There is obedience to what we read, and then, much harder to obey, the Spirit. There are none good. There are none who do good. All have sinned and fallen away. So what is the point of trying to obey that which by its very nature brings disobedience to the fore in our hearts? I am so tired of this push to place the yoke of the law and sin on the necks of those whom Jesus has SET FREE.
Under the Law, the high priest would enter into the holy place where the presence, the glory of God was. And he did not enter without the shedding of blood. And if he entered with guilt of sin on his conscience he died in the holy place.
Jesus died to set us ALL free from this system that kept us removed, separated from God’s presence. In His death He removed the ordinances that were contrary to our being in fellowship with God. In His resurrection He instituted a new priesthood, Himself being the High Priest, holding His priesthood on the basis of an indestructible life. And on the basis of His priesthood we have access to God. GLORY GLORY GLORY
If salvation is a free gift, then why reject the fullness of that gift by refusing to walk in righteousness?
Imagine a prisoner whose chains have been broken and the cell door has been removed—yet instead of stepping into freedom, they sit back down inside, acting as if they are still bound.
This is exactly what happens when people refuse to walk in obedience and continue in sin, claiming "grace" but ignoring the call to righteousness.
If I could offer a compressed solution to undo all the doctrines that keep us in bondage, it is this in a nutshell:
Some say, “Since Christ fulfilled the Law, we have no need to obey.” But this is deception. Jesus did not fulfill the Law so that we could remain in sin—He completed it by example so that we could walk in righteousness by the same Spirit.
- Faith hears (John 10:27, Galatians 5:16, John 14:15)
- Faith responds. (James 2:17)
- Faith and works together to bring righteousness. (James 2:21-22, Romans 6:16)
- Faithful obedience leads to holiness. (1 Peter 1:15, Hebrews 12:14, Galatians 5:16, Colossians 3:5)
- Holiness is not about following external rules—it is about dying to the flesh and walking in the Spirit.
This is the fulfillment of the New Covenant: walking by the Spirit, in righteousness, toward holiness.
Obedience to what? If you mean the commandments of Moses, then you would have to ignore most of the New Testament. But none of that works unless you have the correct definition for grace, which is not the forgiveness of sins.
Dive into a word study on "righteousness"( tzedek ) ! Starting with Abraham, we can uncover its significance in the Old Testament and then see how this journey will help illuminate the meaning of righteousness in both contexts!
Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness. As John wrote in his letter, the commandments of Jesus are simply to believe in the One whom God has sent, and to love one another even as He commanded. My contention is that we cannot fulfill either without God in us.
English translations often muddle things—words like "law" and "fulfill" miss the Hebrew nuance. Torah (often "law") isn’t just rules; it’s God’s teaching, a gift reflecting what He loves.
The Ten Commandments summarize it, while Jesus’ two—love God, love others (Matt. 22:37-40)—are the core, the "boilerplate" distilling its heart. "Fulfill" (pleroo in Greek) doesn’t mean "end" but "fully express"—Psalm 119’s delight in Torah doesn’t vanish; it’s written on our hearts (Jer. 31:33).
Righteousness (tsedeqah) is living this out because we want to, not because we must, enabled by God within us. Abraham’s faith showed it; we live it through His Spirit.
A conscientious reading of Hebrews will show that my contention is correct. Why? Because the Law made nothing perfect. Simple really. God demands perfect righteousness from us His children. The Law cannot do that for, in, or upon us.
Your frustration with the tension between Law and Spirit is valid. Scripture states “all have sinned” (Romans 3:23), and no one is righteous alone. The Torah is holy, showing our need for redemption, but the Levitical sacrificial system—imperfect and temporary—couldn’t perfect us. Messiah Yeshua fulfilled the Torah’s demands (Matthew 5:17), not abolishing it.
The Greek word pleroo (“fulfill”) in context means to bring to fullness, think perfect example, not kataluo(“destroy”). His perfect sacrifice ended the old Levitical system, and as our eternal High Priest (Hebrews 7:16-17), He removed sin’s barrier, giving us access to God through His resurrection.
We’re free from that yoke—not the Torah itself—but live by the Spirit, honoring its truth. Glory to Yeshua!
RE: Has God chosen to remove your uncircumcised Truth-hating ‘old wineskin’ heart and graciously given you Christ’s faithful and obedient “new wineskin’ heart that inherently loves to obey Father Elohim’s holy will? (See Christ’s Ezekiel 36:25-27 heart-regenerating gospel) The Spirit of Christ Jesus tells the wise virgins in His Bride: Everything I have learned from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose to foreknow you in My infinite love before the Creation of time. And I predestined you to go and bear fruit— fruit that will remain— so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you. Receiving the indwelling Spirit of Christ’s most holy and obedient faith is not about you having self-righteously earned salvation through a carnal-minded choice made by your wicked self-willed ‘old wineskin’ heart.
Yet, according to Kenneth Hemmler’s false gospel, salvation is about the autonomous carnal-minded choices that are daily made by your self-righteous flesh’s un-crucified sin nature— to love, trust, and follow Christ moment by moment. Kenneth’s impotent god cannot predestinate chosen sinners who He foreknew/foreloved in eternity past, sovereignly causing them to become born-again by giving them an obediently repentant ‘new wineskin’ heart. The god of Kenneth’s apostate theology licentiously liberates sinners with the LIE of the Serpent’s democratic gospel Knowledge of Good and Evil; making them to be the sovereign Lord and Master of their own eternal destiny by CHOICES made by their flesh’s independent carnal-minded self-will. The Angel of Light’s thought provoking question is: Will the ‘old wineskin’ hearted foolish virgins from Christ’s Bride self-righteously choose to fill their empty oil lamps and obediently follow His wise virgins out of the Marxist Beast’s abominable Socialistic Security System or not? Each fleeting day presents new democratic opportunities, moment by moment, for the un-crucified carnal-minded flesh to self-righteously choose between obedience or disobedience. Kenneth Hemmler, how will your varying self-willed choices add up on Judgement Day, being democratically held accountable for every moment of your independent self-willed life on earth?
“Fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; cast aside the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. But if it is unpleasing in your (degenerate self-willed ‘old wineskin’ heart’s) sight to serve the LORD, then self-righteously CHOOSE for yourselves this day whom you will idolatrously serve, whether the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. But as for me and my sanctified household, whom God graciously Chose to remove our unrepentant ‘old wineskin’ hearts and has given us obedient ‘new wineskin’ hearts, therefore we will joyfully serve the LORD!” (Joshua 24:15)
John, I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to read my article and compose such a detailed response. It’s clear that you have a deep passion for these topics, and I always welcome discussions that encourage us to search the Word more diligently.
