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	<title>Messianic Judaism &#8211; La Vista Church of Christ</title>
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	<title>Messianic Judaism &#8211; La Vista Church of Christ</title>
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		<title>Don&#8217;t you know that the language of God is understandable to those needing to understand?</title>
		<link>https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/dont-you-know-that-the-language-of-god-is-understandable-to-those-needing-to-understand/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jeffrey Hamilton]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 04:12:06 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Answer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[apologetics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Messianic Judaism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pentecostalism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[speaking in tongues]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tongue speaking]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=95190</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Question: [I left this one unedited since the author believes he is being led by the Spirit.] I don’t know who you’ve met, what you’ve read, or who you’ve talked to. But what I do know is that the blood is dripping from your hands and all that you led astray you will have to&#8230;]]></description>
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	<h2>Question:</h2>
<blockquote><p>[I left this one unedited since the author believes he is being led by the Spirit.]</p></blockquote>
<p>I don’t know who you’ve met, what you’ve read, or who you’ve talked to. But what I do know is that the blood is dripping from your hands and all that you led astray you will have to pay for.</p>
<p>You haven’t spoken to a true Pentecostal for if you did they would have told you that speaking in tongues as the Spirit of GOD gives utterance is the initial evidence that you have received the Holy Ghost.</p>
<p>They would have told you it was the language of GOD and that it is understandable for those who need to understand it. Like on the Day of Pentecost.</p>
<p>How in the world do you think all those people from all of those many countries could all hear the language of their home country? If all in the upper room, (by the way it wasn’t just the 12 apostles, there were 120 people up there including Mary the mother of Yehoshua HaMaShiach).</p>
<p>If all in the upper room were speaking say Greek, only the people from Greece would have recognised their home country. If all were speaking Crete or one of the countries’ tongues only the people from those countries could have understood them. And this could only be understood if each one was saying the same thing at the same time. For if each one was speaking the language of each of the countries present it would have sounded like a bunch of babbling and confusion because that’s what it sounds like when a bunch of people are speaking English at the same time let alone different languages.</p>
<p>But each person heard them speaking their own language, in their own tongue. The only tongue that could do that is the tongue of the ALMIGHTY.</p>
<p>Yes some people will also gain the ability to speak in an earthly language along with the Holy Ghost, or some other gift. But this is NOT the tongues of GOD.</p>
<p>The Bible says,</p>
<p>“Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not...”<br />
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭14‬:‭22‬</p>
<p>You could be speaking against the Holy Ghost sir. You could be speaking against THE HOLY GHOST. I don’t know if this is considered blasphemy or speaking against The Holy Ghost or not or even if you are doing this knowingly or not but just in case it, you need to be VERY careful for that will not be forgiven you. Not in this world and not in the world to come:</p>
<p>“Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men…But whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.”<br />
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭12‬:‭31‬-‭32‬ ‭</p>
<p>I don’t know if what you’ve done is considered speaking against the Holy Ghost or is blasphemy or not, and I hope for your sake it isn’t. People for the sake of being right will say all manner of things not realizing it could cost them salvation. I don’t know but just in case you haven’t cursed yourself to eternal damnation:</p>
<p>“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Yehoshua HaMaShiach for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”<br />
‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭38‬ ‭</p>
<p>“While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.<br />
And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter,<br />
because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues…”<br />
‭‭Acts‬ ‭10‬:‭44‬-‭46‬ ‭</p>
<p>Repent sir. REPENT. Repent of the wickedness that you have done to prove yourself right. How do I know that this was just to prove yourself right? There was no need to put all of the rest of this up here except for how you believe a person receives salvation except if you’re trying to prove yourself right. For what should be important is saving people not showing how you think others are wrong and you’re right.</p>
<p>The scripture needs no private interpretation as you’ve done. It is plain for all to see what it means concerning how to be saved. The only ones it is hid to is it is hid TO those that are lost, (2 Corinthians 4:3). Not FROM them but TO them. This means they heard it and rejected it in their hearts but they don’t want to be saved, they want to be lost.</p>
<p>Side note:1 and 2 Corinthians was<br />
a letter from Paul, (which needs to be read from the beginning [aka chapter 1 verse 1]to understand it properly), to those who were already saved, already born again,</p>
<p>“Paul, called to be an apostle of Yehoshua HaMaShiach through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Yehoshua HaMaShiach , called (to be) saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Yehoshua HaMaShiach our Lord, both their's and our's:”<br />
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭</p>
<p>Paul was speaking to ones who were already saved and wanted to know which was more necessary concerning the gifts of the Spirit for that part of the Body of Christ at that time. You read it and don’t understand it because you haven’t been born again. It is addressed to the saved, the unsaved couldn’t possibly understand what it means, okay?</p>
<p>Okay, that’s all. Repent sir. For YOUR sake, (and if you haven’t cursed yourself that is), repent.</p>
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	<h2>Answer:</h2>
<p>There is definitely an odd mix of Pentecostal beliefs and Messianic Judaism in this diatribe. The author plays word games to avoid being trapped. Thus, though I've known several Pentecostals and taught in a school run by Pentecostals for over a year, the author would claim they were not <em>true</em> Pentecostals if they did not hold the author's beliefs. Of course, there is no definitive standard for what constitutes <em>true</em> Pentecostalism, so the author believes he is safe from being proven wrong.</p>
<p>In a similar way, the author avoids the fact that the gibberish spoken is not a language by claiming that only those whom God intends to understand will actually understand what is being said.</p>
