Everlasting Security (Part One & Part Two)

[Rebbe]

Fundamentals 104: Everlasting Security [1]
by Les Aron Gosling, Rebbe
Copyright © BRI 1993, 2003 All Rights Reserved Worldwide

Some denominations in the Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox divisions of Churchianity claim that we cannot know if we are "saved," or in a "state of Grace." Yet the truth is simple if only we can dislodge previous doctrinal misconceptions from our theological perspectives and just believe what Our Lord Yeshua -- who proclaimed that He was Eternal Life Itself -- had to say. Read on... and strengthen your faith and love in the God who really does LOVINGLY CARE for you!

All humankind seeks, indeed genuinely desires, eternal life. This powerful urge to live forever has produced some of the great teachers, philosophers and mystics who have claimed in their own lifetimes to have been the recipients of a higher revelation from an Infinite Intelligence. This Source of Infinite Intelligence they simply called, in one form or another, God. According to all the Scriptures that were produced by these men, or by their immediate followers, God wishes to communicate with humankind. And he has attempted to do so since the dawn of recorded time. Great names as Mahavira, Prince Siddhartha Gautama, Confucius, Lao-Tze and Zoroaster have left us with these writings of an inspirational nature that are called (by the adherents of the religions which these men founded) by the term Scripture.

The Jewish people were no exception. From very early times the chosen people of God recognised that certain of their fellow men had peculiar "giftings" in relation to That which they deemed, inadequately, "God." Not only did these particular men have specific "giftings" (prophetic utterances, predictive dreams, visions, etc.,) they also (like the founders of religions in areas surrounding the nation and peoples of Israel) authored manuscripts purporting to inform the people of the Lord of his intentions of blessing (or cursing) toward them. These Jewish Scriptures are contained in the Book we Christians (and Jews) call "the Holy Bible."

Not all Christian Bibles, however, are the same.

The contents of one division of the Christian Church differ remarkably from other sections of the same church. Suffice to say at this stage the volume-contents of Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox canons differ markedly from what is considered by some Protestant scholars to be the appropriate biblical inclusions. Because many believers today are ignorant of their own Scriptures (including the "NT" revelation) and the coming of Mashiach now approaches, it appears that Infinite Intelligence and Everlasting Love (who has sought to ever communicate with humankind) is now raising up Messianic Jews all around the planet, in strategic locations, in teaching ministries to begin to RESTORE the full knowledge of the purposes of God. This present situation was predicted by the ancient prophets:

"Thus says the Master of Legions. IN THOSE DAYS [the last days just preceding the Second Advent of Our Lord Yeshua] it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all the languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the hem of the tallith [the prayer shawl] of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you [we shall be your students] for we have heard that God is with you" (Zech 8.23 Hebrew).

Again, "O Lord, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto you from the ends of the earth and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit... I will... cause them [the Gentiles] to know, I will cause them to know... that my name is the LORD [YHWH]" (Jer 16.19-21).

Gentile Christians today are striving to discover eternal verities and the ultimate answers to the age-old questions asked since the very dawn of time itself: Who am I, What am I doing here, Where am I going? Why is our universe the way it is? What is the actual explanation of our existence in this awesome complex but intimately integrated system of cosmic reality? Some would even dare to ask, Is there an ultimate explanation? Is there an Ultimate Truth?

Gentile churchianity does not have the answers. It is spiritually bankrupt, having disgorged itself completely from its Jewish-Messianic roots. Today, in the very death throes of our planet, Gentiles around the earth (disillusioned with organised, hypocritical religion) are starting to turn again to Messianic believers for the answers. Of course, the only true answers to these agonising dilemmas are to be found in "That Other" which we label inadequately as "God." Even the ancient Hymn of Creation penned by the children of Abraham, through Keturah, puts it wisely (and we can all give these utterances the due contemplation they richly deserve).

Ah, vain are words and weak all mortal thought!
Who is there truly knows, and who can say,
Whence this unfathomed world, and from what cause?
Nay, even the gods were not! Who, then, can know?
The source from which this universe hath sprung,
That source, and that alone, can bear it up -
None else: THAT, THAT alone, lord of the worlds,
In its own self contained, immaculate
As are the heavens above, THAT alone knows
The truth of what itself hath made -- none else!

The answers are finally discovered in God. And in those to whom God has revealed this Truth.

THE NATURE OF GOD

Christian theology is above all else a theology of revelation. As such our theology of revelation must look to the revealed God. The revealed God reveals Himself only in and through Yeshua the Messiah, His Logos (Mem'ra). Our Lord Yeshua is not merely a logos, not simply the logos. He is THE Logos, not separate and differentiated from the Lord God, but One with God. Mashiach is the very Memra of God (the thoughtforms of Deity and eternal Sh'khinah glory). Logos is a Greek word with the meaning of Creative Idea, Original Thought, Communicative Expression.

According to John's Gospel (Jn 1.1) Yeshua the Messiah was the embodiment of the Thoughtforms of Infinite Intelligence Itself -- the composite whole and ultimate revealed Presence of the very Nature of God's mind. John tells us that this WORD became a flesh and blood human being (anthropos -- Jn 1.14). This Creative Idea of God was sent from the far reaches of the heavenlies on a mission to reveal the One who was unknown, whom he referred to as "the Father" (Lk 10.22).

Yeshua spoke of his "Father" at least 114 times in the Gospel of John, and yet Christians today show a staggering ignorance of Him. An interesting exercise in studying what Our Lord had to say about this "Father" should be a challenging goal for all true Messianic believers. By utilising Bible aids such as Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, or similar, Yeshua's own teaching about "the Father" will increase our own perceptions of "That Other." After all, Yeshua said he came to reveal "the Father" but today the church stands in blissful ignorance concerning him. He is as unknown, if not forgotten, as He ever was.

Certainly, Our Lord Yeshua did reveal the Father. He openly revealed Him in the manifestation of His own humility, in His own acts of self-emptying and self-sacrifice. None of us can comprehend the LORD GOD, the Absolute Incomprehensible Creator. And none of us can love Him. When we talk of loving God we are only loving God as He reveals Himself, and His love toward His creatures, in and through Yeshua the Mashiach. "Herein is love," wrote the apostle John, "not that we loved God, but that he loved us" (1 Jn 4.10). This is love devoid of power, devoid of Almightiness. If we love the power of God, and the Almightiness of God, we are merely loving His attributes, not God. "God is love," continues John. And that love was manifest toward the humanity of our world "because that God sent his uniquely begotten Son into the world that we might live through him" (1 Jn 4.9).

It was God, not wielding despotic power over His creation that we loved when He sent his Son into the world. It was God emptied of His divinity, emptied of His eternality, emptied of His very limitlessness, emptied of His Omnipotence and entering into Oneness, not with Himself, but with His struggling, sinful, evil, disadvantaged, suffering creations that we loved. It was this Yeshua "who is the image of the invisible God" (Col 1.15) "the express image of his person" (Heb 1.3) and "the exact reproduction of his essence" (Heb 1.3 Wuest), that we loved and love. It is this same humble, poor and dejected carpenter of first century Judaea who had His origin in God's eternity, this same Yeshua who, for the great Rav Shaul, was "the power of God and the Wisdom of God" (1 Cor 1.24) who existed eternally "in the bosom of the Father" (Jn 1.18) and who became a corpse, for us, that we love. It is nothing less than the LORD GOD in human flesh (Jn 1.14) with whom we can identify, and so love. It is Messiah crucified that we love. It is Messiah in His Passion, in His grotesque rejection, that we love. It is Messiah in trauma that we love -- Messiah, the very Thoughtform of God. And it is this same express image of the Creator from whom we hide our face, because we do not want to enter His sufferings and His trauma. He invites us to take up our cross and to follow Him. But we ignore His beckoning to us. For, we are afraid our inauthentic love, our rampant hypocrisy, will be exposed.

