Nazarene Israelite Two House Congregation of Port Elizabeth

Where to from here?

Believe it or not, our heavenly Father is a merciful Elohim and does not want anyone who returned to Him to fall away after He has chosen us to become part of the commonwealth bride and body of Messiah, as He prophesied through Ezekiel in Ezekiel 18: 21 – 23, saying: “But is the wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed and observes all My statutes and practices justice and righteousness, he shall surely live, he shall not die. (22) All his transgressions which he has committed will not be remembered against him; because of his righteousness which he has practiced, he will live. (23) “Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked,” declares Adonai Elohim, “rather than that he should turn from his ways and live?”

(YHVH)’s plan of salvation which He makes known to His chosen people through the weekly and annual Sabbaths and which He ordained for all Israel, ensures that we will eventually conform to the image of His Son, the word of Elohim, as Rav Shaul explained in Romans 8: 24 – 29, saying: ‘For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one also hope for what he sees? (25) But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it. (26) And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; (27) and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of Elohim. (28) And we know that Elohim causes all things to work together for good to those who love Elohim, to those who are called according to His purpose. (29) For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren.’  Yes, the word of Elohim became the Son of Man, Yahshua the Messiah and kinsman redeemer of the lost ten tribes, to pay the penalty or judgment we incurred for disobedience to Torah and to buy back the peace of the Promised Land we lost because of idolatry, whilst we did not even know what sin is. This is also why He is referred to as the first-born from the dead, as we read from Colossians 1: 18, as follows:  ‘He is also head of the body, the congregation; and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything.’ Yahshua our perfect example only became the Son of Elohim through the resurrection to show us from the lost sheep of the house of Israel, how we too, may one day become sons of Elohim when we are resurrected when Messiah comes to rule the world from Jerusalem, as witnessed in Romans 1: 1 – 4, in this way: ‘Shaul, a bond-servant of Messiah Yahshua, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of Elohim, (2) which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the Set-apart Scriptures, (3) concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, (4) who was declared the Son of Elohim with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Yahshua Messiah our Master.’

We read about Yahshua Messiah’s inheritance as the Son of Elohim from Hebrews 1: 1 – 3, as follows: ‘Elohim, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions in many ways, (2) in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. (3) And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high’  Rav Shaul informs us in Romans 8: 16 & 17 that if we finally qualify to make it into the kingdom of Elohim, we will like Yahshua be heirs of Elohim with Him, saying: ‘The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of Elohim, (17) and if children, heirs also, heirs of Elohim and fellow heirs with Messiah, if indeed we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him.’ However after we came to know the truth, we need to remain loyal to YHVH and His Torah in order to retain the Set-apart Spirit, through which we get eternal life (as confirmed in Acts 5: 32[1]), else we will be destroyed like those ancient Israelites who lacked faith in the wilderness, as witnessed in Hebrews 6: 4 – 6, in this way: “For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Set-apart Spirit, (5) and have tasted the good word of Elohim and the powers of the age to come, (6) and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of Elohim, and put Him to open shame.”

Both Rav Shaul and Rav Kepha came to the same conclusion after a life of teaching and exhorting the people whom YHVH has called to follow His will and way. Rav Kepha writes in first Peter 4: 1 & 2, saying: ‘Therefore, since Messiah has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, (2) so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of Elohim.’ During the past year we’ve learnt about the Oneness of Elohim, the Feast Days of Elohim giving details of (YHVH)’s plan of salvation for all mankind, clean and unclean foods, mankind’s ultimate potential and the coming Kingdom of Elohim, during which Yahshua will rule the world from Jerusalem for a thousand years. We have come to understand what it means to be born-again; we know that Yahshua’s main purpose was and still is, to bring the lost sheep of the house of Israel back to the covenant relationship we made with Elohim, together with the house of Judah at Horeb, in order to establish the kingdom of Elohim on earth, as it is presently in heaven. We have been given the key to the kingdom of Elohim and in general have a much better idea of what YHVH has planned for us and expects from us. This is why Rav Kepha continues saying in verses 3 – 5: ‘For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousals, drinking parties and abominable idolatries. (This sounds a lot like today, but mankind has not changed since creation and what is happening has simply happened before – it is as Solomon said: ‘there is nothing new under the sun.’) (4) And in all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excess of dissipation (in temperance), and they malign you; (5) but they shall give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.’  These unrepentant Gentiles will only get their first chance of salvation during the hundred year period of the great white throne judgment (as per Isaiah 65: 17 - 20[2]), when the Scriptures will be opened to their minds (as per Isaiah 25: 7 – 9[3]), allowing them to make an informed decision, whether they want to follow the way of Elohim, or not. This will be the time during which every knee of the people who lived throughout the ages, will bow before Yahshua our Messiah, accepting Him as their personal Passover.

