Salvation
This discussion aims to demonstrate the process to eternal life by studying the steps:
Sovereignty of Yahuah p.1;
Omniscience p.2;
Omnipotence p.3;
Free-will p.4;
Grace/mercy p.5;
Election p.7;
Salvation p.8;
Eternal salvation p.12;
Judgement p.19;
The Lamb’s Book of Life p. 20;
Condemnation /Commendation p.21;
References and Credits p.23:
Sovereignty of Yahuah
“All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and He (Yahuah) does according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay His hand, or tell Him, ‘What are you doing?’” (Dan. 4:35 parenthesis mine). The sovereignty is universal in both the extent of His creatures and of place.
“Yours, Yahuah, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours; yours is the kingdom, Yahuah, and you are exalted as head above all.” (1 Chron. 29:11). The sovereignty is absolute and His authority is unlimited, but is moderated by His love, wisdom, righteousness and justice.
“Remember the former things of old: for I am `El, and there is none else; I am `Elohiym, and there is none like me; declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done; saying, my counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure;” (Isa. 46:9, 10). The sovereignty is immutable; His spiritual, physical and moral laws are inviolable creating and sustaining Creation and governments. He assigned all of Creation to its designated sphere and all people and nations are born, live and die by His decree (Hodge I p.440).
“And in Him (Mashiyach) we are elected as that before our beginnings and willed, who works all things according to the counsel of His (Yahuah) desire; That we should be they who first hoped in the Mashiyach, to the honour of His (Yahuah) glory.” (Eph. 1:11, 12 AENT parentheses mine). Sovereignty is the only grounds for a Believer’s peace.
“I (Yahuah)will declare your righteousness; and as for your works, they shall not profit you.” (Isa. 57:12 parenthesis mine). “for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of Yahuah, not of works, that no one would boast.” (Eph. 2:8, 9). “Therefore, do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Master, nor of me His prisoner; but endure hardship for the Good News according to the power of Yahuah, who
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saved us and called us with a set apart calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Messiah Yahusha before times eternal,” (2 Tim. 1:8, 9). There is nothing in Man that can restore himself back to Yahuah, nor has Man any hold or charge against Yahuah that causes Yahuah to choose one man over another. Therefore, all cause and motivation for salvation must be instigated by Yahuah through His sovereignty.
Having said all this, Yahuah is limited in what He can do. “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of `Eloakh our Saviour; who desires all people to be saved and come to full knowledge of the truth.” (1 Tim. 2:3, 4). Yahuah’s will is that none shall be lost. However, it is certain that not everyone is saved. Therefore, it must be noted that Yahuah cannot force anyone to accept His offer of salvation. Similarly, Yahuah cannot do anything that contradicts His nature as revealed by His Torah through the Living Torah, the Master Yahusha the Messiah.
The One who has created and sustains everything must have the knowledge of everything possible. This perfect knowledge is called Omniscience.
Omniscience
Omniscience is a non-moral attribute of Yahuah in contradistinction to those such as righteousness. Yahuah has infinite and perfect knowledge, and He knows all things immediately, exhaustive and truly. Although it is considered that Yahuah knows the past, present and future, this is an anthropomorphism in that it is only from Man’s point of view, given so that Man’s finite intelligence can try to grasp the infinite knowledge of Yahuah. Yahuah knows all things about everything simultaneously because in the eternal economy, there is no time (Thiessen p.81).
“There is no creature that is hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and laid open before the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” (Heb. 4:13). All that is in heaven, on and under earth are known to Him. This includes His particular treasure, Man. “but the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” (Matt. 10:30). Every hair on every head of every man, woman and child that ever was or will be is known by Yahuah. “Great is our Master Yahuah, and mighty in power. His understanding is infinite.” (Psa. 147:5). Yahuah’s knowledge covers all possibilities and thus can judge perfectly.
“All things have been delivered to me by my Father. No one knows the Son, except the Father; neither does anyone know the Father, except the Son, and he to whom the Son desires to reveal Him.” (Matt. 11:27). “For who among men knows the things of a man, except the spirit of the man, which is in him? Even so, no one knows the things of Yahuah, except Yahuah’s Spirit.” (1 Cor. 2:11). “He who searches the hearts knows what is on the Ruach’s mind, because He makes intercession for the set apart ones according to Yahuah.” (Rom. 8:27). The scope of Yahuah’s knowledge is infinite. He knows Himself perfectly and the Father, Son and Ruach each other perfectly.
“Yahuah looks from heaven. He sees all the sons of men. From the place of His habitation He looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, He who fashions all of their hearts; And He considers all of their works.” (Psa. 33:13-15). Yahuah’s knows Man and all his works.
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“Yahuah, you have searched me, And you know me. You know my sitting down and my rising up. You perceive my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, But, behold, Yahuah, you know it altogether.” (Psa. 139:1-4). Yahuah knows the thoughts of Man.
“Yahuah said, ‘I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Mitzrayim, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows.’” (Exod. 3:7). “Therefore, do not be like them, for your Father knows what things you need, before you ask Him.” (Matt. 6:8). Yahuah does not first become aware of our needs when we go to Him in prayer. He knows our condition.
“Woe to you, Kora’zin! Woe to you, Beit-Tzaidah! For if the mighty works had been done in Tzor and Tzidon which were done in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.” (Matt. 11:21). Yahuah knows all things that are actual and possible. Before the foundation of the earth, Yahuah knew every possible outcome of every situation.
“The heavens declare the glory of Yahuah. The expanse shows His handiwork.” (Psa. 19:2). Yahuah’s omniscience was at work in the creation of all the physical laws, whether it is the perfect distance of the earth to the sun or the perfect distance between sub-atomic particles.
“You are Yahuah, even you alone; you have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all things that are thereon, the seas and all that is in them, and you preserve them all; and the host of heaven worships you.” (Neh. 9:6). Not only is omniscience involved with the creation of all things, it is required in the sustaining of Creation.
“…we who had before hoped in the Messiah: in whom you also, having heard the word of the truth, the Good News of your salvation, in whom, having also believed, you were sealed with the Ruach HaQodesh of promise, who is a pledge of our inheritance, to the redemption of Yahuah ‘s own possession, to the praise of His glory.” (Eph. 1:12b-14). Although Yahuah’s desire is for the well-being all Creation, and in particular, Mankind, nevertheless, all this is accomplished for His glory and praise alone (Thiessen).
In order to have the perfect praise from Man, there cannot be any coercion by Yahuah. Rather, it must be an act of love. This in turn dictates that Man must be able to choose between loving and hating Yahuah. The Sovereign of the Universe, in His infinite knowledge and wisdom, gave Mankind free-will.
Omnipotence
Omnipotence is another non-moral attribute of Yahuah in contradistinction to those such as righteousness. Yahuah is all-powerfulso that He can accomplish everything He desires. “If we are faithless, He remains faithful. He cannot deny Himself.” (2 Tim. 2:13). “in hope of eternal life, which Yahuah, who cannot lie, promised before eternal times;” (Titus 1:2). However, it is impossible for Yahuah to do anything that is contrary to His nature or character. As much as He loves every person, He cannot coerce anyone to accept His offer of salvation.
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Free-will
“Will is the soul’s power to choose between motives and to direct its subsequent activity according to the motive thus chosen” (Thiessen p.163 quoting Bancroft).This may be shown in Adam where he was made with the ability and had the opportunity to sin (eat the fruit) or sin not (resist), otherwise Yahuah’s injunction not to eat, “Yahuah `Elohiym commanded the man, saying, ‘Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat of it: for in the day that you eat of it you will surely die.’” (Gen. 2:16, 17) would not make sense. It is also why sin and its consequences entered into Creation and has not been obliterated as soon as it appeared by an omnipotent `Elohiym.