<p>When the people exclaimed about the miracle in Acts 2, they said, "<em>We hear them speaking in our languages the mighty works of God!</em>" (Acts 2:11). Because it says "them," we know that more than one apostle was speaking. This fits with what is stated next, "<em>But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spoke out to them</em>" (Acts 2:14). It was Peter's sermon, but the other eleven were also there, presumably translating what Peter said into other languages. The people heard the apostles <strong>speaking</strong> in their native languages. This is how the Spirit described the miracle. "<em>They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and <strong>began to speak with other languages</strong>, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak</em>" (Acts 2:4). The miracle was that they spoke in other languages, not that people heard in other languages.</p>
<p>Also, notice that throughout the text, the Holy Spirit, through Luke, states that multiple languages were spoken. The author of the diatribe claims it was a single language heard differently by selected people. There is no support for the author's position.</p>
<p>The idea that 120 received the baptism of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost is also different from what Luke recorded. See "<a href="https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/did-120-receive-the-baptism-of-the-holy-spirit-in-acts-21-4/">Did 120 Receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2:1-4?</a>"</p>
<p>What is strange is that after quoting a verse that states that tongues are a sign for <em>unbelievers</em>, the author scolds those of us who don't believe the author is capable of performing this sign. Babbling is not impressive to skeptics.</p>
<p>Nor can this be blasphemy of the Holy Spirit when the author is incapable of proving that the Holy Spirit is actually behind the author's babbling. I'm also not impressed that the author believes it is fine to edit the biblical text to match his beliefs. For example, the author quotes Acts 2:38 from the King James Version but alters the wording so that "in the name of Jesus Christ" becomes "in the name of Yehoshua HaMaShiach," which doesn't match the underlying Greek text.</p>
<p>Of course, the author manages to violate the law of noncontradiction. In a lengthy rebuttal to what has been posted on La Vista's website, the author claims that proving someone wrong and asserting that you are right is a sin. Obviously, the author thinks he is an exception to his own rule, but logically, he has proven himself wrong. He also forgot about the command "<em>Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world</em>" (I John 4:1). I've been following John's command, and the author has come up severely short.</p>
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		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">95190</post-id>	</item>
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		<title>&#8220;Fulfill&#8221; doesn&#8217;t imply ended</title>
		<link>https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/fulfill-doesnt-imply-ended/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jeffrey Hamilton]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 29 Apr 2025 17:52:01 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Answer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Messianic Judaism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Old Law]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Seventh Day Adventists]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=86872</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Question: "Jesus said, "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished" (Matthew 5:17-18). You&#8230;]]></description>
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	<h2>Question:</h2>
<blockquote><p>"Jesus said, "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished" (Matthew 5:17-18). You made a false claim because you only referred to a portion of what Jesus said. Jesus stated that he came to fulfill the Law, and the Law would not end until everything in his mission was accomplished."</p></blockquote>
<p>Matthew 3:15<br />
But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.</p>
<p>Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled baptism. Why do you baptize then?</p>
<p>Romans 15:19<br />
by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ;</p>
<p>The Apostle Paul fulfilled the gospel. Why do you still preach it?</p>
<p>Are we not commanded to "rightly divide the word," studying ourselves to be approved? Why don't you study the Greek word "fulfill"? It can also mean to "execute."</p>
<p>And if the Lord Jesus Christ did away with his Father's commandments - why did the apostles continue to keep them after he rose? That's because God's laws are eternal. Just go read Psalm 119. Or trust in the words of the beloved apostle John, who defines what sin is: transgression of God's laws (I John 3:4).</p>
<p>Isaiah 8:20<br />
To God's laws and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.</p>
<p>Revelation 14:12<br />
Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.</p>
<p>You need both. Keeping the law without faith = justification. Keeping God's commandments through faith is love.</p>
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	<h2>Answer:</h2>
<p>The word "fulfill" in <span class="bible-link" data-passage="translation=esv16&amp;book=mat&amp;chapter=5&amp;verse=17" data-reference="Matthew 5:17 (ESV16)" data-read-more="https://bibles.org/bible/f421fe261da7624f-01/MAT.5?passageId=MAT.5.17" data-publisher="Crossway Bibles" data-publisher-link="https://www.crossway.org/bibles" data-copyright="Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.">Matthew 5:17</span> <span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">originates from the Greek word <em>pleroo</em>, which means "to fill, make full, supply fully, or </span>complete." Its meaning can be seen in how it is used in other passages. For example, numerous passages refer to actions taken so that a prophecy might be fulfilled, such as in Matthew 1:22, 2:15, and 17, among others. The word means that the prophecy was answered in full and brought to completion. When a task is completed to the fullest extent, it is finished. We say this in English when we say we went to the gas station and filled up the car. In other words, we stopped pumping gas into the car once it reached the full mark because no more gas could be added. This sense of a completed purpose is seen in <span class="bible-link" data-passage="translation=esv16&amp;book=luk&amp;chapter=7&amp;verse=1" data-reference="Luke 7:1 (ESV16)" data-read-more="https://bibles.org/bible/f421fe261da7624f-01/LUK.7?passageId=LUK.7.1" data-publisher="Crossway Bibles" data-publisher-link="https://www.crossway.org/bibles" data-copyright="Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.">Luke 7:1</span>, "<i>Now when He concluded all His sayings in the hearing of the people, He entered Capernaum.</i>" The word "concluded" is the Greek word <i>pleroo</i>. Jesus fulfilled his purpose in that particular lesson. Nothing more needed to be said at that moment, so he stopped. It is also seen in <span class="bible-link" data-passage="translation=esv16&amp;book=act&amp;chapter=19&amp;verse=21" data-reference="Acts 19:21 (ESV16)" data-read-more="https://bibles.org/bible/f421fe261da7624f-01/ACT.19?passageId=ACT.19.21" data-publisher="Crossway Bibles" data-publisher-link="https://www.crossway.org/bibles" data-copyright="Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.">Acts 19:21</span>, "<i>When these things were accomplished, Paul purposed in the Spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, 'After I have been there, I must also see Rome.'</i>" Paul had completed what he set out to do in Ephesus, so he looked to move on to another region. The same Greek word <i>pleroo </i>is being used, though it is translated as "accomplished."</p>
