 4 Saints

    The statement " God gives His Spirit to those who keep His commandments" is a core theological concept, emphasizing that obedience to God's commands is a sign of love and a means by which His Spirit empowers believers to live a life pleasing to Him. Acts 5:32 Romans 8:9, he writes: "But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all". Self-Test The Examination of Faith: A Self-Test Scriptural Requirements for Salvation. "Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith.It asks: Is my faith a living, breathing part of who I am, or am I just going through the motions?Test yourselves..." — 2 Corinthians 13:5 He wants us to find out now, in the quiet of our own prayer lives, if we are operating in the flesh or the Spirit—rather than standing before Him on Judgement Day only to hear the words, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness" (Matthew 7:23). The Line in the Sand Scriptural Assessment There is no gray area, no partial alignment, and no grading on a curve. In the economy of God's Kingdom, you are either a submissive subject or an active rebel. Your daily actions, your handling of His instructions, and the fruit of your lifestyle are the evidence that will either vindicate you or convict you. Use this 15-point diagnostic to weigh your walk under the light of the written Word. Test 1: The Benchmark of Gathering "He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad." — Matthew 12:30 The Question: Are your daily choices, your lifestyle, and the traditions you practice actively gathering people into covenant obedience to God's instructions, or are your actions scattering them away into compromise, lawlessness 1 John 3:4, and worldly customs? By saying "He who is not with Me is against Me," He eliminated any possibility of a "neutral ground." In a spiritual war, sitting on the fence is not an option. If you are not actively working for the Kingdom of Light, your existence naturally serves the Kingdom of Darkness. Are your daily choices, your lifestyle, and the traditions you practice actively gathering people into covenant obedience to God's instructions, or are your actions scattering them away into compromise, lawlessness, and worldly customs? Your Answer: [ ] YES, I am gathering / [ ] NO, I am scattering Test 2: The Benchmark of the Spirit "And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him." — Acts 5:32 The Question: Does the spirit inside you cause you to humbly submit to and keep the Father's commandments (Ezekiel 36:27), or does it make excuses, calling obedience "legalism" while clinging to man-made traditions? (God only gives His true Spirit to those who obey Him). Your Answer: [ ] YES, it leads to obedience / [ ] NO, it rejects His law Test 3: The Benchmark of Truth "He who says, 'I know Him,' and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." — 1 John 2:4 The Question: When confronted with the plain instructions of Scripture, do you lay your life down flat to align with them, or do you pretend to know God through a mere "feeling" or traditional heritage while ignoring His laws? Your Answer: [ ] YES, the truth is in me / [ ] NO, I am deceiving myself Test 4: The Benchmark of Love "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." — John 13:35 The Question: Is your life marked by genuine, sacrificial love and service toward the brethren who walk in the truth, or is it hindered by pride, malice, or division? Your Answer: [ ] YES / [ ] NO Test 5: The Benchmark of Fruit "Every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit... Therefore by their fruits you will know them." — Matthew 7:17, 20 The Question: Does the daily output of your life consistently produce the supernatural fruit of the Spirit—patience, kindness, goodness, and self-control—or do you still bear the bitter fruit of the flesh? Your Answer: [ ] YES / [ ] NO Test 6: The Benchmark of the Tongue "If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless." — James 1:26 The Question: Is your speech ruled by scriptural self-control, or is your tongue unbridled—frequently given over to anger, gossip, profane language, or tearing others down? Your Answer: [ ] YES / [ ] NO Test 7: The Benchmark of Separation "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." — 1 John 2:15 The Question: Have you consciously set yourself apart from worldly entertainment, fleshly standards, and pagan-rooted traditions because you love the Father more than the culture? Jeremiah 10:43 For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut down a tree from the forest; it is shaped with a chisel by the hands of a craftsman. 4 They adorn it with silver and gold and fasten it with hammer and nails, so that it will not totter. Your Answer: [ ] YES / [ ] NO Test 8: The Benchmark of Action "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." — James 1:22 The Question: When you discover a direct command or truth written in the Scriptures, do you immediately adjust your life to execute it, or do you simply listen to it and remain unchanged? Your Answer: [ ] YES / [ ] NO Test 9: The Benchmark of Sovereignty "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other... You cannot serve God and mammon (money)." — Matthew 6:24 The Question: Does the Almighty possess total authority over how you acquire, manage, and distribute your financial resources, or does the pursuit of wealth, security, and personal comfort govern your choices? Your Answer: [ ] YES / [ ] NO Test 10: The Benchmark of Mercy "He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, but he who honors Him has mercy on the needy." — Proverbs 14:31 The Question: Do you actively demonstrate compassion, care, and tangible help to the poor, weak, or distressed when it is within your power to do so? Your Answer: [ ] YES / [ ] NO Test 11: The Benchmark of Correction "Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser..." — Proverbs 9:8-9 The Question: When another believer brings scriptural correction to expose an error or a sin in your walk, do you receive it with humility and appreciation, or do you respond with anger, pride, and self-defense? Your Answer: [ ] YES / [ ] NO Test 12: The Benchmark of Humility "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble... Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up." — James 4:6, 10 The Question: Are you genuinely willing to take the lowest seat, serve without recognition, and prioritize God's reputation above your own ego and the desire to be right? Your Answer: [ ] YES / [ ] NO Test 13: The Benchmark of Endurance "But he who endures to the end shall be saved." — Matthew 24:13 The Question: Do you remain steadfast in obeying God's truth when trials, persecution, or family rejection come against you, or do you compromise your walk to escape friction or pressure? Your Answer: [ ] YES / [ ] NO Test 14: The Benchmark of Pure Worship "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." — John 4:24 The Question: Do you worship God strictly according to the clean parameters defined in His Word, or do you try to honor Him using methods, calendars, and celebrations adopted from pagan cultures? Your Answer: [ ] YES / [ ] NO Test 15: The Benchmark of Fear of Man "The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever treats the Lord shall be safe." — Proverbs 29:25 The Question: Is your ultimate goal to please the Master regardless of public opinion, or do you alter your speech, actions, and scriptural standards to seek the approval and validation of human beings? Your Answer: [ ] YES / [ ] NO ⚖️ Evaluating the Results If you answered YES to all 15: You are With God. Your eyes and ears have been opened by a soft heart, and the true Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) is operating inside you, giving you the supernatural power and desire to walk in His covenant statutes (Ezekiel 36:27). If you answered NO to any of them: You are Against God. This is the definition of spiritual blindness. By rejecting the light of His instructions in favor of your own comfort or man-made religious traditions, you have closed your own eyes. If you persist in this state, God will eventually confirm you in that darkness, making it so you can no longer hear or see the truth. "Choose this day whom you will serve... but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." — Joshua 24:15

  • Worship On Sunday? | Answers4saints.com

    Romans 14 Is talking about fasting whether you eat or not eat. They are talking about which day should they fast. The word Sabbath is not found in the book of Romans. The Sabbath is the seventh day on the calendar that day is Saturday

  • I Didnt come to bring peace but a swordd | Answers 4 Saints

    Christ didn't come to bring peace but a sword The Real Jesus Not Peace, but a Sword 34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. Matthew 10:34-36 Watchman’s 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, This passage from Ephesians 4:25 urges believers to reject falsehood, lies, and deceit in favor of speaking the truth to their neighbors. The core reasoning is that Christians are interconnected members of one body—the body of Christ—making lying to one another equivalent to harming oneself. Sheep among Wolves …20 For it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.… Matthew 10:20-22 “I’ve come to start a fire on this earth—how I wish it were blazing right now! I’ve come to change everything, turn everything right side up—how I long for it to be finished! Do you think I came to smooth things over and make everything nice? Not so. I’ve come to disrupt and confront! From now on, when you find five in a house, it will be— Three against two, and two against three; Father against son, and son against father; Mother against daughter, and daughter against mother; Mother-in-law against bride, and bride against mother-in-law.” Luke 12:49 Therefore, rejecting all falsehood [whether lying, defrauding, telling half-truths, spreading rumors, any such as these], SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE WITH HIS NEIGHBOR , for we are all parts of one another [and we are all parts of the body of Christ]. New Life in Christ Ephesians 4:25 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. 25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one another. 26“Be angry, yet do not sin.” Do not let the sun set upon your anger, BE ANGRY [at sin--at immorality, at injustice, at ungodly behavior], YET DO NOT SIN; do not let your anger [cause you shame, nor allow it to] last until the sun goes down. 27 And do not give the devil an opportunity [to lead you into sin by holding a grudge, or nurturing anger, or harboring resentment, or cultivating bitterness]. 28 The thief [who has become a believer] must no longer steal, but instead he must work hard [making an honest living], producing that which is good with his own hands, so that he will have something to share with those in need. 29 Do not let unwholesome [foul, profane, worthless, vulgar] words ever come out of your mouth, but only such speech as is good for building up others, according to the need and the occasion, so that it will be a blessing to those who hear [you speak]. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God [but seek to please Him], by whom you were sealed and marked [branded as God’s own] for the day of redemption [the final deliverance from the consequences of sin]. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor [perpetual animosity, resentment, strife, fault-finding] and slander be put away from you, along with every kind of malice [all spitefulness, verbal abuse, malevolence]. 32 Be kind and helpful to one another, tender-hearted [compassionate, understanding] , forgiving one another [readily and freely], just as God in Christ also forgave [c] you. I Never Knew You 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ Matthew 7:21-23 Narrow gate 13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction , and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. Matthew 7:13-14 Many are called but few are chosen

  • 5 main ways to Love God | Answers 4 Saints

    Messianic Teachings for Christians if you have the courage to face scriptural truth watch the videos And this is love: Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. 1 John 2:4 We must walk in accordance with His commandments and be guided continually by His precepts. “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ has forgiven you. Meditate on His creation is marvelous in its beauty, detail, and usefulness, and His thoughts are deeper than any human being can comprehend. His ways are not our ways. His word never changes. Begin your Bible Study study with prayer and reverence it's the word of God. Set aside time every day to meditate on God's Word and what His Son did for us. How you live your life shows God and man what you Believe, Searching for the truth about a relationship with God Messianic teachings for Christians. Teachings we learned when going to church that is contrary to the bible click on the picture Judgments and Promises Isaiah 65:2 1“I revealed Myself to those who did not ask for Me; I was found by those who did not seek Me. To a nation that did not call My name, I said, ‘Here I am! Here I am!’ 2All day long I have held out My hands to an obstinate people who walk in the wrong path, who follow their own imaginations,… 6 And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. Love the LORD your God and keep his requirements, his decrees, his laws and his commands always. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus. Through him, we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his name’s sake. You are my friends if you do what I command. “If you love me, keep my commands. 6 God “will repay each person according to what they have done.” 7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man, the many will be made righteous.

