And We All Need to Remember

By Frank Brown

As the end time approaches, we are told to be witnesses to the Good News: Mat 24:14 KJV  "And this evangel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come."

The Apostles were told to go out and evangelize the world. (Mat 28:19-20 KJV)  "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in My Name:  {20} Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the age. Amen."

Paul, the come-lately Apostle was given the same message.. (1 Cor 1:17 KJV)  "For the Messiah sent me not to baptize, but to preach the evangel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of the Messiah should be made of none effect."

How do we do that? Take the message that Yahshua gave His disciples and teach it to the world? Can we do this without condemning the world? Should we worry about condemning the world?

 The reason I am asking these questions is because, new people just learning some Truth often ask about their former church and its beliefs. I was recently asked, Do you think those people are “saved”?

That is not the proper terminology, but I know what they mean – “ARE THEY ON THE ROAD TO BEING SAVED?” Will they have salvation and be in the First Resurrection?

It is not mine to judge or condemn, but we have to make judgments based on the Scriptures. We have to let the Scriptures do the judging. So, I would like to answer that question in this talk.

We are told, “To the Torah and to the Testimony, if they speak not according to this Word, it is because there is no light in them (Isaiah 8:20).” The Torah is the Law or Instructions that our Creator has decreed for us to obey. The Testimony is the words of the Prophets, including the patriarchs such as Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel Hosea, Zechariah, etc.

Included in them from the New Testament are Yahshua and His Disciples/Apostles.

Here is some of that testimony: (Mat 5:17-19 KJV)  "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. {18} For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. {19} Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."

More of His testimony: Matthew 19:17b If you will enter into life, keep the Commandments.”

Rev. 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of Yahweh, and have the testimony of Yahshua the Messiah.

Rev. 14:12:  "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of Yahweh, and the faith of Yahshua."

But what about those who have a form of religion, but do not actually keep the commandments? Yahshua speaking:

(Mat 7:19-24 KJV)  "Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. {20} Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

{21} Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

 {22} Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out demons? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

{23} And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. {24} Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:"

So, to be saved we must know what sin is (1 John 3:4, "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.");  then must have repented of our sins, and be baptized in the Name of Yahshua the Messiah, according to Acts 2:38 KJV)  "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Yahshua the Messiah  for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

 This is the only Name given among men whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:10-12 KJV)  "Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Yahshua the Messiah of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom Yahweh raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. {11} This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. {12} Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

So, to answer that question from Scripture, no, these people are not obeying the Evangel that Yahshua brought. They say the Name of Yahweh is not important; and they say the Law is done away. They have followed the Roman Catholic Church in all their pagan sex oriented sun worshipping holidays, and have ignored Scripture which prohibits such practices.

They take Scriptures out of context, twisting and perverting them to try to prove their point, just as the Apostle Peter said they do Paul’s writings: 2 Peter 3:16:

(2 Pet 3:15-18 KJV)  "And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; {16} As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. {17} Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. {18} But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Yahshua the Messiah. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen."

But should we blame the common people? Who is “they” in these Scriptures? It is the leadership! What was Yahshua’s example? He always chastised and criticized the leadership – the Scribes and Pharisees, the Sadducees, etc.

See Matthew chapters 16 and 23, where He roundly excoriated them for putting their traditions above the Scriptures. They KNEW better, and were deceiving the people.

Today, many religious leaders are ignorantly deceiving the people, although many DO know better. And certainly the leaders of their denominations, and especially the Roman Catholic hierarchy, KNOW better and cheerfully admit they have changed things and claim they have authority to do so.

So what can WE do? First, realize that it is not the common people’s fault. Everyone is not being called now. Only the Firstfruits are having their eyes opened now, and being called - and the rest have been blinded. Many Scriptures confirm this, but to save time, I will mention only one:

(John 12:35-43 NRSV)  "Yahshua said to them, "The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going. {36} While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light."

After Yahshua had said this, he departed and hid from them. {37} Although he had performed so many signs in their presence, they did not believe in him. {38} This was to fulfill the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah (this is from Isaiah 53): "Who has believed our message, and to whom has the arm of Yahweh been revealed?" {39} And so they could not believe, because Isaiah also said, {40} "He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, so that they might not look with their eyes, and understand with their heart and turn-- and I would heal them." {41} Isaiah said this because he saw his glory and spoke about him. {42} Nevertheless many, even of the authorities, believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they did not confess it, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; {43} for they loved the praise of men more than the praise that comes from Yahweh."

So here is what we need to do. Be prepared to answer when questioned about your faith

 (1 Pet 3:14-17 NRSV)  "But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated, {15} but in your hearts sanctify the Messiah as Master. Always be ready to give an answer to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; {16} yet do it with gentleness and reverence. Keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in the Messiah may be put to shame. {17} For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be Yah's will, than to suffer for doing evil."

And in order to give an answer, we must study His Word. Don’t just listen to some man stand up and talk about it, check things out for yourselves. Remember the story of the Bereans in Acts 17, who, after listening to Paul preach, searched the Scriptures daily whether what he was teaching was true.

(Acts 17:10-12 KJV)  "And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. {11} These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. {12} Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few."

The Apostle Paul had this to say to Timothy:

(2 Tim 3:14-17 KJV)  "But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; {15} And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in the Messiah Yahshua. {16} All scripture is given by inspiration of Yahweh, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: {17} That the man of Yahweh may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."