355 The sin of doublemindedness | nazareneisrael2house

The sin of doublemindedness 1.

How is it possible that almost the whole world believes differently to what all Jews believe? We know that the majority of Christianity believes that Messiah the one they referred to as J*e*s*u*s* has either abolished Torah or have somehow ‘fulfilled’ it for them, so that they are not obliged to keep it any longer.

Even so, we are aware of numerous scriptures showing that obedience to G-d’s teachings places us within His special protection; one of them being Deuteronomy 28: 1 – 14, where we read:“Now it shall be, if you will diligently obey HASHEM your G-d, being careful to do all His commandments which I command you today, HASHEM your G-d will set you high above all nations of the earth.(2)And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you will obey HASHEM your G-d.(3) Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country.(4) Blessed shall be the offspring of your body and the produce of your ground and the offspring of your beasts, the increase of your herd and the young of your flock. (5)Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl.(6)Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.(7)HASHEM will cause your enemies who rise up against you to be defeated before you; they shall come out against you one way, and shall flee before you seven ways.(8) HASHEM will command the blessing upon you in your barns and in all that you put your hand to, and He will bless you in the land which HASHEM your G-d gives you.(9)HASHEM will establish you as a holy people to Himself, as He swore to you, if you will keep the commandments of HASHEM your G-d, and walk in His ways.(10)So all the peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the Name of HASHEM; and they shall be afraid of you.(11)And HASHEM will make you abound in prosperity, in the offspring of your body and in offspring of your beast and in produce of your ground, in the land which HASHEM swore to your fathers to give you.(12)HASHEM will open for you His good storehouse, the heavens, to give rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hand; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. (13) And HASHEM shall make you the head and not the tail, and you only shall be above, and you shall not be underneath, if you will listen to the commandments of HASHEM your G-d, which I charge you today, to observe them carefully, (14)and do not turn aside from any of the words which I command you today, to the right or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.” In verses 15 on to the end of Chapter 28, we read about the curses that will affect us if we do not obey G-d’s commandments. We see for example from verses 58 – 61, “If you are not careful to observe all the words of this law which are written in this book, to fear this honored and awesome name, HASHEM your G-d, (59) then HASHEM will bring extraordinary plagues on you and your descendants, even severe and lasting plagues, and miserable and chronic sicknesses.(60)And He will bring back on you all the diseases of Egypt of which you were afraid, and they shall cling to you. (61) Also every sickness and every plague which, not written in the book of this law, HASHEM will bring on you until you are destroyed.”

From this we understand that keeping G-d’s commandments is for our own good, but we are also familiar with Messiah ben Joseph teaching in John 5: 43 – 47, where He said: “ I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another shall come in his own name, you will receive him. (44) How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another, and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only G-d? (45) Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; the one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have set your hope. (46) For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote of Me. (47)But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?” In addition,Messiah ben Joseph taught in Matthew 5: 17 – 19, saying: "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. (18) For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away from the Law, until all is accomplished. (19) Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and so teaches others, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”It is clear therefore that Messiah ben Joseph did not abolish or obeyed Torah on our behalf, but came to show us how to keep it according to His stricter way of interpreting it, as He explained in Matthew 5, 6 and 7.Considering the wonderful blessings and benefits to be had by obeying G-d’s Law, it should be easy for us to see the evil motive behind the idea that it is abolished. Who could possibly want us to remove the protective wall that G-d places around those who are obedient to His teachings, from them? Who has a vested interest in keeping believers defenseless against Satan’s offenses on those who rebel against G-d’s teachings? It can only be Satan the devil, who himself rebelled against G-d’s authority and has deceived the whole world. Satan wants us to stand absolutely defenseless before him, so that he may destroy us from attaining positions of rulership in G-d’s coming kingdom; positions he and his fallen angels had before he and a third of the angels followed him in rebellion against G-d.