<p>By stating that the law would continue until all was fulfilled or made complete, Jesus implies that the law in its current state was not complete. We know from the apostles’ writings that the Mosaic Law was missing some essential parts. It could not give its followers life (<span class="bible-link" data-passage="translation=esv16&amp;book=gal&amp;chapter=3&amp;verse=21" data-reference="Galatians 3:21 (ESV16)" data-read-more="https://bibles.org/bible/f421fe261da7624f-01/GAL.3?passageId=GAL.3.21" data-publisher="Crossway Bibles" data-publisher-link="https://www.crossway.org/bibles" data-copyright="Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.">Galatians 3:21</span>) or make them perfect (<span class="bible-link" data-passage="translation=esv16&amp;book=heb&amp;chapter=7&amp;verse=18&amp;verse_end=19" data-reference="Hebrews 7:18–19 (ESV16)" data-read-more="https://bibles.org/bible/f421fe261da7624f-01/HEB.7?passageId=HEB.7.18-HEB.7.19" data-publisher="Crossway Bibles" data-publisher-link="https://www.crossway.org/bibles" data-copyright="Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.">Hebrews 7:18-19</span>). Thus, it had a fault, not in itself, but in the inadequacy of those who tried to live by it (<span class="bible-link" data-passage="translation=esv16&amp;book=heb&amp;chapter=8&amp;verse=7" data-reference="Hebrews 8:7 (ESV16)" data-read-more="https://bibles.org/bible/f421fe261da7624f-01/HEB.8?passageId=HEB.8.7" data-publisher="Crossway Bibles" data-publisher-link="https://www.crossway.org/bibles" data-copyright="Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.">Hebrews 8:7</span>). It could explain and hold a person accountable for sin, but in itself, it could not cleanse sin (<span class="bible-link" data-passage="translation=esv16&amp;book=heb&amp;chapter=10&amp;verse=1&amp;verse_end=4" data-reference="Hebrews 10:1–4 (ESV16)" data-read-more="https://bibles.org/bible/f421fe261da7624f-01/HEB.10?passageId=HEB.10.1-HEB.10.4" data-publisher="Crossway Bibles" data-publisher-link="https://www.crossway.org/bibles" data-copyright="Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.">Hebrews 10:1-4</span>, <span class="bible-link" data-passage="translation=esv16&amp;book=heb&amp;chapter=10&amp;verse=8&amp;verse_end=10" data-reference="Hebrews 10:8–10 (ESV16)" data-read-more="https://bibles.org/bible/f421fe261da7624f-01/HEB.10?passageId=HEB.10.8-HEB.10.10" data-publisher="Crossway Bibles" data-publisher-link="https://www.crossway.org/bibles" data-copyright="Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.">8-10</span>, <span class="bible-link" data-passage="translation=esv16&amp;book=heb&amp;chapter=10&amp;verse=14" data-reference="Hebrews 10:14 (ESV16)" data-read-more="https://bibles.org/bible/f421fe261da7624f-01/HEB.10?passageId=HEB.10.14" data-publisher="Crossway Bibles" data-publisher-link="https://www.crossway.org/bibles" data-copyright="Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.">14</span>). It was Jesus' sacrifice that brought the missing elements into existence (<span class="bible-link" data-passage="translation=esv16&amp;book=heb&amp;chapter=9&amp;verse=15" data-reference="Hebrews 9:15 (ESV16)" data-read-more="https://bibles.org/bible/f421fe261da7624f-01/HEB.9?passageId=HEB.9.15" data-publisher="Crossway Bibles" data-publisher-link="https://www.crossway.org/bibles" data-copyright="Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.">Hebrews 9:15</span>).</p>
<p>The difference between destroying and fulfilling the law is the same difference between declaring a mortgage note null and void, tearing it up and throwing it into the fire, and paying the note off in full. Both bring the mortgage to an end, but they do so in vastly different ways. Jesus did not cancel the law but brought it to a natural conclusion.</p>
<p>Jesus explained what he meant by "fulfilled" when he emphasized that the Law would not end until all was fulfilled. “<i>For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled</i>” (<span class="bible-link" data-passage="translation=esv16&amp;book=mat&amp;chapter=5&amp;verse=18" data-reference="Matthew 5:18 (ESV16)" data-read-more="https://bibles.org/bible/f421fe261da7624f-01/MAT.5?passageId=MAT.5.18" data-publisher="Crossway Bibles" data-publisher-link="https://www.crossway.org/bibles" data-copyright="Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.">Matthew 5:18</span>). This "fulfilled" comes from a different Greek word, <i>ginotai</i>. It means "to be, to come into being, to be made, be done, become, or to be celebrated." Jesus stated that the permanence of the law was conditional. He gave two possible ending conditions: either heaven and earth would come to an end, or all would be accomplished. His phrasing is similar to that of a parent who tells his child, “You’ll sit here all night until you eat your peas.” The implication is that the child would not be at the table all night; the peas would be eaten before then. In the same way, Jesus is saying that the world would have a better chance of ending than God failing to accomplish His purpose for the Law. Some people focus so hard on the first condition that they overlook the fact that the second condition would occur before the first. A similar phrasing can be found in <span class="bible-link" data-passage="translation=esv16&amp;book=mat&amp;chapter=24&amp;verse=34" data-reference="Matthew 24:34 (ESV16)" data-read-more="https://bibles.org/bible/f421fe261da7624f-01/MAT.24?passageId=MAT.24.34" data-publisher="Crossway Bibles" data-publisher-link="https://www.crossway.org/bibles" data-copyright="Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.">Matthew 24:34</span> and <span class="bible-link" data-passage="translation=esv16&amp;book=luk&amp;chapter=21&amp;verse=31&amp;verse_end=33" data-reference="Luke 21:31–33 (ESV16)" data-read-more="https://bibles.org/bible/f421fe261da7624f-01/LUK.21?passageId=LUK.21.31-LUK.21.33" data-publisher="Crossway Bibles" data-publisher-link="https://www.crossway.org/bibles" data-copyright="Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.">Luke 21:31-33</span>.</p>
<p>Another verse that speaks to this same topic is <span class="bible-link" data-passage="translation=esv16&amp;book=rom&amp;chapter=10&amp;verse=4" data-reference="Romans 10:4 (ESV16)" data-read-more="https://bibles.org/bible/f421fe261da7624f-01/ROM.10?passageId=ROM.10.4" data-publisher="Crossway Bibles" data-publisher-link="https://www.crossway.org/bibles" data-copyright="Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.">Romans 10:4</span>, "<i>For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.</i>" The word translated as "end" is from the Greek word <i>telos</i>, which means "end, termination, conclusion, aim, result, goal, outcome." In other words, the purpose of the Law culminated in Christ Jesus. Jesus was its goal. With his death, he brought the law to its conclusion. "<i>Having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross</i>" (<span class="bible-link" data-passage="translation=esv16&amp;book=col&amp;chapter=2&amp;verse=14" data-reference="Colossians 2:14 (ESV16)" data-read-more="https://bibles.org/bible/f421fe261da7624f-01/COL.2?passageId=COL.2.14" data-publisher="Crossway Bibles" data-publisher-link="https://www.crossway.org/bibles" data-copyright="Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.">Colossians 2:14</span>). Or as we already noted, "<i>Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor</i>" (<span class="bible-link" data-passage="translation=esv16&amp;book=gal&amp;chapter=3&amp;verse=24&amp;verse_end=25" data-reference="Galatians 3:24–25 (ESV16)" data-read-more="https://bibles.org/bible/f421fe261da7624f-01/GAL.3?passageId=GAL.3.24-GAL.3.25" data-publisher="Crossway Bibles" data-publisher-link="https://www.crossway.org/bibles" data-copyright="Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.">Galatians 3:24-25</span>).</p>
<p>In Matthew 3:15, Jesus told John that his baptism should take place to fulfill all righteousness, not to fulfill baptism as you claimed. To fulfill the Law, Jesus needed to keep all that was commanded, including the recent addition of baptism by John, the last prophet under the Old Law. Jesus brought his requirement to be righteous to the full.</p>