Like his Maker, Man is limited to what he can or cannot do by his nature. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly corrupt: who can know it?” (Jer. 17:9). FGA does not agree with the doctrine of ‘original sin’ (See p.6 Sin – First Generation Assembly). Adam was made with the ability to sin; the ability to sin did not come about at the Fall. What occurred at the Fall, is that Adam chose to give into his desire to eat the fruit. Sin did not enter Creation at this time but its consequence, death, did.
“Watch and pray, that you do not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matt. 26:41). Man is made of spirit and flesh, and Adam chose to follow his carnal desires rather than his spirit’s guidance. It is the belief of FGA that every man, including the Messiah Yahusha, has the same decision to make; to follow the flesh or to follow the spirit. Only the Messiah Yahusha was capable of following the spirit perfectly. Yahuah permits every person to do as they see fit, without hindrance. However, His providential care can act upon a person to curb their desires by using the persuasion of circumstances, other people or a person’s conscience. All these are aspects of the grace and mercy of Yahuah (Thiessen p.128).
“…Make me know my disobedience and my sin.” (Job 13:23b). In the depth of his trials, Iyov sought the reason for his condition. This word ‘disobedience’ #H6588 פֶּשַׁע pe-share means transgression which is translated as rebellion in the KJV. *1846a rebellion, revolt, transgression but has the underlying idea of a failure in the relationships between two parties. The result is that Man deceives himself.It is the belief at FGA that there is only one sin – disobedience. (For a fuller discussion on sin please refer to Maxi Bible Study Sin – First Generation Assembly).
“for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of Yahuah;” (Rom. 3:23). “For the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). Everyone who has been born chooses to follow their carnal nature and incurs the just penalty of death. As with the original commandment not to sin, this is not mortal death, but spiritual death whereby the sinner ends up a state of eternal punishment.
What is needed is some mechanism by which the sin can be forever excluded. Man cannot and does not want to instigate this but Man is loved by Yahuah. “In this is love, not that we loved Yahuah, but that He loved us, and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1 John 4:10). Therefore, the initiative must be from Yahuah and not Man. This initiative is known as Grace.
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Grace/Mercy
The following colloquial definitions are commonly accepted:-
Grace: Yahuah giving Man that which he does not deserve.
Mercy: Yahuah not giving Man that which he deserves.
It can be seen that grace and mercy are the two sides of the same coin.
When a person sins without repentance, the more closed his eyes are to the truth of Yahuah’s Word; his ears from hearing; more calloused his heart.
Grace: has the connotation of that which has found favour in someone’s sight or something that has been given freely or for nothing.
“If you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve six years and in the seventh he shall go out free without paying anything… But if the servant shall plainly say, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children. I will not go out free’; then his master shall bring him to `Elohiym, and shall bring him to the door or to the door-post, and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl, and he shall serve him forever.” (Exod. 21:2-6). עֶבֶד e-ved #H5650 is usually translated servant or slave and such a person would have indentured themselves in order to pay off a debt. No matter how much the debt was or how much was outstanding, on the seventh year (or on the Yovel), “As a servant hired year by year shall he be with him: he shall not rule with rigor over him in your sight. If he is not redeemed by these means, then he shall go out in the year of Yovel, he, and his children with him.” (Lev. 25:54), the debt is to be cancelled in full. All of Creation is held in slavery by haSatan nevertheless, on the seventh year or Yovel, this slavery is cancelled. This seventh year or Yovel is a type of the eternal rest, “For we who have believed do enter into that rest, even as he has said, ‘As I swore in my wrath, they will not enter into my rest;’ although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.” (Heb. 4:3) ushered in with the Messiah’s return to earth. Obviously, the rest mentioned in this verse is not an earthly rest. The Leviticus passage is generally accepted as being a type of the Messiah. When He completed the public ministry set down by His Father, the Master was free to return back to heaven. However, because of His love for His Father and for all Believers (the bride and children), He was prepared to be crucified at Gulgolta.
חִנָּם khin-arm #H2600 *694b without cost. This word comes from the Hebrew root word חָנַן khan-nan #H2603 *694 that focuses attention upon the giver and not the recipient; to show kindness, pity or compassion for the poor and needy. There is nothing that the servant could do that aids his release. If he wanted to stay, his master took him to the `Elohiym as a witness to the servant’s perpetual indenture. `Elohiym mostly refers to Yahuah but can also be judges. The Messiah Yahusha offered Himself up to Father as Yahuah to Judge the efficacy of His ministry and death and His Resurrection was the confirmation that Yahuah found it acceptable.
“that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in kindness toward us in the Messiah Yahusha; for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of Yahuah,” (Eph. 2:7, 8). The Good News is the revelation of Yahuah’s grace to His Creation (Fairbairn p.34).
When a person sins but comes to full repentance, the more his eyes are opened to the truth of Yahuah’s Word; his ears to hearing; more softened his heart. This is the main function of
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grace. Once grace starts to act upon a person with the proclamation of the Good News, they become more receptive to the Ruach HaQodesh’s leading to repentance. “His (Yahuah’s) mercy is for generations of generations on those who fear Him.” (Luke 1:50). ἔλεος el-eh-os #G1656 mercy, kindness towards the afflicted that results in action. Here, the afflicted are completely destitute and totally unable to help themselves. “For the grace of Yahuah has appeared, bringing salvation to all men,” (Titus 2:11). Yahuah offers His grace to all, but not all men accept. Grace does not save a person: it is what Yahuah uses to enable Man (opening eyes and ears and softening of hearts) to respond positively to His self-revelation of the Good News.
“not by works of righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to His mercy, He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Ruach HaQodesh, which He poured out on us richly, through Yahusha the Messiah our Saviour;” (Titus 3:5, 6). This passage is the very essence of the Good News. Mankind is saved by the sovereign act of Father (Exod. 33:19), by the Ruach, through the Son. Man is totally destitute and incapable of doing anything towards his salvation, and so a Saviour was required.
As a side issue, this passage (Titus 3:5, 6) can be quoted as proof of the Trinity. Father, Son and HaRuach are all mentioned in one sentence but it is not conclusive (For a fuller discussion see The Trinity – First Generation Assembly, p2).
“There shall cleave nothing of the accursed thing to your hand; that Yahuah may turn from the fierceness of His anger, and show you mercy (rahk-hem), and have compassion (ra-khem) on you, and multiply you, as He has sworn to your fathers;” (Deut. 13:17). רַחַם rakh-hem #H7356 *2146a to love deeply, have mercy, be compassionate. The idea behind this word is of the bond of deep love of a parent towards its child. This can be seen in this verse in the bond Father Yahuah has for His children, Yisra`el. Yahuah withholds His punishment of Believers, that is rightly due to them because of their disobedience. This comes from the root word רָחַם ra-khem #H7355 *2146 to fondle or caress, to love intimately.
As a side issue, the above verse has a combined image/word-play. חֵרֶם khay-rem #H2764 *744a net, snare, accursed thing, devoted thing or ban (for complete destruction). The image-play is that of a hand. In the first instance, a person’s hand is holding a detestable object and in the second Yahuah is showing His deep love for the person in having mercy (רָחַםra-khem). The word-play is on the similar sounding חֵרֶם khay-rem and רָחַם rä·kham’. The snare (חֵרֶם khā’·rem) has been set to draw a person away from the love of Yahuah.
Another aspect of the mercy of Yahuah is in the preservation of sinners. “for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of Yahuah;” (Rom. 3:23). Everyone has sinned with the subsequent penalty. “For the wages of sin is death,” (Rom. 6:23). That penalty is eternal damnation. So why does Yahuah not strike down a person the moment they sin?
