Should Be Saved, or Shall Be Saved? That Is The Question.

John 3:16 is probably the most well known passages in all of Scripture. It is also probably one of the most misunderstood passages in Scripture. This verse is also translated in many Bibles incorrectly because of the doctrine  "all you have to do is believe." To a certain extent, that's true. But what does it mean in the biblical sense "to believe?" I'll get to that a little bit later.

Dr. Sterns in the Complete Jewish Bible translates John 3:16 this way:

¹⁶ “For God so loved the world that he gave his only and unique Son, so that everyone who trusts in him may have eternal life, instead of being utterly destroyed.

He hits on something there that is very important for the proper understanding of the text. Many people, and even many Bible translators miss a very important detail from this verse. It's a shame because it is right there before their eyes, but people do not take the time to think about what is really being said.

 Notice the words "may have eternal life." The question I'm forced to ask is this. Is the word "May" an absolute? Probably another way of saying it is, Is the word a definite statement, or is it an indefinite statement? I mean, what if I say to a child, You may eat that lemon. Does that mean that the child automatically wants the lemon. There is a good probability that the kid doesn't even care for lemons and may not want any part of it. So, in this case, the word "May" carries with it a sense of being something indefinite. He may want it, and he may not.

I like to compare this verse from every other Bible version against the old King James Version. Not because I think the KJV is always correct. but because, in this particular instance, I find the KJV to be one of the most accurate versions when compared to the Greek.

How does the KJV interpret this verse. It says it like this:

¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Again, I have to ask the question. Is the phrase "should not perish" an absolute statement?  Think about this for a minute. If God says to you, "You should not eat shell fish." Is that a definite statement, or is it indefinite statement? Is it a suggestion, or is it a commandment? What if you like shell fish? You would probably eat shell fish. Now, what if God said to you, "You shall not eat shell fish." The whole focus of the idea changes. Now we can easily recognize it as a commandment. What was the difference? The difference was between the meaning of the indefinite word "should" and the definite meaning of the word "shall."

The words in the Greek are in the indefinite.  Properly translated, it should be either '"may" as in the CJB, or "should" as in the King James. Looking closely at this verse from the context – which I shall show shortly – bears this out. Think about this. If I say you, "you should not perish." Does that statement not imply that you possibly could perish, simply because I used the indefinite word should?  There is a condition at work here. The condition hinges upon the word "trust."

Comparing verse 16 with previous verse, and then with 17, you should soon see the context I'm talking about. Along with it, comes the idea that the words used here are in the indefinite state. Verse 15, from the Complete Jewish Bible reads like this:

¹⁵ so that everyone who trusts in him may have eternal life.

Notice again the indefinite word may

Then when we move on to verse 17, we see the same train of thought.

¹⁷ For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but rather so that through him, the world might be saved.

The same verse in the King James reads like this:

¹⁷ For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Now I have to ask. Is the word "might" a definite or an indefinite word.

Suppose I said, the world through Him will be saved, or perhaps if I said, the world through Him shall be saved. These words are both in the definite case. The fact that words in these verses are actually in the indefinite implies that believing in Yeshua does not necessarily mean you shall not perish.  Hold on before you all go crazy!  It also does not mean that the world through Him will be saved – in the sense that most people believe.  Remember, James 2:19 says, You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! Are the demons going to be saved? I hardly think so.

There is a condition required here. What is that condition? Verse 18 from the CJB says:

¹⁸ Those who trust in him are not judged; those who do not trust have been judged already, in that they have not trusted in the one who is God’s only and unique Son.

I like the KJV better. It says:

¹⁸ He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

In verse 18 we have our explanation. Verse 18 moves from the indefinite to the definite.

There is a tremendous difference between believing in Yeshua, as in the sense that; Yes I believe that he was a great man, or perhaps; Yes, I believe he was a great teacher, but I cannot believe that he was God in the flesh. Those people believe that he was, but there is no trusting upon him for their salvation. In their case, they might be saved. However, first they are going to have to come to the realization of whom Yeshua really is and begin to trust in His name.

The opposite is those people who believe on Him with their whole heart. They believe that He was the Word made flesh and there is no other name under heaven by which we might be saved. Those who have thrown their complete trust upon Him, and walk in obedience to His commandments are those who shall be saved. There is no might concerning them. In their case, they will be saved.

Where do you stand? Are you in the might be saved category, or are you in the will be saved category. Are you one of those who should not perish, or are you one of those who will not perish? It's your choice. choose wisely.

Shalom,
Barry W. Gaugler

What is Heresy?

According to Webster's Twentieth Century Dictionary (Unabridged) Second Edition heresy is defined as such:

her'e-sy, n.;  1. a doctrine, opinion, or set of opinions or principles at variance with established or generally received views or doctrines, as in politics, morality, philosophy, etc.  2. in theology, a doctrine or belief that is contrary to the fundamental doctrine or creed of a particular church; especially, such a belief specifically denounced by the church and regarded as likely to cause schism.        3. the holding to such a belief  or opinion.

