Thoughts on Isaiah 53, 1-3

Who has believed what we have heard? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by others; a man of suffering and acquainted with infirmity; and as one from whom others hide their faces he was despised, and we held him of no account.

We see here that in spite of these and other prophecies few recognized the Messiah when he appeared. This announcement was literally fulfilled with first coming by Jesus Christ. This also explains John in his gospel in verse 12, 38 we read: This was to fulfill the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “Lord, who has believed our message, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

In the book "Isaiah - consolation for God's People" Betanien comment (http://www.betanien.de) I found the following quote: "John also said, Lord, who?; - whereby clearly is, that all messengers from God ask that question, also today's evangelists. But it is also the issue of the faithful remnant, the future Jewish missionaries before the dawn of the millennium, which bring the world the gospel once again and then confess themselves that they have at that time their Messiah ignored. Evangelists advised in the absence of success sometimes in doubt whether they are on the right path, and are then available in danger resort to human aids, to assist the gospel. However, this verse encouraged, to faithful proclamation! It is quite normal when natural people do not respond to the preaching of the Gospel. How can them, since they are dead in sin and cannot hear or understand spiritual words! A miracle of God's grace is necessary, and for anyone, who believes; God is to praise for this miracle." End quote!

The apostle Paul quotes Isaiah in this context in Romans 10, 16: "But not all have obeyed the good news; for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” Paul teaches in this verse also, that to believe also means to obey!

Therefore I cannot understand why time and again verses of Paul, by opponents of obedience are used, to prove why Christians no longer must keep the commandments (especially Sabbath) and the Torah. Paul teaches in many of his writings, that true followers of Jesus Christ are the entire word of God obedient. He explained it very well that the will to obedience must not come from ourselves, because otherwise we are under the law; and that Jesus Christ was written to the true believers of this obedience into the heart, so that this not of their own will (by themselves provide for the redemption), but rather from the heart, fulfil through the help of the Holy Spirit.

I would like to quote because of obedience from the book "Isaiah - consolation for God's People"  (http://www.betanien.de): "He (Paul) puts even >believe< with >obey< same, and thus it is clear that this miracle of grace does not happen when someone says he believe, and only its formal consent to historical facts means. Personal obedience in faith is necessary: Subjection to the Lord Jesus as Saviour and Lord. To those is clearly >the arm of the Lord<, "that means that in their lives is the transformed, sanctifying power of God, as they had a personal encounter with God; they recognized him in the Lord Jesus and this knowledge them eternal, complete powerful, godly life has implanted!" end quote!

To my last post about Isaiah in German, I received the following comment: "love your neighbor as yourself", and your soul shall find intake in God! I do not need Isaiah, to obey this!

First I was surprised and then shocked, to be like someone, who claims to be Christian; can leave such a comment! First, for his teaching Jesus Christ also used quotes from Isaiah; and secondly, the question arises, how a Christian can be of the opinion, that it would be enough only love his neighbor. He who loves his neighbor, will no more pass by beggars, without giving them alms. He does not think and tell, that those anyway will only buy alcohol for this alms. He who loves his neighbor, will supported financially, each of his brothers and sisters who are in need. He who loves his neighbor, take the first look at the welfare of his fellow human beings and not to his bank account. Such a human does not ask whether it is possible that new car or finance the next trip when he helps his neighbor. Someone who practices this, will be obedient the entire word of God.

These were just some examples of what it means to love one's neighbor!

I think we all need not only Isaiah, but the whole Bible and this every day, to draw strength from it, to learn and to be close to our God and Lord.

O Lord, God of my salvation, when, at night, I cry out in your presence, let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my cry. For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol. I am counted among those who go down to the Pit; I am like those who have no help, like those forsaken among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, like those whom you remember no more, for they are cut off from your hand. You have put me in the depths of the Pit, in the regions dark and deep. Your wrath lies heavy upon me, and you overwhelm me with all your waves. Selah!  You have caused my companions to shun me; you have made me a thing of horror to them. I am shut in so that I cannot escape; my eye grows dim through sorrow. Every day I call on you, O Lord; I spread out my hands to you. Do you work wonders for the dead? Do the shades rise up to praise you?  Selah!  Is your steadfast love declared in the grave, or your faithfulness in Abaddon? Are your wonders known in the darkness, or your saving help in the land of forgetfulness? But I, O Lord, cry out to you; in the morning my prayer comes before you. O Lord, why do you cast me off? Why do you hide your face from me? Wretched and close to death from my youth up, I suffer your terrors; I am desperate. Your wrath has swept over me; your dread assaults destroy me. They surround me like a flood all day long; from all sides they close in on me. You have caused friend and neighbor to shun me; my companions are in darkness. Amen (Psalm 88, 1-18)

Thoughts on Isaiah 56, 1-8 (Salvation for the Nations through Sabbath observance)

This is what the Lord says: “Maintain justice and do what is right, for my salvation is close at hand and my righteousness will soon be revealed. Blessed is the man who does this, the man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil.” Let no foreigner who has bound himself to the Lord say, “The Lord will surely exclude me from his people.” And let not any eunuch complain, “I am only a dry tree.” For this is what the Lord says: “To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose what pleases me and hold fast to my covenant— to them I will give within my temple and its walls a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that will not be cut off. And foreigners who bind themselves to the Lord to serve him, to love the name of the Lord, and to worship him, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to my covenant— these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.” The Sovereign Lord declares—he who gathers the exiles of Israel: “I will gather still others to them besides those already gathered.”