“But Yahuah was gracious to them, and had compassion on them, and had respect to them, because of His covenant with Abraham, Yitzchak, and Ya`akov, and would not destroy them, neither cast He them from His presence as yet.” (2 Kgs. 13:23). Yahuah stays His hand because of His longsuffering. When a person meets Yahuah `Elohiym as their Maker and Judge, there will be no defense in pleading there was no opportunity for repentance.
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Election
There are two main streams of thought on this topic:
Augustinianism – Yahuah distributes His favours according to the good pleasure of His will;
Anti-Augustinianism – the principle of impartial justice with Yahuah dealing with all men alike (Hodge ii p.337).
Augustinianism cites as everyday proofs that some people are born privileged (wealth, status, family, health) while others are born into wretchedness. This, is it said, is proof that Yahuah does not deal with everyone on the same basis, on the supposition that Yahuah allocates His favours as He does His spiritual gifts (Hodge). The detractors of this argument say that Yahuah deals with everyone without prejudice. Augustinianism states that this takes place at the Final Judgement and not intended for everyday occurrences. Nevertheless, Yahuah is said to have foreknown all whom would accept His salvation and thus whom He will save in the Messiah Yahusha. Thus, in this view, Yahuah foreknew whom He was going to elect for salvation.
However, this theory has several difficulties when viewed from Scripture. It does not define how Yahuah chooses one person and not another. With reference to 1 Tim. 2:3, 4 in Sovereignty above, Yahuah cannot contradict any aspect of His character, including His Word. This is the very basis of all translations, exegesis or commentaries on Scripture; if one passage seems to contradict another, then it is not Scripture being defective, it is our understanding. Again, in Dan 4:35 quoted above, Yahuah does everything according to His will. Many people have asked, ‘How do you know the will of Yahuah?’ It is quite easy, really, His will has been revealed in the Messiah Yahusha and set down in Scripture; there is nothing more to know that is outside of His Word.
So, according to Augustinianism, how does Yahuah choose, select or elect a person to receive salvation? Is it by random choice? Is it by a toss of a coin as it is said of capricious gods of the Greek, Roman or Nordic pantheons? Is it by statistical analysis or numbers and percentages as the world system operates? Surely the answers to these are No! No! And thrice No!
“For Yahuah so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16). This is one of the most memorized and often quoted verses in Scripture. It is essentially the Good News summarized in one verse. πᾶς pass #G3956 translated above as everyone is all-inclusive, meaning that salvation is available to every person. However, there is a condition upon salvation in that a person must have complete faith in the sacrificial life of the Messiah Yahusha. As there is a requirement for Man to do something, although this is not salvation by works, neither is it solely Yahuah’s sovereign will.
In Anti-Augustinianism, Yahuah is said to have foreknown all who would react positively to His offer of salvation in the Messiah Yahusha and so elected them to be saved. This is more in-line with both specific passages of Scripture and the general purpose of Scripture in relation to Man’s salvation. At the foundation of the earth when Yahuah foresaw Man would sin, He exercised His sovereign will towards Man. There was no obligation upon Him to save any person. Nevertheless, once He applied His sovereign will to the salvation of one man
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(Adam), He had to apply it to every subsequent person. His grace and mercy would have to be applied to each and every person. However, due to each and every person having been given free-will, there was no obligation for anyone to accept Yahuah’s offer nor did Man have any right to divine favour, other than in Messiah Yahusha.
“For whom He (`Eloakh) foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. Whom He predestined, those He also called. Whom He called, those He also justified. Whom He justified, those He also glorified.” (Rom. 8:29, 30). Yahuah does not control any decision made by a person. Yahuah knew at the foundation of the world what choices were available to each and every person, their decisions and every subsequent action and decision. This infinite knowledge is called predestination (AENT Roth p.827).
“But we speak `Eloakh’s wisdom in a mystery, the wisdom that has been hidden, which Yahuah foreordained before the worlds to our glory… But to us, `Eloakh revealed them through the Ruach. For the Ruach searches all things, yes, the deep things of Yahuah.” (1 Cor. 2:7-10). μυστήριον moos-stare-eon #G3466 1.C.i.b. of Yahuah: the secret counsels which govern Yahuah in dealing with the righteous, which are hidden from ungodly and wicked men but plain to the godly. The full knowledge (but not necessarily understanding) of salvation is a truth that Yahuah keeps hidden from Man until, by grace, He reveals it by HaRuach in the Messiah Yahusha.
“Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of Yahuah! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past understanding!” (Rom. 11:33). For those who spurn His grace, salvation remains far off. “I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse: therefore, choose life, that you may live, you and your seed;” (Deut. 30:19).
Salvation
יָשַׁע yah-sha #H3467 *929 salvation, safety, help, deliverance, defense, freedom from oppression, to give victory and preservation.
σωτηρία soh-tay-ree-a #G4991 saving from serious peril, keeping from want, keeping alive, pardon, protect, keeping in good health and preserving the soul (Bromiley). Whether in Hebrew or Greek, salvation can be characterized in both secular and spiritual meanings. (Fairbairn p.70).
“Yahuah is their strength. He is a stronghold of salvation to His anointed. Save your people, And bless your inheritance. Be their shepherd also, And bear them up forever.” (Psa. 28:8, 9). “Happy are you, Yisra`el: Who is like you, a people saved by Yahuah, The shield of your help, The sword of your excellency! Your enemies shall submit themselves to you; You shall tread on their high places.” (Deut 33:29). “You shall also suck the milk of the nations, and shall suck the breast of kings; and you shall know that I, Yahuah, am your Saviour, and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Ya`akov.” (Isa 60.16). It must be pointed out, however, whether it is secular or spiritual salvation, it is Yahuah who saves.
“Yahuah raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those who despoiled them.” (Jud. 2:16). “Therefore, Dawid ran and stood over the Pelishtim, took his sword and drew
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it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it. And when the Pelishtim saw that their champion was dead, they fled.” (1 Sam. 17:51). “We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as the Saviour of the world.” (1 John 4:14). “I saw the heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True. In righteousness He judges and makes war.” (Rev. 19:11).Nevertheless, Yahuah can use agents to accomplish His salvation. These agents may be mighty warriors or leaders such as the Judges of Yisra`el, a lowly shepherd boy such as David or it may be Yahuah’s only Son as the Suffering Servant, the Messiah ben Yosef, or the Righteous King, Messiah ben Dawid.
“Thus, Yahuah saved Yisra`el that day out of the hand of the Mitzrim; and Yisra`el saw the Mitzrim dead on the seashore.” (Exod. 14:30). However, as in the parting of the Sea of Suf, the use of an agent is never necessary but may be used by Yahuah as a prophetic type.
It can be seen from these examples, typified by the Judges, secular salvation is of a temporary nature but the aim of this discussion is to study the spiritual aspect of salvation that is permanent.
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of Yahuah,” (Rom. 3:23). “Everyone who sins also commits lawlessness. Sin is lawlessness.” (1 John 3:4). “…Make me know my disobedience and my sin.” (Job 13:23b). In the depth of his trials, Iyov sought the reason for his condition. This word ‘disobedience’ #H6588 פֶּשַׁע pe-share means transgression which is translated as rebellion in the KJV *1846a rebellion, revolt, transgression but has the underlying idea of a failure in the relationships between two parties. The result is that Man deceives himself “For the wages of sin is death…” (Rom. 6:23a). At the Fall, Man disobeyed Yahuah `Elohiym, sin and its consequence, death, became prevalent in all of Mankind. (For a more in-depth discussion upon sin please refer to Maxi Bible Study Sin – First Generation Assembly ).
“Then Yahuah answered Iyov out of the whirlwind… ‘Or have you an arm like `El? Can you thunder with a voice like Him?… Then I will also admit to you that your own right hand can save you.’” (Job 40:6-14). Yahuah asks Iyov a series of rhetorical questions to drive home the fact that Man does not have the capability to save without Yahuah’s intervention.