Would it upset you if I told you that the early communities of believers in the Jewish Messiah would look upon the vast majority of Christian communities today as heretics? That is not an easy statement for many Christians to swallow. It shakes at the core of everything they believe. However, when you compare the things Yeshua and His apostles spoke, and wrote, there is very little semblance between what they taught, and what is taught in congregations today. We have received a mushy, diluted, watered down gospel that is actually not the Gospel taught by Yeshua, or His apostles at all.

If one is willing to be honest with themselves, one would only have to do the slightest amount of prayerful research and it would become apparent that most of what Christians believe isn't supported by Scripture in its proper context. Do a careful study of Matthew 15 and Mark 7 and see what Yeshua was accusing the scribes and Pharisees of doing. He was coming down hard on them because they were judging people, and condemning them, for violating the traditions of men while at the same time totally ignoring the instructions given by Almighty God in Torah. Notice Matthew 15:3 where it says:

And He answered and said to them, “Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?  (NASB)

Then in verses 7-9 Yeshua continues with these words:

⁷ You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you: ⁸ ‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far away from Me. ⁹ ‘But in vain do they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.’”  (NASB)

Before we continue, one needs to get this simple fact embedded into their spirit. Satan hates the words of Almighty God. He directs this hatred towards God's people who were created in His image. From the Garden of Eden forward Satan has intentionally twisted the words of the Almighty with the intention of destroying God's people. I can't express this fact strongly enough. If you miss that fact, you will miss everything. He has done this throughout all time. His working in this area was especially evident even while the apostles were still walking this earth. After they had passed from this life Satan went to work with a vengeance trying to destroy all evidence of truth about Messiah and His love for His covenant people the Hebrews.

Satan's first attack was the same tactic he used back there in the Garden with the same results in mind. He attacked the Word of God with the intention of destroying God's people (the Hebrews), and the Gentiles who had now been grafted into Israel and would follow His instructions. His favorite tool has never changed. He mixes confusion with the Word of God. It has always worked well for him. Add a word here, subtract a word there, or cloud the intended meaning by substituting a word with a vague, or completely different meaning. He works especially well in this area through translating from one language into another. Particularly from Hebrew and Aramaic into Greek and then again into English. His work is easy for an unsuspecting people lacking spiritual discernment and real knowledge of God's word. That is the reason for the pouring out of the Spirit in the last days. God is still in charge and He will defend and reveal the truth found in His word.

One of Satan's tricks was to flood the early church age with many counterfeit copies of the accounts of Yeshua. Several counterfeit gospels and epistles were circulated around the known world at that time. Many poorly written copies and forgeries of the actual Gospels and epistles of the apostles were also circulated. Then the idea was to attack the Jews and discredit them. People like Marcion even attacked the Scriptures themselves. He went as far as to formulate the false idea that there were two Gods. The cruel and rigid God of the Hebrew Scriptures, and the loving and merciful God of the Apostolic Scriptures. He coined the terms Old Testament and New Testament to support this doctrine. Many today still buy into his heresies unknowingly. There is one, and only one, God. Not two.

It was the Jewish people who carried the Good News to the world in those days. However, as time went on, Gentiles began to outnumber the Jews in the Messianic communities and anti-Semitism grew. The ancient Hebraic understanding of the Apostolic Writings, which was fully built upon and supported by the Hebrew Scriptures, was soon replaced with Western modern Greek philosophical reasoning. These new Christians were former pagans who began to mix paganism with the Hellenistic mindset and the Gospel. Heresies began cropping up everywhere and instead of the church resisting these heresies, they adopted them. Jews were looked upon as the murders of Messiah. They were hated, persecuted, and often slaughtered. The instructions which God had delivered to the Hebrews  at Mount Sinai was rejected. God's appointed times were rejected and replaced with pagan festivals. The pagan festivals were now given Christian names mixing the profane with the holy. The pagan icons were now given Christian names, and all things considered Jewish were rejected and in most cases outlawed. The church had departed from the established doctrines of Yeshua and the apostles.

The so-called church fathers in the second through the fourth centuries had established a doctrine or belief that is contrary to the fundamental doctrine delivered by Yeshua and the apostles. They had in fact a created a doctrine, opinion, or set of opinions or principles at variance with established or generally received views or doctrines of the apostles. From the time the apostles had all died out the church was now committing heresy. They had rejected the apostles doctrines in favor of the anti-Semitic doctrines of the so-called "church fathers." These heresies still continue in most of the churches to this day. Yet, many accept it them as the doctrines of Yeshua and the apostles. They are not!

The first thing that had to go was the so called Jewish commandments. They were now called "the Law." People do not like laws as they are a way of restricting one's freedom. So we now call the instructions given by God at Sinai, "Laws." The belief was introduced that these "Jewish" commandments were now changed by Yeshua even though He Himself said in Matthew 5:17-19:

¹⁷ “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. ¹⁸ For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. ¹⁹ Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (NASB)

Notice that Yeshua says, "but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." Does that sound to you like Yeshua was talking about doing away with Torah? I would be curious to know how you would come to that conclusion.

