FOR SIN SHALL NOT HAVE DOMINION OVER YOU, FOR YOU ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW, BUT UNDER GRACE (ROM. 6:14) -- WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

Chapter 1: BRIEF INTRODUCTION

One question that has continued to assert itself with increasingly louder echoes is whether or not Gentiles who turned to the GOD of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob through faith in the redeeming blood of Yahshua are obligated to keep the Law as handed down by GOD on Mount Sinai. The notion across the Gentile Christian world is that Gentiles are not bound to keep the Law, as they brand them Mosaic, Old Testament, Passed away and nailed to the cross. They hold that they are under the dispensation of grace whereby they are not required to keep the Law for their salvation. In short, they say that they are saved by grace. This message aims to examine the tenability or otherwise, of the Gentile Christian position.

Chapter 2: SIN

The word "sin" has no other meaning than as defined thus: "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law" (1 Jn. 3:4). And also: "All unrighteousness is sin...." (1 Jn. 5:17).

It follows that in the absence of Law, there can be no sin or unrighteousness, as it is said: "(For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law" (Rom. 5:13).

It is said: "Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression" (Rom. 4:15). Again, it is said: "The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law" (1 Cor. 15:56).

It is said: "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin" (Rom. 3:20).

It is then said: "What shall we say then? Is the law sin? GOD forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead" (Rom. 7:7-8).

It must be kept in mind that the sin of Adam and Eve consisted of disobedience to the Commandment of GOD at the Garden of Eden, for it is recorded: "And the LORD GOD commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die" (Gen. 2:16-17).

It is recorded: "And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat" (Gen. 3:6). Eve was, of course, deceived by the subtle serpent. That was how sin entered into the world. It goes without saying that Eve's lust was the aperture that opened the door for the serpent to tempt her, just as it is said: ""Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of GOD: for GOD cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempted He any man. But every man is tempted, when he 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" (Jas. 1:13-15).

So sin took its meaning since the first man and woman transgressed GOD's Commandment at the Garden of Eden.

Ever since, sin has remained a permanent feature of man's life. It is ever present in and with the carnal or natural man. The Apostle Paul lamented over man's seeming helplessness over sin when he wrote: "For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of GOD after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" (Rom. 7:15-24).

Chapter 3: RIGHTEOUSNESS

The converse is the word "righteousness." Obedience to GOD's Commandments is "righteousness," for it is written: "And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our GOD, as He hath commanded us" (Deut. 6:25).

Luke records as follows: "There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zecharias, of the course of Abia \[Abijah\]: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before GOD walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the LORD blameless" (Lk. 1:5-6).

It follows that disobedience to the Commandments of GOD is unrighteousness. "Sin" and "unrighteousness" mean the same thing, hence the definition, "every unrighteousness is sin" (1 Jn. 5:17).

Before the manifestation of Yahshua on earth and his death on the tree of Calvary, sin was a feature of man's life. And since his manifestation and death on the tree, sin has remained with man. The definition or meaning of "sin" has remained the same, hence the definition as reproduced above (1 Jn. 3:4; 1 Jn. 5:17).

Since it is the Law that keeps "sin" alive, it follows that "sin" remains, for where there is no law, there cannot be "sin." As the Apostle Paul said: "...Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet" (Rom. 7:7).

In another place, the Apostle Paul said: "But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine" (1 Tim. 1:8-10). These and more are the very vices that have continued to confront man since before and after the manifestation of Yahshua on earth and his death on the tree.

Besides these named categories, there are Laws of GOD which are fundamental and lie at the core of true worship of the living GOD, the transgression of which constitute sin. These are other aspects of GOD's Covenant Laws described as Statutes, the details of which include The Shabbats and all of the appointed Feasts of GOD (enumerated in Lev. 23), and Laws against all forms of defilements including the dietary Laws (otherwise known as the law of kashrut).

GOD does not change. He is not a variable GOD. He is not a dispensational GOD who was one character yesterday, another today, and yet another character tomorrow in the near or distant future. The Almighty is not a quicksilver. This is because He is a Holy GOD. Holiness is His identity. He is forever constant and consistent. What He adjudged to be a sin yesterday, remains a sin today, and will continue to be a sin tomorrow and forever. That is the nature and character of the Holy GOD of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

It is written: "For I am the LORD, I change not...." (Mal. 3:6). And it is said: "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" (Jas. 1:17).

GOD does not speak in vain or idly, for it is written: "The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times" (Ps. 12:6).

It is written: "Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it" (Ps. 119:140). It is written: "As for GOD, His way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: He is a buckler to all those that trust in Him" (Ps. 18:30).

It is written: "Every word of GOD is pure: He is a shield unto them that put their trust in Him" (Prov. 30:5).

And it is written: "The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. Who can understand his errors? Cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression" (Ps. 19:7-13).

Elsewhere, the Almighty GOD said: "My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David. His seed shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before me. It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven" (Ps. 89:34-37). He was here speaking of Yahshua spiritually.

It is written: "For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall My word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it" (Isa. 55:10-11).

It is to be noted that GOD spoke the law upon Mount Sinai in the hearing of Israel and the mixed multitude (a mix of people of other nationalities who were part of the church or assembly in the wilderness) to signal that the law is not the product of Moses' mental construct but His (GOD's) own commandments. It is also to signify that the law is valid and binding forever, for it is recorded: "And the LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee forever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD" (Ex. 19:9).