“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will bruise your head, and you will bruise His heel… Yahuah `Elohiym made coats of skins for Adam and for his wife, and clothed them.” (Gen. 3:15, 21). The disobedience of Adam and Chavah was made manifest by their knowledge that they were naked. Although they tried to cover over their nakedness with leaves, this was not acceptable before a Most Set Apart Yahuah `Elohiym. At the Fall, Man lost the innocence and holiness with which he was made, but he retained his knowledge of spiritual matters. It is this remnant of knowledge of Yahuah that is awakened by grace. The knowledge of some form of deity or deities is universal throughout all cultures, tongues, races, nationalities and peoples (Thiessen p.199). As with the knowledge of a supreme being or beings, the knowledge of sin or wrong-doing is also common worldwide. Though the form by which sin is understood differs according to the various laws, customs and beliefs held by a particular society, it is the disobeying of Yahuah and His decrees that are the single, universal standard.
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“Declare you, and bring it forth; yes, let them take counsel together. Who has shown this from ancient time? Who has declared it of old? Have not I, Yahuah? And there is no `Elohiym else besides me, a just `El and a Saviour; there is no one besides me.” (Isa. 45:21). Yahuah has revealed His plan of salvation from the beginning of time so that His omnipotence is made manifest through the fulfillment of the plan. “Every writing inspired by `Eloakh is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction which is in righteousness,” (2 Tim. 3:16). Yahuah has clearly laid out His Laws and requirements, the consequence of disobedience, and the resultant punishment in His Word and as revealed by the Messiah Yahusha. “For the wrath of Yahuah is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known of Yahuah is revealed in them, for Yahuah revealed it to them. For the invisible things of Him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even His everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse.” (Rom. 1:18-20). “For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before Yahuah, but the doers of the law will be justified (for when Gentiles who do not have the law do by nature the things of the law, these, not having the law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience testifying with them, and their thoughts among themselves accusing or else excusing them) in the day when Yahuah will judge the secrets of men, according to my Good News, by Yahusha the Messiah.” (Rom. 2:12-16). Eventhose who have not heard the Good News will have no excuse for Yahuah has revealed Himself through Nature.
For this discussion, it is only the disobeying of Yahuah that will be considered as sin.
“They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions; but I will deliver them from all their dwelling places in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them. Then they shall be My people, and I will be their `Elohiym.” (Ezek. 37:23). This is the most significant covenant, spanning both the TaNaKh (Old Testament) and the Renewed Covenant (New Testament). All who have sinned but have been saved by Yahuah, those He will call His people.
“Yahuah did not set His love on you, nor choose you, because you were more in number than any people; for you were the fewest of all peoples: but because Yahuah loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, has Yahuah brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, from the hand of Par`oh king of Mitzrayim.” (Deut. 7:7, 8). Salvation is not a result of anything that Man could do, but is a product of Yahuah’slove for Mankind.
“Yahuah `Elohiym made coats of skins for Adam and for his wife, and clothed them.” (Gen. 3:21). “According to the law, nearly everything is cleansed with blood, and apart from shedding of blood there is no remission.” (Heb. 9:22). In Gan Eden, Yahuah had to slaughter animals in order to provide clothes for Adam and Chavah. However, the skins were a by-product, as it was the shedding of the blood that was required for atonement of Adam’s disobedience (sin). Nevertheless, the skins were necessary as a cover for their nakedness and subsequent lust (manifestation of sin). The couple knew first-hand what death meant and that it took the skins to cover their nakedness and shame and shedding of the animals’ blood to cover their sin. This was a temporary measure only and it was necessary to repeat the slaying of animals on a regular basis. It is the belief of FGA that this
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formed part of the spiritual knowledge that was handed down through successive generations and tribal lines. Not only the practice of sacrifice was made known, but more importantly, that the sacrifice was temporary and was pointing to a future permanent fulfillment.
“For Yahuah so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16). Although Man was responsible for his actions and could not do anything about his wretched state, Yahuah provided the perfect Sacrifice in His Son. “Behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son, and will call His name ‘Yahusha.’” (Luke 1:31). יְשׁוּעָה yay-shoo-ar #H3444 *929b salvation from the Hebrew root יָשַׁע yar-share.
N.B. There is and has only ever been one plan of Yahuah. From Adam right through to the very last person, it is the belief in Yahuah’s salvation through the completed work of the life, death, resurrection and exaltation of Yahusha that saves.
“But the Messiah having come as a High Priest of the coming good things, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation, nor yet through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, entered in once for all into the Most Set Apart Place, having obtained eternal redemption.” (Heb. 9:11, 12). It is the Messiah’s sacrificial death that was accepted by Yahuah as full payment for all Man’s sin-debt.
“When they cast down, you shall say, ‘be lifted up.’ He will save the humble person.” (Job 22:29). “Help me, Yahuah, my `Elohiym. Save me according to your lovingkindness;” (Psa. 109:26). “Therefore, you delivered them into the hand of their adversaries, who distressed them: and in the time of their trouble, when they cried to you, you heard from heaven; and according to your manifold mercies you gave them saviours who saved them out of the hand of their adversaries.” (Neh. 9:27). There is, however, something that Man must do.
“For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he has become guilty of all.” (James 2:10). “It shall be, when he is guilty of one of these, he shall confess that in which he has sinned:” (Lev. 5.5). Although Yahuah has made everything possible available for Man to be reconciled with Yahuah, “I said, ‘Yahuah, have mercy on me! Heal me, for I have sinned against you.’” (Psa. 44:4(5)), Man must first acknowledge his sin against Yahuah and seek His mercy and forgiveness. True repentance, by faith in the atoning work of the Messiah Yahusha, is the only condition for salvation “for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of Yahuah, not of works, that no one would boast.” (Eph. 2:8, 9). Repentance is not a price that Man has to pay for salvation, as this is by faith that is a freely given gift of grace by Yahuah (Thiessen).
“For we were saved in hope, but hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for that which he sees?” (Rom. 8:24). It is easier for 21st. Century Man to look back into the past at the completed work of the Messiah Yahusha and declare that we were saved. However, everyone who was saved prior to the Messiah had to look forward in hope and declare that wewill be saved. Nothing else was necessary or required except trust in Yahuah’s provision
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of a suitable sacrifice. This sacrifice paid the penalty for everyone’s sin and also broke sin’s entitlement over a person.
“Now I declare to you, brothers, the Good News which I preached to you, which also you received, in which you also stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold firmly the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that the Messiah died for our sins according to the Scriptures,” (1 Cor. 15: 1-3). Not only was salvation a completed act in the Messiah Yahusha, there is a constant present battle between the Believer and the flesh, “I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh…” (Rom. 6:19a), the world, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” (Rom. 12:2a) and HaSatan, “But Kefa said, ‘Hananyah, why has HaSatan filled your heart to lie to the Ruach HaQodesh …’” (Acts 5:3a). This present salvation is saving from sin to glory. In spite of regular failings, salvation continually reassures a person that there is always a way back into the shalom of Yahuah through repentance. This is not a guarantee that the Believer will be free from oppression. On the contrary, it is the guarantee that oppression will come, but that the Believer need not be anxious of the final outcome as Yahuah’s grace is all-sufficient .
“Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the Tree of Life, and may enter in by the gates into the city.” (Rev. 22:14). Yahuah’s salvation not only rescues Man from the hold (guilt and presence) and the penalty (eternal damnation) of sin, but it also empowers a person to carry on until the final consummation in the New Yerushalam (Barclay p.38).