Some attempt to focus upon the word "fulfill" as though Yeshua now made the instructions of God obsolete, but that is not what is being said here. What we have here is one of those examples of a weak translation using the word from the Greek and translating it into the English as fulfill. Ask yourself a question. But first, let's substitute the word "fulfill" with the word they would really like for you to be thinking. Let's substitute the word fulfill with destroy. Do you really think Yeshua was saying that He came to destroy the instructions He just said, He came not to destroy? The word for fulfill from the Greek used here means to "complete" or better yet, to "fully preach" or to "reveal the true meaning." When you have the proper interpretation the true meaning becomes clear. What Yeshua is saying here is that He came not to destroy the Torah, but to "reveal its true meaning. The question to ask yourself is this. Have heaven and earth passed away? I didn't think so. I look out my window and still see stars, the moon and the sun. I also see grass and trees. Heaven and earth are obviously still here. Therefore the Torah has not passed away either.

Here is something else to contemplate. If Yeshua had changed any part of God's Torah, He would have been a false prophet according to Deuteronomy 13. If Yeshua had changed any part of Torah He would be guilty of rebellion against YHVH (the LORD) by seducing you away from the way God had commanded us to walk. Deuteronomy 13:5 clearly says:


⁵ But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has counseled rebellion against the Lord your God who brought you from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery, to seduce you from the way in which the Lord your God commanded you to walk. So you shall purge the evil from among you.

If Yeshua had done away with any part of Torah, He could not possibly have been the Messiah, because the Messiah could not possibly be a false prophet according to Torah. It's long past time that we start reading our Bibles for ourselves. Yeshua has promised us that when He returned to the Father in heaven, He would send us the Comforter. He would lead us into all truth. It is imperative that we begin to get on our knees and fall upon our faces before Almighty God and ask Him for His Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth. It is His promise to reveal Himself to those who will diligently seek Him. We need to awaken to the shocking fact that we have been sitting in apostate churches since the fourth century. We have been listening to heresies passed down to us for centuries from heretics.

 It's time to get uncomfortable in the churches and start asking questions which most pastors will not be able to answer. They will not answer, either because they don't know, or because their paycheck may be in jeopardy if too many people start asking the hard questions. Remember this, there is a time, coming soon, when God will hide His people from the vicious and merciless onslaught of Satan and his people against the true believers in Messiah Yeshua. God will protect those who are truly His. However there are some requirements to receive His protection. He will not protect those who insist on remaining in the confusion of Babylon and her heresies. What are those requirements? They are found in Revelation 12:13-17. Pay very close attention to the last verse. There are the two requirements.

¹³ Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. ¹⁴ But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. ¹⁵ So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. ¹⁶ But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. ¹⁷ And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.


Shalom,
Barry W. Gaugler







   

Under the Law, or Subject To It?

Romans 3:19-31 New King James Version (NKJV)

19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. 27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law. 29 Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also, 30 since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.

The difference here is being under the law, as opposed to being subject to the law. I don't like the use of the word "law" as it is probably the least acceptable interpretation of the word "Torah" and the context makes it plain in these verses that Paul is not always talking about Torah, but rather the legalistic observance of the oral traditions. It is unfortunate that most English versions usually translate the Greek word "nomos" as "law" every time they see it. Unfortunately, they make no distinction between Torah, civil law, church laws, or the oral traditions by translating the vague word as "Law." It creates little light, but often generates a lot of heat. The context must define the proper interpretation of the word, not just the random understanding of the translators. Both Torah and the oral traditions are used in these verses. How do we distinguish the difference? Notice Paul says, "By what law?"

We are subject to the law [Torah] (not for salvation, but to set us apart from the ways of this world). We are not under the law [oral traditions] as the way to righteousness. To give a physical picture of this we can look to a horse and rider. When a horse is to be ridden, in the common manner, a horse is said to be "under saddle." He is not only carrying the weight of the saddle, saddle blanket, and rider, but also whatever the rider places upon his back. He must carry the full burden of all that is placed upon his back. So it is with being "under the oral traditions." In Judaism, its adherents were required to carry the full burden of the oral traditions placed upon them by the traditions of their fathers. These are the same things Yeshua/Jesus was condemning the scribes and Pharisees for doing in Matthew 15 and Mark 7. Messiah removed that burden from off our backs. We are no longer carrying the burdens placed there by the traditions and doctrines of men, which placed a hedge around Torah. It also added to the word of God, which in of itself was sin.

However, like the horse is also subject to a bit and bridle, we are subject to Torah. The bit and bridle do not weigh very much and they are carried quite easily. But on the other hand it has a powerful influence over the direction of the animal. In like manner, through the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives, keeping Torah is not burdensome. Torah is to be the bridle that sets us apart from this world and causes us to go in the direction the Almighty is directing us to go. Without Torah, we have nothing to tell us what is sin. It is our schoolmaster. Without the schoolmaster, there is nothing to teach us what God requires of us for righteous living. Without laws all you have is lawlessness.

Shalom Ahlaychem,
Barry W. Gaugler.

• Clarification: There seems to be a lot of reservation, by some, that Paul is not speaking about Torah every time the Greek word (νομος) "nomos" is used in Scripture. The main focus of the problem stems from the erroneous Christian understanding of the phrase "works of the law (Torah)" and "under the law (Torah) as is used in Romans 3:28, and elsewhere in Scripture. Some examples are as follows:
  
  Romans 3:28 American Standard Version (ASV)
  We reckon therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
  
  Romans 3:28 Common English Bible (CEB)
  No, not at all, but through the law of faith. We consider that a person is treated as righteous by faith, apart from what is accomplished under the Law.
  
