Without Love There
Would Be No Justice
YAHWEH is merciful, abounding in love, compassionate, and faithful. He is slow to anger and ready to pardon, but never-the-less, He will judge all the earth righteously and govern people justly, forever.
All judgment has been given to Yahshua the Messiah Who, on the day appointed, will establish the kingdom of heaven on this earth and, as King of kings, rule over the kingdoms of the world forever.
Yahweh does not change. His will has not changed either! Yahshua does only His Father's will and He said,
For whosoever shall do the will of My Father which is in heaven, the same is My brother, and sister, and mother, Matt. 12:50.
What does Scripture say about those whom Yahshua accepts as brethren?
Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life, John 5:24.
And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Yahshua, and for the word of Yahweh, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Messiah a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of Yahweh and of Messiah, and shall reign with Him a thousand years, Rev. 20:4-6.
Yes, John 5:24 and Revelation 20:4-6 tell us that people Yahshua accepts as brethren do not come into judgment and will rule with Him for 1,000 years.
What is Yahweh's will? Yahweh has not allowed the false pen of the scribe to hide it from us. Paul says we can know Yahweh's will and even prove it by not being conformed to the ways of this world.
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.For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace, Rom. 8:5-6.
Romans 8:5-6 explains Yahweh's will as no longer living according to our sinful natures with our minds set on worldly desires. This is amplified by the statement that the mind of a sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.
John said that Yahweh so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Because John's statement does not countermand Paul's, the person who desires to receive eternal life must do two things:
• Believe on the Son.
• Allow Yahweh's Spirit to control the mind.
Nothing is impossible with Yahweh. So, why didn't He just will that we shall all live forever? Yahweh says the soul that sins shall die, but He made it possible to atone for sin and live by providing sacrifice for sin. Hence, Yahweh has willed that the choice of eternal life or death be left for each individual to make. If He had willed otherwise, we would have no choice!
All judgment has been given to Yahshua the Messiah Who, on the day appointed, will establish the kingdom of heaven on this earth and, as King of kings, rule over the kingdoms of the world forever.
Yahweh does not change. His will has not changed either! Yahshua does only His Father's will and He said,
For whosoever shall do the will of My Father which is in heaven, the same is My brother, and sister, and mother, Matt. 12:50.
What does Scripture say about those whom Yahshua accepts as brethren?
Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life, John 5:24.
And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Yahshua, and for the word of Yahweh, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Messiah a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of Yahweh and of Messiah, and shall reign with Him a thousand years, Rev. 20:4-6.
Yes, John 5:24 and Revelation 20:4-6 tell us that people Yahshua accepts as brethren do not come into judgment and will rule with Him for 1,000 years.
What is Yahweh's will? Yahweh has not allowed the false pen of the scribe to hide it from us. Paul says we can know Yahweh's will and even prove it by not being conformed to the ways of this world.
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.For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace, Rom. 8:5-6.
Romans 8:5-6 explains Yahweh's will as no longer living according to our sinful natures with our minds set on worldly desires. This is amplified by the statement that the mind of a sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.
John said that Yahweh so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Because John's statement does not countermand Paul's, the person who desires to receive eternal life must do two things:
• Believe on the Son.
• Allow Yahweh's Spirit to control the mind.
Nothing is impossible with Yahweh. So, why didn't He just will that we shall all live forever? Yahweh says the soul that sins shall die, but He made it possible to atone for sin and live by providing sacrifice for sin. Hence, Yahweh has willed that the choice of eternal life or death be left for each individual to make. If He had willed otherwise, we would have no choice!
New Covenant Prohibits Sin
Laws for sacrifice to atone for unwitting sins were included in the Old Covenant,
And if any soul sin through ignorance, then he shall bring a she goat of the first year for a sin offering. And the priest shall make an atonement for the soul that sinneth ignorantly, when he sinneth by ignorance before Yahweh, to make an atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him. Ye shall have one law for him that sinneth through ignorance, both for him that is born among the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them, Num. 15:27-29.
The choice of life or death, however, was still contingent upon obedience or disobedience, Deuteronomy 30:10-30. Would it be righteous justice (fair to all) to rescind the requirement of obedience to law in the New Covenant because His Son made the atoning sacrifice?
Old Covenant Israelites surely had faith in the efficacy of the sacrifice for sin that Yahweh commanded in His law. Why is the New Covenant believer, who accepts Yahshua's sacrifice for sin, urged not to continue in sin if the requirement of obedience to law has been removed?
As Paul says, justification is not given because of observing the law, but because of faith in Yahshua the Messiah,
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Yahshua Messiah, even we have believed in Yahshua Messiah, that we might be justified by the faith of Messiah, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified, Galatians 2:16.
Put this statement with Ephesians 5:2 (“And walk in love, as Messiah also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to Yahweh for a sweet smelling savour.”) and it is evident that Paul means faith in the atoning efficacy of Yahshua's sacrifice for sin redeems the sinner.
We are all sinners, whether Jew or Gentile. We all need the loving compassion and mercy of the Judge Who has provided atonement for sin and shown us that perfect obedience is not required to be judged worthy to receive His gift of eternal life. He demands willing efforts to obey Him and even gives us His Holy Spirit to help in our efforts.
Our love for Yahweh is proven by obedience. But without His Spirit controlling our minds, our obedience tends to become merely an outward appearance of righteousness that masks an inward hypocrisy and wickedness.
To be counted worthy not to come into judgment, the Spirit must be allowed to control the mind and followed regardless of the cost in worldly pleasures and wealth.