First, I want to emphasize that I do not claim to be the authority on any of these matters. My goal in writing is simply to present what I believe scripture, our sole authority, teaches—apart from any doctrines of men, whether they be catechisms, Calvinism, or any other theological framework.
I also want to clarify that I have never stated, nor do I believe, that we can earn our own salvation. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV) is clear:
"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."
However, the very next verse, Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV), reminds us that we are created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. The relationship between grace, faith, and works is essential to understanding the full counsel of God. I encourage you to read my previous article entitled “Understanding Justification: The Balance of Grace, Faith, and Works”, as it directly addresses this balance.
You also bring up the topics of predestination and election, which are certainly important biblical themes. It’s clear that we have a different understanding regarding whether election is conditional or unconditional and whether God’s choice pertains to individuals or a group. This is something I intend to address more fully in an upcoming article on predestination and election. While passages such as Ephesians 1:4-5 and Romans 8:29-30 speak of God’s foreknowledge and predestination, they must be understood in harmony with scriptures such as 2 Peter 3:9:
"The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance."
And Joshua 24:15 itself demonstrates that man has a role in responding to God's call:
“And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…”
Regarding your question about how our self-willed choices will add up on Judgment Day, scripture is clear that we will be judged by God's word, not by our own opinions or desires. Jesus Himself said in John 12:48 (NKJV):
"He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day."
This means that our lives must be measured according to what Christ has revealed in His word. We are called to strive for obedience, but we also recognize that we all fall short. Romans 3:23 (NKJV) states:
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
However, God in His grace has provided the way for us to walk in continual cleansing through Christ’s blood. 1 John 1:7-9 (NKJV) teaches:
"But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
This is not a call to careless living, but rather a call to faithfulness. We are expected to obey God’s word (James 1:22), to continue steadfastly in His teachings (Acts 2:42), and to repent when we fall short (Acts 3:19). As long as we remain faithful, confessing our sins and seeking His forgiveness, we can have confidence in His grace and cleansing.
Again, thank you for your engagement, John. I appreciate the opportunity to discuss these important topics and look forward to continuing to study and share God’s Word.
Well, sir, your passion’s got my heart stirring like a good bowl of cholent on Shabbat—rich and full of fire! I’ve read Kenneth’s piece now, and I see why you’re riled up. You’re waving Ezekiel 36:25-27 like a banner, with Messiah Yeshua swapping out our crusty old wineskin hearts for new ones, plump with His Spirit. From my Messianic Jewish corner, I’m cheering that truth—His grace does the miracle, no question! But I reckon you’re hoisting a Calvinist flag here, with God picking us before the world spun and us just along for the ride. Let’s sit and sift this together, old friend—I’ve got tea brewing and matzo ready.
You’ve pegged Kenneth’s take as a “false gospel,” all about us choosing moment by moment, as if we’re the captains of our souls. I hear you—your view’s got that Calvinist spine: total depravity says we’re too rotten to even reach for God, unconditional election means He’s already circled His favorites, and irresistible grace hauls us in like fish on a line. No room for our say-so; it’s all His sovereign script. Ephesians 1:4-5 sings your tune—chosen in Messiah before the foundation. That’s a warm blanket of truth, isn’t it? But I wonder if we’re tying the knot too tight.
Kenneth’s article—he’s not wrong to say obedience matters. Deuteronomy 30:19 sets life and death before us and says, “Choose life!” Luke 9:23 has Yeshua calling us to take up our cross daily—not forced, but invited. He’s not saying we earn salvation; he’s clear it’s grace (Titus 2:11-12) that teaches us to live right. But he’s got a point: faith without action’s a dud, like James 2:17 says—dead as a doornail. You’ve called that self-righteous, but I’d nudge back a bit. It’s not about us muscling into Heaven; it’s responding to the love Yeshua pours out. John 14:15—“If you love Me, keep My commandments”—that’s a dance, not a dictator’s decree.
Now, let’s tweak that Calvinist lens with a Messianic squint. Total depravity? We’re broken, sure—Genesis 6:5 shows our hearts chasing trouble. But helpless? Not quite. Abraham trusted HaShem (Genesis 15:6), and it counted before any new heart arrived. We’re bent, not blank slates—made in His image, we can still cry out for Him. Unconditional election? John 3:16 says He loved the whole world, and 1 Timothy 2:4 wants all saved. Maybe His choosing opens the door wide, not just for a VIP list, and Messiah’s blood invites every soul to step in. Irresistible grace? Sweet thought, but Pharaoh resisted ten plagues worth! HaShem’s pull is strong, but He’s not yanking robots—He’s wooing a Bride.
Your Joshua 24:15 clincher? Beautiful! Joshua’s calling for a choice, but it’s after God’s deliverance—response, not raw effort. Kenneth’s right to echo it: we choose daily, not to save ourselves, but to walk with the One who did. You’ve framed it as God zapping us obedient, but I’d say He gifts the heart and asks us to use it. Like a father teaching a child to walk—He holds us up, but we take the steps. Not legalism, not puppetry—just love in motion.
So, wise friend, as for me and my house, we’re rooted in Messiah’s finished work, choosing Him each day—not to earn a spot, but because He’s already claimed us. Kenneth’s not peddling a serpent’s lie; he’s just leaning heavy on our part in the duet. And you, sir, might be giving Calvin’s God a bit too much solo credit! What say we meet in the middle—grace saves, love obeys, and we all dance to Yeshua’s tune? Let’s mull it over with a prayer and a grin—your wisdom’s a gift, and I’m all ears!
RE: The Holy Spirit’s gift of Christ’s obedient faith without His predestined perfect action is the hypocrite flesh’s counterfeit Xian faith—a dud, like James 2:17 says—dead as a doornail.You’ve called that self-righteous, but I’d nudge back a bit. It’s not about us choosing to muscle into Heaven with our flesh’s self-righteous ‘love’; it’s responding to the constraining love of Yeshua’s Spirit (new wine) foreordained to be pour out within the new wineskin hearts of father Abram and his faithful descendants in the Commonwealth of Israel. John 14:15—“If you love Me, keep My commandments”—that’s a predestined wedding dance for the wise virgins in Christ’s theocratic Bride. They inherently respond in joyful obedience to the Holy Spirit’s constraining love via the Bridegroom’s holy-theocratic commandment, not an impotent dictator’s un-predestined democratic decree.