  Romans 3:28Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)
  Therefore, we hold the view that a person comes to be considered righteous by God on the ground of trusting, which has nothing to do with legalistic observance of Torah commands.
  
  I could go into a long detailed and drawn out explanation, but there is no need. Andrew Gabriel Roth gives a great explanation in His comment of Romans 3:28 in the A.E.N.T. (Aramaic English New Testament), so I will simply quote him.
  "The term "works of Torah" and "under Torah predate Paul by hundreds of years. These terms were discovered in the Dead Sea Scrolls (A Sectarian Manifesto 4QMMT:4Q394-399)while originally referring to the ultra religious halakha of the Essenes, the same principles may apply to the Pharisees' halakha. These two phrases are also mentioned in Romans 6:14,15; 9:32; 1 Corinthians 9:20; 21; Galatians2:16; :2, 5, 10, 23;4:4, 5, 21; 5:18. "Under Torah" refers to the orthodox/traditional interpretation and observance of Torah. Religious halakha is clearly NOT what Y'shua or Paul followed in their observance of Torah. The Renewed Covenant promise of Jeremiah 31:33 is to write Torah of YHWH upon the hearts of His people, not the "Torah of men."The idiomatic expression "works of Torah" provides insight to those of a "traditional" Jewish upbringing. Paul references Jews at the very beginning of this chapter; in verse 19 he states "Now we know" referring to those who understand Torah and halakha."

Shalom,
Barry W. Gaugler

The Call of the Watchman

I have posted watchmen on your walls, Yerushalayim; they will never fall silent, neither by day nor by night. You who call on Adonai, give yourselves no rest; (Isaiah 62:6 [CJB])

I appointed sentinels to direct them: ‘Listen for the sound of the shofar.’ But they said, ‘We will not listen.’ ¹⁸ So hear you nations; know, you assembly, what there is against them. ¹⁹ Hear, oh earth! I am going to bring disaster on this people; it is the consequence of their own way of thinking; or they pay no attention to my words; and as for my Torah, they reject it. (Jeremiah 6:17-19 [CJB])

 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me.              (Ezekiel 3:17 [ESV])

“Son of man, speak to your people and say to them, If I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from among them, and make him their watchman, ³ and if he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows the trumpet and warns the people, ⁴ then if anyone who hears the sound of the trumpet does not take warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. ⁵ He heard the sound of the trumpet and did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But if he had taken warning, he would have saved his life. ⁶ But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman's hand. ⁷ “So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. ⁸ If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. ⁹ But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, that person shall die in his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul. (Ezekiel 33: 2-9 [ESV])

The calling of a watchman, like that of a prophet, is not a pleasant calling. It involves knowing the words of the Almighty in a way that most believers do not care to search. A watchman, like a prophet is permitted to see things from God's word by the Spirit of revelation that the world cannot see. If one has a real understanding of a watchman, or a prophet, it is not a calling that one would seek after. It is a calling of rejection by family, friends and even communities. It is a calling of heartache, bitterness, persecution, and often brutal death.

One does not choose to become a watchman anymore than one chooses to become a prophet. Watchmen, and prophets are not appointed by man. The Almighty may call upon men to anoint a person to be a watchman or prophet, but the ultimate calling can only come from the Almighty Himself. Notice the wording in each of these passages as to who is doing the calling. Each time, it is the words of the Almighty speaking. "I have posted watchman on your walls." "I appointed sentinels" "I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel."

There are many out there who claim the calling of a watchman or prophet. By the same token, there are many out there who are watchmen, but are not sounding the alarm about things to come. Their shofar (trumpet) is silent to the impending dangers ahead. The blood of God's Israel will be upon their hands.

 I have often wondered why I can never seem to rest. My watch is to continue, and I am not to fall silent either by day or by night. It is a lonely calling to stand on the wall and be rejected time and time again by family, friends, and community. I have never asked for this calling, but just like during the draft era, many never asked to go and fight for their country. But fight they did. It was a matter of life and death.

So when a watchman is trying to warn you about errors in your lifestyle, do not be so quick to accuse them of judging you. Do not hurl statements like, "Who are you to judge me?" or "Who do you think you are condemning my actions?" It is not the watchman, or the prophet who is condemning you, it is your own conscience knowing that you are in conflict with the words of the Almighty.

The promise of the Almighty is this: I am going to bring disaster on this people; it is the consequence of their own way of thinking; or they pay no attention to my words; and as for my Torah, they reject it. It goes back to the saying, "Pretty words are not always the truth, and the truth is not always pretty." All the watchman can do is what the Almighty has commanded them to do. If you reject the warnings, your blood will be upon your own hands, and our soul will be delivered. However, if the watchman sees the danger and does not sound the warning, your blood will be upon our hands. This is the way the Almighty has ordained it to be. I pray for your understanding.