A major obstacle to understanding how Yahweh can be both merciful and just has long been the difficulty in comprehending how the Bible can say,
No harm befalls the righteous, but the wicked have their fill of trouble, Proverbs 12:21.
Another Scripture that is equally true, says,
But it happened because of the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests, who shed
within her the blood of the righteous, Lamentations 4:13.
"Her" in this verse refers to the nation of Judah. As for the nation, both the righteous and the unrighteous suffered the consequences of national sins by being taken into the Babylonian captivity.
In Matthew 13, Yahshua says Yahweh allows the wheat and the tares (righteous and unrighteous) to grow in the same field.
But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also, Matt. 13:25-26.
In Matthew 5:45 He tells us that Yahweh sends His rain (blessings) on both the righteous and unrighteous,
That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust, Matt. 5:45.
Is it an injustice for Yahweh to allow both the righteous and the unrighteous to suffer the consequences (curses) of national sins when He, metaphorically speaking, shuts up the sky so that it doesn't rain on the field?
What does Yahweh mean in Ezekiel 14:13-14 by "...if a country sins against Me by being unfaithful and I stretch out My hand against it. ...even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they could save only themselves by their righteousness"? Such questions cannot be correctly answered without first understanding what compassion, mercy, and justice are.
Laws for sacrifice to atone for unwitting sins were included in the Old Covenant,
And if any soul sin through ignorance, then he shall bring a she goat of the first year for a sin offering. And the priest shall make an atonement for the soul that sinneth ignorantly, when he sinneth by ignorance before Yahweh, to make an atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him. Ye shall have one law for him that sinneth through ignorance, both for him that is born among the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them, Num. 15:27-29.
The choice of life or death, however, was still contingent upon obedience or disobedience, Deuteronomy 30:10-30. Would it be righteous justice (fair to all) to rescind the requirement of obedience to law in the New Covenant because His Son made the atoning sacrifice?
Old Covenant Israelites surely had faith in the efficacy of the sacrifice for sin that Yahweh commanded in His law. Why is the New Covenant believer, who accepts Yahshua's sacrifice for sin, urged not to continue in sin if the requirement of obedience to law has been removed?
As Paul says, justification is not given because of observing the law, but because of faith in Yahshua the Messiah,
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Yahshua Messiah, even we have believed in Yahshua Messiah, that we might be justified by the faith of Messiah, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified, Galatians 2:16.
Put this statement with Ephesians 5:2 (“And walk in love, as Messiah also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to Yahweh for a sweet smelling savour.”) and it is evident that Paul means faith in the atoning efficacy of Yahshua's sacrifice for sin redeems the sinner.
We are all sinners, whether Jew or Gentile. We all need the loving compassion and mercy of the Judge Who has provided atonement for sin and shown us that perfect obedience is not required to be judged worthy to receive His gift of eternal life. He demands willing efforts to obey Him and even gives us His Holy Spirit to help in our efforts.
Our love for Yahweh is proven by obedience. But without His Spirit controlling our minds, our obedience tends to become merely an outward appearance of righteousness that masks an inward hypocrisy and wickedness.
To be counted worthy not to come into judgment, the Spirit must be allowed to control the mind and followed regardless of the cost in worldly pleasures and wealth.
A major obstacle to understanding how Yahweh can be both merciful and just has long been the difficulty in comprehending how the Bible can say,
No harm befalls the righteous, but the wicked have their fill of trouble, Proverbs 12:21.
Another Scripture that is equally true, says,
But it happened because of the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests, who shed
within her the blood of the righteous, Lamentations 4:13.
"Her" in this verse refers to the nation of Judah. As for the nation, both the righteous and the unrighteous suffered the consequences of national sins by being taken into the Babylonian captivity.
In Matthew 13, Yahshua says Yahweh allows the wheat and the tares (righteous and unrighteous) to grow in the same field.
But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also, Matt. 13:25-26.
In Matthew 5:45 He tells us that Yahweh sends His rain (blessings) on both the righteous and unrighteous,
That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust, Matt. 5:45.
Is it an injustice for Yahweh to allow both the righteous and the unrighteous to suffer the consequences (curses) of national sins when He, metaphorically speaking, shuts up the sky so that it doesn't rain on the field?
What does Yahweh mean in Ezekiel 14:13-14 by "...if a country sins against Me by being unfaithful and I stretch out My hand against it. ...even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they could save only themselves by their righteousness"? Such questions cannot be correctly answered without first understanding what compassion, mercy, and justice are.
Compassion, Mercy, Justice
Compassion is a deep feeling of sympathy and sorrow for another's suffering and calamity, accompanied by a desire to alleviate the pain and remove its cause. It is because of His compassion for us that Yahweh has alleviated the cause of death.
He made death easier to avoid by giving His Son as a totally satisfying atonement for sins and by giving His Holy Spirit to help overcome the weakness of the flesh and resist continuing in sin.
Mercy is the discretionary power of a judge to pardon or mitigate punishment. Even in the New Covenant the punishment for sin is death. The One to Whom all judgment has been given says there is only one sin He cannot forgive and that is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.
For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses. Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden underfoot the Son of Yahweh, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? (Heb. 10:26-29).
Any reader of Hebrews 10:26-29 should understand that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is resisting the Spirit's lead by deliberately (knowingly or defiantly) continuing in sin.