By getting us to disobey HASHEM our G-d, he does not only get us to remove G-d’s protective wall around us, but when he succeeds in getting us to reject most of the truths written in the word of G-d, he causes us to offend G-d and let us fall outside of the realm of His blessings. Fact is,we are at war here on earth, and if we do wake up from the trance, we have allowed ourselves to come under, we will be swept away with the rest of mankind, when the great tribulation finally comes upon the whole world. Rav Kepha warned us about Satan and his tactics in first Peter 5: 8, saying: “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” This is confirmed in Revelation 12: 7 – 9, as follows: “And there was war in the heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. And the dragon and his angels waged war, (8) and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. (9) And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.”Satan does not have the power to remove the defenses that HASHEM places around us. The only way that he is able to remove our protection from us, is to get us to remove it ourselves. How does Satan get us to willingly destroy our defenses against him? Whilst Messiah ben Joseph was on earth, Satan came to Him tempting Him by quoting scriptures. He tried to trick Messiah ben Joseph by twisting and misusing scriptures, and he uses exactly the same tactics to deceive true believers to believe that the Law or Torah was nailed to the tree of Calvary.

Let’s consider one of the scriptures Satan and his false prophets use to convince believers to believe this big lie. We turn to this particular scripture in Colossians 2: 14, as follows: “having cancelled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us and which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.”Let’s analyze to understand what Rav Shaul was saying in this verse. One thing is certain; it is definitely not saying the Law is nailed to the cross. No, it is saying that the certificate of debt – a document informing us about the punishment due to us for breaking specific commandments of G-d, the decree which is hostile to the sinner – because it specifies the punishment that will affect them adversely for the commandments they have transgressed, nailing it (the document listing our sins) to the cross. An example which most of us will understand is that when someone else such as a loving father has paid the traffic fine for his son, because the son has exceeded the speed limit and was given a traffic ticket, specifying the amount that must be paid for contravening the traffic ordinance. This means the son does not have to be punished, because his father took the decree against his son, for him. However, if his son exceeds the speed limit again and is caught, even though he was set free from the punishment of the traffic law before, he will again have to pay for his own mistakes. In addition, if he wants to remain free from the punishment traffic offenders have to pay, he will have to start obeying the traffic laws applicable in the country or region in which he resides. HASHEM similarly gave us His commandments, statutes (which specifies the commandments in more detail) and judgments (which describes the punishment due to offenders of the commandments and statutes), to ensure that we live happy, abundant lives, but because of our human nature, which we inherited from Satan the devil, we do not want anybody to tell us how to live. Even though Messiah ben Joseph redeemed returnees from the power of the grave - the judgments due to us; namely that most of us should be stoned to death for either blaspheming, cursing or not honoring our parents, or worshipping an image of a man bearing a thorn crown on a cross made from wood or stone, all deeds prohibited by G-d), by paying for our past sins, we are even now required to keep His commandments, which He gave for our good.Yes, deny it as much as you like, we are still required to keep the teachings of G-d, as they will remain applicable today as it was yesterday and will be forever. A witness to the law still being applicable to those of us who believe in Messiah, comes from Romans 2: 13, in this way: "for not the hearers of the Law are just before G-d, but the doers of the Law will be justified."It is therefore time, to stop doubting the tenets of our faith, as we read from first John 2: 3 & 4, in this way:‘And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.(4) ‘The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.’