Shalom,
Barry W. Gaugler   

They have eyes, but they cannot see

¹⁶ And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “It is because we have no bread.” ¹⁷ But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, “Why do you reason because you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive nor understand? Is your heart still hardened? ¹⁸ Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember?  (Mark 8:16-18 [NKJV])

²³ Then He turned to His disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see; ²⁴ for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it.” (Luke 10:23-24 [NKJV])

³⁰ Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. ³¹ Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. ³² And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” ³³ So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together,   (Luke 24:30-33 [NKJV])

Notice what is common concerning these three passages of Scripture. Yeshua/Jesus is concerned that they have eyes, but they cannot see. They have ears, but they cannot hear. Add to that the fact that they cannot remember. Remember what? He tells them that blessed are the eyes that see the things that you see, for the prophets and kings have desired to see the things that you see. Why could they not see in the beginning? It was because their hearts were hardened. Why could the prophets and kings not see, or hear,  yet they had the desire? It is because these things had not yet been revealed. But notice, the travelers on the road had their eyes opened when He took the bread and gave it to them. And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”

Yeshua imparted to them the Spirit of revelation in this matter even though Weeks/ Pentecost had not yet occurred. The Ruach HaKodesh was even then subject to Yeshua. We have this same Spirit which raised Yeshua from the dead, and which opened the eyes of the disciples of old. We are able to see Yeshua from the same Scriptures as the apostles, because Yeshua returned to the Father. Did He not promise this in John  14:26 where He says:


²⁶ But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

This is where it gets sticky for some people. Not only is He bringing to their remembrance those things which He said to them while He was walking with them person to person, but He would also bring to their remembrance those things which were spoken of him in the Torah and the Prophets. He is bringing to their remembrance those things written in the Word of God through the prophets. The prophets were speaking the Word of God. Is not Yeshua the Word made flesh?

Pray that the Ruach HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit) would open your eyes and unstop our ears that we may see and hear the Good News. He wants us to see, He wants us to hear. It is His will that none should perish, but that all would come to repentance. Only when you are willing to surrender all that you think you know can the Ruach open your eyes. It is up to you. Simply ask. Until you are willing to surrender all of your man-made traditions, seek an intimate personal relationship with your Maker, and ask the Almighty to be your teacher, all you will have is religion. God hates religion.


Shalom,
Barry W. Gaugler

You Shall Be Hated

As believers in Messiah, who are trying to love Him with all of our heart, soul, and strength, we are going be hated by this world. It doesn't matter if they are unbelievers or those who are holding on tightly to the religious systems of this fallen world. There is a spirit of lawlessness in congregations today that is nothing new. Scripture is clear that there is nothing new under the sun. This spirit was there even there when Yeshua (Jesus) walked this earth. Yeshua warned us that it would be a prevalent spirit in our time, just as it was in His. Just as He was persecuted and put to death, because He spoke the words of our Father in heaven, it should come as no surprise that these things will also happen to us. It is not a matter of , "we might suffer this persecution." If we are living as He commanded us to live our lives, it is a matter of, "we will suffer these persecutions."

The following are just a few verses from the "Good News" from the words of Yeshua's mouth that should shake us into some semblance of reality.  If you are not suffering these things, perhaps you need to examine yourself to see if you really are in the faith. These words are presented in a way that indicates they can be viewed as a promise. If you are truly in the faith of Yeshua, these things will happen to you. Count on it. All verses are from the  English Standard Version (ESV).

Matthew 10:22

²² and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

Matthew 24:9-13

⁹ “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. ¹⁰ And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. ¹¹ And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. ¹² And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. ¹³ But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

Mark 13:12-13

¹² And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. ¹³ And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

Luke 21:16-17

¹⁶ You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. ¹⁷ You will be hated by all for my name's sake.

John 15:18-23

¹⁸ “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. ¹⁹ If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. ²⁰ Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. ²¹ But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. ²² If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. ²³ Whoever hates me hates my Father also.

John 17:12-16

¹² While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. ¹³ But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. ¹⁴ I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. ¹⁵ I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. ¹⁶ They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

If we are truly in Messiah, we are going to be hated exactly as he was hated. If we truly love Him, we will also love His commandments. Once we are justified by faith in Yeshua, there is an ongoing process of sanctification. Justification is always spoken of as being in the past tense. Sanctification is an ongoing process.

What is sanctification? Sanctification is our process of walking toward holiness. It is what distinguishes us as being in our Messiah and separated from this world. We are in the world, but we are not of the world. One who is sanctified no longer has an attraction for the things of this world, but his heart has been set apart for God's use. Those who believe in hyper-grace think that the commandments given at Sinai are done away with and are no longer of any value to us. Is that true? Yeshua is the Word made flesh. How could the Word made flesh, who is the living Word, make null and void the written Word? Are they not His words to begin with? Did Yeshua not say, “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."?

 The KJV uses the word "destroy" instead of the word "abolish" the word from the Greek is καταλυω or kataluo or Strong's # 2647. It means to demolish, to destroy, to dissolve, to overthrow, bring to naught, or to throw down. This is not what Yeshua came to do. He makes that perfectly clear. So if He did not come to destroy, demolish, dissolve, or bring to naught the law, how could He have come to fulfill the law in a manner that would do so?  He said He came to fulfill. What does the Greek word translated as "fulfill" really mean in the Greek? It doesn't mean to do away with, or destroy and bring to naught. It means to fully preach, complete, perfect. The context must give the proper meaning of the words in the passage.