Justice is the administration of fair and proper reward or punishment for obedience or disobedience to standards of right and wrong stated in terms of laws, rules, and agreements that apply to persons who could be wronged or unduly favored by malfeasance. Wouldn't Old Covenant Israelites be wronged and New Covenant Israelites unduly favored by removing from the New Covenant the requirement to obey Yahweh's laws? Doesn't the change in the sacrifice and the opening of the covenant to the Gentiles correct an injustice?
Were the Gentiles wronged by being excluded from the Old Covenant? Were the Israelites unduly favored by being chosen?
When all that has happened to Israelis considered, one can't help wondering, where is the justice in being chosen? How could a loving, compassionate, just, and omnipotent Elohim even allow—let alone claim responsibility for—the terrible sufferings and calamities Israel has undergone throughout history?
Now that the covenant has been changed and Gentiles can also become chosen people, the judge says they must take up their burden and follow Him. This doesn't sound too bad until it is tied in with other Scriptures.
Peter tells us not to be surprised by the painful trials we will have to suffer as Yahshua's followers. Paul says the persecutions and trials we will have to endure will be evidence that Yahweh's judgment is right and we will be counted worthy to enter the kingdom. Paul also says Yahweh will pay back trouble to those who cause us trouble.
Puzzling statements, paradoxes, and seeming contradictions in Yahweh's Word make us wonder whether Yahweh's administration of justice is really beyond our ability to understand it, even in part.
Compassion is a deep feeling of sympathy and sorrow for another's suffering and calamity, accompanied by a desire to alleviate the pain and remove its cause. It is because of His compassion for us that Yahweh has alleviated the cause of death.
He made death easier to avoid by giving His Son as a totally satisfying atonement for sins and by giving His Holy Spirit to help overcome the weakness of the flesh and resist continuing in sin.
Mercy is the discretionary power of a judge to pardon or mitigate punishment. Even in the New Covenant the punishment for sin is death. The One to Whom all judgment has been given says there is only one sin He cannot forgive and that is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.
For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses. Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden underfoot the Son of Yahweh, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? (Heb. 10:26-29).
Any reader of Hebrews 10:26-29 should understand that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is resisting the Spirit's lead by deliberately (knowingly or defiantly) continuing in sin.
Justice is the administration of fair and proper reward or punishment for obedience or disobedience to standards of right and wrong stated in terms of laws, rules, and agreements that apply to persons who could be wronged or unduly favored by malfeasance. Wouldn't Old Covenant Israelites be wronged and New Covenant Israelites unduly favored by removing from the New Covenant the requirement to obey Yahweh's laws? Doesn't the change in the sacrifice and the opening of the covenant to the Gentiles correct an injustice?
Were the Gentiles wronged by being excluded from the Old Covenant? Were the Israelites unduly favored by being chosen?
When all that has happened to Israelis considered, one can't help wondering, where is the justice in being chosen? How could a loving, compassionate, just, and omnipotent Elohim even allow—let alone claim responsibility for—the terrible sufferings and calamities Israel has undergone throughout history?
Now that the covenant has been changed and Gentiles can also become chosen people, the judge says they must take up their burden and follow Him. This doesn't sound too bad until it is tied in with other Scriptures.
Peter tells us not to be surprised by the painful trials we will have to suffer as Yahshua's followers. Paul says the persecutions and trials we will have to endure will be evidence that Yahweh's judgment is right and we will be counted worthy to enter the kingdom. Paul also says Yahweh will pay back trouble to those who cause us trouble.
Puzzling statements, paradoxes, and seeming contradictions in Yahweh's Word make us wonder whether Yahweh's administration of justice is really beyond our ability to understand it, even in part.
Harmony of Love, Obedience
Efforts to understand must not proceed from the assumption that Yahshua and the apostles were teaching something new and different from what the prophets taught. The emphasis has merely been
shifted! In the Old Covenant it was JUSTICE and LOVE. In the New it is LOVE and JUSTICE.
Old Covenant Israel stressed obedience to law, but without love that obedience degenerated into an outward, even hypocritical, show. Yahshua taught that it is the inward attitude of love that motivates obedience pleasing to Yahweh. If this weren't true, Paul could not say,
Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law, Romans 13:10.
Without love, justice becomes perverted, even if laws are obeyed to the letter. Loveless performance of sacraments, even if founded upon Yahweh's law, would be displeasing for the same reason.
The agape (love) taught by Yahshua is definitely not a sentimental effusiveness that is unmindful of self-interest. This idea may seem unbelievable to many people because they ascribe all the bad things mentioned in 2 Timothy 3:2-4 to self-interest.
For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of Yahweh, 2 Tim. 3:2-4.
Not many people even think about, let alone understand, the different shades of meaning the Greek words translated “love” in these verses have. Paul is not referring to a corruption of agape. He is referring to a corruption of "philadelphia" (Strong's No. 5360), which is defined as brotherly love and is so translated in Hebrews 13:1:
Let brotherly love continue.
Agape is not a type of love that ignores self-interest. What does Yahshua mean by "greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends," John 15:13?
Why would laying down one's life for friends be a greater expression of agape than other acts inspired by love and mercy? The implication is that the life was deliberately laid down in spite of the strongest instinct in human nature—self-preservation! Could such an act be called greater than others if all self-interest were completely ruled out?
Efforts to understand must not proceed from the assumption that Yahshua and the apostles were teaching something new and different from what the prophets taught. The emphasis has merely been
shifted! In the Old Covenant it was JUSTICE and LOVE. In the New it is LOVE and JUSTICE.