<p>In Romans 15:19, Paul said he completed his task of teaching the Gospel in the regions from Jerusalem to Illyricum. He had no additional things that needed to be taught in that region, so he is planning to travel to Spain to cover new territory with the same message (Romans 15:22-24).</p>
<p>You seem to think that any reference to "command" refers to the Ten Commandments, which is provably false. See "<a href="https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/does-the-word-commandments-always-refer-to-the-ten-commandments/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Does the word 'commandments' always refer to the Ten Commandments?</a>"</p>
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		<title>The SAME as They</title>
		<link>https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/the-same-as-they/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jeffrey Hamilton]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 19 Nov 2024 22:45:11 +0000</pubDate>
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		<category><![CDATA[Messianic Judaism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[salvation]]></category>
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					<description><![CDATA[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&#8230;]]></description>
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	<p style="text-align: right;">by Terry Wane Benton</p>
<blockquote><p>"<em>But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are</em>" (Acts 15:11).</p></blockquote>
<p>The Jews and Gentiles are saved the <b>same </b>way by the same gospel (Romans 1:16-17). There is no difference between the gospel to the Jews and the gospel to the Gentiles. However, some are teaching that these are two separate and different messages. No! It's the same gospel at times preached to two different groups to bring them into unity or oneness. In this context, Peter said that God used his mouth to share the gospel with the Gentiles. They were saved without circumcision and keeping the Law of Moses. Peter then adds, "<em>But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we</em> (Jews) <em>shall be saved in the same manner as they</em> (Gentiles)." We are saved, not through keeping the Law of Moses, but through faith in the same Savior, Jesus Christ.</p>
<p>We are all saved in the same manner. Faith includes repentance and baptism "<em>in the name of the Lord</em>" (Acts 2:38 -to the Jews) and (Acts 10:47; Galatians 3:26-27 to the Gentiles). Both had to be baptized in the name of the Lord for the remission of sins. Saul was saved "<em>in the same manner</em>" (Acts 22:16). The Ethiopian eunuch was saved "<em>in the same manner</em>" (Acts 8:33ff). There was no "just say the sinner's prayer" or "just repeat this prayer with me," as many say today. All who were saved in the first century were saved in the same manner as the 3,000 on Pentecost (Acts 2:36-41). If you thought you were saved in a different way than that, you need to get your heart corrected on this. All are saved in the same manner (Galatians 3:26-27). Be sure you have obeyed the same gospel in the same manner.</p>
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		<title>Don&#8217;t you realize that the Torah is the way, the truth, and the life?</title>
		<link>https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/dont-you-realize-that-the-torah-is-the-way-the-truth-and-the-life/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jeffrey Hamilton]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 27 Sep 2024 22:24:22 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Answer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Messianic Judaism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Old Law]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[polygamy]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=69942</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Question: Hello, I noticed your article on polygyny using I Corinthians 7:2. Do you understand that the Torah is the way, the truth, and life? Just like Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. He is the Word of God. The Word made flesh. It's written to add or take away from the&#8230;]]></description>
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	<h2>Question:</h2>
<p>Hello,</p>
<p>I noticed your article on polygyny using I Corinthians 7:2. Do you understand that the Torah is the way, the truth, and life? Just like Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. He is the Word of God. The Word made flesh. It's written to add or take away from the Torah as sin. Jesus said in his first public address - it's easier for heaven and earth to pass than the smallest iota to drop from the Torah. He also said until all has been fulfilled. Heaven and earth are still here, and not everything has been fulfilled. Are you calling the Messiah a liar? Because he said he wasn't going to add or take away from it. And the Torah obviously allows polygyny. You can read in II Samuel 12:8 - the Creator himself accredited himself for giving King David multiple wives. So, are you saying the Creator is a sinner? Remember how harshly the Pharisees were rebuked for adding and taking away from the Torah?</p>
<p>Study yourself approved. Line by line. Precept by precept.</p>
<p>Shalom,</p>
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	<h2>Answer:</h2>
<blockquote><p>"<em>Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me'</em>" (John 14:6).</p></blockquote>
<p>Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Jesus is also the Word: "<em>In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God</em>" (John 1:1). The Torah, the first five books of the Old Testament, was given by God. However, you failed to prove that those five books are the way, the truth, and the life that leads to God. Paul, inspired of God, stated, "<em>Now that <strong>no one is justified by the Law before God</strong> is evident; for, 'The righteous man shall live by faith.' However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, 'He who practices them shall live by them'</em>" (Galatians 3:11-12). By this, Paul is saying that the Law required perfect keeping of the law, and no one has been able to do that (barring the Son of God). "<em><strong>Because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight</strong>; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin</em>" (Romans 3:20). Therein is the problem. The Law taught mankind what was sinful, but that same knowledge became a path to be used as a temptation to sin. The weakness was not in the Law but in the inability of men to keep it perfectly (Romans 7:7-11). As the writer of Hebrews noted, "<em>For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness (<strong>for the Law made nothing perfect</strong>), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God</em>" (Hebrews 7:18-19). Therefore, the Torah cannot be the way, the truth, and the life. It was because it was inadequate that God needed to send His Son.</p>
<p>Jesus said, "<em>Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished</em>" (Matthew 5:17-18). You made a false claim because you only referred to a portion of what Jesus said. Jesus stated that he came to fulfill the Law, and the Law would not end until everything in his mission was accomplished.</p>