“Surely he has borne our sickness, and carried our suffering; yet we considered Him plagued, struck by Yahuah, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our shalom was on Him; and with His stripes we are healed.” (Isa. 53:4, 5). Another aspect of salvation is that a Believer has the promise of healing, not only of the consequences of sin, but also of the result of living a life in a mortal body. “Heal me, O Yahuah, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for you are my praise.” (Jer. 17:14). The one and the same act of spiritual salvation was equally sufficient to accomplish full healing to a person’s mind and body.
“and He said, ‘If you will diligently listen to the voice of Yahuah your `Elohiym, and will do that which is right in His eyes, and will pay attention to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you, which I have put on the Mitzrim; for I am Yahuah who heals you.’” (Exod. 15:26). רָפָא Yahuah Yahuah rar-far #H7495 *2196 invariably refers to the healing of sicknesses and infirmities and not of spiritual salvation. “He heals the broken in heart, And binds up their wounds.” (Psa. 147:3). Therefore, it may be shown that not only is there spiritual salvation in the atoning sacrificial blood of the Messiah Yahusha, but there is also health and well-being. In these passages, salvation parallels healing, with salvation becoming a dynamic force bringing emotional and physical well-being (Thiessen).
Eternal Salvation
Now comes a discussion on ‘Once saved, always saved’ also referred to as ‘eternal salvation’ or ‘perseverance of the saints’. There is not enough room to cover this topic fully,
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considering it is probably the most contentious and written about subject in ‘Christian’ theology. The aim of this discussion is to put a few verses for and against the doctrine. The basis of the argument is that many Scripture passages tell of a falling away, backsliding or apostatizing (anti-eternal salvation). These are countered in that these refer to nominal Believers (pro- eternal salvation).
It is a fine summer’s day and you decide to take a walk along a cliff top on the coast. You come to a fence with a gate that has a large sign conspicuously posted stating ‘DANGER! Cliff edge liable to collapse. Keep to the path and well away from the cliff edge.” You carry on through the gate admiring the view.
Are you attracted to the edge? Is it because of the sign or are you that keen to look over the edge?
Great debates have taken place over the years as to whether it is possible to ‘lose your salvation’. This has always worried me in as much as why the question should ever arise. What possible action could be so terrible that forgiveness was not possible?
“but whoever may blaspheme against the Ruach HaQodesh never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin.” (Mark 3:29). This is the proof text that is most commonly used to argue for the answer yes to the question. The difficulty arises when defining the word ‘blaspheme’. Normally it is taken as a cursing Yahuah `Elohiym as Father, Son or Ruach. However, this would seem highly unlikely by one who has surrendered their life to Yahuah through His Son, the Messiah Yahusha. There are times in every Believer’s life when tragedy strikes leaving the Believer questioning Yahuah’s motives. Take Iyov (Job) for example. He loses his children, his wealth, his status and eventually his health. His wife famously calls him to ‘curse Yahuah and die’ (Job. 2:9). In spite of all that has happened to him, Iyov refuses. Some translations say ‘renounce’ instead of curse. This would make more sense if renounce was substituted for ‘blaspheme against’ in Mark 3:29.
Then again, is this likely? How could a true Believer, having been born again from above renounce their heavenly Father? “Therefore if anyone is in Messiah, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.” (2 Cor. 5:17). Surely the old self has died and been replaced by a new self, made incapable of such an act?
Therefore, if this is not possible, what does it say about the person’s original salvation? Surely this must be called into question? “Examine me, Yahuah, and prove me. Try my heart and my mind.” (Psa. 26:2). Yahuah cannot be deceived. Even though a person says a ‘Believer’s prayer’ does not automatically guarantee salvation. The person might genuinely feel as though they are sincere, but a truly wicked heart (mind in biblical terms) can deceive even the person. Yahuah can see into a person’s heart (thoughts) and knows of the person’s intentions in the future.
“for if `Eloakh did not spare the natural branches, neither will He spare you. See then the goodness and severity of `Eloakh toward those who fell, severity, but toward you, goodness; otherwise you also will be cut off.” (Rom. 11:21, 22). This passage (Rom. 11:1-36) is well known as describing Believers being grafted in to the Commonwealth of Yisra`el. The verses 21 and 22 are often quoted as proving that salvation can be lost. However, the nation of
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Yisra`el fell but not eternally as Yahuah remembered His covenant with Abraham. Those unbelieving Yisra`elites that were cut off, were those not bearing fruit.
“Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire…Not everyone who says to me ‘Master, Master’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matt. 7:19, 21). Likewise, many who think that they are true Believers will be broken off and thrown away. It is possible that many really believe in their salvation but the outworking of this ‘salvation’ does not bear acceptable fruit.
There is another way of looking at the word ‘blaspheme’. It is through the work of Ruach HaQodesh, that a person is truly convicted of their sin. It is by the leading of HaRuach that a person comes to know and accept the salvation of Yahuah through or by His Son, the Messiah Yahusha and acknowledges Him as their Master. If a person mocks Ruach HaQodesh, then they are making fun of all the work that is culminated in the act of salvation. The birth, life, death, resurrection and exaltation of the Messiah Yahusha is ridiculed. The grace and mercy of the Father is laughed at and ignored or tossed aside. No wonder that this is a sin for which there can be no forgiveness.
“though He was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things He suffered. Having been made perfect, He became to all of those who obey Him the author of eternal salvation,” (Heb. 5:9). This is one of the great mysteries, the paradox whereby becoming completely liberal we become enslaved by sin and by becoming a servant of Yahuah we can find eternal freedom. It was only due to His obedience that salvation was made available to Man. His eternal life has been imputed to Man when Man is also fully obedient.
“We are therefore ambassadors on behalf of the Messiah, as though `Eloakh were entreating by us. We beg you on behalf of the Messiah, be reconciled to `Eloakh. For Him who knew no sin He made to be a sin offering on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of `Eloakh.” (2 Cor. 5:21) Believers have been clothed with the righteousness of Yahuah through the Messiah, so that Believers can carry on the work that He came to do: preach the Good News and proclaim the year of Yahuah’s favour. (Isa. 61:1-3; Luke 4:18, 19).
When Yesha`yahu wrote this messianic prophecy and when the Master quoted it, all the readers and hearers would know the following:
The word #H8141 שָׁנָה sha-nar *2419a translated as ‘year’ would bring to mind three distinct times:
(a) שְׁמִטָּה שָׁנָה sha-nar shem-it-tar (#H8059 *2408a) year of release (Deut. 15:1);
(b) יוֹבֵל שָׁנָה sha-nar yoh-vale (#H3104 *835e) year of jubilee (Lev. 25:10) and
(c) נָקָם יוֹם yom nar-karm (#H5359 *1413a) day of vengeance and גְּאֻלָּה שָׁנָה sha-nar ge-ool-lar (#H1353 *300b) year of redemption (Isa. 63:4).
“He distributes freely, he gives to the poor. His righteousness endures forever. His power will be increased with honour.” (Psa.112:9). The Psalmist understood that the upright (those who fear Yahuah and obey His commandments) will be eternally clothed in His righteousness.
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“You will be hated by all men for my name’s sake, but he who endures to the end will be saved.” (Matt. 10:22). This is another verse that is often quoted as showing that salvation can be lost. However, this is about localised physical safety under persecution, not referring to eternal life. The Master was saying that preachers of the Good News would be kept safe so that they may go on to preach in other cities. It was vital to fear He who can destroy the soul and not just the body (v29).
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” (John 10:27-30). It is the bond between the Messiah Yahusha that is the basis of salvation. “Now to Him who is able to keep them from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory in great joy,” (Jude 24). “Blessed be the `Eloakh and Father of our Master Yahusha the Messiah, who according to His great mercy became our Father again to a living hope through the resurrection of Yahusha the Messiah from the dead, to an incorruptible and undefiled inheritance that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who by the power of `Eloakh are guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Pt. 1:3-5). A Believer is kept secure, preserved, by the power of Yahuah. ‘It is the precious thing about Christian faith that our continuance in eternal life depends not on our feeble hold on Christ, but on His firm grip on us.’ (Thiessen p.295 quoting Morris).