With your independent myopic Messianic squint, Sergio DeSoto, you foolishly twist the Truth that radiates from Romans 3:10!. You scoffingly respond: “Total depravity? We’re broken, sure—Genesis 6:5 shows our (independent uncircumcised ‘old wineskin’) hearts chasing trouble. But self-righteously helpless? Not quite. Abraham trusted HaShem (Genesis 15:6), and it counted (in self-righteous independence) before any new heart arrived.” Repent of your false democratic faith, Sergio, and joyfully embrace and proclaim the Truth:
As it is written of Democracy’s degenerate, self-willed people: There is no one righteous, in the sin-enslaved Truth-hating human race, not even one. There is no one who understands God’s holy Word, no one who repentantly seeks Jehovah. All have self-righteously turned away in religious hypocrisy, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one. Their throats are open graves; their forked tongues practice deceit. The ant-theocratic venom of vipers is on their lips. Their mouths are full of slander, cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery lie in their ‘demon-cratic’ wake, and Christ’s ‘narrow way’ of theocratic Peace they have not known. There is no fear of Elohim before their eyes. Romans 3:10
Christ tells the wise virgins in His theocratic Bride: I can of My own self-will, independent of the sovereign Spirit of Father Elohim’s holy will, do nothing that pleases Him in loving obedience to the foreordained purpose of His holy will: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not My own self-will, but the predestined purpose of the Father’s sovereign will which hath sent Me. Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can obediently bear foreordained holy fruit by itself unless it inherently remains in the vine, neither can you faithfully bear holy fruit unless you inherently remain in Me. I am the vine and you are the sanctified elect branches. The wise virgin who remains in Me, and I (the Holy Spirit’s infilling new wine) in him, will bear much predestined fruit. For apart from Me (independent of the Holy Spirit’s New Wine) you can do nothing in loving obedience to fulfill Father Elohim’s holy will. John 5:30; 15:4
Well, sir, your words land like a thunderclap straight out of Sinai—full of fire and fervor! I can feel the Holy Spirit’s breeze rustling through your lines, and I’m humbled to chew on this with you. You’ve got Ezekiel 36:25-27 and that new wineskin heart blazing, with Yeshua’s Spirit pouring in like fine vintage. I’m right there with you—salvation’s His gift, not our grunt work! And I see Mr. Calvin’s shadow looming large here, with predestination steering the ship and us just singing hallelujah in the rigging. Let’s sit a spell and unpack this, old friend—my kettle’s on, and I’ve got some challah to share.
You’re doubling down hard—Romans 3:10-18 painting us all as wretched rebels, dead in our tracks without God’s sovereign zap. Total depravity’s your drumbeat, and I hear it loud: no one righteous, no one seeking, all of us a mess. Then John 15:4-5—the Vine and branches—shows us clinging to Yeshua or bust. You’re saying it’s all His doing, predestined from the get-go, and any whiff of choice is just fleshly hypocrisy, a “counterfeit faith” dead as James 2:17’s doornail. My nudge about Abraham choosing to trust? You’ve called it self-righteous folly, a “democratic squint” twisting truth. Ouch, sir—that stings, but I’ll take it in stride!
Here’s where I’d gently tug back, with all respect. You’re right—Romans 3:10-18 is a grim lineup, borrowed from Psalms 14 and 53, showing humanity’s bent toward chaos. But it’s a snapshot, not the whole scroll. Abraham’s faith in Genesis 15:6? That wasn’t him muscling up righteousness solo—HaShem called, he answered, and God credited it. No new heart yet, just a man trusting a promise. Was he perfect? Hardly! But helpless? Not quite. We’re wrecked without God, sure, but He made us with a flicker—able to hear His voice, like Adam’s kids choosing to sacrifice (Genesis 4:4-5). Total depravity’s half the story; we’re broken, not brain-dead.
You’ve got Yeshua’s love “constraining” us in a “predestined wedding dance”—beautiful! John 14:15’s “If you love Me, keep My commandments” becomes a script we’re wired to follow, no choice needed. But peek at the context: Yeshua’s inviting us, not installing software. John 15:4’s “Remain in Me” isn’t a lock; it’s a plea—stay close, or you’ll wither. Predestination’s real—Ephesians 1:4-5 sings it—but is it a straitjacket? John 3:16 says He loved the whole world, and 2 Peter 3:9 isn’t willing any perish. Maybe His plan’s big enough to choose us all, then let us RSVP. Irresistible grace? Sweet, but Judas walked away, and Israel said “no” plenty. He draws us—John 6:44—but doesn’t drag us kicking.
You’ve blasted Kenneth—and me!—for a “democratic faith,” as if we’re voting ourselves into glory. I get the worry: flesh loves to strut. But Joshua 24:15’s “Choose this day” isn’t flesh flexing; it’s hearts responding to a God who’s already saved them. Kenneth’s onto something—obedience isn’t optional (Matthew 7:21), but it’s not puppetry either. It’s love in action, not a pre-programmed pirouette. We’re not robots or rebels; we’re kids learning to walk with Abba, new hearts and all.
So, dear sir, I’m not scoffing—I’m squinting through Torah and Messiah’s light, seeing grace and choice in the dance. As for me and my house, we’re rooted in Yeshua’s finished work, choosing Him daily—not to earn it, but to live it. No repentance needed for that, I hope—just a shared love for truth! What say we keep this going over a cuppa? Your fire’s a blessing, and I’m still all ears!
John 14:15’s “If you love Me, keep My commandments” becomes a predestined script of Elohim’s irresistible Word to the dependent wise virgins in Christ’s submissive Bride whose new wineskin hearts are eternally wired to repentantly take up their daily cross and follow in joyful obedience to do His will, no carnal-minded independent self-willed choice of the sinful flesh is allowed to escape un-crucified. But peek at the context: Yeshua sovereignly commands the dependent wise virgins in His obedient Bride, He does not install democracy’s independent anti-theocratic software.
