By Johnny R. McCarty

Our Forgiveness Must Be Unconditional

  When are we to forgive others?  Some try to make their forgiveness conditional upon the other person showing “fruits” of change. They say that when “he has shown that he's really changed, then I'll forgive him.”  Incredible as it may seem, some others go so far as to require you to follow their religious leader in addition to “displaying fruits of change”! This is quite simply wrong! In His discussion with Peter, Yahshua never once says that the “brother” asking for our forgiveness must “show fruits” of change or be a member of a particular religion or sect. The act of asking for forgiveness is itself a demonstration of change.

Paul faced this very problem when he was alive. “For it has been reported to me concerning you, my brothers, by those who are from Chloe's household, that there are contentions among you. Now I mean this, that each one of you says, "I follow Sha'ul," "I follow Apollos," "I follow Kefa," and, "I follow Messiah."  Is Messiah divided? Was Sha'ul crucified for you? Or were you immersed into the name of Sha'ul? (1 Cor. 1:11-13 HNV). Paul rebuked those who divided the Congregation and caused contention. Requiring someone to believe exactly as you believe and to follow the same “leader” you follow before you will forgive him is completely wrong! 

If Yahshua put this same kind of requirement on us, then no one would ever have his sins forgiven and enter the Kingdom of Yahweh. Yahshua says very clearly that we are to forgive someone each and every time they request it. Also, our forgiveness of a person must be true righteous forgiveness in the manner Yahweh forgives us. Just giving lip service doesn't meet the requirements. A Brother must forgive others “from his heart!” Anything less is disobedience to Yahweh.

There is no “gray area” when it comes to obeying Yahweh's Law.  And what is Yahweh's Law?  Messiah gives us the answer.

“Yahshua answered him, ‘The first of all the commandments is ‘Hear O Israel, Yahweh our Elohiym, Yahweh is one.  And you shall love Yahweh your Elohiym with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these’” (Mark 12:20-31).

Consider the first great commandment. The only way to keep this is to keep Yahweh's Law – all of Yahweh’s Law of Love.  Not just those parts which are convenient for us.  Yahweh's Law says we must forgive those who sin against us before our sins will be forgiven us. By disobeying this Law, we break all of Yahweh's Law.

“If you really fulfill the Royal Law according to the Scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself,’ you do well; but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the Law as transgressors.  For whoever shall keep the whole Law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.  For He who said, ‘Do not commit adultery,’ also said, ‘Do not murder.’ Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the Law. So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the Law of Liberty.  For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment’” (James 2:8-13).

Notice how it is impossible to break one part of Yahweh's Law without breaking it all. They are inextricably bound together. In effect, everyone is your “neighbor”, not just those “brethren” of your particular church, congregation or assembly. It is impossible to forgive only our friends and not our enemies and expect to be forgiven of our own sins. Doing this is breaking Yahweh's very clear Law on this subject.

We Must Forgive All Sins

Another very important aspect of forgiveness is that Yahweh doesn't limit forgiveness to only certain types of sins. He will forgive us for anything. Yes, murderers, rapists, adulterers, sexual deviants, child molesters, thieves, robbers, homosexuals, idolaters, and anyone else will be forgiven when they follow Yahweh's law concerning forgiveness. “Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter” (Mark 3:28).

Even with the finality of that statement, Yahshua went on to say: “But he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation” - Because they said, ‘He has an unclean spirit’” (Mark 3:29).

Here Messiah is speaking of someone who knowingly ascribes miracles of Yahweh, performed by the Holy Spirit, to demons or Satan. They must knowingly do this, if it is through ignorance, though still a sin, it will be forgiven them.

The sinner who is forgiven the most, will be more joyous and thankful when he is forgiven; the more love he will have for Yahweh the Father and Yahshua the Messiah. Be very careful, however, this does not, mean we should sin much just so we can be forgiven much! We must always strive to obey Yahweh and walk in the image of Messiah.