“Yahuah Tsva`ot has sworn, saying, ‘Surely, as I have thought, so shall it happen; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand:’” (Isa. 14:24). “being confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Yahusha the Messiah.” (Phil. 1:6). “For the gifts and the calling of Yahuah are irrevocable.” (Rom. 11:29). Once a person has committed his body, soul and spirit to Yahuah’s salvation in the Messiah Yahusha, the gift of grace and election cannot be revoked. This does not mean that a Believer will never sin again or backslide, but this state is only a temporary affair. “But when the righteous turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? None of his righteous deeds that he has done shall be remembered: in his trespass that he has trespassed, and in his sin that he has sinned, in them shall he die.” (Eze. 18:24). Yahuah cannot allow a Believer to continue without any form of chastisement, even if this is to end the earthly life. This, however, is not a punishment that results in eternal damnation. (Thiessen p.294).
“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of Yahuah, which is in the Messiah Yahusha our Master.” (Rom. 8:38, 39). This is an often-quoted passage affirming eternal salvation. It is countered by the argument that although nothing can take a Believer from Yahuah it is possible for a Believer to cast aside their salvation.
“For if, after they have escaped the defilement of the world through the knowledge of the Master and Saviour Yahusha the Messiah, they are again entangled therein and overcome, the last state has become worse with them than the first. For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after knowing it, to turn back from the set apart commandment delivered to them.” (2 Pt. 2:20, 21). Here, the warning is for those who have received, heard and understood, the Good News but who reject the message.
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“These in like manner are those who are sown on the rocky places, who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with joy. They have no root in themselves, but are short-lived. When oppression or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they stumble. Others are those who are sown among the thorns. These are those who have heard the word, and the cares of this age, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.” (Mark 4:16-19). This is a passage that is often quoted by the anti-eternal salvation argument. Those who have heard and received the Good News of salvation are likened to the seed. Both the shoots in the stony ground and amongst the thorns are said to be true Believers that when trials arise, they fall away.
“At this, many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him.” (John 6:66). “If a man does not remain in me, he is thrown out as a branch, and is withered; and they gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned.” (John 15:6). Again, these verses have many of the Master’s followers leaving Him. The followers may have had a close association with the Master, but it was not an intimate relationship with Him. If a branch does not have this union with the vine, no life-given sap can flow from the vine to the branch. Therefore, the branch remains fruitless.
“You will say then, ‘Branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.’ True; by their unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; for if `Eloakh did not spare the natural branches, neither will He spare you. See then the goodness and severity of `Eloakh. Toward those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness; otherwise, you also will be cut off.” (Rom. 11:19-22). This is a further anti-eternal life argument posted to show that a Believer may lose their salvation. This is an argument of kal v’chomer; light to heavy. If Yahuah was able and willing to cut off His own natural people for unbelief, how much more so will He do so to those who are His by adoption.
“They also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for Yahuah is able to graft them in again.” (Rom. 11:23). It is the belief of FGA that this passage refers to the two sets of people: Yisra`el and the Gentiles. Yisra`el has, and always will be Yahuah’speople. Here, Sha`ul describes a future time when, through un-belief, Yisra`el as a nation will be punished by Yahuah temporarily cutting them off from the blessings of Yahuah. Nevertheless, this chastisement will only be for a season as when they acknowledge their corporate sin, they will be in-grafted once again. If this passage is to be taken to refer to individual people, then it must be possible for a fallen Believer to repent and regain their salvation.
“For concerning those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Ruach HaQodesh, and tasted the good word of `Eloakh, and the powers of the age to come, and then fell away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance; seeing they crucify the Son of `Eloakh for themselves again, and put Him to open shame.” (Heb. 6:4-6). The context of the whole passage (Heb. 5:11-6:20) is one in which the readers fail to press on to maturity and the dangers of not doing so. There may well have been a move of some Believers to revert back to Judaism due to the current persecution.
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At the time the letter was written, around 65 C.E., Judaism was a recognized and tolerated religious cult by the Roman state. Believers, on the other hand, were considered as politically subversive (quora.com) (cf John 19:1-22), helped, no doubt, by the Judaizers inciting hostility towards Believers. The thinking was that if they turned back to Judaism until the persecution passed, they could re-trace their steps back to salvation. However, the Messiah Yahusha could not return to earth as a man in order to be re-executed as this would prove that the first life, death and resurrection were not wholly efficacious and was incomplete. The writer of the epistle is warning that this is not possible. The Messianic readers must press on to maturity in the Word and not revert back to Judaism, requiring the Temple sacrifices for cleansing. This would put the readers under the coming 70 C.E. judgment. By 66 C.E. there were the beginnings of political unrest in Yisra`el that would flare up into an all-out war between Rome and the Jews during and after which Believers and Jews alike would come under even harsher troubles. To revert back to Judaism would keep the readers in a state of immaturity, with no future possibility of progression, resulting in wasted years. This is not a loss of salvation and eternal blessings, but one of physical death and earthly blessings (Fruchtenbaum p.78) (cf Deut. 28:1-68).
“For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which will devour the adversaries… How much worse punishment, do you think, will he be judged worthy of, who has trodden under-foot the Son of `Eloakh, and has counted the blood of the covenant with which he was sanctified an unholy thing, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?” (Rom. 10:26-29). Sha’ul again issues a warning in this parenthetical passage (Rom. 10: 26-31) about the dangers of Believers returning back to Judaism and the sacrificial system (Fruchtenbaum p.142). However, this passage contains a much more severe warning. This passage refers not to a one-off slip, but to a premeditated and continual course of action ignoring all other warnings. In the Tanakh, there was no possible atoning sacrifice for murder, adultery and blasphemy and the guilty party was executed according to the Law. This was again only a physical death, so as to put a final stop to the sin and as a stark warning to others as a reminder of the severity of the sin.
“Whoever is born of `Eloakh does not commit sin, because His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of `Eloakh.” (1 John 3:9). This does not mean that a person who has been saved will never fall into temptation but that they will not continually sin. Forgiveness is ever-ready for the person who sins then seeks forgiveness, but not for the habitual sinner (Thiessen p.297). “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? May it never be! We who died to sin, how could we live in it any longer?” (Rom. 6:1, 2). A person who has been saved can, and will, fall into temptation, but due to the indwelling Ruach HaQodesh cannot remain in a state of un-repentance and un-forgiveness.
“Therefore, if anyone is in the Messiah, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.” (2 Cor. 5:17). Another reason that a saved person cannot live in un-repentance as in their pre-salvation state, is that once born from above (born again, regeneration), that the person is a totally new being. ‘the nature that occurs in regeneration is sufficient guarantee that the life imparted should be permanent…supernatural change…and nothing short of a supernatural act of God could reverse this change.” (Thiessen p.296 quoting Boettner). “For if we have become united
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with Him in the likeness of His death, we will also be part of His resurrection; knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be in bondage to sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin.” (Rom. 6:5-7).A person will fall into temptation, but it no longer has a hold on the Believer. The eternal consequences of sin, the enslavement to fear of judgement and punishment, no longer rule a person’s soul.
What, then, is the reason behind a Believer that he should backslide? “But HaRuach says expressly that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons, through the hypocrisy of men who speak lies, branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron;” (1 Tim. 4:1, 2). “But there also arose false prophets among the people, as among you also there will be false teachers, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master who bought them, bringing on themselves swift destruction. Many will follow their immoral ways, and as a result, the way of the truth will be maligned.” (2 Pt. 2:1, 2). False teachers will arise that propagate doctrines, creeds and traditions that lead away Believers. Their lies are the scheme of their father (of lies), “You are of your Father, the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. It was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in it. When it speaks a lie, it speaks on its own; for it is a liar, and the father of lies.” (John 8:44).