Once we are given the truth about the coming Kingdom of Elohim, and we understand it fully, we are judged by what we are doing with what we’ve learnt. It is also for this reason that Rav Kepha admonished us in his letter, to start doing what is right in Elohim’s sight, or lose the eternal life promised us, if we qualify. He carries on in verse 6, saying: ‘For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead (note this is not saying that Yahshua or anybody else preached to dead people – once a person dies, he cannot hear anything any longer[4]. This is saying that the true gospel has been preached to some who are now dead, before they died and they died with the same hope and knowledge that we have), that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may (at Messiah’s return) live in the spirit according to the will of Elohim.’  Rav Shaul’s conclusion to Timothy is slightly different, but carries the same message in 2 Timothy 2. He also begins by saying in verses 1 & 2: ‘You therefore, my son, be strong in grace that is in Messiah Yahshua. (2) And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.’  He tells Timothy to suffer with him as a soldier for Messiah and like a regular soldier he should not entangle himself in the affairs of everyday life, in order to please the one who enlisted him as soldier. As soldiers of Elohim, we should be totally under His command. We should serve Him the way He prescribes in His word and not try to do things the way we believe He should be worshipped. This is after all what Yahshua warned about in Mark 7: 6 – 8, saying: ‘Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, “THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME. (7) BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN. (8) Neglecting the commandment of Elohim, you hold to the tradition of men.”’

YHVH is not worshipped by customs and traditions of men, even if we are sincere in doing so; we either do it His way or not at all. Deceived Christianity believes that Yahshua was talking only to the Jews of His day in Mark 7, but do not understand that Yahshua is speaking to all believers here and if you falsely assume that this was only addressed to the Jews of Messiah’s day, then the Scriptures is not written for you. If you believe that Yahshua only attacked His mainly Jewish brethren during His day for not fully conforming to the Torah teachings of Elohim, then you do not understand the Fathers love for His children. We all know that a father wants the best for his children and YHVH corrects those whom He loves, so that we bear more fruit. Therefore His criticism of His brethren of His day must be seen as criticism of all believers else His word has no meaning for us. That is why many in Christianity believes that Yahshua was anti-Semitic and that He taught us not to do what the Jews are doing. But in fact His intention was to teach us and all believers, to do the will of His Father in heaven as He said in Matthew 7: 21: ‘Not everyone who says to Me, “Master, Master,” will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.’  If we do not believe that the Scriptures were written as an example for us today, of how to live and what not to do, then we do not understand that Yahshua specifically came to save the lost sheep of the house of Israel. The lost ten tribes among the Christians are the ones needing a physician because they have rejected (YHVH)’s Torah teachings. Yahshua told His disciples as per Matthew 9: 12: ‘It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick.’  Therefore the Renewed Covenant is written specifically for the lost tribes of Israel and not for the Jews; to reconcile us to the Father and Brother Judah as may be understood from reading Ephesians 2: 11 – 19, where we are told that through Yahshua we become part of the Commonwealth of Israel once again.

Rav Kepha continues in verse 7 of 1 Peter 4, saying: ‘The end of all things is at hand; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.’ Now that we are part of the household of Elohim and knowing what we do, Rav Kepha is telling us to make sure that we remain faithful until the soon coming end of this present evil system, saying in verses 8 – 10: ‘Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. (9) Be hospitable to one another without complaint. (10) As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of Elohim.’  As stewards or agents of the grace of Elohim, we need to use the special talents that YHVH blessed us with to tell this dying world about the coming kingdom of Elohim, where everything will go according to Elohim’s plan. We need to realize that whatever we are doing, we are doing it to the glory of Elohim. Rav Kepha accordingly wrote in verse 11, saying: ‘Whoever speaks, let him speak, as it were, the utterances of Elohim; whoever serves, let him do so as by the strength which Elohim supplies; so that in all things Elohim may be glorified through Yahshua Messiah, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amein.’ The work that we are doing for Elohim, should always be to the best of our ability and we should accordingly measure ourselves against the standard YHVH set for us in Yahshua, by doing what He did and taught whilst he was on earth 2000 years ago.

 Nevertheless, Rav Kepha warns us about the sufferings that will come upon us before the end of this age, saying in verses 12 – 14 of 1 Peter 4, ‘Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; (13) but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Messiah, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation.’  Some of us are going to be severely tested before we ourselves and YHVH knows that we are worthy of our calling. Some will be tested to the point of death, but as I said before, even if we die in the testing times ahead, we have the assurance that we will be resurrected to eternal life, during which time there will be no more pain or disease. We need to remember that the only thing we can take with us into the world to come is our character developed throughout our lives.  It is as Rav Kepha puts it in 2 Peter 1: 4 – 8, saying: ‘For by these (everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.) He has granted to us his precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. (5) Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge; (6) and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness; (7) and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. (8) For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Master Yahshua Messiah.’