“And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Yahshua sat at the table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with fragrant oil.

“Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying ‘This man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.’

“And Yahshua answered and said to him, ‘Simon, I have something to say to you.’ So he said, ‘Teacher, say it.’

“’There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.  And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?’

“Simon answered and said, ‘I suppose the one whom he forgave more.’ And He said to him ‘You have rightly judged.’

“Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, ‘Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much.  But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little’” (Luke 7:36-47).

Let's look at another example of forgiveness.

“Now early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them. Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery.  And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, ‘Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned.  But what do You say?’

“This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Yahshua stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.

“So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, ‘He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.’

“And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Yahshua was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

“When Yahshua had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, ‘Woman, where are those accusers of yours?  Has no one condemned you?’

“She said, ‘No one Master.’

“And Yahshua said to her, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more’”  (John 8:2-11).

This woman was caught in the VERY ACT of committing adultery!  But what did Messiah do? Did He condemn her?  NO!

He humbled her accusers, the Pharisees, by pointing out the fact that they, too, had committed sins. Sins for which most probably had not asked forgiveness or even thought they needed forgiveness. In this particular case, He simply forgave her and told her to “sin no more.” This is the example we should follow in our daily lives.

Perhaps the greatest example of forgiveness is that of Yahshua on the stake. He was suffering unimaginable agony and humiliation, yet, read what He said. “Then Yahshua said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do’” (Luke 23:34).

If Messiah can forgive someone for torturing Him and murdering Him in the most painful and agonizing manner, shouldn't we be able to forgive someone who simply takes our possessions?

Or insults us? Or believes differently than we do? Or may even have been a prostitute?

Forgiveness in Early Congregation

One of the most amazing acts of forgiveness in the early Congregation occurred very soon after Messiah's Ascension. It involved Saul of Tarsus.

Saul was a very eager persecutor of the early Brethren. “As for Saul, he made havoc of the congregation, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison” (Acts 8:3). He was even in charge when they stoned Stephen, an apostle, to death. “And they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul” (Acts 7:58). Saul, himself, says of that time, “For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the congregation of Yahweh beyond measure and tried to destroy it” (Galatians 1:13).

Further, “Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of Yahshua, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem” (Acts 9:1-2).

Here is a man who was killing and imprisoning followers of Messiah! Even trying to destroy the early congregation! What was the reaction of Messiah? 

“As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’” (Acts 9:3-4).  Yahshua Messiah, Himself, begins to work with Saul. Read what He told Ananias His task for Saul was going to be. “But Messiah said to him, ‘Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name's sake’” (Acts 9:15-16).

Yahshua Messiah very obviously forgave Saul of the sins he had committed against Him and the Brethren.  Saul was baptized (Acts 9:18) and began to preach “the Messiah” in the synagogues (Acts 9:20). Of course the people that he formerly persecuted were a little distrustful at first.  However, the important thing is that they, too, forgave Saul his past sins. Even those of murder!  Friends, this is the type of example we are to follow.

Yahweh further promises that those whose sins are forgiven will be blessed. “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man to whom Yahweh shall not impute sin” (Romans 4:7).

Withholding our forgiveness can very often cause a brother to lose hope and fall away from Yahweh. If this happens, who is to blame, the person asking for forgiveness or the person who would not forgive? “This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man, so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him”

(2 Corinthians 2:6-8). Saul makes an extremely important point in this passage. What he is saying is that SELF-FORGIVENESS is much harder than forgiving someone else. Someone may have sinned and been punished physically for that sin and be remorseful over having sinned or broken the law. Yet, if no one forgives him and demonstrates that forgiveness in actions rather than with mere words, then he could still be “swallowed up with too much sorrow.” Saul is saying that we need the forgiveness of others in order to have the strength to forgive ourselves. We simply aren’t strong enough to do it alone. Yes, the Holy Spirit gives us strength to endure and overcome many things; however, this is one area where the help of others is required, also. This is so in order to bring the Congregation closer together, to bond us into the “One Body.”  

