The SAME as They

by Terry Wane Benton “But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are” (Acts 15:11). The Jews and Gentiles are saved the same way by the same gospel (Romans 1:16-17). There is no difference between the gospel to the Jews and the…

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You should get your facts straight

Question: You mentioned (in Is “Christian” supposed to be “natsarim”?) that the New Testament wasn’t written in Hebrew. That’s partially true, as Epiphanius and others have documented there was a Hebrew Matthew. Then you mentioned that Christian was a valid term based on the assumption that the New Testament wasn’t written in Hebrew.  Uhm, the…

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Kill and Eat

by Terry Wane Benton Peter’s Vision Acts 10:9-12 In Acts 10 Peter was told by God in a vision to kill and eat the animals, and there was a wide assortment, some of which God had forbidden to the Jews under the Old covenant. God explained that those unclean animals (off-limits to the Jews before)…

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Are there different gospels?

Question: Hello, I have been seeing more and more about the Kingdom Gospel vs the Gospel of Grace. Dispensationalism is becoming very popular on YouTube, and people are actually turning toward this teaching. I have seen comments that the churches of Christ intertwine the kingdom gospel and the grace gospel. Basically, they are saying that…

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I think Paul changed his mind as he got older

Question: I note that you comment a lot from Apostle Paul’s epistles, but the apostle Paul changes his mind on subjects as he ages.  Food for one.  I understand that he didn’t want to put a burden on the Gentiles, especially when literacy rates were probably so low in that era.  Now, literacy is high…

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Why don’t we use Yeshua instead of Jesus?

Question: Someone asked me why Yeshua, which is believed to be the real name of Christ, is never used today because of the English translation. Jesus is believed to be a corruption of Yeshua. What is your view on this? Answer: We use “Jesus” because that is the English transliteration of the Greek spelling of…

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Was Timothy’s father an Aramean?

Question: In Was Timothy’s father a non-believer? you said, “In the end, I think all you can state is that Timothy’s father was of Greek nationality.” But Acts 16:1 (translated from Aramaic Peshitta, based on Younan) says, “And he arrived at the medintha [city] Derbe and at Lostra. Now there was there a certain talmida [student]…

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Was the term “Christian” originally a derogatory reference?

Question: By your teaching the disciples were first called “Christians” at Antioch of Syria, which is true; however, who at Antioch was calling them this term and why? It was a derogatory term toward them, my friend. Then again by King Agrippa, another pagan. Then one other time this name is mentioned by Peter only…

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Can Messianic Jews go to heaven?

Question: Can Messianic Jews go to heaven? Answer: The question is can anyone go to heaven while denying portions of God’s teachings that they disagree with.  Since Jesus said we must do all that he commanded, the answer would be no. “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to…

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If Christ put us under one law, why wasn’t it the Law of Moses?

Question: From your web page Do Jews and Christians both follow the teachings of the Old Testament?: “This law ended with the death of Jesus Christ, allowing both Jews and Gentiles to come under one new law.” So there is one law, right? Why does a huge part of the Old Testament say to Israel that…

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Are the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of God different?

Question: In the article entitled “The Church Is the Kingdom”, it is proposed that the kingdom and the Church are the same.  I agree that the kingdom “of God” is the church, but I assume you would also assert that the Church and the kingdom “of Heaven” are the same thing also.  If that is…

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Am I Jewish, Hebrew, or Gentile?

Question: Am I Jewish, Hebrew, or a Gentile? My mother was a German Christian. Her grandparents immigrated and were from Germany. What is known is that my father the son of his mother, who was the daughter of her mother, who was the daughter of her father, an Orthodox German Jew. Although I knew great-great-grandmother,…

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Was Paul a false apostle?

Question: I have recently stumbled onto some information. Apparently, some Christians think that the apostle Paul was a false apostle and false teacher. They say that he taught Jesus “faith only” while Jesus himself clearly taught faith + works. I am deeply troubled by this and feel my world has been turned upside-down just when…

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What Made Paul an Apostle?

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/WhatMadePaulAnApostle.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Galatians 1:11-24   I.         Paul was different from the other apostles             A.        He wasn’t with Jesus when he was on earth             B.        He was not among the original twelve apostles – Luke 6:12-16             C.        He started out as a zealous persecutor of the church             D.        How is it that Paul claimed to be an…

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Why Messianic Jews follow the Old Law

Question: Shalom brother, If the commandments of Yahweh were done away with by Yahshua, then why does it say in I John 2:4-7; II John 1:6; Revelation 12:17; Revelation 22:14. Yahshua also said in John 14:15, John 15:10.  Yahshua took away the sacrificial laws and the death penalty, his blood is so pure that there…

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Can a Jew go to heaven?