John 15:4—The Bridegroom’s sovereign commandment (i.e. “Let their be light”; “Lazarus come forth”) “Remain in Me” is joyfully embraced by His Bride’s obedient wise virgins; but to the deluded foolish virgins the command is a mystical parable that vainly falls upon the deaf ears of their truth-hating ‘old wineskin’ heart. Predestination is eternally real—Ephesians 1:4-5 sings it—but is it a gracious sanctifying straitjacket of Christ’s righteousness and constraining love? John 3:16 says He theocratically loved the world in this impossibly specific ’narrow path’ way (i.e. a camel passing through the eye of a needle), and 2 Peter 3:9 isn’t willing for any unrepentant sinner to remain dead in their grave during the second resurrection of all God-hating humanity, but all will be temporarily saved from death’s grave to repentantly stand with fear and trembling before His Judgement Day’s throne; Maybe His predestined plan in the first and second resurrections to be Savior and Judge of all men is big enough to choose the eternal destiny of us all, then let the foolish virgins try to RSVP. For the living God, who is the Savior of all men at the second resurrection, and especially the Savior of those ‘foreknown’ wise virgins in His holy Bride at the first resurrection, who believe (1 Tim 4:10).
Irresistible predestinated grace? Sweet, but Judas, in obedience to Yeshua’s irresistible commandment according to Elohim’s foreordained will, obediently got up from the table (like Satan’s deluded robotic puppet) and quickly betrayed his Master for 30 pieces of silver, and Satan’s Synagogue of uncircumcised ‘old wineskin’ hearted Israel robotically said “no” plenty. The constraining Spirit of the Bridegroom’s infinite love omnipotently draws His wise virgin Bride out of the Marxist Beast’s Socialistic Security System and into the wilderness ark of His salvation —John 6:44—but He doesn’t attempt to drag the deluded kicking foolish virgins out of Socialism’s Orwellian Security System and into His wilderness ark.
Yeshua said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6)—not a script, not a straitjacket, but a living call. Ezekiel 33:11 blasts your box apart: “As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back!” He pleads, not programs. And Revelation 3:20—Messiah knocks, He doesn’t kick the door down. Predestined? Sure, He knows (Romans 8:29). Irresistible? Tell that to the rich young ruler who walked away sad (Mark 10:22). God’s bigger than your blueprint—something to chew on.
RE: Yeshua omnipotently decreed, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6)—God’s unfailing Word of eternal life regenerates His foreknown elect offspring. For they are graciously predestined to receive ‘new wineskin’ hearts with circumcised ears to joyfully respond in faithful obedience to His universal Gospel decree. Ezekiel 33:11 blasts your blueprint’s box apart: “As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back!” He sovereignly commands His beloved prodigal sons, gracefully drawing them unto repentance, not humanistic 12 step socialist programs. And Revelation 3:20—Messiah knocks (i.e. metaphysical sound of thunder in the uncircumcised ears of the Devil’s ‘old wineskin’ hearted goats), and His irresistible voice intimately calls each of one His ‘new wineskin’ hearted sheep by name and commands: “Zacchaeus, hurry down out of that tree, for I must stay at your house today.”; With a loud voice Jesus commanded the dead man in the tomb, “Lazarus, come forth.”; ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?’; Jesus dipped the morsel and gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. And when Judas had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus commanded Judas, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” Satan’s son of perdition robotically obeyed his sovereign Creator’s irresistible foreordained commandment.
‘As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked (i.e. in Noah’s flood or Sodom’s holocaust), but rather that the wicked should (according to the unfailing sovereign decree of His glorious Gospel’s predestined salvation—Ezekiel 36:25-27) turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O prodigal house of Israel?’
He doesn’t kick the door down, He commands them by name to open the door. Predestined? Sure, He foreknew each one of them in the omniscient Spirit of His infinite love before the creation of time (Romans 8:29). Irresistible? Tell that to the beloved prodigal rich young ruler who obediently walked away sad because of the future cross he was commanded to take up and deny himself the insatiable pleasure of pursing the illusive ‘American Dream’ (Mark 10:22). God’s infinitely bigger than your deluded carnal-mind’s self-righteous-willed blueprint—something to chew on.
31 Therefore shall ye keep my commandments, and do them: I am the Lord.
32 Neither shall ye profane my holy name; but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel: I am the Lord which hallow you 👈
Numbers 16:5 KJV
And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even to morrow the Lord will shew who are his, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near unto him: even him whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him.
Psalm 86:2 KJV
Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee.
Isaiah 62:12 KJV
And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the Lord: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken.
Acts 10:15, 28, 34-35 KJV
15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
Romans 11:16 KJV
For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
Ephesians 1:4 KJV
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Colossians 1:22 KJV
In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight
RE: Lord Jesus, I really appreciate your passion for truth, but why does it manifest as God’s powerful 2-edged sWORD, in an angry sharply divisive rant instead of ecumenically in a lukewarm mutual pursuit of THE TRUTH? Your Holy Spirit causes unpleasant sanctifying division and creates chaos and confusion in Lucifer’s lukewarm Laodicean Whore of Babylon, instead of mutual understanding and democratic growth which tears down instead of builds up. Held captive within Big Brother’s Socialistic eugenic Security System is the divided Judeo-Xian whore house of Mystery Babylon, that cannot stand. So, we are either democratically building the fornicating body of Harlot Babylon or making it sick.
We foolish virgins from Christ’s Bride are patriotically proud to have our digitally-marked (SS#) souls Socialistically Secured within Neo-Babel’s UN Global Village! We are called by the UN Social Justice Gospel to indiscriminately LOVE and heal but how is that possible with Christ’s contentious rhetoric in Revelation 18:4?!? Would not thoughtful Orwellian exploration produce better utopian results as the end justifies the means? If you dogmatically beat a UN Socialist view into someone, is it as effective as gently nudging them into discovering Big Brother’s MINISTRY OF TRUTH on their own? Is pride in my understanding over mutual edification a democratic fruit of The Spirit?
The Creator’s Response:
I have come to ignite a fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on, five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
Do not assume that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a (powerful sharply divisive, double edged) sword. For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me; and anyone who does not obediently take up his daily cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. Luke 12:49; Matthew 10:34
This is a good introduction to obedience, and it unfortunately brings out the claws of those who battle with sin. Your desire to hear the Holy Spirit teach is evident.