The point is, HASHEM placed the law of cause and effect into place right at the beginning, like the law of gravity, and they are there for our good. But if we contravene these laws, including the law of gravity we might come to a sudden end, whether we like it or not. It is for this reason that we have to teach our children these laws, to ensure that they have a long and abundant life. Messiah ben Joseph came specifically to bring the lost ten tribes back to the covenant that we together with our Jewish Brothers made with HASHEM at Mount Sinai, as He clearly told the woman who asked Him to heal her daughter in Matthew 15: 24, saying: ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’ But, because very few people alive today, know who the lost sheep of the house of Israel are, they have no idea what He was saying. Fact is that very few people believe that Messiah ben Joseph was a Jew; because they hate anything that is even closely related to Judaism. Why is that? The reason, whether you like it or not, is because they know what sin is, since they have always, from the time we received the oracles of G-d at Mount Sinai, remembered and kept G-d’s commandments, and know what sin is. Most non-Jews do not ever want to be told that they are doing things wrong, and here are people who knows and lives by G-d’s commandments opposite to what most in society do and believe. Some returnees who somehow came to believe that because the Jews have become unfaithful to G-d’s laws, He took the oracles away from the Jews and gave it to them, despite the fact that they have only for the past forty years or so, tried to obey some of G-d’s given commandments. If the Jews were not the most hated nation on the earth, I would have perhaps agreed with these returnees, but Rav Shaul clearly wrote for all to see in Romans 3: 3 & 4, saying: ‘What then? If some did not believe, their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of G-d, will it? (4) May it never be! Rather, let G-d be found true, though every man be found al liar, as it is written, “THAT THOU MIGHTEST BE JUSTIFIED IN THY WORDS, AND MIGHTEST PREVAIL WHEN THOU ART JUDGED.”

Nevertheless, are those who have returned one hundred percent convicted of their faith in Messiah ben Joseph? Do they doubt certain of the beliefs that we hold? Are they totally certain about the calendar that we follow, or do they question our beliefs regarding what happens when a believer dies? Faith is a very personal thing and once you found truth, you should never let go of it, as Messiah ben Joseph also explained in the parable of the pearl of great price In Matthew 13: 45 & 46, saying: “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, (46) and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went out and sold all that he had, and bought it.” In ancient times pearls were considered the most precious of gems and were highly valued ornaments, and it is also for this reason that the word of G-d, is used symbolically for things of great value, such as for example wise sayings or teachings. Those people who have been teaching G-d’s people Scriptural truths are referred to in the Scriptures as dealers who ‘markets’ spiritual truths about the kingdom of G-d, as Messiah ben Joseph explained in Matthew 25: 5 – 9, saying:“Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. (6) But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ (7) Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. (8) And the foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ (9) But the prudent answered, saying, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’” Even though we are referred to as dealers, we should never sell the truths that we learnt about the kingdom of G-d, as we have received it freely ourselves. But the point is, that we should never be doubtful or double-minded about the truths that come from the Scriptures, which we have confirmed by two or three witnesses. We should also be careful to obtain teachings from teachers who are double-minded; else we could be influenced to imitate their double mindedness. I have in the past met teachers who were doubtful and even told me that they are in two minds about what they believe, by saying: ‘You might be right, or we might be right.’ We should only teach truths that come from Scriptures and about which we are totally sure, as Rav Yaa’cov warned anyone who teaches others in James 3: 1, saying: ‘Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we shall incur a stricter judgment.’ At this time, I am confident to say, that I have found that pearl of great price, mentioned in Matthew 13, and I believe it with all my heart and soul. Rav Yaa’cov used the phrase ‘double-minded’ twice in his letter to the twelve tribes dispersed abroad. Double mindedness is a major character flaw in the life of any believer, and it can show itself in a number of areas in our lives. It makes us doubt ourselves, our faith and affects everything else we do in our lives. It makes us hesitant to make those quick decisions so necessary in our everyday lives; it is literally as the saying goes: ‘He who hesitates is lost.’ Rav Yaa’cov used the phrase to portray an individual who is unsure, wavering, two-faced, half-hearted and hesitant regarding most of his/her beliefs and actions in life.