  • Kingdom of Heaven | Answers 4 Saints

    YEHOVAH 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". Throughout the Hebrew Scriptures, Yehovah (YHWH) reveals His nature, character, and standards through direct declarations ("I am..." or "Thus says YEHOVAH and prophetic oracles spoken in the first person. Here are the primary things God declared about Himself across key categories: His Eternal Nature and Exclusivity He alone is God; there is no other: "I am Yehovah, and there is no other; besides Me there is no God." — Isaiah 45:5 He is self-existent and unchanging: "I AM WHO I AM." — Exodus 3:14 "For I, Yehovah, do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed." — Malachi 3:6 He transcends time (the First and the Last): "I am the first and I am the last; besides Me there is no god." — Isaiah 44:6 He created everything alone: "I am Yehovah, maker of all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by Myself." — Isaiah 44:24 Truthfulness, Faithfulness, and Promises He cannot lie or change His mind: "God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?" — Numbers 23:19 His word never fails to accomplish its purpose: "So shall My word be that goes out from My mouth; it shall not return to Me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it." — Isaiah 55:11 He keeps covenant and steadfast love: "Know therefore that Yehovah your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love Him and keep His commandments, to a thousand generations." — Deuteronomy 7:9 Justice, Righteousness, and Accountability He judges impartially and renders to each according to their ways: "I, Yehovah, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give each man according to his ways, according to the results of his deeds." — Jeremiah 17:10 He does not clear the guilty without justice: "Yehovah... will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation." — Exodus 34:7 Vengeance and recompense belong to Him alone: "Vengeance is Mine, and recompense, for the time when their foot shall slip; for the day of their calamity is at hand." — Deuteronomy 32:35 He loves justice and hates robbery/iniquity: "For I, Yehovah, love justice; I hate robbery and wrong; I will faithfully give them their recompense." — Isaiah 61:8 Mercy, Compassion, and Hesed (Loving-kindness) His foundational self-proclamation on Mount Sinai: "Yehovah, Yehovah, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin..." — Exodus 34:6–7 He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked: "As I live, declares the Lord Yehovah, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live." — Ezekiel 33:11 He is eager to forgive when one turns back: "I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake, and I will not remember your sins." — Isaiah 43:25 Holiness and Sovereignty He commands holiness because He is holy: "Speak to all the congregation of the sons of Israel and say to them, 'You shall be holy, for I, Yehovah your God, am holy.'" — Leviticus 19:2 He does not share His glory with idols: "I am Yehovah; that is My name; My glory I give to no other, nor My praise to carved idols." — Isaiah 42:8 He holds ultimate sovereignty over history and life: "See now that I, even I, am He, and there is no god beside Me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of My hand." — Deuteronomy 32:39 Here is a list focusing strictly on the literal meanings and definitions of the primary Hebrew names and compound titles: Yehovah / Yahweh (יהוה) – "The Self-Existent One," "He Who Is," or "He Brings Into Being" (from the root verb meaning to be or to exist). Yeshua (יֵשׁוּעַ) – "Yehovah Is Salvation" or "He Will Save" (contracted from Yehoshua / Joshua). Elohim (אֱלֹהִים) – "The Supreme Creator," "Mighty Ruler," or "Judge" (plural of majesty denoting fullness of supreme divine power). El (אֵל) – "The Mighty One" or "Strong God." Adonai (אֲדֹנָי) – "My Lord," "Master," or "Sovereign Owner." El Shaddai (אֵל שַׁדַּי) – "God Almighty" or "God All-Sufficient." El Elyon (אֵל עֶלְיוֹן) – "God Most High" or "The Supreme Exalted God." El Olam (אֵל עוֹלָם) – "The Everlasting God" or "God of Eternity." El Roi (אֵל רֳאִי) – "The God Who Sees Me." Yehovah Jireh / Yireh (יְהוָה יִרְאֶה) – "Yehovah Will Provide" or "Yehovah Sees to It." Yehovah Rapha (יְהוָה רֹפְאֶךָ) – "Yehovah Who Heals You." Yehovah Nissi (יְהוָה נִסִּי) – "Yehovah Is My Banner" (or standard of rallying and victory). Yehovah Shalom (יְהוָה שָׁלוֹם) – "Yehovah Is Peace" (wholeness, completeness, and soundness). Yehovah Tsidkenu (יְהוָה צִדְקֵנוּ) – "Yehovah Our Righteousness." Yehovah Sabaoth (יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת) – "Yehovah of Hosts" or "Yehovah of Armies" (commanding heavenly and earthly legions). Yehovah Shammah (יְהוָה שָׁמָּה) – "Yehovah Is There" (dwelling present). Yehovah Rohi / Ro'i (יְהוָה רֹעִי) – "Yehovah Is My Shepherd." Yehovah Mekoddishkem (יְהוָה מְקַדִּשְׁכֶם) – "Yehovah Who Sanctifies You" (sets you apart as holy). Here is a list of key Bible verses that demonstrate God's proactive, sacrificial love for humanity, especially while people were still broken and distant: John 3:16 – God demonstrated the magnitude of His love for the world by giving His unique Son, ensuring that everyone who believes in Him would not perish but have everlasting life. Romans 5:8 – God proves His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners and completely undeserving, the Messiah died on our behalf. 1 John 4:9–10 – The love of God was manifested among us when He sent His only Son into the world so that we might live through Him; real love is defined not by our love for God, but by His initiative to send His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Ephesians 2:4–5 – Because of His immense mercy and the great love with which He loved us, God brought us to life with the Messiah even when we were spiritually dead in our transgressions and sins. 1 John 3:16 – We understand what true love is through this concrete action: Yeshua the Messiah laid down His own life for our sake, setting the standard for how we ought to love. Romans 8:31–32 – Since God did not spare His own Son but willingly delivered Him up for us all, we have the certainty that He will generously give us all things needed for life. 1 John 4:19 – We are empowered to love God and others because He first took the initiative to love us. Titus 3:4–5 – When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us not because of righteous deeds we had accomplished, but solely according to His own mercy and washing of renewal through Yeshua the Messiah. Galatians 2:20 – The life of faith is lived in reliance on the Son of God, Yeshua, who personally loved us and willingly gave Himself over for us. Jeremiah 31:3 – Yehovah declared to His people from of old that He has loved them with an everlasting,17 unconditional love, continually drawing them with His enduring loving kindness (chesed). Zephaniah 3:17 – Yehovah your God is a mighty Savior in your midst who rejoices over His people with gladness, quiets them with His love, and exults over them with singing. Here is a list of key Scriptures from the Torah, the Prophets, and the New Testament that explicitly warn of judgment, ruin, and doom resulting from forsaking and disobeying God's commandments: Deuteronomy 28:15 – "But if you will not obey the voice of Yehovah your God or be careful to do all His commandments and His statutes that I command you today, then all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you." The chapter outlines extensive warnings of disease, drought, defeat before enemies, and national ruin. Leviticus 26:14–17 – Yehovah warns that turning away from His statutes and breaking His covenant brings terror, sudden panic, consumption, fever, defeat by adversaries, and fleeing when no one pursues. Proverbs 13:13 – "Whoever despises the word br ings destruction on himself, but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded." Proverbs 28:9 – "If one turns away his ear from hearing the law [Torah], even his prayer is an abomination." Isaiah 1:19–20 – "If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword ; for the mouth of Yehovah has spoken." Isaiah 5:24 – "Therefore, as the tongue of fire devours the stubble, and as dry grass sinks down in the flame, so their root will be as rottenness, and their blossom go up like dust; for they have rejected the law of Yehovah of hosts, and have despised the word of the Holy One of Israel." Jeremiah 11:3–4 – "Thus says Yehovah, the God of Israel: Cursed be the man who does not hear the words of this covenant that I commanded your fathers when I brought them out of the land of Egypt." Ezekiel 18:24 – "When a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice and does the same abominations that the wicked person does, shall he live? None of the righteous deeds that he has done shall be remembered; for the treachery of which he is guilty and the sin he has committed, for them he shall die." Hosea 4:6 – "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge , I reject you from being a priest to Me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children." Matthew 7:21–23 – Yeshua warns: "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven , but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven... And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness [torah-lessness].'" Matthew 7:26–27 – Yeshua warns that anyone who hears His words and does not do them is like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand : the rain fell, the floods came, the winds beat against that house, and it collapsed in complete ruin. John 3:36 – "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him." 2 Thessalonians 1:7–9 – Warning of the day when the Master Yeshua is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel, suffering the punishment of eternal destruction. Hebrews 10:26–27 – "For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries." 1 John 2:3–4 – "And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. Whoever says 'I know Him' but does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him." Revelation 22:14–15 – "Blessed are those who wash their robes [keep His commandments], so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood." Core Biblical & Theological Significance 1. Covenant Renewal After Radical Failure The context is critical: Israel had just broken the covenant through idolatry (the Golden Calf). Under strict, unmitigated justice, the covenant was void. By proclaiming these attributes, God demonstrated that His relationship with humanity is anchored not in human perfection, but in divine mercy that makes restoration possible. 2. The Asymmetry of Grace Over Judgment In verse 7, God states that He stores up chesed (steadfast love) for thousands of generations, while visiting iniquity upon the third and fourth generation of those who hate Him. The arithmetic of God's character is overwhelmingly weighted toward compassion: thousandfold grace far outlasts generational consequence. 