Transcript of Sabbath Meeting - 09/17/99

This week we will come upon the Day of Atonement

A day where we need to consider our ways, how we have walked

Are we walking in the will of Yahweh?

What areas of our life do we find ourselves falling short?

Let's examine ourselves and see where we must repent

And let's solemnly consider the atonement of Yahshua given toward those who repent and accept Him

So tonight I would like to share some scriptures on a subject that I have shared before..

but it is so important

It is the subject of repentance

One of the fundamental aspects of our faith is Repentance

Hebrews 6:1 - Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of the Messiah, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward YAHWEH,

Hebrews 6:2 - of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

Hebrews 6:3 - And this we will do if YAHWEH permits.

however I believe it is rarely understood fully.

We are told in the book of Acts to

Acts 2:38 - Then Kepha said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Yahushua the Messiah for the forgiveness of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

But what is Repentance?

What does it mean to repent?

Let's examine the scriptures..

First of all, repentance must involve humility

Here is the example of Josiah

2Kings 22:16 - Thus saith YAHWEH, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah hath read:

2Kings 22:17 - Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other elohim, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my wrath shall be kindled against this place, and shall not be quenched.

2Kings 22:18 - But to the king of Judah which sent you to inquire of YAHWEH, thus shall ye say to him, Thus saith YAHWEH Elohim of Israel, As touching the words which thou hast heard;

2Kings 22:19 - Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before YAHWEH, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee, saith YAHWEH.

2Kings 22:20 - Behold therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace; and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place. And they brought the king word again.

This is very important

In the example of Ninevah who repented at the teaching of Jonah..

..we see that Repentance is accompanied by a commitment to change, to turn from Righteousness and to cease from unrighteousness

Jonah 3:5 - So the people of Nineveh believed Elohim, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.

Jonah 3:6 - For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

Jonah 3:7 - And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water:

Jonah 3:8 - But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto Elohim: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands.

Jonah 3:9 - Who can tell if Elohim will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?

Notice the next verse

Jonah 3:10 - And Elohim saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and Elohim repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.

I believe that sincere repentance is a work

He saw their humility and commitment to turn away from evil. And so, repentance is actually a 'work'. But did Yahweh repent also?

Consider for a moment that Yahweh has a certain standard of righteousness.

When man goes 'against' that standard of righteousness it is likened unto a man walknig in the face of a mighty wind.

But when one repents, he changed direction and goes with the wind that was at one time against him.

In the case of Ninevah, Yahweh's planned destruction changed because THEY changed, not Yahweh.

Yahweh does not change, His standard of righteousness, His law endures forever.

Where we stand in relation to it will determine our fate.

More examples of repentance in scripture:

Luke 18:10 - Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

Luke 18:11 - The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, Elohim, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

Luke 18:12 - I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

Luke 18:13 - And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, Elohim be merciful to me a sinner.

Luke 18:14 - I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

The humble one walked away justified

But let it be clear that sorrow in and of itself is not necessarily repentance.

There are many who are sorry for their sins but it produces nothing

True repentance starts with sorrow and produces good works.

Paul, when he wrote to the Corinthians in his second letter rejoiced to see their sorrow turn to true repentance:

2Corinthians 7:8 - For though I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it-- for I see that that letter caused you sorrow, though only for a while--

2Corinthians 7:9 - I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to {the will of} Elohim, in order that you might not suffer loss in anything through us.

2Corinthians 7:10 - For the sorrow that is according to Elohim produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

2Corinthians 7:11 - For behold what earnestness this very thing, this sorrow according to Elohim, has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what avenging of wrong! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter.

Isaiah 55:7 - Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto YAHWEH, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our Elohim, for he will abundantly pardon.

Jeremiah 3:12 - Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith YAHWEH; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith YAHWEH, and I will not keep anger for ever.

Psalms 34:18 - YAHWEH is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

Psalms 51:17 - The sacrifices of Elohim are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O Elohim, thou wilt not despise.

Isaiah 66:1 - Thus saith YAHWEH, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?

Isaiah 66:2 - For all those things hath mine hand made, and those things have been, saith YAHWEH: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

Joel 2:13 - And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto YAHWEH your Elohim: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

It is also very false to teach that Paul never believed in a working faith:

Acts 26:19 - Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:

Acts 26:20 - But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to YAHWEH, and do works meet for repentance.

While it is truth that we are saved by grace it is also truth that we are saved by grace because we have REPENTED.

And we should continue to do works worthy of repentance.

Now that we have established some meaning behind the word 'repent', the question should be asked "What exactly are we supposed to be repenting of?"

'Our sins' says the multitude.