We are therefore told that our hostile natures must be conformed to the divine nature (2 Pet 1.4). Our human minds must be renewed by Messiah's Spirit (Eph 4.23). We must have the very mind of Mashiach indwelling us (Phil 2.5). We must be ultimately changed in bodily composition from transitory flesh, to glorious spirit (1 Cor 15.42-44,49,53). And this takes suffering, this takes severe trial and tribulation, this takes pain, this takes trauma (Acts 14.22; Rom 5.3; 8.17; 1 Thes 3.4; 2 Tim 2.12). This takes an awful evil unleashed upon us, sometimes in its full fury. As Christians we are not called by Messiah, the Suffering Servant, to a life of sweet melody and the luxury of comfort. We are called to trauma. We are called to the cross (Mt 16.24,25). We are expected to be crucified in order to live at peace with God -- indeed, to even enter that peace. In other words, such a lifestyle develops the very nature and the character of GOD in human flesh. Our Lord Yeshua as the Archetypal Man -- the original Ad'am Kad'mon -- constellates itself from time to time as anthropos. This was the undeniable teaching of the "primitive" Messianic Movement which was centred in a Yeshua who lived His life over and over again in other human beings (1 Jn 4.2,3 "has come" in the text is better translated as "coming" in the present tense).

When our businesses fail, and our health recedes, and our children are taken from us, unexpectedly and at an early age, and horror strikes us at various levels beyond our control it may be that God as TRAUMA is entering our habitation, and that His call to us is exacting, without a shred of repentance. Pentecostalism (and many other denominational "tags" and "isms") hate this side of the Gospel! But it is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. When overwhelmed in pain, we ought to stand with righteous Job, not defiantly but in faith, knowing that the LORD has sovereignly decreed this moment for us, and that with us He enters the same pain. Rather than seek to always throw off the harassment, we should open ourselves to it, in an attitude of complete resignation, letting God have His Work perfected in us. This is not a call to overthrow the completed Work of Messiah. It is merely our recognition that God desires us to exemplify the character-pattern Image of His first-born Son. For we must bear the Image of the Heavenly Man, the Ad'am Kad'mon (1 Cor 15.49). To absorb trauma, rather than to always flee from it, to bow our head to all that we have suffered in life, is the primary stress of biblical teaching (James 1.2-4).

When GOD as trauma enters our life we are experiencing the nature of Nature Itself. Many seek to be saved from such overwhelming emotional trauma, rather than to positively enter the negative. Yes, we need to go through our dark tunnel and out into the light at the other end. Many of us have accepted a false message of salvation -- a message based, not on Scripture, but on a theology of a rapture (sheer escapism). Whatever the case, we may question our plight, like Job before us, and to do so is quite acceptable in the sight of God. And he will answer us. It would appear, however, that many Christians may need salvation from the very concept of salvation itself.

CREATION THROUGH TRAUMA

Creation through trauma. I have written extensively on this in another lecture. Be this as it may, I feel the need to go through the principles of the biblical revelation (concerning our choice in Grace) yet once more. The plan, intent and purpose of God is to create a race of beings transformed from this fallen, sinful existence (with all its mortality, barriers, restraints and limitations) into the perfect character-Image of Our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, the Heavenly Man (1 Jn 3.1-3).

There was a time in the life of Rav Shaul when he addressed learned, eloquent philosophers in the highest court of Athens, the Areopagus (Mars Hill) (Acts 17.22-29). The ancient Greeks worshiped many gods and goddesses. Their character was a testimony against them. The younger race of gods who controlled Mt Olympus had risen up against the older race of gods and had murdered them all. One god had remained. They knew him as the "Creator." But they had forgotten who he was. They simply referred to him as "The Unknown God." [As most of us realise, exponents of the prosperity gospel only emphasise certain exciting characteristics of the Nature of God. However, we -- of all people -- must come to terms with God as the nature of Nature Itself.]

But in this dissertation Paul tells us that God made the ordered universe (Acts 17.24). This word made is an interesting one. It is a Greek word pronounced something like poi-a-yah that is related to a Hebrew word that in turn is used often in a linked sense with the trauma of childbirth, or in a similarly traumatic activity that brings forth or ushers in a profound and beneficial result. So God creates traumatically. And then Paul says "IN him [God] we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17.28). He is addressing pagans, and he says "we." Both pagans and Christians "live and move and have our being IN him." Further, Paul quotes from Gentile poets to establish the authenticity of his case, "for we are also his offspring." He is quoting Aratus of Cilicia. This line also occurs in the beautiful Hymn of Cleanthes to Jove. Thus Paul has in mind both poets. Note the plural "poets" in verse 28. [We at BRI ask forgiveness for labouring the point but we do so in view of criticism that shall no doubt arise concerning our use of a Hindu creation hymn at the outset of this Exposition!] "We are also his offspring." In other words we humans will of necessity reflect in our experiences the nature of the God in whom the entire creation dwells.

ALL CREATION DWELLS IN MESSIAH

To properly understand our role in God's redemption in Messiah, we must first apprehend God's creation in Messiah. For, as Job rightly considered so many thousands of years ago, the Lord "will have a desire to the WORK of [his] hands" (Job 14.15). And, as Paul articulated, "We are God's workmanship, created in Messiah Yeshua unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them" (Eph 2.10). It is repeated for emphasis by Paul that "ALL things are of God" (Rom 11.36; 1 Cor 8.6; 2 Cor 5.18; Eph 1.11). All creation originates and exists in Yeshua (Jn 1.3,10). This is ever and always what Catholic teaching has sought to explain and the rebel Hans Kung takes pains to emphasise the orthodoxy and complete Catholicity of this truth. He writes, "It is impossible to overstate the importance of this ["all"]... the world of angels, men and matter, in its being and in its history, the original just man and the sinful man, the justified man and the beatified man -- absolutely everything has its continued existence in him... Even the damned sinner will have a continued existence in Jesus Christ" (Hans Kung, Justification, [1957], 1964, 136,137,159).

Everything, in Messiah. Creation ("in him all things were created" - Col 1.16); preservation in existence ("in him all things hold together" - Col 1.17; Heb 1.3). "All things were made by him," writes John, "and without him was not even one thing made that was made" (Jn 1.3). All the passages concerning creation in Yeshua the Messiah are inevitably found in the context of redemption. This is why we are told that "we have redemption and the forgiveness of sins" explicitly and only in Messiah "in whom... all things were created" (Col 1.14ff). And this is the reason why Mashiach as "the Head of the Body, the Church [the Messianic Community"] -- is He within whom "all things hold together" (Col 1.17ff). It is IN the Creative Word (Messiah) "who made the universe and all things therein... Lord of the heavens and the earth... [who] gives to ALL life, and breath" (Acts 17.24,25) that "we live, and move, and have our being" (Acts 17.28). All humankind, according to Paul, the pagan, fallen, sin-filled world is IN Messiah.