Continuing in verses 14 – 16 of 1 Peter 4, Rav Kepha writes: ‘If you are reviled for the name of Messiah, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of Elohim rests upon you. (15) By no means let any of you suffer as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; (16) but if anyone suffers as a Nazarene (definitely not a Christian – the translators of the Scriptures have caused so much confusion by changing the names originally used for names that they wish Messiah’s followers to be called), let him not feel ashamed, but in that name let him glorify God.’  Yahshua was the Messiah and was never called the Christ by His mostly Jewish disciples. Nazarene Judaism was a sect of the Pharisees as may be seen from Acts 24: 5 & 14[5] and Acts 28: 22[6]. We are definitely not Christians as most modern day translators of the Scriptures want us to believe. Rav Kepha warns in verse 17 that as Nazarenes we are of the very household of Elohim and since we are called out of the religions of the world at this time, we are being judged by Elohim, by what we do and how we live, with the knowledge and understanding that He is giving us through His servants and His word of truth, in this way: ‘For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of Elohim; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of Elohim?’ The point is that if we believe the gospel of the coming Kingdom of Elohim – we will begin to live as ambassadors of that coming Kingdom, keeping the Laws applicable to that future Kingdom in our present life. This is exactly what the Jewish Rabbis teach – if anyone beliefs in the Kingdom of Elohim, they will keep all of Torah the way it will be done in that future kingdom. Even though we will live in the world, we should not be part of the world. Rav Shaul wrote accordingly in Romans 12: 1 & 2, saying: ‘I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of Elohim, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to Elohim, which is your spiritual service of worship. (2) And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of Elohim is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.’

Rav Kepha reminds us similarly in verse 18 of first Peter 4 that we should take our calling very seriously; if we succeed, our inheritance will be the same as what Messiah already qualified to inherit in the near future, saying: ‘AND IF IT IS WITH DIFFICULTY THAT THE RIGHTEOUS IS SAVED, WHAT WILL BECOME OF THE GODLESS MAN AND THE SINNER?’  We will rule the world under Yahshua as kings and priests for a thousand years and ultimately the entire universe, but there will not be room for rebels in Elohim’s eternal Kingdom. It is for this reason that Rav Kepha writes in verse 19, saying: ‘Therefore, let those also who suffer according to the will of Elohim entrust their souls (lives) to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.’ Rav Shaul in 2 Timothy 2: 8 – 13 wrote his concluding (or now that you know) message to Timothy saying:  ‘Remember Yahshua Messiah, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel, (9) for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the word of Elohim is not imprisoned. (10) For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Messiah Yahshua and with it eternal glory. (11) It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him; (12) if we endure, we shall also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He also will deny us; (13) if we are faithless, He remains faithful; for He cannot deny Himself.’ Rav Shaul also talks about those who teach in verse 14, saying: ‘Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of Elohim not to wrangle about words, which is useless, and leads to the ruin of the hearers.’

Our doctrines have been bound by Yahshua – He told us to follow the Hebrew calendar and described Himself as the way, the truth and life in John 14: 6, saying: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.” Yes, Yahshua came to show us the way of Elohim; In Matthew 5, 6, & 7 He expounded the Torah, showing us how to keep Torah with a spiritual intent. We as Nazarene followers of Yahshua need not ever establish or change any new doctrines, since He did it all for us. He confirmed that we cannot believe in Him, unless we believe in the Torah that YHVH gave us through Moses.[7]  Rav Shaul continues addressing the teachers among us in verse 15 of 2 Timothy 2, saying: ‘Be diligent to present yourself approved to Elohim as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth.’  As those who teach Elohim’s word, we need to make sure that we do not add or take away from what is written in the Scriptures. We should always try and show what we teach by at least two or three witnesses. In addition we should let the Scriptures interpret the Scriptures, to prove the doctrines already established by our Messiah.

After we have been immersed into Yahshua’s saving name we are supposed to grow in grace and knowledge by attending Nazarene Jewish/Israelite assemblies, where there are elders who have been around for a number of years and who have followed the same discipleship program used by Messiah and His disciples, to ensure that the ecclesia of Elohim is perpetuated until Messiah’s return on Yom Teruah one day in the near future. This is as Rav Kepha wrote in 2 Peter 3: 13 - 18, saying: ‘But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. (14) Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, (15) and regard the patience of our Master to be salvation; just as also our beloved brother Shaul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, (16) as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. (17) You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard lest, being carried away by the error of unprincipled men, you fall from your own steadfastness, (18) but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Master and Savior Yahshua Messiah. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amein.’