Yes, this is true

Ezekiel 18:20 - The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

Ezekiel 18:21 - But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

But what is sin?

What is righteousness?

What do the scriptures say?

The scriptures say that keeping the Torah/LAW is righteousness

Deuteronomy 6:25 - And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before YAHWEH our Elohim, as he hath commanded us.

Psalms 19:9 - The fear of YAHWEH is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of YAHWEH are true and righteous altogether.

Psalms 119:123 - Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, and for the word of thy righteousness.

Psalms 119:172 - My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.

Psalms 119:160 - Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

YES

It was true even in Yahshua's day

The parents of John the baptist...

Luke 1:5 - There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

Luke 1:6 - And they were both righteous before YAHWEH, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of YAHWEH blameless.

Romans 6:15 - What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under favor? By no means!!

Romans 6:16 - Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

Sin leads to death and obedience leads to righteousness.

Here is another verse showing that sin is simply "unrighteousness"

1John 5:17 - All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.

Well, if obedience to the law is righteousness...transgression of the law is sin/unrighteousness!

1John 3:4 - Whoever commits sin trangresses also the law, for sin is the transgression of the law.

1John 3:5 - And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin.

1John 3:6 - Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.

1John 3:7 - Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.

1John 3:8 - He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of YAHWEH was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

1John 3:9 - Whoever has been born of YAHWEH does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of YAHWEH.

1John 3:10 - In this the children of YAHWEH and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of YAHWEH, nor is he who does not love his brother.

Especially in the light of other scriptures showing that keeping Yahweh's law is righteousness. And not keeping Yahweh's law is unrighteousness

So again, clearly transgression of the law is sin... obedience to His law is righteousness Let us look at verse 4 again:

1John 3:4 - Whoever commits sin trangresses also the law, for sin is the transgression of the law.

Anomia, From 459; illegality, i.e. in violation of the law or (gen.) wickedness

There is a fascinating word study that can be done when we examine all the verses that this word and also 'anomos' (458) is translated to.

So now that we know what sin is, what about all those that seem to say His law need not be kept by His people?

They are teachers of unrighteousness.. lawless teachers

His law is what tells us what sin is! They say His law has been replaced by "LOVE" but it is His law that teaches us HOW to love!

And we should always consider..

that this is the original purpose for the law

Many times the law can be misapplied or misunderstood when we do not have this understanding as our backdrop

So all the scriptures that we see that tell us to repent..to turn away from sin, to live righteously..

We should consider that the very definition of living righteously is to live according to His torah of love

But have we not failed?

Brothers, sisters..ALL of us have failed

But His law includes a provision for that also

It's called MERCY

. Yahweh is righteous, therefore He has to have mercy!

Being merciful is a part of being righteous.. and mercy is a part of His law!

Matthew 23:23 - Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

Not only is mercy a part of the law, but it is one of the 'weightier matters of the law'

But did Yahshua condemn them in this verse 23 for keeping the finer points?

No, He said these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone!

We also must practice mercy!

But on some, (Yahweh knows them) mercy doesn't work because they don't care :(

Isaiah 26:10 - Let favour be shewed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness: in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of YAHWEH.

We see many examples of this today. We hear plenty of messages from mainstream Christianity telling us about His grace and mercy... And that's great...but There are but very few messages on REPENTING and living righteously by living according to His commandments!

When all the while it is repentance that is required from our hand to receive His mercy!

Some even go so far to say that His law is a burden and need not even be kept

This is sooo far from the truth! It is satan's grand deception!

2Thessalonians 2:7 - For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

2Thessalonians 2:8 - And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom Yahushua shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

2Thessalonians 2:9 - Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

2Thessalonians 2:10 - And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

What is truth?

John 17:17 - Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

When Yahshua said this, there was no 'new testament'

His word is always truth

Continuing

2Thessalonians 2:11 - And for this cause YAHWEH shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

Yahweh will send them a strong delusion

If the delusion is from Yahweh, it is sure to be strong!

2Thessalonians 2:12 - That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

As we have discussed.... Breaking/transgressing the law of Yahweh

So if they loved not the truth.. if instead they had pleasure in unrighteousness..

And unrighteousness is sin and sin is transgression of the law..

..then the fact remains that most people who accept the Messiah are NOT FULLY REPENTING because they are taught they need not repent of breaking Yahweh's law! :(

Now I am not saying that Yahweh requires something of a man what he does not know

but Yahweh does know the heart

And He desires all to seek the truth

If one decides instead to follow man

Then this is quite dangerous ground to tread

Yet many say to me, oh look at all the wonderful miracles that are done! How can all these people be deceived, do not the miracles testify that they are walking in righteousness and are accepted by Yahweh?

