Rick Rosamond's Blog, page 3

Life and Death: are we born guilty

The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun Ecclesiastes 1:9 We are often quite harsh on those who in the New Testament assumed Messiah was wrong and the traditions handed down by their fathers where correct. However do we ever stop and ensure that we are not doing the same thing. The traditions were the conclusions of the Jewish forefathers as to how the law was to be honored and lived out. For instance the law stated to do no work on the Sabbath for it was a day of rest. The traditions of the Fathers attempted to define what work was and what was inclusive of rest.Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: Exodus 20:8-10 Yeshua is, at times, seen taking part in the traditions (John 8:6) and at other times He challenges them vehemently (Matthew 15:1-10). His opponents had so accepted the traditions that they had changed from a way to stitch the scripture together and became a form in which the scriptures where forced to fit. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican Luke 18:11While we thank YHWH for His grace that we are not blind as those poor men we at the same time force scripture into the accepted understanding of our denominations and fellowships. We certainly dismiss any discussion of those things which have been established since Constantine; doctrines such as these are so sacred that anyone who questions them is a heretic for like the Pharisees before us we have made our fathers understanding above question even from the scripture.    I ask you please don’t assume I am some rebel. I have great respect for the church Fathers and others who have tried to make clear the greatness of our Messiah and the redemption price paid by both our Heavenly Father and His only begotten Son.If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him James 1:5 My course, and yours, is to know Him and the power of His resurrection it is not to learn others opinions of it. If teachers born from the same womb as Messiah missed some key understandings of scripture; leading to incorrect expectations of who Messiah was and what His ministry consisted of. These misunderstandings accepted as truth throughout the entire nation engrained in the minds of His own disciples, who had heard him and touched Him and been witness to the Shekinah coming forth from Him, that even after His death, burial, and resurrection asked “will you now restore the Kingdom to Israel?”The power of assumed perceptions is to make one blind to the truth plainly spoken. If we see that the scholars and lawyers of the first century then we must allow for the same misunderstanding in the theologians that followed. I have said all of this so that we might seek the truth revealed in scripture with open eyes and with careful consideration of its meaning. So with these things in mind we come to the subject of original sin.There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. Proverbs 14:12The perception of men that confuses the issue starts in the garden. Original sin says in its most basic explanation that we were in Adam when he sinned thereby either directly or by hereditary the sin guilt and nature passed to us. The problem is the focus on the sin as an end result and not as it truly is as a seed of death. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil is not a tree whose fruit brings sin it is a tree that brings death.  An apple is not a tree it is a fruit…but that seed is what brings forth the tree. When that tree is present it brings a harvest of a multitude of apples.And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Genesis 2:9To be clear the focus on sin and righteousness, clean and unclean, holy and defiled is the result of the duel nature of good and evil. This focus blinds us to true understanding of these two trees. The tree of (which brings) life and the tree of (which brings) death go beyond action, will, and motive to the very core of being; it is not what you do but what you are.I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live Deutoronomy 30:19When Adam became a tree of death then his seed could only bring forth seed after his kind. This nature of death is deceptive in that it experiences doing both good and evil. This nature is not capable of only doing one of the two for both are its makeup. So it sets out to make the scale balance in such a way that the good is greater than the evil. Of course this whole system depends on consciences of what good and evil consist of. It is this driving force in man that has brought forth religion, culture, philosophy and social structure. It is this same nature that reads the scripture and sees actions to be taken instead of a nature that must be changed. It is not original sin that has passed to us but the dual nature of death.Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: Deuteronomy 6:4-6But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people Jeremiah 30:33The tree of life is one nature; it is the life of YHWH breathed into Adam. Yeshua prayed that we might be one as He and the Father are one for YHWH is one. In the cross our old natural man is crucified in Messiah and the Holy Spirit that gave Him life makes alive even our mortal bodies.Adam was born into the union of YHWH’s life and given a choice to remain or make his own way. This choice came with a warning that his way would bring death. Adam brought death to us all. Yet despite being born alone into a world of men who are each alone no matter the size of a crowd YHWH has still loved us and extended Himself to us that we might have life and union in Him. We must let go of trying to do right and trust Him to make us right; which will bring us to our next subject of Cain and Able.   

