Christianity 101
As we apparently move closer to the end of this age, it must be time to prepare for the coming of the LORD. With many saying the day is soon upon us, we should perhaps look to our faith, and as Paul says, examine ourselves as to whether we are actually in the faith: for we are called unto liberty not for worldly experience, but to love and serve one another. Therefore, in order to move forward in the truth of the LORD and His Christ we should best equip ourselves for the days ahead.
Much of this material is contained across several articles on this site, but for ease we have brought it together to serve as a ready guide. Due to the obvious confusion in much of today’s evangelism, the teaching of the Prophets and Apostles has been lost, compromised, or worse ignored. Yet, when we learn of the significance held in the Prophets and Apostles none of this is surprising, for as Amos has warned us; there would be a famine for the Word of God. (Amos 8) The sad state of the world, and the poor condition of faith in this age was foreseen and written down.
In light of this, it is time to have another look at the essentials required of all who claim the Christian way.
Now, it seems many find it difficult to come to grips with a number of truths in the Bible, or not been shown its true wonder. There is also uncertainty between religious practice, and what it means to have a personal faith in Jesus Christ. We should also look into Christian-Zionism and the modern State of Israel, which has blinded many to a great truth. So, we will attend to these important issues under these brief headings:
– Who is Jesus really
– What is true Christianity
– What about the Zionist State
– What must I do for my Salvation
Before proceeding:
Many redactors and editors have for some inexplicable reason, used lower case ‘Lord’ when referring to Jesus. Isaiah gave us the sign of His coming and revealed Jesus is the Everlasting Father and Mighty God. It is clear from especially Isaiah and Paul, that Jesus is the LORD and Father of all. Moses, who ‘wrote this law,’ made it very plain:
For the LORD your God is God of Gods, and Lord of Lords. (Deut 10:17)
Paul writes: which in His times He shall show the blessed and only potentate, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. (1Timothy 6:15)
John’s report states: and the Lamb shall overcome them for He is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him, called, and chosen and faithful. (Rev 17:14)
Therefore, correction amending Lord and Christ to ‘LORD and Christ’ (Acts 2:36) must be made, so we might see Jesus Christ clearly in the Scriptures rightly described all honour and glory due.
The LORD Jesus Christ
The first Bible reference to Jesus is found in the words: let us make man in our image. (Gen 1:26) We know this, as the Apostle John wrote: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John again identifies Jesus in Revelation: And he was clothed with vesture dipped in blood; and His Name is called the Word of God. (Rev 19:13) So, the Word from the beginning was the Lamb crucified.
Another is the promise of salvation when the LORD cursed the Serpent saying, the woman’s seed will bruise thy head. (Gen 3:14) The seed therefore is the Christ of authority and redemptive power over sin.
Jesus is also mentioned by the Prophets. We know this as He told us so. These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the psalms, “concerning me.” (Luke 24:44)
Matthew also writes of prophesy referring to Jesus: And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Prophets.
What do we learn about Jesus from Moses? Well, Jesus sent His Angel to safeguard Israel on their journey. Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for “my name” is in him. (Exo 23:20-21) We know this is correct since Paul told us when speaking of the tribes in the wilderness:
for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. (1Co 10:4)
How do we know the Angel was Jesus? Jesus told us of His Angel when He confirmed the Kingship line through David: I Jesus have sent mine Angel to testify unto you these things … I am the root and the offspring of David … (Rev 22:16). We also see the LORD’S Angel speaking with authority to Abraham. (Gen 22:11) The Angel stopped the Assyrians at Jerusalem (2Ki 19:35); visited Samson’s parents (Jdg 13:16); and got the Apostle Peter out of prison (Acts 12:7) to mention a few.
So, what does Isaiah say about Jesus? Quite a lot in fact, also making sure we understand the pre-eminence and power of the Ever-Living God. Therefore the LORD Himself shall give you a sign: behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)
Now, Immanuel, as we see in Matthew means ‘God with us,’ but Mary called the babe JESUS, the name given to her by the Angel Gabriel: a name come down from Heaven as Gabriel did not learn it from men. And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. (Luke 2:21)
What else do we learn from Isaiah? We find two essential truths. First, we are given the names and authority of the Christ, which clearly shows us who He is. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace; (Isaiah 9:6) Here we learn the simple truth that Jesus Christ is the LORD from Heaven.