Question: Can a Jew go to heaven? Answer: We use the word “Jew” in two different senses. A person can be a Jew because of his ancestry; that is, he descends from Jewish people. A person can also be a Jew because that is the religion he practices. As an ethnic group, Jews can be…

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Jesus’ Relation to the Law of Moses

Matthew 5:17-20 by Bobby Graham When Jesus was teaching in the Sermon on the Mount, was he merely explaining the Law to bring the Jews into closer alignment with God’s will, or was he setting forth principles that would operate in the coming kingdom?  It is understood that there was already a kingdom operating, from…

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The “Jesus Was Born Under the Law” Argument

by Terry W. Benton The Argument Stated: Jesus was “born” under the law (Galatians 4:4) and he died on the cross to “end” the Old Testament law of Moses (Romans 10:4; Colossians 2:14). This means that everything Jesus said and taught was under the authority of the Old Testament law of Moses. The Argument Answered:…

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The Jerusalem Conference

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/JerusalemConference.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Acts 11:1-18   I.         The meeting in Jerusalem, recorded in Acts 15, is used to justify many things             A.        The gathering of denominational bodies to consider issues is justified by this passage.             B.        Many go a step further to justify decisions of what rules the denomination will support             C.        Messianic Jews believe that…

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What do you know about the Black Hebrew Israelites?

Question: Hi. I hope all is well with you. Getting straight to the point, I want to get some information on a particular group of Christians who look at themselves as being black Hebrew Israelites. I’m not sure if they actually call themselves that but I’ve seen others refer to this group as Black Hebrew…

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Which is the better way to pronounce Jesus’ name: Yahsua or Yeshua?

Question: Thank you very much for your article on “Understanding the  Tetragrammaton: How is it Pronounced.” I am in total agreement with your research and conclusion as to the Tetragrammaton yhwh being pronounced as yahweh. Can you share your thoughts and opinion as to the pronunciation of our Lord and Savior, Jesus? Which is more correct in your research and examination: yahsua or yeshua? Please…

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What was Paul referring to when he talked about endless genealogies?

Question: In reading Albert Barnes’ Notes on I Timothy, he talks about genealogies which are referring to the verse I Timothy 1:4 “nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.” Albert Barnes states that the Hebrews kept careful genealogical records because…

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Can you help me with some arguments from a Messianic Jew?

Question: I have a friend who was a Christian and recently left the Church of Christ to join a group of people who call themselves Messianic Jews.  My friend, and many other people, were told by the person who they call the rabbi of that group that everyone in that group that their last names…

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Why should YHWH be pronounced correctly and not Yeshua?

Question: I have just read your web page:  Understanding the Tetragrammaton: Pronouncing YHWH. If your conclusion is accurate, then we should not be using the name Jesus, correct?  To apply your conclusion or principle to YHWH, consistency, and accuracy being paramount with me, means that the use of Jesus it wrong too.  We should be using…

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Wasn’t Paul a Nicolaitan?

Question: I first read your article rebutting someone’s perspective on the Nicolaitans, then your main article. I am a little confused with your logic. You said, “You will find some who build complex arguments that the Nicolaitans came up with the clergy / laity system. It is all built around the fact that “people” is found in the…

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The New Testament was written in Hebrew, not Greek!

Question: You seem to teach that the original New Testament was originally written in Greek. I hate to differ with you. Nowhere is that fact proven. I believe that Luke may have written his manuscript in Greek, since he was of Syrian descent and also perhaps the books of Acts, but as far as the…

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Judaizing Teachers

Text: Galatians 5:1-6   I.         In the beginnings of the church, Christians first came from the ranks of the Jews             A.        The Jews had a hard time at first with the gospel being preached to Gentiles – Acts 11:1-3             B.        As the gospel spread to the Gentiles, trouble arose as some Jewish Christians began to argue that the…

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How are the churches of Christ so similar to our beliefs?

Question: I’m a Messianic Jew. We believe the Jerusalem church is ours of course in conjunction with Acts 2. Yet the Church of Christ is so similar to our beliefs in the Torah of God. (Torah meaning God-breathed).  Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21. What relation is there of the Church of Christ to us? Answer:…

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I don’t think you proved Paul to be an apostle

Question: There are so much strife and debate among the world and believers in Christ that it seems to be a waste of time that we debate among ourselves. So please understand that I do not come in the spirit of debate, but truly searching the Scriptures to see if it is so. Sha’ul (Paul)…

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Where does the Bible say facial hair is wrong?

Question: I am a Messianic Jew and I go to Church not a Messianic Congregation yet. Anyway, I have heard that having facial hair is wrong. They say they have biblical proof but they can’t remember where it is and so I am at a loss as to what to do. I have no conviction…

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The “Jesus Came To Israel Only” Argument

by Terry W. Benton The Argument Stated: “MMLJ — before the cross — was taught only to the Jews of Israel.” I keep seeing the argument expressed that Jesus spoke only to the lost sheep of Israel, or only to Israel. The conclusion drawn from that fact is that “therefore” whatever He said to Israel…

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