3. Complete Coverage of Human Moral Failure The trio in Attribute 10–12 covers the entire taxonomy of sin: Avon (Iniquity): Premeditated wrongdoing or inner distortion. Pesha (Transgression) : Defiant revolt against God's authority. Chata'ah (Sin): Unintentional failings and human weakness. By explicitly mentioning all three, the text emphasizes that no category of human failure lies beyond the reach of divine pardon when accompanied by genuine repentance. 4. The Biblical "Liturgical Anchor" Whenever biblical figures found themselves or their communities in existential peril due to disobedience, they invoked this exact formula to appeal to God's self-revelation: Moses at Kadesh-barnea (Numbers 14:18): When the people refused to enter the Promised Land, Moses appealed directly to these words to stay judgment. Jonah’s Lament (Jonah 4:2) : Jonah admitted he fled to Tarshish precisely because he knew God embodied these attributes and would spare Nineveh if they repented. The Prophets and Psalms (Joel 2:13, Micah 7:18–20, Psalm 86:15, Psalm 103:8): The phrase erech apayim ve-rav chesed ("slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love") became the primary Old Testament definition of who God is. Throughout the Scriptures, the judgments (mishpatim) of Yehovah appear not as arbitrary outbursts of anger, but as judicial verdicts rendered by the Judge of all the earth. Biblically, God’s judgments fall into distinct categories: universal cosmic judgments, verdicts against pagan nations, covenant discipline on Israel, and individual accountability. Here is a structured overview of the major divine judgments recorded in Scripture: Universal & Ancient World Judgments The Judgment in Eden (Genesis 3): Following the rebellion of Adam and Eve, God issued judicial sentences affecting mortality, childbirth, labor, and the serpent, establishing the fundamental rift between humanity and creation. The Great Deluge (Genesis 6–8): Enacted because "the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." The verdict reset human civilization while preserving Noah's family through the Ark. The Dispenser of Tongues at Babel (Genesis 11): Human arrogance attempted to make a name for itself and avoid filling the earth; God’s judgment scattered humanity by confounding their languages. Judgments Against Corrupt Cities & Pagan Empires Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18–19): After an inquiry into their systemic cruelty, oppression of the poor, and sexual degradation (Ezekiel 16:49–50; Genesis 18:20–21), fire and brimstone fell upon the cities of the plain. The Ten Plagues on Egypt (Exodus 7–12): Directly identified as a judgment against the gods of Egypt (Exodus 12:12) and against Pharaoh's systemic enslavement and infanticide of the Israelites. The Canaanite Nations (Leviticus 18: 24–28, Deuteronomy 9:4–5): God explicitly noted that their expulsion was not due to Israel’s righteousness, but because the land had become defiled by their practices, including child sacrifice through fire to Molech. Assyria / Nineveh (Nahum 1–3): While spared a century earlier under Jonah's preaching, Nineveh was eventually brought down due to ruthless imperialism, violence, and decei t. Babylon (Jeremiah 50–51, Daniel 5): Judged for imperial hubris, the destruction of the Temple, and King Belshazzar's desecration of the sacred vessels , culminating in the handwriting on the wall: "Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin." Covenant Discipline on Israel & Judah Under the terms of the Mosaic Covenant (Leviticus 26, Deuteronomy 28), God warned that persistent unfaithfulness and idolatry would bring progressive covenant judgments designed to call the nation back: The Wilderness Generation (Numbers 14): After rejecting the report of the Promised Land at Kadesh-barnea and refusing to trust God, the generation aged twenty and older was sentenced to wander the wilderness for 40 years until they perished. The Northern Kingdom / Samaria (2 Kings 17): In 722 BC, the ten northern tribes fell to the Assyrian Empire and were scattered due to persistent idolatry, golden calf worship, and rejecting the prophets. The Destruction of Jerusalem and the Babylonian Exile (2 Kings 25, 2 Chronicles 36): In 586 BC, Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the first Temple and deported Judah because of decades of covenant treason, shedding innocent blood, and ignoring the land's Sabbath rests. Individual & Direct Judgments Scripture also highlights direct divine judgments executed against specific individuals for flagrant breaches of holiness, pride, or deception: Individual / Group Offense Judgment Reference Nadab and Abihu Offered "unauthorized fire" before the Lord contrary to His command Struck by holy fire at the Tabernacle altar Leviticus 10:1–3 Korah, Dathan, and AbiramLed an open, rebellious revolt against Moses and Aaron's God-given leadership The earth opened and swallowed their households Numbers 16 UzzahTouched the Ark of the Covenant to steady it, disregarding the prescribed carrying polesStruck dead instantly for irreverence 2 Samuel 6:6–7 King UzziahPresumptuously entered the Temple sanctuary to burn incense, a duty reserved strictly for priests Struck with incurable leprosy on his forehead 2 Chronicles 26:16–21 King Herod Agrippa I Accepted the crowd's praise hailing him as a god rather than giving glory to Yehovah Struck down by an angel and eaten by wormsActs 12:21–23 Ananias and Sapphira Conspired to lie to the Holy Spirit regarding the proceeds of their land sale Dropped dead on the spot before the apostles Acts 5:1–11 Principles Governing God's Judgments Rooted in Exhaustive Knowledge: God never acts on hearsay or assumptions; He inspects the heart and acts only after thorough investigation (Genesis 18:21; Jeremiah 17:10). Preceded by Patient Warning: In nearly every case—from Noah preaching before the flood, to centuries of prophets warning Israel, to Jonah in Nineveh—judgment comes only after extended periods of divine patience (Erech Apayim). Redemptive Intent: For God's covenant people, divine judgments are remedial rather than purely punitive, functioning as parental discipline (musar) meant to purge evil and produce repentance (Hebrews 12:5–11; Hosea 6:1). To "fear God" (Yir’at Yehovah in Hebrew, יִרְאַת יְהוָה) is one of the most misunderstood phrases in Scripture. In modern English, "fear" almost exclusively means fright, terror, or the instinct to shrink away from danger. In biblical thought, however, the fear of the Lord is not the dread of a cruel tyrant that makes you run away and hide. Rather, it is a profound, awe-filled reverence and moral seriousness that draws you in, aligns your priorities, and anchors your obedience. Moses captured this paradox directly at Mount Sinai: "Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of Him may be before you, that you may not sin." — Exodus 20:20 Notice Moses says: Do not be terrified ("do not fear"), yet cultivate the fear of Him. The goal is not cowering paralysis, but transformative reverence. 1. The Hebrew Concept: Yirah The primary Hebrew word is יִרְאָה (yirah). While it can describe natural fright (like meeting an enemy in battle), when directed toward God it takes on a distinct meaning: Holy Awe and Wonder: Recognizing the staggering gap between the Creator and the creature—His infinite holiness, sovereignty, and power versus our finite frailty. Appropriate Weight: Treating God with ultimate seriousness rather than casual familiarity. It is understanding who He actually is and responding accordingly. A helpful analogy is standing at the edge of the ocean or watching a Category 5 hurricane. You aren't necessarily terrified if you are safe, but you are gripped by immense respect and sober awe. You would never treat the open sea casually or carelessly. 2. What the Fear of God Looks Like in Practice Scripture defines the fear of the Lord not as an abstract feeling, but by its tangible fruits: A. Hating and Turning Away from Evil "The fear of Yehovah is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate." — Proverbs 8:13 "By the fear of Yehovah one turns away from evil." — Proverbs 16:6 The fear of God acts as an internal moral compass. When no one else is looking, a person who fears God refrains from wrong not because they might get caught by human authorities, but because they know God sees the heart and cares about righteousness. B. The Foundation of Wisdom and Clear Thinking "The fear of Yehovah is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight." — Proverbs 9:10 Biblically, wisdom (chokhmah) is skill in living life as God designed it. You cannot even begin to see reality accurately until God is placed at the center of the equation. Treating God as secondary or irrelevant is, by biblical definition, the starting point of foolishness (Psalm 14:1). C. Walking in His Commandments "And now, Israel, what does Yehovah your God require of you, but to fear Yehovah your God, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve Yehovah your God with all your heart and with all your soul..." — Deuteronomy 10:12 Notice how Deuteronomy pairs fearing God with loving Him and walking in His ways. Fearing God and loving God are two sides of the same coin: love prevents fear from degenerating into cold dread, while holy fear prevents love from deteriorating into shallow presumption. 3. Slavishe Fear vs. Filial Fear Theologians have long distinguished between two types of fear: Category Servile / Slaves' Fear Filial / Children's Fear Root Motivation Dread of punishment; panic over getting caught Deep love, loyalty, and reverence View of God Harsh, arbitrary, looking to strike down A righteous Father whose approval matters above all Resulting Action Running away, hiding, deceit (like Adam in the garden)Drawing near in humility, repentance, and obedience Ultimate Concern"What will happen to me?""Will this dishonor or grieve Him?" A healthy son respects and "fears" a strong, loving father—not because he thinks his father will destroy him, but because he honors his authority, values his character, and dreads breaking his trust. 4. The Biblical Promises to Those Who Fear Him Far from bringing anxiety, Scripture repeatedly associates the fear of God with deep peace, protection, and intimacy: Intimate Friendship: "The friendship of Yehovah is for those who fear Him, and He makes known to them His covenant." — Psalm 25:14 Compassion: "As a father has compassion on his children, so Yehovah has compassion on those who fear Him." — Psalm 103:13 Protection and Provision: "The angel of Yehovah encamps around those who fear Him, and delivers them... for those who fear Him have no lack!" — Psalm 34:7, 9 Confidence and Life: "In the fear of Yehovah one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge. The fear of Yehovah is a fountain of life..." — Proverbs 14:26–27 In short, to fear God is to fear nothing else. When God holds His rightful, supreme place in a person's life, every other human fear—fear of man, fear of circumstances, fear of the future—loses its grip.