As all creation finds its origin and material expression in the Messiah through whom God creates all things in the universe, so Messiah forms the actual Heavenly Pattern of God's ultimate Design -- spirit beings made (created) in His character-Image. This absolute purpose of God is discovered in the Genesis account of humankind's creation "in the image of God." So also at Messiah's Second Advent, God's true Man (the mystical Body of Christ) will rise from the dead into immortality, bearing the "image and likeness" of the Archetypal Man -- the One who became Yeshua the Messiah (1 Jn 3.1-3). So in the old Jewish Midrash we read, "Thou hast formed me behind and before (Ps 139.5) is to be explained as 'before the first and after the last day of Creation.' For it is said, And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him" (Genesis Rabba, viii, 1). God's great plan of the aeons is for man to not merely be in Messiah materially, but to become SPIRIT as He is SPIRIT. Not only so, but man is destined to be a partaker of Mashiach's very own nature and character. This is the plan, purpose, intent of the LORD God (See again 2 Pet 1.4). To gain everlasting life, eternal life, eternality, even salvation is to partake of and actually enter into Eternity itself -- that which we inadequately call God. (The pronunciation of the Sacred Name was suppressed by the Jews themselves long before the days of Yeshua. We no longer know how haShem [the Name] is to be articulated correctly. Nevertheless the Tetragrammaton 'JHVH' or 'YHWH' actually means 'the Eternal.')

To experience salvation is to experience God's eternity, the never-ending Moment in which we live. None of us can weigh eternal life in the sense of grasping the quantity thereof for by its very definition eternality is that quality of existence beyond the senses of Spacetime. We cannot therefore quantify, let alone fully grasp, even the concept of eternal. It lies quite beyond the finite. But Paul says we are "in Messiah," "in Him," and "in the Lord" a total of 164 times in his letters. To be given Life is to be IN Messiah in a material and a spiritual way. The concept of eternal life or life in eternity has a sense of permanency about it.

JOHN'S GOSPEL WRITTEN FOR OUR ENCOURAGEMENT

The purpose of the Gospel of John is made plain in Jn 20.30,31. Many Christians read these statements of John and fail to appreciate the eternal security which accompanies eternal life. "And many other signs truly did Yeshua in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book, but these are written that you might believe that Yeshua is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that believing you might have life through his name." Bearing in mind that John essentially wrote to encourage the brethren, consider the following statements of Our Lord which he recorded for our benefit. You will notice, however, that the plain unqualified statements of Yeshua have been altered by us (by adding bold italics to the text in question) in order to illustrate how we tend to impose our theological views on Messiah's own thoughtform.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his uniquely begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the church but that the church through him should be saved" (Jn 3.16,17).

"All that the Father gives me shall come to me if they exercise their freedom of choice positively, and him that comes to me I will in no wise cast out unless he has committed the unpardonable sin" (Jn 6.37).

"And this is the Father's will who has sent me, that of all he has given me I should not lose many but should raise some of them up again at the last day. And this is the wishful thinking of the Father that every one that sees the Son, and believes on him will probably have everlasting life, and I will raise him up at the last day if he measures up" (Jn 6.39,40).

"The sheep, those that are mine, hear my voice and I know them and they follow me, and I give unto them eternal life, not now but later, and they shall never perish except it be in the lake of fire from sinful behaviour, neither shall any snatch them out of my hand except by their own choice. My Father who has given them to me is greater than all apart from the devil, and no man is able to snatch them out of my Father's hand, unless the person who does so is demonically inspired" (Jn 10.27-29).

"Yeshua said unto her, I am occasionally the resurrection and the life. He that believes in me though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die unless he disqualifies himself from eternal life and dies eternally in hell fire which is the second death. Believe you this?" (Jn 11.25,26).

"And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all unto me in the church as long as this does not include the rebellious" (Jn 12.32).

"And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not. For I came not to condemn the church but to save the church" (Jn 12.47).

As we have already stated a simple perusal of the above Scriptures in any version or translation will show immediately that the words in bold italics do not appear in the original. They have been added to reflect the ordinary Christian mindset with Catholic or Protestant grooming. Coming from Judaism, one is not confused by the direct, simple assertions of Yeshua in his recorded words in the holy Bible. Those converted to Christianity from a church background very often have immense difficulty erasing false ideas as the Spirit re-educates the mind. (Read again what the prophet Jeremiah said in the quote above. "The Gentiles... shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies" from the teachings of priest, minister and missionary alike (Jer 16.19-21).

It is time to learn to thoroughly appreciate the eternal life we now (at this Moment) possess, through the personal guarantee of none other than the Archetypal Man -- the Creator and Redeemer, Yeshua the Messiah.

[Please refer now to Part 2]

Fundamentals 104: Everlasting Security [11]
by Les Aron Gosling, Rebbe
Copyright © BRI/IMCF 1993, 2003 All Rights Reserved Worldwide

Problem Passages Associated With the Idea of Eternal Security: an Analysis of the False Doctrine of "Conditional Immortality."

We have seen in Part One of this Exposition that Our Lord Yeshua
Himself stated without qualification that salvation is forever. In fact,
in Jewish thoughtform, if you can lose your "salvation" (which is a
Quality State of Never-Ending Existence) there was in fact no
"salvation" to begin with! Salvation IS salvation. It is impossible
to reverse. It's high time false, demonic theological beliefs were
jettisoned from the Christian doctrinal system once and for all.

The Emissary Peter wrote something intriguing and quite pertinent, for converted human beings, in his second epistle. "... an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the aeonian kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Yeshua the Messiah. Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things THOUGH YOU KNOW THEM AND ARE ESTABLISHED in the present truth" (2 Pet 1.11,12).

For our English word "entrance" Peter utilises the Greek word eisodos comprised of eis ("into") and hodos ("road"). The definite article precedes eisodos thus the expression indicates a particular road -- "THE road into" the kingdom of the Messiah. Yeshua himself claimed to be the "Way" (hodos) for us (Jn 14.6). The Jewish scholar who wrote the Letter to the Hebrews says the same thing. "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter the holiest by the blood of Yeshua, by a freshly-slain and living way [hodos, road]" (Heb 10. 19,20). It is by the blood of Messiah -- not the works of man, good or bad -- that Our Lord Yeshua ever remains the road into the Messianic kingdom.

So acutely did the early Messianic Movement realise that Yeshua was "the Way" and that they were eternally secure in him as the spiritual "Body of Messiah" they even called themselves after Him. The primitive community (ekklesia; assembly of called out ones) was known as "the Way" (Acts 9.2; 19.9,23; 22.4; 24.14,22). This ought not surprise too many of us, for the vast majority of the original converts to "the Yeshua Party" were at one time worshipers of God from the Essene sect which was headquartered in the Dead Sea region, principally at Qumran. And they were known as "the Way" and "the Way of Righteousness" (1QS 9.17-18,21, CD 1.13). John the Baptiser was an Essene from Qumran who inherited their traditions. "Yochanan [John] came to you," said Yeshua, "in the Way of Righteousness" (Mt 21.32). The eloquent Apollos had been a disciple of John ("knowing only the baptism of John" -- Acts 18.25) with Essene connections in Alexandria in Egypt (Acts 18.24) known as "the Way of the Lord" (Acts 18.25). Two Christian converts of the time who heard him preach a sub-Christian doctrine took him aside after his sermon and "expounded more accurately to him the Way of God" (Acts 18.26).