<p>The word "fulfill" in Matthew 5:17 comes from the Greek word <i>pleroo</i>, which means "fill, make full, supply fully, complete." Its meaning can be seen in how it is used in other passages. For example, numerous passages speak of something being done to fulfill a prophecy, such as in Matthew 1:22, 2:15, 17, etc. The word means that the prophecy was answered in full and brought to completion. When something is made completely full by a task, the task is finished. We say this in English when we say we went to the gas station and filled up the car. In other words, we stopped pumping gas into the car once it reached the full mark because no more gas could be added. This sense of a completed purpose is seen in Luke 7:1, "<i>Now when He concluded all His sayings in the hearing of the people, He entered Capernaum.</i>" The word "concluded" is the Greek word <i>pleroo</i>. Jesus fulfilled his purpose in that particular lesson. Nothing more needed to be said at that moment, so he stopped. It is also seen in Acts 19:21, "<i>When these things were accomplished, Paul purposed in the Spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, 'After I have been there, I must also see Rome.'</i>" Paul had completed what he set out to do in Ephesus, so he looked to move on to another region. The same Greek word <i>pleroo </i>is being used, though it is translated as "accomplished."</p>
<p>By stating that the law would continue until all was fulfilled or made complete, Jesus implies that the Law was not complete in its current state. We know from the apostle’s writings that the Mosaical Law was missing some essential parts. It could not give its followers life (Galatians 3:21) or make them perfect (Hebrews 7:18-19). Thus, it had a fault, not in itself, but in the inadequacy of those who tried to live by it (Hebrews 8:7). It could explain and hold a person accountable for sin, but in itself, it could not cleanse sin (Hebrews 10:1-4, 8-10, 14). It took Jesus's sacrifice to bring the missing elements into existence (Hebrews 9:15).</p>
<p>The difference between destroying and fulfilling the law is the same as the difference between declaring a mortgage note null and void, tearing it up and throwing it into the fire, and paying the note off in full. Both bring the mortgage to an end, but they are done in vastly different ways. Jesus did not cancel the law but brought it to a natural conclusion.</p>
<p>Jesus explained what he meant by "fulfilled" when he emphasized that the Law would not end until all was fulfilled. “<i>For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled</i>” (Matthew 5:18). This "fulfilled" comes from a different Greek word, <i>ginotai</i>. It means "to be, to come into being, to be made, be done, become, or to be celebrated." Jesus stated that the permanence of the law was conditional. He gave two possible ending conditions: heaven and earth would end, or all would be accomplished. His phrasing is similar to the parent who tells his child, “You’ll sit here all night until you eat your peas.” The implication is that the child would not be at the table all night; the peas would be eaten before then. In the same way, Jesus is saying that the world would have a better chance of ending before God accomplished His purpose for the Law. Some people focus so hard on the first condition that they miss that the second condition would occur before the first. The same type of phrasing can be found in Matthew 24:34 and Luke 21:31-33.</p>
<p>Another verse that speaks to this same topic is Romans 10:4, "<i>For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.</i>" The word translated as "end" is from the Greek word <i>telos</i>, which means "end, termination, conclusion, aim, result, goal, outcome." In other words, the purpose of the Law culminated in Christ Jesus. Jesus was its goal. With His death, he brought the law to its conclusion. "<i>Having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross</i>" (Colossians 2:14). Or as we already noted, "<i>Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor</i>" (Galatians 3:24-25).</p>
<p>Therefore, trying to justify a practice by an outdated covenant doesn't prove your point.</p>
<p>By the way, your allusion to Isaiah is pulled out of context.</p>
<blockquote><p>"<em>'To whom would He teach knowledge, and to whom would He interpret the message? Those just weaned from milk? Those just taken from the breast? For He says, "Order on order, order on order, line on line, line on line, a little here, a little there."' Indeed, He will speak to this people through stammering lips and a foreign tongue, He who said to them, 'Here is rest, give rest to the weary,' and, 'Here is repose,' but they would not listen. So the word of the LORD to them will be, 'Order on order, order on order, line on line, line on line, a little here, a little there,' that they may go and stumble backward, be broken, snared and taken captive</em>" (Isaiah 28:9-13).</p></blockquote>
<p>Scoffers in Judah rejected Isaiah's warning. They claimed the message was too simplistic (suitable for babies). It builds minor points from simple ideas, like a schoolmaster instructing elementary students.</p>
<blockquote><p>"They sneer at the prophet, that intolerable moralist. They are of age, and free; and he does not need to bring knowledge to them (<em>da‛ath</em> as in Isaiah 11:9), or make them understand the proclamation. They know of old to what he would lead. Are they little children that have just been weaned (on the constructives, see Isaiah 9:2; Isaiah 5:11; Isaiah 30:18; Ges. 114, 1), and who must let themselves be tutored? For the things he preaches are nothing but endless petty teazings. The short words (tsâv, as in Hosea 5:11), together with the diminutive זעיר (equivalent to the Arabic <em>sugayyir</em>, mean, from sagı̄r, small), are intended to throw ridicule upon the smallness and vexatious character of the prophet's interminable and uninterrupted chidings, as ל ( equals על, אל; comp. יסף ל, Isaiah 26:15) implies that they are; just as the philosophers in Acts 17:18 call Paul a σπερμολόγος, a collector of seeds, i.e., a dealer in trifles." [Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament].</p></blockquote>
<p>But the use of short Hebrew words also emphasizes drunken people who are unable to use sophisticated words because of their condition.</p>
<p>God replies that He will indeed speak to these people, even though they can't understand. He is going to use foreigners (the Babylonians) to teach them. He taught them the way to rest and happiness, but they refused to listen to their God. Thus, He will treat them as schoolchildren who must learn simple lessons as they stumble off into captivity.</p>
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		<title>You should get your facts straight</title>
		<link>https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/you-should-get-your-facts-straight/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jeffrey Hamilton]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 30 Mar 2023 22:03:29 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Answer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[about this site]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bible]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Christians]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Messianic Judaism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[names]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=60124</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[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&#8230;]]></description>
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	<h2>Question:</h2>
<p>You mentioned (in <a href="https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/is-christian-supposed-to-be-natsarim/">Is “Christian” supposed to be “natsarim”?</a>) that the New Testament wasn't written in Hebrew. That's partially true, as Epiphanius and others have documented there was a Hebrew Matthew.</p>
<p>Then you mentioned that Christian was a valid term based on the assumption that the New Testament wasn't written in Hebrew.  Uhm, the term Christian is not Greek, it's English so, no, Christian was not used to describe the first-century believers, which by the way, were almost exclusively Jewish.</p>
<p>The term "Christian" was also a derogatory term created by the Romans. Nowhere in the Old or New Testament did God or Yeshua ever call His people, Christians. In fact, they were referred to as Israel.</p>