But whilst dealing with the topic of double mindedness, I would like to clear up another misconception: There are teachers who teach that Yochanan the Immerser was having a double-minded moment when he was in prison, before being killed by King Herod upon a request of Herod’s daughter. But the truth is just the opposite, as Messiah ben Joseph told us about Yochanan the Immerser in Matthew 11: 2 & 3, as follows: ‘Now when John in prison heard of the works of Messiah (ben Joseph), he sent word by his disciples, (3) and said to Him, “Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?” This sounds like Yochanan was definitely having a moment of doubt, doesn’t it? Is it possible that he actually had second thoughts about the identity of Messiah ben Joseph? Could Yochanan still have doubts – even after he had heard a voice from heaven after immersing Messiah ben Joseph, as recorded in Luke 3: 21 & 22, in this way:‘Now it came about when all the people were immersed, that Messiah ben Joseph also was immersed, and while He was praying, heaven was opened, (22) and the Set-apart Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, “Thou art My beloved Son, in Thee I am well-pleased.”’ Could Yochanan really have second thoughts? – Even after He himself testified in John 1: 32 – 34, saying: “I have beheld the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. (33) And I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to immerse in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the one who immerses in the Set-apart Spirit.’ (34) And I have seen, and have borne witness that this is the Son of G-d.” But, if Yochanan was not doubting that this was Messiah ben Joseph, then what was the meaning of his question “Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?” Let me explain - there could be two reasons for Yochanan’s question. In the Dead Sea scrolls, in the writings of the Qumran community, they mention two Messiah’s: the first being a Priestly Messiah and the second being a Teacher of Righteousness. Many scholars agree that the Qumran community had a great influence in what Yochanan the Immerser believed, but this is not the answer. The answer is to be found in Rabbinic Literature, where there is also the belief that there would be two Messiah’s: The first Messiah will be the suffering Messiah – He would suffer for the sins of His people Israel, and is the fulfillment of prophecies such as Isaiah 53 and Zechariah 9: 9. He is known in their literature as Messiah the son of Joseph, since his suffering is compared to that of Jacob’s son, Joseph, who suffered at the hands of his brothers, but afterwards forgave them. The second Messiah will be called, Messiah son of David: He is the Messiah who will fulfill all the prophecies of the kingly Messiah and bring victory over all the oppressors of Israel.

While Rabbinic tradition was not recorded until the second century CE, we may still assume that it reflects Jewish thought of the first century CE, during which Messiah ben Joseph (Y’shua) lived. Could this have been Yochanan’s question in wanting to know: ‘Are you Messiah, son of Joseph as well as Messiah, son of David? Or, should we expect another one to come and rule? This seems to be the most likely answer, since Yochanan already identified Messiah ben Joseph in John 1: 29, in this way: “Behold, the Lamb of G-d who takes away the sin of the world!” It also seems probable if we consider the way in which Messiah ben Joseph answered Yochanan’s question in Matthew 11: 4 - 5, where He said to them: “Go and report to Yochanan what you hear and see: (5) the BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM.” We read His words, yet, somehow we fail to fully understand their intended meaning; His reply to Yochanan was in fact quotes from prophecies by Isaiah about Him as we read from Isaiah 61: 1, as follows: ‘The Spirit of HASHEM G-d is upon me, because HASHEM has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to prisoners.’He was in fact speaking about passages in Isaiah concerning the coming of the Kingdom of G-d and Yochanan was quite familiar with these prophecies; the second part of what He said came from Isaiah 35: 3, 5 & 6, in this way: ‘Encourage the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble. (5) Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf will be unstopped. (6) Then the lame will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb will shout for joy. For waters will break forth in the wilderness and streams in the Arabah.’’

This would certainly have been very welcome and comforting news to Yochanan, as he sat in the darkness of his prison cell, and these would certainly have been the things that Yochanan would have expected the Messiah, son of David to do. So, we see that the answer that Messiah ben Joseph send Yochanan confirmed His dual roles. Messiah ben Joseph’s final words to Yochanan, knowing that he would not be released from prison and would meet his end there, encourage him to hold on to his faith by saying in Matthew 11: 6, “And blessed is he who keeps from stumbling over Me.” Then, sensing that the crowd and future pastors, might think that Yochanan was in doubt about Him, speaks of His confidence in Yochanan as He continues in Matthew 11: 7, saying: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? Even though many false teachers assume that Yochanan was in two minds about who Messiah is, He assured the crowd that Yochanan’s faith will not fail and that he will not succumb to Herod’s pressure, because Yochanan was indeed the one chosen by G-d to prepare the way for Messiah ben Joseph. We read Messiah ben Joseph’s words accordingly from verses 8 – 10 of Matthew 11, saying: “But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ palaces. (9) But why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I say to you, and one who is more than a prophet. (10) This is the one about whom it is written, ‘BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER BEFORE YOUR FACE, WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY BEFORE YOU.’”

