Are Works Really Only Filthy Rags?

 

Do we have a major dilemma here? Is the Word contradicting Itself? Doesn’t Paul always talk bad about works? Doesn’t Christian doctrine shout from the rooftops “Don’t do anything!!!! It’s all about Jesus, not you! Works don’t matter now!”

OK, so what then do we do then, for those of us who are truly in Messiah? Better yet, what did Messiah Himself do? Was He simply a man of faith? What positioned Him to be perfectly righteous in the sight of His Father? Were His works “filthy rags?” You would likely answer, “Well, of course not! He was the Son of the Most High!” OK, well then…. who are we who have lost our life for His sake? Who is *our* Father? What do *we* do? What are the works of righteousness that we do now, in His Name, as an offering unto the Father just as He did? Are righteous deeds done today (as defined by the Word) of no use? Should we just idly sit down, in some inner posture of faith that does nothing but believe as we await our end, afraid to “do empty works?”

Are we perhaps misappropriating these well-known texts? We must hone in on salvation. Yes, our own works alone are futile. But what about men like Abraham? Well, many, as expected, say “he was the father of faith!” Yes, but how do we know this? His righteous deeds. Actions. Dare I say, his works. The Christian culture that most of us have inherited has created a loathsome view of righteous deeds - works. A whole-hearted pursuit of making righteous deeds unto Yahweh the goal of our lives is mocked and ridiculed. “You’re trying to earn your salvation!” “You’re in bondage! Under the ‘old Law’ of empty and faithless works!” “You think that you don’t even need Jesus anymore!” *sigh* I’ve heard it all.

But what about those who went before us long ago? In endless podcast episodes, articles and conversations I’ve labored to get people to look at the entirety of the Word, to find people of faith. Abraham. Moses. David. The people of King Hezekiah’s day. The list is endless. What of these individuals that laid everything that they knew aside to present to Yahweh works of righteousness? Sacrifices and offerings from the deepest places of gratitude and thanksgiving. 

 

If we don't rightly understand the *entire Word*, our doctrines state that Yahweh somehow rewards a person according to his filthy rags works that are worthless. This, of course, makes no sense whatsoever.

Many could not do enough to show Yahweh how much they were indebted to Him for being their salvation. Was this all for nothing? According to modern doctrines – absolutely, yes. But how do we know that these were people of such admirable faith? They did something. Righteous deeds. Works. They responded to the incredible rescue, protection, provision and salvation of their incredible Elohim with righteous deeds! And time and time again, He received them with delight! A pleasing aroma rising up to His throne!

So, if you’ve been one that scoffs at works as nothing but old, filthy rags, I’d encourage you to take the necessary time to rightly understand what these biblical phrases mean and apply them properly. It’s time for Father’s holy, set apart People to be a people of action again. Evidence that we are, in fact, His children. Selah.

Father's Good Commandments... That Remain

 

It seems that John rightly understood how to apply the entirety of the Word.

I want to be like that. I want a house like that. I want brothers and sisters like that.

How about you?

Yahweh the Father, in Deuteronomy 30:11&14 "For this commandment which I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it far away." "On the contrary, the Word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may follow it."

Yeshua the Son, in John 14:15 "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments."

1 John 5:3 "For this is the love of Elohim, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome."

Can There Be Justice Today?

 

This week, I've been engaging with several individuals - online - in regards to a fair question, within a public comment thread. I rarely ever join into these discussions, but I jumped into this one. The original video is a presentation that Trump is "pro-God" and Harris is "anti-God" and, as you would expect, derails into hypocritical behavior and arrogant evangelical presumptions. Within mere hours, I was labeled as promoting "illuminating knowledge", "spreading satan's trickery" and "being deceptive" because I challenged the majority mindset and mainstream opinion.

Although I'm not at all surprised at the incredible disinterest in walking out biblical instruction and counsel literally, my hope is that one person may read a differing opinion and at least consider it. Feel free to read and meditate on one part of the thread where I've shared. Perhaps there might be some bit of truth buried within it.

The question posed to me: "How do you propose to order society in a fallen world to prevent chaos and ever increasing moral decay?"

My response, in part: The correct answer is simple and direct – Messiah perfectly kept the Torah commands of His Father. People here keep saying that I’m suggesting lawlessness, which could not be further from the truth. You asked several questions so I will hone in on the primary one, that you say is “simple.”

It is simple and is also the antidote to your concerns of lawless living. Yet it is also what mainstream dispensational Christianity loathes hearing.

You asked, “How do you propose to order society in a fallen world to prevent chaos and ever increasing moral decay?” I propose that we return to what Messiah perfectly obeyed, adhered to, endorsed and exalted – His Father’s Torah commands. He is our perfect example and He stated that “Do not presume that I came to destroy and remove the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to destroy and remove, but to fulfill…. until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke of a letter shall pass from the Torah, until all is accomplished/fulfilled!” (Matthew 5)

Despite there being no argument that heaven and earth have not passed away, nor has all been accomplished/fulfilled, the Torah of the Creator has been deemed archaic and “Jewish.” Now we make our own laws and morality continues on a downward spiral. This is bad doctrine that has led us to moral decay, both secular and "Christian." So what then? Is there, as you stated, "a way to order society in a fallen world to prevent chaos and ever increasing moral decay?" Yes. A perfect Law has been given that cannot be contained within man's best efforts to create a ruling governmental authority. David wrote that “the Torah of Yahweh is PERFECT, reviving the soul.” (Psalm 19) he also wrote, “The sum of Your Word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments is everlasting.”