The beginning of redemption

I have a desire to write a book that will help believers, especially new believers, to possess fundamental understandings of the foundation which they have in Messiah.  When the need for such a project began to percolate in my soul the question of where to begin became primary.
 It seemed an obvious answer at first that I should begin at repentance from dead works and faith toward YHWH. This is the place of the divine spark when men are born again from above and where men become disciples of Messiah. However as I prayed and sought what YHWH would have me say it became obvious that it was needful to go back further.
After all when the scripture speaks of our salvation it states that Messiah was slain before the foundation of the world. This understanding of where we came from to understand where we are going is not without its difficulties. For one many a great mind has tried unsuccessfully to give a definitive explanation of man’s inception and though I love to think and study my mind is an amateur by comparison. A second hindrance is the combination of perception of me and my reader as to what is true about will, fate, and sovereignty on an all-inclusive scale.
These considerations, though they are unarguable, have been trumped. To the first YHWH has responded that it is to be no longer I who am working but Messiah in me so my life is not my own but His shared in me. To the second it has always been those with ears to hear who have heard, and it is YHWH who is the teacher not the mouth speaking. So I will begin…
YHWH uses the name ELOHIM when He speaks of being the creator. A lot of speculation has been had over the nature of this name being plural; think of Him saying we instead of I. John in His commentary beginning his gospel says “In the beginning was the word and the word was with YHWH and the word was YHWH” this statement is meant to give additional understanding to the statement of Moses which it echoes “In the beginning Elohim created the heavens and the earth.”
Understanding Elohim is not as complex as theologians, historians, and YouTube would make it out to be. It is not a word left from a time before monotheism; to quote Moses “YHWH is our Elohim, YHWH is one”. Often in scripture we see parables used to convey understandings so let’s use ourselves to understand since we are made in His image.
 You are a three part being body, soul, and spirit.
•Body-that part of you consisting of matter by which you affect the physical and are affected
•Soul-that part of you we call consciousness (mind & heart) thought, will, and emotions
•spirit-that part of you called life: vitality, energy, force, presence
You however are one being.
At this point I would understand if the mind begins to drift to the various beliefs on the nature of the Godhead but I would ask that such thoughts be suspended for the time being. Our goal is to understand only at this time how redemption begins before “in the beginning”.  In the witness of the apostles we see YHWH revealed as the Father (generator), the Son (the physical body of the living word), and the Spirit (the Fathers life within the Messiah before death and bringing forth the resurrection).  When we take this understanding back to before anything existed other than YHWH we arrive at Elohim.
Let us return to the example of ourselves. If we determine to make a new work; then we will first in our mind determine its design, purpose, and limitations. With said work completed in our mind we use our energy to use our body to bring the work into physical existence. This example of course is flawed because I am finite causing me to not foresee problems, have limited energy, and limited skill.
So at the start of creation before anything except YHWH exist   
•The Father conceives His work of creation within Himself
•The Spirit (breath) begins to move so as to energize the word
•The Son (living word) forms substance as it is given substance
*It should be said that the breath and the word are not created for they have always been the Father; they are simply revealed.
Since the lamb was slain before the foundations of the earth we know that YHWH made salvation before there was transgression; not only this but He knew all who. The question has been posed many times “why did YHWH make Adam in such a way that He could fail?”
I do not pretend to have a complete answer but perhaps a starting point of consideration.
Everything that Elohim spoke into existence was a reflection of Him in some way; after all everything that He spoke had its source in Him and from the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Adam was not spoken into existence but was formed of the creation and YHWH breathed into Him and he became a living soul. This means Adam was the first physical creature to be one with the Father.
If we can extract from our thinking the fable of Adam and Eve being childlike, naive, and unwitting then it becomes possible to understand that their temptation was much different than we have assumed. It has long been propagated that Adams temptation was akin to a child being deceived by the promise of candy only to find their selves taken captive by an evil taskmaster. The temptation of Messiah as a mature, capable, and adult participant is the true way to consider Adam.
Yeshua was not without the ability to choose to do things His own way; however He instead chose to trust, depend, and expect the Father to live and work through Him. YHWH choses to be who He is and as such those in His image also can chose to be who YHWH is or choose to seek after a self who is separate from the life of Him.
•temptation of body
 Adam & Eve in a lush garden saw a fruit that was edible and chose it over YHWH’s provision
Yeshua in a barren wilderness and a starvation state chose to trust in YHWH to provide for life
•temptation of the soul
Adam and Eve found the fruit appealing and chose it over what they had been taught.
Yeshua when tempted to obtain recognition of himself as Messiah chose to depend on YHWH
•temptation of the spirit
Adam and Eve chose to define and generate for themselves good and evil over knowing YHWH as their maker.
Yeshua tempted to obtain the whole earth which He came to redeem by his own actions; He chose to expect YHWH to do the work through Him.
Men tend to see that everything was perfect and man ruined it and that now YHWH is doing damage control. With this perspective they see the time of man as rocketing toward an end. Perhaps YHWH provided grace before transgression so that which He had formed and breathed into would have a certain eternity.
This redemption is given to those who repent of Adam’s self-reliance and place faith in YHWH’s salvation. Next we discuss the mistake of "original sin".
 
