Question 350: Is Justification The Same Under The Old And New Dispensation?

Answer:

Justification is the act of YHVH and has ever been so, under both the Old and New Dispensations. Under the Old, those were accepted who rendered a faithful and willing obedience; thus we read, in Galatians 3:6, that Abraham believed YHVH and this belief (i.e., faith) was accounted to him for righteousness. Under the New Dispensation, Yeshua "came to bring life and immortality to light," that is, to give us a spiritual illumination which would disclose to man the great scheme of redemption ordained from the beginning. The contention, therefore, that none save those who are in the New Dispensation can attain immortality is untenable. Besides, the evidence of Scripture itself is against such a conclusion. Moses and Elijah were seen at the transfiguration. Paul held that while the race, as a whole, died in Adam's sin, as a whole it received life through Moshiach's redemptive work.

Question 349: Will The Jews Ever Return To Palestine?

Answer:

Will the Jews return to the Holy Land and will they ever, as a nation, acknowledge Moshiach as the Moshiach, is often asked and again it is sought to be known how they can be YHVH's chosen people when they reject Moshiach. There is no doubt that the Jews were YHVH's chosen people and Paul says (Romans 11:1) that He has not cast them off. In that and the two preceding chapters the apostle fully discusses the question. The prophets assure us that they will return to the Holy Land. There are predictions, dating before and during the captivity in Babylon, which were fulfilled when they returned under the edict of Cyrus, but there are others indicating a later and permanent restoration. The passages in Isaiah 2:2-4, Jeremiah 3:18, 16:14, 15; Ezekiel 36:24, 37:21, 25, 39:28 and many others have not yet been fulfilled. They will probably return in unbelief but will be converted later (see Romans 11:26).

Question 348: Why Do Some Passages Of The New Testament Use The Neuter Pronoun In Referring To Ruach HaKodesh?

Answer:

In the New Testament references to Ruach HaKodesh the masculine form is used almost without exception. In John 14:26 and 15:26 the relative pronoun "which" is employed, a word that in present-day English is always neuter. At the time the Bible was translated, however, the form "which" was used of persons as well as things, for example: "Our Father which art in heaven" (Matthew 6:9) and "these… which have received Ruach HaKodesh" (Acts 10:47.) As a matter of fact it would not have been surprising if the neuter form had crept into the translation of some other passages, as the Greek word for spirit (Pneuma) is neuter. This makes it all the more remarkable that throughout the Greek New Testament the pronouns referring to this neuter word are masculine. The fact of the Greek noun itself being neuter has no bearing whatever on the question of personality or sex, as is well understood by anyone familiar, for instance, with German, in which the same thing is often true.

Question 347: Does Every Good Thing Come From YHVH?

Answer:

It is impossible to say just what impulses proceed from self and what is the direct influence of YHVH in the unconverted soul. Some impulses to kindness seem purely natural, such as the instinctive care of a mother for her child, which is found in beasts as well as in human kind. The affection of animals for people, like the affection of a dog for his master, is sometimes tremendously strong. While all these noble and beautiful things come from YHVH, they do not necessarily indicate the presence of YHVH in the soul He has planted certain admirable traits both in the instincts of animals and the minds of men; He also has of course, the power of communicating with men, speaking to their minds and consciences by His Spirit and by His Word. Reason is higher than instinct and conscience is higher than both, but even conscience may not mean that YHVH is dwelling in the soul. Only when it is enlightened or quickened by the divine power does it become a safe guide. Conscience therefore, is not so much the voice of YHVH as the human faculty of hearing that voice. But at conversion YHVH's Spirit comes into a man's soul. He is no longer outside, but within; mystically though actually linked to the man himself. The great change then is that a man finds himself loving YHVH, eager to get His messages, anxious to please Him. The impulses to do good, instead of being vague and weak, become definite and intense. The converted man feels that YHVH is within him, making suggestions, awakening holy, unselfish, beautiful desires and giving him power to carry out these good desires in vigorous and successful action.

Frequently asked questions and answers

Question 346: Is There Any Hope For The Backslider?

Answer:

See Hebrews 10:26-29; John 6:37; Hebrews 6:4-6 and 1 John 1:9. The passage in Hebrews 10 refers to those who sin after receiving "full knowledge" of the truth (see 1 Timothy 2:4) and who after having been "enlightened" and tasting a certain measure of grace and the Spirit of Truth (see John 14:17-29), apostatize to Judaism or infidelity. Such is not a sin of ignorance or error, but the result of moral wickedness or a deliberate sin against the Spirit - a presumptuous sin against Moshiach's redemption for us and the spirit of grace in us. Having fully known the one sacrifice for sin and having a certain experience of the efficacy of that sacrifice, they have now rejected it. In Hebrews 6:4, 6, the same idea is emphasized. Such sinners crucify Moshiach anew, instead of crucifying the world (see Galatians 6:14). The passage in John 6:37 express the glorious certainty of eternal life to those who believe and stand firm - those who are given Him of the Father and come to Him with full surrender. Not the simply willing, but the actually faithful; not the waverers, but the true and abiding, are to realize the promise. In the backslider there has been no complete dedication, otherwise there would be no apostasy. 1 John 19 emphasizes the assurance of forgiveness and acceptance of the faithful ones. Concerning the possibilities of a return to Moshiach on the part of a backslider, we can only assert that what to man may and often does seem impossible, is possible with YHVH and that His grace is boundless. Peter backslid in a most grievous way and yet was forgiven. By a miracle of divine grace, the backslider, although beyond human hope of recall, may in YHVH's abundant mercy find refuge and forgiveness.