Messiah ben Joseph continued in verse 11 of Matthew 11, saying: ‘Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than Yochanan the Immerser; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.’ Even though He said that there is no human being greater that Yochanan, He turned His statement around by adding the words: ‘yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.’ Does this mean that Yochanan will really be least in the kingdom of heaven? I do not think so, since Messiah ben Joseph’s words simply reflect the nature of the coming Kingdom of G-d. Messiah ben Joseph’s concern was always with the least, the poor in spirit, the broken hearted, and the meek – for they will be great in the Kingdom of G-d. The first will be last and the last will be first, and even though Yochanan is the greatest of all human beings, Messiah ben Joseph simply said that greatness in the Kingdom of G-d will not be measured by human standards. It is as we read about our calling from first Corinthians 1: 26 – 29 in this way: ‘For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; (27) but G-d has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and G-d has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, (28) and the base things of the world and the despised, G-d has chosen, the things that are not, that He might nullify the things that are, (29) that no man should boast before G-d.’ We see here that Yochanan had his question answered, but we have also been given an example of the recurring theme taught by Messiah ben Joseph, namely: ‘To be great in the kingdom of G-d, we must humble ourselves in this life, even to becoming like little children in obedience to their parents.’

Like little children, we should not be double-minded. Yaacov’s first concern about double-mindedness was in the area of prayer, as we read from James 1: 5 - 8, as follows: ‘But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of G-d, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him, (6) But let him ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. (7) For let not that man expect that he will receive anything from HASHEM, (8) being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.’ If we pray asking HASHEM to heal us with doubt in our minds, we will definitely not be healed! But if we ask knowing that He will heal us, healing will start immediately. What Yaa’cov is teaching here is in agreement with what we read from Hebrews 11: 6, in this way: ‘And without faith it is impossible to please Him (G-d), for he who comes to G-d must believe that He is (or exists), and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.’ Even so, we also need to be ever mindful what we ask of G-d, as Yaa’cov warned in James 4: 3, saying: ‘You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.’ Yaacov’s second concern about double-mindedness entails what we do with the information that we read and hear from the Scriptures, as we read from James 1: 22 – 25, as follows: ‘But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. (23) For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; (24) for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. (25) But one who looks intently at the perfect law (Torah), the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be blessed in what he does.’ How do you react to the things you read in the Scriptures? Do you try and find ways to avoid areas that you consider difficult to accept, or do you study the Scriptures with the view to get to know G-d and to become more obedient?As believers in Torah and Messiah ben Joseph, we should go beyond feeling good, we should actually strive to do good, as Yaa’cov wrote in James 1: 26 & 27, saying: ‘If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless. (27) This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our G-d and Father, to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.’

In James 2: 1 – 7, Yaa’cov deals with double-mindedness in the treatment we meet out to fellow believers. He asks if we treat all our brethren the same; or do we treat those with an abundance of wealth and goods better than those who are poor. In verses 8 - 10 of James 2, Yaa’cov wrote: ‘If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law, according to the Scripture, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF,” you are doing well. (9) But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. (10) For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.”’ This is totally contrary to what Churchianity would like us to believe, as we read from verses 14 & 20 - 26, as follows: ‘What use is it, my brethren, if a man says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him? (20) But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? (21) Was not Abraham our Father justified by works, when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? (22) You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; (23) and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED G-D, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS,” and he was called the friend of G-d. (24) You see that a man is justified by works, and not by faith alone. (25) And in the same way was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works, when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? (26) For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.’