 

What is a proper Christian reaction to the Orlando tragedy?

The first time I remember it happening was on 911, then in the aftermath of Katrina, and now again on the heels of Orlando this so called reaction of these events being a punishment from YHWH. I expect the world to proclaim that YHWH is responsible for tragedy but for true Christians to proclaim these things is blasphemy. If you are simply religious then you are used to justifying your own hate and desires as being the will of YHWH but if you truly desire YHWHs will and life to abide within you then listen to the things I am about to show you.First understand that death is a result of sin not a punishment for it…for the wages of sin is death. Second YHWH is no respecter of people and if you offend in one transgression of the law you have transgressed the law…for it is one word. Yeshua said I did not come to condemn men but to save men for they are already condemned.In another place Yeshua asked those listening about a certain tower that fell and killed several people. His question was do you think these men were greater sinners than others; to which He said they were not. People also like to point to Sodom and Gomora, but in truth YHWH came against these cities because they had given themselves over completely to sin and as such would have destroyed not only themselves but all around them. If they had listened to YHWHs messengers instead of trying to use them for their own desires they would have saved their cities just as YHWH had already told Abraham…if there are ten righteous men I will spare the city for their sakes. YHWH is not a hypocrite: He does not do evil that good may come. YHWH does not lie and He has proclaimed that He so loved the world.  Through Paul YHWH has described love.4Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.1 Corinthians 13:4-7The tragedy of those who were killed in Orlando is the act of a wicked man lost in a wicked world. A man who found his own wicked way and would not repent and place his faith in YHWH and His Messiah. The word wicked while associated with evil deeds is by definition twisted. His motive in this act was selfish whether he did this because of a personal temptation he did not morally ascent to or if he was trying to please a god of his own making. Consider Cain who was moved to murder his own brother because he desired to serve a god who would accept him on Cain’s own terms.   YHWH hates sin because it destroys people and He loves people. Those who died left behind mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and friends who have suffered a horrible loss. Can anyone believe that Yeshua would be anything but comforting and encouraging to those who are left behind?