Forgiveness is a work of faith, in that if we fail to do it, then we really lack faith. “What good is it, my brothers, if a man says he has faith, but has no works? Can faith save him? And if a brother or sister is naked and in lack of daily food, and one of you tells them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled;’ and yet you didn’t give them the things the body needs, what good is it? Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead in itself. Yes, a man will say, ‘You have faith, and I have works.’ Show me your faith from your works, and I, by my works, will show you my faith.’” (James 2:14-18) Forgiveness is food for the spirit just as bread is food for the body.

Yahweh says that when someone repents, is forgiven his sins, and receives the Holy Spirit so that he becomes one with Messiah, he is a new being. He is not the old person who may have committed many heinous sins. “Therefore, if anyone is in Messiah, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

The person who now stands before you, awaiting your demonstration of love, is not, in the eyes of Yahweh and Messiah, the same person who committed those past sins. He is a new being, reborn through forgiveness and the Holy Spirit.

Why We Cannot Forgive

Most people, be they professing Believers or not, don't forgive those who sin against them. Why is this?  Why do we continually disobey the plain word of Yahweh?  There are several reasons.

It Requires Obedience

Obeying Yahweh in this would mean having to obey Him in all things. Most of us are not ready to do this. There are too many worldly pleasures we enjoy and aren't ready to give up. “And by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His Commandments. He that says, I know him, and keeps not His Commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of Yahweh has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him; he that says he remains in Him ought himself also to walk even as He walked,” (1 John 2:3-6).

We Can’t Be A Victim

  Forgiving others would mean we can't play the victim any longer; and we love being the victim. It's almost become the national hobby. Everyone claims to be a victim of some other person or organization. Being the victim gets us noticed and we gain sympathy from other so-called victims and professional apologists. There are few things we enjoy more than commiserating with each other and comparing “poor me” stories. “Everyone was against me when I was a child. They made me dress like a slob. They made me stay dirty. They made me skip school. They made me take drugs.  They made me rob, rape and murder. (Insert crying and sobbing wherever it may be needed.) Can’t you see that I’m a victim of the sins of society?”

Our Savior was mistreated much more than any of us. He was the victim of us all. He was sacrificed so that our sins could be forgiven us. “Like as many were astonished at You, (His visage was so marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men),” (Isaiah 52:14). 

We Love to Hate

When someone sins against us, it gives us the opportunity to hate. And along with loving to be a victim, we just love to hate someone. We revel in our hatred. By not forgiving, we can point to someone else and say, “His sins are greater than mine! My sins are ‘not unto death,’ but his sins are!” Our hatred becomes our comforter when we ourselves sin.  It becomes our justification and sanctification for our own sins. We no longer need Yahshua Messiah to cover our sins with his precious shed blood!  Our Hatred has done this for us! We no longer have to seek the forgiveness of our Heavenly Father, Yahweh!  Our Hatred has forgiven us! Rather than putting on the spirit of Yahshua, we are now clothed with the spirit of Hatred! 

Anything we now do is justified and forgiven by our Hatred.  Greed. Selfishness.  Rudeness.  Malice. Racism.  Betrayal.  Disrespect.  Murder. We deny ourselves no evil toward our hated brethren and fellow man. We take on the spirit of the Inquisition.  “For we also were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving diverse lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another,” (Titus 3:3). It is this Hatred, left unchecked, that will be used by Satan as a major driving force behind the Great Tribulation.  “They shall put you out of the congregations, but an hour is coming when everyone who kills you shall think he is rendering service to Elohim,” (John 16:2).

We Must Take Responsibility

  Closely related to the above is the fact that by forgiving, we would then have to take responsibility for our own actions and our own lives. This is the main reason most of us don't forgive each other. When we grant forgiveness, true forgiveness as Yahweh demands, we have just given up the right to use the other person's actions as an excuse for our own. We can no longer justify ourselves when we, in turn, sin against someone else.

