Read An E-mail: "THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE"
From Sebomenoi
Psalm 119:142 "Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And Your TORAH IS TRUTH."
[Dear Christian reader:
When reading this e-mail, please keep in mind that this is not an attempt to convince Christians or any other person who is not Jewish to become a Jew. I posted this e-mail in order that this relative of mine and others may better understand why the nation of Israel has not received Christianity or "Messiah Jesu's." If you want to say that it is just a veil covering the 'eyes' of our heart, you are free to think so; You may be interested to read a short article on the 'Veil Issue,' concerning Isaiah 25:6-8, if you are prone to think this way. Read with objectiveness. All the best.]
Thank you very very much for this e-mail **** . Even if you find it odd, I really do appreciate it. It shows you love me :) I love you too. I know exactly how you feel, and I understand your worry. If I thought someone in my family is going into great error and making a big mistake, I would worry also. [And I do feel this way. The way you feel toward me, worrying about me because you believe I am deceived and following a path of error, I feel the same way concerning most of our family members as well.. only I'm on the other side, heh. I do NOT, however, think that a person must become a Jew to have eternal life.] I don't know if you realize it, but I intended on becoming a pastor/preacher most of my teenage life in Louisiana. I'm already familiar with practically every verse you posted in this e-mail. You have given me no surprise. Nonetheless, it's good to review things. And if we both desire truth, then eventually both of us will be lead to the same destination - depending on the effort we put into following truth. As it says in Psalm 145 "The desire of those who fear Him, He will do, and their cry He will hear." I fear the Almighty, who created all things and gave Israel the Torah (law of Moses). I also desire truth. Therefore, according to Psalms, if I truly fear Him, truth will be granted to me. The same principle holds correct for all individuals, you and me the same - assuming we fear the same ONE.
"--Remember Gally, when you where here last, we had a conversation about Jesus? You made several points to me that Jesus was not Christ, well perhaps you'll be surprised when you see how many old testament prophecies (or Messianic Prophecies) that God fulfilled. For example:--"
We can discuss any of these prophecies that you want to discuss. If you want to do that, then we have to discuss them one at a time. Certainly you know that it's impossible to properly discuss so many passages all at once. I can, however, answer them all in short, although as of now I don't know whether this reply will mean much to you. Here is a short reply to them all, among a couple of possible short replies:
Anyone who comes along and claims to believe that the 'Old Testament' is the Word of G-d, but at the same time believes that the 'Old Testament' is no longer applicable or valid, implies that the Almighty and His Torah are lying in the numerous places where He commands His commandments as a command in all ages - forever. Check out this following page on my website to see some of these verses: http://sagavyah.tripod.com/id9.html
In addition to this, ANYONE who teaches that any of these commands are abolished and are no longer to be fulfilled in obedience to the commands fulfills Deuteronomy 13:5 "But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams must be put to death, because he has instructed rebellion against the L-RD your G-d.....seducing you from the way in which the L-RD your G-d commanded you to walk. So you shall purge the wickedness from among you."
When this verse says 'the way in which the L-rd' commanded them to walk, it is referring to the Law of Moses, the Torah, as it plainly continues on to say:
"...heed the voice of the L-RD your G-d, by keeping all His commandments which I am commanding you today, and doing what is right in the sight of the L-RD your G-d." - Deuteronomy 13:18
"...the hidden things belong to the L-RD our G-d, but that which is revealed belongs to us and our sons forever to do ALL the words of this Torah." - Deuteronomy 29:29
In addition to this, it does not matter if this individual does signs, wonders, and miracles to 'prove' that he is teaching the truth (Deuteronomy 13:1). Jes'us, or anyone else, can do millions of amazing miracles to 'prove' that he is the messiah, and fulfill all the prophecies concerning the messiah in the Tanakh ['old testament'] -- but still not be the messiah - if he teaches that even just one of the laws in the Torah (law of Moses) are no longer valid.
As should be clear from Deuteronomy 13, a person can do signs and wonders and still be a false prophet. The first few verses in Deuteronomy 13 say:
1 "If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, 2 and the sign or the wonder COMES TRUE, concerning which he spoke to you, saying, 'Let us follow after other gods which you have not known, and let us serve them,' 3 YOU SHALL NOT LISTEN TO THE WORDS OF THAT PROPHET or that dreamer of dreams; for the L-RD your G-d is testing you to find out if you love the L-RD your G-d with all your heart and with all your soul. 4"You shall follow the L-RD your G-d and fear Him; and you shall keep His commandments, listen to His voice, serve Him, and cling to Him."