  • Spirit | Answers 4 Saints

    God only gives His Spirit to those who keep His commandments Narrow way Living in the Spirit Those controlled by the flesh cannot please God. 9 You, however, are controlled not by the flesh, but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness.… Romans 8:9 which states that God gives the Holy Spirit to those who obey Him. This principle emphasizes that a willing, obedient heart is a key condition for receiving and experiencing the empowering presence of the Spirit. Acts 5:32, But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." Here is a clear Yes/No self-assessment to help determine if you are currently walking in the Spirit (according to the Bible — Galatians 5:16-25, Romans 8:5-14). “Am I Walking in the Spirit?” Test Answer Yes or No honestly to each: create a test 1 John 3:4 (KJV), the verse reads: "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." Answer Yes or No honestly to each question to examine your heart. The "Walking in the Spirit" Deep Reflection Test Spiritual Deafness: When Scripture or a sermon convicts me of a specific change I need to make, do I listen and act immediately, rather than tuning it out or making excuses to justify myself? The Internal Battle: When I am tempted to break one of God’s commandments (in my thoughts, words, or actions), do I feel an immediate, sharp internal friction from the Holy Spirit urging me to stop? Worship in Spirit: Is my private devotion—when absolutely nobody else is looking or listening—just as earnest, real, and passionate as my public religious behavior? Spiritual Blindness : Am I quick to notice and convict myself of my own hidden sins (like pride, resentment, or greed), rather than just pointing out the obvious sins of the world around me? The Still, Small Voice: In the middle of a busy day or a stressful situation, am I quiet enough to hear and recognize the Holy Spirit's promptings regarding my attitude or speech? Keeping His Commandments: Do I view God's laws as a joyful path of protection and fellowship that I want to keep, rather than a heavy burden I have to drag around? The Internal Reality: When someone wrongs or provokes me, do I actively rely on the Spirit to change my internal feelings toward them, rather than just forcing a fake smile on the outside? Recognizing the Blindspot: Am I genuinely willing to ask God to show me the faults in my character that I am currently blind to, and am I ready to change if He reveals them? Ritual vs. Spirit: If all religious structure, services, and routines were stripped away today, would my personal, daily walk and communication with God remain completely intact? Hardening the Heart: Am I aware of any area where I have repeatedly ignored God's warnings to the point where my conscience no longer bothers me about it? "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion." — Hebrews 3:15 "Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people." — Ezekiel 12:2 "God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." — John 4:24 Reflecting on Your Answers Mostly "Yes": This indicates an active, living connection where your spiritual senses are sharp. Your ears are open to His voice, you are fighting the internal battle to keep His commandments, and you are operating from a place of true, spiritual reality. Several "No" Answers (especially on Questions 1, 5, and 10): This is a warning sign of spiritual deafness. When we repeatedly ignore the promptings of the Spirit or turn a deaf ear to God's laws, our hearts naturally begin to harden, and His voice becomes harder to discern. If you are struggling to hear Him, it is a direct call to clear away the noise, stop resisting, and pray: "Lord, take away my stubbornness, open my ears, and give me a heart that hears and obeys." Key Bible Truth: “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh … Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:16, 25) True life in the Spirit is marked by freedom, fruit, and dependence on God — not perfection, but direction. A key verse is Romans 8:9: "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." Other verses about having the Spirit of God: Other verses about having the Spirit of God: 2 Corinthians 13:5 "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith... Know ye not your own selves, how that Yeshua Messiah is in you, except ye be reprobates?" Galatians 4:6 "And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father." 1 Corinthians 3:16 "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" 1 Corinthians 6:19 "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you ...?" Ephesians 1:13 "After that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise." 1 John 3:24 "And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. " 1 John 4:13 "Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit." According to Scripture, the presence of God's Spirit is evidenced by faith in Messiah, obedience to God, and a transformed life: "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments." (1 John 2:3) "If ye love me, keep my commandments." (John 14:15) "And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us." (1 John 3:24) 1 . The Mindset: What Governs Your Thoughts? The primary difference starts in the mind. Romans 8:5 states, "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." In the Flesh: A person is trapped in their own perspective. When a trial hits, their immediate reaction comes from human instinct—fear, anger, retaliation, or self-pity. In the Spirit: A person's mind is anchored in divine truth. When the same trial hits, they pause, lean on the Spirit, and recall the commandments of God, responding with humility, truth, and faith. "In the Spirit" vs. "In the Flesh" : This refers to a fundamental shift in a believer's identity. Being in the flesh represents our old, unredeemed nature, while being in the Spirit means our lives are governed and empowered by the Holy Spirit. [1, 2] T he Indwelling Spirit: The presence of the Holy Spirit inside a believer is the defining mark of true faith. Paul uses it as proof that an individual truly belongs to Christ. [1, 2, 3] The "Spirit of Christ": Paul interchangeably uses "Spirit of God" and "Spirit of Christ," emphasizing the divine nature of the Holy Spirit and the intimate connection between the believer and Yeshua Christ. [1, 2, 3] "In the Spirit" vs. "In the Flesh": This refers to a fundamental shift in a believer's identity. Being in the flesh represents our old, unredeemed nature, while being in the Spirit means our lives are governed and empowered by the Holy Spirit. The Indwelling Spirit: The presence of the Holy Spirit inside a believer is the defining mark of true faith. Paul uses it as proof that an individual truly belongs to Christ.The "Spirit of Christ" : Paul interchangeably uses "Spirit of God" and "Spirit of Christ," emphasizing the divine nature of the Holy Spirit and the intimate connection between the believer and Jesus Christ. 2. The Battle Over the Commandments Your response to God's instructions immediately reveals which realm you are operating in. "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." — Romans 8:7-8 The Flesh Rejects: Because the flesh wants to be its own god, it views the commandments as a restrictive burden. It rationalizes compromise, creates excuses, and ultimately rejects the truth. The Spirit Accepts: The Spirit gives us the supernatural ability to understand and love the commandments. It breaks the power of the flesh so that obedience isn't a legalistic chore, but a natural expression of our identity in Yeshua. The Sovereign Distinction: You cannot serve both. Walking in the flesh is relying on your own human strength and desires, which cuts a person off from salvation. Walking in the Spirit means surrendering your will to the truth of Yeshua, allowing His Spirit to produce real, righteous life within you. When Yeshua laid down this standard in John 4, He was radically redefining what it means to connect with the Almighty, breaking it down into two inseparable pillars. 1. Worshiping "In Spirit" (The Internal Reality) Worshiping "in spirit" means that your worship originates from the innermost core of your human spirit, energized and led by the Holy Spirit. Bypassing the Physical: Before Yeshua, people believed worship was tied to a physical location (like the Temple in Jerusalem or Mount Gerizim) or specific physical rituals (sacrifices, incense, holy garments). Yeshua explained that because God is Spirit, He cannot be confined to a building or moved by empty, outward motions. Heart Over Performance: It means your heart is actually in it. You can sing the songs, read the scriptures, and say the prayers, but if your mind is wandering or your heart is cold, it is just a fleshly performance. Worshipping in spirit means your inner being is actively alive and connected to God. 2. Worshiping "In Truth" (The Doctrinal Reality) Worshiping "in truth" means your worship is firmly anchored in God's absolute reality, His Word, and His commandments. Alinged with Reality: You cannot worship God based on a version of Him you made up in your own mind. It must be based on who He actually is as revealed in scripture . The Blueprint of Salvation: As noted previously, truth is non-negotiable—without truth, there is no salvation. Worshiping in truth means accepting God's standard of righteousness, acknowledging the reality of sin, and recognizing Yeshua as the only true way to the Father. It leaves no room for falsehood, self-delusion, or compromise. The Side-by-Side Balance Genuineness only happens when both elements are operating together perfectly. One without the other creates a dangerous imbalance. In Spirit (Without Truth)In Truth (Without Spirit)In Spirit AND In Truth Pure Emotion: Excitement, feelings, and high energy, but lacks a scriptural foundation. It easily drifts into false doctrine because it relies on "how I feel" rather than what is true.Dead Religion: Correct theology, strict rules, and flawless structure, but cold, rigid, and heartless. It results in a Pharisee-like walk that has the form of godliness but denies its power .True Worship: A vibrant, sincere heart that is deeply in love with God, backed by an uncompromising commitment to His absolute Word and commandments. Summary: To worship genuinely is to bring your whole heart (spirit) into perfect alignment with God's reality (truth). It is a walk where your inner thoughts, your public actions, and your obedience to the commandments all match up perfectly before the eyes of the Fathe r. Spiritual Blindness: Inability to See: Just as physical blindness prevents someone from seeing the physical world, spiritual blindness prevents individuals from "seeing" or discerning spiritual truths . This can manifest as: Lack of Understanding : Difficulty grasping theological concepts, biblical