There can be no doubt that the early believers were experiencing a salvation-faith and assurance without parallel in the period of the Pax Romana which had been imposed on Judaea. But today some of us are failing to fully experience and appreciate that same assurance of everlasting salvation won for us by the shedding of Messiah's precious blood. One of the reasons for this lack of faith is the insistence that some of the Arminianist persuasion have in their insistence on the doctrine of the free-will of man in accepting the blood of Messiah. In their theology there is really no doctrine of election, and no authentic understanding of the imposition of Grace. A subjecting God -- a Subjector God -- is too close to Jewish thoughtforms for Christian acceptance. Out the proverbial window goes the doctrine of the free-will of God and in its place the followers of Arminius (and indeed, Arminius himself) imposed the alien doctrine of the free-will of man in salvation. Suffice to say at this juncture, the apostle Peter stated explicitly that for us "the entrance" into the Messianic kingdom of Our Lord Yeshua "has been abundantly [or, richly] supplied" (2 Pet 1.11,12).

But Peter tells us more. He goes on to make plain the fact that these believers to whom he was writing had "become firmly established" (sterizo, a perfect tense participle). Comments Professor Kenneth Wuest, "The word means to make stable, place firmly, set fast. These saints had become stabilised in the truth and were in a state of being set fast, placed firmly on it. Their knowledge of the Word and the cardinal doctrines of the Christian faith were set in their thinking."

Had a follower of Arminius come along with his doctrine of conditional immortality and free-will in salvation (both are erroneous teachings established in human works and oriented around the basic idea of man's ability to choose resurrection Life -- an utter impossibility if we were once "corpses in our sins and transgressions") he would have been quickly denounced by Peter and Paul and the rest of the apostles as a heretic and unworthy of the appellation "Christian."

The Illusion of Free Will in Salvation

There is a wonderful story that should be told concerning free-will, especially in salvation-history. And it comes from a surprising source! This story adequately illustrates the concept of free-will as an illusion and destiny as inescapable. And it comes from the pen of Oscar Wilde.

"Once upon a time there was a magnet, and in its close neighbourhood were some steel filings. One day two or three little filings felt a sudden desire to go and visit the magnet, and they began to talk of what a pleasant thing it would be to do. Other filings nearby overheard their conversation, and they too became infected with the same desire. Still others joined them, till at last all the filings began to discuss the matter, and more and more their vague desire grew into an impulse.

"Why not go today?" said some of them; but others were of the opinion that it would be better to wait till tomorrow. Meanwhile, without their having noticed it, they had been involuntarily moving nearer to the magnet, which lay there quite still, apparently taking no heed of them. And so they went on discussing all the time insensibly drawing nearer to their neighbour; and the more they talked, the more they felt the impulse growing stronger, till the more impatient ones declared that they would go that day, whatever the rest did. Some were heard to say that it was their duty to visit the magnet, and that they ought to have gone long ago. And while they talked, they moved nearer and nearer, without realising that they had moved. Then, at last, the impatient ones prevailed, and, with one irresistible impulse, the whole body cried out, "There is no use waiting, we will go today. We will go now. We will go at once." And then in one unanimous mass they swept along, and in another moment were clinging fast to the magnet on every side.

"Then the magnet smiled -- for the steel filings had no doubt at all but that they were paying that visit of their own free will."

Salvation is all of Grace. Human works do not come into it. Salvation has been worked out for us in the perfect life, death and resurrection of Our Lord Yeshua. Our salvation depends entirely on the WORKS of Yeshua the Messiah. Not of Grace? Then NOT of God!

But there are problem passages in the holy Scriptures that do seem -- at first glance -- to say the opposite. They do seem to indicate that we can lose our salvation -- that our salvation is predicated on our continued faith, trust and obedience.

However, Yeshua said, "Truly, truly, [Note the double emphatic here] I say unto you. He that hears my word and believes on him that sent me has everlasting life and comes NOT into condemnation but is passed out of death and into THE life" (Jn 5.24 Gk). Paul said the same thing. "There is therefore NOW no condemnation to them who are in Messiah Yeshua" (Rom 8.1 Gk). Absolute unqualified statements of assurance and eternal security. Yet there are admittedly some texts in the Messianic Scriptures that are not as clear-cut as these statements of Mashiach, and the examples we have freely utilised in previous lectures and expositions. We need therefore to examine these texts. But let us first come to terms with 4 essential factors that should be considered as possibly pertaining, in one degree or another, to the following Scriptures that seem to say the opposite, about our guarantee from the Messiah Himself, of eternal security.

BEAR IN MIND AT ALL TIMES THE FOLLOWING FOUR FACTORS

[1] The possibility of poor translation work and/or faulty interpretation may exist with some Scriptures. The English text might be ambiguous. A referral to the Greek supporting text may solve the problem.

[2] There could be a failure to actually see the verse in question in the midst of its surrounding passage.

[3] Doctrines based on an isolated text without regard to the teaching of the Scripture elsewhere is always a lurking danger in recovering the authenticity of truth.

[4] In some passages there may be some honest disagreement due to a lack of sufficient information necessary to make a firm judgment.

The False Basis of Conditional Immortality

There are a number of sects and denominations today that preach a gospel of "conditional immortality." That is, when someone becomes a "Christian" they are "saved" by God, but their condition of  "being saved" remains contingent on their continued obedience to God or to his law (and most often as not it is some mere church law, regulation, rule, custom or sectarian legislation that is at issue). If our works (or, in some cases, our work quotas in some legalistic sects) do not measure up to what is usually expected by the denomination in question then the salvation of that person is under question. That poor individual is treated with immense suspicion, and has in reality become a second-class believer. Really, nobody should have to live under such emotionally insecure pressure. There is no justification for such a negative theological framework to be found anywhere in the entirety of the Bible!

Unsaved "Christians" -- False Conversion, A Mortal Danger!

As we peruse the holy Scriptures which seem to uphold the idea of conditional immortality we will almost immediately perceive that some of these passages refer, not to God's elect who have been saved from before the foundation of the world, but to unsaved professors of salvation rather than to genuine possessors. A case in point is Matthew 7.21-23. Here we have the classic situation of those who had performed some great Christian services in their ministries associated with spiritual giftings.

"Not every one that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? and in your name have cast out demons? and in your name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work lawlessness" (Mt 7.21-23).

Matthew was, of all people, a very righteous cohen -- a priest. So severe was he in his interpretation of life that the Name of "God" never ever passed his lips in public or in his literature. In the Jewish custom of the time, he used the term "heaven" rather than that of "God." The kingdom under view is not heaven as heaven, but the Messianic kingdom which in Jewish thoughtform and expectation was soon to be established here on this earth with its centre of worship in the city of Jerusalem.

These people in Messiah's illustration had a gift of prophetic utterance, and miraculous works with a special emphasis on exorcising demons. Yet they were not "saved." We know this to be the case as Our Lord Yeshua demands that they "depart" from His presence. Further, He calls them "workers of lawlessness." They were people who were not Torah-observant. They were lawless. Their entire emphasis, according to the passage in question, is on physical or material results in their ministry, certainly not conversion of the heart. I often reflect on the words of an old, and one-time dear friend of mine (and I might add, this pastor will always remain a friend in my heart although his attitude toward this ministry leaves a great deal to be desired.) He was quite fond of saying -- and probably still is -- that there was never justification for a "dry-eyed Christian." And he was right! A man or woman of God who has trouble shedding tears upon reflection of God's Gracious love toward them has a major problem with his heart and indeed in his love toward God and in his outgoing concern for his fellow-man, for whom Messiah also died. Such a person may have had a troubled childhood. There might have been terrible extenuating circumstances for such an innate inability to weep before the Lord of Grace. And this may certainly be the case with many people in the authentic community (ekklesia) of God today for we live in the midst of a generation that is essentially void of natural affection. Nevertheless, it is the firm belief of those associated with the BRI/IMCF that as God moves more and more into the very life and spirit of such a one as this, they will ultimately become moist of heart in their embrace of the Embracing One. For God IS Love. And Love cares for its creation.