“Kefa remembered the word which Yahusha had said to him ‘Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.’ He went out and wept bitterly.” (Matt. 26:75). If anyone knew the depths of utter despair in denying the Messiah was not a permanent state of rejection of him by the Messiah, but upon repentance is restored, “He said to him the third time, ‘Shim`on, son of Yonah, do you love me?’ Kefa was grieved because He asked him the third time… He said to Him, ‘Master, you know everything. You know that I love for you.’ Yahusha said to him, ‘Feed my sheep… But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you, and carry you where you do not want to go.’ Now He said this, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify `Eloakh. When He had said this, He said to him, ‘Follow me’” (John 21:17-19).
“Let both grow together until the harvest, and in the harvest time I will tell the reapers, ‘First, gather up the darnel, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn.’” (Matt. 13:30). In the Parable of the Wheat and the Darnel, the Master warns of impending judgment. However, in this parable, there is no discernible difference between the wheat (Believers) and the darnel (false Believers). The term false Believers is used because the darnel mimic everything about the wheat. So much so, the Master prohibits His servants from any form of weeding out of the darnel until the grain has ripened. It is only then can the golden wheat grains be recognized apart from the black darnel. This describes those people who have a good knowledge of the Good News and outwardly appear as though they were Believers, but have never committed themselves to the Messiah Yahusha. After the harvest, grain is separated from the chaff the good grain is kept safe and ready to be used whilst the rubbish is gathered up and burnt. There is a sober warning to true Believers in this verse not to judge others, “Do not judge, so that you will not be judged” (Matt. 7:1), “If you say, ‘Behold, we did not know this;’ Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, does He not know it? Shall He not render to every man according to his work?’” (Prov. 24:12).
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“HaSatan entered into Yahudas, who was surnamed Ish-K’riot, who was numbered with the twelve.” (Luke 22:3). Finally, this is an often-quoted account of how a Believer can lose their salvation, even one who has broken bread with the Master, ultimately betraying Him. This seems to infer that the Master was unaware of the future betrayal of one of His closest followers. However, the Master knew full well but Yahudas’ actions were necessary for Scripture to be fulfilled. It is the belief of FGA that a Believer cannot be demon-possessed as Yahudas was in this verse. Therefore, he could not have been a Believer. It has been said that Yahudas turned away from the Master when he realized that the Man he followed was Messiah ben Yosef (the Suffering Servant) and not Messiah ben Dawid (the Victorious King). The Master had not come to overcome the Roman occupation of Yisra`el by military force but to overcome evil by His sacrificial death. Thus, Yahudas’ decision, if he was ever saved, was one of a politico-military nature and not one of faith.
It is also the belief of FGA that there is eternal salvation. However, the actual question should not arise. A Believer must not try Yahuah, “Yahusha said to it, ‘Again it is written, ‘You shall not test Yahuah your `Elohiym’’” (Matt. 4:7) and therefore should keep their account short by repenting and seeking forgiveness as soon as the sin is made known. Many have been led astray by accommodation of and compromise to the world’s standards. This can be clearly seen in the arguments put forward in such cases to justify the courses of action.
Judgment
Judgement – a decision of a law court or judge (www.oxforddictionaries.com). There is some thought that there will be no judgement at all but this cannot be sustained by the biblical text. There is further thought that Believers will not be judged as they are under grace. However, again this cannot be supported by the biblical text.
“For He comes, for He comes to judge the world. He will judge the world with righteousness, The peoples with His truth.” (Psa. 96:13). When the Messiah returns it will be for judgement for all people, both Believers and non-Believers. The standard by which He judges is His truth: neither the standard of the world nor that of false teachers but His Torah. There will be no excuse when He returns.
“Yahuah administers judgement to the peoples. “Judge me, O Yahuah, according to my righteousness, And my integrity that is in me.” (Psa. 7:8). “For Yahuah will judge His people, And have compassion on His servants.” (Psa. 135:4). Unlike the mistaken teaching in ‘Christian’ circles, Believers will not escape judgement. “I will remember their sins and their iniquities no more.” (Heb. 10:17). This is the proof verse that is often quoted to support that Believers will not be judged and that Believers are under grace not the law. This does not mean that there will be no judgement, but that, through grace, Yahuah will have compassion upon His people.
For a fuller discussion please refer to the Maxi Bible Study Judgement – First Generation Assembly p.5.
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The Lamb’s Book of Life
“Yet now, if you will, forgive their sin and if not, please blot me out of your book which you have written.’ Yahuah said to Moshe, ‘Whoever has sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.’” (Exod. 32:32, 33). Moshe asks Yahuah to remove his name rather than those who had sinned from Yahuah’s Book. Therefore, Moshe must have been aware of the existence of such a Book.
“Let them (the wicked) be blotted out of the book of life, And not be written with the righteous.” (Psa. 69:28). It is my belief that upon conception, every person is entered in to the Lamb’s Book of Life. Until a person’s final breath, the name remains. If a person dies in a state of un-repentance their name is blotted out. However, if a person has repented and called upon the Messiah to be saved then their name will remain in the Book. This will also take into account the status of a child that has died at an early age or a person that has some form of learning disability. The age of accountability will depend upon three factors:
(a) The child’s access to sound teaching (Godly parents & grand-parents, youth church attendance, school);
(b) The child’s ability to understand the teaching;
(c) The child’s ‘innocence’ being corrupted by others.
“There will in no way enter into it anything profane, or one who causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.” (Rev. 21:27). “He who overcomes will be arrayed in white garments, and I will in no way blot his name out of the Book of Life,” (Rev. 3:5a). “All who dwell on the earth will worship him (the Beast), everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the Book of Life of the Lamb who has been killed.” (Rev. 13:8). Those who worship the Beast will not be found in the Lamb’s Book of Life. I believe that this means that the Book of Life only becomes The Lamb’s Book only at the end of time. By then, all who would repent have done so and these will not be blotted out. By inference, those who would not repent will be blotted out.
“And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is [the book] of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” (Rev. 20:12 KJV). Some translations refer to the dead opening the books inferring that each person had their own book. There is no Scriptural indication as to who opened the books. It is clear, however, that one of the books held a record of the life of the person and this would also include words as by these we are told that we are justified or condemned, “I tell you that every idle word that men speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matt. 12:36, 37).
“Take this book of the law, and put it by the side of the ark of the covenant of Yahuah your `Elohiym, that it may be there for a witness against you.” (Deut. 31:26).
“Then Yirmeyahu called Barukh the son of Neriyah; and Barukh wrote from the mouth of Yirmeyahu all the words of Yahuah, which he had spoken to him, on a scroll of a book.” (Jer. 36:4).
“He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the
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synagogue were fastened on Him. He began to tell them, ‘Today, this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’” (Luke 4:20, 21).
“He said to them, ‘This is what I told you, while I was still with you, that all things which are written in the law of Moshe, the prophets, and the psalms, concerning me must be fulfilled.’ Then He opened their minds, that they might understand the Scriptures.” (Luke 24:44, 45). It is my belief that the ‘books’ or scrolls of Rev. 20:12 are three in number: “and the books(at least two) were opened: and another book(at least a third) was opened,”. The three books being i) the deeds of a person, ii) the Lamb’s Book of Life and iii) The Torah in its entirety being the Book of Moshe (Pentateuch), Prophets and Writings and the B’rit Hadashah (Renewed Testament). The Judge of All will take note of what is written in each book before passing sentence. There can be no evading the truth because the times when a person heard the Good News of the Messiah will have been written down and the response noted. A negative response will mean that a person’s name will not appear in the Lamb’s Book of (Eternal) Life.