teachings, or the nature of God. Failure to Recognize God's Presence: Not perceiving God's activity in the world or in their own lives. Misinterpretation of Reality: Viewing life solely through a material or secular lens, without recognizing a spiritual dimension. Inability to See Their Own Sinfulness: Being unaware of their moral shortcomings or their need for redemption. R ejection of Spiritual Evidence: Dismissing or ignoring signs and experiences that might point towards a spiritual reality. Causes: Spiritual blindness can be attributed to various factors, including: Sin and Unbelief : A hardened heart due to persistent sin or a refusal to believe in God. Worldly Distractions: Being consumed by material possessions, worldly desires, and the cares of this life. Pride and Intellectual Obstacles: Relying solely on human reason and rejecting the need for divine revelation. Deception: Being misled by false teachings or ideologies. Spiritual Opposition : Some theological perspectives suggest that Satan or other spiritual forces actively work to blind people to the truth. (2 Corinthians 4:4) 2 Corinthians 4:4 states that the "god of this age" (Satan) has blinded the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel. This spiritual blindness keeps people from perceiving the glory of Christ, who is the exact image of God. Spiritual Deafness: Inability to Hear: Similar to physical deafness, spiritual deafness describes an inability or unwillingness to "hear" or heed spiritual messages. This can involve: Ignoring God's Word: Not paying attention to or disregarding scripture, sermons, or other forms of spiritual communication. Resisting the Holy Spirit's Promptings: Ignoring inner convictions or nudges towards righteousness. Being Unresponsive to God's Call: Not recognizing or heeding God's invitations to faith and relationship. Preferring Other Voices: Being more attuned to worldly opinions or desires than to spiritual guidance. Lack of Discernment : Difficulty distinguishing between true and false spiritual teachings. Causes: Similar to spiritual blindness, spiritual deafness can stem from: Sin and Rebellion: A stubborn and disobedient heart that refuses to listen to God. Preoccupation with the World: Being too busy or focused on worldly matters to hear God's voice. Skepticism and Doubt: A closed mind that is unwilling to accept spiritual truths. Hardened Heart: A heart that has become Calloused and resistant to God's influence. Spiritual Opposition: Again, some believe that external spiritual forces can hinder people from hearing God's voice. Interconnections: Spiritual blindness and deafness are often interconnected. If someone cannot "see" spiritual truth, they are less likely to "hear" and respond to it. Conversely, if someone refuses to "hear" spiritual messages, their understanding and "sight" can become clouded. Overcoming Spiritual Blindness and Deafness: Christian theology emphasizes that spiritual blindness and deafness can be overcome through: God's Grace: Ultimately, it is God's initiative and grace that opens eyes and ears to spiritual truth. Faith in Yeshua messiah: Believing in Yeshua and accepting his sacrifice is seen as the key to spiritual healing. The Work of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is believed to illuminate the mind and open the heart to understand spiritual realities. Prayer: Seeking God's help to see and hear. Study of Scripture: Engaging with the Bible to learn about God and his ways. Fellowship with Believers: Being part of a community of faith that can offer support and encouragement. Repentance and Obedience: Turning away from sin and living in accordance with God's will. Whoever keeps His commandments remains in God, and God in him. And by this we know that He remains in us: by the Spirit He has given us. In summary, spiritual blindness and deafness represent a significant barrier to experiencing and understanding the spiritual realm and one's relationship with God. They are conditions that, according to Christian belief, require divine intervention and a willing heart to overcome. To all who are weary of the heavy burdens of the world and the confusion of the Broad Way: You are cordially invited to enter the Kingdom of God. The King of the Universe, Yehovah, has not left you to wander without a map. He has provided His Torah—His perfect instruction—to act as the light for your feet and the guardrail for your life. While the world offers a wide road of "do as you please," the Father invites you to the Narrow Path, where true freedom and lasting peace are found. Romans 8:16 "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God." The Meaning: God’s Holy Spirit connects directly with the human spirit to give internal assurance of salvation. 1 Corinthians 2:11 "For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God." The Meaning: Just as your own deep thoughts are only known by your personal consciousness (your spirit), the deep things of God can only be revealed by the Holy Spirit. Worshiping in Spirit and Truth This is one of the most famous statements made by Yeshua regarding the nature of true worship. John 4:24 "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." (NKJV) The Meaning: Because God is not a physical being confined to a physical temple, true worship must happen in the spiritual realm—sincerely from the human heart—rather than just through external rituals. Testing the Spirits In the Epistles, believers are warned that not everything claiming to be spiritual is from God. 1 John 4:1 "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world." (NKJV) The Meaning: A warning to evaluate the teaching, motive, and supernatural backing behind any spiritual message. Testing the Spirit: The Scriptural Protocol In the modern religious world, people confuse "the Spirit" with an emotional vibe, a subjective feeling, or a goosebump experience during a worship service. They hear someone speak with passion, perform a sign, or claim a direct revelation from God, and they automatically assume it is from the Almighty. But the Scripture issues a strict, legal mandate to audit and cross-examine every spiritual claim. The Apostle John gives a direct commanding order: "Test the spirits." The Confrontation: "You are completely unguarded if you swallow every teaching, every prophecy, and every emotional experience just because someone uses the name of Jesus. The spiritual realm is filled with counterfeits designed to mimic holiness while leading you straight into rebellion. The Creator did not leave you to judge by your intuition; He gave you a fixed legal protocol to test what is operating in front of you. Read 1 John 4:1." The Verse: "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world." The Shock: "The Greek word for 'test' is dokimazō—a legal and metallurgical term meaning to assay, analyze, or put to a rigorous trial to see if it is genuine or counterfeit. If a spirit, a teacher, or a movement cannot pass the scriptural audit, you are commanded to reject it entirely, no matter how good it feels or how many followers it has." The Three Infallible Scriptural Tests To determine if a spirit is the Ruach HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit of Truth) or a spirit of deception, you must apply the three-fold protocol laid out in the literal text: Test 1: The Torah and Light Test (The Baseline) A true spirit will never contradict, alter, or relax the permanent instructions and commandments given by the Father. The Protocol (Isaiah 8:20): "To the law (Torah) and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." The Execution: If a spirit or a teacher tells you that the Sabbath is changed, that the dietary laws are done away with, or that the Moedim (Appointed Feasts) are replaced by pagan-rooted traditions under the guise of "grace," the verdict is instantaneous: There is no light in them. The Holy Spirit is the author of the Law; He will never lead a person to break it. Test 2: The True Identity and Identity of Yeshua Test The spirit must confess and align entirely with the true, uncompromised identity, flesh, and lineage of the Hebrew Messiah. The Protocol (1 John 4:2-3): "By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ (Yeshua HaMashiach) has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Yeshua HaMashiach) has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist..." The Execution: To confess Him "in the flesh" means acknowledging His literal, physical reality as the Hebrew Messiah who walked in perfect Torah obedience, kept the Sabbath, and embodied the Word. If a spirit presents a counterfeit, lawless, Hellenized "Jesus" who authorizes his followers to throw out the Father's commandments, that spirit is exposing itself as the spirit of the Antichrist (anomos—the lawless one). Test 3: The Fruit and Character Test You do not judge a spirit by its gifts, its signs, or its numbers; you judge it by the structural transformation it produces in a person's life. The Protocol (Matthew 7:20, Galatians 5:22-23): "Therefore by their fruits you will know them... But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law." The Execution: Look past the performance. Does the spirit produce a life of radical Teshuvah (repentance), deep humility, and a protective love for the brethren? Or does it manifest the hidden works of the flesh—pride, gossip, horizontal treason against brothers, and a stubborn heart of flint that refuses correction? The Verdict of the Audit The Spirit of DeceptionThe Ruach HaKodesh (Spirit of Truth) Promotes anomia (lawlessness) and excuses the violation of the Commandments.Writes the Torah directly onto the heart and causes you to walk in His statutes (Ezekiel 36:27). Relies on emotional highs, human traditions, and the approval of the majority.Anchors itself strictly to the literal text: "Thus saith the Lord." Breeds pride, defensiveness, and a carnal mind hostile to God's Law.Produces the visible, active fruit of righteousness and horizontal love. The Bottom Line: Stop being spiritually naive. Run every voice, every teacher, and your own internal thoughts through this exact scriptural protocol. If it fails to match the Torah and the testimony of Yeshua, hit the eject button immediately. Turn your ear back to the Law so your very prayers do not become an abomination (Proverbs 28:9). Living in the Spirit Romans 8:9 8 Those controlled by the flesh cannot please God . 9 You, however, are controlled not by the flesh, but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness.… Jesus and the Samaritan Woman John 4:24 …23 But a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such as these to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth.” Whoever keeps His commandments remains in God, and God in him. And by this we know that He remains in us: by the Spirit He has given us. 1 John 3:24