Now, consider that Our Lord does not deny that they did their works of service in his Name. He denies that he knew them personally. The Lord knows His sheep, them that are His, and these did not belong to Him (Jn 10.27 cf 2 Tim 2.19). They substituted activity for regenerated living. They are not saved, although they think they are! The Bible reveals that it is even more than possible to be a "Christian" though not a true, convicted believer (in the sense of a disciple, student, follower) (Jn 6.60, 63-66). Many liked to hear Yeshua speak, especially when He spoke out against the religious establishment of the time. They had come to Yeshua out of self-interest, not Spirit conviction.

In short, the disciples in Matthew 7.21-23 did not lose their salvation for they never actually had it.

"Unsaved" Within the Borders of Denominations

Rav Shaul (the apostle Paul) delivered a powerful, prophetic message to the elders of the Messianic Assembly in the city of Ephesus (Acts 20.17-36). In this proclamation he warned these men that after his departure "grievous wolves" would enter the Community of Faith "not sparing the flock" -- "devouring the sheep" -- in other words (Acts 20.29). Then, surprisingly, he added: "Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them" (Acts 20.30). Of this very occurrence Paul had prophesied "night and day with tears for three years" (Acts 20.31). What he predicted came about exactly as he had said. An apostasy occurred, and it was not limited to the assembly in Ephesus! (See also 1 Jn 2.19 cf Mt 7.15; 2 Cor 11.13-15.)

Bearing these texts in mind, there can be little doubt that the organised assembly or congregation can house, and does house, "unsaved" denominational members. That this is indeed the case is illustrated by the apostle Peter in 2 Peter 2.19-22. While most students of the Bible know these texts off by heart they would perhaps be surprised to hear that Peter is talking about the Zealots, many of whom had attached themselves to the Messianic assemblies. Nevertheless, the principle applies to certain people who call themselves "Christians" today.

"While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Yeshua the Messiah, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known The Way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire."

Putting aside the fact that Peter is referring to the Zealots (a fact substantiated by the Jewish historian Josephus who uses the very same terminology as Peter in his references to them), here were people who had achieved three essential things in their "walk" in "The Way."

Firstly, they had escaped the world's pollutions. Secondly, Peter said they knew THE WAY of righteousness. Thirdly, they actually turned from the commandment that had been delivered to them. There can be no shying away from these facts. However, we need to bear the following important distinctions in mind as we read through this section of Peter's epistle.

[1] They escaped the world's pollutions -- but did they escape divine wrath?

[2] They knew "the Way of Righteousness" (the intimate designation for the mystical Body of the Messiah) -- but did they receive the gift of divine righteousness?

[3] They turned from the commandment -- but did they turn from a position in Messiah? Did they even HAVE such a position in Messiah?

The key that unlocks this popular Arminian passage is the precise character description given by Peter of these apostates. They were "unjust," "walked after the flesh," they were in "the lust of uncleanness" -- a Semitism alluding to temple male prostitution, they "despised authority" of all kind, they were "presumptuous," and "self-willed," denigrated the angelic and demonic powers (possibly "stamping Satan under their feet!" as do the adherents of many Pentecostal assemblies today), and they were essentially ignorant of true knowledge. These men were like acne and boils, corrupt, deceptive, habitual adulterers, covetous, walking a precarious tightrope between the natural life and demonic possession, and tottering about with impressive loads of verbal sewerage. In sum, Peter describes them as pigs wallowing in their swill, and dogs returning to eat their vomit and faeces. Not a nice "Christian" description by any means! And that is because these men were decidedly anything but disciples of Our Lord Yeshua.

Their nature had not changed. They were not remotely converted. They were without Mashiach and His Spirit in the authentic sense of that which constitutes reality. They were still hogs and dogs. Peter quotes from Proverbs 26.11 when referring to them as dogs. But it is to pagan sources that we locate his reference to the habit of pigs bathing in a filthy mudhole. Robertson speaks about a story of a hog in ancient literature "that went to the bath with people of quality, but on coming out saw a stinking drain, and went and rolled himself in it" (Robertson, quoted in Wuest, In These Last Days: The Exegesis of 11 Peter.) While enjoying the fringe benefits of the Messianic Movement APART from the real life in Messiah, they outwardly practiced the "Christian" life for a while but did not possess the spiritual position of the regenerated person. The same is true today as it was in the first century. Today we still see people reformed rather than transformed (2 Pet 2.9-17; 3.3,4). Clearly, this is the essence of that which is described in this passage of the Messianic Scriptures.

Doctrinal Error and Defection

"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also you have received and wherein you stand. By which also you are saved IF you keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless you have believed in vain" (1 Cor 15.1,2).

So wrote Rav Shaul, Emissary of the Government of God. But this is the very same Paul who wrote Romans 8.1!

Let us comprehend once and for all, that sincere belief NEVER saved anybody. And it never can! This may appear to be a controversial statement, but it is true nevertheless. After all, a little productive thought will establish that it is not a belief that saves us. And it is not even our faith in Messiah that saves. For, there is no such thing as a saving faith. But it is Messiah who saves. Therefore, by deduction, we are saved through Messiah's Faith.

It therefore goes almost without saying that if the above be the case, most assuredly sincere belief based on false doctrinal teaching or error equally cannot save anyone. The faith of apostates is often based upon their own concept of what should be believed rather than upon the correct Scriptural position (based upon the Jewish thoughtforms that gave us the Book).

Paul's "if" in his first epistle to the Corinthians also cannot and should not be avoided in a confrontation with the disciples of Arminius. The problem in this case clearly rests upon the conditional clause introduced by the little two-letter word, "if."

The purpose of Messiah's resurrection, according to Paul in this epistle and so argued effectively by him in a logical fashion, was to guarantee everlasting life. You cannot have eternal life, says Paul, without resurrection life (1 Cor 15.3-11). Denial of the resurrection strips the Gospel of its necessary content. Therefore, to "believe in vain" is to profess Christianity but at the same time to deny the future resurrection of believers and even the bodily resurrection of the Lord Yeshua Himself (1 Cor 15.17,18,20). Obviously, if the Corinthian's faith included a denial of either one of these cardinal doctrines of the faith then they were not really saved. However, this having been said, we should take the opportunity of comparing, as much as possible, different versions and expanded Greek translations. This text is translated by Greek scholar Wuest accordingly:

"Now, I am making known to you, brethren, the good news which I brought as glad tidings to you, which also you took to yourselves, in which also you have taken a stand, through which you are being saved, in what word I announced it to you as glad tidings, assuming that you are holding it fast unless you believed in vain" (1 Cor 15.1,2 Wuest's Expanded Greek).

It puts a slightly different emphasis on it, doesn't it? So often a simple comparison of biblical interpretations by different scholars is all it takes to come to the truth of the original inspired Word.

A Falling From Grace

Paul seems again, in Galatians 5.1-4 (in this favourite Arminian passage) to teach that one can lose their salvation. But -- even allowing for the distinct possibility that the epistle to the Galatians is a composite of a number of Paul's letters overwritten by a zealous early misguided disciple -- is this passage really teaching about the keeping or losing of our salvation?