“At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.” (Deut. 17:6).
If a person faces the Judge and refuses to acknowledge their past sins (Buddist, aetheist, Humanist, ‘Christian’ etc.) the Judge will ask them to prove their case. Each will open their book and point to all the good that they have done throughout their lives. The Judge opens His Torah and it witnesses against them. The Lamb will open His Book and their name does not appear.
Thus is the case proven against the person.
“…To whoever much is given, of him will much be required; and to whom much was entrusted, of him more will be asked.” (Luke 12:48b). At judgement, there will be a revealing and an evaluation of all the facts.
Condemnation or Commendation
The judgement under discussion in this study is that which leads to condemnation and punishment or commendation and acquittal.
Condemnation – “But whoever denies me before men, him I will also deny before my Father who is in heaven.” (Matt. 10:33). “If we deny him, He also will deny us.” (2 Tim. 2:12b). It is too late to plead for mercy once in front of the Judge when He gave everything possible to render mercy before the person’s death. Turning back to the Messiah is no longer an option. “Then He will say also to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and its angels;’” (Matt. 25:41).
Commendation – “Everyone therefore who confesses me before men, him I will also confess before my Father who is in heaven.” (Matt. 10:32). “Then the King will tell those on His right hand, ‘Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;’” (Matt. 25:34).
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“Therefore, as by the offence of one [judgment came] upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one [the free gift came] upon all men unto justification of life.” (Rom. 5:18 KJV). This is quite a clear statement that all men come under the judgement of Yahuah. ‘As’ #G1519 εἰς ice denoting entrance into (Thayer’s Lexicon – www.blueletterbible.org). The opportunity to sin was present the moment Adam was made
with a free-will but it was not until Adam’s disobedience that the consequences were made manifest. Thus, both the first, physical death and second, spiritual death, came about bringing everyone under the possibility of condemnation. This is like a door being open for Mankind to sin. There is no compulsion for Mankind having to go through the door but all Mankind except One could not resist haSatan’s beckoning temptation to pass through the door. Likewise, there is a door that is open to all Mankind to enter through and into justification. Similarly, there is no compulsion for him having to go through the door but Yahuah beckons all to come unto Him, “I am the door. If anyone enters in by me, he will be saved, and will go in and go out, and will find pasture.” (John 10:9). Unfortunately, not all take the step into eternal life through the Messiah.
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of the Messiah; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he has done, whether it be good or bad.” (2 Cor. 5:10).There will be no exceptions: Un-believers and Believers alike. This judgement is for what was done or not done during a person’s lifetime. This includes repentance where Father gives every opportunity to turn back to Him through the atonement of the Messiah. If it is not done in a person’s lifetime, they will stand condemned at the judgement.
“I acknowledged my sin to you. I did not hide my iniquity. I said, I will confess my transgressions to Yahuah, And you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah.” (Psa. 32:5).
“that if you will confess with your mouth the Lord Yahusha, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Rom. 10:9 Stern CJB). If the Messiah reigns in our hearts then it is only natural that we confess that He is our Master and we will be saved. By inference, if we do not confess our sins, repent and call upon the Messiah to save us, we cannot be saved.
“Man cannot save himself; but can damn himself” (Reiser quoting Manson – Reiser 1997).
For a fuller discussion upon judgement, please refer to the Maxi Bible Study Judgement – First Generation Assembly
Yochanan recalls his vision of the Judgement as he sees scrolls opened. A person can never be condemned by only one witness, “At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he who is to die be put to death; at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.” (Deut. 17:6), there must be at least two in agreement. That is the case with these books. A person has their Book of Life that has everything done or not done or every word spoken or not spoken. Yahuah opens His Book of Torah and compares the person’s life with His perfect standard: and everyone falls short. Yahuah declares everyone guilty. The person tries to plead for mercy, but it is too late. This is when the Messiah Yahusha opens His (Lamb’s) Book of Life. If a person is not written in the Lamb’s Book, then they are
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condemned to eternal punishment. If the person’s name has been written down in the Lamb’s Book, they are still guilty but the Messiah Yahusha will step forward and declares that He has taken all the punishment upon Himself.
Salvation of Infants
“Yet now, if you will, forgive their sin and if not, please blot me out of your book which you have written. Yahuah said to Moshe, ‘Whoever has sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.’” (Exod. 32:32, 33). Moshe (Moses) asks Yahuah to remove his name rather than those who had sinned from Yahuah’s Book. Therefore, Moshe must have been aware of the existence of such a Book.
“Let them (the wicked) be blotted out of the book of life, And not be written with the righteous.” (Psa. 69:28). It is my belief that upon conception, every person is entered in to the Lamb’s Book of Life. Until a person’s final breath the name remains. If a person dies in a state of un-repentance their name is blotted out. However, if a person has repented and called upon Messiah to be saved then their name will remain in the Book. This will also take into account the status of a child that has died at an early age or a person that has some form of learning disability. The age of accountability will depend upon three factors:
(a) The child’s access to sound teaching (Godly parents & grand-parents, youth church attendance, school);
(b) The child’s ability to understand the teaching;
(c) The child’s ‘innocence’ being corrupted by others.
“But now he (Bat-Sheva’s baby) is dead, why should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.” (2 Sam. 12:22). Due to King David’s sin in killing Bat-Sheva’s husband, Uriyah, Yahuah took the life of the couple’s first child. The inference was that the child was only a week old. David tells his servants that he will eventually go to where the child was. “For you will not leave my soul in She`ol, Neither will you allow your holy one to see corruption.” (Psa. 16:10). David was confident in his salvation. Knowing that he would eventually be with Yahuah and that the baby would be with him, therefore so the baby would be with Yahuah when he died. “By the sweat of your face will you eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” (Gen. 3:19). Although Yahuah has declared that the body of a person shall revert back to dust, David’s confidence is that his spirit would be with Yahuah on his physical death.
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Yahuah bless you and keep you,
Yahuah make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you,
Yahuah lift up His face toward you and give you peace.
All glory be to Yahuah,
Ameyn.
References and Credits
Barclay Rev. W. (1960) The Revelation of John, Vol.II, Saint Andrew Press, Edinburgh.
Bromiley G.W. (1988) Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, Eerdmans Pasternoster, Exeter, Devon.
Fairbairn Rev.P. The Imperial Bible Dictionary VI, Blackie, London
Fruchtenbaum A.G. (2005) The Messianic Jewish Epistles – Hebrews, Ariel Ministries, Tustin CA.
Harris R.L., Archer G.L., Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, Moody, Chicago, Waltke B.K. (1980) Il.
Hodge C. (1873) Systematic Theology, Thomas Nelson & Sons, London.
Reiser M. (1997) Jesus and Judgement, Fortress Press, Augsburg.
Roth A.G. (2011) Aramaic English New Testament, Netzari Press, U.S.A.
Stern D.H. (1998) Complete Jewish Bible, Jewish New Testament Pub., Clarksville, MD.
Strong J. (1994) Strong’s New Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, World Bible Publishers Inc., Madison. (denoted by #H or #G).
Strong J. (1996) The New Strong’s Complete Dictionary of Bible Words, Thomas Nelson, Nashville. (denoted by #H or #G).
Thiessen H.C. (1999) Lectures In Systematic Theology, Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
KJV The Authorized Version or King James Version (KJV), 1611, 1769.
Outside of the United Kingdom, the KJV is in the public domain. Within the United Kingdom, the rights to the KJV are vested in the Crown.
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17 U.S. Code § 107 – Limitations on exclusive rights: Fair use
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The fact that a work is unpublished shall not itself bar a finding of fair use if such finding is made upon consideration of all the above factors.
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First Generation Assembly 