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    For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. . .. So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God” Everyone dies once than comes judgement . The Judgment Seat of Christ Heading 6 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences. The Judgment Seat of Christ Romans 14:10–12 says, “For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. . .. So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God” Many people confuse the Great White Throne Judgment at the end of the Millennium with the Judgment Seat of Christ, which occurs 1000 years earlier at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb in Heaven. The Judgment Seat of Christ is an entirely different judgment in which the saved, are judged by Yeshua and are rewarded according to their works. The Judgment Seat of Christ (Bema) Answer Yes or No to each statement. 1.The Judgment Seat of Christ is only for non-believers. Yes or No 2.At the Judgment Seat of Christ, believers will be condemned for their sins. Yes or No 3.The purpose of the Bema is to evaluate how Christians lived their earthly lives. Yes or No 4.Salvation is determined at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Yes or No 5.Christians will receive rewards at the Judgment Seat for faithful service, stewardship, and obedience. Yes or No 6.The Judgment Seat of Christ is a future event for all believers. Yes or No 7At the Bema, believers give a full account of their earthly lives to Jesus. Yes or No Unfaithful or worthless works will result in loss of rewards (but not loss of salvation). Yes or No The Judgment Seat of Christ determines whether a person goes to heaven or hell. Yes or No The Bema Seat is only about punishment. Yes or No Answer Key (check after you finish): No No Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes No No John 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. Hebrews 10:26-27 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. ● Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Yeshua our Lord. The Marriage Supper of the Lamb (119 ministries.com) Revelation 19:6 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Yehovah, our Elohim the Almighty reigns. 7 Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; 8 it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”—for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.9 And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” Matthew 25:1-13 - Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom. John 14:3 - And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, [there] ye may be also. John 3:29 - He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth hymn, rejoice greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. Revelation 3:20 - Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hears my voice, and open the door, I will come into him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Seventh Trumpet: The Kingdom Proclaimed Revelation 11:15,18; 15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Yehovah and His Son, and He shall reign forever and ever!” 16 And the twenty-four elders who sat before Yehovah on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped Yehovah, 17 saying: “We give You thanks, O Yehovah Almighty Elohim, The One who is and who was and who is to come Because You have taken Your great power and reigned. 18 The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, and those who fear Your name, small and great and should destroy those who destroy the earth.” Revelation 10:7; But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets The Coming of the Son of Man The next verses explain that the dead in Christ will be first to rise, followed by those who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet Yeshua. This next verse tells us if we are in the first resurrection we will appear before the judgment seat of Christ. Matthew 24:29 “ Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Thessalonians 4:15 By the word of the Yehovah, we declare to you that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Yeshua will by no means precede those who have fallen asleep . 16 For the Yeshua Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise. 17 After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Yeshua in the air. And so we will always be with the Yeshua. Matthew 10:28 28 And fear not them which kill the body but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Therefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, 51 But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! 52 It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. Revelation 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Yeshua and for the word of Yehovah, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Yeshua a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with him a thousand years. 2 Corinthians 5:10 tells us, “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Yeshua, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” In context, it is clear that both passages refer to Israel, not unbelievers. The judgment seat of Yeshua, therefore, involves believers giving an account of their lives to Yeshua. This is not a salvation issue. In summary “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” Revelation 22:14 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter through the gates into the city. ● Matthew 21:21 Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. 1 John 5:27 And He has given Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man. 28 Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice 29 and come out—those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.… Acts 16:30 Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”31 They replied, “Believe in the Yeshua Messiah and you will be saved, you and your household.”31 So they said, “Believe on the Yeshua Messiah, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Yeshua to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34 Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household. Matthew 19:15 And after He had placed His hands on them, He went on from there. 16 Just then, a man came up to Yeshua and inquired, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to obtain eternal life?” 17“Why do you ask Me about what is good?” Yeshua replied, “ There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” Acts 2:37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and asked Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 Peter replied, “ John 3: 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. Galatians 1:9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you embraced, let him be under a divine curse! 10 Am I now seeking the approval of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? (From that time Yeshua began to preach and say, “Repent change your inner self —your old way of thinking, regret past sins, live your life in a way that proves repentance; seek God’s purpose for your life], for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”) The First Resurrection and the Saints 1000-year reign on earth . 20 A New Heaven and a New Earth Revelation 21:1 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” [a] for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, pr epared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’[b] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. ”5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. 8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” The New Jerusalem, the Bride of the Lamb Revelation 21:9 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. 11 It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. 12 It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. 13 There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. 14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15 The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls. 16 The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia in length, and as wide and high as it is long. 17 The angel measured the wall using human measurement, and it was 144 cubits thick. 1 8 The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. 19 The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth ruby, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth turquoise, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. 21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass. 22 I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lambare its temple. 23 The city does not need the sunor the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. 25 On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. 26 The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. 2 7 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Yeshua. ● Micah 4:2 Many nations will come and say, "Come And let us go up to the mountain of the Yehovah and to the house of the God of Jacob, That He may teach us about His ways and that we may walk in His paths. “For from Zion will go forth the law, Even the word of the Yehovah from Jerusalem.3 And He will judge between many peoples and render decisions for mighty, distant nations. Then they will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; Nation will not lift up sword against nation, and never again will they train for war.