The question has been raised, How does a person gain salvation? Paul is answering this question. Now notice that Paul cautioned against adding anything to the Gospel. For Paul, salvation was essentially summed up in the idea "The gospel plus nothing." But what "Gospel" is Paul talking about? This may seem a stupid question to some of us, but allow me some free rein to explain how I originally viewed the "Gospel" of Messiah.

Upon my conversion as a Messianic believer, I originally thought that the "NT" declared only ONE Gospel, the Gospel of the kingdom of God -- which Yeshua and John the Baptiser both preached (Mt 4.23; Mt 3.1,2). So enthusiastic was I concerning this "Gospel" I published a newsletter in which I wrote an article on just this subject of "the Gospel." But after two instalments I painfully discovered that my entire premise had been in error. For, I had taken too narrow a view of the both the Gospel and the kingdom of God which could not be justified Scripturally. While proclaiming there was only ONE GOSPEL in the Bible, I came to see that there were at least 2 others. Further study revealed a number more! Now this article I had written was to be produced in at least nine parts. But as I have said, after two installments it was abandoned, with follow up letters of apology to those who received it. By the time I had finished my study of "Gospels" I had discovered a total of NINE diverse, although interlinked, "Gospels."

This is one of the reasons I believe implicitly that the living Yeshua HaMashiach is right NOW raising up the BRI/IMCF for the end-time restoration of God's Word to the purity of its original form and inspirational texture through the supportive dedication of a group of disciples -- a Work that is willing and eager to admit to error and to change accordingly. For this is the holy Spirit in creative operation. How many churches, denominations, sects or ministers DO YOU KNOW who are willing to do as much? Probably very few! Yet how can any of us grow in knowledge, as Peter admonished, unless God's Spirit reveals error in thought along the Way? Where is the spirit of humility in this religious world of "churchianity" today? While I am a Rebbe and continue to draw breath I will publicly acknowledge error as soon as it is established to be the case.

Strange and Wonderful "Gospels"

I mentioned at least nine "Gospels."

Firstly, there was the "gospel" which God brought before to Abraham. "In you shall all nations be blessed" (See Gal 3.8; Gen 12.3). This was a gospel entirely future in its scope. Abraham believed God, not just believed in God (in his existence) but he believed him -- believed what God said (Gal 3.6). This was still essentially a racial promise to Abraham involving physical blessings.

Secondly, there was the "gospel" which the angel Gabriel brought to Zechariah (Lk 1.13-19). This was the gospel -- the glad tidings -- that his wife Elisabeth would have a son. It was not primarily (but only incidentally) a gospel concerned with salvation.

Thirdly, there is the "gospel" which an angelic power brought to the shepherds (Lk 2.10-11). This evangel of great joy was limited to Israel and specifically involved, as far as its content was concerned, the birth of Yeshua. This cannot be the Gospel of our salvation because our evangel is not the birth of Yeshua -- but His death, burial and resurrection (1 Cor 15.1-4). In fact Rav Shaul went so far as to say that Messianic believers in his time should have been preoccupied with the COSMIC MESSIAH, the Ad'am Kad'mon, and not primarily the historical Yeshua (2 Cor 5.15-17; see Colossians).

Fourthly, there is the "gospel" which Timothy brought from the Thessalonians to Paul (1 Thes 3.6). Nobody doubts the fact that Paul brought the Gospel to Timothy but how many realise that Timothy actually brought a gospel to Paul the apostle at one time? Really, God has used the term "gospel" to convey any message of Good News and it should be specifically designated to avoid confusion. This particular "gospel" is primarily concerned with the good news of the Thessalonian's "faith and love" as well as their "good remembrances" of Paul. It was a gospel of conviviality, not salvation.

Fifthly, there was the "Gospel" to the circumcision, the Jewish people (Gal 2.7). It is the Gospel I originally accepted upon my conversion. It is elsewhere called "the Gospel of the kingdom of heaven" and "the Gospel of the kingdom of God." Both John the Immerser, and Our Lord Yeshua preached it. Interestingly, it will again be preached worldwide, just immediately prior to the Great Tribulation (Mt 24.14). The Gospel of the Kingdom of God involves the coming RULE of God in the affairs of humankind (not just the Jews). None of us -- Jew or Gentile -- can afford to ignore this Gospel. We do so to our own peril.

As far as the Jewish people are concerned, Messiah is intimately concerned for their spiritual care and physical welfare. I personally believe God will use the creative genius of the Jews to finally take the Gospel to the entire world in the last few years of Planet Earth's existence. The Torah will be shared with the Gentile nations of the world before the ushering in of the coming Antichrist. His concern has always been to "the Jews first, and then to the Gentiles." Rav Shaul cautiously followed His Lord's assessment in his own administration. We should take care to recall that Yeshua never went outside Eretz Israel in His entire ministry and was only primarily concerned with the Jewish people at that time. Only two Gentiles were ever blessed in His entire ministry in a spiritual way -- the Roman centurion who was already a proselyte to the Jewish faith (Mt 8.5-13; Lk 7.1-10) and the Syro-Phoenician woman (Mt 15.21-28; Mk 7.24-30). The story of the "woman at the well" is a different account that deals with the rise of the apostate church and she will be mentioned in our forthcoming manual on alternative church history. Just who she may have been will be detailed there.

Sixthly, there was the "Gospel" to the Gentiles (Gal 2.2,7) -- which was also shared by the Jews in the mixed assemblies. It is this Gospel that can rightfully be called "the Gospel of our salvation" (1 Cor 15.1-4; Rom 1.16,17; Eph 1.13,14; 3.6-7). It is the Gospel of God (Rom 1.1; 15.16) which explains God's justice. It is the Gospel of Messiah (Gal 1.7; 2 Cor 10.14) explaining His great sacrifice. It is the Gospel of the glory of Mashiach (2 Cor 4.4) explaining what the Lord underwent in stripping His heavenly glory in order to take it yet again (Phil 2.5-11; Eph 1.5-12, 17-23). It is the Gospel of the Grace of God (Acts 20.24; Tit 2.11-14) because it saves and justifies freely. It is the Gospel of your salvation (Eph 1.13,14) because it is the power of God for salvation (the FULL deliverance from all condemnation).

Seventh, there is the Gospel of the unsearchable riches of Messiah (Eph 3.8). This Gospel concentrates on the revelation by Paul of the character of the Cosmic Mashiach (the Archetypal Ad'am Kad'mon). It dwells on His plan and purpose and intent to express the material universe back into Himself in order that God may be "All and in All." It reveals the point of the universe, which is God.

Eighth, there is "another gospel" (Gal 1.6,7) which "is not another." That is, it is not different in numerical identity, but rather it is a counterfeit but with the same name. That this gospel seeks to "pervert" bears out the truth of the matter for its message is a reversal of all that counts in the gospel.

Lastly, there is the "Age-lasting Gospel" (Rev 14.6,7). An angel preaches in mid-heaven and it is specifically ordained for the hour of God's judging under the seventh trumpet which blast concludes the present evil age. This Gospel includes not a word of Grace, faith, justification, conciliation, reconciliation, or even the hope of glory, as our gospel does in this age of Grace. It is a Gospel encouraging worship by a motive of fear to the inhabitants of the world in that particular time period in earth's history.

One of the major hesitations modern Christians ought to exercise is the precautionary measure of maintaining an open mind -- a mind capable of appreciating the enormity of the scope of the biblical revelation. A too-narrow approach to the Bible has given us, not freedom and liberty in Messiah, but often-times heavy shackles of despair and faithlessness. And this ought not so to be.

