Salvation is a gift !

Many years ago, when I decided to believe in what is called the bible, I took one look at the various denominations out there and decided I wasn’t going to trust any of them. How could they all have the truth? There are literally thousands of denominations today. Each denomination claims to offer the truth. Amidst all those denominations, how can we know what is the truth?

I decided that although men can be liars, Elohim does not lie. So I decided to put my trust in His word, the Scriptures (Bible). Through the study of the scriptures, I have discovered that there are a lot of things that people don’t want to accept from His word. Usually, they are because you will have to be different from others. But I knew that I shouldn’t let the fear of being different affect what I believe. If it is the truth, then it is truth and I must accept it, no matter what. I later learned that there are others like me who decided to forget about all the denominations, traditions, doctrines, etc. and just study what the scriptures say and walk in it. I am encouraged that nearly all that I have met came to much of the same conclusions that you see on this website.

You will notice that large quantity of words on this website are scriptures. This is because I do believe that His word is the best teacher. If I can just point it out, I know that He can do the rest.

There must be one truth, there has to be. There can’t be two truths that are opposed to each other. One must be a lie, the other truth. I am convinced that those who seek the truth without pretence will find it. Here are a couple scriptures I love:

Jeremiah 29:13 When you seek me, you will find me, provided you seek for me wholeheartedly.

Isaiah 45:22 Look to me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am Elohim (God); there is no other.

So let’s take our eyes off the denominations, our eyes off of men, and let’s look to Yahweh to find the truth of salvation!

Scripture says that those who have salvation will one day rule the world!

Revelation 20:4 “…and they came to life and reigned with Messiah a thousand years.”

Revelation 5:10 “And you have been made us to our Elohim (God) kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.”

In my search for truth, I discovered that Yahweh is the name of the Heavenly Father (commonly called “the LORD”).  Yahushua is the actual name of the Messiah, not Jesus. Elohim is the Hebrew word that is commonly translated “God”. This may seem confusing at first, but I believe I have to quote His word in truth.

The Importance of Repentance

Repentance is a foundational doctrine of our faith as this scripture declares, however I believe it is rarely understood fully.

We are told in the book of Acts 2:38 to: – Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Yahushua Ha Mashiach (Messiah) for the forgiveness of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Ruach Ha-kodesh (Holy Spirit).

So, one of the fundamental aspects of our faith is Repentance. Hebrews 6:1-3 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of the Messiah, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation

• of repentance from dead works and of faith toward Yahweh,
• of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands,
• of resurrection of the dead, and
• of eternal judgment.

It is the first step for an unbeliever to repent.

But what is Repentance? What does it mean to repent? Let’s examine the scriptures.

1. First of all, repentance must involve humility.

Here is the example of Josiah: 2 Kings 22:16-19 that Yahweh says this: ‘I am going to bring calamity on this place and on its inhabitants, every word in the scroll the king of Y’hudah has read; 17 because they have abandoned me and offered to other gods, in order to provoke me with everything they do. Therefore my anger will burn against this place and will not be quenched.’ 18 But you are to tell the king of Y’hudah, who sent you to consult Yahweh, that Yahweh the God of Israel also says this: ‘In regard to the words you have heard, 19 because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before Yahweh when you heard what I said against this place and its inhabitants — that they would become an object of astonishment and cursing — and have torn your clothes and cried before me, I have also heard you, says Yahweh.

In the example of Nineveh who repented at the teaching of Jonah, we see that Repentance is accompanied by a commitment to change, turning toward righteousness and away from unrighteousness: Jonah 3:5 – So the people of Nineveh believed Elohim, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. Jonah 3:6  – For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. Jonah 3:7  – And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water: Jonah 3:8  – But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto Elohim: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands. Jonah 3:9  – Who can tell if Elohim will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?

How is it that Yahweh would repent?

Please note the next verse: Jonah 3:10 – And Elohim saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and Elohim repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.

• Yahweh saw their works!
• Yahweh saw their humility and commitment to turn away from evil.

And so, repentance is actually a ‘work’. But did Yahweh repent also? Consider for a moment that Yahweh has a certain standard of righteousness. When man goes ‘against’ that standard of righteousness it is likened unto a man walking in the face (against) of a mighty wind. But when one repents, he changed direction and goes with the wind that was at one time against him. In the case of Nineveh, Yahweh’s planned destruction changed because the people of the city changed, not Yahweh. Yahweh does not change, His standard of righteousness, His law endures forever.

Where we stand in relation to Yahweh’s righteousness will determine our fate.

Luke 18:10-14 – Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

The Pharisee (a religious leader) stood and prayed thus with himself, Elohim,

• I thank thee, that I am not as other men are,
  • extortioners,
  • unjust,
  • adulterers, or
  • even as this publican.
• I fast twice in the week,
• I give tithes of all that I possess.

And the publican (ignorant man),

• standing afar off,
• would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven,
• but smote upon his breast, saying, Elohim be merciful to me a sinner.

Yahushua said, I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalts himself shall be abased; and he that humbles himself shall be exalted.

1. In our repentance, Yahweh requires not only humility but also true sorrow for one’s sins.  But let it be clear that sorrow is not repentance.  Some would say they are sorry for their sins but it produces nothing.

True repentance starts with sorrow and produces good works.

Paul, when he wrote to the Corinthians in his first letter rejoiced to see their sorrow turn to true repentance. When he wrote them in his second letter, he noted:

2 Corinthians 7:8-11 – For though I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it– for I see that that letter caused you sorrow, though only for a while, I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to {the will of Elohim}, in order that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. For the sorrow that is according to Elohim produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation; but the sorrow of the world produces death. For behold what earnestness this very thing, this sorrow according to Elohim, has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what avenging of wrong! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter.

There are great promises given to those who repent from sin and unrighteousness and turn to Yahweh’s law for reproof and instruction in righteousness: It was made possible through Yahweh’s GRACE in Yahushua Ha Mashiach.

Isaiah 55:7 – Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto Yahweh, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our Elohim, for he will abundantly pardon.

Jeremiah 3:12 – Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith Yahweh; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith Yahweh, and I will not keep anger forever.

Psalms 34:18 – Yahweh is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saves such as be of a contrite spirit.

Psalms 51:17 – The sacrifices of Elohim are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O Elohim, thou wilt not despise.

Isaiah 66:1 – Thus saith Yahweh, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?

Isaiah 66:2 – For all those things hath mine hand made, and those things have been, saith Yahweh: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembles at my word.

Joel 2:13 – And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto Yahweh your Elohim: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repent him of the evil.

Those that say that we are saved only by raw belief and not by faith accompanied by works of repentance, humility and commitment to change are making a serious mistake!! And it is false to teach that Paul never believed in a working faith:

Acts 26:19-20 – Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to Yahweh, and do works meet for repentance.

Works ‘meet’ for repentance meaning ‘works worthy or befitting of repentance’. While it is truth that we are saved by grace it is also truth that we are saved by grace because we have REPENTED. And we should continue to do works worthy of repentance.

Now that we have established some meaning behind the word ‘repent’, the question should be asked “What exactly are we supposed to be repenting of?” ‘Our sins’ says the multitude.

Ezekiel 18:20 – The soul that sins, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. Ezekiel 18:21  – But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

Repentance certainly involves turning from our sins.  But what is sin? What is righteousness? What do the scriptures say?- Next article to follow…