Now, notice verse 2. It says 'let us follow after gods which you have not known, and let us serve them.' The people of Israel know the G-d of Israel who commanded us "..forever to do ALL the words of this Torah (Law of Moses)." - Deuteronomy 29:29; Psalm 105 verse 10 connected to verse 45 by the context of the chapter says "Then He confirmed it to Jacob as a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant, ...In order that they shall keep His statutes and observe His laws, Praise the L-RD!"
This means that any 'god' who nullifies/abolishes the covenant given to Israel as an everlasting covenant, which includes Israel's obligation to keep the commandments upon which that covenant is contingent, is a FALSE GOD. Such a 'god' who nullifies and abolishes even one of the commands in the law of Moses is not the same G-d who commanded Israel to do all the words of the Law of Moses forever (Deuteronomy 29:29; 4:2). A 'god' who changes the Law of Moses is included in 'OTHER GODS which you have not known.' If a person wants to disagree with this then he must conclude that G-d lied when He told Israel to keep the commands forever, in all their generations. A G-d that lies cannot be trusted, and in fact is not G-d at all. "G-d is not a man that He should lie, nor a son of man that He should relent.." - Numbers 23:19
Deuteronomy 4:2 "Do not add to what I command you and do not take away from it, but keep the commands of the L-RD your G-d that I give you."
"--[list of verses Christians consider 'fulfilled prophecies']
John 1 proves that the Word (Jesus) is God, please study it very carefully! I have no intentions to hurt your feelings. I only want you to know the truth.--"
I appreciate all the time put into this. Again, if you want to focus on any one of these verses specifically, let me know. Basically the reply I wrote in the beginning of this e-mail pretty much covers everything. You must realize, additionally, that Christian books do not work as proof to people who do not accept the Christian books as true. Verses in the Christian Bible only work as proof for people who already believe in the Christian Bible. It works in arguments between different Christian groups which accept the same books. We must discuss these issues using books which we both agree are true and authoritative. I don't mind discussing passages in the Christian books (the 'new testament') however, when I discuss them I discuss it purely from a theoretical perspective.
As to whether or not Jes'us, or any other physical thing is G-d:
"Really, would G-d dwell on earth with man? Behold, the heavens and the heaven of heavens can not contain You; Certainly not this House that I have built." - II Chronicles 6:18 >> ^[Since He created both time and space, He can not be contained in time and space. All physical things, including Jes'us, existed within time and space]
"I will not carry out My wrath, I will not recant and destroy Ephraim, for I am G-d and NOT A MAN, the Holy One in your midst; I will NOT enter a city." - Hosea 11:9 >> ^[G-d is not a man. Although we can speak of G-d being 'in a place,' it is not in a physical sense. G-d will not enter a city. Certainly we will not argue whether Jes'us ever entered Jerusalem.]
"For I am the ALL-TRANSCENDENT, and I do not change; Therefore you, sons of Jacob, you have not been destroyed." - Malachi 3:6 ^[G-d does not change. This is logical. If G-d created time and space, then He will not change, because change only occurs within time and space, and He is not contained in time or space, as II Chronicles 6:18 says. This also means that if G-d was not a man in Hosea 11:9 and Numbers 23:19, then G-d was not a man 1,950 years ago, nor today, nor will He ever become a man.]
Although the majority of things in the Bible are symbolic as well as literal, sometimes statements are made in the Bible that are not literally at all, but completely symbolic and metaphoric. Such statements are meant to hint or teach deep concepts. Such is the case whenever G-d is referred to as having wings and feathers in Psalms, or when He is called a Rock. The same is true whenever He is referred to as having an outstretched arm. The same is true when He is said to have a body, as Hosea 12:10 states, "I also spoke to the prophets, and I gave numerous visions, and through the prophets I gave metaphors."