For the avoidance of doubts, Israel and the mixed multitude (Gentiles) in the wilderness constituted the called out ones. They were the ecclesia. They were the Church in the wilderness, as it is said: "This is he, that was in the Church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the Mount Sinai, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us" (Acts 7:38).

This counters Christendom's false teaching that the church was birthed on the day of Pentecost when the Spirit of GOD descended and people spoke in diverse tongues as reported by Luke in Acts chapter two.

Yahshua spoke in the same vein when he said: "For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled" (Matt. 5:18). The reason is because it was GOD who spoke the Law.

And again Yahshua said: "And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail" (Lk. 16:17).

It had been written in the prophets thus: "The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our GOD shall stand for ever" (Isa. 40:8). See also 1 Pet. 1:24-25.

For those who do not know, the Law is a transcript of the character of GOD. It is plain therefore, that the Laws of GOD stand and transgression of any of them constitutes sin or unrighteousness, wherein is the justification for what the Apostle Paul said to the Romans (Gentiles): "Do we then make void the law through faith? GOD forbid: yea, we establish the law" (Rom. 3:31).

And to the Galatians: "But if while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners \[law breakers\], is therefore Christ the minister of sin? GOD forbid" (Gal. 2:17).

Chapter 4: THE PHRASE, "UNDER THE LAW" -- WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

In describing his evangelistic style as an Apostle to the Gentiles, the Apostle Paul said of himself, among other things: "And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law" (1 Cor. 9:20).

A man is either "under the law" or "above the law." If a man is said to be above the law, it means, properly speaking, that he is not subject to the law; the law is not made for him; the law has no application to him. It is not the same thing as the twisted and perverted sense in which it is used and understood by an outlaw. An outlaw is someone who is disobedient to or defiant of the law; a lawless person.

Properly speaking therefore, to be above the law means, to be above-board; to be beyond reproach. The phrase is used to describe a person who operates within established norms; one who obeys the law; one who is law-compliant, so that the law will have no reason to exact vengeance on him or to punish him.

On the other hand, to be "under the law" simply means to be a law breaker. In our context, it means, to be a sinner or an unrighteous person, for the Law is made for such people, as the text in 1 Tim. 8-10, clearly says, and same is reproduced for ease of reference: "But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine" (1 Tim. 1:8-10).

To illustrate: the Law of GOD says: "Thou shalt not commit adultery" (Ex. 20:14). If in one's lifetime one does not commit adultery, it means that one lived above the Law prohibiting adultery. That Law was not made for such a person because he was not an adulterer. He was obedient to that Law. However, if one commits the sin of adultery, it clearly means that the Law which prohibited adultery was made for him. Having committed adultery, be brought himself under that Law that says: "thou shalt not commit adultery," and the Law shall be invoked to punish him. The Law is therefore, made for such people who cannot live above the Law, people who succumb to the tyranny of sin, people who must commit sin.

Yahshua came to redeem them that are under the Law (lawbreakers) in order that they might become children of GOD, for the text says: "But when the fullness of the time was come, GOD sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons" (Gal. 4:4-5). This is the substance of the Apostolic message, and in particular, Paul's message to the Gentiles, his deployment of acrobatics and somersault (as is convenient) as a method to bring them in and have them remain in the new faith notwithstanding.

Unfortunately, the unlearned and unstable preachers of Christendom have founded their doctrine on Paul's acrobatics and somersaults rather than the substance of his message. This is a case of acrobatics and somersaults overshadowing and trumping substance, with the result that the Laws of a Holy GOD are not elevated in Christendom and sin is on a free reign, from the leaders (Priest/Prophet/Pastor) to the led. The text says: "Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works" (Tit. 2:14).

The Apostle Paul said: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of GOD, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto GOD, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of GOD" (Rom. 12:1-2).

The text says: "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which GOD hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Eph. 2:10). The following texts are to the same effect:

"According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love" (Eph. 1:4).

"That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish" (Eph. 5:27).

"For GOD hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness" (1 Thess. 4:7).

"For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ" (2 Cor. 11:2).

"In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight" (Col. 1:22). See also Jude 1:24.

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Cor. 5:17).

"Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life" (Rom. 6:4).

"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature" (Gal. 6:15). Circumcision and uncircumcision here designates the Jew (Circumcision) and Gentile (Uncircumcision).

"Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of GOD" (1 Cor. 7:19). In other words, being a Jew (circumcision) is nothing, and being a Gentile (uncircumcision) is nothing. What matters is that one obeys the commandments of the Almighty GOD.

"And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him" (Gal.3:10).

"And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after GOD is created in righteousness and true holiness" (Eph. 4:23-24).

"Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But GOD be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness... For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness... For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of GOD is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom. 6:16-18, 20, 23).

On the same theme, the Apostle Peter said: "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light. Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of GOD: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify GOD in the day of visitation" (1 Pet. 2:9-12).

He said: "As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy" (1 Pet. 1:14-16).

The author of the Book of Hebrews said: "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord" (Heb. 12:14).

As recorded by the Apostle John: "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of GOD. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother\'s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of GOD" (Jn. 3:3-5).

The Apostle John records: "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of GOD, even to them that believe on his name" (Jn. 1:12).

To become a son of GOD is to accept the gift of salvation freely offered by GOD through Yahshua. This means the renunciation of life of sin and every appearance of unGodliness. This means total submission to the will of GOD. Since the Law of GOD is the will of GOD, it means total obedience to the Laws of GOD in the example of Yahshua, for the text says: "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).

The text also says: "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth ... That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that GOD hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Rom. 10:4, 9-10). See also Gal. 3:24.

