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Perry:
Many of the points that we discuss on TT
require a tremendous amount of research (biblical and extra-biblical) in terms
of scanning, cross referencing, and word studies, to understand. And, to
understand many of the NT concepts, we even need OT knowledge into
characteristics, traits, and customs of OT Jewish society, to fully understand
all of the implications of the NT.
Slade:
This is the second time I've written this
email. The last time the computer crashed and I almost didn't rewrite my post,
but here goes again... We all grow in grace an knowledge. For instance, I do
not expect soiled garments from Ian (my six-year-old boy) as I do from
Yochannah (my 15-month-old girl). Nonetheless, if Yochannah wants to surprise
me by suddenly being about to use the toilet efficiently,
HalleluYAH!!
Our children grow, learn, mature,
gain responsibility, and eventually they leave home, marry, and start families
of their own and the process begins afresh... but with them at the helm
instead of me. The Messianic Community should be functioning the same way.
Just because someone has little knowledge doesn't mean they are not going to
receive the REWARD of the Kingdom upon their death or the arrival of Messiah.
There should be a constant state of growth, though. Growth is good, but a lack
of growth is death.
Perry:
Do you really think that it takes all of that
research to be a Christian? If you tell me that one can gain all of the
knowledge of the things you purport to know with just a daily reading of
scripture, without all of the digging and research, I must
disagree.
Slade:
Perry. All knowledge of the Great and Awesome
YHVH comes ONLY from the revelation of the Ruach haKodesh (Holy Spirit). Do
not put the load of your research on someone else. You can use what the Spirit
taught other people, but the Spirit that taught them resides IN YOU AS WELL if
you're a believer in Messiah! Trust in that Spirit and study to show yourself
approved! Gaining knowledge of the things of YAH is much like a tangent
graph... it may seem like baby steps now, but as time goes on, you'll look
back on your journey and you will give credit and glory to YAH because you'll
be surprised at how far you've come and how much you've learned. Let YAH work
in your life and KEEP READING AND STUDYING both
Testaments.
Perry:
While we all have time (or can at least make
time) to read the scriptures, not everyone has the time (or can make the time)
to perform the research that most theologians, bible scholars, and
commentators have, and to be honest, most people may not even have the mental
focus or the skills it takes to do that type of research and arrive at the
level of understanding at which every commentator believes they have
arrived.
Slade:
I look at life and Scripture more from a
Hebraic perspective than from a logistically western outlook. Therefore,
I take great joy in knowing that the new day begins when the sun sets below
the horizon. I also take great comfort knowing that the new month begins at
the dark of the moon. Same concept: the dark begins a fresh new beginning; a
dead man is brought to life with saving faith in
Yeshua/Jesus (This explains why a person is considered unclean until
evening... the arrival of a new day at dusk gives him a brand new, clean
start.) This way of looking at the new day gives us the opportunity to give
YAH the FIRSTFRUITS of our day, when we are at our brightest, chipperest, and
our most awake. Give YAH this time, Perry, and give Him His Firstfruits, and
see how He blesses you with grace and knowledge.
Perry:
I am sure all great (and even more
not-so-great) biblical scholars believe that their study was led by the Holy
Spirit, and perhaps in many instances it was. But if that is so, how can we
have Arminius and Calvin, both claiming to have been led by the Holy Spirit,
yet arriving at two completely opposing viewpoints. How can the irreconcilable
differences of the many "christian" organizations claim to all have been led
by the spirit to the exclusive truth of scripture when they are diametrically
opposed on so many points? God is not a God of confusion, and the Holy Spirit
does not lead men down mutually exclusive paths.
Slade:
These men (commentators) may have had the
Spirit of the Holy One of Yisrael, but who's to say that every word they
penned was YAH-breathed? "Goldenmouth" spoke from the very nephesh/soul of YAH
with one tongue and was so vile and unclean with his other that I wonder about
him sometimes. If you are a believer in Messiah, and I have no way to help you
determine this unless I see YAH's fruit (yes, singular.. look it up)
manifest in you. Your questions seem purposeful and Spirit led. Trust in that
Spirit, Perry, and trust less in commentaries. Commentator's flesh will
be seen defiling the pages in front of you more than the voice of the Holy One
(the sale of books outweigh truth in many a tome). Read what the words
say and believe what the words say. Do not read into the words until you
UNDERSTAND the words (seems simple but few are able to practice this). Do not
allow preconceptions to interfere with your ability to listen to the
Spirit (this is hardest).
Let me give you an example of
having to throw away preconceptions. Bereshit/Genesis chapter Six tells us
that the "sons of God" (Heb: Bnei Elohim) saw the daughters of the man (Heb.
ha'Adam) -- <literally translated from the Hebrew>. If you read the
average commentary, they say the "sons of God" were the fallen angels
who slept with human female. Why? Because they are trying to explain the
nephelim (which should be literally translated from the Hebrew as "Tall
Ones"). With a misunderstanding of grammar in verse 6:4, we fuel this deceit
by saying the reprobate offspring of this unholy union were the Nephelim.