  • Deflections | Answers 4 Saints

    Paul told us to test all things to see if they were from God. do they include His law? Deflections are the Greatest sin The shortest verse in the English Bible is "Jesus wept" found in John 11:35. It has only 10 letters and two words. In Luke, Jesus weeps (eklausen, meaning to sob aloud) as he enters Jerusalem. He grieves because the people rejected his offer of peace, refused to turn to God, and would soon face destruction as a consequence. In short, the devil's deflection on Matthew 5:18–19 works by convincing people that taking Yeshua’s exact words seriously is somehow a violation of his grace. It redirects the mind from humble obedience to theological technicalities that excuse setting aside the commands. Matthew 17-19 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.… Prof the law was fulfilled by Yeshua: He was the only person in the entire Bible that never sinned, He showed us how to love Yehovah the creator ,He showed how to love our fellow man , He show us how to keep the Sabbath Holy, He never ate anything unclean, and He always kept all of Yehovah appointed . "It is easy to claim the name of Christ, but true discipleship is shown through obedience. Many claim to follow Him while actively living against everything He commanded." John 3:36 ("whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him") I have not come to abolish them , 1 John 3:8, which states that "whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil". Ecclesiastes 12:13 –– "Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. Proverbs 28:9: " He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination. 1 John 2:4, w hich says: "Whoever says 'I know him' but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in that person." John 14:15 "If you love me, you will keep my commandments" Matthew 19:17 , "If you want to enter life, keep the commandments". Revelation 12:17. The text states that the dragon (identified as the devil and Satan) was angry with the woman and went to make war with the rest of her offspring—defined as those who keep God's commandments Revelation 13:7 , which states that the beast empowered by the dragon was allowed "to make war with the saints, and to overcome will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; Luke 7: 28 I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” Matthew 11:11 Verily I say unto you, among them that are born of women, there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist; notwithstanding, he that is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he. (Because no one on earth has been to heaven ) The Core Connection When people deflect Scripture, they usually do not burn the Bible; instead, they remove the commands they find uncomfortable by declaring them "least" or obsolete, or they add human loopholes to bypass God's true intent (as Yeshua rebuked in Mark 7:9–13). Matthew 5:18–19 makes clear that in God's eyes, even what humans consider "least" remains fully binding. Below are the primary biblical passages that explicitly prohibit adding to, taking away from, or modifying God's word and commandments: Here is the complete, unified breakdown bringing together every point—from altering words, names, and titles to adopting pagan holidays, eating unclean, rejecting God's appointments, and profaning the Sabbath—and the explicit judgments Scripture attaches to them. The Deflection: Weaponizing Grace The core deception pits Yeshua’s salvation against his instructions—tricking believers into viewing obedience as "legalism" rather than the natural fruit of love. 1. Redefining "Fulfill" (Matt. 5:17) The Trick: Treating "fulfill" as "terminate and throw away." The Reality: In first-century Hebrew idiom, to fulfill meant to correctly interpret and live out the Torah's full intent. Yeshua came to demonstrate how to keep it, not to dismiss it. 2. False Dichotomy: "Love vs. Rules" The Trick : Framing commands as rigid legalism and "love" as abstract freedom. The Reality: Yeshua defined love through action: "If you love me, keep my commands" (John 14:15). The commands define what love looks like in practice. 3. Perverting Grace The Trick : Rebranding grace as an excuse for apathy toward God's standards. The Reality: Grace is divine empowerment (Titus 2:11–12). It cleanses the past and transforms the heart so obedience becomes a joy. 4. Theological Loopholes The Trick: Using complex technicalities to bypass Matthew 5:18–19. The Reality: It creates a state where people cite treatises to excuse setting aside the very commands Yeshua warned never to relax. The Ultimate Irony: It turns distrust of Yeshua's direct words into a false badge of "spiritual maturity," making people feel enlightened precisely because they have explained away the Sermon on the Mount. The Deflection: Weaponizing Grace The core deception pits Yeshua’s salvation against his instructions—tricking believers into viewing obedience as "legalism" rather than the natural fruit of love. 1. Redefining "Fulfill" (Matt. 5:17) The Trick: Treating "fulfill" as "terminate and throw away." The Reality: In first-century Hebrew idiom, to fulfill meant to correctly interpret and live out the Torah's full intent. Yeshua came to demonstrate how to keep it, not to dismiss it. 2. False Dichotomy: "Love vs. Rules" The Trick: Framing commands as rigid legalism and "love" as abstract freedom. The Reality: Yeshua defined love through action: "If you love me, keep my commands" (John 14:15). The commands define what love looks like in practice. 3. Perverting Grace The Trick : Rebranding grace as an excuse for apathy toward God's standards. The Reality: Grace is divine empowerment (Titus 2:11–12). It cleanses the past and transforms the heart so obedience becomes a joy. 4. Theological Loopholes The Trick: Using complex technicalities to bypass Matthew 5:18–19. The Reality: It creates a state where people cite treatises to excuse setting aside the very commands Yeshua warned never to relax. The Ultimate Irony: It turns distrust of Yeshua's direct words into a false badge of "spiritual maturity," making people feel enlightened precisely because they have explained away the Sermon on the Mount. 1. Altering God's Word & Loss of Eternal Life Directly modifying, taking away from, or adding human commentary to the text forfeits access to eternal inheritance: Revelation 22:18–19 "If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll... God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City..." The Judgment: Direct assignment of written plagues and removal of one's name/share from the Tree of Life and the Heavenly City. 2. Deception, Changing Truth, and the Lake of Fire Creating false doctrines, fabricating traditions, or distorting scriptural facts places a person under the category of deception: Revelation 21:8 & Proverbs 30:6 "...and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur... Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar." The Judgment: Divine rebuke, public exposure as a deceiver, and final condemnation in the Lake of Fire alongside those who reject God's authority. 3. Profaning and Substituting the Sacred Names Erasing, changing, or replacing the covenant name Yehovah (יְהוָה) or the redemptive name Yeshua (יֵשׁוُעַ) with human alternatives violates the core command regarding His identity: Exodus 20:7 & Jeremiah 23:26–27 "You shall not take the name of the Lord [Yehovah] your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless... who try to make My people forget My name..." The Judgment: Being held guilty before the heavenly court and suffering spiritual blindness for lowering His divine identity to human tradition. 4. Adopting Pagan Holidays & Mixing Worship Customs Importing pagan customs, celebrations, and cultural holidays into the worship of the Creator is explicitly condemned as adding to His word: Deuteronomy 12:30–32 "Be careful not to be ensnared... saying, 'How do these nations serve their gods? We will do likewise.' You must not worship the Lord your God in their way... do not add to it or take away from it." The Judgment: Falling into spiritual entrapment and practicing what God classifies as a detestable abomination. 5. Eating Unclean Things & Rejecting Purity Instructions Dismissing God's dietary laws in favor of personal appetite or cultural preference is identified as active rebellion against His sanctification: Isaiah 66:15–17 "For behold, the Lord will come with fire... Those who sanctify themselves... eating swine’s flesh and the abomination and the mouse, shall be consumed together, says the Lord." The Judgment: Facing direct destruction alongside the lawless at the return of the Lord. 6. Rejecting God's Appointed Times (Moedim) Substituting man-made religious calendars and holidays for the eternal appointed feasts listed in Leviticus 23 leads to divine abandonment: Leviticus 23:2, 14 & Hosea 2:11 "The appointed times of the Lord... shall be a statute forever... I will also cause all her mirth to cease, her feast days, her New Moons, her Sabbaths, and all her appointed feasts." The Judgment: Withdrawal of true spiritual insight, leaving individuals in empty, powerless religious ritual. 7. Profaning the Seventh-Day Sabbath Setting aside, altering, or declaring God's holy Sabbath done away with is highlighted as a primary trigger for divine wrath: Ezekiel 22:26, 31 "Her priests have violated My law... they have hidden their eyes from My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them... Therefore I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath." The Judgment: Complete loss of God's presence, exposure to spiritual deception, and direct divine indignation. Here is the complete, unified breakdown bringing together every point—from altering words, names, and titles to adopting pagan holidays, eating unclean, rejecting God's appointments, and profaning the Sabbath—and the explicit judgments Scripture attaches to them. 1. Altering God's Word & Loss of Eternal Life Directly modifying, taking away from, or adding human commentary to the text forfeits access to eternal inheritance: Revelation 22:18–19 "If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll... God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City..." The Judgment: Direct assignment of written plagues and removal of one's name/share from the Tree of Life and the Heavenly City. 2. Deception, Changing Truth, and the Lake of Fire Creating false doctrines, fabricating traditions, or distorting scriptural facts places a person under the category of deception: Revelation 21:8 & Proverbs 30:6 "...and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur... Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar." The Judgment: Divine rebuke, public exposure as a deceiver, and final condemnation in the Lake of Fire alongside those who reject God's authority. 3. Profaning and Substituting the Sacred Names Erasing, changing, or replacing the covenant name Yehovah (יְהוָה) or the redemptive name Yeshua (יֵשׁוُעַ) with human alternatives violates the core command regarding His identity: Exodus 20:7 & Jeremiah 23:26–27 "You shall not take the name of the Lord [Yehovah] your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless... who try to make My people forget My name..." The Judgment: Being held guilty before the heavenly court and suffering spiritual blindness for lowering His divine identity to human tradition. 4. Adopting Pagan Holidays & Mixing Worship Customs Importing pagan customs, celebrations, and cultural holidays into the worship of the Creator is explicitly condemned as adding to His word: Deuteronomy 12:30–32 "Be careful not to be ensnared... saying, 'How do these nations serve their gods? We will do likewise.' You must not worship the Lord your God in their way... do not add to it or take away from it." The Judgment: Falling into spiritual entrapment and practicing what God classifies as a detestable abomination. 5. Eating Unclean Things & Rejecting Purity Instructions Dismissing God's dietary laws in favor of personal appetite or cultural preference is identified as active rebellion against His sanctification: Isaiah 66:15–17 "For behold, the Lord will come with fire... Those who sanctify themselves... eating swine’s flesh and the abomination and the mouse, shall be consumed together, says the Lord." The Judgment: Facing direct destruction alongside the lawless at the return of the Lord. 6. Rejecting God's Appointed Times (Moedim) Substituting man-made religious calendars and holidays for the eternal appointed feasts listed in Leviticus 23 leads to divine abandonment: Leviticus 23:2, 14 & Hosea 2:11 "The appointed times of the Lord... shall be a statute forever... I will also cause all her mirth to cease, her feast days, her New Moons, her Sabbaths, and all her appointed feasts." The Judgment: Withdrawal of true spiritual insight, leaving individuals in empty, powerless religious ritual. 7. Profaning the Seventh-Day Sabbath Setting aside, altering, or declaring God's holy Sabbath done away with is highlighted as a primary trigger for divine wrath: Ezekiel 22:26, 31 "Her priests have violated My law... they have hidden their eyes from My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them... Therefore I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath." The Judgment: Complete loss of God's presence, exposure to spiritual deception, and direct divine indignation. 1. Deuteronomy 4:2 (NKJV) "You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you." 2. Deuteronomy 12:32 (NKJV) "Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it." 3. Proverbs 30:5–6 (NKJV) 5 "Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him." 6 "Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar." 4. Matthew 5:18–19 (NKJV, modified) 18 "For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled." 19 "Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." 5. Revelation 22:18–19 (NKJV) 18 "For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book;" 19 "and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book." Actions & Consequences Deuteronomy 4:2 & 12:32 Adding to or taking away from divine decrees Inability to truly keep the Lord’s commandments Proverbs 30:6 Adding human thoughts or rules to God's words Divine rebuke and being found a liar Matthew 5:19 Loosening or removing the "least" command Called least in the kingdom of heaven Revelation 22:18–19 Adding to or removing text from prophetic revelation Receiving the plagues written in the book; removal from the Book of Life Jeremiah 26:2: The Command to Declare the Whole Word Without Diminishing It In Jeremiah 26:2, God explicitly commands the prophet Jeremiah to speak His message in its entirety, warning him against holding back or softening a single word to accommodate human sensitivities. Jeremiah 26:2 (NKJV) "Thus says the LORD: 'Stand in the court of the LORD’s house, and speak to all the cities of Judah, who come to worship in the LORD’s house, all the words that I command you to speak to them. Do not diminish a word.'" Key Insights from the Text "Do Not Diminish a Word": The Hebrew word used for "diminish" is gara, which means to subtract, withhold, trim down, or take away. God specifically instructs that not a single word can be removed or softened to make the message more comfortable or acceptable to the hearers. The Setting (The Temple Court): Jeremiah was sent to the very place where religious people gathered to worship. The warning was given directly to the religious leaders and worshippers who were inclined to selectively accept God's comfort while deflecting His warnings. The Purpose of Uncompromising Truth (Jeremiah 26:3): God explains why every word must be delivered without subtraction: "Perhaps everyone will listen and turn from his evil way, that I may relent concerning the calamity which I purpose to bring on them because of the evil of their doings." Trimming or diminishing God's warning deprives people of the chance to fully understand their standing and genuinely repent. Parallel Warnings Against Withholding God's Word PassageThe Command / PrincipleThe Severity Jeremiah 26:2"Do not diminish a word."Withholding truth prevents genuine repentance. Ezekiel 3:17–18The watchman must warn the wicked with God's exact words.If the watchman fails to warn them, their blood is required at his hand. Acts 20:26–27 Paul declares: "I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God."True faithfulness requires delivering the entire truth without omitting difficult doctrines. Scriptural Definitions of Misusing or Deflecting God's Word The Bible addresses several ways people reject, distort, or deflect Scripture rather than submitting to it: Wresting / Distortion (Strebloo): Taking Scripture out of its intended context to force a desired outcome or opinion. Substituting Human Tradition: Setting aside explicit commandments in favor of human traditions or personal rationalizations. Partial Obedience: Accepting passages that align with personal desires while ignoring or explaining away inconvenient commandments. Pharisaical Deflection: Using theological debates or legalistic technicalities to evade the underlying moral principles of God's law. Key Scriptures & Warnings Scripture Reference Concept / Action Theological Consequence / Punishment 2 Peter 3:16 Distortion ("untaught and unstable people twist [Scripture] to their own destruction")Spiritual ruin and destruction. Mark 7:8–13 Setting aside God's word for human tradition ("making the word of God of no effect")Hypocrisy; spiritual blindness and rejection by God. Revelation 22:18–19 Adding to or taking away from prophetic words Loss of share in the tree of life; receiving the plagues described. Galatians 1:8–9 Preaching a modified or perverted gospelCondemnation (Anathema / eternal separation). Matthew 7:21–23 Hearing or using Scripture without practicing obedience Rejection by Christ at final judgment ("I never knew you; depart from me"). Matthew 5:18–19 addresses the authority, permanence, and obligation of God's law, specifically warning against setting aside or misrepresenting even the smallest part of Scripture. Matthew 5:18–19 ( NKJV) 18 "For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. 