Letter from the Editor

In the last issue, I made an error in the birth announcement. It should have read:

Birth: To Kevin and Virginia Yeatts of Weston, CO, a daughter, Abigail Margaret Yeatts, at 2:50 AM, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2003. She is their first-born, and weighed in at 9 pounds, 1-1/4 oz. Congratulations to the new parents; also Aunt Tam and Uncle Todd! Nurture her in Yahweh’s love always. ~

Here is a new one:

Birth: To Will and Olga Pryor, a daughter, Yochanna Danit Pryor. She was born on Nov.13 at 6:52pm in Dallas, and weighed 6 lbs,10 ozs. Her grandmother is Laurajean Patterson, of Burleson, Texas.~

I touched a nerve in the last “Personal” with the comments about those who are denying Yahshua’s Messiahship and the New Testament, particularly Paul’s writings. One reader requested I unsubscribe him from the newsletter, and another asked me to print the following response. Here it is, with my own comments in boldface:

“Dear Frank:

Upon returning home on the 26th I received your Newsletter No. 66, wherein I found the "Letter from the Editor" on page 1.  This letter contained the following:

"2) More Believers are turning back to their own destruction, (2 Peter 3:16).  They usually start out questioning Paul's writings, then 'progress' to denying the virgin birth, then denying that Yahshua is the promised Messiah.  Next comes denying the entire New Testament.  By this time they are usually so far gone as to be unsalvageable.  Several friends and acquaintances have fallen in this fashion, upsetting friends and family.  Once denial has set in, it seems the more you point out truth, the more adamant they become in their error.

[This is true not only on this point, but on others as well. For example, those who believe in lunar Sabbaths, and that Abib 14 and 20 are the High Sabbaths, and that Pentecost counts from the first High Day of UB, etc. ad infinitum.]

“May Yahweh's Holy Spirit keep you on the right track.  If you are thinking along these lines, turn back before it is too late!  There is no other way to salvation except through the shed blood of the Messiah. The Law tells us what sin is.  Once we have broken it, there is no provision for sacrifice to atone and make it right with Yahweh other than that provided. ..."

In answer to the above quote I would ask if you are aware that Yahshua was Jewish and a member of the Jewish religion, that he was a believer in the Torah.  That he was not trying to start a NEW religion, but rather he was trying to reform and correct his own religion.

[Yes, of course I am aware that Yahshua was a Jew. But He was also the promised Messiah, the revealer of the Holy Spirit and the fact that it would be imparted into the minds of Believers who would then be able to obey the Torah with a Spiritual intent, as Yahweh meant when He said, "O that there were such an heart in them that they would obey my Law always." Then He added, "But the days are coming when I will write My laws in their hearts." This was part of that process. Paul did reveal more detail later.]

The one who tried and succeeded in starting a NEW religion was Paul.  In reading the teachings of Yahshua, i.e. the Sermon On The Mount [so called], we find Yahshua offering several ways to enter the Kingdom, to wit: by being poor in spirit; by being meek; by being merciful; by being pure in heart; by being a peacemaker;

by being  reviled and having evil spoken against you falsely!”

[It is necessary for a Believer to have ALL these qualities, not just one, and altogether they are qualities of a converted individual. However, none of these things, standing alone, or even altogether, will get one into the Kingdom. Yahshua Himself said that there is no other way other than through Him (John 14:6).]

“Notice how these pronouncements are unconditional!”  

[This is not the whole "package." He also said in Acts 1:5-8 that He would send the Holy Spirit to empower them. See also John 15:26, 16:13-18. Yahshua, having both physical AND spiritual qualities, bridged the gap between the Spiritual and the physical.]

It is only later when Paul and others stepped in, that requirements were added. Yahshua says nothing about shed blood or virgin birth in the Sermon On The Mount. These concepts were added later, MUCH LATER!”  

[See Mark 8:31 where He said He would be killed and then rise 3 days later. See Mat. 26:28, where He said  "For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." Also see Mk. 14:24 and Luke 22:20.]

_As to breaking the law, i.e. the Torah, this is what the priests, scribes, Pharisees, etc., were doing, Yahshua was trying to reform them.  One of the laws found in the Torah says, "... and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked" (Exodus 23:7).  Was this one of the laws you were referring to above?”

[Note well, it says "slay THOU not..." for I will not justify the wicked.." and that is absolutely true. But He has made a way for the wicked to repent, have a change of heart, and thus be righteous - no longer "the wicked."

It is ironic to behold -- Christianity claims that Yahshua [Yahshua] was the most righteous and innocent person to ever live -- BUT they claim he had to be killed in order to JUSTIFY THE WICKED!!!  In exact opposition to THE LAW FOUND IN EXODUS  23:7!!!”

[No, again. Not to justify the wicked in their wickedness, but to justify the "ex-wicked" after they have repented.

There is no provision in the Law for forgiveness of a "capital sin" such as murder or adultery. All the sacrifices in the Old Testament were for accidental or unintentional sins. The others were stoned to death - or at least were supposed to be. But back then, like now, justice was not carried out by men.

So, a way was made for mankind to be forgiven - ONLY through the Messiah's blood. "Without shedding of blood there is no remission," (Heb 9.22).]

Therefore, I ask, just who needs to turn back before it is too late??? I say it is Christianity and those who hold and teach their law breaking doctrines.”

[At least we agree that nominal Christians are law-breakers. However, they cannot "turn back," since they have never been headed in the right direction to begin with.]

Frank, I respectfully ask you to print my response in your newsletter, thank you.”

Richard H. Francis Jr.
Holt, MI 48842

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