Messiah ben Joseph prophesied about His return in Matthew 7: 21 – 23, when many of those who say they believe in Him, will be disappointed because of lawlessness, saying: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Master, Master,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father which is in heaven. (22) Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Master, Master, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ (23) And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’” The point is that if we serve HASHEM, He wants us to do what is pleasing in His sight, not what seems right to us, or what we feel in our hearts. With the Scriptures as our navigational instrument, we should know exactly where we are going. We may say that we believe in HaShem but need to remember that He only listens to those who obey Him fully, as recorded in 1 John 3: 22, like this: ‘And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.’ It is as we read from Proverbs 28: 9, ’He who turns away his ear from listening to the law, even his prayer is an abomination.’ Let’s therefore determine to serve HASHEM our G-d whole heartedly, without any doubt. Amein!

Creeds

A creed is a confession, a symbol, or a statement of faith of the shared beliefs of a religious community. Christians have the ancient creeds, such as the Roman Creed, the Apostle's Creed, the Nicene Creed and the Constantinople Creed. Today, every Christian denomination chooses their own creed but which one, if any, are right? This led me to ask the question, "Is there one book, in the Word of HaShem (Bible), that tells HaShem's whole Story; one book where we could get the entire Christian Creed? The book of Genesis tells us of HaShem, the creation, mankind, the serpent, the seed of the women but it does not inform us of the end. The book of Revelation tells us the end but not the beginning. Likewise, we can go through each book, examining its contents to see if it unveils the whole story of HaShem. Coming upon the book of Isaiah, I discovered that this book contains the beginning, middle and end of HaShem's story, excluding, of course, the sacred secret, which had been hidden away from the ages and from the generations which was unveiled much later to the Apostles and Prophets (Col. 1:26, Eph. 3:9).

As we read the creed that is in Isaiah, we realize that the ancient creeds, mentioned above, do not reflect many of the truths that are presented in this book. Many Christians are completely ignorant of some of these truths, truths that play an intricate part of HaShem's Story. Let us disregard the ancient creeds and replace them with the foundational Creed of Isaiah, adding to it, the truth that is absent from it, the 'Sacred Secret of the Christ,' which is presented in the seven Church Epistles.

The Creed in the Book of Isaiah

I Believe in:

1.) The Word of HaShem, which shall stand unto times age-abiding; "The grass, hath withered, The flower, hath faded,—But, the word of our G-d, shall stand unto times age-abiding" (40:8); So, shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth, It shall not return unto me void,—But shall accomplish that which I please, And shall prosper in that where unto I have sent it" (55:11). (66:2, 5)

2.) HaShem, the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth; "I, am HaShem, that, is my Name,—And, my glory, to another, will I not give, Nor, my praise, to images" (42:8); "Thus, saith El himself—HaShem,—Creator of the heavens, that stretched them forth, Out-spreader of earth, and the products thereof,—Giver of breath to the people thereon, And of spirit to them who walk therein" (42:5); "...I—HaShem, am the maker of all things, Stretching out the heavens, alone, Spreading forth the earth, of myself" (44:24); "Thus, saith HaShem—King of Israel, Even his Redeemer, HaShem of hosts,—I, am, First, and, I, Last, And, besides me, there is, no G-d" (44:6).

3.) HaShem, the Holy one of Israel who is Father, Savior and Redeemer; "...Thus, saith HaShem, Your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel..." (43:14); "...So shalt thou know—That, I, HaShem, am thy Savior, and, That, thy Redeemer, is the Mighty One of Jacob" (60:16); "...O HaShem, art our father, Our Redeemer from the Age-past time, is thy name" (63:16).

4.) HaShem's habitation is to be Mount Zion; "Lo! I, and the children whom HaShem hath given, me, are for signs and for wonders, in Israel, —from HaShem of hosts, who is making his habitation in Mount Zion" (8:18); "...Because HaShem of hosts, hath become king, In Mount Zion, And in Jerusalem, And before his Elders, in glory" (24:23).

