Make the Way Straight

As I have grown (and continue to grow) in the favor and knowledge of the Rabbi Yahvshua the Mashiyach (2 Kepha 3:18), I want to explain how I understand YaHVeH`s favor on us through HIS Ben Yahvshua. I believe it is important for us, the body of Yahvshua to understand this crucial attribute of YaHVeH`s love toward us (Romans 5:8).

I feel I need to explain this because I am attacked some times by Christian with this phrase “we are under grace” (except “grace” is the English transliteration of a Greco-Roman idol), and I couldn’t agree more. But my understanding of YaHVeH`s favor and Christianities (Rev. 13:11) understanding in “many” (Mat. 24:5) cases are two different doctrines.

I will start by saying yes, I agree a basic understanding, belief and knowledge of Yahvshua the Mashiyach can and will save someone (Yahvchanan/Yahn/Yohn 6:37). If YaHVeH is drawing a person to HIS Ben (Yahvchanan/Yahn 6:44), the person begins to recognize that he or she has sinned (Shemoth/Exodus 20; 1Melekiym/Kings 8:9; 1 Yahn 3:4) against YaHVeH and that they are sinners (Acts 2:38). This simple belief we all have when we first are called. We have no real understanding or knowledge of the Message of Yahvshua the Mashiyach. We just know that His blood covers our sins and we believe that, and we continue to believe that as we grow. I think we can find this example when Yahvshua was dying on the tree/stake/pole. The criminal that was hung beside Yahvshua as far as I know had no knowledge of salvation but his simple belief in the Messi`Yah and who He is. The man had no chance or opportunity to be immersed under water, yet Yahvshua said he is saved:

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Luke 23:39: and one of the male factors, which were hanged railed on Him, saying, if You be Mashiyach, save Yourself and us.

40. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, do not you fear Elohiym, seeing you are in the same judgment?

41.  And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this Man/Iysh has done nothing amiss.

42.  And he said to Yahvshua, Rabbi, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.

43.  And Yahvshua said to him, Truly I say to you, Today you shall be with Me in paradise.

I want you to notice in verse 41 something that this criminal first recognized about him-self, he recognized that he was a sinner and deserved what he was getting. Then in verse 42 the criminal confesses who Yahvshua is. You see, nothing to it, it was a simple belief. The man had no time to walk on this earth as a light (Mat. 5:14 – 16) because his life was ending soon, but his example of simple belief lives on in the witness of the scriptures. Yes, this man was saved off of simple milk because he had no time to receive meat (Iybriyiym/Hebrews 5:12 –13). Another example I believe we can find of YaHVeH`s favor on us when we are at this growth level is found in Mattith`Yahu/Matthew chapter 20, 24 and 25. I think there are a couple of ways we can look at the parable in chapter 25:

Let’s look at these Parables:

Mattith`Yah: 20:1: For the kingdom of Shamayim is comparable to a Man that is a householder, which went out early in the morning to hire laborers into His vineyard.

Mattith`Yah: 20:2:  And when He had agreed with the laborers for a penny a day, He sent them into His vineyard.

3.  And He went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,

4.  And said to them; go all of you also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.

5.  Again He went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.

6.  And about the eleventh hour He went out, and found others standing idle, and said to them, why stand you all here all the day idle?

7. They say to Him, because no man has hired us. He said to them, Go all of you also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall you all receive.

8. So when even was come, the Rab of the vineyard said to His steward, call the laborers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last to the first.

9. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.

10. But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.

11. And when they had received it, they murmured against the righteous man of the house,

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12. Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and You have made them equal to us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.

13. But He answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do you no wrong: did not you agree with Me for a penny?

14. Take what is yours, and go your way: I will give to this last, even as to you.

15. Is it not lawful/Torah for Me to do what I will with My Own? Is your eye evil, because I am right?

16. So the last shall be first and the first last: for many are called, but few chosen.

First example:

1. The stages or time frame of foretelling/nebuah being fulfilled. When Yahvshua first came in the flesh (Mattith`Yah 20:1-2, 8, 12).

2. The middle time frame (Mattith`Yah 20:3 – 5, 10 – 12).

3. The time frame of when the hour is near for His return (Mattith`Yah 20: 6 –7, 8, 9).

Second example:

1. The state we are in when we are first called (Mattith`Yah 20: 6 –7, 8, 12).

2. The state we are in when our knowledge increases of Yahvshua and His message (Mattith`Yah 20:3 – 5, 10 – 12).

3. The state (fruit) we are in when He returns (Mattith`Yah 20:1-2, 8, 9).

I trust I was able to convey my point by this example. YaHVeH`s favor is always on us if we continue in our walk with Yahvshua the Mashiyach (Romans 2:7; Galatians 6:9). Yahvshua does have certain expectations on us as we grow in the favor and knowledge of Him (Mattith'Yah/Matthew 24: 42 – 51). This understanding is made even clearer in the parable found in Mattith`Yah chapter 25. YaHVeH knows our abilities, intelligence level and material resources, with that HE has given us all some type of gift (talent) to use for HIS splendor, and HE expects us to us2 it. I really didn’t understand what gift YaHVeH has given me until about seventeen years ago (as of the time of this update).