Grace of God= works of God

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?
 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. James 1: 22- 2:17
Paul has said much the same thing as James is here saying. Yeshua himself is often recorded as saying him who has ears to hear let him hear. This hearing is not about audible recognition nor is it about understanding of articulation. This hearing is about living out what has been said. To be clear it is not a call to do a thing but instead to become one who does those things as a natural flow from the life within us.
The religious challengers of Messiah where called hypocrites because they were trying to overcome the wicked life within them by acting correctly; Yeshua condemned their actions because in so doing they had made themselves their own makers. YHWH had clearly stated that He alone is our maker, that He alone would place His law in our hearts and minds; the same law which Moses witnessed was the way of life. The living word is the way the truth and the life and so only by becoming one with him in a marriage covenant and taking His name can a man be saved. All others are relegated to simply trying to act right.
For this reason Hosea said the just shall live by faith. Only YHWH’s life in us will give us life. We must repent of the dead works of our own attempts to possess life and place complete trust, dependence, and expectation in YHWY to live in us through His Messiah Yeshua. Only when we are one with Yeshua can our old man die in His cross and then our mortal bodies be given life through YHWH’s breathing His Spirit into us.
When the Father and the Son are living in us through the Spirit then we do by nature the things found in the Law as Paul has said in Romans. In parallel when we are dead in Messiah our old nature no longer dictates our actions. We must understand that what I have just described is the perfection or maturity we are being brought to. In our living we are mixed bags; at times or in certain situations we are trusting in self, or man, or religion, or even faith which is another way of saying we are not putting our complete trust in YHWH. Since YHWH has said He will share His glory with no flesh then when our faith is mixed it receives the same result as the unredeemed man’s trust in man (sin and death).
If we say we have no sin we are a liar and the Truth is not in us… but if we confess our sin He is faithful and just to forgive us. Yeshua is faithful because He trust YHWH to be our maker He is just because we are His spouse and have been made one with Him; both His death and His life.
With this ground work laid out Paul tells the Corinthians to examine themselves whether they be in the faith. James says to understand (hear) the word (Yeshua the living word of whom Moses witnessed to us.) but not have His life living through you is a dead faith. We at times deceive ourselves that we are right because we know what we should be and do. Instead of living in the freedom from sin and death being our life we settle to live in forgiveness alone. Paul referred to such an existence as making Messiah the minister of sin.
Amidst the listing of examples in which James points out the results of living faith in us he mentions an interesting phrase; “they that shall be judged by the law of liberty”. Paul spoke on this same thing when he spoke of the judgment seat of Messiah.
YHWH stands as the judge of the quick (living) and the dead. His very presence is life, light, and righteousness to such a degree that He is a consuming fire; consuming all death, darkness, and wickedness. It is by this fact that on the day that all men stand in His presence they will be judged.
Those who have His life in them by faith in Yeshua will have every work, motive, thought, and intent of their heart judged. Those which are of temporal earthly design (stone, sticks, and clay) shall be purged by fire from the foundation of Messiah’s life in us and those things which are everlasting shall be refined and purified.
The law of liberty is the life of YHWH in us making us one with His life. Making James point simply that if Messiah is living through you then your works will be what he works through you.    

Seeing the truth

 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
 Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.  Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. JAMES 1: 13-21
 
The world comes to a great many conclusions about why we find ourselves in bad circumstances and why our reaction is often to do what we know is wrong. We steal because we are poor, we kill because we were not cared for, we commit adultery because we were not given what we needed, and so the world says it is not our fault. It says it is our parents fault, our cultures fault, our environments fault, our situations fault, and ultimately concludes it is God’s fault.James contradicts such nonsense with the truth that sin comes from our own lust and it is this lust within us that causes us to be tempted when situations arise. James and the other authors of the general epistles give us fundamental understandings that are the most vital if we are to ever understand how to live in the new covenant which Paul was used to give to us. Paul himself calls these authors, including James, “the pillars” at Jerusalem.How can we fully understand Paul’s cry of wretched man that I am who will deliver me from this body of death?  If we do not first understand that James says our own lust makes temptation and when we give our self to it sin is conceived and matures into death then we will think Paul is so humble and pleasing to YHWH. We will go on to say of ourselves since we agree with Paul that we too are wretched then YHWH will also be pleased with us.However Paul was not lifting himself up as an example of pious asceticism; but was saying we are only delivered through Yeshua YHWH’s Messiah who is our husband and master. James gives us this same basic understanding. Men are made of the earth and James is clear that no good or perfect gift has its source from the earth but instead it comes down from the Father. All that a man can produce is deadly for though he may do good he also does evil. If I were to kill a man and then spend the rest of my days doing good for his household no amount of good would make up for my evil. If I take a glass and fill it ninety percent full of pure water and ten percent with poison it is all poison and not at all pure.It is this that makes it necessary for our good and pure life to be only in Messiah who came down from the Father that we might be born new of His Spirit. All men have at some time been mad at themselves and others because of sin but that anger and any action it generates cannot make us or others righteous.  The prophets of old by witnessing of Messiah have told us that man’s heart is deceitfully wicked and that there is a way that seems right to a man but ends in destruction. This leaves us with our only option to receive by faith the Fathers gift of being made one with Messiah. It is only by this that our old man is carried to his death in Yeshua’s cross and the Fathers life breathed into Messiah becomes our own life.