<p>Since you will be held accountable for the answers you give in His name, I would highly encourage you to actually know what you are talking about.</p>
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	<h2>Answer:</h2>
<p>Your argument is inconsistent. You stated that the New Testament wasn't written in Hebrew was <strong>partially</strong> true and you then argued that Matthew was written in Hebrew. But then later argue against the term "Christian" because you believe the New Testament was written in Hebrew.</p>
<p>A very simple way to show that the New Testament (including Matthew) was not written in Hebrew is to note the frequent translation of Hebrew words and phrases into Greek. If the text was originally written in Hebrew, these translations would not be necessary. See <a href="https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/was-the-new-testament-written-in-greek-or-aramaic/">Was the New Testament written in Greek or Aramaic?</a></p>
<p>You cite Epiphanius, a fourth-century writer, as evidence that Matthew (written 300 years earlier) was written in Hebrew.</p>
<blockquote><p>"Epiphanius, who lived largely in Palestine, and wrote his treatise on heresies in the latter half of the 4th century, has much to say of the Ebionites, and the Nazarenes. Speaking of the Ebionites, he says they receive the "Gospel according to Matthew" to the exclusion of the others, mentioning that it alone of the New Testament books is in Hebrew speech and Hebrew characters, and is called the "Gospel according to the Hebrews" (Haer., xxx.3). He goes on to say, that their "Gospel according to Matthew," as it is named, is not complete but falsified and mutilated, "and they call it the Hebrew Gospel" (Haer., xxx. 13). <strong>The quotations which Epiphanius proceeds to make show that this Gospel diverges considerably from the canonical Gospel of Mt</strong> and may well be that according to the Hebrews. It is more likely that "the Gospel according to Matthew, very full, in Hebrew," of which Epiphanius speaks, when telling about the Nazarene, is the Hebrew "Gospel of Matthew" attested by Papias, Irenaeus, and a widespread early tradition. But as Epiphanius confesses he does not know whether it has the genealogies, <strong>it is clear he was not himself acquainted with the book</strong>." ["<a href="https://www.internationalstandardbible.com/H/hebrews-gospel-according-to-the.html">Hebrews, Gospel According to The</a>" International Standard Bible Encyclopedia].</p></blockquote>
<p>More information on this topic can be found in:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/was-matthew-originally-written-in-hebrew-or-aramaic/">Was Matthew originally written in Hebrew or Aramaic?</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/the-new-testament-was-written-in-hebrew-not-greek/">The New Testament was written in Hebrew, not Greek!</a></li>
</ul>
<p>Regarding the use of the term "Christian," I made a detailed list of evidence in <a href="https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/was-the-term-christian-originally-a-derogatory-reference/">Was the term “Christian” originally a derogatory reference?</a> But notice that once again you contradicted yourself. You said that since "Christian" is an English word, then it could not have been applied to the first-century followers of Christ. But then you said it was a term used against disciples by the Romans. You can't have it both ways. But then neither argument is correct.</p>
<p>What is particularly disappointing is that you originally referenced <a href="https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/is-christian-supposed-to-be-natsarim/">Is “Christian” supposed to be “natsarim”?</a> Many of the proofs I gave here were mentioned in that article; yet, you clearly didn't bother to do your research or address any of the points previously made. This doesn't make you appear knowledgeable about the topics you want to address.</p>
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		<title>Kill and Eat</title>
		<link>https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/kill-and-eat/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jeffrey Hamilton]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 16 Dec 2021 03:58:34 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Article]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[animal rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Messianic Judaism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Preterism]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=40689</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[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)&#8230;]]></description>
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	<p style="text-align: right;">by Terry Wane Benton</p>
<p><div id="attachment_11282-2" style="width: 260px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-11282-2" class="size-medium wp-image-11282" src="https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/peter_and_the_roman_captain-250x300.jpg" alt="" width="250" height="300" srcset="https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/peter_and_the_roman_captain-250x300.jpg 250w, https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/peter_and_the_roman_captain.jpg 533w" sizes="(max-width: 250px) 100vw, 250px" /><p id="caption-attachment-11282-2" class="wp-caption-text">Peter's Vision Acts 10:9-12</p></div></p>
<p>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 <b>had </b>forbidden to the Jews under the Old covenant. God explained that those unclean animals (off-limits to the Jews before) were now clean. For example, pork was forbidden under the Old Law, but now it was allowed under the New Testament. "<em>What God <b>has </b>cleansed you must not call common</em>" (Acts 10:9). Peter, a Jew, could now eat pork and anything else. God had changed the covenant law. Peter needed to bring his conscience up to date. He was now free to kill and eat all kinds of new foods. He was not under the former law anymore. He was free in Christ under the perfect law of liberty.</p>
<h2>Lessons:</h2>
<ol>
<li> PETA is a misguided organization that tries to make eating meat "animal cruelty." God said to "kill and eat." God made the animals for man to eat (Genesis 9:3). God did not always insist that people be vegetarians. When people "<em>forbid foods</em>" (I Timothy 4:1-4), they are teaching a "<em>doctrine of demons</em>." God must be allowed to be true while man is a liar (Romans 3:4). God's word is true. Truth must triumph over error every time, not just when we want it to.</li>
<li>Neither Peter nor anyone else was under <strong>two laws</strong> at once. Peter was either bound by the Law of Moses totally or he was totally under the law of Christ. There was no such thing as "phasing out the old law and phasing in the new" as our AD 70 brethren contend. God was not telling Peter to sin. If Peter was under the Law of Moses, he would have to be under <b>all </b>of it including the unclean meat laws, the circumcision laws, and the animal sacrifice laws. There was no pick and choose what you want out of the Law. It was all or none (Galatians 5:1-6). He was either obligated to Jesus as now having <b>all </b>authority (Matthew 28:18-20), or Jesus only had <b>some </b>authority and Moses still had some. When God told Peter to "<em>kill and eat</em>" and Peter saw those unclean animals, Peter was being challenged to bring his conscience up to date with the full authority of Jesus and realize he was now "<em>dead to the Law</em>" of Moses (Romans 7:4,6). Jesus has brought in the new covenant at His death on the cross (Hebrews 9:15-17). Acts 10 will always confirm that the law had changed by means of Jesus' death on the cross (Ephesians 2:15; Colossians 2:13-16; Hebrews 7:11-12).</li>
</ol>
<p>Do not let people shackle you with a yoke of bondage that is not true to the New Testament of Jesus Christ. Feel free to kill and eat!</p>