But do we have further evidence? Yes, from the Apostle John. And every spirit that confesses not that that Jesus Christ is “come in the flesh” is not of God. (1John 4:3)
The next important scripture from Isaiah removes any doubt as to the LORD’S Salvation. Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me, I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour. (43:10-11)
So, we see from Isaiah that Jesus is both Father and Christ: the LORD and our Salvation. There is no saviour except for Him, no redemption apart from Him. But is this right; is there evidence from another source? Let’s look to Peter and Acts 2:34-36.
For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know surely, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both LORD and Christ.
Accordingly, we learn from Peter who was given the Kingdom Keys of Repentance, Baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Mighty God who came in the flesh of His Christ. He came to restore what was taken by deception in Eden: that through His Blood and Resurrection free of stain, we again may have eternal life by His purchase freely made.
By His once only sacrifice for the removal of our debt through sin, He opened the door to all who seek His truth. There is nothing we can add to our salvation, other than our sin. We now take joy in the Law of Faith, believing on Him. For as Jesus said to Paul: My Grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Paul goes on to say; most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2Cor 12:9)
We take comfort and rest in redemption through Christ, living under His power and Grace wrought for us in perfect love.
True Christianity
Now, the above may have been a jolt for many, but the Jesus you have been told about is not the one of Scripture.
The Jesus of the Bible is the LORD God Almighty, not the son of a trinity:
The Word from the beginning, not an adjunct come out of Nicaea. Only the creator of all living can conquer death and forgive sin, unless of course the son is greater than the father. There can only ever be one LORD as Isaiah made clear regarding the Christ. He is, as Paul writes, the LORD from Heaven.
So, what does this mean for the Church today? It means it has not listened and given false teaching concerning the truth of Jesus Christ: for many shall come in my name, saying I am, and the time draws near: go ye not after them. (Luke 21:8) Notice, Jesus said ‘many’ not the occasional firebrand, but countless would claim the Gospel as their own. He also warned they would preach the end ‘the time draws near.’ We are told not to follow them, but we have and await the lure of rapture. Hence, we are paying the price for our error having eaten the contaminated bread of false hope. The Gospel we must follow is the truth of the LORD Jesus Christ.
We find it explained in Revelation 14:12 and as Paul says, we can see the simplicity that is in Christ: Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. The preceding verse captures the state of the Churches and those who follow polluted creeds. And the smoke of their torment ascends up forever and ever: they have no rest day or night that worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receives the mark of his name.
The image of the beast is an image of the true word;
it is false doctrine, which marks the fallen state of the Church and its system of religion; the mark of his name is confusion. So, the matter comes down to dividing religion and belief. No one can be perfected by works, but we can be perfected by faith: for having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? (Gal 3:3)
Since no one can keep the Commandments given to Moses, for as Jesus made plain even by thinking we sin; how can the Saints keep the Commandments of God? They keep them as they are not of works, but of faith. Now, let us consider this from Mark.
And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, which is the first commandment of all?
And Jesus answered him: The first of all commandments is Hear O Israel: the LORD our God is one LORD.
And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second like this: thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is no other commandment greater then these. (Mark 12:28-31)
Watch now: these two Great Commands were addressed; not to a scribe, not to a nation, but to the Israel of God. As Jesus said … ye do not understand my speech; because ye cannot hear my word. (John 8:43) But, His own hear His word; they keep the faith of Jesus and His Commands in their fullness. They hear and understand the LORD is one LORD as He commanded. So, righteous and justified belief is not found in ecclesiastical sayings, dogma, creeds or laws; it is found in the LORD Jesus Christ. To rest in the purchased redemption: the Sabbath rest of Him that came.
Entry to His Kingdom is through belief, repentance and baptism as Peter revealed at Pentecost.
The State of Israel
The Zionist State came about through the planting of an idea in the minds of Jewry by mistaken scholars and governments. At the time, the Jews of the Diaspora had no plans to go to Palestine of their own volition; they were in long-suffering awaiting their God to gather them. Evangelical Christians on the other hand, believed that the Jews must be present in order for Jesus to return.
Such blindness to God’s Word has mesmerized Christianity to such an extent; most now believe the Jewish State is the intent of God and prophesy, it is simply a suspension of truth. That Evangelicals place their hope in a political solution as did the Pharisees, is quite frankly beyond words. Even the True Torah Jews lament the day the Zionist State was born.
God’s Kingdom is not of this World, and Christian-Zionism is nothing more than a negation of the facts of Scripture.
