In my last post, I talked about how the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Corinthians made good use of this section of the Torah we’re about to get into starting from Numbers Chapter Eleven.
He makes it clear that what was written in the past (referring to the Torah) was written for our benefit.
Unfortunately, the vast majority of Christian denominations promote the false idea that even if a believer sins or rebels, he or she doesn’t have to worry about being punished because Yeshua has already paid the price.
Is this really what Scripture teaches?
I believe this is another one of those dangerous Christian doctrines that does nothing but tickle the ears of its listeners because it basically says there will be no negative consequences for our behavior.
Listen very carefully to what I’m about to say.
SUCH A TEACHING HAS ZERO BASIS IN SCRIPTURE!!!
Take a look at this snippet from the Book of Romans:
“But if some of the branches were broken off
and you — a wild olive —
were grafted in among them
and have become equal sharers
in the rich root of the olive tree,
then don’t boast as if you were
better than the branches!
However, if you do boast,
remember that you are not supporting the root,
the root is supporting you.
So you will say,
“Branches were broken off
so that I might be grafted in.”
True, but so what?
They were broken off because
of their lack of trust.
However, you keep your place
only because of your trust.
So don’t be arrogant;
on the contrary, be terrified!
For if God did not spare the natural branches,
he certainly won’t spare you!
So take a good look at God’s
kindness and his severity:
on the one hand,
severity toward those who fell off;
but, on the other hand,
God’s kindness toward you —
provided you maintain yourself
in that kindness!
Otherwise, you too will be cut off!”
-Romans 11:17-22
Do you think Paul was issuing a hollow threat here?
Notice that Paul is talking about a “wild olive” being grafted in.
In other words, he is talking about gentile believers here and he says that if they don’t maintain themselves in God’s kindness, “they too will be cut off“!
He is talking about YOU and me!
YIKES!!!
The church is downright wrong in promoting the idea that the God of the Old Testament changed after Yeshua and that He now no longer punishes the believers who rebel against Him, whether Jew or Gentile.
The plain teaching of Paul and the New Testament in general is in perfect sync with what HASHEM has told us in His Torah.
God is BOTH severe and kind!
For those who are trusting and obedient, God’s kindness and blessings will be showered upon them.
However, for those who throw away their faith and rebel, God’s severity and judgement will land on them like a boulder flattening a diseased cockroach.
Remember, God does NOT change.
He is the same yesterday, today, and FOREVER!
And again, I reiterate that Paul is specifically calling out gentile believers here.
There’s no way we can look away and pretend that these warnings don’t apply to us.
Next time we meet, we’ll begin our text study of Numbers 11 and boy is it going to be a roller coaster ride!
CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord!’
will enter the Kingdom of Heaven,
only those who do what my Father
in heaven wants.
On that Day, many will say to me,
‘Lord, Lord!
Didn’t we prophesy in your name?
Didn’t we expel demons in your name?
Didn’t we perform many miracles in your name?’ 2
Then I will tell them to their faces,
‘I never knew you!
Get away from me,
you workers of lawlessness!”
-Matthew 7:21-23
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