In the genius of King James English, end means "aim," "purpose," "object," just as we read in Timothy: "Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned" (1 Tim. 1:5).

To believe Yahshua in the heart is to accept his example of obedience to the laws of GOD, for the text says: "I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness" (Jn. 12:46). It means to accept and do what he taught and to do what he did. It must go beyond mere declaration of "I am a believer," or "I have accepted Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior," as we are served daily by Christians so called.

Therefore, Yahshua said: "And why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things I say" (Lk. 6:46).

Yahshua also said: "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life" (Jn. 8:12). See also Jn. 9:5.

To abide or walk in darkness is to be a servant of sin, to be a lawbreaker, for as the text says: "Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house forever: but the Son abideth forever" (Jn. 8:34-35).

And as the Apostle John said: "If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth" (1 Jn. 1:6).

The text says: "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of GOD perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked" (1 Jn. 2:3-6). The text also says: "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth" (1 Pet. 2:21-22).

All of the above translate to holy living. Holy living is obedience to the covenant laws of GOD in their variegated forms in the example of Yahshua. That is what separates one from the world and her ways.

Israel, like the Gentiles, had been called into holy living, and told what it entails to live holily, as the following texts show:

"Now therefore, if ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people: for all the earth is Mine: And ye shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel" (Ex. 19:5-6).

"And the LORD hath avouched thee this day to be His peculiar people, as He hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all His commandments; And to make thee high above all nations which He hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honour; and that thou mayest be an holy people unto the LORD thy GOD, as He hath spoken" (Deut. 26:18-19).

"The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto Himself, as He hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy GOD, and walk in His ways" (Deut. 28:9).

"For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy GOD: the LORD thy GOD hath chosen thee to be a special people unto Himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth" (Deut. 7:6).

"For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy GOD, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto Himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth" (Deut. 14:2).

Having made the meaning clear, all that the Apostle Paul was saying was that Gentiles should live above the Law, and not live in sin any longer. In other words, the Apostle Paul's exhortation to the Gentiles was that they no longer should be law breakers (sinners).

And this dovetails neatly with what the Apostle John had to say: "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of GOD was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of GOD doth not commit sin; for His seed remaineth in him: and he cannot commit sin, because he is born of GOD. In this the children of GOD are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of GOD, neither he that loveth not his brother" (1 Jn. 3:8-10).

Regarding the Apostle's evangelistic acrobatic style, in order to win a Gentile lawbreaker to Yahshua, he himself appeared to conduct himself like a lawbreaker, yet not being one. The strategy was to gain the confidence of the lawbreaker and then penetrate him with the message of salvation. So when he said that he caught them with guile through craftiness, he was deliberate and alive to what he was doing.

The Apostle Paul said: "But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile" (2 Cor. 12:16).

He also said: "For if the truth of GOD hath more abounded through my lie unto His glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner? And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? Whose damnation is just" (Rom. 3:7-8).

He said further: "For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to GOD, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel\'s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you. Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain" (1 Cor. 9:19-24).

Here was a man who believed that in order to be able to break through the cast iron barrier and get out the message of salvation to the Gentiles he needed to follow the hook and crook philosophy. That is the meaning of the phrase "that I might by all means save some" (1 Cor. 9:22). For him, the end justifies the means.

The hook or crook philosophy was a fitting tool for the era in which he operated. But I must add that he was guided by the general Apostolic ruling that "...Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath day" (Acts 15:21). What this means is that you might have been brought in by some deceit or crookery. But GOD is able to give you His Holy Spirit to discern the truth and make you to stand as you attend Shabbat services in the Synagogue regularly and hear what is written in the law and prophets. And this method worked very well for the apostle Paul.

On the part of the apostle Paul, he did not set out to deceive any, neither did he intend to create different pathways to salvation, one for the Gentiles and another for Jews. He always knew that Gentiles were fellow heirs and of the same body and partakers of the promise of salvation by GOD in Christ. Thus he said: "There is one body, an one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one GOD and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all" (Eph. 4:4-6).

He talked about how Gentiles were grafted into the Jewish olive tree. He said: "And if some of the branches were broken off, and thou \[Gentiles\] being a wild olive tree, were graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree, Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee" (Rom. 11:17-18).

Chapter 5: THE PHRASE, "UNDER GRACE" -- WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

Christendom's commonplace belief is that the door of salvation of GOD was opened to the Gentiles following the death of Yahshua on the tree of Calvary when he was manifested on earth. Nothing can be further from the truth. This misconception has hardened the peoples' erroneous understanding that "grace" is a New Testament (?) concept. It is an error of galactic proportion. If this is taken to be true, then it is impossible to characterize events in Old Testament (?) times that clearly suggest the contrary.

The case of the mixed multitude is a case in point. Here was a mix of people of other nationalities (Gentiles) who joined themselves with Israel to worship and serve their GOD. They were part of the multitude with Israel during Israel's exodus from Egypt and of the church in the wilderness, for the text says: "And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle" (Ex. 12:38). These were Gentiles. Neither Israel nor GOD rejected them. They were not segregated against. GOD gave the both peoples the same Laws in all respects. This is to signify that the grace of GOD has always been available to Jews and Gentiles alike, as it is said by the Apostle Peter: "But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they" (Acts 15:11). There is no question that this is the plan of GOD from the foundation of the world.

In fact, it is written in the Law of GOD: "And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him. But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shall love him as thyself: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. I am the LORD" (Lev. 19:33-34).

