Members of Grace Lutheran Church are admonished to abandon the Broad-Way of today’s lawless Christianity and to embrace the Narrow-Way of Apostolic Christianity as practiced by all of the Apostles of the first century Church, including the Apostle Paul.
Email From a Pastor in Paris, Texas And My Follow-up Reply
Received your petition on our church door this morning. Interesting, but not very edifying. I was interested in how many time you quoted the apostles and evangelist of the Messiah without mentioning the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20 and the book of Acts) In your Scripture quotations you sited Hebrews, an epistle written specifically to Hebrew converts who because of Nero’s persecution of Christians were considering returning to their old religion, but the writer to the Hebrews warns against such a return. He says in chapter 8, “if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second.” (Hebrews 8:7, ESV). Now this is just one of many passages in Holy Scripture which points to a new covenant with Christ and these you seem to purposely omit. Such as Acts chapter 10 and then, of course, we cannot omit St. Paul and his letter to the Romans chapter 3, especially; “Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.” (Romans 3: 27-28, ESV).
As Lutherans, we teach the Decalog to all our catechism students. It is essential to know the Ten Commandments and to live your life according to them, because without the Law you cannot know sin. But the Law is meant only to condemn, it cannot save! Only the Gospel saves, the Gospel of the forgiveness of sins in the name of the Christ, the Son of the Living God, our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Want to know more. I am at your disposal.
Blessings,
Rev. ________________
Pastor, _________________ Church
Paris, TX
Greetings Pastor ___________,
Thank you for your email. I was not sent to edify but to warn. As you are aware, Prophets who were sent to God's people with a message to repent were not well received. Most were persecuted and murdered, not by pagans or the heathens, but by people who proclaimed themselves to be the righteous people of God. I have not been sent to the lost, but rather to those who believe they are the saved righteous of God, but falsely believe they do not have an obligation nor need to keep His Commandments or Divine Torah (laws).
Pastor _________, do you believe prophets exist today under the New Covenant? Do you believe that I am a true Prophet called by the Almighty GOD? Did you read my Testimony or browse my website to see exactly where I am coming from prior to sending your email? The Scripture states, "He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him." Proverbs 18:13
I actually agree with some of the points you made in your email. However, I must disagree with several of your points which are misconceptions about what the Scriptures really teach. I agree with you totally that Salvation comes by grace through faith in the Messiah or Christ, the Son of GOD. Having said that, I would disagree with your definition and interpretation of Bible faith, which is true faith. You apparently believe that Bible faith can exist without a corresponding and subsequent obedience to the Torah or law of God, which in turn will produce sanctification and good works in the life of the believer. Faith without this subsequent and corresponding obedience is not saving faith, but is a faith that is deficient and imperfect.
Pastor __________, can you explain this Scripture in James 2:19-26:
Jas 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
Jas 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
Jas 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
Jas 2:22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
Jas 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
Jas 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
Jas 2:25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
Jas 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Now Pastor __________ I will ask you several questions regarding the Decalogue (Ten Words):
You mentioned that " As Lutherans, we teach the Decalog to all our catechism students. " Do you teach the Bible version from Exodus chapter 20 or the Catholic version from Rome?
Is the Ten Commandments a part of the New Covenant or were they just a part of the Old Covenant? If they are not a part of the New Covenant, then why teach them to catechism students?
You mentioned that "It is essential to know the Ten Commandments and to live your life according to them, because without the Law you cannot know sin." Pastor ________, what is the definition of sin?
Why is it essential for a Christian to know the Ten Commandments and live their life according to them, if salvation comes by grace through faith alone?
Why does the Christian Bible even contain the Tenakh (Old Testament)? Isn't the Old Testament and the Old Covenant the same? Why not just eliminate two-thirds of the Bible and use only the New Testament Scriptures in our New Testament Churches. Wouldn't that be more convenient? What do you think?
Pastor _________, under the Old Covenant, were people saved by keeping the law or by grace through faith?
Pastor _________, why do you, your Church members, and all New-Testament Christians break the first four of the Ten Commandments on a regular basis and think that it does not matter nor will it affect their entrance into the Kingdom of God?
You mentioned that " I was interested in how many time you quoted the apostles and evangelist of the Messiah without mentioning the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20 and the book of Acts)"
Pastor _________, I will now address the first part of your email last.
The Great Commission:
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Notice that in this Scripture Messiah Yahushua says "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:......" I believe that True believers are to keep all of the Commandments contained in Royal Torah. I believe that the Commandments of Yahushua are the same as those of His Father, which sent Him. Messiah Yahushua kept the Torah and the Commandments, all of the Apostles and early disciples also kept the Torah and Commandments. What do you think, Pastor _________?
I believe the Christian Church, by and large, has only carried out Messiah's instructions in verse 19 and they have misunderstood and/or failed to carry out the essential instructions in verse 20 ever since it divorced itself from the Hebrew Bible (Tenakh) and their Hebrew roots in the 2nd Century (CE) until present. What are your thoughts on this?
Pastor _________, I believe the result of a Great Commission that only teaches people to "believe in Jesus" but fails to teach them to keep the Commandments and obey the Royal Torah is a perverted gospel which proclaims a deficient and imperfect faith that is dead and cannot bring salvation. Behold the 21st Century Christian Church, which I believe resembles the world so much that it cannot be distinguished apart. I wonder if Messiah's warning in Matthew 7 might pertain to these unfortunate and antinomian people? What do you think?
(21) Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
(22) Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
(23) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
You mentioned in your closing "Want to know more. I am at your disposal." Pastor _________, thank you so much for making yourself available to instruct me in the Scriptures and for placing yourself at me disposal. I only have two more questions for now.
Pastor _________, I am confused about something. Statistics indicate that there are currently over two billion (2,000,000,000) professing Christians in the world today, and that number is growing. Are all of this vast number of people, who believe in Jesus, going into the Kingdom of God? Matthew 7:13-14 seems to indicate that only a relatively small number or remnant will actually find and travel the narrow way that leads to life. On the other hand, the masses will go through the wide gate and travel the broad way that leads to destruction! What do you think?
Last question: Pastor _________, do you consider yourself a Gentile or an Israelite?
Thank you so much for your time and interest.
Blessings to you,
Gerald Barnes ~ Prophet of Yahuwah
Disturb The Shalom LLC
Clarksville, Texas 75426
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