“Well, if I hadn't been so mistreated by (fill in the blank) when I was (fill in the blank), then I wouldn't have (fill in the blank).” That phrase is repeated so often today that it has become the mantra of modern society. What we are really saying is, “It's not my fault!  (Fill in the blank) made me (fill in the blank).”

Friends, Yahweh doesn't buy it. We each have a choice in everything we do. Each of us chooses the way we react to any given situation.  Like it or not, Yahweh holds us accountable for those choices.  “So then each one of us will give account concerning himself to Yahweh” (Romans 14:12).    “But they shall give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead,” (1 Peter 4:5).

What This Means For Us

The choice is yours. You can both not forgive someone when he sins against you and then use his offense as an excuse for your own sins, or you can forgive others their sins and love them as neighbors and brothers.

The latter is the hardest for us to do.  For when we do it, we must also accept full responsibility for our own sins. We have to stand spiritually naked before Yahweh and say, “Yes, Yahweh.  I did it. My only excuse is that I'm a weak person. I made a bad choice. Please forgive me and grant me the strength not to sin in the future.”

Forgiving takes love, courage and character. It builds integrity and righteousness. All of these are requirements for being a true “child of Yahweh.” “Therefore, as the elect of Yahweh, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another, even as Messiah forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of Yahweh rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful” (Colossians 3:12-15). “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and tumult and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, even as Yahweh also, in the Messiah, forgave you,” (Ephesians 4:31-32).

To recap: Yahweh requires us to forgive the sins of those who sin against us before He will forgive our sins. The act of forgiveness is a three step process on our part: 1) Forgive those who sin against us. 2) Acknowledge our own sins to Yahweh. 3) Ask Yahweh to forgive our sins. All of these are acts, or works, of FAITH.  It is an act of faith, that after we have forgiven others, then Yahweh will fulfill His promise and forgive us of our sins. We are to grant forgiveness to others whether they ask it or not.  Forgiveness is, therefore, both a gift of Yahweh and a requirement of Yahweh. In order to claim the former, we must do the latter.

Article INDEX

Faith = Confidence + Action + Loyalty + Maturity

  Thought you were out of school and didn’t have to worry about equations anymore? 
Read this article to see how you measure up!

By Dave Ganton

     In Luke 18:1-8 Yahshua tells a parable about an unrighteous judge. The purpose of this parable was to show that we should pray and not lose heart or become discouraged if the answer didn't come immediately.  He finishes the story with a question that we will investigate in this study. Verse 8 last part, “Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

It’s sad that our great and awesome Savior would have to ask such a question. Since He did it is imperative that we come to the condition that we can answer Him, “Yes Master you will.”

      To begin we must first understand what faith is. Hebrews 11:1 “ Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”(RSV throughout) Examine this scripture closely. There are two things contained within it that remove all basis for doubt, assurance and evidence. Lets examine these things closely. They both come from the same source. Isaiah 55:11 “So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” Numbers 23:19 Elohim is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should repent. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfil it? Isaiah 40:8 The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our Elohim will stand for ever. Malachi 3:6 "For I Yahweh do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed

      Yahweh is telling us that His word is sure and nothing can change it. His Son is no different. He tells us the very same thing. Matthew 24:35 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” Hebrews 13:8 “Yahshua Our Master is the same yesterday and today and for ever.” We have just received Yahweh and Yahshua's assurance that what they say is sure and unchangeable. His word should also be our evidence, but being weak humans, who are not always true to our word, it is not. How then do we get this evidence that is one of the ingredients of faith? 

      The assurance we have constantly with us in the scriptures. The evidence comes to us in a more personal way. This component of faith we can block so that we will not receive it. If we obstruct the source of the evidence we negate the assurance so that it means nothing and thus our faith does not exist. This facet of faith comes through what we see Yahweh doing in our lives everyday. We can prevent Him presenting this evidence.