Falling From the Sphere of Grace, not Salvation

Kenneth Wuest again translates Galatians 5.1-4 in his translation as, "For this aforementioned freedom Christ set you free. Keep on standing firm therefore and stop being subject again to a yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul am saying to you that if you -- [he's writing to Gentiles] -- "persist in being circumcised, Christ will be advantageous to you in not even one thing, and I solemnly affirm again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to do the whole law" -- [all the rituals and ceremonies of Temple function, washings, sacrifices etc] -- "You are without effect from Christ, such of you as in the sphere of the law are seeking your justification." -- [This is the issue here: justification] -- "You have lost your hold upon [sanctifying] grace" (Expanded Greek).

Now this comprehension of the Greek begins to make more sense than the position taken by Arminius. (It would be a profitable exercise to compare this expanded Greek translation with your own version or particular translation of Galatians.) God has not lost his Gracious hold on us! No, not by any means! God's sovereignty is not at issue in this situation. But our hold on Grace is at issue. Most certainly so. For, circumcision was the central sign given to the Jewish people by God that they were to be bound to the observance of the Torah -- and that meant the keeping of all 613 commandments, and the keen observance of the thousands of Tanack (OT) principles, and the countless thousands of rabbinical judgments made upon the sacred texts. And that is why the apostle Paul said to the foolish Gentile Galatian Christians who were going through the excruciatingly painful rite of circumcision (and they were so proud of their new physical "attributes" that they were actually comparing circumcisions with one another -- and one must say that this was a very peculiar pastime to conduct at their spiritual gatherings!) that he wished "that they who are upsetting you [or, causing you physical affliction in being circumcised] would even have themselves mutilated" (Gal 5.12 Expanded Gk).

That these cutting remarks by Rav Shaul concerning the talmidim of James the brother of Yeshua are accurately translated by Wuest is recognised by all Greek scholars. The word translated "mutilate" comes from the Greek apokoptein for which Arndt and Gingrich give two meanings and both are associated with each other: (1) "cut off limbs or parts of the body" and (2) "make eunuchs of, castrate" (Lexicon, p.92). Now some super-spiritual Christians may find these research findings offensive, but the Emissary Paul took exception to the offense these believers were extenuating to the spirit of Grace. Clearly, these Galatians were not operating effectively within the sphere of Grace especially, as Wuest notes, in its sanctifying aspect. These believers were wanting to be set apart, or sanctified (by a physical rite of circumcision), but they were in danger of actually seeking to be justified by the works of law when they had already been justified by the faith of Messiah Himself!

We also need to further note that this "fall" from the sphere of Grace is not by any means (as usually supposed) a loss of the rewards, or benefits, of Messiah's salvation through breaking the law, but on the contrary, through attempting to keep the law relating to circumcision. He who falls into sin does not forfeit the Grace of God. Grace abounds in such a case (Rom 6.1) as all rabbinic authorities realise -- even today!

In Brief

1 Corinthians 3.13-15 This section concerns only rewards at Messiah's dais. Contrary to all expectation, we shall not appear before the "Judgment seat of Messiah," for we have ALREADY passed from judgment to "THE Life" (Jn 5.24). Rather, we shall appear as immortals (after the resurrection at the return of Our Lord Yeshua when we shall have been "changed" from corruptible flesh into glorious spirit) before the bema or dais of the Lord where our works are tried and tested in our characters (Rom 14.10-12). The works are tried not the person.

1 Corinthians 9.26,27 God not only calls men to salvation, but to service for him. The loss of service privilege should not be mistaken for a loss of salvation. Christian service is the issue in this passage, not salvation (reconsider vss 24-26 and cf with Wuest's Expanded Greek).

Revelation 2.5 This message is clearly addressed, not to an individual, but to a congregation. What is being removed is the lampstand -- the Menorah -- the opportunity to bear the Light in an otherwise darkened, godless world. Ephesus did have their lampstand removed, and Islam took its place. Today Turkey (in which region Ephesus was located) is Islamic-socialist. The evangelical witness has totally disappeared.

Romans 11.17-24 The "grafting" and "cutting" cannot refer to personal gaining and losing of salvation, but to the usage of Israel and the Gentile assemblies within God's administration program for "the plan of the ages" as revealed by Rav Shaul in his early section of the letter to the Ephesians.

Ezekiel 3.18 and 33.8 Read these Scriptures with the utmost care! Then ask yourself, firstly, how could blood be required at the prophet's hand? Secondly, ask the obvious question: Would the prophet Ezekiel also die in a physical way or be sent to hell if he failed to warn the wicked? What utter nonsense! It is clear that if he had failed to give them the divine message he would have been held accountable for failure to discharge his responsibility, but only that. Some confuse responsibility and accountability, and then complicate the issue by further confusing accountability for loss of salvation.

Matthew 27.24,25 Countless thousands of Jews have become Messianic Believers since the Day of Pentecost in the year of Messiah's crucifixion. And we know from Paul's writings that Israel as a nation will be saved in the period denominated by Messiah's Second Advent. The "blood" upon them did not secure eternal doom for them, but their statement did bring down on future Jewish generations incredible persecution for almost the total length of 2000 years -- due to an erroneous Christian interpretation of the text involved.

Such "Christian" persecution against Israel for the murder of their Lord has been absolutely unwarranted. The Romans were equally guilty of crucifying Yeshua as the Jews were of stoning him while impaled on the tree in that orchard on the Mount Olivet. It may come as a surprise to many, but the general population was still asleep when Yeshua was convicted by the Romans of treason and sentenced to death by Pontius Pilatus. Those who cried out that His shed blood be on their heads were not the Jews themselves but hired rabble and the major leaders of the political Sanhedrin (as the Scriptures plainly state). Not only so, but Yeshua was being handed over to the Romans IN ORDER TO fulfill His Messianic Destiny as made very plain by Kayafa: Yeshua was handed over to the Romans precisely because the Jews KNEW He was the genuine Messiah. "His blood be on our heads and on our children's heads" was actually a cry of Messianic Faith in Yeshua, not a denial of Him -- even as Paul himself applied it. [Literature is available on this subject upon request.]

Matthew 10.32-33 Yeshua is not talking about the future confession or denial of the Twelve apostles. Reference is to his Jewish listeners. He had already mentioned that some might not receive them into their houses (Mt 10.14) and He had warned them of wolves who would set out to persecute them (Mt 10.16-19). He further predicted families would be divided over their message (Mt 10.21,34-37).

Matthew 12.43-45 No analogy can be made in this passage to the Christian. There is no mention of faith or the presence of the Spirit in the life. Strangely, Yeshua states quite categorically, that He is referring to the NATION of Israel -- and not to individuals.

Matthew 24.13 and Mark 13.13 Is "the end" the end of a person's life? It is obvious that the "end of the age" is in focus (Mt 23.37-39; 24.3). Yeshua has the conclusion of the tribulation period in mind (that will occur immediately prior to His return in glory) as well as the conclusion of His absence. Our Lord informs us that during this period of intense travail, people will be able to survive until His Advent, even through the worst persecution imaginable, if they successfully endure. One only has to momentarily reflect on Jewish conditions under the National Socialists in Europe during the last war to see significance in these comments by Yeshua. But at the return of Mashiach, Yeshua will bring an abrupt end to both the eschatological Antichrist and his rampant worldwide anti-Semitism.