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		<title>Are there different gospels?</title>
		<link>https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/are-there-different-gospels/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jeffrey Hamilton]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 11 Nov 2021 23:17:33 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Answer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[dispensationalism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[faith alone]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[gospel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[grace]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Messianic Judaism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[premillennialism]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=39268</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[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&#8230;]]></description>
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	<h2>Question:</h2>
<p>Hello,</p>
<p>I have been seeing more and more about the Kingdom Gospel vs the Gospel of Grace.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>Basically, they are saying that Paul teaches a separate Gospel that was revealed to him by Jesus. A mystery that was for the Gentiles only. They say that verses, such as Acts 2:38, were for the Jews only and not for us today. These dispensationalists seem to have a rebuttal to everything and are stern on their belief.</p>
<p>Why do I care, you may wonder? Well, my brother, who was baptized in water at around 18 but now is in his 40s, no longer believes in water baptism and that one is saved through the waters. Instead, he believes that one is saved once he believes. Then the believer is sealed by the Holy Spirit. Because I care, it is quite frustrating as we have been in a debate for about two years. We were raised in the churches of Christ and so he will say that he knows everything that I have to share and that what I share was basically for the Jews and not for the Gentiles.</p>
<p>Do you have any insight on this topic? I think the thing that needs answering for the topic at hand is the whole Kingdom Gospel "vs" The Grace Gospel. Paul taught grace "alone".</p>
<p>Thank you for your time.</p>
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	<h2>Answer:</h2>
<p>Dispensationalism technically is the view that history is divided into distinct dispensations and that in each dispensation, God dealt with mankind in a different manner. Thus, to talk about the patriarchal age, the Mosaical age, and the Christian age is technically a dispensational view.</p>
<p>Dispensationalism, however, goes further. It is a key part of premillennial theories. The two terms, dispensationalism and premillennialism, are often used interchangeably. The number of breakdowns varies with the views held, but a typical set of dispensational ages are:</p>
<ol>
<li>Innocence - The time from the Creation to the fall of man.</li>
<li>Conscience - The time from the fall of man to the Flood</li>
<li>Human Government - The time from the Flood to the scattering of the people</li>
<li>Promise - The time from Abraham to Moses</li>
<li>Law - The time from Moses to the death of Jesus</li>
<li>Grace - The Time from the cross until the imagined rapture</li>
<li>Millennial Kingdom - A 1000 year reign of Christ on earth from Jerusalem</li>
</ol>
<p>A period of tribulation is typically placed at the end of the Grace Age or the Millennial Kingdom. However, remember that this sample breakdown is only a sample, the variety of divisions of history varies a <strong>lot</strong>.</p>
<p>Dispensationalism also varies in its views of the church:</p>
<ul>
<li>Classic dispensationalism sees the church age as an interruption to God's saving of Israel. The promises in the Old Testament, in their view, remain to be fulfilled.</li>
<li>Progressive dispensationalism acknowledges that some of the prophecies in the Old Testament are about the church, but they still claim that most are remaining to be fulfilled.</li>
<li>Grace-Movement dispensationalism claims that the church age did not start on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2, but later with the teachings of Paul. This is even split between those who claim it started somewhere between Paul's conversion and his being sent to the Gentiles, while others claim it started at the end of Acts when Paul announces that since the Jews reject the Gospel, salvation would be taught to the Gentiles (Acts 28:28).</li>
</ul>
<p>I suspect that your brother is following a variation of the Grace-Movement dispensationalism. See <a href="https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/what-do-you-believe-in-regards-to-premillennial-and-dispensational-theories/">What do you believe in regards to premillennial and dispensational theories?</a> that reference several items on premillennialism and dispensationalism.</p>
<p>The idea that there is a different gospel for Jews and Gentiles is shared by dispensationalism and Messianic Judaism. See:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/the-gospel-of-the-circumcision-and-the-uncircumcision/">The Gospel of the Circumcision and the Uncircumcision</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/where-are-gentiles-commanded-to-be-saved-by-baptism/">Where are Gentiles commanded to be saved by baptism?</a></li>
</ul>
<p>Paul did not teach that salvation was by grace alone. See <a href="https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/is-it-by-grace-or-by-law/">Is it by grace or by law?</a></p>
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	<h2>Response:</h2>
<p>Thank you. I will check out all that you shared. I have really appreciated all of your sermon outlines and discussions on the La Vista Church of Christ site thus far.</p>
<p>Thank you for your time!</p>
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		<title>I think Paul changed his mind as he got older</title>
		<link>https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/i-think-paul-changed-his-mind-as-he-got-older/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jeffrey Hamilton]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 04 Feb 2020 22:46:42 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Answer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[inspiration]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Messianic Judaism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Paul]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=19596</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[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&#8230;]]></description>
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	<h2>Question:</h2>
<p>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 and Bibles are ubiquitous. As a young Christian, I would have never questioned the apostle Paul's writings, but I do now, somewhat.  I think sometimes he contradicts God the Father and Jesus, not purposefully I'm sure.  That's why I go back to the law and then to Jesus.   Then, I look at what the other New Testament writers say as "super sermons."</p>
<p>My thinking has evolved, as I now think Apostle Paul wrote some things because of his upbringing as a strict Pharisee and because of his day and age.   He says he doesn't permit women to speak in church, but he seems to call Phoebe a deaconess.  I think deaconesses are a great idea since I don't think it's wise for male church leaders to counsel or care for the women.  Yet, some wives of church leaders might not be equipped or willing to do that role.</p>
<p>My point in mentioning this is that I think the Protestant church, in general, has led me astray. They focus so much on a corrupted version of "forgiveness" that they do not focus on obedience like I think they should.</p>