      Let’s look at an example of how we can prevent Yahweh from producing evidence that His word is true and unchangeable. Since the Sabbath is the most noticeable sign of this way of life and the one that most of us encounter at the beginning of our life changing call, let us use that as an example. Most reading this will be able to identify with this situation because we have encountered it.

      We discover in the scriptures that we must not work on the Sabbath but are to set it apart as a day of worship. Our jobs demand that we work on this day as most of the world does.

We have a decision to make. It is a difficult choice. We have a family to feed, rent or mortgage to pay, and bills to pay. We are told that if we don't work on the Sabbath we will be fired.

The economy is bad and jobs are scarce. What are we to do? Yahshua gives us some excellent advice to help us make the choice. Matt.6: 24-34 When you read this scripture take special note of verse 33 “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.” The One who said this is the same One that promised us eternal life in Yahweh's kingdom. John 3:16 For Elohim so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 10:28 “and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand.” We are all willing to stake our lives on the fact that these scriptures concerning eternal life are true. Should we not feel the same about the promise to provide the physical things we need?

      If we give in and decide to work on the Sabbath, we will never know if Yahweh would lead us to another job or perhaps cause our employer to change his mind and allow us to have Sabbath off. If we don't step out and take Yahweh at His word we prevent Him from producing the evidence that He will definitely intervene for us according to His word. If He will not honour the promise to provide for us in this life He will not honour the promise to provide for us in the next life. I use this example because most of us have had to make this decision.

There are many other instances where we can prevent Yahweh from providing us with evidence that He is faithful to His word. Some may not be as prominent as the Sabbath and the Festival times but will be just as evident to each individual that is watching.

      Since we have His assurance and if we allow Him to provide the evidence something wonderful happens. Each time we take Him at His word and see Him act on our behalf, we gain confidence. Eph.3:11 This was according to the eternal purpose which he has realized in Our Master Yahshua our Messiah, 12  in whom we have boldness and confidence of access through our faith in him. 1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence which we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. Hebrews 4:16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

      When we see the evidence of Yahweh's faithfulness and loyalty to us, our loyalty to Him grows as well. Let’s look at a human example of how this would work. One is married to a spouse who has proven to be faithful to the marriage vows. This one is suddenly faced with an opportunity to have an affair and be unfaithful to their spouse. Would one immediately take advantage of the situation and jeopardize the love, loyalty and trust that their spouse feels for them or would one be more apt to weigh the consequences of such an act and make the correct decision and remain loyal to their spouse?

      We are called the bride of Messiah. Revelation 19:7 Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; Revelation 21:9  Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues, and spoke to me, saying, "Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb." Since our Groom has given us irrefutable evidence of His loyalty to us we will think twice before we are disloyal to Him and jeopardize our loving, trusting relationship.

      Just as in a marriage between a man and a woman, the all engulfing glow of first love wears off so the glow of first love that comes with conversion wears off. But does it really wear off or does it change and grow into something else? As the everyday reality of marriage hits us when children come along and our responsibility increases to care for them and provide for them a marriage union matures and grows into something very special. The love is still there stronger than ever but the impetuosity of young love has grown into mature love that includes more than our immediate selves. Our love becomes larger as it grows to include children that are the result of this love. Our love matures.

      It is the same with our spiritual conversion. In the beginning it also includes only ourselves, and Yahweh. As we mature we realize that we are not called for just personal salvation, but to grow in grace and knowledge and allow our love to grow larger. 2 Peter 3:18 “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Master and Savior Yahshua Our Messiah. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity.” We are to strive to become like our Messiah Yahshua. Ephesians 4:13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of Elohim, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Messiah. As we come to this maturity we discover that we are to be growing and learning how to share what we have been given by Yahweh. Not all are evangelists or preachers but all can share with those they come in contact with.

