We strongly believe that it is not our place to decide what the truth is about salvation; how to attain it and then teach others our understanding as if we are correct in our own words and comprehension. We believe that such an incredibly important topic as this can only be taught by one person, and that is our AMAZING MESSIAH! YAHUSHUA!
He is, after all, our Teacher and our Example. He is our Rabbi, High Priest, Pastor, Shepherd, Messiah and Saviour! No other person is, right?
Therefore, we choose to not teach but rather share our Teacher's words on the subject. We are disciples and He is our Teacher
.
Since the time of our Messiah, a great deal of dogma, false doctrines, and extremely dangerous teachings have emerged. This is primarily and clearly the result of the Adversary/Satan deceiving the entire world with lies and even a lot of truth mixed with lies, though some people's pride and ego are also to blame.
But our heavenly Father wants us to be put to the test. According to Deuteronomy Chapter 13 & 18, YaHuWaH permits 'false prophets' to arise and test people's faith. 'Balaam' was one such false prophet who tricked the Israelites into worshipping and consuming food sacrificed to Ba'al. As a result, the Israelites ultimately offered their children as sacrifices to this idol in a fire.
As we can see, this is not something to be taken lightly...
Here, we will merely reiterate Yahushua's soul-saving words. These are the words that lead to long life, eternal life, and salvation. The publishers of the later King James translations of the Bible chose to highlight all of Yahushua's words in red, and there is where we will focus our attention.
Martin Luther, Joseph Smith, and self-appointed apostles like Saul/Paul are neither our Messiah, Teacher, Rabbi, Pastor, nor Saviour. All that matters to us is what Yahushua has to say, and His teachings are straightforward and trustworthy. He spoke the words that His Father gave Him. Because His Father's teachings are as clear as they can be, we believe we do not require someone to explain what Yahushua taught us:
"For this commandment I give you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not in heaven, that you should need to ask, 'Who will ascend into heaven to get it for us and proclaim it, that we may obey it?' And it is not beyond the sea, that you should need to ask, 'Who will cross the see to get it for us and proclaim it, that we may obey it?' But the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you may obey it."
There is this ridiculous notion that the Messiah came to release us from obeying the commandments (also known as the Law or Torah) because they were too difficult and were just a foreshadow of the Messiah. Such ideologies are, in fact, in opposition to Yahushua's teachings and are very dangerous and proven incredibly destructive. This is how the Adversary/Satan works.
Given the 45,000 denominations, the division, and the ongoing conflict brought about by the varying beliefs of the faith's adherents, it is clear to us that something is wrong with the teachings being taught about Yahushua and salvation. We find peace and confidence in maintaining our Messiah as our sole teacher, which is what He commands us to do regardless, as demonstrated in:
"Nor are you to be called 'Teachers,' because you have only one teacher, the Messiah!"
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
Here we have a very clear and important
teaching on salvation from Yahushua. It is so often overlooked and brushed aside that when brought to the attention of believers in the saved-by-faith-alone-through-grace doctrines, it is quickly ignored and refuted by a simple response such as "Well, Jesus has fulfilled everything at the cross."
Again, these reasonings and ideologies, in our honest opinion and through personal experiences, are very dangerous and destructive.
The Greek word used for fulfil is 'Pleroo'. Strong's Concordance: 4137 πληρόω (pléroó) which means to 'Complete' or 'Fill up'; it doesn't mean to 'End' or 'Abolish'.
It makes absolutely no sense that Yahushua would say, "Do not think I have come to destroy the Torah/Law and the Prophets. I have not come to destroy but to end them."
"I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one yod or one tittle shall ever pass away from the Torah until all things come to pass. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the reign of the heavens. But whoever keeps and teaches them, this one shall be called great in the reign of the heavens. For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisees and Scribes, you shall never enter the reign of the heavens!"
That seems a lot like a salvation based on faith and works. His statement that "until ALL is accomplished" does not refer to the moment when He declared, "It is done." Because the heavens and earth must die first, everything is completed at the end of this world. He addresses the apostle John about believers' actions, both good and bad, i.e., following or disobeying YaHuWaH's commands, as we see in these verses—Revelation 2:4-5, Revelation 2:23, Revelation 2:26, Revelation 3:2, Revelation 3:8 and Revelation 3:15—and then everyone is judged by their deeds—Revelation 20:12.
The following verses support the Faith & Works (Obedience to the Torah commandments) salvation: Matthew 5:17–20; Matthew 7:21–23; Matthew 19:17; Luke 11:28–16:17; Mark 7:7-9; and as reaffirmed in James 1:22–25; 1 John 5:3; 1 John 3:4; 1 John 3:21–22; 2 John 1:6; and Revelation 14:12.
Then add up all 24 books of the Tanakh—the Hebrew Bible that includes the Torah and the Books of the Prophets—which all teach repentance, a return to faith and belief in YaHuWaH, and obedience to His commandments in order to be blessed, live a long life, and be resurrected into eternal life. In all honesty, how can it be disputed?
"And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to depart into hell."
"If you wish to enter into life, obey the commandments."
We don't think the Messiah could make it any clearer, do you?