I set out a few instances of aspects of GOD's Laws and what He said concerning the strangers (Gentiles):

The Law regarding keeping of the LORD's Feast of Passover (Pesach) was binding on all, as the text says: "All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the Passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof. One law shall be to him that is home born, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you" (Ex. 12:47-49).

The same for the Law regarding the keeping of the second Passover. The text says: "And if a stranger shall sojourn among you, and will keep the Passover unto the LORD; according to the ordinance of the Passover, and according to the manner thereof, so shall he do: ye shall have one ordinance, both for the stranger, and for him that was born in the land" (Num. 9:14).

As concerns the Law on observance of the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) fast and the perpetuity of the Fast day, the text says: "And this shall be a statute forever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you" (Lev. 16:29).

On the Law prohibiting the eating of blood, the text says: "For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. Therefore I said unto the children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood" (Lev. 17:11-12).

On the Law regarding the place to present or offer burnt sacrifice to GOD, the text says: "And thou shalt say unto them, Whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers which sojourn among you, that offereth a burnt offering or sacrifice, And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer it unto the LORD; even that man shall be cut off from among his people" (Lev. 17:8-9).

On the Law prohibiting eating of that which died of itself or torn by beast, the text says: "And every soul that eateth that which died of itself, or that which was torn with beasts, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger, he shall both wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even: then shall he be clean. But if he wash them not, nor bathe his flesh; then he shall bear his iniquity" (Lev. 17:15-16).

On the Law prohibiting incest and sexual immorality generally, the text says: "Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations; neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you" (Lev. 18:26).

On the Law prohibiting human sacrifice to molech, god of the Amonites, the text says: "Again, thou shalt say to the children of Israel, Whosoever he be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, that giveth any of his seed unto Molech; he shall surely be put to death: the people of the land shall stone him with stones" (Lev. 20:2).

On the Law of bringing animal offerings to GOD, the text says: "And if a stranger sojourn with you, or whosoever be among you in your generations, and will offer an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD; as ye do, so he shall do. One ordinance shall be both for you of the congregation, and also for the stranger that sojourneth with you, an ordinance forever in your generations: as ye are, so shall the stranger be before the LORD. One law and one manner shall be for you, and for the stranger that sojourneth with you" (Num. 15:14-16).

On the Law regarding ignorant sins, the text says: "Ye shall have one law for him that sinneth through ignorance, both for him that is born among the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them" (Num. 15:29).

Regarding willful or deliberate sins, it is written in the law of GOD: "But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Because he hath despised the word of the LORD, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him" (Num. 15:30-31).

On the Law of purification for sin with water of separation wherein is the ashes of the heifer regarding defilement by the dead, the text says: "And he that gathereth the ashes of the heifer shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: and it shall be unto the children of Israel, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among them, for a statute forever" (Num. 19:10).

Shabbat observance is the cornerstone of the worship of the GOD of Israel. Even on the most important institution of the Shabbat, GOD did not exclude non-Israelites from its observance. The Shabbat is the very sign or mark that distinguishes one as worshipping the true GOD. The text says: "And hallow my Sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the LORD your GOD" (Ezek. 20:20). Shabbat is the sign that one belongs to the GOD of Israel and married to Him. It is written in the Law of GOD: "Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my Sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you.... Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed" (Ex. 31:13, 16-17). See also Ezek. 20:20.

A non-Israelite who believes in the GOD of Israel is, by Law, obligated to observe the Shabbat. It is written in the Law of GOD: "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" (Ex. 20:10).

The Gentiles and their future generations were part of the renewal of the Covenant of GOD with Israel, as the text says: "Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do. Ye stand this day all of you before the LORD your GOD; your captains of your tribes, your elders, and your officers, with all the men of Israel, Your little ones, your wives, and thy stranger that is in thy camp, from the hewer of thy wood unto the drawer of thy water: That thou shouldest enter into covenant with the LORD thy GOD, and into his oath, which the LORD thy GOD maketh with thee this day: That he may establish thee today for a people unto himself, and that he may be unto thee a GOD, as he hath said unto thee, and as he hath sworn unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. Neither with you only do I make this covenant and this oath; But with him that standeth here with us this day before the LORD our GOD, and also with him that is not here with us this day" (Deut. 29:9-15).

And speaking by the mouth of the Prophet Isaiah, the Almighty GOD said: "Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil. Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the LORD, speak, saying, The LORD hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree. For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my Sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant; Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. The LORD GOD which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him" (Isa. 56:2-8).

Prophesying about the Kingdom of GOD (the Messianic era), it is written: "For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD. And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh" (Isa. 66:22-24). The phrase, "all flesh" clearly means Israel and non- Israel alike.

Jethro the Priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, was very well received by the Community of Israel in the wilderness and by GOD, and had no inhibition to worship the GOD of Israel. He, it was, who advised Moses on how to administer the people. He acknowledged the Sovereignty of the GOD of Israel and brought sacrifices to Him, for the text says: "And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel, whom he had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians. And Jethro said, Blessed be the LORD, who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them. And Jethro, Moses\' father in law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for GOD: and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses\' father in law before GOD. Judaism honoured Jethro by devoting a Parashah to his name and is read every Torah circle.