Even more clearly than Isaiah wrote down in these verses, God can not disclose, that even the strangers that diligently seek him, must keep his covenant, and have his Sabbaths to hallow. In these verses God clearly says, that he will save all; who the Sabbath hallow and holds his covenant.

Since we all know, that the Bible does not refute itself, we would have to actually know, that we should hallow the Sabbath of the Lord. Not, to thereby obtain our salvation; but because we have received salvation through the grace of Jesus Christ. Everyone, who was actually accepted by Jesus, has the new covenant. The new covenant means, that we have been written in the heart, the commandments and ordinances of God. But anybody, who has the new covenant in his heart is led by the Holy Spirit and can hence fulfil the will of God, because his heart would like obeying.

I cannot understand, why still so many Christians despite knowledge of the Bible, hold on the humanly invented days. These days are invented 360 years after Christ by the Roman Established Church, due power politics considerations. But I can also not understand, then why the Protestant reformers have chosen the days of the Roman heretics and not the God-ordained Sabbath and the feasts of the Lord.

When I read in the Bible and think about it, I cannot even comprehend how people have so many interpretations; which twisting the word of God. The Bible but explains itself for itself. The Word of God is perfect and free of contradictions from the first to the last page. Everything you don’t know, explained you of God, if you serious ask him in prayer about getting. I was able on myself to experience this, on numerous occasions. Thereby I've found, that it usually are the words of Paul, which are not easily understood. To the present day, I was allowed to recognize again and again, that Paul exactly writes from that, which is to be read in the Torah and in the prophets. He explains it, just different.

The new Pharisees and scribes make it advantage of the fact that Paul's words are hard to understand and blinded the people, by their false teachings.

Personally, I have asked in prayer to God for forgiveness and apologized me, that I have let fooled me so long, from the new Pharisees and scribes.

It is God, who also warn the Gentiles through Isaiah, because he granting us a brief glimpse on the new earth. Thus we read in Isaiah 66, 22-24: “As the new heavens and the new earth that I make will endure before me,” declares the Lord, “so will your name and descendants endure. From one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another, all mankind will come and bow down before me,” says the Lord. “And they will go out and look upon the dead bodies of those who rebelled against me; their worm will not die, nor will their fire be quenched, and they will be loathsome to all mankind.”

We see, then, that the new moon and Sabbath by God are valid for all eternity. How can people seriously claim that the Son of God, Jesus Christ has abolished this. Jesus himself told us that the son does not speak of Himself, but only what the Father gave him. Thus it is clear proof that nothing was overturned by the word of his Father through Jesus Christ. It would be completely absurd if God would contradict himself!

I am often asked whether I was actually aware of how complicated the Sabbath, the dietary laws, and the feasts of the Lord are to be observed. The people who make me this question look it as the Jews in Israel today to deal with these things. But They forget, that Jesus is not the Messiah for the Jews and therefore the Sabbath, the dietary laws, and the feasts of the Lord still celebrate with all of the requirements, which the Pharisees and scribes through misinterpretation of the Torah and the commandments have been added.

Jesus Christ has met and sanctified the Sabbath so as God has commanded. But he was sentenced by the Jews, because he had broken the Sabbath in their view. Thus, the dietary laws are simple and clear in the Torah by God declares and the Jews make a complicated process, because of they believe the interpretations of the Pharisees and scribes.

But Jesus said in Matthew 23, 13 - 15: "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are."

Wherefore, holy the Sabbath, as it did Jesus Christ sanctified and keep the dietary laws as God has prescribed in the Torah. Celebrates the feasts of the Lord, and believe not unchecked the words of the new Pharisees and scribes. Even today, this look only to their power, their glory and their immense wealth. Is it not a contradiction if a church has untold wealth and in this world children still die of hunger? Should this church not rather stop to want alleviate the plight, until she stands themselves in poverty?