We have been given a bill of goods from Bible translators who have translated our Bibles from their preconceived doctrines instead of from proper contextual understanding. Intellectualism has preempted the revelation of the Holy Spirit for too long in out congregations. It is time we humble ourselves before the Almighty, and ask Him to reveal the truth hidden in His word, and how they have been changed to promote false doctrines which hide the true understanding of what God is truly saying to His people. Do not trust men (not even me, for I am but a man) for the truth. The Holy Spirit is given to lead us into all truth. Trust Him and Him only. The time is short, and our heavenly Father wants us to know His truth. Trust Him.

Shalom,
Barry W. Gaugler

Biblical View or World View (What Standard Should We Follow?)

I keep hearing the expression, "That's not the world view." as though the world view is the correct view. The thinking is that if you are not in agreement with the World view, you are some kind of freak or misfit. There can only be two views. There is the Biblical view which is founded upon God's standard for living, and based upon Scripture revealed by the Holy Spirit, or there is the World view which is secular and has its foundation built upon the fallen nature of man. As believers in Messiah, it is sometimes difficult to make a distinction between which is which. The accuser is very quick to send up his smoke screens to make us think we are following the Biblical view, when in fact we are not. How are we to know the difference?

I once heard a story that new bank tellers were put in a room for several days doing nothing but counting money by hand. This was all a part of their training. The idea was that they would become extremely sensitive to the feel, smell, look and texture of real money. They were to become so familiar with these characteristics that if a counterfeit bill would hit their hands they would know it immediately. It was all about being so familiar with their daily procedures that it would be extremely difficult to pass off something fake to them.

If we are truly one of God's children, we should be hungering and thirsting to know His ways and know His word with this type of familiarity.  How many believers in Yeshua (Jesus) are so familiar with the Scriptures by which we are to conduct our everyday lives that we can say, "It is written?" Sadly, most only know a few passages of Scripture. Often the few Scriptures they do know are taken out of context to defend themselves when they are confronted with truth. We've all heard the expression, "Who are you to judge me?" The sad part is that by saying those words, they themselves are passing judgment. By saying those words they are placing themselves on a higher plane because they believe themselves righteous in their own eyes and you are interfering with their notion of right and wrong.

One day while listening to Christian radio, I noticed that three radio pastors were talking about Scripture as though it was the world view. Something just did not sit right with me. Looking back over their messages, I noticed something very peculiar. One was speaking about the eminent return of Jesus to rapture his church out of here and take them to heaven. The second had the same theme, but coming from a different denominational angle. The third had the typical send me money and you will be blessed theme. Then it dawned on me. The reason they were talking so much about the world view was because that was exactly how they were approaching the Scriptures. They approached God's word from a world secular view instead of from a Holy Spirit revealed Biblical view.

If we claim to have a love for our God and His Messiah, how can we not have a desire burning within our hearts to know His words? In the early days of our relationship, my wife and I were separated for months. I knew I was in love with her and had a burning in my heart to hear from her as often as I possibly could. Every letter that came was met with excitement and joy. She tells me it was the same way with her. If there is not an excitement and joy every time you read the Bible, perhaps you should examine yourself to see if you really are in the faith. Pray that God would instill in you a love for Him and His word. He's ready to give you what you ask for. The world view isn't going to get you into His kingdom. 

Every aspect of our life should be performed as though Yeshua is right there with us. We are to capture every thought and submit it unto the Holy Spirit for His approval. We may live in a secular world, but we are not to be of this world. Contrary to the old saying that says, "We are not to be so heavenly minded that we are no earthly good." We are to pray without ceasing. When we are heavenly minded, it is the only time that we can be earthly good. Otherwise we are only operating from our fallen nature and expressing the world view.

Shalom,

Barry W. Gaugler 

The Big Lie: Once Saved, Always Saved

Many churches today hold to the doctrine of "once saved , always saved," or the Calvinist version of "Perseverance of the saints."  Does the Bible actually teach this doctrine, or is this another case for Satan twisting the Scriptures to create a false sense of security among believers? It sounds good to the average person. I'm saved. So, now I am set for all eternity. I don't have to worry as long as I believe in Jesus. I'm all set. We don't have to observe all those things written about in the Bible. All we have to do is believe. Is that a fact?

You will often hear the argument: "There's nothing we could have done to become saved, or it would be salvation by works. Therefore, they say, there is nothing we can do to become unsaved. We can't gain or lose our salvation based on what we do." Many believe that if you do not believe this false doctrine, you are teaching "another gospel." Well to begin with, there is a great deal of error in these statements. Before we can be saved, we have to first be willing to hear the message of the Good News. Then we have to believe by faith that it is true. Thirdly, we have to believe that Messiah rose from the dead. Fourth, we need to repent of (turn away from) our sins and follow Yeshua. Fifth, we are to continue walking in our faith and mature by continuing to apply our Creators instructions to our lives.