Another case in point that proves that grace was available to the Gentiles before the manifestation of Yahshua and his death on the tree, is the case of Rahab and her Father's household from Jericho. They all were saved from destruction when Israel conquered Jericho. The text says: "And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father\'s household, and all that she had; and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho" (Josh. 6:25). The GOD of Israel became their GOD and it is said that Rahab went on to marry Salmon, of the tribe of Judah and one of the two spies who spied out the land of Jericho before it was destroyed by Israel. Rahab and Salmon became part of the geneology of Yahshua (Matt. 1:4-5). Rahab became the mother of Boaz.

The story of Ruth the Moabitess is another case in point. GOD had said about the Ammonites and the Moabites thus: "An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the congregation of the LORD forever: Because they met you not with bread and with water in the way, when ye came forth out of Egypt; and because they hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor of Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse thee. Nevertheless the LORD thy GOD would not hearken unto Balaam; but the LORD thy GOD turned the curse into a blessing unto thee, because the LORD thy GOD loved thee. Thou shalt not seek their peace nor their prosperity all thy days forever" (Deut. 23:3-6).

When Naomi, the Bethlehemite entreated Ruth to return to her people while she (Naomi) returned to her people in Bethlehem, Judah because Ruth's husband (Naomi's son) had died in the land of Moab where Naomi and her household had sojourned as a result of famine in Israel, Ruth refused her entreaty, as the text says: "And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy GOD my GOD: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me" (Ruth 1:16-17). When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, they both returned to the land of Israel. Ruth went on to be married Boaz. Boaz was the father of Obed and Obed was the father of Jesse the father of the King David. These all were part of the geneology of Yahshua. See Ruth 4:20-22. The text says: "And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon; And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; And Jesse begat David the king ...." (Matt. 1:4-6).

It is significant that Yahshua's great grandmother was a Moabitess. It signifies that the door of salvation was always open to anyone of any nation who worships the GOD of Israel, and as the Apostle Peter told the household of Cornelius, the Gentile Centurion of the Italian band: "... Of a truth I perceive that GOD is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him" (Acts 10:34-35).

In the war of vengeance against Midian, GOD allowed Israel to keep for themselves Midianite women and females who were virgins, for the text says: "But all the women children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves" (Num. 31:18). These Midianites were going to worship the GOD of Israel with GOD's people. It is an act of dispensation of grace to the Gentiles.

The same would said of the Gibeonites. They were remnants of the Amorites. Although they extracted a covenant with Israel by trick so that Israel spared them, they became hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of the GOD of Israel. They were Gentiles but were admitted into the Commonwealth of Israel. It is an act of grace. The text says: "And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the LORD, even unto this day, in the place which he should choose" (Josh. 9:27). An attempt to break this covenant brought calamity to Israel, for the text says: "Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David enquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites. And the king called the Gibeonites, and said unto them; (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn unto them: and Saul sought to slay them in his zeal to the children of Israel and Judah.) Wherefore David said unto the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you? And wherewith shall I make the atonement, that ye may bless the inheritance of the LORD? And the Gibeonites said unto him, We will have no silver nor gold of Saul, nor of his house; neither for us shalt thou kill any man in Israel. And he said, What ye shall say, that will I do for you. And they answered the king, The man that consumed us, and that devised against us that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the coasts of Israel, Let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them up unto the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, whom the LORD did choose. And the king said, I will give them. But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of the LORD\'S oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul. But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite: And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the hill before the LORD: and they fell all seven together, and were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, in the beginning of barley harvest" (2 Sam. 21:1-9).

At the dedication of Solomon's Temple, he prayed: "...Moreover concerning a stranger, that is not of thy people Israel, but cometh out of a far country for thy name\'s sake; (For they shall hear of thy great name, and of thy strong hand, and of thy stretched out arm;) when he shall come and pray toward this house; Hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for: that all people of the earth may know thy name, to fear thee, as do thy people Israel; and that they may know that this house, which I have builded, is called by thy name" (1 Kg. 8:40-43). This is yet another pointer to the fact that GOD was and is ever willing to receive anyone of any nation who accepts Him as GOD because reconciliation had been made and the door of salvation open to whosoever will.

This was made possible only because the reconciliation had been made from the foundation of the world for the benefit of man and not just the nation of Israel as it seemed. Even then, it would be realized that "Israel" truly means those obedient to the Laws of GOD and faithful to His Covenant, otherwise called the Israel of GOD, as the text says: "And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of GOD" (Gal. 6:16). And it is also said: "Not as though the word of GOD hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel" (Rom. 9:6).

Regarding the text found in the Letter of the Apostle Paul to the Romans thus: "And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. For this is My covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins" (Rom. 11:26-27), it must be understood that ultimate salvation is not freely given. It must be worked out, as it is said: "... work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is GOD which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Phil. 2:12-13).

And so, the Israel that shall be saved are those who repent of their sins and are faithful to the covenant with GOD, for it is written: "And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD. As for Me, this is My covenant with them, saith the LORD; My Spirit that is upon thee, and My words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and forever" (Isa. 59:20-21).

Said the Apostle Paul to the Romans (Gentiles): "Well, because of unbelief, they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear. For if GOD spared not the natural branches, take heed lest He also spare not thee. Behold therefore, the goodness and severity of GOD on them which fell; severity, but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in His goodness: otherwise thou also shall be cut off. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for GOD is able to graff them in again. For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?" (Rom. 11:20-24).

The foregoing instances of the admission of non-Israelites by GOD's Law into the Commonwealth of Israel and non-segregation policy against them before the physical manifestation of Yahshua and his physical death on the tree effectively punctures and negatives the argument that it was at the physical death of Yahshua in 32 or 33 AD, that the door of salvation was opened to the Gentiles. It suffices to say that the blood of Yahshua has been active since before the creation of man and that man had always been the beneficiary of the Grace of GOD made possible by the death of Yahshua before the foundation of the world and the creation of man.

