Subject: U.S.A. the Babylon of Revelations 18? |
Bible Note: Just an FYI, there is no temple in Jerusalem at the present time. No, I wouldn't offer up sacrifice for sin, that has already been accomplished. But I would and will offer a peace offering as did Abraham and Jacob if ever the temple is rebuilt in my lifetime. And you are correct, I also will be led by grace. Torah was grace, otherwise men would have no concept of how to live, it was the only time the almighty Elohim ever spoke to an entire nation, and the whole group heard the commands and agreed to follow. We sir, are grafted into that group through faith. Romans 11 says we are grafted, and that we should not boast against the branches lest we be also cut off by unbelief. I believe and accept the authority of Scripture. The Scripture Paul used and love is what is commonly called Old Testament. That testament still lives! Thousands got saved by through this 'old' testament. Yah'shua preached from it, Paul preached from it, they agreed that it was valid. Heb 8:7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. Heb 8:8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: Heb 8:9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. Heb 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: Heb 8:11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. Heb 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. Heb 8:13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away. I ask about this new covenant, has it been established yet? Do you still teach your neighbors about the Lord? Do all people know him? We have promise of this coming to pass, but evidence would indicate that this promise while partially filled, has not been fully fulfilled. We have more to come! That is what is so exciting! Some day this will be, and there will be no more question, because the Father and the Lamb will dwell with us and we will know as we are known! Thanks for the reference to Titus. Check out verse 14. Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. iniquity is translated from G458: illegality, that is, violation of law or (generally) wickedness: - iniquity, X transgress (-ion of) the law, unrighteousness. The root of G458 comes from G459: From G1 (as a negative particle) and G3551; lawless, that is, (negatively) not subject to (the Jewish) law; (by implication a Gentile), or (positively) wicked: - without law, lawless, transgressor, unlawful, wicked. So this iniquity word would be well translated lawless. The good works would be the positive commands of Torah. Torah contains negative commands, ie, the thou shalt nots. It also contains positive commands, the do this. It contains specific instructions on how to treat the poor and unfortunant, how to respect parents and elders. These are the good works we should be doing BECAUSE we are saved, not so that we can be saved. Remember, faith does not nullify Torah. Romans 3:31 Paul said he establishes the law. He might well have said properly established, as in put faith first as it belongs, and obedience as a result of this faith. |