Faith and Temptation

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.
For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. JAMES 1: 1-12
It is said that Martin Luther called the book of James the epistle of straw. Luther is not alone in his misunderstanding of James epistle for many have placed it in opposition to the epistles of Paul. The argument being that while Paul teaches a salvation of grace James teaches a salvation of works.


This is far from anything James has said and in fact both James and Paul's witness of the salvation delivered to believers is without contradiction. The fact that James brings is that as we walk in the faith of YHWH's life living through us by our joining to the messiah Yeshua our actions will reflect that change.
When we say that our faith and trust is in Yeshua it can mean a great many things; forgiveness, providence, wisdom, ability, or anything that may apply to our life and living. The scriptures show us plainly and even our own lives, when we are honest, show us that our trust and reliance is not always in YHWH. Our trust often lies in our self or our what we have come to accept as truth from family, friends, teachers, or ministers. These false trust manifest themselves in our lives through thoughts and actions that are not in line with Paul's proclamation that we are dead in Messiah and by the Spirit The Father's life is our life.
When the believer places faith in Messiah he gains an inheritance of being made one life with YHWH much like the children of Abraham, Isaac, and Joseph were given the promised land. Despite the fact that the land was a gift they could not earn it was necessary for them to possess that land. The strength and ability to possess the land was not present in those who obtained the inheritance but instead it was obtained by faith alone. This faith was not that they could overcome their enemies but instead that if they trusted YHWH, when they went out to battle, YHWH would defeat their enemies.
How often is the believer ready to accept a lesser portion? We easily come to the place where forgiveness, wisdom, or providence is enough. However our Father chastises those He loves.
Yeshua said "And no one, after drinking old wine, wants new, because he says, The old is better." For this very reason we often come into temptations that we are brought to a point of decision. Will we continue to trust our denominations, our education, our own understanding, or will we trust the Spirit of God to reveal by the witness of scripture and righteousness the faith that will make us as He is. we shall become as James has said perfect, entire, and wanting in nothing.
James also gives us the challenge of Elijah (how long will you sit on the fence serve YHWH or the imaginations of men), the wisdom of Messiah (no man can serve two masters without coming to love one and hate the other), and the encouragement of Hebrews (let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us).
Some in the church say if you have trials and temptations it is because your faith is not complete. Only our Messiah walked in perfect faith; the rest of us are being brought to the fullness of His faith. Instead of judging the faith being perfected in the brethren by YHWH through temptations instead judge yourself whether you are in the same working of faith if you have none.