<p>I understand that all of the Old Testament laws are not practical to follow, such as the ceremonial laws, and that since Jesus is the once-for-all sacrifice we do not need the blood of bulls and goat to present to God for forgiveness. Yet, if I would have understood coveting, as I came to really understand when I read the Bible on my ninth time, I would have saved myself from a lot of heartache in life. Over a decade ago, I had an emotional relationship with a married man that was so damaging.  Honestly, I'm so "over" being hit on by married men (even supposed Christian married men) looking for an ego fix.</p>
<p>As I was just reading the Bible today, Jesus says some hard things and some that don't come true, if taken literally, such as "this generation will not pass away before all these things have come to pass" (paraphrase).  Yes, His sayings were hard.</p>
<p>I was baptized by immersion by a Messianic Jew, although he was a Protestant military chaplain at the time.  He did not form my thinking on the Law, however.  I was too new in my Christian walk and he was only there for a couple of years.</p>
<p>Anyway, I would like pastors to preach on what parts of the law they think we should obey and not.  I have my opinions, and I don't agree with pastors who say that none of the Old Testament applies anymore.  That's not what Jesus said.</p>
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	<h2>Answer:</h2>
<p>You don't understand inspiration and see the Bible as the product of men. Paul was an inspired apostle of Christ. "<i>If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord's commandment</i>" (I Corinthians 14:37).  He was acknowledged as writing Scriptures (the writings of God) by Peter. "<i>Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless,  and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you,  </i><i>as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction</i>" (II Peter 3:14-16). As Peter warned, people will distort Paul's teachings because they refuse to see that his wisdom and teaching came from the Lord.</p>
<p>That you imagine that Paul changed his mind only tells me that you don't believe the New Testament, in its entirety, is from God, nor do you understand the Bible as much as you imagine you do, but given that your background is Messianic Judaism explains much. I know you claim the man who baptized you didn't impact your beliefs much, but it is clear that you are heavily influenced by his system of beliefs. Messianic Jews have to find some way to deny the words written by Paul because they contradict their beliefs. It is no wonder, Paul spent a lot of time battling the Judaizing teachers of his day and Messianic Judaism is just a revival of ancient false teaching.</p>
<p>God did not give the Bible for people to play editor with its teachings. You don't get to pick and choose what sections you wish to follow. God stated that the Old Testament came to an end (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8-10; Romans 7:1-14). It had served its purpose. It still has things to teach us (Romans 15:4), but we no longer follow its laws.</p>
<p>When Jesus stated that "this generation will not pass away," such as in Mark 9:1, he meant exactly what he said. The kingdom of God, also known as the church, was established with power in that very generation (Acts 2). It isn't what is said that is difficult. It is because what is being said is going against what you decided had to be. You are avoiding the conflict by saying it is hard instead of examining yourself and realizing you misunderstand much of the Bible, despite your reading it several times.</p>
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		<title>Why don&#8217;t we use Yeshua instead of Jesus?</title>
		<link>https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/why-dont-we-use-yeshua-instead-of-jesus/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jeffrey Hamilton]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 06 Nov 2019 14:55:50 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Answer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jesus]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Messianic Judaism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[names]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[translation]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=14839</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[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&#8230;]]></description>
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	<h2>Question:</h2>
<p>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?</p>
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	<h2>Answer:</h2>
<p>We use "Jesus" because that is the English transliteration of the Greek spelling of his name. The New Testament was recorded in Greek, not Hebrew. Now, if you wanted to make an argument that we needed to pronounce the name as they did in Greek, you might have a point, but we don't speak Greek. The name "Jesus" is now an English word referring to the Greek word Ιησους.</p>
<p>By the way, Jesus' name is the same as Joshua's in the Old Testament. Have you ever seen people argue that we are mispronouncing Joshua? If we directly transliterate the Hebrew letters, we would get <em>Y'hoshua'</em> in English, which is not pronounceable in English. A pronounceable form of the Hebrew name is <em>Yehoshua</em>.</p>
<p><em>Yeshua</em> is actually an English transliteration from the Aramaic form of Jesus/Joshua. In other words, you are transliterating from Hebrew to Aramaic to English to get <em>Yeshua</em>.</p>
<p>Regardless of the word origins, the word "Jesus" is currently the English translation of the Greek word Ιησους. If you want to read from an Aramaic translation of the Greek text and pronounce Jesus' name in Aramaic, be my guest. I'll be impressed, even if I won't understand a word you say.</p>
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		<title>Was Timothy&#8217;s father an Aramean?</title>
		<link>https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/was-timothys-father-an-aramean/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jeffrey Hamilton]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 08 Sep 2018 01:24:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Answer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Acts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Messianic Judaism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Timothy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[translations]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=54162</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[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]&#8230;]]></description>
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	<h2>Question:</h2>
<p>In <a href="https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/was-timothys-father-a-non-believer/">Was Timothy's father a non-believer?</a> 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] whose name (was) Timotheos, the son of a certain Yehudian woman-- a mahaymina [believer/ faithful one]-- and his father was an Aramean."</p>
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	<h2>Answer:</h2>
<p>The New Testament was written in Greek. An argument based on how the Greek text was translated into a different language carries no weight. Aramaic Peshitta was not a language until the fourth century A.D. I know that it is popular among Messianic Jews to claim that Aramaic Peshitta was the original language of the Bible, but the evidence is so strong against it, that the claim is just imaginary. See <a href="http://aramaicnt.org/articles/problems-with-peshitta-primacy/">Problems With Peshitta Primacy</a>. The Peshitta manuscripts only date from the fifth century; whereas the Greek text is traced back to the first century.</p>
<p>In the original text, it states that Timothy's father was a <em>Hellenos</em>, which is the Greek word for Greek.</p>
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