Who was it written to?What does it mean? Let's set the stage.. imagine you lived back in the times before Jesus started preaching. You're a Jewish person following the laws of the Father. You make your sacrifices and adhere to the Levitical priesthood way of life and the laws of God. One day this guy shows up, Jesus, and is baptized as our high priests have been put into office. Is he now our High Priest? He is speaking of how the Father wants us to keep the commandments. He explains its not just an outward action its also a belief inside ourselves. Now that we have the mind set we need to realize ALL scriptures were written to and for the Jews, the isrealites, and the converted gentiles. What is the message? The message is that Jesus Christ is the prophesied Messiah, Emmanuel, Savior. Christ is the fulfillment of prophecy. This is the gospel message. They and we need to be convinced of who He is! They were accustomed to their way of life, and now change has come. We all know how hard change is when were set in our ways and it's been our practice for generations.We now have to listen to see what is changing in our lives, our rules. Why is scriptures written to only the Jewish people? Because these are those who follow his commandments, those who listen to the Father. Why would it be written to any other group of people? They would just disregard it, reject it, and ridicule it. It was not written for Gentiles, the unconverted Gentiles. These are those who do not want to hear about the Father and Son.
Some would have you believe the Gospel message is salvation. This is not a new topic, salvation is spoken of in both testaments. To be saved, redeemed by the Father and Son.
Others would have you believe it's everlasting life. This also in not a new message. The resurrection to eternal life and damnation is spoken of by Isiah.
Some do include Christ in the gospel message as the key stone of salvation, and that's great. However, they then place more focus on salvation and eternal life as the majority of the message.
The message is simply Christ is our Messiah!
IF you have accepted Christ as your Lord it is your duty to live as instructed otherwise your belief in Christ alone will not gain you eternal life. Satan believes that Christ is the Messiah, refuses to follow the law of God, and he is destined for Hellfire at the 2nd resurrection. We must live a life in dutiful obedience to the law of the Father with the Faith of Christ to gain everlasting life.
You will hear some rebut keeping the law. They will say that is a works based salvation.
Let me let you in on a little secret. Damnation is also works based. Yes it is true that actions alone will not get you eternal life, and that is what is meant by this statement. However, IF you love the Father and love the Son you will obey their commands. This is how we show them we love them. It takes true belief and love which will reflect in our actions that is called faith. Faith is what gains us eternal life. What is in our hearts and minds is shown in actions made by us.
Old testament people were not saved by their actions alone, BUT by faith. This is their belief and actions together. This is spoken of in both testaments. Hebrews 11:17-33
Others will say that the law was fulfilled when Christ arrived. IF you read your scriptures after prayer you will see that Christ says to keep the commandments. Others then will lead to you Romans and tell you Paul says we are freed from the Law. This is not the case either. Yes Romans is hard to understand with all the misrepresentations that have been made. We first have to see what Christ said and know that Paul would not contradict Christ. Then we have to take a deeper look into those scriptures to see what is really being said. We are freed from the law of sin and death because Christ has overcome death. The second death we will not take part in IF we have the faith of Christ and keep the commandments. Rev 14:12
We will die physically (most of us), sleep the sleep of death (Ps 13:3 & 1 Thes 4:15), and IF we have been obedient (Ex 19:5 & Due 11:27-28 & Acts 5:32) will be risen on the Last day (John 6:54) to meet the Lord in the Sky (1 Thes 4:15-16). The others, the wicked law breakers that are alive, will die from his brightness (1 Thes 2:8) and countenance and remain this way 1000 years (Rev 20:3,5). We will spend a day in Heaven (one day to the Lord is as 1000 years to man 2 Peter 3:8) and then return to earth at which time the 2nd resurrection will occur (Rev 20: 7) and they will try to take the beloved city, New Jerusalem (Rev 20:9). The Lord will destroy all evil including the devil in Hellfire (Rev 20:10). Each person or angel will burn for the length of time their actions deem appropriate until they are ashes under Christ feet (Mal 4:3). We will be safe in New Jerusalem (Rev 21:2) until this is completed with the gates closed. This is Armageddon the battle between Gog and Magog. We will then spend eternity on the face of new earth free from sin and temptation.
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