“I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; I was found by those who did not seek me. To a nation that did not call on my name, I said, ‘Here am I, here am I.’ All day long I have held out my hands to an obstinate people, who walk in ways not good, pursuing their own imaginations— a people who continually provoke me to my very face, offering sacrifices in gardens and burning incense on altars of brick; who sit among the graves and spend their nights keeping secret vigil; who eat the flesh of pigs, and whose pots hold broth of unclean meat; who say, ‘Keep away; don’t come near me, for I am too sacred for you!’ Such people are smoke in my nostrils, a fire that keeps burning all day. “See, it stands written before me: I will not keep silent but will pay back in full; I will pay it back into their laps— both your sins and the sins of your fathers,” says the Lord. “Because they burned sacrifices on the mountains and defied me on the hills, I will measure into their laps the full payment for their former deeds.” This is what the Lord says: “As when juice is still found in a cluster of grapes and men say, ‘Don’t destroy it, there is yet some good in it, ‘so will I do in behalf of my servants; I will not destroy them all.  I will bring forth descendants from Jacob, and from Judah those who will possess my mountains; my chosen people will inherit them, and there will my servants live. Sharon will become a pasture for flocks, and the Valley of Achor a resting place for herds, for my people who seek me. “But as for you who forsake the Lord and forget my holy mountain, who spread a table for Fortune and fill bowls of mixed wine for Destiny, I will destine you for the sword, and you will all bend down for the slaughter; for I called but you did not answer, I spoke but you did not listen. You did evil in my sight and chose what displeases me.” Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “My servants will eat, but you will go hungry; my servants will drink, but you will go thirsty; my servants will rejoice, but you will be put to shame. My servants will sing out of the joy of their hearts, but you will cry out from anguish of heart and wail in brokenness of spirit. You will leave your name to my chosen ones as a curse; the Sovereign Lord will put you to death, but to his servants he will give another name. Whoever invokes a blessing in the land will do so by the God of truth; he who takes an oath in the land will swear by the God of truth. For the past troubles will be forgotten and hidden from my eyes. New Heavens and a New Earth “Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy." Amen (Isaiah 65, 1 – 18)

Thoughts on separation from the world

The seventh proof for genuine and true faith is the separation from the world.

In Wiktionary we find defined for separation: Is the intent or the result of the decision, to stay away from something or someone. (http://de.wiktionary.org/wiki/Absonderung)

Thus it follows that a true believer has made ​​the decision for themselves, to stay away from worldly things. That would mean, that the true believer no longer wants to possess, this luxury items touted from the world and according to advertising as essential for perfectly in this world live. A believer who is led by the Holy Spirit, has realized that all these luxuries is completely useless to attain, true happiness and peace of God.

This is a reason why the Apostle Paul writes in 1.Corinthians 2, 12: "We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us."

This sentence confirms that a true believer, this is someone who has received the Holy Spirit, themselves without compulsion and of pure love for Jesus Christ, will abide the commandments and the statutes of God. That will be his entire efforts and he will no longer align his whole strength and his thoughts, how he can finance an even bigger house, a more luxurious car, even more travel, more expensive watches, etc.

Before this warns us the Apostle John in 1.John 2.15-17 very clearly with the words: "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever."

Considering this more than clear words I cannot understand, why so many purported Christians himself permanently refuse to do the will of God! Is it possible, that false doctrine over centuries has made ​​people blind and deaf?

The will of God, are his commandments and his statutes, which he hath given unto Moses. His will has never changed, because he applies forever. Even Jesus Christ obeyed his father's will, and made clear more than once, that he would save only those who believe in him, and do his will.

The result is automatically, that the Torah (five books of Moses) have eternal validity. Therefore keep true believer the Sabbath and the feasts of God and not those from humans established Sunday and the festivals which people have invented! The Sunday and the festivals of the people are from this world, but the Shabbat, the feasts of the Lord and the Torah are from God!

That is why the Apostle John wrote in 1.John 5, 5: "Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God."

I beg you, to ask you these question; why the world do not hate you. Examine yourself at the Word of God (the bible), and also check everything what you hear or read about these things. But let you just help from the Holy Spirit! Read the Bible and ask God in prayer for help. This will bring you much closer to your salvation, than any Christian teaching from human made.

May God bless you and bring you on the right path! Shalom

Why do you boast of evil, you mighty man? Why do you boast all day long, you who are a disgrace in the eyes of God? Your tongue plots destruction; it is like a sharpened razor, you who practice deceit. You love evil rather than good, falsehood rather than speaking the truth. Selah. You love every harmful word, O you deceitful tongue! Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin: He will snatch you up and tear you from your tent; he will uproot you from the land of the living. Selah. The righteous will see and fear; they will laugh at him, saying, here now is the man who did not make God his stronghold but trusted in his great wealth and grew strong by destroying others!” But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever. I will praise you forever for what you have done; in your name I will hope, for your name is good. I will praise you in the presence of your saints.  Amen

(Psalm 52)

Thinking about knowledge of sin

Knowledge of sin is the fifth point of the signs that genuine faith is neither prove nor disprove.