Jews and Zionism have nothing whatsoever to do with Christianity or one’s salvation; that’s down to Jesus when we believe. Accordingly, there is no reason to regard them or their State. Now, let’s get down to some history and Scripture.
The House of Israel was removed by the Assyrians c.700 years before Jesus was here. The name they inherited was Ephraim: under which they were scattered to the ends of the Earth. (Deut 33:17) The Jews at the time of Jesus’ ministry were of the former House of Judah; only a remnant returned from Babylon. Beginning in 70AD, they were driven out by Rome as foretold; many were taken into slavery for their wrong. Of the few that survived, most went to Spain becoming the Sephardic Jews.
By contrast, the Jews of Eastern Europe were not descendants, but Khazarians, having adopted the Talmud in the 8th Century. And, while they may claim it; have no bloodline ancestry to the Tribes of Israel, the land, or Jerusalem.
It is these who founded political Zionism and who Christians support.
Since 1948, the ancient Christian population has been systematically removed by the Zionist State: less than 10% remain: Christianity in the region was founded by the Apostles. Of all the States in the Middle East, Israel is the one most cited for human rights abuses; Amnesty, HRW, the UN and many others agree, Israel is indeed culpable in its ethnic cleansing of the Arab population.
Jewish authors including Ilan Pappe and Shlomo Sand, are shining a light on a questionable Israeli narrative, while many local Jews calling for justice and fair-play, are intimidated and imprisoned by the State. That any who call themselves Christian would support such deeds oppose the Gospel and Apostles. They taught forgiveness and love for all men, not arrogance, bigotry and intolerance.
There is not one ounce of Scripture, which points to a secular political Zionist State.
Neither is there any Scripture to presage a Jewish State in any form. There is no Scripture that would agree with its behaviour towards Arabs, Christians or any other. God’s instruction concerning the land, in which Ancient Israel dwelt, is clear and precise. The land shall not be sold forever: for the land is mine, for ye are strangers and sojourners with me. (Lev 25:23)
The land belongs to God. It is not to be bought or sold at any time, but was set aside as a dwelling place for the twelve tribes of Israel. As both Houses (Israel and Judah) later rejected the LORD, He permanently removed them from His land and cancelled their occupancy. Israel has never returned.
Of the Jews; Jeremiah wrote: And I will deliver them to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth for their hurt, to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all the places whiter I shall drive them. And I will send the sword, the famine, and the pestilence among them, till they are consumed from off the land that I gave unto them and to their fathers. (Jeremiah 24)
Isaiah has this about God’s Word: So shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth: it shall not return to me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper whereto I sent it. (Isa 55:11) So, when the LORD says the Jews will be consumed from off the land, they were.
Now, Old Testament prophesies regarding Israel, Judah and Jerusalem, concern events prior to the Christ, or Jesus when He was here. The exception is Zion, which refers to the Christ, being our refuge and sanctuary … and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory. (Isaiah 46:13)
The advent of Jesus marks the dividing of time, and the division of works and faith: of Resurrection and Redemption, and the putting away of an eye for an eye. Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner, a sure foundation … (Isaiah 28:16) It is the establishment of the Kingdom Daniel spoke of … a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God and precious. (1Peter 2:4) The Word of the LORD never changes, as His promise has never changed regarding deliverance for any that call.
He only is my Rock and my Salvation (Psalms 62:2)
What must we do?
Now I will leave you to our wonderful brother in Christ and called Apostle, for there is nothing I can add that compares with this. (Acts 2:38-39)
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost – for the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call.
In receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost we are sealed in Jesus’ Name.
There is no seal in any other name, nor are we sealed by titles. True Christianity therefore, is the manifestation of Jesus Christ reflecting what we say, how we act, believe and how we think. It is to simply love the LORD Jesus Christ and keep His Commands, may He bless your understanding of these things.
Grace and peace by multiplied unto you through knowledge of Jesus Christ our LORD. Is it now time to reconsider our teaching? Is it for the political and worldly aims of states and men, or for a higher purpose?
Do we clearly see the LORD and His Christ?
It is plain that Jesus is both of these things and has existed from the beginning as declared by the Prophets and Apostles. He is the Existing One that through His agencies called those He desired to light the way, preparing His path so we might see His wonder. He seeks true worshipers that will honour Him in Spirit and in Truth. Surely, it is now time to lay down our instruction in faith, for a fuller and more perfect revelation.
In love and peace as always,
James