The Tree of Life

10/21/2014

This article has been moved to our new website: Torah Apologetics. Please click here to be redirected there to read it.

Phillip Stephens

10/31/2014 10:38:31 pm

The comment at the end about not earning one's salvation, could you explain? I hear this from all the Sunday churches it just kinda threw me off after reading your writings. Is Salvation and being in a covenant relationship with YHWH two different things? In Matthew 28:19-20 Yahshua says teach, then baptize, teaching them all the things commanded them. This is the same as Moses did, the first time in Exodus 19:7-8. Second time in Exodus 24:3-4. And the third time where blood is actually applied confirming the covenant in Exodus 24:4-8. In Luke 14:26-33 Yahshua taught about counting the cost before signing up to be His disciple. YHWH is God and sets the terms of the covenant. We are required to accept the terms of the contract before we can use the sanctuary or have blood applied to us and the covenant as Hebrews 10:29 states, "The Blood Of The Covenant". We also know the devil believes, James 2;19. Ephesians 2;8-10 says YHWH presents us the Torah as a free gift that we should follow it, verse 10. Verse 8 says this is "NOT OF OURSELVES" lest anyone could boast. YHWH freely sets the covenant before us to accept or reject. Ephesians 2:9 is about our works, not the works of YHWH that were created beforehand the we should walk in them (Torah). Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavours: give them after the work of their hands; render to them their desert. Because they regard not the works of the Lord, nor the operation of his hands, he shall destroy them, and not build them up. (‭Psalms‬ ‭28‬:‭4-5‬ KJV)

J. A. Brown link

11/1/2014 12:02:33 am

Earning one's salvation as in, YOU can do something to merit it, outside of Yeshua's sacrifice. There is no "work" that you can perform to obligate the Creator to save you. Because regardless of your (or my) future "works" we have already "fallen short" and thus deserve the penalty of death.

However, because of Yeshua, and His sacrifice, that way has been paved for us. So what I mean by "earning salvation" is working your way to being saved without Yeshua. There are many people out there, especially over the last few years, that have completely rejected Yeshua as Messiah, saying if they perform the "works" of Torah, they can get into the Kingdom on their own.

Man was created FOR GOOD WORKS (Eph. 2:10), so yes, they are required. But simply "doing" these things does not save us.

As to the latter part of your question, I believe "Salvation" as most people use the term, is a process, not really a moment. I don't think anyone has been "saved" yet. Everyone has been "redeemed" when Yeshua died and resurrected (He "paid the price" to redeem us) but salvation occurs when we are "saved" from the Second Death (see the article on Salvation for that).

Being in Covenant relationship with Him makes you an Israelite, so yes, in a sense, being in covenant with Him WILL save you. Provided, of course, you stay in covenant with Him.

Phillip Stephens

10/31/2014 11:04:13 pm

Here are a few more verses showing the difference between our works and the works of YHWH we should follow.

PS 28:4-5; PS 33:4&15; PS 86:8; PS 92:4-5; PS 103:22; PS 104:24&31; PS 106:34-36; PS 107:8-15; PS 111:1-10; PS 119:27; PS 141:4; PS 143:5; PS 145:4,5,9,10,17; Prov 16:3; Prov 24:12; Prov 31:31; Isaiah 26:10-12; Isaiah 29:15&41:29; Isaiah 59:6&66:15-18; Matthew 5:16&16:27; Acts 26:20; 2nd Corinthians 11:15; 1st Tim 2;9-10&5:24-25; Titus 1:16&2:7,14&3:8; Hebrews 6:1; James 2:14:26; 1st Peter 2:12; Rev 2:5&18:6&20:12

Just to name a few examples of the difference between our works, "NOT OF OURSELVES, Ephesians 2:8" and the works of YHWH we are commanded to follow.

By the way, I'm really enjoying your post and intend to read them all.

J. A. Brown link

11/1/2014 12:10:53 am

Yes, I understand what you're saying. Just as there is a difference between your (or my) righteousness, and His righteousness, there is a difference between our works and His works.

And thank you for taking the time to read them. Most of these articles I wrote last year, which I hosted on a Wordpress blog. However, I kind of outgrew that blog, and needed a more comprehensive website. Plus I wanted a way to better host the Shem Qadosh Version Bible that I (and a few others) have worked on for about a year now.

More content will be coming over time, so if you want to keep up, check back regularly. I have a few more articles that I will be writing over the next few weeks, and I have been working on a new version of the books of Enoch, Jasher, and Jubilees, which will hopefully be ready in a few months.

I also greatly appreciate the time you've spent not only reading these articles, but also commenting and giving feedback. Both positive and negative is always useful.

Shabbat shalom!

Phillip Stephens

11/1/2014 12:39:46 am

Thanks for responding. I agree with you. I'm really enjoying the things you've written. My wife is enjoying them too. What a wonderful Sabbath we're having feasting on your post. Thank-you, but I have to go read some more of your stuff.

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