     This is the final ingredient in the spiritual equation: Action. James 2:14 What does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has not works? Can his faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is ill-clad and in lack of daily food,16  and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. 18 But some one will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith.19 You believe that Elohim is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder. 20 Do you want to be shown, you shallow man, that faith apart from works is barren? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by works.

      Yahshua told us that we are the light of the world. Matthew 5:14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid.” Yahshua goes on to tell us how to let this light shine to the world. verse 16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in Heaven.”

      We do this by our attitude and our actions. This light is the soft warm glow of Yahweh's Spirit shining from us. We represent Him and His Son to those we encounter in our everyday lives. This light is a beacon in the darkness that can illuminate the path of those that see it.

1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify Yahweh  Elohim in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.

Sometimes our light will draw others to ask questions concerning our way of life. To come to this state of maturity we are given very crucial advice because Yahweh could be using you to aid a babe in Messiah. 2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto Elohim, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Your action or works must be governed by true knowledge. True knowledge comes from deep study of the scriptures.

      At this point let’s add all this up and come to the final result of faith. Faith which is the assurance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen, (Heb.11:1) will result in Confidence, Action, Loyalty, Maturity. Notice the highlighted letters in each of these words. They spell “CALM! This calm is what we need to face the trials and tests that we encounter as followers of Yahweh. As Yahweh has provided everything else we need to succeed, He provides this as well through Yahshua. John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” The word “peace” in this scripture means quietness of spirit, peace of mind or calmness. Yahshua had this calm and He gives it to us through His mind that is within us through the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 2:16  "For who has known the mind of Yahweh so as to instruct him?" But we have the mind of Messiah.

      We must always remain calm in the face of trial and our mind will be clear to act and not react. When we act we think first. Reaction comes without thought. To act wisely we must think calmly. Yahweh's Spirit and faith will give us this calm. Let us work diligently on this calm and we will be able to answer the question that Yahshua asks; Luke 18:8 I tell you, he will vindicate them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, will he find faith on earth?" Yes Master you will. He can then say to us; Matthew 25:21 His master said to him, ’Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.’

      HalleluYah!!!  May Yahweh bless your studies.   Elder Dave Ganton

  Article INDEX

  A Short History of 
"Christmas" Customs

By Thomas “Arkie” Hobbs

The Americana (volume 6, page 623), as copyrighted by the Americana Corporation in 1937, reveals the following: 

{CHRISTMAS: It was, according to many authorities, not celebrated in the first centuries of the Christian Church, as the Christian usage in general was to celebrate the death of remarkable persons rather than their birth.}

The above quotation is true. While they were under the supervision of the Apostles, they did not observe any day in commemoration of YAHshua's birthday. Instead, they obediently observed the commemoration of His death (the 14th day of Nisan). Continuing:

{... In the 5th century the Western Church ordered it to be celebrated forever on the day of the old Roman feast of the birth of Sol, as no certain knowledge of the day of Christ's birth existed. Among the German and Celtic tribes the winter solstice was considered an important point of the year, and they held their chief festival of Yule to commemorate the return of the burning-wheel [symbol for the sun].}

The World Book Encyclopedia, as copyrighted in 1948 by Field enterprises (vol. 3, page 1425), states the following:

{No one knows definitely when the Christmas festival was first celebrated. It is spoken of in the 400's by Clement of Alexandria. Chrysostom speaks of it in the 380's as a custom of long standing. Other dates were often celebrated as the day of the Nativity, but in the year 354, by order of Bishop Liberius of Rome, December 25 was adopted. The early Church Fathers probably chose December 25 because the feast of the sun, or winter solstice, was a familiar Roman feast celebrating the victory of the light over darkness. This idea was easily turned from a pagan to a Christian one, since Christians consider Christ as the light of life.}