Becoming a disciple of Messiah: the begining and the end

What are the basic principles of becoming and remaining a disciple of Messiah Yeshua? This is an important question for not only those being drawn to the Father, or the new believers, but also for us who have been in this covenant for years. As Paul has encouraged us as we were saved so shall we remain in Messiah. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:8-9This statement of Messiah’s witness is the first place of understanding that both the saved and the unsaved must come to. There is a difference between the sin and a sin. A sin is an act committed that is in opposition to the very nature of YHWH’s being (His life, Word, and will). The sin goes to the depths of a man’s heart.  It is the nature we have received from Adam which attempts to replace YHWH as our maker with a self-generated being. This is the sin of death; it is the root of all acts of sin. Mankind deceives himself into believing if he acts right God will be pleased with Him not realizing that the very idea that he can make himself right is an act of sin. “Thou shalt have no other God” (maker).It is as we trust in Messiahs death as a place where our old man (of the self) dies that we are freed to trust YHWH living through us, one with us, making us righteous. I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Luke 13:3 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;Acts 3:19To repent is to turn away. How many sincere believers have come to a hatred of their own ways only to find themselves in a life and death struggle to not do those things? It is this very state of being which Paul speaks on when he cries “wretched man that I am who will deliver me from this body of death”.Our own ways, even if our intension is to do what pleases YHWH, must die. This death of the self willing itself to be formed is only found as we are joined to Messiah by covenant making the two to be one; for His death becomes our death. Messiah becomes the door of the sheep. His atoning death accomplished so much more than forgiveness of sins; it is the way we pass from the death of a self-willed existence into the life of YHWH’s Spirit living in us.  I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am [he], ye shall die in your sins. John 8:24He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. John 3:36If Messiah becomes only a way that our failures are forgiven then we make Him a minister of sin instead of a minister of YHWH’s deliverance from death to life. The act of forgiveness from YHWH will not stop the hurt and death your sin causes in other people. Do we truly belief that YHWH’s purpose and will in striking His Son was to give his children free  license to sin. YHWH is no respecter of persons a believers sin is just as vile as an atheist. And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Matthew 3:2Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Acts 2:38 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10:13Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: Matthew 3:8 The basic tenant of a disciple’s life according to Hebrews is repentance from dead works and faith toward YHWH. This is the answer to Pauls cry as he has said it is through Yeshua the Messiah of YHWH. Yeshua promised that if we put our faith in Him then He and the Father will live in us and be we will be one. The idea that Yeshua is living in you to encourage you to do the right thing is a false way. Paul said it is no longer I but Messiah living in me. We must repent from our own works not try to change our works. However a coin with only one side is counterfeit; if our repentance is not joined simultaneously to our trust in YHWH to be our maker and do His will and work through us then it is of no use.In conclusion the first step in being a disciple of Messiah is to repent of the self-made life of Adam while placing full trust, reliance, dependence, and expectation in YHWH’s Spirit to make you alive with the Fathers life. 

The true prosperity message: Living in God's reign

 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities. 
 And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.
 And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?
And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds. (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)
For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.  
But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.Luke 19:12-27


Many people teach that the lesson found in this parable is God expecting us to use our talents and abilities for His kingdom. This was not the purpose of Messiah giving forth this parable. While this summation is not wrong it can be a source of frustrating the grace of YHWH if not based on a understanding of the new birth and the necessity of the experience of the cross.
A time back a certain book was written that suggested a Christian must find and live out their purpose if they would be fulfilled. I was asked to read and give my thoughts to my pasture on if this book would be something worth church wide study. I felt that the teachings of the book where so universalist in nature that they would not fall out to the betterment of the saints.
I am not trying here to answer the ideas put forth by this book. I mention it to say this alone that the general statement that all men have a purpose from God is so generic in nature that it gives space for men to use a truth for their own perverse living. The idea of fate or destiny have been used by rebellious man for his own purposes since the beginning.
To say all men have a purpose or fate or destiny from God gives all men a status of, to some degree, acceptance by God. This thought in no way will lead to repentance or faith in the redemption bought by a necessary death of the cross which our Messiah took on himself. In this death alone do we pass into a life which our Father not only approves of but gives to us.
In the parable of the talents Yeshua gives no indication that all men are the same. He instead divides them into two classes; His servants and his citizens. The kingdom of God includes every created thing, including every man. The kingdom of heaven deals with the reign of Messiah in your heart. These two kingdoms are in reality one. The distinction comes in this; though all live in the land of the kingdom only those who have given reign over themselves to the Fathers sovereignty live in the truth of kingdom. All others are the citizens who have said. "We will not have this man to reign over us."
Both of these groups have a fate; the self ruled are fated to be slain.
The servants fate is to dwell in the richness of the Kings house forever. However these servants face a trial in which the intents of their hearts are revealed.
The talents they where given where in no way generated from themselves. They were a grace from their Lord. The servants where expected to perform the work of their Lord with what they had been given. The wicked servant is judged by his own idle words while those who worked the works of their master are entrusted to a greater work.
The grace of redemption into our Fathers life must be lived out in us. Our Messiah does not light us as a candle to be hidden but instead that we might show forth His light upon all within His house. It is the wicked citizens who seek to use the things of the Kingdom for their own use and the wicked servant who does not use what has been given for the masters work.
The good and faithful servant has nothing of his own or for his own purpose though he is entrusted with all that exists.