Old Covenant Israel stressed obedience to law, but without love that obedience degenerated into an outward, even hypocritical, show. Yahshua taught that it is the inward attitude of love that motivates obedience pleasing to Yahweh. If this weren't true, Paul could not say,
Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law, Romans 13:10.
Without love, justice becomes perverted, even if laws are obeyed to the letter. Loveless performance of sacraments, even if founded upon Yahweh's law, would be displeasing for the same reason.
The agape (love) taught by Yahshua is definitely not a sentimental effusiveness that is unmindful of self-interest. This idea may seem unbelievable to many people because they ascribe all the bad things mentioned in 2 Timothy 3:2-4 to self-interest.
For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of Yahweh, 2 Tim. 3:2-4.
Not many people even think about, let alone understand, the different shades of meaning the Greek words translated “love” in these verses have. Paul is not referring to a corruption of agape. He is referring to a corruption of "philadelphia" (Strong's No. 5360), which is defined as brotherly love and is so translated in Hebrews 13:1:
Let brotherly love continue.
Agape is not a type of love that ignores self-interest. What does Yahshua mean by "greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends," John 15:13?
Why would laying down one's life for friends be a greater expression of agape than other acts inspired by love and mercy? The implication is that the life was deliberately laid down in spite of the strongest instinct in human nature—self-preservation! Could such an act be called greater than others if all self-interest were completely ruled out?
Philadelphia Is Not Agape
Agape requires deliberate and sustained self-discipline and self-control to always act humbly with justice and mercy even toward enemies. Yahweh is spirit and agape! Without His Spirit controlling us, the natural mind is hostile, sinful, and incapable of knowing anything other than philadelphia.
The Greek word translated “love” in Titus 2:4 (“That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,”) is philandros (No. 5362). Philandros is a form of philadelphia, but philandros implies a much greater selfless affection for family and kinfolk than affection for friends and neighbors.
The use of both philadelphia and agape in I Peter 1:22 (“Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently,”) implies that a sincere brotherly love for brethren will become agape in a mind controlled by Yahweh's Holy Spirit.
The Greek words translated “love” in 2 Timothy 3:2-4 are philautos and philedonos (Nos. 5367 and 5369). Paul's use of these words indicates he is referring to a corruption of philadelphia. The reference is to people who have allowed the self-interest in brotherly love to degenerate into self-centeredness.
If Yahweh were interested in a creation filled with spiritual beings who worshiped Him because they had no choice, He could have created it. But He isn't interested in a creation filled with robots.
He created human beings with freedom to willingly choose to worship and serve Him or to choose to serve their own interests in this world. Yahweh warns that those who choose to serve Him will experience the consequences of their choice, but their names will be written into the Book of Life.
Those who choose not to serve Him will experience the consequences of their choice and eternal death at the judgment. Can the fact that Yahweh will not accept mechanical or unwilling worship or permit the willingly unrighteous to enter His heavenly Kingdom be due to anything other than man's self-interest?
We are created in Yahweh's own image and the choice He has set before us is an appeal to a basic self-interest in our natures— the wish for eternal life. If Yahweh doesn't have self-interest, why do we? Yahweh is perfect in righteousness and holiness. If we are in His image, how come we aren't righteous and holy?
Yahweh's love is perfect! Our image of His love is made imperfect by sin. Sin is disobedience to His will which He has set before us in His law.
Agape requires deliberate and sustained self-discipline and self-control to always act humbly with justice and mercy even toward enemies. Yahweh is spirit and agape! Without His Spirit controlling us, the natural mind is hostile, sinful, and incapable of knowing anything other than philadelphia.
The Greek word translated “love” in Titus 2:4 (“That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,”) is philandros (No. 5362). Philandros is a form of philadelphia, but philandros implies a much greater selfless affection for family and kinfolk than affection for friends and neighbors.
The use of both philadelphia and agape in I Peter 1:22 (“Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently,”) implies that a sincere brotherly love for brethren will become agape in a mind controlled by Yahweh's Holy Spirit.
The Greek words translated “love” in 2 Timothy 3:2-4 are philautos and philedonos (Nos. 5367 and 5369). Paul's use of these words indicates he is referring to a corruption of philadelphia. The reference is to people who have allowed the self-interest in brotherly love to degenerate into self-centeredness.
If Yahweh were interested in a creation filled with spiritual beings who worshiped Him because they had no choice, He could have created it. But He isn't interested in a creation filled with robots.
He created human beings with freedom to willingly choose to worship and serve Him or to choose to serve their own interests in this world. Yahweh warns that those who choose to serve Him will experience the consequences of their choice, but their names will be written into the Book of Life.
Those who choose not to serve Him will experience the consequences of their choice and eternal death at the judgment. Can the fact that Yahweh will not accept mechanical or unwilling worship or permit the willingly unrighteous to enter His heavenly Kingdom be due to anything other than man's self-interest?
We are created in Yahweh's own image and the choice He has set before us is an appeal to a basic self-interest in our natures— the wish for eternal life. If Yahweh doesn't have self-interest, why do we? Yahweh is perfect in righteousness and holiness. If we are in His image, how come we aren't righteous and holy?
Yahweh's love is perfect! Our image of His love is made imperfect by sin. Sin is disobedience to His will which He has set before us in His law.
Love Doesn't Cancel Justice
Now understand! The fair and proper administration of reward for obedience and punishment for disobedience proceeds in this order: love, justice, compassion, and mercy. Justice is subordinate to and not canceled by love. The fact that there will be a judgment at the end of the age connotes that neither does compassion and mercy overrule justice.