Obey the gospel Acts 2:38
There is obedience to what we read, and then, much harder to obey, the Spirit. There are none good. There are none who do good. All have sinned and fallen away. So what is the point of trying to obey that which by its very nature brings disobedience to the fore in our hearts? I am so tired of this push to place the yoke of the law and sin on the necks of those whom Jesus has SET FREE.
Under the Law, the high priest would enter into the holy place where the presence, the glory of God was. And he did not enter without the shedding of blood. And if he entered with guilt of sin on his conscience he died in the holy place.
Jesus died to set us ALL free from this system that kept us removed, separated from God’s presence. In His death He removed the ordinances that were contrary to our being in fellowship with God. In His resurrection He instituted a new priesthood, Himself being the High Priest, holding His priesthood on the basis of an indestructible life. And on the basis of His priesthood we have access to God. GLORY GLORY GLORY
If salvation is a free gift, then why reject the fullness of that gift by refusing to walk in righteousness?
Imagine a prisoner whose chains have been broken and the cell door has been removed—yet instead of stepping into freedom, they sit back down inside, acting as if they are still bound.
This is exactly what happens when people refuse to walk in obedience and continue in sin, claiming "grace" but ignoring the call to righteousness.
If I could offer a compressed solution to undo all the doctrines that keep us in bondage, it is this in a nutshell:
Some say, “Since Christ fulfilled the Law, we have no need to obey.” But this is deception. Jesus did not fulfill the Law so that we could remain in sin—He completed it by example so that we could walk in righteousness by the same Spirit.
- Faith hears (John 10:27, Galatians 5:16, John 14:15)
- Faith responds. (James 2:17)
- Faith and works together to bring righteousness. (James 2:21-22, Romans 6:16)
- Faithful obedience leads to holiness. (1 Peter 1:15, Hebrews 12:14, Galatians 5:16, Colossians 3:5)
- Holiness is not about following external rules—it is about dying to the flesh and walking in the Spirit.
This is the fulfillment of the New Covenant: walking by the Spirit, in righteousness, toward holiness.
Obedience to what? If you mean the commandments of Moses, then you would have to ignore most of the New Testament. But none of that works unless you have the correct definition for grace, which is not the forgiveness of sins.
Dive into a word study on "righteousness"( tzedek ) ! Starting with Abraham, we can uncover its significance in the Old Testament and then see how this journey will help illuminate the meaning of righteousness in both contexts!
Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness. As John wrote in his letter, the commandments of Jesus are simply to believe in the One whom God has sent, and to love one another even as He commanded. My contention is that we cannot fulfill either without God in us.
English translations often muddle things—words like "law" and "fulfill" miss the Hebrew nuance. Torah (often "law") isn’t just rules; it’s God’s teaching, a gift reflecting what He loves.
The Ten Commandments summarize it, while Jesus’ two—love God, love others (Matt. 22:37-40)—are the core, the "boilerplate" distilling its heart. "Fulfill" (pleroo in Greek) doesn’t mean "end" but "fully express"—Psalm 119’s delight in Torah doesn’t vanish; it’s written on our hearts (Jer. 31:33).
Righteousness (tsedeqah) is living this out because we want to, not because we must, enabled by God within us. Abraham’s faith showed it; we live it through His Spirit.
btw.. Your contention is not wrong.
A conscientious reading of Hebrews will show that my contention is correct. Why? Because the Law made nothing perfect. Simple really. God demands perfect righteousness from us His children. The Law cannot do that for, in, or upon us.
To be clear, Hebrew is a language, not Hebrews as a book.
I must add that if this becomes contentious I will leave it go.
Your frustration with the tension between Law and Spirit is valid. Scripture states “all have sinned” (Romans 3:23), and no one is righteous alone. The Torah is holy, showing our need for redemption, but the Levitical sacrificial system—imperfect and temporary—couldn’t perfect us. Messiah Yeshua fulfilled the Torah’s demands (Matthew 5:17), not abolishing it.
The Greek word pleroo (“fulfill”) in context means to bring to fullness, think perfect example, not kataluo(“destroy”). His perfect sacrifice ended the old Levitical system, and as our eternal High Priest (Hebrews 7:16-17), He removed sin’s barrier, giving us access to God through His resurrection.
We’re free from that yoke—not the Torah itself—but live by the Spirit, honoring its truth. Glory to Yeshua!
Hope that makes sense…
Odd then how the writer of the letter to the Hebrews said that God had set the law aside
RE: Has God chosen to remove your uncircumcised Truth-hating ‘old wineskin’ heart and graciously given you Christ’s faithful and obedient “new wineskin’ heart that inherently loves to obey Father Elohim’s holy will? (See Christ’s Ezekiel 36:25-27 heart-regenerating gospel) The Spirit of Christ Jesus tells the wise virgins in His Bride: Everything I have learned from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose to foreknow you in My infinite love before the Creation of time. And I predestined you to go and bear fruit— fruit that will remain— so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you. Receiving the indwelling Spirit of Christ’s most holy and obedient faith is not about you having self-righteously earned salvation through a carnal-minded choice made by your wicked self-willed ‘old wineskin’ heart.
Yet, according to Kenneth Hemmler’s false gospel, salvation is about the autonomous carnal-minded choices that are daily made by your self-righteous flesh’s un-crucified sin nature— to love, trust, and follow Christ moment by moment. Kenneth’s impotent god cannot predestinate chosen sinners who He foreknew/foreloved in eternity past, sovereignly causing them to become born-again by giving them an obediently repentant ‘new wineskin’ heart. The god of Kenneth’s apostate theology licentiously liberates sinners with the LIE of the Serpent’s democratic gospel Knowledge of Good and Evil; making them to be the sovereign Lord and Master of their own eternal destiny by CHOICES made by their flesh’s independent carnal-minded self-will. The Angel of Light’s thought provoking question is: Will the ‘old wineskin’ hearted foolish virgins from Christ’s Bride self-righteously choose to fill their empty oil lamps and obediently follow His wise virgins out of the Marxist Beast’s abominable Socialistic Security System or not? Each fleeting day presents new democratic opportunities, moment by moment, for the un-crucified carnal-minded flesh to self-righteously choose between obedience or disobedience. Kenneth Hemmler, how will your varying self-willed choices add up on Judgement Day, being democratically held accountable for every moment of your independent self-willed life on earth?
“Fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; cast aside the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. But if it is unpleasing in your (degenerate self-willed ‘old wineskin’ heart’s) sight to serve the LORD, then self-righteously CHOOSE for yourselves this day whom you will idolatrously serve, whether the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. But as for me and my sanctified household, whom God graciously Chose to remove our unrepentant ‘old wineskin’ hearts and has given us obedient ‘new wineskin’ hearts, therefore we will joyfully serve the LORD!” (Joshua 24:15)
John, I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to read my article and compose such a detailed response. It’s clear that you have a deep passion for these topics, and I always welcome discussions that encourage us to search the Word more diligently.
First, I want to emphasize that I do not claim to be the authority on any of these matters. My goal in writing is simply to present what I believe scripture, our sole authority, teaches—apart from any doctrines of men, whether they be catechisms, Calvinism, or any other theological framework.
I also want to clarify that I have never stated, nor do I believe, that we can earn our own salvation. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV) is clear:
"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."
However, the very next verse, Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV), reminds us that we are created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. The relationship between grace, faith, and works is essential to understanding the full counsel of God. I encourage you to read my previous article entitled “Understanding Justification: The Balance of Grace, Faith, and Works”, as it directly addresses this balance.
You also bring up the topics of predestination and election, which are certainly important biblical themes. It’s clear that we have a different understanding regarding whether election is conditional or unconditional and whether God’s choice pertains to individuals or a group. This is something I intend to address more fully in an upcoming article on predestination and election. While passages such as Ephesians 1:4-5 and Romans 8:29-30 speak of God’s foreknowledge and predestination, they must be understood in harmony with scriptures such as 2 Peter 3:9:
"The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance."
And Joshua 24:15 itself demonstrates that man has a role in responding to God's call:
“And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…”
Regarding your question about how our self-willed choices will add up on Judgment Day, scripture is clear that we will be judged by God's word, not by our own opinions or desires. Jesus Himself said in John 12:48 (NKJV):
"He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day."
This means that our lives must be measured according to what Christ has revealed in His word. We are called to strive for obedience, but we also recognize that we all fall short. Romans 3:23 (NKJV) states:
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
However, God in His grace has provided the way for us to walk in continual cleansing through Christ’s blood. 1 John 1:7-9 (NKJV) teaches:
"But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
This is not a call to careless living, but rather a call to faithfulness. We are expected to obey God’s word (James 1:22), to continue steadfastly in His teachings (Acts 2:42), and to repent when we fall short (Acts 3:19). As long as we remain faithful, confessing our sins and seeking His forgiveness, we can have confidence in His grace and cleansing.
Again, thank you for your engagement, John. I appreciate the opportunity to discuss these important topics and look forward to continuing to study and share God’s Word.
Well, sir, your passion’s got my heart stirring like a good bowl of cholent on Shabbat—rich and full of fire! I’ve read Kenneth’s piece now, and I see why you’re riled up. You’re waving Ezekiel 36:25-27 like a banner, with Messiah Yeshua swapping out our crusty old wineskin hearts for new ones, plump with His Spirit. From my Messianic Jewish corner, I’m cheering that truth—His grace does the miracle, no question! But I reckon you’re hoisting a Calvinist flag here, with God picking us before the world spun and us just along for the ride. Let’s sit and sift this together, old friend—I’ve got tea brewing and matzo ready.
You’ve pegged Kenneth’s take as a “false gospel,” all about us choosing moment by moment, as if we’re the captains of our souls. I hear you—your view’s got that Calvinist spine: total depravity says we’re too rotten to even reach for God, unconditional election means He’s already circled His favorites, and irresistible grace hauls us in like fish on a line. No room for our say-so; it’s all His sovereign script. Ephesians 1:4-5 sings your tune—chosen in Messiah before the foundation. That’s a warm blanket of truth, isn’t it? But I wonder if we’re tying the knot too tight.
Kenneth’s article—he’s not wrong to say obedience matters. Deuteronomy 30:19 sets life and death before us and says, “Choose life!” Luke 9:23 has Yeshua calling us to take up our cross daily—not forced, but invited. He’s not saying we earn salvation; he’s clear it’s grace (Titus 2:11-12) that teaches us to live right. But he’s got a point: faith without action’s a dud, like James 2:17 says—dead as a doornail. You’ve called that self-righteous, but I’d nudge back a bit. It’s not about us muscling into Heaven; it’s responding to the love Yeshua pours out. John 14:15—“If you love Me, keep My commandments”—that’s a dance, not a dictator’s decree.
Now, let’s tweak that Calvinist lens with a Messianic squint. Total depravity? We’re broken, sure—Genesis 6:5 shows our hearts chasing trouble. But helpless? Not quite. Abraham trusted HaShem (Genesis 15:6), and it counted before any new heart arrived. We’re bent, not blank slates—made in His image, we can still cry out for Him. Unconditional election? John 3:16 says He loved the whole world, and 1 Timothy 2:4 wants all saved. Maybe His choosing opens the door wide, not just for a VIP list, and Messiah’s blood invites every soul to step in. Irresistible grace? Sweet thought, but Pharaoh resisted ten plagues worth! HaShem’s pull is strong, but He’s not yanking robots—He’s wooing a Bride.
Your Joshua 24:15 clincher? Beautiful! Joshua’s calling for a choice, but it’s after God’s deliverance—response, not raw effort. Kenneth’s right to echo it: we choose daily, not to save ourselves, but to walk with the One who did. You’ve framed it as God zapping us obedient, but I’d say He gifts the heart and asks us to use it. Like a father teaching a child to walk—He holds us up, but we take the steps. Not legalism, not puppetry—just love in motion.
So, wise friend, as for me and my house, we’re rooted in Messiah’s finished work, choosing Him each day—not to earn a spot, but because He’s already claimed us. Kenneth’s not peddling a serpent’s lie; he’s just leaning heavy on our part in the duet. And you, sir, might be giving Calvin’s God a bit too much solo credit! What say we meet in the middle—grace saves, love obeys, and we all dance to Yeshua’s tune? Let’s mull it over with a prayer and a grin—your wisdom’s a gift, and I’m all ears!
RE: The Holy Spirit’s gift of Christ’s obedient faith without His predestined perfect action is the hypocrite flesh’s counterfeit Xian faith—a dud, like James 2:17 says—dead as a doornail.You’ve called that self-righteous, but I’d nudge back a bit. It’s not about us choosing to muscle into Heaven with our flesh’s self-righteous ‘love’; it’s responding to the constraining love of Yeshua’s Spirit (new wine) foreordained to be pour out within the new wineskin hearts of father Abram and his faithful descendants in the Commonwealth of Israel. John 14:15—“If you love Me, keep My commandments”—that’s a predestined wedding dance for the wise virgins in Christ’s theocratic Bride. They inherently respond in joyful obedience to the Holy Spirit’s constraining love via the Bridegroom’s holy-theocratic commandment, not an impotent dictator’s un-predestined democratic decree.