Let’s look at that parable found in Mattith`Yah 25 concerning the talents that YaHVeH has issued:

Mattith`Yah/Matthew: 25:14: For the kingdom of Shamayim is as a Man traveling into a far country, who called His own servants, and delivered to them His possessions.

15. And to one He gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took His journey.

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16. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.

17. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained another two.

18. But he that had received one went and dug into the earth, and hid his Rab's money.

19. After a long time the Rab of those servants returned, and reckoned with them.

20.  And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Rabbi, You delivered to me five talents: observe, I have gained beside them five talents more.

21. His Rab said to him, Well done, you righteous and trustworthy servant: you have been trustworthy over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: enter you into the joy of your Rab.

22. He also that had received two talents came and said, Rabbi, You delivered to me two talents: observe, I have gained two other talents beside them.

Mattith`Yah: 25:23: His Rab said to him, Well done, righteous and trustworthy servant; you have been trustworthy over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: enter you into the joy of your Rab.

24. Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Rabbi, I knew You that You are a hard Man, reaping where You have not sown, and gathering where You have not planted:

25. And I was afraid, and went and hid Your talent in the earth: look, here You have what is Yours.

Mattith`Yah: 25:26:  His Rab answered and said to him, you wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I sowed not, and gathered where I have not planted:

27.  You ought therefore to have put My money to the exchangers, and then at My coming I should have received My Own with usury/interest.

28. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it to him, which has ten talents.

29. Because to every one that has shall be given and he shall have abundance: but from him that has not shall be taken away even that which he has.

30. And cast you the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

31. When the Ben of Adam shall come in His splendor, and all the Kodesh malakiym with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His splendor:

32. And before Him shall be gathered all nations: and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides His sheep from the goats:

33. And He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.

34. Then shall the Melek say to them on His right hand, Come, all of you baruk of My FATHER, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

35. For I was hungry, and you all gave Me food: I was thirsty, and you all gave Me drink: I was a stranger, and you all took Me in:

36. Naked, and you all clothed Me: I was sick, and you all visited Me: I was in prison, and you all came to Me.

37. Then shall the righteous answer Him, saying, Rabbi, when did we see You hungry, and fed You? Or thirsty, and gave You drink?

38. When did we see you a stranger, and took You in? Or naked, and clothed You?

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39. Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and came to You?

40. And the Melek shall answer and say to them, Truly I say to you, Inasmuch as you all have done it to one of the least of these My brethren, you all have done it to Me.

41. Then shall He say also to them on the left hand, Depart from Me, all of you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

42. For I was hungry and you all gave Me no food: I was thirsty, and you all gave Me no drink:

43. I was a stranger, and you all took Me not in: naked, and you all clothed Me not: sick, and in prison, and you all visited Me not.

44. Then shall they also answer Him, saying, "Lord", when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to You?

45. Then shall He answer them, saying, Truly I say to you, Inasmuch as you all did it not to one of the least of these, you all did it not to Me.

46. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Do you see? YaHVeH`s favor is on us, but so is HIS expectation for us to produce fruit in our lives. We cannot say once saved always saved. The scriptures do not teach this. We as believers cannot live a life contrary to that Law/Torah placed INSIDE the Ark through belief in Yahvshua (1 Cor. 6:9-10). YaHVeH`s favor is on us if we believe in Yahvshua to live a life in accordance to that Law/Torah placed INSIDE the Ark (Shemoth/Exodus 20; 31:18; 1 Melekiym 8:9; Rev. 11:19; 12:17; 14:12). “Many” (Mat. 24:5) today still want to use YaHVeH`s favor to justify their continuing in sin. This not to say that we will not struggle with sin in our lives. Especially old bad habits we learned when we were young, sins that easily beset us because of our fleshy weaknesses (Iybriyiym/Heb. 12:1). The book of Yahudah warns us about turning YaHVeH`s favor into license to sin:

Yahudah/Jude 1:4: For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this judgment, wicked /unrighteous men, turning the favor  of our Elohiym into lasciviousness, and denying the only EL YaHVeH, and our Rabbi Yahvshua Mashiyach.

I have and continue to see YaHVeH`s favor on me. I am a sinner (Romans 3:23), but now that I believe in Yahvshua the Messi`Yah and have repented from sin, I don’t set my heart on sinning. That means I don’t deliberately set out to sin (Shemoth/Exodus 20) as I did before I was called. Before I was called I would make it a point in my life to sin (1 Yahn 3:4), I DIDN’T CARE (Romans 8:7; Galatians 5:19 – 21)! No, and I don’t go around boasting of how well I keep the Law/Torah either (Shemoth 20; Romans 3:20, 24, 28), it would be foolish to do so (Galatians 6:1). But I do boast in Yahvshua (Yirmi'Yah/Jer. 3:6; Romans 3:22) now that YaHVeH through HIS Ben has written that Torah (Shemoth 20; 1 Melekiym 8:9) on my heart (Yirmi'Yah 31:33; Iybriyiym 8:10).

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