It should also be understood that there are two levels of love. They are:
• agape, which is a spiritual love that comes from above, and
• philadelphia, which is human and earthly.
The prophets also wrote about these two types of love in the Old Testament.
On the spiritual level, justice will be administered perfectly with agape. On the human level, justice is administered with philadelphia. Only when Yahweh's Spirit can inject agape into people's minds will human beings be able to administer justice equitably.
Without agape even the best intentioned administration of justice will be faulty. With anything less than the highest ethical standards, human administration of justice is often inequitable and many times even perverted into outright injustice.
Yahshua said,
If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his stake and follow Me, Matthew 16:24.
He also said,
Honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself, Matthew 19:19.
Why did Yahshua not say love your neighbor and deny yourself? How can you deny yourself and love yourself? At first glance it appears that Yahshua is contradicting Himself and He would be if love, whether divine or human, were completely devoid of self-interest.
"If" in Matthew 16:24 denotes freewill. Those who willingly follow Yahshua must deny themselves selfish gratification of desires that do wrong to others.
Willingly following Yahshua's example of obedience will mean accepting the burden of trouble, persecution, and self-denial that nonconformity to the ways of this world will bring upon the disciples.
The psalmist wrote the following two Scriptures:
Your love O Yahweh reaches to the heavens, Your faithfulness to the skies, Psalm 36:5.
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne, love and faithfulness go before You, Psalm 89:14.
"Love" in these two verses is translated from checed (Strong's Hebrew No. 2617). Checed is translated "mercy" in the KJV of the Bible, but neither translation is incorrect because checed has several meanings. One meaning is love or lovingkindness and the other is mercy when used in reference to those in misfortune.
“Throne” indicates government. Psalm 89:14 reveals that Yahweh's government will be administered with righteous justice. Yahweh's throne is presently in heaven, but the kingdom of heaven will be upon this earth and His faithful, lovingkindness, and mercy will encompass both heaven and earth. It will be a government in which Yahweh's purpose will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
That government hasn't been established yet, but it will be when Yahshua returns.
We can be assured that just punishment will be meted out at the beginning of Yahweh's government on earth (Matt. 7:2123; 25:41-46, 2 Pet. 2:4-12). Peter leaves no doubt about who will be punished (“But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities,” 2 Peter 2:10). It will be those who follow the corrupt desires of their sinful nature rather than Yahshua's example of obedience. These despise Yahweh's authority and will not allow His Spirit to control their minds.
A person free to choose between alternatives will act in ways that reflect the thoughts, desires, wishes, impulses, and emotions in his mind. For this reason, people in a position to exercise free will are responsible for their actions.
It would not be righteous judgment to punish a person for acts compelled by irresistible external causes. Neither would it be right justice to withhold reward for acts that are fruits of choices that please Yahweh.
Shortly after Moses set Yahweh's law before Israel, it was prophesied that most people would not choose life and obey the laws. Yahshua prophesied judgment upon His return for disobedience. Shortly after Yahshua's resurrection, the apostles were predicting that most people would become selfish, lawless, and so depraved they would be swayed by all kinds of evil desires.
People know in their hearts that many of their actions are transgressions of Yahweh's laws. (More than 8 percent of all ordinary everyday shoppers steal by shoplifting from merchants.)
They act as if they believe a loving, merciful, and righteous Judge really will not punish them for doing things He knew from the beginning they would do. They seem to believe that because He gave His Son as a sacrifice for sin that they can continue to transgress Yahweh's laws and be forgiven because they profess to believe in His Son.
Many people who profess to believe the Bible not only believe this misunderstanding, but also believe the law has been taken away in the New Covenant. Some profess to believe in Yahshua, but believe the Bible is the product of man's thinking and that laws, especially moral laws, are relative to the culture and social situation of the time.
Still others who profess to be religious believe that prophecies of judgment were written into the Bible by fanatics. These fanatics couldn't stand seeing happiness and prosperity among those they considered wicked, so they consoled themselves with the belief that the wicked would be punished by judgment at the end of the age.
Now understand! The fair and proper administration of reward for obedience and punishment for disobedience proceeds in this order: love, justice, compassion, and mercy. Justice is subordinate to and not canceled by love. The fact that there will be a judgment at the end of the age connotes that neither does compassion and mercy overrule justice.
It should also be understood that there are two levels of love. They are:
• agape, which is a spiritual love that comes from above, and
• philadelphia, which is human and earthly.
The prophets also wrote about these two types of love in the Old Testament.
On the spiritual level, justice will be administered perfectly with agape. On the human level, justice is administered with philadelphia. Only when Yahweh's Spirit can inject agape into people's minds will human beings be able to administer justice equitably.
Without agape even the best intentioned administration of justice will be faulty. With anything less than the highest ethical standards, human administration of justice is often inequitable and many times even perverted into outright injustice.
Yahshua said,
If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his stake and follow Me, Matthew 16:24.
He also said,
Honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself, Matthew 19:19.
Why did Yahshua not say love your neighbor and deny yourself? How can you deny yourself and love yourself? At first glance it appears that Yahshua is contradicting Himself and He would be if love, whether divine or human, were completely devoid of self-interest.
"If" in Matthew 16:24 denotes freewill. Those who willingly follow Yahshua must deny themselves selfish gratification of desires that do wrong to others.