We could spend hours discussing the endless biblical references of Father’s perfect Law enduring forever – His guidelines for how humanity is to live. So, to be concise, please consider the Book of Revelation’s reference to this same matter, all the way to a future time that is yet before us: Revelation chapter 12 “So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of Elohim (God) and hold to the testimony of Yeshua (Jesus).”

Some other Scriptures to consider, as you ask, “just what are His commandments? Have they changed, in Messiah? If so, when did the Son ever say so and when did He ever take up authority to change His Father’s Law and enact “new” ones? 1 John 2:3 “By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.” Psalm 111:7 “The works of His hands are truth and justice; all His laws are trustworthy.”

While Christianity continues to deny the Torah and boast “freedom in Jesus”, both secular and Christian culture alike continue to decline further into immorality and lawlessness. Why? Man cannot govern himself. He was never intended to. This deception goes all the way back to the Garden. Yet there is a solution! Despite the very Word telling us that the Torah is PERFECT, very few want to even consider that this is the way to freedom, purpose, order and life as Father intended for humanity. Can we at least consider that Father has given us a way to live? Perhaps it's time that we literally come out and be separate, adhering to Father's commands. Creation living as the Creator intended instead of continually trying to govern ourselves in futility.

Are You Sanctified in Truth?

In today’s text, Yeshua makes a very moving statement. He “sanctified Himself” in order for others to be sanctified. We could spend all day discussing the simple fact that even Yeshua, the Son of the Most High, had to choose to set Himself apart. As we see here, one of His primary motivations was in order to set others apart as holy unto His Father. If we miss this simple statement, and presume that the Son was some superhuman deity that was just “born holy”, then we will equally miss the wonderful fullness of His work on our behalf. He willfully *chose* to “sanctify Himself.” The Hebrew equivalent of “sanctified” first appears all the way back at Creation (Genesis 2:3.) Creator Yahweh spoke and said that He had “blessed and sanctified the Sabbath.” It’s always worth noting that this is the only day of the seven that He did such a thing to. It was holy, then. It is holy, now. It is distinct, hallowed and set apart. And so is the Son. And so then are we who entrust our very lives into His incredible work on our behalf. We too are called to be a holy and set apart people unto Yahweh, in like manner. Sadly, we live in an “everything is holy now, in Jesus” culture that has lost the understanding of set-apartedness. If “everything is holy”, then nothing is, by very definition. (Think on that, won’t you?) In an age where sanctification (set apartedness/holiness) has been almost entirely removed from culture – or at best has been made into some internal spiritual condition alone, that has no outward demonstration – I would suggest that it is time that we return. And lastly, Yeshua added that those who follow Him must be “sanctified by (or through) truth.” In a world full of offerings, opinions and ideas, where is truth? Is there absolute truth anymore? Even mainstream Christian belief systems that defend the Bible to no end, compartmentalize and cherry-pick what is true today, for the Believer. “That” is archaic and dispensationalized away as merely “cultural.” It’s just not “truth”…. today anyway. Well, how did Yeshua define truth? His Father’s Word. The Word when Yeshua walked the earth was the Torah and the Prophets. This is what He learned. This is how He knew what it even meant to “be sanctified.” Then, this is what He taught others. This is what He taught us. This was and is truth. In a world full of chaos, confusion and false freedom to simply live as one pleases, absolutes remains. The Word and the incredible testimony of Yeshua. Perhaps this is why we see what we do, at the end of the age. Revelation 12:17 “So the dragon became enraged at the woman and went off to make war with the rest of her offspring - those who keep the commandments of Elohim and hold to the testimony of Yeshua.” What does this mean for you today, my friend? Are you sanctified?

Desires of the Heart

Almost fourteen years ago now, my wife and I were both 37 years of age. In December of that year, we discovered that we were going to have our first child. We had already been married for over ten years and had become quite comfortable and set in our plans. We had, of course, discussed having children over those years, but the thought was always cast aside, especially as we were nearing 40. Usually due to my own selfishness and fears. I was fully convinced that I never wanted children (as crazy as that sounds.) I vividly remember the day that I was driving alone, crying out to Father about my insecurities, fears and questions, relating to becoming a father. I didn’t know how to be a father. How would we take care of a child? What would have to change? I had many questions… many fears. Then, today’s verse came to mind. As sure as I’m sitting here this morning, I knew that this was the voice of my Father speaking it to me. I remember saying, out loud, “What in the world do you mean? *This* is not the desire of my heart!” I may have even thrown in a “Are You crazy?!?” question and sounded a bit like Abraham and Sarah. Next, however, came this. I heard the voice of Father speak to me, in my innermost place. The place where the real me resides. “Joel, I know the innermost desires of your heart. Even the places that you just don’t even know exist yet. Trust Me.” As I arrived home that evening, I went straight to my wife and repented to her, and to my Father for being so selfish and fearful. That night was truly one of the most powerful spiritual moments of my life. I embraced the gift that He was bringing to us, even if I thought that I somehow knew better than He. From that moment on, I was changed. Of course, I still had many fears and concerns that didn’t just instantly vanish, but from there my heart was set. Thankfully, here we are today – parents of an awesome boy that is ever so quickly becoming a young man. Father did know the desires of my heart, even before I knew of them myself. Being a father is one of the greatest joys of my life. Today, I cannot even imagine not having our son in our life. What about you, friend? Entrust your everything to Him today and then believe that whatever He brings is for your good, even if you cannot see it as such in the moment. Let us commit our ways to Him fully. Trust in Him today. He is good. Selah.