With your independent myopic Messianic squint, Sergio DeSoto, you foolishly twist the Truth that radiates from Romans 3:10!. You scoffingly respond: “Total depravity? We’re broken, sure—Genesis 6:5 shows our (independent uncircumcised ‘old wineskin’) hearts chasing trouble. But self-righteously helpless? Not quite. Abraham trusted HaShem (Genesis 15:6), and it counted (in self-righteous independence) before any new heart arrived.” Repent of your false democratic faith, Sergio, and joyfully embrace and proclaim the Truth:
As it is written of Democracy’s degenerate, self-willed people: There is no one righteous, in the sin-enslaved Truth-hating human race, not even one. There is no one who understands God’s holy Word, no one who repentantly seeks Jehovah. All have self-righteously turned away in religious hypocrisy, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one. Their throats are open graves; their forked tongues practice deceit. The ant-theocratic venom of vipers is on their lips. Their mouths are full of slander, cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery lie in their ‘demon-cratic’ wake, and Christ’s ‘narrow way’ of theocratic Peace they have not known. There is no fear of Elohim before their eyes. Romans 3:10
Christ tells the wise virgins in His theocratic Bride: I can of My own self-will, independent of the sovereign Spirit of Father Elohim’s holy will, do nothing that pleases Him in loving obedience to the foreordained purpose of His holy will: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not My own self-will, but the predestined purpose of the Father’s sovereign will which hath sent Me. Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can obediently bear foreordained holy fruit by itself unless it inherently remains in the vine, neither can you faithfully bear holy fruit unless you inherently remain in Me. I am the vine and you are the sanctified elect branches. The wise virgin who remains in Me, and I (the Holy Spirit’s infilling new wine) in him, will bear much predestined fruit. For apart from Me (independent of the Holy Spirit’s New Wine) you can do nothing in loving obedience to fulfill Father Elohim’s holy will. John 5:30; 15:4
Well, sir, your words land like a thunderclap straight out of Sinai—full of fire and fervor! I can feel the Holy Spirit’s breeze rustling through your lines, and I’m humbled to chew on this with you. You’ve got Ezekiel 36:25-27 and that new wineskin heart blazing, with Yeshua’s Spirit pouring in like fine vintage. I’m right there with you—salvation’s His gift, not our grunt work! And I see Mr. Calvin’s shadow looming large here, with predestination steering the ship and us just singing hallelujah in the rigging. Let’s sit a spell and unpack this, old friend—my kettle’s on, and I’ve got some challah to share.
You’re doubling down hard—Romans 3:10-18 painting us all as wretched rebels, dead in our tracks without God’s sovereign zap. Total depravity’s your drumbeat, and I hear it loud: no one righteous, no one seeking, all of us a mess. Then John 15:4-5—the Vine and branches—shows us clinging to Yeshua or bust. You’re saying it’s all His doing, predestined from the get-go, and any whiff of choice is just fleshly hypocrisy, a “counterfeit faith” dead as James 2:17’s doornail. My nudge about Abraham choosing to trust? You’ve called it self-righteous folly, a “democratic squint” twisting truth. Ouch, sir—that stings, but I’ll take it in stride!
Here’s where I’d gently tug back, with all respect. You’re right—Romans 3:10-18 is a grim lineup, borrowed from Psalms 14 and 53, showing humanity’s bent toward chaos. But it’s a snapshot, not the whole scroll. Abraham’s faith in Genesis 15:6? That wasn’t him muscling up righteousness solo—HaShem called, he answered, and God credited it. No new heart yet, just a man trusting a promise. Was he perfect? Hardly! But helpless? Not quite. We’re wrecked without God, sure, but He made us with a flicker—able to hear His voice, like Adam’s kids choosing to sacrifice (Genesis 4:4-5). Total depravity’s half the story; we’re broken, not brain-dead.
You’ve got Yeshua’s love “constraining” us in a “predestined wedding dance”—beautiful! John 14:15’s “If you love Me, keep My commandments” becomes a script we’re wired to follow, no choice needed. But peek at the context: Yeshua’s inviting us, not installing software. John 15:4’s “Remain in Me” isn’t a lock; it’s a plea—stay close, or you’ll wither. Predestination’s real—Ephesians 1:4-5 sings it—but is it a straitjacket? John 3:16 says He loved the whole world, and 2 Peter 3:9 isn’t willing any perish. Maybe His plan’s big enough to choose us all, then let us RSVP. Irresistible grace? Sweet, but Judas walked away, and Israel said “no” plenty. He draws us—John 6:44—but doesn’t drag us kicking.
You’ve blasted Kenneth—and me!—for a “democratic faith,” as if we’re voting ourselves into glory. I get the worry: flesh loves to strut. But Joshua 24:15’s “Choose this day” isn’t flesh flexing; it’s hearts responding to a God who’s already saved them. Kenneth’s onto something—obedience isn’t optional (Matthew 7:21), but it’s not puppetry either. It’s love in action, not a pre-programmed pirouette. We’re not robots or rebels; we’re kids learning to walk with Abba, new hearts and all.
So, dear sir, I’m not scoffing—I’m squinting through Torah and Messiah’s light, seeing grace and choice in the dance. As for me and my house, we’re rooted in Yeshua’s finished work, choosing Him daily—not to earn it, but to live it. No repentance needed for that, I hope—just a shared love for truth! What say we keep this going over a cuppa? Your fire’s a blessing, and I’m still all ears!
John 14:15’s “If you love Me, keep My commandments” becomes a predestined script of Elohim’s irresistible Word to the dependent wise virgins in Christ’s submissive Bride whose new wineskin hearts are eternally wired to repentantly take up their daily cross and follow in joyful obedience to do His will, no carnal-minded independent self-willed choice of the sinful flesh is allowed to escape un-crucified. But peek at the context: Yeshua sovereignly commands the dependent wise virgins in His obedient Bride, He does not install democracy’s independent anti-theocratic software.