It was the very blood and the word of their testimony that gave the arch angel Michael and his angels victory over the devil, satan, in the war in heaven. That war took place before the creation of man (Adam). The text says: "And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our GOD, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our GOD day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death" (Rev. 12:7-11).

Otherwise called the blood of grace, it has always been active in history, as noted earlier, and since the fall of Adam and has remained ever so active. It was the same grace that was dispensed to Noah in the antediluvian world, for as recorded in Genesis: "And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with GOD" (Gen. 8:7-9).

The grace that admitted Timothy, Titus, Philemon and others, the Romans Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and the Thessalonians into the Commonwealth of Israel in the post manifestation of Yahshua era is no different from that dispensed to Zipporah (the Midianite wife of Moses), the mixed multitude that went up with Israel from Egypt, Rahab and her father's household, Ruth, the Midianites and the Gibeonites. The same for the other six churches of Revelation -- Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicia. It was always the blood of Yahshua shed before the foundation of the world, in action.

The blood had been shed, not only for Israel, but for the sins of the whole world. John the Baptizer was under the unction of the Holy Spirit at River Jordan when, seeing Yahshua coming unto him to be baptized declared as follows: "Behold the Lamb of GOD, which taketh away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water" (Jn. 1:29-31).

It is said: "Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began" (2 Tim. 1:9).

It is said: "And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world" (1 Jn. 2:2). See also Jn. 4:42; 1 Jn. 4:14.

And it is said: "And all things are of GOD, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that GOD was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation" (2 Cor. 5:18-19). This issue has been dealt with at some length under the title: "GOD WAS IN CHRIST RECONCILING THE WORLD UNTO HIMSELF (2 Cor. 5:19) -- WHAT DOES IT MEAN?"

It is plausible to say that the rejection of Yahshua by the Jewish establishment and mainstream Judaism was orchestrated by GOD in order that it may be an opportunity for a greater number of Gentiles to come to GOD. This agrees with the record in Romans where it is said: "For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in" (Rom. 11:25).

Gentiles were generally not considered a people. They did not have GOD. They did not know His will (Laws). They led their lives according to the course of this world (Eph. 2:2).

King David said: "He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel. He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD" (Ps. 147:19-20).

The Apostle Peter had this to say about the Gentiles: "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of GOD: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy" (1 Pet. 2:9-10).

To the Ephesians (Gentiles), the Apostle Paul wrote: "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But GOD, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of GOD: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which GOD hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Eph. 2:1-10).

The Apostle Paul also wrote to the Ephesians thus: "This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of GOD through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; ...That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after GOD is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. ... Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as GOD for Christ\'s sake hath forgiven you" (Eph. 4:17-20, 22-29, 31-32).

Continuing, he wrote: "Be ye therefore followers of GOD, as dear children; ... But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of GOD. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of GOD upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth" (Eph. 5:1, 3-9).

To the Colossians (Gentiles), the Apostle Paul wrote: "Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: ... And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight" (Col. 1:12-13, 21-22).

He also wrote: "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of GOD. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. ... Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things\' sake the wrath of GOD cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: ... Put on therefore, as the elect of GOD, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness" (Col. 3:1-2, 5-10, 12-14).

The Apostle Paul told the Philippians (Gentiles): "That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of GOD, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world" (Phil. 2:15). He also said to them: "And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of GOD by faith" (Phil. 3:9).

In his Letter to Galatians (Gentiles), the Apostle Paul said: "Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: But when the fullness of the time was come, GOD sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons" (Gal. 4:3-5).

He said further: "But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ\'s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts" (Gal. 5:18-24).

In the Apostle Paul's Letter to the Corinthians (Gentiles), we find the following record: "I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat" (1 Cor. 5:9-11).

We also find the following record: "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of GOD? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, ... Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but GOD shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body. ... Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? GOD forbid. What? Know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? For two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have of GOD, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify GOD in your body, and in your spirit, which are GOD\'s" (1 Cor. 6, 13, 15-20).

Continuing, he said to the Corinthians: "Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. But with many of them GOD was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. ... Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry" (1 Cor. 10:1-11, 14).

He said to the Corinthians further: "Giving no offence in anything, that the ministry be not blamed: ... Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of GOD with idols? For ye are the temple of the living GOD; as GOD hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their GOD, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the LORD, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the LORD Almighty" (2 Cor. 6:3, 14-18).

To the Thessalonians (Gentiles), he said: "For this is the will of GOD, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not GOD: That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the LORD is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. For GOD hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness" (1 Thess. 4:3-7).

In the Apostle's Letter to Titus, we also find the following record: "For the grace of GOD that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great GOD and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works" (Tit. 2:11-14).

From all the texts extensively reproduced above, the following can be deduced:

1. That although the Gentiles had been part of GOD's salvation plan from the beginning, following Yahshua's death for all before the foundation of the world, as we see in the instances of the case of the mixed multitude, Rahab, Ruth etc., Gentiles were in the main, alienated from GOD and they knew not His Will, for the text says: "Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without GOD in the world" (Eph. 2:11-12).

2. That the manifestation of Yahshua on earth and his rejection by the Jews opened the door of salvation wider for a greater number of Gentiles to come into GOD's salvation in order to make real the meaning of the atoning blood of Yahshua which reconciled man to GOD before the foundation of the world. Man (Adam) means Jews and Gentiles alike (1 Jn. 2:2; 2 Cor. 5:19). The text says: "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you" (1 Pet. 1:18-20). The text also says: "And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Rev. 13:7-8). See again 2 Tim. 1:9-10.