There are plenty of Scriptures that teach us that after receiving the knowledge of the truth, we can fall away from the faith and be damned as an unbeliever. The following are just a few of these verses, but it is not my intention to give them to you by shotgun theology. (Shotgun theology is bombarding you with so many Scriptures in hope that one of them hits you like pellets from a shotgun.)

³³ Adonai answered Moshe, “Those who have sinned against me are the ones I will blot out of my book. ( Exodus 32:33 [CJB])

¹⁸ Beware lest there be among you a man or woman or clan or tribe whose heart is turning away today from the Lord our God to go and serve the gods of those nations. Beware lest there be among you a root bearing poisonous and bitter fruit, ¹⁹ one who, when he hears the words of this sworn covenant, blesses himself in his heart, saying, ‘I shall be safe, though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart.’ This will lead to the sweeping away of moist and dry alike. ²⁰ The Lord will not be willing to forgive him, but rather the anger of the Lord and his jealousy will smoke against that man, and the curses written in this book will settle upon him, and the Lord will blot out his name from under heaven. (Deuteronomy 29:18-20 [ESV])

²⁷ Add iniquity to their iniquity, And let them not come into Your righteousness.
²⁸ Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, And not be written with the righteous. (Psalm 69:27-28 [NKJV])

²⁴ “On the other hand, when the righteous person turns away from his righteousness and commits wickedness by acting in accordance with all the disgusting practices that the wicked person does, will he live? None of the righteous deeds he has done will be remembered; for the trespasses and sins he has committed, he will die. (Ezekiel 18:24 [CJB])

Notice that these people are either being blotted out of the book of life, or they will die [eternally]. They have turned away from righteousness. In order to be blotted out of the book, don't you first have to be written into the book? Many will say that these are so-called Old Testament verses and are referring to the Jews. They believe they are allegorical and do not apply to the church. All Scripture must agree with Scripture. So, what does the so-called New Covenant have to say in this matter.

⁵ He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. (Revelation 3:5 [NKJV])

Pay close attention to the words "he who overcomes." How do we overcome. We know how to overcome by that is written in Revelation 12:11.

¹¹ And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

Is "once saved always saved" an integral part of the Good News? Is this really what the Bible teaches, or is this perhaps the same lie that Satan, had used since he deceived Havah (Eve) in the Garden of Eden when he assured her, “You shall not surely die”? Can we really ignore God's commandments and expect to fall upon His grace in our purposeful rebellion?  Has God somehow changed in spite of the fact that Scripture plainly tells us that He is not like a man and does not change.

Did the Yeshua teach that in one brief moment of faith and a quick sinner's prayer would promise eternal salvation? I think not. By the way; Exactly where is the "sinner's prayer" located in Scripture?  Speaking to His disciples as He was sending them out to preach the gospel, He warns them in Matthew 10:22:

²² And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.

Then in John 8:31-32 we see Yeshua speaking to some of the Jews that had believed in Him. Yeshua tells these believers:

 “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. ³² And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Notice the tiny word "if" in this passage of Scripture. The word "if" applies a condition to their indeed being His disciples. That condition is that they must abide in His word. In other words, they must live His word if they are to be His disciples. The condition also strongly suggests that "if" they do not abide in His words, they are not His disciples.

In Col. 1:21-23 we read:

²¹ And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled ²² in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— ²³ if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Notice, in verse 21 Sha'ul (Paul) declares one of the results of believing in the gospel, reconciliation with God. Now also notice the first word in verse 23. Again, the little word "if" applies a condition to ones ultimate salvation. "If" indeed you continue in the faith. We are required to continue in our faith, be grounded and steadfast, and not be moved away from the hope of the Good News. It ought to become quite obvious that there is a condition involved here, and that condition is to remain faithful to the Good News. Also, please notice that Sha'ul makes no mention of God holding fast in our stead. He distinctly places the responsibility of holding fast to our faithfulness squarely upon our shoulders. Of course we do have the Ruach haKodesh to assist us in our endeavor. We are not without help.

Let's examine a few passages of Scripture which many who believe the doctrine of "once saved always saved" seem to miss, ignore, read, or interpret incorrectly.

²¹ “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. ²² Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ ²³ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’                 (Matthew 7:21-23 [NKJV])

These people thought they were saved. Yeshua gives them a rude awakening when He tells them, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who work lawlessness." They claimed to know Him but refused to walk according to what was written in the law (Torah). They thought they could continue in their lawlessness because of grace. It doesn't work out well for them.

And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. (Luke 8:13 [ESV])

Please note that they received the word of truth with joy, and believed it, but when the time of testing comes, they fall away.

⁵ But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, ⁶ who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: ⁷ eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; ⁸ but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath. (Romans 2:5-8 [NKJV]

Pay close attention to verse 7. The eternal life is for those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory. You cannot possibly be in patient continuance, if you had not begun in the first place. But then notice what is in store for those who are self seeking and do not obey the truth. I don't know about you, but indignation and wrath does not sound like they are still saved to me.