19 "Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." Breakdown & Key Definitions Permanence of Scripture ("Jot" and "Tittle"): Jot (Yod ): The smallest letter in the Hebrew alphabet. Tittle: The minute stroke or pen-mark that distinguishes similar Hebrew letters. Meaning: Jesus emphasizes that every minute detail of God's word is intentional, authoritative, and enduring. None of it can be discarded or treated as obsolete. The Act of Deflecting or Relaxing the Law: Verse 19 explicitly addresses those who "break" (Greek: luo, meaning to loosen, dissolve, set aside, or declare non-binding) the commandments and "teach men so" (leading others to minimize or deflect those instructions). The Consequences & Judgment Action / Stance Toward ScriptureDirect Consequence (Verse 19) Loosening, ignoring, or teaching others to minimize even the smallest commandment"Shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven" Practicing and teaching the fullness of God's commandments"Shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven" The Biblical Prohibition Against Adding or Removing Scripture repeatedly warns that altering God's word —whether by addition, subtraction, or reclassifying what is "least" or "greatest"—is a severe offense against divine authority. Key Scriptures on Adding and Subtracting Deuteronomy 4:2 & 12:32: "You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God..." Proverbs 30:5–6: "Every word of God is pure... Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar." Revelation 22:18–19: "If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life..." How "Adding and Removing" Relates to "Least and Greatest" In Matthew 5:18–19, Yeshua bridges these concepts by declaring that not even a single "jot or tittle" (the smallest strokes of text) can be removed. Passage Action Status / Consequence Matthew 5:19 Loosening / Removing the "Least": Breaking or setting aside small commandments and teaching others to treat them as irrelevant."Called least in the kingdom of heaven" Matthew 5:19 Upholding All: Keeping and teaching both major principles and minor commands faithful to God's intent."Called great in the kingdom of heaven" Proverbs 30:6 Adding Human Doctrines: Elevating human traditions or extra-biblical rules to the level of Scripture.Rebuked by God; found to be a liar Revelation 22:19Removing / Stripping Scripture: Erasing, deleting, or outright rejecting parts of God's revealed word.Loss of share in the tree of life and holy city The Core Connection When people deflect Scripture, they usually do not burn the Bible; instead, they remove the commands they find uncomfortable by declaring them "least" or obsolete, or they add human loopholes to bypass God's true intent (as Yeshua rebuked in Mark 7:9–13). Matthew 5:18–19 makes clear that in God's eyes, even what humans consider "least" remains fully binding. Jesus on Human Tradition vs. God's Commandments In Matthew 15:1–9 and Mark 7:1–13,Yeshua directly confronts religious leaders for using human tradition to bypass, void, or deflect explicit Scripture. The Primary Passages Matthew 15:3, 6, 8–9 (NKJV) 3 "He answered and said to them, 'Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?'... 6 'Then he need not honor his father or mother.' Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition... 8 'These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. 9 And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'" How Deflection Works: The "Corban" Example (Mark 7:9–13) Yeshua singles out a specific practice of Deflecting to show how people legally manipulate language to void God's law: Summary of Consequences Method of Distortion Spiritual Outcome Scriptural Reference Substituting tradition for Scripture Worship becomes in vain (useless before God)Matthew 15:9 Using religious loopholes to avoid duty Transgressing God's direct commandments Matthew 15:3 Elevating human rules over divine intent Laying aside and nullifying God's wordMark 7:8, 13 The Authority and Integrity of Matthew 5:18 Matthew 5:18 stands as one of the strongest statements in Scripture regarding the absolute preservation, authority, and unchangeable nature of God's word. Matthew 5:18 (NKJV) "For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled." Core Warnings Embedded in Matthew 5:18 Warning Against Erasing "Minor" Details: By pointing to the yod (smallest letter) and tittle (smallest stroke of a pen), Yeshua warns that no detail of God’s word is irrelevant, dispensable, or open to human erasure. Warning Against Human Expiration Dates: The phrase "till heaven and earth pass away" establishes that human cultures, opinions, or changing times do not have the authority to declare God's law expired or invalid. Warning Against Partial Fulfillment: The law remains fully authoritative until "all is fulfilled." Attempting to dismiss portions of Scripture before God’s complete redemption plan is realized is a direct violation of Christ’s standard. Cross-References: The Immutable Nature of Scripture Scripture Reference Parallel Concept Consequence / Warning Isaiah 40:8 "The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever. "Human systems perish; God's word remains permanently standing. Matthew 24:35 / Luke 21:33"Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away ."Absolute guarantee that divine instruction outlasts the physical universe. Psalm 119:89 "Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven."Scripture is fixed by divine decree, beyond human alteration or deflection. Luke 16:17 "And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail."The total reliability of Scripture; not even the smallest mark can fail to perform its purpose. The Warning Applied: Deflection vs. Submission When Matthew 5:18 is paired with verse 19, the warning becomes personal: anyone who attempts to "relax," "loosen," or deflect even the smallest part of God's word—or who teaches others that minor commands do not matter—places themselves in direct opposition to Christ’s declaration of the law's permanence. In Matthew 5:17–18, Jesus clarifies His relationship to the Old Testament, ensuring His followers understand He came neither to abolish Scripture nor to permit people to ignore its commands. Matthew 5:17–18 (NKJV) 17 "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled." Four Ways Christ Fulfills the Law and the Prophets 1. Perfect Obedience (Moral & Righteous Fulfillment): Yeshua lived a sinless life, keeping every detail of the Law—down to every "jot and tittle"—without failure (1 Peter 2:22, Hebrews 4:15). Where human tradition bypassed God’s intent, Yeshua upheld its absolute moral purity. 2. Prophetic Completion (Messianic Fulfillment): Yeshua fulfilled hundreds of Old Testament prophecies, types, and shadows regarding the Messiah—from His birth and ministry to His sacrificial death and resurrection (Luke 24:44). 3. The Ultimate Sacrifice (Sacrificial & Ceremonial Fulfillment): The ceremonial laws, animal sacrifices, and priesthood were shadows pointing forward to Christ. By offering Himself as the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice (Hebrews 10:1–10), He brought the penal demands of the ritual law to their intended completion. 4. Revealing Full Intent (Deeper Spiritual Meaning): In the rest of Matthew 5 (the "Sermon on the Mount"), Yeshua demonstrates what fulfilling the law looks like in practice. He goes beyond outward compliance to address the heart: showing that murder begins with hatred, adultery begins with lust, and partiality violates love (Matthew 5:21–48). Summary Matrix: Fulfill vs. Abolish False Assumption ("Destroy / Abolish")Biblical Realit y ("Fulfill")Scriptural Context Erasing the Old Testament commands Bringing them to their complete, intended goal Matthew 5:17 Declaring Scripture obsolete or unimportant Establishing its eternal authority and moral depth Romans 3:31 Setting aside the strict demands of God Satisfying those demands fully through Christ In Romans 10:4, Paul addresses the ultimate goal and resolution of God's law, resolving how Christ relates to the righteous demands of Scripture. Romans 10:4 (NKJV) "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes." Understanding "End" (Telos) The Greek word used here for "end" is telos. It does not mean "destruction," "abolition," or "termination," but rather: Goal or Target: The destination toward which the Law was always pointing (like the "end" of a journey). Fulfillment / Completion: The realization of the Law’s ultimate design and purpose. Consummation: The bringing of something to its intended final state. Three Key Theological Dimensions 1. Christ as the Target (The Goal of the Law): The Law was never designed to be an end in itself; it was a tutor or guardian intended to lead people to Christ by revealing God's absolute holiness and human inability to achieve perfection (Galatians 3:24). Christ is the target the Law aimed at all along. 2. Christ as Righteousness (Ending Self-Righteousness): Human beings often attempt to deflect or twist Scripture to construct their own system of merit. Romans 10:3–4 directly contrasts two ways of seeking righteousness: Human Effort / Self-Righteousness Divine Righteousness in Christ Attempting to keep the Law to earn salvation Receiving the righteousness of God as a gift through faith Lowering or distorting commands to fit human limits Relying on Christ’s total, perfect keeping of every "jot and tittle" Seeking righteousness by personal performance Receiving righteousness by believing in Christ (Romans 3:21–22) 3. Termination of the Law as a Means of Justification: While the moral truth of God's word remains eternal (Matthew 5:18), Christ ended the Law's role as a system for securing acceptance before God. Believers are no longer under the condemnation or curse of the Law (Romans 8:1, Galatians 3:13), because Christ satisfied its requirements on their behalf. The Law as "Guardrails" Against Sin The metaphor of the Law as a set of guardrails aligns closely with how Scripture describes God's commandments: they establish clear boundaries to expose danger, keep individuals from veering into sin, and protect them from destruction. The role of keeping Christ’s commandments True believers do keep His commandments. Yeshua said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). 1 John repeatedly links knowing God, abiding in Him, and obedience as evidence of genuine faith rather than its ground. The Spirit enables the righteous requirement of the law to be fulfilled in those who walk according to the Spirit (Romans 8:4). Obedience is the fruit and necessary evidence of new life, not the condition that activates or preserves freedom from the law’s curse and condemnation. Key Scriptures: The Protective Function of the Law Psalm 119:11: "Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You." Guardrail Function: Internalizing Scripture acts as a direct barrier against temptation. Psalm 119:105: "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." Guardrail Function: Defines the safe path, preventing a person from blindly straying off a cliff into sin. Galatians 3:23 : "But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which should afterward be revealed." Guardrail Function: Paul explicitly uses military/custodial language (phroureo - to guard or hem in) to show how the Law contained and restrained human sinful nature until Christ arrived. 1 Timothy 1:8–10: " Knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners..." Guardrail Function: Laws and boundaries exist precisely to restrain unruly behavior and prevent lawlessness from going unchecked. How the Guardrail Metaphor Completes the Biblical Picture Function of the Law Practical / Theological Meaning Scriptural Reference Exposing Sin (Mirror)Shows what sin is by defining absolute right and wrong Romans 3:20, 7:7 Leading to Christ (Tutor)Proves human inability to stay within boundaries, driving us to grace Galatians 3:24 Connecting Guardrails to Deflection When people deflect, remove, or relax parts of Scripture (as warned against in Matthew 5:18–19), they effectively tear down the guardrails God put in place for their protection. Removing the "least" commandment creates a gap in the fence, making it significantly easier to slide into major sin. Psalm 19 describes the warnings and rewards of God's law? Psalm 19: The Protective Value, Warnings, and Rewards of God's Law In Psalm 19:7–14, David transitions from God's revelation in creation (verses 1–6) to God's written word, providing a complete defense of Scripture's perfection and protective boundary. The Perfect Character of the Law (Verses 7–9) David uses six distinct titles and descriptions for God's word, showing how it acts as a total guide for human life: Term Used Description Practical Effect on the Soul The Law of the LORD Perfect Restores/converts the soul The Testimony of the LORD Sure Makes wise the simple The Statutes of the LORD Right Rejoices the heart The Commandment of the LORD Pure Enlightens the eyes The Fear of the LORD Clean, enduring forever Provides an unshakable foundation The Judgments of the LORD True and righteous altogether Imparts divine truth The Law as Warning and Guardrail (Verses 11–13) In verses 11–13, David explicitly describes how Scripture functions as a protective guardrail against different types of sin: 11 "Moreover by them Your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward." 12 "Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults." 13 "Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me..." Warning Against "Secret Faults" (Unintentional Sin): Scripture shines light on blind spots—sins committed in ignorance or rationalized away through self-deception. Guardrails Against "Presumptuous Sins" (Willful Sin): Presumptuous sins are intentional, high-handed rebellions (such as deflecting or deliberately ignoring a known command). David prays that the boundary of God's law holds him back so those deliberate sins do not form a habit or gain "dominion" over his life. The Ultimate Goal: Divine Acceptance (Verse 14) David concludes by bringing every thought, word, and reaction under the standard of God's word, recognizing that keeping the guardrails intact leads to true righteousness: 14 "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer."

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