3. Yahshua is the grace of GOD freely given to man by which man was reconciled to GOD. To live under grace is to live under Yahshua- a life without sin in the example of Yahshua. In other words, it is to live a life of complete obedience to all the laws of GOD following Yahshua's example.

4. Faith in his atoning blood was the freeway that brought the Gentiles into the knowledge of the true GOD of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and the way of GOD. The Gentile is no longer a stranger and an alien. He now has equal access with Israel to GOD. There is no longer segregation between a Jew and a Gentile, for faith in Yahshua's death had always broken down the middle wall of partition which separated between the two peoples, for the text says: "But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto GOD in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of GOD" (Eph. 2:13-19). The text also says: "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross" (Col. 2:14).

5. The door of salvation opened unto the Gentiles was purely an act of grace and not because of their good works, for they were a people who lived in sin and were dead in trespasses. This is notwithstanding the fact that the door was always open since the foundation of the world. See again Eph. 2:1-9).

6. GOD created the Gentiles in order that they, like the Jews, may do good works and live in accordance with His Covenant Laws and receive the Covenant promises of goodness in this world and in the life of the world to come. The text says: "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without GOD in the world" (Eph. 2:10-12). Gentiles are to worship GOD on the same foundation as the Jews, of the Apostles and Prophets, with Yahshua as the chief cornerstone, for the text says: "And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone" (Eph. 2:20). The foundation of the Apostles and Prophets are the Laws of GOD. The Apostle Paul said of himself thus: "But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the GOD of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets" (Acts 24:14). Yahshua is the cornerstone, for the object of the Law is to make one to be like Yahshua, for the text says: "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth" (Rom. 10:4). The text also says: "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith" (Gal. 3:24). The text says: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love GOD, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren" (Rom. 8:28-29). And the text says further: "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls" (Matt. 11:29). Gentiles were engrafted into the Jewish olive tree in order that they may become part of the true worship of GOD given to Israel. They are not engrafted in order to survive, independent of the worship of GOD according to the Oracle delivered to Israel, and set up their own way of worship and righteousness, as we find with latter day Christendom whose beliefs and way of worship is a clear departure from the Apostolic example. GOD does not have one Oracle for the Jews and a different Oracle for the Gentiles, as we have shown. GOD operates on the principle of one Law for Jews and Gentiles. The text says: "What advantage then hath the Jew? Or what profit is there of circumcision? Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God" (Rom. 3:1-2). It also says: "This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear. This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the Mount Sinai, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us" (Acts 7:37-38). The Gentile Preachers are enjoined to preach according to the Oracle of GOD, for the text says: "If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of GOD; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which GOD giveth: that GOD in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever" (1 Pet. 4:11). The Apostle Peter's Letter was to the Gentiles, for the text says: "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, Elect according to the foreknowledge of GOD the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied" (1 Pet. 1:1-2).

In Deuteronomy, we find the following record: "Ye stand this day all of you before the LORD your GOD; your captains of your tribes, your elders, and your officers, with all the men of Israel, Your little ones, your wives, and thy stranger that is in thy camp, from the hewer of thy wood unto the drawer of thy water: That thou shouldest enter into covenant with the LORD thy GOD, and into his oath, which the LORD thy GOD maketh with thee this day: That he may establish thee today for a people unto himself, and that he may be unto thee a GOD, as he hath said unto thee, and as he hath sworn unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. Neither with you only do I make this covenant and this oath; But with him that standeth here with us this day before the LORD our GOD, and also with him that is not here with us this day" (Deut. 29:10-15).

To reiterate, Gentiles are meant to keep the same Covenant Laws as Israel and benefit from the Covenant promises, one of which is the promise of the kingdom of GOD. This is what the Apostle Peter meant when he wrote to the Gentiles: "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of GOD: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy" (1 Pet. 2:9-10). The Patriarchs and other giants of faith all died without receiving this promise because the full number of GOD's sons and daughters in Israel and among the Gentiles have yet to come in, for the text says: "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore GOD is not ashamed to be called their GOD: for he hath prepared for them a city. ... And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: GOD having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect" (Heb. 11:13-16, 39-40).

Being fellow citizens and of the household of GOD (Eph. 2:19) means unalterably that Gentiles are bound by the same Laws and share in the same promises. You cannot be a member of the same house of one father and different rules apply to the children. All the children must be subject to the same rules of their father, just as one who takes on another country's citizenship is bound by the same Laws and share in the same benefits as natural citizens of that country. It is not surprising therefore, that early Christians, Jews and Gentiles alike, worshipped GOD as other Jews.

• To be like Yahshua is to obey the Laws of Yahshua in the paradigm of Yahshua.

8. To be under grace means to live, not anymore as Gentiles and Jews, for both are alike under sin and under grace, but to live like Yahshua. The text says: "What then? Are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin ... Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before GOD ... For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of GOD" (Rom. 3:9, 19, 23). The text says: "But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe" (Gal. 3:22). The text also says: "But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they" (Acts 15:11). And the text further says: "And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again" (2 Cor. 5:15).

