Viola Rogers

You said “We are not Israel”….yet please allow me to point out that Paul says…. “that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ”…”Paul continues on and says “Now, therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens…”(Eph 2:12-13,19) In Galatians he says “And if you are Christ’s then you ARE Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Gal 3:29) “Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds” (Eph 4:17) In Romans 11 he speaks of a grafting in does he not? It appears to me that I am a part of Israel thru the Blood of Messiah…Praise the Lord.

By the way, I have a question for you… as a New Covenant Christian can you tell me to whom the New Covenant was given to according to Scripture?? Read Hebrews 8:8-12 and let me know what you find….I will be interested in your thoughts.

Enough for now…Thanks again, Tim

What a beautiful response to the last writer! Thank you.

My wife and I, too, are whole-hearted Bible believers and we constantly encourage everyone, everywhere we go, to know God’s voice as He instructs in 2 Timothy 2:15 and John 10:27.

I ask people how they think they will hear the voice of Jesus when He calls us home at the end of time if we don’t recognize His voice, now. Most people at the baptism of Jesus thought they heard thunder but those who had ears to hear heard God say, “This is my Son…”

Your last paragraph was exceptional. Start wherever you are to follow God in whatever He says and let that lead where it will. That’s a true follower of the WORD.

Tim C

A couple of comments for you to consider…First of all I am not a member of SDA. I am not sure they believe in keeping all of the Appointed Times of God…I do. Sabbath is but one. (Leviticus 23) I am just a Bible believing follower of Yeshua (Jesus the Christ). I believe as His disciple I should be imitating Him…He kept the 7th day Sabbath…if He did not we are in trouble as sin is defined Biblically as transgression of the Torah. (1John 3:4) While i know that I fail in many ways to live as Messiah does, He is my example to follow. Paul tells us that Messiah is the Goal of Torah for believers. (Romans 10:4)

Second I do not abide in judging people who worship God on Sunday. What about Monday? What about wednesday night bible study? I was born again while in a Sunday worshiping church who loved the Lord and tried to teach the Word of God as they understood it. So I agree with you that is not right or good to condemn. While it is sad this occurs within the so called Messianic movement is does not define every group of people clinging to their faith in Messiah and the Word of God. Also, it does not hold that every group of Messianic believers are judgmental and legalistic in their approach to faith. While it may be the case in some instances…it is also true that some mainline protestant churches exhibit the same traits. Many a church has split over what kind of praise music they should have! Also, you might consider me to be quite messed up on my interpretation of Revelation! I don’t understand it all. All congregations are composed of flawed men and women. All congregations are faced with choices in how to walk out this walk we have been called to. Some may do a better job than others. But I will not get caught up in judging the love that someone has for the Lord based on a day of worship. I will however continue to point out that the Bible seems clear that we are to obey the 4th Commandment along with all of God’s instructions.

That brings me to my final point in response to your comment. It does not matter what everyone else does. Do you believe that you should obey God when it comes to resting on and honoring the Seventh Day? Start there…Pray and ask God to lead you. Tell Him of your desire to be obedient and then act on that desire the best you can. See what happens. Let me know what happens. I pray right now that God would direct you in how you should proceed. Maybe this means staying where you are and showing others in love what you are seeing. Maybe this means starting a study on Sabbath and seeing what it turns into. May God Bless you as you follow Him. Contact me any time.

In Messiah, Tim

Following is a short Biblical definition of love for God and love for people taken from the very book you quote.

1 John 5:2-3 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.

Thanks so much for commenting and for reminding all that it is only by God’s grace that we can be saved. Please remember however that Jesus told us that if we loved Him…keep His commandments…Newcolors

Galatians 5
Freedom in Christ
1 So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.
2 Listen! I, Paul, tell you this: If you are counting on circumcision to make you right with God, then Christ will be of no benefit to you. 3 I’ll say it again. If you are trying to find favor with God by being circumcised, you must obey every regulation in the whole law of Moses. 4 For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace.

Jeroboam does several things by his own will/choice. He:
1) substituted golden calves (as Aaron did when leaving Egypt) as objects of worship (v. 28)
2) changed the place of worship from Jerusalem to Bethel and Dan (vv. 27-30)
3) appointed profane priests, not from the tribe of Levi (v. 31)
4) changed the time of the feast of tabernacles from the 7th month, 15th day to the 8th month, 15th day (v. 32).

Why? Fear of man (Prov 29:25) Fear of loss of power / control (1 Kings 12:26-27) “And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David: If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah.”

Jeroboam changed WHO was being worshipped by corrupting HOW people worshipped, just as the anti-Christ changes who is actually being worshipped by changing how we are to honor Jesus by keeping His Word.

According to 2 Thessalonians 2:4, the anti-Christ sits in “the temple” (believers are the temple of God) dictating how they are to honor Jesus contrary to God’s Word, thereby leading many to sin.

I am reminded that the Jews kept the law and rejected faith in Jesus whereas the church says they have faith in Jesus but reject the law. Revelation 12:17, 14:12 and 22:14 says that believers have both (faith and obedience).

My wife blessed me by saying that the Bible is a two-edged sword (TWO testaments). The Old Testament (which most people think of as keeping the law) says that obedience is better than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22) and the New Testamant (which most people equate only with faith) says that faith is dead without works. Abraham believed, therefore obeyed, and was justified (James 2).

So I believe we have to obey the Bible in order for our faith in Jesus to be real, saving faith.

I hope this answers your question.

Tim C