5.) Seraphims; "...I saw My Lord, sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and, his skirts, did fill the temple. Seraphim, were standing above him; six wings severally, had each one,—With twain, he covered his face, And, with twain, he covered his feet, And, with twain, he did fly, and they continued crying out one to another, and said, Holy—Holy—Holy, is HaShem of hosts,—the fullness of the whole earth, is his glory" (6:1-3).

6.) The Shining One—Son of the Dawn; "How, hast thou fallen from heaven, O Shining One—Son of the Dawn! Hewn down to the earth, O crusher of nations! Yet, thou, didst say in thy heart—The heavens, will I ascend, Above the stars of El, will I lift up my throne, —That I may sit in the Mount of Assembly, In the Recesses of the North: I will mount on the hills of the clouds, I will match the Most High! Howbeit, to Sheol, shalt thou be brought down, —To the Recesses of the Pit! They who see thee, upon thee, will gaze, upon thee, will thoughtfully muse, —Is this, the man who startled the earth? Who terrified kingdoms? Who made the world like a desert? And, its cities, brake down? Its prisoners, he loosed not, Each one to his home" (14:12-17)?

7.) The Voice of one Crying in the Desert: "A voice of one crying!—In the desert, prepare ye the way of HaShem,—Make smooth, in the waste plain, a highway for our G-d: Let, every valley, be exalted, And, every mountain and hill, be made low,—And, the steep ground, become, level, And, the chain of hills—a plain: Then shall be revealed, the glory of HaShem,—And all flesh shall see, it together, For, the mouth of HaShem, hath spoken! A voice saying, Cry! And one said—What, should I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the grace thereof, like the flower of the field: The grass, hath withered, the flower, hath faded, Because the breath of HaShem, hath blown upon it! Surely the people, is grass! The grass, hath withered, the flower, hath faded, —But, the word of our G-d, shall stand unto times age-abiding" (40:3-8)!

8.) HaShem's Servant, who poured out, to Death, his own soul, Yea, he, the sin of Many, bare, And, for transgressors, interposeth; "Lo! my Servant, prospereth,—He riseth, and is lifted up, and becometh very high" (52:13); "The spirit of My Lord HaShem, is upon me,—Because HaShem, Hath anointed me, to tell good tidings to the oppressed, Hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, To proclaim, To captives, liberty, To them who are bound, the opening of the prison; To proclaim—The year of acceptance of HaShem, and, The day of avenging of our G-d: To comfort all who are mourning" (61:1-2); "Yet surely, our sicknesses, he, carried, And, as for our pains, he bare the burden of them,—But, we, accounted him stricken, Smitten of G-d, and humbled. Yet, he, was pierced for transgressions that were ours, was crushed for iniquities that were ours,—The chastisement for our well-being, was upon him, And, by his stripes, there is healing for us" (53:4-5); "By constraint and by sentence, was he taken away, And, of his age, who considered, That he was cut off out of the land of the living, For my people’s transgression, did the stroke fall on him? And, appointed with lawless men, was his grave, And, with the wicked, his tomb,—Though, no violence, had he done, Nor was guile in his mouth" (53:8-9); "Therefore, will I give him a portion in the great, And, the strong, shall he apportion as spoil, Because he poured out, to death, his own soul, And, with transgressors, let himself be numbered,—Yea, he, the sin of Many, bare, And, for transgressors, interposeth" (53:12).

9.) The Rewards of the Righteous and the Lawless and in the Forgiveness of the Lawless if they forsake their ways; "Say ye to the righteous, it is well! For, the fruit of their doings, shall they eat: Alas! for the lawless, it is ill, For, what his own hand hath matured, shall be done to him" (3:11-12); "No, well-being, saith my G-d, to the lawless" (57:21, 48:22); "Let the lawless forsake, his way, And the man of iniquity, his thoughts,—And let him return unto HaShem, That he may have compassion upon him, And unto our G-d, For he will abundantly pardon" (55:7).

10.) In Death and Sheol, where HaShem cannot be Praised; "For, Sheol, cannot praise thee, Nor, death, celebrate thee, —They who go down to the pit cannot wait for thy faithfulness. The living, the living, he, can praise thee, As I, do this day, —A father, to his children, can make known thy faithfulness" (38:18).