The knowledge of sin alone may actually not be used as evidence to prove or disprove genuine faith. To recognize the sin does not necessarily means that you regret this, do penance and leave sin. A nice example gives us the Apostle Luke in Acts 24, 25: "As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you."

Yes, there are people who through the Word of God  know their sin exactly, but they love this bad habit so much that they does not want to leave this sin. It is not so long ago, because such people were taken into church discipline. But today we live dangerous  if we just mention that there is the possibility of church discipline. The poor sinner who says, he wants to leave his sin,  but he can not make it, is cared for and comforted in many parishes,  while even if it was the Apostle Paul personally; everyone who speaks of church discipline and explains if you really and heartily do penance,   you leave also the sin. However any that have the true faith, is the Holy Spirit to the side and helps.

But everyone itself should think about that, and conduct research in the Word of God. It must be remembered that the will of God has eternal validity and you should also know, that a wrong decision leads to the loss of Eternity.

On this subject, the apostle Paul wrote in Romans 6, 16: "Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?"

The Bible tells us in many places that the sacrifice of Jesus Christ is not a carte blanche to remain in sin. If you confess him your sins, they repent from your heart and doing penitence in tears, he will be graciously to you. Or as Jesus himself often emphasizes: "Your sins are forgave, now go and sin no more!"

Remember also, if you have genuine faith, then you will hate sin as God hates sin.

O Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath. For your arrows have pierced me, and your hand has come down upon me. Because of your wrath there is no health in my body; my bones have no soundness because of my sin. My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear. My wounds fester and are loathsome because of my sinful folly. I am bowed down and brought very low; all day long I go about mourning. My back is filled with searing pain; there is no health in my body. I am feeble and utterly crushed; I groan in anguish of heart. All my longings lie open before you, O Lord; my sighing is not hidden from you. My heart pounds, my strength fails me; even the light has gone from my eyes. My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds; my neighbors stay far away. Those who seek my life set their traps, those who would harm me talk of my ruin; all day long they plot deception. I am like a deaf man, who cannot hear, like a mute, who cannot open his mouth; I have become like a man who does not hear, whose mouth can offer no reply. I wait for you, O Lord; you will answer, O Lord my God. For I said, “Do not let them gloat or exalt themselves over me when my foot slips.” For I am about to fall, and my pain is ever with me. I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin. Many are those who are my vigorous enemies; those who hate me without reason are numerous. Those who repay my good with evil slander me when I pursue what is good. O Lord, do not forsake me; be not far from me, O my God. Come quickly to help me, O Lord my Savior. Amen

(Psalm 38,1-22)

Thinking about religious commitment

The third point of the signs that genuine faith is neither prove nor disprove is religious commitment. Here we should first inform about the importance from the words religious and commitment.

I found in the dictionary: "religiosity refers to the different types of beliefs and their expression."
And the declaration to commitment: "intense personal commitment to a cause."

Religious commitment is the intense personal commitment of a person belonging to his attitude of faith and his rituals to this attitude of faith include.

It is clear, that this can give the genuine faith neither prove nor disprove. As we all know, there are exist in all faiths  People with an intense personal commitment, to occur for their beliefs. But any true follower of Jesus Christ also know, there is only one true faith - the faith in Jesus Christ.

A very nice example of this provides us Jesus Christ in Matthew 25: 1 - 10 with the following parable: “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ “ ‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.“

All ten virgins were with intense personal involvement in the matter of their faith. However, five of them believed the oil in the lamps would be enough, while the other five had faith even to require additional oil for the lamps. But only the five virgins, who give their intense personal commitment to the true faith, reached in the end their aim and were allowed to enter with Jesus Christ in the kingdom of heaven.

We see again how important it is to know the Bible, and study God's Word itself and with much prayer. Check everything you hear in your religious community on the everlasting Word of God. Only then can you decide the right path for you. Always remember that Satan as the Lord of this world not openly fighting against religions and churches. Satan changed the gospel of Christ, because even as he tempted Jesus in the desert, he just twisted God's word.

 

Hear me, O God, as I voice my complaint; protect my life from the threat of the enemy. Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked, from that noisy crowd of evildoers. They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their words like deadly arrows. They shoot from ambush at the innocent man; they shoot at him suddenly, without fear. They encourage each other in evil plans, they talk about hiding their snares; they say, “Who will see thema?” They plot injustice and say, “We have devised a perfect plan!” Surely the mind and heart of man are cunning. But God will shoot them with arrows; suddenly they will be struck down. He will turn their own tongues against them and bring them to ruin; all who see them will shake their heads in scorn. All mankind will fear; they will proclaim the works of God and ponder what he has done. Let the righteous rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in him; let all the upright in heart praise him! Amen
(Psalm 64,1-10)