Question 345: Is The Backslider’s Case Hopeless?

Answer:

The passage in Hebrews 6:6, like that about the unpardonable sin, has caused much discussion and apprehension. The description in the previous verses of the persons to whom it refers, appears to indicate a condition of enlightenment and of personal experience such as some attain who do not become true believers, but return to the world. The writer appears to be speaking of a fact rather than enunciating a doctrine. Every Christian minister and worker know how difficult it is to win a backslider, especially one who has become a scoffer. The truth seems to have no effect upon them. Any person who fears having fallen into that condition can disprove the theory by going to Moshiach and asking forgiveness. Moshiach will receive him. The very fact of his being distressed about it indicates that he has not fallen beyond hope. The man who has need to fear, is he who does not trouble about his state.

Question 344: Are We, As Believers, Bound To Keep The Ten Commandments?

Answer:

The believer is not under the Law but under grace. That however does not free him from obligation. Obeying the law will not bring you into heaven, accepting our Moshiach as Saviour will, BUT sin is the transgression of the Law and the Law is there to guide you to less sin. More is expected of the believer in the way of righteousness than if he were under the Law. You lay down rules for your child and make him obey, but when he grows to manhood, he is free from your rules. Do you not expect that he will behave without rules? That was your object in training him, to produce in him a disposition which would keep him right when he became his own master. Now, which of the Commandments do you as a believer, free from Law; feel that you are at liberty to break? You would keep them out of love for YHVH, whether you were bound or not. As to Commands and injunctions of the Old Testament, when the question was considered in the first apostolic council (Acts 15:5-29) it was decided that Gentile converts were not to be bound by the Levitical law. Moshiach also, in His sermon on the mount, said: "It hath been said by them of old time" and went on to say, "but I say unto you," etc., clearly regarding the Law as it stood to be subject to His abrogation. It must not however, be supposed that the Christian dispensation is less stringent. The man who obeys Moshiach is under obligations higher than those of the Law. As an example, the Law forbade murder and Moshiach forbade the anger that leads to murder. As love is higher than Law, so Moshiach, by setting His people free of Law and placing them under the obligation of love, inculcated a higher morality.

One funny fact is this: People refuse to obey the FEW Laws of the Bible -- but think for a moment how many millions of laws are made by governments that must be obeyed!

Question 343: Who Created The Devil?

Answer:

This question has puzzled theologians for ages and has occasioned discussions which have had no profitable issue. There is no source of reliable information but that contained in Scripture and that is of a very meagre character. See Revelation 12:7, 9, and 2 Peter 2:4. The inference from those and other passages is that Satan was created by YHVH as man was, that he was pure and innocent, but like man, liable to fall. That he did fall and was cast out of heaven. It cannot be conceived that YHVH created an evil being though, as we know to our sorrow, He did create a being who became evil. The whole subject is wrapped in mystery and the Bible writers are more intent on the practical question of teaching us how to be delivered from the power of satan than in giving us his biography. The less we know of him and have to do with him the better for us. That satan was an angel of high estate, who fell through ambition, leading to rebellion, is the concrete form of a history which is a combination of Scripture and tradition. See John 8:44; Matthew 4:1-11; Matthew 25:41; Luke 8:12; Luke 10:18; Acts 13:10; Ephesians 6:11; 1 Peter 5:8; 1 John 3:8 and other passages. In Job he is the adversary and the tempter. See also 1 Chronicles 21:1. Milton the poet described him as "the prince or ruler of the demons." See Daniel 7:10 and Jude 6. These passages leave much unexplained and conjecture here is useless. His final overthrow and punishment are predicted in Revelation 20.

Question 342: What Was The “Sentence Of The Serpent”?

Answer:

The "sentence of the serpent" as the passage in Genesis 3 :15 is called, was a far reaching one. The prophecy concerning the posterity of the woman, who were to be at enmity with the seed of the serpent, "points to the continual struggle between the woman's offspring and the grand enemy of YHVH and man - the mighty conflict, of which this world has ever since been the theatre," between sin and righteousness. In the clause in question perhaps the more accurate reading would be: "I will permit enmity between thee and the woman," etc. YHVH is not the author of evil; but when His Ruach Kodesh is withdrawn from a man or a community or a nation, evil comes and takes the place of good.

Frequently asked questions and answers

Question 341: Does Satan Interfere With YHVH’s Children?

Answer:

Paul, in common with the people of his time, had a firm belief in the interference of satanic influence in human life. Not only in 1 Thessalonians 2:18, but in 2 Corinthians 12:7, he refers to it. The "thorn in the flesh," whatever that affliction was, he regarded as a messenger from satan. The writer of Samuel took another view. He said the evil spirit that troubled Saul was from Elohiym. (See 1 Samuel 16:14, 18:10 and other passages.) The writer of the book of Job thought that the evil fortune might be the work of satan under express permission of YHVH. The origin of evil has always been a mystery and it is not solved yet. Though we cannot understand it, we may be sure that vexations and hindrances and temptations do not come to us without the divine permission and they are intended to strengthen the character. Paul himself said that all things work together for good to them that love YHVH. (Romans 8:28.)