11.) In the Dead, being Awakened, coming to life again; "Thy dead, shall come to life again, my dead body, they shall arise, —Awake and shout for joy, ye that dwell in the dust, For, a dew of light, is thy dew, And, earth, to the shades, shall give birth" (26:19).

12.) In the Day of HaShem coming upon all who are High and Lofty; "The lofty looks of mean men, shall be humbled, And, the haughtiness of great men, shall be bowed down, —And HaShem alone, shall be exalted, in that day. For, a day of HaShem of hosts, shall be—Upon everyone who is high and lofty,—And upon everyone who is lifted up, And he shall be brought low...That he may enter, into the clefts of the rocks, and, into the fissures of the crags,—Because of the terribleness of HaShem, And for his majestic, splendour, When he ariseth to shake terribly the earth" (2:11-12, 21).

13.) In the Shoot of Jesse, the Bud of HaShem, who will reign upon the Throne of David; "But there shall come forth a shoot from the stock of Jesse,—And, a sprout, from his roots, shall bear fruit; And the spirit of HaShem shall rest, upon him,—The spirit of wisdom and understanding, The spirit of counsel and might, The spirit of knowledge, and reverence of HaShem; So will he find fragrance, in the reverence of HaShem, And not, by the sight of his eyes, will he judge, Nor, by the hearing of his ears, will he decide; But he will judge, with righteousness, them who are poor, And decide, with equity! for the oppressed of the land,—And he will smite the land with the sceptre of his mouth, And, with the breath of his lips, will he slay the lawless one; And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins,—And faithfulness the girdle of his reins" (11:1-5); "In that day, Shall, the Bud of HaShem, become beautiful and glorious,—And, the Fruit of the Land, splendid and majestic, To the escaped of Israel" (4:2); "For, A Child, hath been born to us, A Son, hath been given to us, And the dominion is upon his shoulder,—And his Name hath been called, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty El, Father of Futurity, Prince of Prosperity. Of the increase of dominion, and of prosperity, there shall be no end—Upon the throne of David, and, upon his kingdom, by establishing it, and, by sustaining it, with justice, and, with righteousness, —From henceforth, even unto times age-abiding: The jealousy of HaShem of hosts, will perform this" (9:6-7)!

14.) In the New Heaven and Earth, the age-abiding home of the righteous, where the wolf shall dwell with the lamb and the lion like the ox shall eat straw; “For, behold me! Creating new heavens, and a new earth..." (65:17, 66:22); "And the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, And, the leopard, with the kid, shall lie down,—And the calf, and the young lion, and the fatling—together, With, a little child, leading them; And, the cow, with the bear, shall find pasture, Together, shall their young ones, lie down,—And, the lion, like the ox, shall eat straw" (11:6-7); "And, the ransomed of HaShem, shall return, And shall enter Zion with shouting, With gladness age-abiding, upon their head, Joy and gladness, shall overtake them, And sorrow, and sighing, shall flee away" (35:10, 51:11); "Having swallowed up death itself victoriously, My Lord, HaShem, will wipe away, tears from off all faces,—And, the reproach of his own people, will he remove from off all the earth, For, HaShem, hath spoken" (25:8); "Violence, shall no more be heard, in thy land, Wasting nor destruction, within thy boundaries,—But thou shalt call Thy walls, Victory, and, Thy gates, Praise. Thou shalt no, more, have, the sun, for light by day, neither, for brightness, shall the moon give light unto thee,—But, HaShem, shall become, thine age-abiding light, And, thy G-d, thine adorning: No more shall go in, thy sun, Nor, thy moon, withdraw itself,—For, HaShem, will become to thee, an age-abiding light, So shall be ended, the days of thy mourning" (60:18-20).

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Rotherham's Emphasized Bible 1902, free download at http://www.teleiosministries.com/rotherham_bible/The-Emphasised-Bible-Black-Edition.pdf