Rav Kepha  continues talking about Messiah’s discipleship program saying to the elders in the ecclesia in first Peter 5: 1 - 4, that by now  they ought to be the ones who should teach new believers in the ecclesia what they have been taught by those who came before them, saying: ‘Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Messiah, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, (2) shepherd the flock of Elohim among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of Elohim; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness;  (3) nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. (4) And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.’ So, here we see that YHVH eventually expect the elders amongst us to teach new believers the basic principles of His word (the oracles preserved for us by our Jewish Brothers - the milk of the word), as well as the good news (or gospel transliterated as ‘besorah’ in Hebrew) about the coming kingdom of Elohim. Rav Kepha talks to younger men in verses 5 – 7, in this way: ‘You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for ELOHIM IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE. (6) Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of Elohim, that He may exalt you at the proper time, (7) casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you.’ Humility is a major problem with especially the house of Israel – it is for this reason that YHVH have often referred to the house of Israel as a stiff necked rebellious people. But, YHVH is going to humble the house of Israel during Jacob’s trouble, leaving only a humble lowly people that will take refuge in the name of YHVH as witnessed in Zephaniah 3: 12 & 13, as follows: ”But I will leave among you a humble and lowly people, and they will take refuge in the name of YHVH. (13) The remnant of Israel will do no wrong and tell no lies, nor will a deceitful tongue be found in their mouths; for they shall feed and lie down with no one to make them tremble.”

Rav Shaul in his message to Timothy writes in 2 Timothy 4: 1 – 5, ‘I solemnly charge you in the presence of Elohim and of Messiah Yahshua, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: (2) preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. (3) For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; (4) and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths. (5) But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.’  Not many people are open to correction, especially if they do not see anything wrong with what they are doing. But, this is perhaps what people who come from the churches of the world are used to – all they get from one Sunday to the next is encouragement and lessons in the power of positive thinking. However, when YHVH calls us out of the religions of the world, He wants us to start obeying Him according to the way He prescribes in His Torah teachings.  Once we have decided to follow Him, we need to become aware of our every doing – to ensure that it conforms to what YHVH requires. He calls each and every one of us, and especially those who eventually qualify to teach His people to act as watchmen to warn His people of their Torah breaking. It is for this reason that Isaiah wrote in verse 1 of Isaiah 58, saying: ‘Cry loudly, do not hold back; raise your voice like a trumpet, and declare to My people their transgression, and to the house of Jacob their sins.’

Rav Kepha warns all of us in verses 8 & 9 of first Peter 5, saying: ‘Be of sober spirit (be totally aware of what is happening around you – do not walk around as if in a drunken stupor), be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (Satan is prowling around us to like a lion, get a hold on the weak ones in the faith – trying to catch them off guard.) (9) But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.’ Rav Shaul knowing that he is at the end of his life concludes by saying in verses 6 – 8 of 2 Timothy 4, ‘For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. (7) I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; (8) in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Master, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.’  I pray that at the end of each of our lives, we will have the same confidence and faith displayed by Rav Shaul that he had at the end of his days. Amein and Amein!

 

 

[1]Acts 5: 32, “And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Set-apart Spirit, whom Elohim has given to those who obey Him.”

[2] Isaiah 65: 17 – 20: “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem for rejoicing and her people for gladness. I will also rejoice in Jerusalem, and be glad in My people; and there will no longer be heard in her the voice of weeping and the sound of crying. No longer will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his days; for the youth will die at the age of one hundred and the one who does not reach the age of one hundred shall be thought accursed.’

[3] Isaiah 25: 7 – 9: ‘And on this mountain He will swallow up the covering which is over all peoples, even the veil which is stretched over all nations. He will swallow up death for all time, and YHVH Elohim will wipe tears away from all faces, and He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth; for YHVH has spoken. And it will be said in that day, “Behold, this is our Elohim for whom we have waited that He might save us. This is YHVH for whom we have waited; let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation’

[4] Dead people do not know anything and cannot hear, as witnessed by Solomon in Ecclesiastes 9: 5, in this way: ‘For the living know they will die; but the dead do not know anything, nor have they any longer a reward (whilst they are dead they cannot do anything to improve their future – they will have to be resurrected to be able to do that again one day), for their memory is forgotten.’

[5] Acts 24: 5 & 14, “For we have found this man a real pest and a fellow who stirs up dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. But this I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve the Elohim of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law, and that is written in the Prophets.”

[6] Acts 28: 22, “But we desire to hear from you what your views are; for concerning the sect, it is known to us that it is spoken against everywhere.” The sect that we belong to is not a popular religion like Christianity, but we have been persecuted from the start – as is also witnessed in this verse.

[7] Yahshua said clearly about Torah in John 5: 45 – 47, “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. For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote of Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”