But let me ask you a simple question. What is the definition of Bnei Elohim
(Sons of God)? Turn to John 1:12 for the answer... remembering that the phrase
"children of God" is "Bnei Elohim" in the Hebraic mindset). Now, turn to
Iyov/Job 1:6. What's happening there? Are fallen angelic agents presenting
themselves to YHVH? If so, this creates another strange can of worms, but
that's what commentators will tell you! However, the Bnei Elohim present
themselves to YHVH whenever they fulfill the commandment to observe the
festivals of YHVH in Leviticus 23 (paying close attention to the ownership of
the feasts in verse 23:2).
Perry:
When I read a commentary, including all of
those opinions on TT, I cannot take it as the 100% truth, because men have
agendas, preconceived notions, desires to see things a certain way, and most
(if not all) commentaries are tainted by certain theological assumptions. For example, I find the futuristic view of
dispensationalists to be flawed, yet the dispensationalists I debate are sure
that theirs is the ONLY proper eschatological view, and most are willing to
argue their futurist viewpoints to the death! Regardless of how sincere any
commentator is when they produce their commentaries, they are always colored
by their pre-beliefs. If I want to trust a commentary, then I have to go off
and repeat the same research as the commentator, and I will most likely arrive
at a different conclusion (depending on how persuasive an argument he has
produced, and how astute I am as a bible scholar) because I do not have the
same theological background or training that he
has.
Slade:
HalleluYAH!! Allow the Spirit within you be
your teacher. Ask him to open your eyes, unplug your ears, give you eyes to
see, remove the scales from your eyes, etc. By fellowshipping with others who
are seeking the Truth, iron will sharpen iron and incorrect thinking and false
doctrines will fall from all of us who truly seek YHVH with all our hearts. If
we seek Him with ALL our hearts, He will reveal Himself to
us.
Perry:
I believe that there is a simple answer to
this. I believe that the message is simple. I believe that our salvation and
standing with God cannot be based upon our ability to do the deeper research
necessary to arrive at many of the concepts that we discuss here on TT, and
also that we cannot depend on the many commentators to reveal the truth to us,
lest we find ourselves jumping through many man-made hoops to no avail. And,
also, our salvation and eternal destiny cannot depend on whether we are
Arminianists or Calvinists (or adhere to any other of the broad-ranging
theological "formulas").
Slade:
I saw such hope until you said, "I believe
that our... standing with God cannot be based upon our ability to do the
deeper research necessary to arrive at many of the concepts that we discuss
here on TT." Oh, well. Perhaps you will
listen to these passages and change your mind: Study to show thyself
approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth... My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge:
because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that
thou shall be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law
(Heb: Torah) of thy God, I will also forget thy
children.
Perry:
I have faith that God's tremendous grace and
mercy have saved me, and I did not learn this by reading commentaries or by
believing any man, or jumping through any hoop. It is an easy message to glean
from the scripture. Even a topical reading reveals this. And, I think anyone
who can read can read the Bible, or can hear a simple presentation of the
Gospel from the Bible, can understand this. And the message is not difficult.
Yes, I believe that the Holy Spirit is agent in the process of understanding
and heeding this simple message.
Slade:
HalleluYAH!
Perry:
Many of you now may be anxious to tell me that
I have to be perfect (without sin), or that I have to observe the Sabbath, or
that the Sabbath has been moved to Sunday, or that I have to be of a certain
religion, or that I am still under the law, or that I have to be circumcised,
or I have to circle the sanctuary three times before going into it, or that I
have to participate in secret rites derived from occultic practices in a
temple adorned with Masonic symbols, and a whole bunch of other stuff onto
which you dearly hold. You each probably want to point out my error and place
me on the "correct" (pronounced "your") path to salvation. Folks, it is not
that complicated. None of these rituals or hoops can add one thing to the
salvation Christ has already provided.
Slade:
I would never tell you to do any ritual except
GROW IN GRACE AND KNOWLEDGE by reading what's in that Book. In reading His
Word, you will learn what the Books says, and you should apply everything that
you read. Forget Baptist, Futurist, Munchausen-by-Proxy, Pharisee, Modalistic
Monarchian stuff, and see what Scripture has to say. Allow Scripture to
be your Biblical dictionary as I showed you above. It will WORK EVERY TIME.
For practice, come up with a few definitions and post them to the group if you
have time. What is the Biblical definition of Life, Light, Truth, and
Stumbling Block. I think you'll be surprised at the three definitions for
Light, the two definitions for Life, and the single
definitions for Stumbling Block and Truth. May the
revelation of those four definitions begin to assist you in your new-found way
of studying Scripture. I will pray.
B'Or haTorah Nephesh
-- slade
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