Willingly following Yahshua's example of obedience will mean accepting the burden of trouble, persecution, and self-denial that nonconformity to the ways of this world will bring upon the disciples.
The psalmist wrote the following two Scriptures:
Your love O Yahweh reaches to the heavens, Your faithfulness to the skies, Psalm 36:5.
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne, love and faithfulness go before You, Psalm 89:14.
"Love" in these two verses is translated from checed (Strong's Hebrew No. 2617). Checed is translated "mercy" in the KJV of the Bible, but neither translation is incorrect because checed has several meanings. One meaning is love or lovingkindness and the other is mercy when used in reference to those in misfortune.
“Throne” indicates government. Psalm 89:14 reveals that Yahweh's government will be administered with righteous justice. Yahweh's throne is presently in heaven, but the kingdom of heaven will be upon this earth and His faithful, lovingkindness, and mercy will encompass both heaven and earth. It will be a government in which Yahweh's purpose will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
That government hasn't been established yet, but it will be when Yahshua returns.
We can be assured that just punishment will be meted out at the beginning of Yahweh's government on earth (Matt. 7:2123; 25:41-46, 2 Pet. 2:4-12). Peter leaves no doubt about who will be punished (“But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities,” 2 Peter 2:10). It will be those who follow the corrupt desires of their sinful nature rather than Yahshua's example of obedience. These despise Yahweh's authority and will not allow His Spirit to control their minds.
A person free to choose between alternatives will act in ways that reflect the thoughts, desires, wishes, impulses, and emotions in his mind. For this reason, people in a position to exercise free will are responsible for their actions.
It would not be righteous judgment to punish a person for acts compelled by irresistible external causes. Neither would it be right justice to withhold reward for acts that are fruits of choices that please Yahweh.
Shortly after Moses set Yahweh's law before Israel, it was prophesied that most people would not choose life and obey the laws. Yahshua prophesied judgment upon His return for disobedience. Shortly after Yahshua's resurrection, the apostles were predicting that most people would become selfish, lawless, and so depraved they would be swayed by all kinds of evil desires.
People know in their hearts that many of their actions are transgressions of Yahweh's laws. (More than 8 percent of all ordinary everyday shoppers steal by shoplifting from merchants.)
They act as if they believe a loving, merciful, and righteous Judge really will not punish them for doing things He knew from the beginning they would do. They seem to believe that because He gave His Son as a sacrifice for sin that they can continue to transgress Yahweh's laws and be forgiven because they profess to believe in His Son.
Many people who profess to believe the Bible not only believe this misunderstanding, but also believe the law has been taken away in the New Covenant. Some profess to believe in Yahshua, but believe the Bible is the product of man's thinking and that laws, especially moral laws, are relative to the culture and social situation of the time.
Still others who profess to be religious believe that prophecies of judgment were written into the Bible by fanatics. These fanatics couldn't stand seeing happiness and prosperity among those they considered wicked, so they consoled themselves with the belief that the wicked would be punished by judgment at the end of the age.
Man Wants Gratification
Yahweh knows that people's minds are hostile to Him and His laws and that they will lust for the sensual pleasures of this life. He knows most people will choose what seems real and pleasurable now, rather than deny themselves in hopes of an afterlife that may or may not be real.
This is what demands faith! It takes faith to believe Yahweh exists, even though we cannot see Him. It takes faith to believe that Yahshua's death was really a sacrifice for sin and that there actually is life after death. Without such faith people will merely pay lip service to Him.
If they profess to believe, they will perform perfunctory religious services in the hope that there really is life after death and, if there is judgment of the dead, the Judge will be merciful to them for some good things they have done in deference to Him.
Even though they profess to believe, their actions show Yahweh that, deep down in their hearts, they do not really believe or have the faith it takes to bear the burden real commitment would bring upon them.
Yes, Yahweh knows human nature and can foretell what people will do, but He doesn't want to see anyone die. Even though He has placed people in a position of moral responsibility to choose whether they will follow His Son and live or follow their sinful natures and die, He has told them the consequences of the choice they make.
Because He leaves people free to choose for themselves, it would be unjust to withhold reward for choosing what pleases Yahweh and punishment for a choice that displeases Him. Withholding reward or punishment would be an
injustice that wrongs those who chose to go His way and unduly favor those who chose to go their own way.
Yahweh knows that people's minds are hostile to Him and His laws and that they will lust for the sensual pleasures of this life. He knows most people will choose what seems real and pleasurable now, rather than deny themselves in hopes of an afterlife that may or may not be real.
This is what demands faith! It takes faith to believe Yahweh exists, even though we cannot see Him. It takes faith to believe that Yahshua's death was really a sacrifice for sin and that there actually is life after death. Without such faith people will merely pay lip service to Him.
If they profess to believe, they will perform perfunctory religious services in the hope that there really is life after death and, if there is judgment of the dead, the Judge will be merciful to them for some good things they have done in deference to Him.
Even though they profess to believe, their actions show Yahweh that, deep down in their hearts, they do not really believe or have the faith it takes to bear the burden real commitment would bring upon them.
Yes, Yahweh knows human nature and can foretell what people will do, but He doesn't want to see anyone die. Even though He has placed people in a position of moral responsibility to choose whether they will follow His Son and live or follow their sinful natures and die, He has told them the consequences of the choice they make.
Because He leaves people free to choose for themselves, it would be unjust to withhold reward for choosing what pleases Yahweh and punishment for a choice that displeases Him. Withholding reward or punishment would be an
injustice that wrongs those who chose to go His way and unduly favor those who chose to go their own way.