The Compton's Encyclopedia and Fact-Index (Volume 5, page 332 & 333), as copyrighted in 1970 by F. E. Compton Co., Division of Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., reveals the following:

{The Origin of December 25 as Christmas: The exact date of Christ's birth is not known. For the first two centuries, while Christians were being persecuted for their new faith, the Christian church did not celebrate Christmas. Soon after A.D. 200, however, Christmas was being observed, but on various dates-especially January 6, March 25, and December 25. By the middle of the 4th century the church in the West (the Roman Catholic church) was celebrating Christmas on December 25. Later various branches of the Orthodox Eastern church also accepted December 25 for observing Christ's birthday.} 

The clause in the second sentence "while Christians were being persecuted for their new faith" could be very misleading. Concerning whether or not the Congregation of YAHshua observed a day in commemoration of His birthday, persecution was not an issue. As seen in the quotation from the Americana, the true reason was that they commemorated the deaths of remarkable persons instead of their births. Continuing: 

{In England the festival came to be called Christes Masse (Christ's Mass) because a special Mass was said that day. The French name Noel, the Spanish Natividad, and the Italian Natale mean "birthday." Germans call the season Weihnachten, "holy nights."} 

Many of the customs associated with Christmas came from elements of ancient pagan worship. Continuing:

{Many of the customs now associated with Christmas go back thousands of years when the people of Europe worshipped pagan gods. They celebrated the winter solstice, December 21 or 22, as the birthday of the sun-heralding the beginning of longer days. The early Christian church [not the original Assembly that was under the supervision of YAHshua's Apostles] took the ancient festival time and gave new meaning to it -the religious meaning of Christianity- and made it a holy season.} 

The "Church" made the pagan customs and season that are in honor of the sun and other false gods holy by honoring YAHshua (the Son of YAHWEH) and YAHWEH and made it a holy season? Ridiculous! Only YAHWEH, not humans, can make a season holy. One can not keep a season holy that YAHWEH did not make holy. By not polluting them, one can only keep the seasons holy that YAHWEH made holy

Continuing from Compton's Encyclopedia and Fact-Index

{Many of the customs can be traced back to the pagan midwinter festival of the Teutonic people of northern Europe. It was their gayest time of the year. They called the month Yule, or Jol, from which comes the word "jolly." Closed in by winters of bitter cold and long nights, they rejoiced when the year's shortest day passed, for they knew the sun would then grow stronger and the days longer.} 

One should also consider very carefully the origin of the "Yule log" and the traditional "Christmas ham." Continuing:

{The Yule Log and Boar's Head Two of their great festival customs were bringing in the yule log and the procession of the boar's head. The great yule log was brought in on Christmas Eve and was lighted with a brand kept from the log of the year before. Its ashes, saved through the year, were supposed to guard the house from fire and lightning. They were also thought to have power to heal wounds and to make animals and fields fertile. The boar's head procession goes back to when the Teutons believed the hog harbored the spirit which made corn grow. At yule time they sacrificed a boar to the "corn spirit" to bring good crops, then ate the meat. In Scandinavia today the boar is represented by little cakes or bread loaves baked in the shape of a pig. In medieval England a boar's head was brought into every Christmas banquet.} 

The World Book Encyclopedia, as copyrighted in 1948 by Field enterprises (vol. 3, page 1425) states the following: 

{The giving of presents and the use of holly, mistletoe, Yule logs (see Yule), and wassail bowl have all come to us from the days before Christianity...When the pagans of Northern Europe became Christians, they made their sacred evergreen trees part of the Christian festival, and decorated the trees with gilded nuts, candles (a carry-over from sun worship), and apples to stand for the stars, moon, and sun.}

From The World Book Encyclopedia (volume 18 page 8992) we find this:

{YULE, yool, is an old name for the Christmas season. The term comes from the Anglo-Saxon word for the months of December and January. The Anglo-Saxons called December "the former Yule," and January "the after Yule." The early pagans of Scandinavian countries held Yule festivals near the end of each year. After Christianity was introduced into Europe, these festivals became Christmas celebrations. The custom of burning a yule log started in pagan times. The early Norsemen honored Thor, their god of war, by burning a yule log with great ceremony during the yule season.}

The Americana (vol. 6, page 623), as copyrighted by the Americana Corporation in 1937, reveals the following:

{...The holly, the mistletoe, the Yule log and the wassail bowl are relics of pre-Christian times...The custom of making presents at Christmas is derived from ancient usage; but it has become consecrated by ages, and contributes greatly to make this festival an interesting event to families.}

"Consecrated by ages"? Since when is anything consecrated by ages? Everything to be consecrated to YAHWEH can only be consecrated by the authority of YAHWEH, not by ages nor tradition!)

If one seriously wishes to trace to their Babylonian roots the origin of a great many of the traditions that have been adopted by professing "Christianity," there are many books written on this subject. Two books that are worthy to be mentioned for tracing the history of the so-called "Christian" holidays and customs are: Babylon Mystery Religion-Ancient and Modern by Ralph Wood-row, and The Two Babylons by Alexander Hislop. In both books, there are much deeper discussions on the pagan traditions and customs that have been adapted to Easter and Christmas. These books also reveal many other pagan traditions and customs that have been adapted into "Christianity's" common rituals and acts of public and private worship.

It may seem to be a good idea to see how the pagans worshipped their gods and recruit them by "Christianizing" (changing the names and meanings to things concerning YAHWEH and YAHshua) their pagan customs and festivals. Many people think that it is all right to worship with the pagan customs and festivals as long as they worship YAHWEH instead of the pagan gods, BUT---YAHWEH SAYS through the mouth of Moses and Jeremiah:

Deu. 12 (29) When YAHWEH thy Elohim shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their land; (30) Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that THOU INQUIRE NOT AFTER THEIR ELOHIM, SAYING, HOW DID THESE NATIONS SERVE THEIR ELOHIM? EVEN SO WILL I DO LIKEWISE. (31) THOU SHALT NOT DO SO UNTO YAHWEH THY ELOHIM: for every abomination to YAHWEH, which HE hateth, have they done unto their elohim; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their elohim. (32) What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: THOU SHALT NOT ADD THERETO, NOR DIMINISH FROM IT.

Jer. 10 (1) Hear ye the word which YAHWEH speaketh unto you, O house of Israel: (2) Thus saith YAHWEH, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. (3) For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the ax. (4) They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. (5) They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.

The last sentence in the above quotation does not mean that there is neither harm or nor good in having them. It means that the pagan's wooden idols have no life, and they have no power of their own to do good or to do harm to anyone. The description of the wooden idol that Jeremiah was describing is also a perfect description of modern day "Christianity's" Christmas tree. The "christianized" Christmas tree that has been adopted from the pagan custom of using evergreens in their idolatrous winter solstice season is just as lifeless and it is just as abominable to YAHWEH as the pagan's wooden idol! Therefore before one chooses to use elements of pagan worship in the worship of YAHWEH, one would be wise to carefully consider the following quotation.

Deu. 4 (1) Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which YAHWEH, Elohim of your fathers giveth you. (2) Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of YAHWEH your Elohim which I command you.

If one wisely chooses to completely replace those pagan customs and practices that have been added to the gospel and build upon the foundation of YAHshua with only the TRADITIONS that YAHWEH ordained for HIS people, the RUDIMENTS of the KINGDOM of HEAVEN, the COMMANDMENTS of YAHWEH, and the CUSTOMS that HE instituted one will be in compliance with the following command.

Deu. 6 (4) Hear, O Israel: YAHWEH our ELOHIM is one YAHWEH: (5) And thou shalt love YAHWEH thy ELOHIM with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

May YAHWEH richly bless all who have read article and were not offended.

T.A.H.

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