Yes, Some are...

But let's remember Yahshua's words:

Matthew 7:21 - Not every one that saith unto me, Rabbi, Rabbi, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 7:22 - Many will say to me in that day, Rabbi, Rabbi, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

Matthew 7:23 - And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

"anomia", The same word used in 1john 3:4...transgression of the law! The "Mystery of Anomia" is at work today brothers and sisters!

Therefore, let us not be decieved by the so called miracles. On judgement day, they mean NOTHING.

Revelations 14:12 - Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of YAHWEH and the faith of Yahushua.

Yahshua was and is perfect, therefore since we have sinned by transgressing the law (Yes, we all have!!), it is thru Yahshua that we are made righteous!

Romans 5:18 - Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

Romans 5:19 - For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

Yahweh not only gives us righteous commandments that teach us how to love one another and to love Him but He also has given us His SON who has redeemed us, sanctified us and washed away our sins so that we are pure and blameless in His sight!

Not only that, He gave us His Son to be our example of HOW to keep His commanmdents! WHAT A BLESSING!!!!!!! HALLELUYAH!!!

Now we don't need to walk around in gloom for our past failures to live according to His law but now we are free...free...FREE...TO....

Transgress His law again???? :((

That is what is taught by the mainstream and it is total falsehood :(( This is an insult to our Master Yahshua!

Romans 15:16 - That I should be the minister of Yahushua the Messiah to the Gentiles, ministering the glad tidings of YAHWEH, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

Romans 6:15 - What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under favor? By no means!!

Romans 6:16 - Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

Let's bear fruits worthy of repentance. When we see something in His law that we need to be doing, we need to get on our knees and repent right then and there!!!

David did not delay when he was shown his sin. We should not either.

Yahweh has promised to lead us in that path of righteousness when we seek:

Matthew 6:33 - But seek ye first the kingdom of YAHWEH, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Matthew 5:6 - Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

John 6:63 - It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

The law IS spiritual!

Romans 7:14 - For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

Romans 8:5 - For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

Romans 8:6 - For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Romans 8:7 - Because the carnal mind is enmity against YAHWEH: for it is not subject to the law of YAHWEH, neither indeed can be.

But satan has deceived the whole world into thinking that it is only the New Testament that defines what is right and what is wrong.

A major problem with that is the New Testament was never even written when Kepha/Peter, Phillip, Paul, Barnabas, John, James and all the other men of Yahweh were telling people to repent!!!

People in those days couldn't just turn to the New Testament to understand what sin was so what did they have to look at?

The Spirit can teach us

And the scripture should always confirm:

NEVER are they at odds with one another!

In fact, Paul said it well:

2Timothy 3:15 - And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Yahushua ha Mashiach.

2Timothy 3:16 - All scripture is given by inspiration of YAHWEH, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2Timothy 3:17 - That the man of YAHWEH may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

In this passage, the Holy Scriptures carried 7 characteristics:

1. They made one wise unto salvation

2. They were given by inspiration of Yahweh

3. All scripture is profitable for doctrine

4. All scripture is profitable for reproof

5. All scripture is profitable for correction

6. All scripture is profitable for instruction in righteousness

7. Knowledge of scripture causes one to be perfected and equipped/furnished for applying good works

So again, the law and the prophets teaches us how to have works worthy of repentance

Therefore brothers, let us seek diligently the commandments of Yahweh and walk according to the light He has given us

Don't let those who break even the least of the commandments and teaches men so decieve us into following their example

The Ultimate Example given for us is Yahshua, and He didn't fail to do even one jot or tittle of Yahweh's law!

And when we do fail, do not forget the One who understands..

Hebrews 4:15 - For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Like David, I have found this to be true of Yahweh our Elohim:

Psalms 23:3 - He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

For His name's sake

He doesn't want people who are seeking Him and are called by His name to be lead into unrighteousness, He loves His name. HalleluYah because I do too!!

Don't be afraid of those who call you a legalist and condemn you for trying to walk as Yahshua walked, if it is out of love for HIM, their condemnation is not from Yahweh

Where do we ever see Yahweh condemning someone for TRULY repenting and walking in righteousness by doing as He commanded?

Therefore, this coming Day of Atonement...let's consider these things

Let's look into His Torah

And look at our example Yahshua

And seek out what we must repent of

Yahshua is the example, if He kept the Sabbath and you do not, REPENT and KEEP IT.

If He kept the feast days and you do not, REPENT and KEEP THEM.

If He kept ANY of the commandments that you do not, by all means REPENT and DO THEM....surely Yahweh will be with you!

John 8:29 - And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.

And may Yahweh bless you all and grant you peace and truth!