Come to Understanding

They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding,

and they that murmured shall learn doctrine. — Isaiah 29:24

So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense,

and caused them to understand the reading. — Nehemiah 8:8

May 1, 2007

Volume 6 Number 9

Oh Good and Righteous Man that I Am!

Someone ran up to Yahshua (Jesus) and asked Him what he must do to inherit eternal life:

17 And when he had gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? -Mark 10

He responded, saying that only God is good:

18 And Yahshua said to him, Why call you me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. -Mark 10

Others asked Yahshua how they could work the works of God? How could they also perform miracles as He did?

28 Then said they to him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?

They wanted to do something, but He told them that to believe on Him is the work of God:

29 Yahshua answered and said to them, This is the work of God, that you believe on him whom he has sent. -John 6

Like these examples, we want to do something so that we can be good enough to inherit eternal life and to perform miraculous works.

Before we do anything for God, we must first believe Him. He wants us to believe His promises and know that they are always true. God gave them in His Word, established them in the Messiah, and sealed them with the collateral of His Spirit:

20 For all the promises of God in him are yes, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

21 Now he which establishes us with you in the Messiah, and has anointed us, is God;

22 Who has also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. -2 Corinthians 1

Unlike people, God is always right. If we always agree with Him, we will always agree with each other. Disagreements occur when we either ignore God’s Word, do not understand it, take it out of context, take something away from it, or add something to it. Therefore, we are reminded to carefully study the Word of Truth:

15 Study to show yourself approved to God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. -2 Timothy 2

Because God is true, His spirit is true. Yahshua says:

26 But when the Comforter has come, whom I will send to you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceeds from the Father, he shall testify of me:

27 And you also shall bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning. –John 15

The Comforter is the Spirit of Truth, which is the Spirit of God. He comes from the Father and testifies of Yahshua.

Yahshua is the Word of God:

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God. -John 1

The Word of God is also truth, through which we are sanctified:

17 Sanctify them through your truth: your word is truth.

18 As you have sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. -John 17

It is, however, tempting for us to try to sanctify ourselves by proclaiming our own righteousness through our works or by our appearance, rather than by the Word of God.

If the Spirit of Truth dwells in us, then we will not boast of our own righteousness. That is because the Spirit of Truth does not even speak of Himself. Instead, as Yahshua explains, He guides us into the truth, which is the Word of God, and glorifies Yahshua:

13 However, when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.

14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it to you. –John 16

What spirit is it that would try to proclaim its own righteousness or the righteousness of someone or something else rather than glorifying Yahshua? John cautions us:

1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

2 Hereby know you the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Yahshua the Messiah has come in the flesh is of God:

3 And every spirit that confesses not that Yahshua the Messiah has come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof you have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. -1 John 4

The Spirit of Truth guides us into the truth, which is the Word, which is Yahshua:

6 Yahshua said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by me. –John 14

Yahshua says that it is the truth that makes us free:

32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. –John 8

If we or someone else has a spirit that wants to put us back into the bondage of trying to attain goodness or righteousness by our works or our appearance, can it then be the Spirit of Truth?

Paul warned the Galatians about those who wanted to put them back into the bondage of performing the outward customs of the Jews:

4 And that because of false brethren secretly brought in, who came in privately to spy out our liberty which we have in the Messiah Yahshua, that they might bring us into bondage: -Galatians 2

Like the Jews who tried to compel others to adhere to their customs, it is tempting for us to do the same to others. Yahshua, however, says:

24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. –John 7

Paul speaks of this judgment that we try to put upon others. Should we convict others by our own convictions?

3 Let not him that eats despise him that eats not; and let not him which eats not judge him that eats: for God has received him.

4 Who are you that judges another man’s servant? to his own master he stands or falls. Yes, he shall be held up: for God is able to make him stand.

5 One man esteems one day above another: another esteems every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. –Romans 14

As the scribes and the Pharisees tried to force Yahshua and his disciples to keep their traditions, Yahshua replied that they had put their traditions above the Word of God:

6 He answered and said unto them, Well has Isaiah prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

7 However in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

8 For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things you do.

9 And he said unto them, Full well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your own tradition. –Mark 7

Paul asked the Galatians some very pointed questions, as they struggled over whether they needed to add the works of the law to their faith as a condition for their salvation:

1 O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Yahshua the Messiah has been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

2 This only would I learn of you, Received you the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

3 Are you so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are you now made perfect by the flesh?

4 Have you suffered so many things in vain? if it is yet in vain.

5 He therefore that ministers to you the Spirit, and works miracles among you, does he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? –Galatians 3

Was Yahshua’s death on the cross sufficient payment for our sins? Unless we believe that it is, then we try to add further conditions to earn our salvation. Fearing that we can never be good enough, we come into bondage as we try to attain righteousness. Paul told the Galatians:

1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty with which the Messiah has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. –Galatians 5

A great burden is lifted off our shoulders when we finally realize that we cannot make ourselves good enough or righteous enough for God. We then must trust the Word of God and believe that Yahweh is our righteousness and that our salvation is through Yahshua the Messiah:

5 Behold, the days come, says Yahweh, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.

6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, YAHWEH OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. –Jeremiah 23

 

 

 

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