¹⁵ For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” ¹⁶ The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, ¹⁷ and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.     (Romans 8:15-17 [NKJV])

Pay close attention to what Ruach Elohim (the Spirit of God) is saying here. These people did not receive the spirit of bondage, but the Spirit of adoption. They are adopted into God's family, and are His children, and are joint heirs with Messiah. Then there is that darned little word "if" again. If we indeed suffer with Him, that we "may" be glorified together. Notice the word "may". The word "may" is an indefinite word. The word "if" carries with itself a condition. The condition is this. If we indeed suffer with Him, we "will" be glorified together with Him. However, "if" we are not willing to suffer with Him, we "may" not be gathered together. Words mean things.

¹⁹ You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” ²⁰ Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. ²¹ For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. ²² Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.      (Romans 11:19-22  [NKJV])

The original Hebrew branches were broken off because of unbelief, so the Gentiles might be grafted in by faith. Most people want to focus on the goodness of God in these verses, but they shy away from the severity of God which is just as important for us to understand. The severity is upon those who fell, but toward you, there's that little word "if" again. If you continue in his goodness. Otherwise you will be cut off. Remember, this is speaking to congregations well after the resurrection of our Messiah. Yet, it is stated that if they don't meet the conditions following the word "if" they "will" be cut off. The word "will" is in the definite sense.  It cannot be any plainer, but people skip over that like it isn't there because of the way they have been taught to read Scripture according to the doctrines of their preferred denominations. We must continue in His goodness, or we "will" be cut off. Again, I say, you cannot continue doing anything if you had not begun doing it in the first place.

²⁴ Don’t you know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one wins the prize? So then, run to win! ²⁵ Now every athlete in training submits himself to strict discipline, and he does it just to win a laurel wreath that will soon wither away. But we do it to win a crown that will last forever. ²⁶ Accordingly, I don’t run aimlessly but straight for the finish line; I don’t shadow-box but try to make every punch count. ²⁷ I treat my body hard and make it my slave so that, after proclaiming the Good News to others, I myself will not be disqualified. (1Corinthians 9:24-27 [CJB])

Sha'ul is clearly speaking of discipline in these verses. Anyone who has ever seriously trained for an athletic event understands the meaning and purpose of strict discipline. Those who are hard on themselves are determined to gain the prize. Those who do not discipline themselves will soon drop out or be defeated by their competitors. In this case we are striving for an imperishable crown. Even Sha'ul recognizes in these verses that he must bring his own body under submission or he will miss the mark and possibly be disqualified. If Sha'ul feared being disqualified, do you not think he understood that all could be lost through rebellion and disobedience? Think on that.

⁵ Examine yourselves to see whether you are living the life of trust. Test yourselves. Don’t you realize that Yeshua the Messiah is in you? — unless you fail to pass the test.  (2 Corinthians 13:5 [CJB])

Please take notice to the word "unless" and what follows it. Test yourselves to see whether you are living the life of trust. Many believe they are, but in fact are not.

One more although there are many more to choose from if one will take the time to ask the Ruach haKodesh to reveal them to you.


Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.

I have to ask a question that should be quite obvious to someone who is seeking after the truth. How can someone depart from the faith, if they have not been in the faith in the first place? They listened to deceiving spirits and doctrines of devils. Isn't that exactly what Adam and Havah did back there in the Garden of Eden? If it got them cast out of God's presence in the Garden, do you really think listening to the doctrines of devils will not matter in the kingdom to come? Who is it that get cast into the outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth?

Are We Protected From All Future Sins?

Some claim that is we are saved, we are protected from all future sins. Since we are saved by grace, we have certainty that all future sins will be forgiven. They even go as far to say that the sin of rebellion and disobedience are forgiven. Is that true? What do the Scriptures have to say in this matter?

⁸ For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. ⁹ And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.            (Galatians 6:8-9 [NKJV])

It figures. There's that pesky word "if" again.

These following verses seem to be the ultimate thorn in the side of the "once saved always saved doctrine." How do they ever get around these verses unless the word of Elohim is contradictory to itself?

Pay especially close attention to what the writer of Hebrews is saying here. These following verses are one of the reasons that some did not want to include the letter to the Hebrews into the canon of Scripture. The reason for the protest was that it was in conflict with their early beliefs. The Almighty had His way though and these passages were included in our Bibles whether men like it or not.

⁴ For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, ⁶ if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

Notice that these people were once enlightened. The heard the word, and they had tasted the heavenly gift. What is the heavenly gift? The heavenly gift is the promise of salvation. It is a free gift. More than that, they become partakers of the Holy Spirit. They have tasted the good word of God and have even tasted of the powers of the age to come. Then there is that darned word "if" again. If they fall away, it is impossible to be renewed again since they crucify again the Son of God and put Him to open shame. Did not Balaam the son of Beor partake of the Holy Spirit? Did he not prophesy in the name of YHVH? However, it did not work out well for him in Numbers 31:8, where he was slain by the sword.

We must always formulate our doctrines according to the pattern which the Almighty has laid out in the context of all of Scripture. When we depart from that pattern, we are easily set up to learn false doctrines. When we read the proof texts of those who teach the doctrine of "once saved always saved,: their arguments soon are revealed by the light of the Ruach haKodesh. I will use one more scripture to end this teaching.

²⁶ For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, ²⁷ but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.

Shalom,
Barry W. Gaugler