John 15:4—The Bridegroom’s sovereign commandment (i.e. “Let their be light”; “Lazarus come forth”) “Remain in Me” is joyfully embraced by His Bride’s obedient wise virgins; but to the deluded foolish virgins the command is a mystical parable that vainly falls upon the deaf ears of their truth-hating ‘old wineskin’ heart. Predestination is eternally real—Ephesians 1:4-5 sings it—but is it a gracious sanctifying straitjacket of Christ’s righteousness and constraining love? John 3:16 says He theocratically loved the world in this impossibly specific ’narrow path’ way (i.e. a camel passing through the eye of a needle), and 2 Peter 3:9 isn’t willing for any unrepentant sinner to remain dead in their grave during the second resurrection of all God-hating humanity, but all will be temporarily saved from death’s grave to repentantly stand with fear and trembling before His Judgement Day’s throne; Maybe His predestined plan in the first and second resurrections to be Savior and Judge of all men is big enough to choose the eternal destiny of us all, then let the foolish virgins try to RSVP. For the living God, who is the Savior of all men at the second resurrection, and especially the Savior of those ‘foreknown’ wise virgins in His holy Bride at the first resurrection, who believe (1 Tim 4:10).
Irresistible predestinated grace? Sweet, but Judas, in obedience to Yeshua’s irresistible commandment according to Elohim’s foreordained will, obediently got up from the table (like Satan’s deluded robotic puppet) and quickly betrayed his Master for 30 pieces of silver, and Satan’s Synagogue of uncircumcised ‘old wineskin’ hearted Israel robotically said “no” plenty. The constraining Spirit of the Bridegroom’s infinite love omnipotently draws His wise virgin Bride out of the Marxist Beast’s Socialistic Security System and into the wilderness ark of His salvation —John 6:44—but He doesn’t attempt to drag the deluded kicking foolish virgins out of Socialism’s Orwellian Security System and into His wilderness ark.
Yeshua said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6)—not a script, not a straitjacket, but a living call. Ezekiel 33:11 blasts your box apart: “As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back!” He pleads, not programs. And Revelation 3:20—Messiah knocks, He doesn’t kick the door down. Predestined? Sure, He knows (Romans 8:29). Irresistible? Tell that to the rich young ruler who walked away sad (Mark 10:22). God’s bigger than your blueprint—something to chew on.
RE: Yeshua omnipotently decreed, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6)—God’s unfailing Word of eternal life regenerates His foreknown elect offspring. For they are graciously predestined to receive ‘new wineskin’ hearts with circumcised ears to joyfully respond in faithful obedience to His universal Gospel decree. Ezekiel 33:11 blasts your blueprint’s box apart: “As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back!” He sovereignly commands His beloved prodigal sons, gracefully drawing them unto repentance, not humanistic 12 step socialist programs. And Revelation 3:20—Messiah knocks (i.e. metaphysical sound of thunder in the uncircumcised ears of the Devil’s ‘old wineskin’ hearted goats), and His irresistible voice intimately calls each of one His ‘new wineskin’ hearted sheep by name and commands: “Zacchaeus, hurry down out of that tree, for I must stay at your house today.”; With a loud voice Jesus commanded the dead man in the tomb, “Lazarus, come forth.”; ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?’; Jesus dipped the morsel and gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. And when Judas had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus commanded Judas, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” Satan’s son of perdition robotically obeyed his sovereign Creator’s irresistible foreordained commandment.
‘As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked (i.e. in Noah’s flood or Sodom’s holocaust), but rather that the wicked should (according to the unfailing sovereign decree of His glorious Gospel’s predestined salvation—Ezekiel 36:25-27) turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O prodigal house of Israel?’
He doesn’t kick the door down, He commands them by name to open the door. Predestined? Sure, He foreknew each one of them in the omniscient Spirit of His infinite love before the creation of time (Romans 8:29). Irresistible? Tell that to the beloved prodigal rich young ruler who obediently walked away sad because of the future cross he was commanded to take up and deny himself the insatiable pleasure of pursing the illusive ‘American Dream’ (Mark 10:22). God’s infinitely bigger than your deluded carnal-mind’s self-righteous-willed blueprint—something to chew on.
Amen!
Leviticus 22:31-32 KJV
31 Therefore shall ye keep my commandments, and do them: I am the Lord.
32 Neither shall ye profane my holy name; but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel: I am the Lord which hallow you 👈
Numbers 16:5 KJV
And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even to morrow the Lord will shew who are his, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near unto him: even him whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him.
Psalm 86:2 KJV
Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee.
Isaiah 62:12 KJV
And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the Lord: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken.
Acts 10:15, 28, 34-35 KJV
15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
Romans 11:16 KJV
For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
Ephesians 1:4 KJV
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Colossians 1:22 KJV
In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight
RE: Lord Jesus, I really appreciate your passion for truth, but why does it manifest as God’s powerful 2-edged sWORD, in an angry sharply divisive rant instead of ecumenically in a lukewarm mutual pursuit of THE TRUTH? Your Holy Spirit causes unpleasant sanctifying division and creates chaos and confusion in Lucifer’s lukewarm Laodicean Whore of Babylon, instead of mutual understanding and democratic growth which tears down instead of builds up. Held captive within Big Brother’s Socialistic eugenic Security System is the divided Judeo-Xian whore house of Mystery Babylon, that cannot stand. So, we are either democratically building the fornicating body of Harlot Babylon or making it sick.
We foolish virgins from Christ’s Bride are patriotically proud to have our digitally-marked (SS#) souls Socialistically Secured within Neo-Babel’s UN Global Village! We are called by the UN Social Justice Gospel to indiscriminately LOVE and heal but how is that possible with Christ’s contentious rhetoric in Revelation 18:4?!? Would not thoughtful Orwellian exploration produce better utopian results as the end justifies the means? If you dogmatically beat a UN Socialist view into someone, is it as effective as gently nudging them into discovering Big Brother’s MINISTRY OF TRUTH on their own? Is pride in my understanding over mutual edification a democratic fruit of The Spirit?
The Creator’s Response:
I have come to ignite a fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on, five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
Do not assume that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a (powerful sharply divisive, double edged) sword. For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me; and anyone who does not obediently take up his daily cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. Luke 12:49; Matthew 10:34
This is a good introduction to obedience, and it unfortunately brings out the claws of those who battle with sin. Your desire to hear the Holy Spirit teach is evident.