Philadelphia Love's Shortfalls
It cannot be denied, however, that the actions and religious life of many people demonstrate belief in a Mighty One and a Savior, even though they do not know His Name or His Son's Name or understand the need to call upon these names if they do know them. It is evident these people would worship in spirit and truth if they weren't so deceived by false doctrines that warp their understanding of Scriptures.
The existence of many less blessed people in this life would be a more miserable experience than it is if it were not for the charities and helping hand these would-be
True Worshipers hold out to them. All their good works, however, are motivated by brotherly love (philadelphia).
Without spiritual love (agape), their brotherly love promotes charities and many compassionate actions on the one hand, but propagates a misunderstanding of mercy on the other that has wrought havoc with man's administration of justice. Is it compassionate, merciful, and just to humiliate and wrong an innocent victim of crime by ignoring the victim's right to justice and unduly favoring the rights of an accused lawbreaker under the law?
The rights of the victim and those of the accused lawbreaker are obviously different. In a sense the victim is above the law, but the accused, if judged guilty after trial, is subject to receiving just punishment under the law.
It cannot be denied, however, that the actions and religious life of many people demonstrate belief in a Mighty One and a Savior, even though they do not know His Name or His Son's Name or understand the need to call upon these names if they do know them. It is evident these people would worship in spirit and truth if they weren't so deceived by false doctrines that warp their understanding of Scriptures.
The existence of many less blessed people in this life would be a more miserable experience than it is if it were not for the charities and helping hand these would-be
True Worshipers hold out to them. All their good works, however, are motivated by brotherly love (philadelphia).
Without spiritual love (agape), their brotherly love promotes charities and many compassionate actions on the one hand, but propagates a misunderstanding of mercy on the other that has wrought havoc with man's administration of justice. Is it compassionate, merciful, and just to humiliate and wrong an innocent victim of crime by ignoring the victim's right to justice and unduly favoring the rights of an accused lawbreaker under the law?
The rights of the victim and those of the accused lawbreaker are obviously different. In a sense the victim is above the law, but the accused, if judged guilty after trial, is subject to receiving just punishment under the law.
Grace Principle Perverted
Misguided do-gooders will quickly point to Romans 6:14 (“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.”) and remind us Paul said we are not under the law, but under grace. True, but they do not understand how grace is precisely what puts Yahshua's followers in the same relationship to Yahweh's law as the innocent victim is to man's law.
It is the holy influence of Yahweh's Spirit (grace, from charis, Strong's Greek No. 5485) controlling the mind that enables Yahshua's followers to obey the law and avoid becoming subject to judgment under Yahweh's law.
Paul wrote, "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more," Hebrews 8:12. John concurred, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness," 1 John 1:9.
Misunderstanding of such Scriptures as these has spawned the belief that all a believer need do is confess sins committed after baptism to have them forgiven and forgotten. If this is true, what do the following Scriptures mean?
But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken, Matthew 12:36.
So then, each of us will give an account of himself to Yahweh. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way, Romans 14:12-13.
Advocates of the mistaken belief teach that people who love as Yahweh loves and are as merciful as Yahweh is will forgive and forget sins of others just as Yahweh does. The teaching not only sounds good, but it is also spiritually sound doctrine. But the belief that Yahweh will forgive and forget willful and deliberate sins is not sound doctrine.
The belief does not distinguish between willful and unwitting sin.It isn't hard to understand that nonbelievers and those outside the covenant will have to account for even careless words, but if the sins of believers in the covenant are forgotten when forgiven, why do they have to give an account of themselves?
John 5:24 tells us Yahshua's brethren don't even come into judgment. How do they give an account of themselves?
Another misconception fostered by the wrong belief is thinking those who insist upon adherence to high standards of morality are putting stumbling blocks before weaker brethren and passing judgment upon them when explaining to them the error of their ways.
Misguided do-gooders will quickly point to Romans 6:14 (“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.”) and remind us Paul said we are not under the law, but under grace. True, but they do not understand how grace is precisely what puts Yahshua's followers in the same relationship to Yahweh's law as the innocent victim is to man's law.
It is the holy influence of Yahweh's Spirit (grace, from charis, Strong's Greek No. 5485) controlling the mind that enables Yahshua's followers to obey the law and avoid becoming subject to judgment under Yahweh's law.
Paul wrote, "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more," Hebrews 8:12. John concurred, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness," 1 John 1:9.
Misunderstanding of such Scriptures as these has spawned the belief that all a believer need do is confess sins committed after baptism to have them forgiven and forgotten. If this is true, what do the following Scriptures mean?
But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken, Matthew 12:36.
So then, each of us will give an account of himself to Yahweh. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way, Romans 14:12-13.
Advocates of the mistaken belief teach that people who love as Yahweh loves and are as merciful as Yahweh is will forgive and forget sins of others just as Yahweh does. The teaching not only sounds good, but it is also spiritually sound doctrine. But the belief that Yahweh will forgive and forget willful and deliberate sins is not sound doctrine.
The belief does not distinguish between willful and unwitting sin.It isn't hard to understand that nonbelievers and those outside the covenant will have to account for even careless words, but if the sins of believers in the covenant are forgotten when forgiven, why do they have to give an account of themselves?
John 5:24 tells us Yahshua's brethren don't even come into judgment. How do they give an account of themselves?
Another misconception fostered by the wrong belief is thinking those who insist upon adherence to high standards of morality are putting stumbling blocks before weaker brethren and passing judgment upon them when explaining to them the error of their ways.