1 Corinthians 5.5 None of us can escape chastisement in the Christian walk (Heb 12.8,6). There can be no exception to this rule. God is a Father, and we are his children. He will train us in a correct deportment one way or the other. And that chastisement can come in the form of lost privileges, financial setbacks, material loss, illness, even physical death. Of course, we need to be reminded that affliction can also come to teachers of the Word of God as nothing more than a precautionary measure to better enable us to be accurate in our assessments of the biblical revelation. James advises, "My brothers, be not many teachers, knowing that we shall receive the greater judgment. For in many things we [could] offend" (James 3.1,2a). Teachers receive greater judgments from the Lord because teachers are judged by a higher standard than others. Shocking but true!

But note briefly in the Corinthian section under discussion the distinction between the flesh and the spirit. Paul still regarded this individual as a saved man. If we look at 1 Timothy 1.19b-20 the apostle has exercised an authority that I personally feel no longer exists (for one reason or another) within the Messianic assemblies today. But this is only a personal reflection and I cannot prove this assertion by the Scriptures. Now I may later change my belief, but for the present moment I consider it "present truth." Such an invested authority by the apostle Paul indicates that Satan was in his employ as an assistant from God! Now this may sound strange, but what does Paul tell us about his actions in releasing Satan onto this man? Paul tells us he "DELIVERED" him to Satan personally (1 Cor 5.5; 1 Tim 1.20).

Did this involve sacred rituals? Probably. And this would border on the magical arts, one of the very things Messiah was accused of before the government authorities of the Fifth Procuratorship [The association of Messiah with rituals of magic will be covered in another lecture. In the meantime, learn to maintain an open mind in all things!] However this may be the case, this punishment was a corrective measure as are ALL the judgments of God for human beings, and this can be shown in Rav Shaul's own words, "that they may be disciplined by punishment and learn not to blaspheme" (1 Tim 1.20b) and "that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Yeshua" (1 Cor 5.5b). In the latter case the person in question learned very quickly to change his ways for the better. He repented and Paul told the church to accept him back into fellowship without holding anything against him (2 Cor 2.6-11).

1 Corinthians 11.27-32 Again, this is not damnation or perdition. It is judgment. But this is not an eternal punishing judgment (Rom 8.1 Gk) but a disciplinary action (1 Cor 11.30). The Greek literally means "lift-judgment" (temporary disciplinary judgment) not "down-judgment" (condemnation). Note in 1 Jn 5.16,17 that John does not refer to a certain sin but to a quality of sin. When he writes "There is sin unto death" there is no definite article in the Greek so a physical (not a spiritual) death is in view. Apparently in the primitive Christian Community the first century believers could differentiate somehow between the two types of sin and their effects. We simply do not have the information today at our disposal to make such judgments. And frankly, this perhaps is for the better.

Philippians 3.10,11 "IF." Paul had already declared that death would be gain for him (Phil 1.21-23) and that he wanted to magnify Messiah both by life and death (Phil 1.20). But Paul was in prison. He wanted to enter fully what Mashiach went through in sufferings. And just as the Messiah was raised triumphantly from (and for) the dead, Paul desired to share in that victory too. The "IF" reflected the possibility that the Second Advent might occur more quickly than even he (Paul) thought. OR else, he was simply referring to a spiritual resurrection. We, too, are accounted in Paul's theology as being alive in resurrection. We, too, are ascended and seated among the celestials in Him (Eph 2.5,6). Paul entertains no doubts as to attaining the actual resurrection. He is not so sure that he realises its power in his present experience. All will be raised THEN. Not all realise it NOW (Rom 6.4).

Matthew 13.19-23 This is to the people of Israel. The key words are understanding and fruit. Genuine faith will produce genuine fruit. It is nowhere taught that wheat can become a tare or a tare can become wheat. Wheat is wheat. A tare is a tare. The tares alone meet their fate (Mt 13.24-30, 36-43). We then know from other scriptures that even tares will eventually come forth into a glory.

Luke 13.25-27 and Matthew 21.33-46 Where is the disciple of Arminius who would dare suggest that the carnal religious leaders of Messiah's day and age were ever saved? Even the great Arminius would scoff at such a possibility.

Matthew 22.1-14 In a nutshell the man without the appropriate wedding garment was an unsaved Pharisee who attempted to get into the banquet after earlier refusing the offer or invitation.

Matthew 25.1-13 It may jolt some of our extreme fundamentalist Pentecostal brethren (and we recognise that not all Pentecostals are extremist and/or fundamentalist -- after all, this lecturer is a charismatic) but to my knowledge the believer doesn't carry the Spirit around in a vessel. Rather, the Spirit indwells the life. This oil could be bought with money. Can the Spirit be purchased? Can the mighty Ru'ach Adonai be placed on the same scales as "filthy lucre"?

Of course, it must be admitted that there is a wide sense of interpretation by many scholars concerning this section of Matthew's gospel. But it would appear that these are Jews from the tribulation period at the conclusion of the age who seek "oil" from Messianic Jews (the wise") so they can be prepared to meet the coming Messiah. Note that pivotal statement in verse 6 -- "Behold the Bridegroom comes!" He hadn't arrived yet, but was well on His way. "Go you out to meet him." The wise Jews are those who clearly understood the time elements of Daniel's great prophetic vision. The other Jews are unprepared for the Messiah. He tells them simply, "I am not acquainted with you" (Mt 25.12).

Revelation 22.18,19 Would a genuine believer add or subtract to the Word of God? John of course has the scroll of Revelation in mind -- not the totality of the Scriptures. Note this sin is considered as horrific. John does not have in mind adultery, theft or other lesser sins. He is talking about the scrapping or adding to what the holy Spirit of God breathed forth as the very Word, logos. The follower of Arminius would take this Johannine statement and apply it to believers from Pentecost (or before) through the entire "church age" to the Advent of the Messiah and expect "the seven last plagues" (that will be unleashed upon the earth during the prophesied Day of the Lord) to be delivered upon or added to individuals who may have committed such a crime as this during the days of Calvin, or Justinian or Augustine! The idea is unworkable at worst and ludicrous at best. The fact is there will be a cabal of sinister men during the tribulation period (or at least near the end of the age) who will attempt to pervert, distort and wrest what God inspired John the apostle to record in his Apocalypse. That the seven last plagues will be added to their misery is proof that they will be living at the conclusion of this age!

Revelation 3.5 In Jewish thoughtform, this is really a promise, not a warning! John's Revelation is a Jewish document -- not one penned by a Gentile. See John 5.24 again. We can paraphrase this Jewish thoughtform as "Because I am saved, I will not go to hell, but will enter the kingdom." It is all a matter of perspective. The promise to the overcomer contains a positive truth, not a negative threat.

Can a true, genuine, sincere believer in the Messiah Yeshua ever be lost? Are we warts and cancers on the spiritual Body of Our Lord that need to be excised?

The salvation of the believer is a fact of history. That history is not our own personal individual salvation history in our acceptance of Yeshua as personal Saviour, as the disciples of Arminius would have it.

No, not by any means.

Rather, our salvation history is a salvation history already worked out for us in the HOLY HISTORY OF YESHUA THE MESSIAH -- in His perfect life, death and resurrection -- for He lived, died and was raised FOR US. His history is now imputed to each and every one of us who are named by the Name of the Lord.

Our salvation is eternally secure. If we are saved, we can never be lost. For our salvation -- already achieved by Messiah's perfect life and death and resurrection in unwavering and unfaltering obedience to God on our behalf -- has been accepted with satisfaction by the Father of Lights.

And THAT salvation, in the character of the Eternal One himself, is forever.

May God bless the reader of this especial exposition with the spiritual insight needed to value their eternal security.