You can see more on my website:
http://sagavyah.tripod.com/id11.html http://sagavyah.tripod.com/id8.html
"--Tenakh/Hebrew/Old Testament Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus Christ, Messiah
ALL of these prophesies were made hundreds, sometimes thousands, of years before Jesus Christ was born. Looking in the face of how He literally fulfilled them all (plus hundreds more), it is an impossibility that He is not Messiah, Saviour of the world. The ONLY person...past, present or future...who could fulfill all these prophecies is Jesus Christ. See His genealogy starting from faithful Abraham. --"
It's only so "clear that Jes'us is Messiah" when someone is unaware of certain fundamental principles of the Torah (Law of Moses). It also helps to be thoroughly convinced that Jes'us is Messiah if you don't know Hebrew. Again, as stated earlier: You cannot use the books that I do not believe in, in order to prove things to me. In order to talk to a Jew, we must learn from the Tanakh ('old testament') that a person is OBLIGATED to believe that such and such person is Messiah/Christ in order to have eternal life.. and that if he doesn't recognize that such and such person is Messiah, that he will not have eternal life. I have to be able to learn this from the Torah (Law of Moses), since these books are the books that you and I both agree on. Even Jes'us relied on statements from the Torah for authority. He didn't quote the 'new testament.'
"--If you have questions about Jesus Christ, the Jewish Messiah prophesied in the Tenakh, please write Daniel Sims, a missionary to the Jewish people or visit his website, The Hope of Israel Baptist Mission. Their mailing address is The Hope Of Israel Baptist Mission, P.O. Box ***.
You may also contact "The Everlasting Nation," (a.k.a. International Board of Jewish Missions.) P.O. Box ****. [another list of verses Christians consider 'fulfilled prophecies']--"
If suddenly all Jews would become Christians, then within 4 or 5 generations Jews would no longer exist. They would have mixed into the different nations of the world and the eternal nation would have come to an end. Thankfully this will never happen. This is, however, what happens to every Jewish family that has converted to Christianity and stopped upholding the Torah as the commands that they must follow forever, in all generations. (Deuteronomy 29:29)
How do I know that the people of Israel as a distinct nation - particularly set apart by G-d for a special purpose - will never come to an end?
2 Samuel 7:23 "And what one nation on the earth is comparable to Your people Israel,.... 24 For You have established for Yourself Your people Israel as Your own people forever, and You, O L-RD, have to them become G-d."
"'--WOW; God’s word is amazing! Besides all this, concerning meat, the word of God says {****You are assuming the 'New Testament' is the word of G-d; I am not convinced of this. In fact, I find it quite contrary to the Word of G-d. Isaiah 8:20 says, "To the Torah, even to the testimony! For if they do not speak in accordance with this Word, there is NO LIGHT of dawn in them."***} And you , being dead in your trespasses and sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a holy day, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come, but the body is of Christ. -Galatians 2:13-17 Some of the rules of the old law were only to be observed for a season. When Jesus died for our sins, He took some of the ordinances out of the way. I am not telling you that you must eat pork. I am saying that it is not a sin for men to eat pork, or any other meat. Jesus also said… Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Matthew 6:25 --"And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? Mark 7: 18 and 19 ( So in other words, it's okay to eat whatever you want. )--"
{****You are assuming the 'New Testament' is the word of G-d; I am not convinced of this. In fact, I find it quite contrary to the Word of G-d. Isaiah 8:20 says, "To the Torah, even to the testimony! For if they do not speak in accordance with this Word, there is NO LIGHT of dawn in them."***} These are all wonderful examples of how Christianity teaches that the Torah (law of Moses) can be added to and taken away from -- exactly what Jews are warned not to do: "Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the L-RD your G-d that I give you." - Deuteronomy 4:2; If all these 'new testament' verses you've written here are true, then this implies that G-d lied when He commanded to the Jews "..forever to do ALL the words of this Torah (Law of Moses)." - Deuteronomy 29:29; As explained above, the G-d of Israel, who is the Creator of the universe, would never teach such things. Teachings like these are the very reason why Jews consider Christianity unacceptable. This is exactly what Deuteronomy 13 warns us against.