Past Sins Forgiven
A little meditation will reveal how erroneous thinking twists Scriptures to give an appearance of Biblical support for false doctrines.
For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith Yahweh; I will put My laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them Elohim, and they shall be to Me a people: And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know Yahweh: for all shall know Me, from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more, Heb. 8:10-12.
Hebrews 8:12 is referring to the establishment of a New Covenant. Do verses 10-11 tell us Yahweh will put His laws in the minds and hearts of people who will not enter into the covenant?
It follows then that the sins that will be forgiven and forgotten are sins that people committed prior to entering the covenant. John wrote to people already in the covenant. The past sins of these people were forgiven and forgotten and they were declared righteous before Yahweh at baptism.
Would John be telling these New Covenant people they will have to confess past sins to be declared righteous again? No! He is telling them that if they confess the sins they commit after they are in the covenant, Yahweh will forgive their sins and will cleanse them of all unrighteousness. That is, He will correct their thinking and show them the error of their ways.
Now, note this fact: John does not say that sins committed by people in the covenant will be forgotten. Such sins will be forgiven upon confession, but why doesn't John say they will also be forgotten? Could it be because Yahweh will not forget them until the resurrection?
If Yahweh doesn't remember our every word and deed while in the covenant, how could we possibly account for ourselves and be counted worthy to enter into His Kingdom without coming into judgment?
If the New Covenant believer resists the control of Yahweh's Spirit and willfully refuses to accept correction and bring forth the fruits worthy of repentance, the believer will not be counted worthy to take part in the first resurrection, but will come into judgment.
How could Yahweh tell whether a person's fruits are worthy or unworthy unless He remembers the person's words and deeds after baptism? It is simply not valid thinking to assume John means Yahweh will forgive and forget our sins because Hebrews 8:12 says, "He will remember their sins no more."
It is on just such invalid assumptions that most false doctrine is based.
People have latched onto the idea of forgiving and forgetting and use it to justify continuing in sin, but have overlooked or ignored the implication of the phrase, "and purify us from all unrighteousness."
This phrase is really indicative of Yahweh's mercy! If the confessed sinner will yield to the control of His Spirit, Yahweh will, because of His mercy, turn the person's mind to right thinking.
He will spiritually strengthen the person to resist evil desires and temptations to sin that would result in falling from grace.
There is a hymn that says “trust and obey for there is no other way. ..but to trust and obey.”
Yahweh leaves us free to choose what we will believe and obey, but we must allow the Holy Spirit He gives us at baptism to influence and control our thinking and actions if we are to choose right and obey in ways that please Him.
Without Yahweh's spiritual influence (grace) our sinful, natural minds will lead us to meeting Yahshua at His judgment throne rather than in the sky.
A little meditation will reveal how erroneous thinking twists Scriptures to give an appearance of Biblical support for false doctrines.
For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith Yahweh; I will put My laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them Elohim, and they shall be to Me a people: And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know Yahweh: for all shall know Me, from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more, Heb. 8:10-12.
Hebrews 8:12 is referring to the establishment of a New Covenant. Do verses 10-11 tell us Yahweh will put His laws in the minds and hearts of people who will not enter into the covenant?
It follows then that the sins that will be forgiven and forgotten are sins that people committed prior to entering the covenant. John wrote to people already in the covenant. The past sins of these people were forgiven and forgotten and they were declared righteous before Yahweh at baptism.
Would John be telling these New Covenant people they will have to confess past sins to be declared righteous again? No! He is telling them that if they confess the sins they commit after they are in the covenant, Yahweh will forgive their sins and will cleanse them of all unrighteousness. That is, He will correct their thinking and show them the error of their ways.
Now, note this fact: John does not say that sins committed by people in the covenant will be forgotten. Such sins will be forgiven upon confession, but why doesn't John say they will also be forgotten? Could it be because Yahweh will not forget them until the resurrection?
If Yahweh doesn't remember our every word and deed while in the covenant, how could we possibly account for ourselves and be counted worthy to enter into His Kingdom without coming into judgment?
If the New Covenant believer resists the control of Yahweh's Spirit and willfully refuses to accept correction and bring forth the fruits worthy of repentance, the believer will not be counted worthy to take part in the first resurrection, but will come into judgment.
How could Yahweh tell whether a person's fruits are worthy or unworthy unless He remembers the person's words and deeds after baptism? It is simply not valid thinking to assume John means Yahweh will forgive and forget our sins because Hebrews 8:12 says, "He will remember their sins no more."
It is on just such invalid assumptions that most false doctrine is based.
People have latched onto the idea of forgiving and forgetting and use it to justify continuing in sin, but have overlooked or ignored the implication of the phrase, "and purify us from all unrighteousness."
This phrase is really indicative of Yahweh's mercy! If the confessed sinner will yield to the control of His Spirit, Yahweh will, because of His mercy, turn the person's mind to right thinking.
He will spiritually strengthen the person to resist evil desires and temptations to sin that would result in falling from grace.
There is a hymn that says “trust and obey for there is no other way. ..but to trust and obey.”
Yahweh leaves us free to choose what we will believe and obey, but we must allow the Holy Spirit He gives us at baptism to influence and control our thinking and actions if we are to choose right and obey in ways that please Him.
Without Yahweh's spiritual influence (grace) our sinful, natural minds will lead us to meeting Yahshua at His judgment throne rather than in the sky.
-Elder Ralph Henrie (deceased)
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