Is Paul's teaching about our Holy life or how to controll our wife?

Here is a question I received about women's place in the church and my response.
Hello Rick Rosamond! According to 1 Tim 2:8-15. Paul said that women ca not leadership or pastor in Church. Why this statement written by God? Should women be in Church leadership or pastor position? As apostles why did Jesus choose twelve apostles men only? (by pastor D B) You do not have any example in the Bible have women serving( by Pastor D B) nowadays women can be leadership or pastor in Church . Why? Is this correct? Thanks
 
 
people have debated this issue for decades. First let’s be clear Paul is not speaking of leadership or pastor positions. He is speaking of the mystery of the bride of Christ...the church as His bride. In verse five he speaks of the true man Christ Jesus. This thought is bookended at fifteen. We are all “the wife” who must learn in silence with all subjection and never ursurp the authority of the man. To improve our understanding we must take everything Paul has said into account. Paul has before stated that we are a new creation in Christ...that it is no longer I but Christ in me...that in Christ there is neither male no female. Paul is not debating himself but expounding on the understanding of our relationship with our new husband and Father. Only Christ has paid our dowry with His own life so only He is worthy to speak to His church and teach them...if He is not speaking through us we should be silent. The life of God in us, being one with us growing to maturity makes us all as Mary when she conceived a Holy child from God. This new man placed in us the savior of all men, the living word of the Father...Christ in us the hope (expectancy) of glory. Why were the original twelve all men...utility. I have a plastic cup I take with me when I go somewhere or work in the yard. The liquid it holds is no greater than liquid from the delicate glassware I drink from at dinner; however the container can withstand greater abuse. Should women speak in the church? No, but then again neither should men. Only Christ has paid for the privilege of being the husband of the church. The bible is filled with women doing the work of God in both the old and new testament. As far as this whole leader thing goes Jesus warns us greatness in the reign of God comes from the Father doing His work through you not by what we ourselves do. We are called to be servants, followers, and witnesses but The Father alone is our leader. Men who seek leadership instead of fellowship should be allowed more time to mature in the Lord.The question is if the Spirit of God lives in a woman why we would ignore Him.
 

Living the life of God

It has been several weeks since I last published a blog post. Any expert will tell you that there is no better way to kill a blog than to write sporadically. My answer to this belief is no amount of knowledge can be substituted for our living.
This is the heart of why I write; to encourage every man to trust, rely and expect YHWH to do what He has promised and live in us. I desire so much to share this revealed gift with others but only what YHWH has spoken can be trusted. So I try to be a vessel of His Spirit and show this promise by showing His word simply.
I love to study, analyze, and meditate on his word, but we must never let this become an end unto itself. Yeshua did not come that I would know facts and formulate systems of action. Instead He, in His own words, came that I might have life and life more abundant.
YHWH is life; His word is merely a witness of that life. If you were to memorize every word it would not make you know Him. To know Him is to be made one with Him; not to be in His being or have Him in your being but instead to become one being. In short the believers life is in the living.
I had become so focused on sharing the word that I was forgetting that I was to be a living word.
I will continue to write the discussions of scripture that so many have been gracious enough to consider. They often are like a fire in my bones. Yet I must also live beyond just research, contemplation and writing.
with all that is in me I pray that each of us grows in grace, peace, and the knowledge in Him of being one.
your friend and brother Rick.