"-- Jesus said this as well… 1Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, 2Saying The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: 3All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. 4For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. 5But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, 6And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, 7And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. 8But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. 9And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. 10Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. -Matthew 23:1-10 ---"
Now this is a very interesting chapter. Let me ask you, do you do "whatever they tell you to observe?" This chapter speaks of hypocrisy. It starts off saying that since the Pharisees sit in Moses seat (Moses' seat is the real supreme court of Biblical Israel established under Moses. See Deuteronomy 17:8-13. This court is to explain to us how to carry out the commands of the Torah). Then it tells us in verse 2 that we should do whatever they tell us to do, only that we shouldn't follow their hypocrisy. I must tell you that there was a very important historical situation that took place at that time between the students of a man named Hillel and the students of a man named Shammi. Many of the issues discussed by Jes'us in the gospels are connected to this. The original writers of his statements assumed the readers knew about this historical situation. The original writers probably wrote more about the situation than what exists today in the gospels.
Concerning verses 8-10: Do you call your dad 'Dad, Father, Daddy, Pappa,' or anything like this? Do you call older people 'Sir?' If you study dictionaries you'll find that Sir and Lord mean the same thing. Father, Daddy, etc.. are all synonyms, and also change depending on what language a person speaks. In the translation you used Jes'us says not to call any man your father. Does this exclude Abba or Av? I assure you that most of the Jews in Jes'us time called their Fathers Abba or Av, and not father. Certainly Jes'us was teaching something deeper than what most Christians understand from these passages. I don't think he was an idiot. One last note on this: How many people take note of verse 23 in this same chapter (Matthew 23)? It says, "Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the Law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; and these are the things which you should have done WITHOUT NEGLECTING THE OTHERS." It seems to me that he intended to point out to this particular group of scribes and Pharisees their hypocrisy; It appears that he wanted them to repent from this hypocrisy "WITHOUT neglecting the" other matters of the Law. Interesting.
"-- I also advise you to study Daniel 7, Psalm22, Isaiah 53, and Zechariah 13. Don’t just read God’s word, study all of it, and believe all of it! 4But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4).--"
Matthew 4:4 is merely quoting Deuteronomy 8:3, but let's start at verse Deuteronomy 8:2, "Remember how the L-RD your G-d led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, WHETHER OR NOT YOU WOULD KEEP HIS COMMANDS 3 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the L-RD." A Jew would understand the context of Deuteronomy 8:3 in which the verse refers to 'every word that comes from the mouth of the L-RD' to be referring to the word of G-d that was expressed to them via Moses. A Jew would find it out of context to apply this verse to the books of Christianity (the 'new testament.')
"--Jesus Christ died for our sins, and he was buried, and he rose from the dead, even physically. Trust Him now. Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understaning. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. -Proverbs 3:5-7--"
The Torah (Law of Moses) never lies down as a requirement for eternal life that one much trust in a man who taught things contrary to the Torah (Law of Moses.) The opposite is true. Proverbs says trust in the L-RD, not in a man; And the L-RD is not a man, nor will He ever be, because He does not change. [Hosea 11:9; Malachi 3:6]. This verse from Proverbs says depart from evil; The Tanakh (old testament) teaches that evilness is to live contrary to the Torah. Righteousness is to live according to the Torah. Why? Because the Torah is the Will of G-d, His instruction to Israel on how to live.
Psalm 19:7 "The Torah of the L-RD is whole (the word here means whole, perfect, complete), reviving the soul. The statutes of the L-RD are trustworthy, making wise the simple."
"---Your Cousin
- *****
P.S. Then sais Jesus unto those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. -John 8: 31 and 32--"
The Tanakh, [which Jes'us assumed his followers accepted as authoritative] says in Psalm 119:142 "Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And Your TORAH IS TRUTH."
Love you very much **** *****. Be well. Your cousin,
Yosef / Gally
P.S.
Indeed, indeed, the truth will set you [us] free. But what is truth? According to the Tanakh ['old testament'] in Psalm 119:142, the Truth is the Torah [Law of Moses]. The Torah [Law of Moses] is G-d's divinely revealed instruction given to Israel at Mt. Sinai. The Torah (G-d's REAL Word) will set you free, for it is Truth. See further Daniel 9:13. Regardless of our current disagreements, may we all continue to strive for truth - to understand what it is, and to apply it to our lives as our eyes are opened to it.
As far as salvation is concerned: "The L-RD redeems his servants; none will be condemned who take refuge in Him." - Psalm 34:22