9. To be under grace means to deny unGodliness and worldly lusts and live righteously. The text says: "For the grace of GOD that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men" (Tit. 2:11). The Psalmist said: "Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold. Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way" (Ps. 119:127-128). The text says: "And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our GOD, as he hath commanded us" (Deut. 6:25). The text also says: "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of GOD perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked" (1 Jn. 2:3-6). Yahshua said: "If ye love me, keep my commandments. ... He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. ... Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him" (Jn. 14:15, 21, 23). The text says: "For this is the love of GOD, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous" (1 Jn. 5:3). How did Yahshua walk? Yahshua kept the Commandments of GOD and had no sin in him, for the text says: "Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?" (Jn. 8:46). And the text says: "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth" (1 Pet. 2:21-22)

10. To be under grace means to live above the Law and not to be a breaker or transgressor of GOD's Law. In other words, it means not to live under the Law as a sinner. Again, the text says: "But when the fullness of the time was come, GOD sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons" (Gal. 4:4-5). The text also says: "But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine" (1 Tim. 1:8-10). It means not to live any more like a Gentile, for the text says: This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of GOD through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after GOD is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of GOD, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as GOD for Christ\'s sake hath forgiven you" (Eph. 4:17-32).

To be under grace means to be a new creature who must not return to his old sinful ways, for the text says: "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Cor. 5:17). It is to put off the carnal nature, the old man that is given to sin. It is to be born again in its true sense, for the text says: "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of GOD. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother\'s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of GOD. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit" (Jn. 3:3-6).

11. To be under grace is not to reject GOD's Laws as Mosaic, Old Testament and nailed to the cross, and then turn around to claim the Covenantal blessings premised on obedience to the same Laws. That is to choose damnation, for GOD cannot be mocked, for the text says: "Be not deceived; GOD is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap" (Gal. 6:7).

It is a contradiction to reject GOD's Laws and at the same time preach to people to repent. The question is, "To repent from what?" The Almighty GOD demands absolute obedience to all His eternal covenant laws with no right left to anyone to pick and choose what to obey and what not to obey, as is the case with today's warped version of Christianity. It is therefore, said: "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" (Jas. 2:10-11).

It is written: "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" (Deut. 6:5-6). To love GOD with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your might is to obey all that He has commanded and turning neither to the right nor to the left. It is to keep all His laws and neither adding nor subtracting from them, for the text says: "Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your GOD which I command you" (Deut. 4:2). The text says: "What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it" (Deut. 12:32). The text says: "Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest" (Josh. 1:7). The text says: "Ye shall observe to do therefore as the LORD your GOD hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left" (Deut. 5:32). The text says: "Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left" (Josh. 23:6). The text says: "Every word of GOD is pure: He is a shield unto them that put their trust in Him. Add thou not unto His words, lest He reprove thee, and thou be found a liar" (Prov. 30:5-6). And the text finally says: "For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, GOD shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, GOD shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book" (Rev. 22:18-19).

It is written: "And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy GOD require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy GOD, to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve the LORD thy GOD with all thy heart and with all thy soul, To keep the commandments of the LORD, and His statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?" (Deut. 10:12-13).

It is written: "Ye shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your GOD hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess" (Deut. 5:33). To walk in all the ways of GOD is to obey all His commandments. And to love GOD, as noted earlier on, is to obey all His commandments as it is said: "And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me, and keep My commandments" (Ex. 20:6); and "Know therefore that the LORD thy GOD, He is GOD, the faithful GOD, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love Him and keep His commandments to a thousand generations; And repayeth them that hate Him to their face, to destroy them: He will not be slack to him that hateth Him, He will repay him to his face. Thou shalt therefore keep the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which I command thee this day, to do them" (Deut. 7:9-11). Obedience to all of His commandments is always invariably evidence of Love of GOD. Yahshua put it this way: "If ye love me, keep my commandments ...He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him ...If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him" (Jn. 14:15, 21, 23). See again 1 Jn. 2:3-6; 1 Jn. 5:3.

It is written: "Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen" (Deut. 27:26).

It is written: "But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy GOD, to observe to do all His commandments and His statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee" (Deut. 28:15).

It is written: "But if ye will not hearken unto Me, and will not do all these commandments; And if ye shall despise My statutes, or if your soul abhor My judgments, so that ye will not do all My commandments, but that ye break My covenant: I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption ...." (Lev. 24:14-16).

It is written in the Prophets: "Thus saith the LORD GOD of Israel; Cursed be the man that obeyeth not the words of this covenant, Which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Obey My voice, and do them, according to all which I command you: so shall ye be My people, and I will be your GOD" (Jer. 11:3-4).

It follows from the foregoing that any preaching of repentance that is not premised on the obligation of all Christians to obey all the laws of the Almighty GOD is a false preaching.

FOR BY GRACE YE ARE SAVED THROUGH FAITH (Eph. 2:8) -- WHAT IT MEANS

It is recorded in the Prophets: "But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die. Yet ye say, The way of the LORD is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not My way equal? Are not your ways unequal? When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die" (Ezek.18:24-26).

In the Epistle to the Hebrews, we find the following text: "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, And have tasted the good word of GOD, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of GOD afresh, and put him to an open shame" (Heb. 6:4-6). The text also says: "For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries" (Heb. 10:26-27).

In the Gospel according to Mathew, we are told: "And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved" (Matt. 10:22). And in Matt. 24: 13 we find as follows: "But he that shall endure to the end, the same shall be saved." It is also found in Revelation thus: "Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life" (Rev. 2:10).

The above texts make clear that salvation must be understood in three senses: initial or present salvation, continuous salvation and final or ultimate salvation.

It follows that the statement to the Gentile, "For by grace are ye saved through faith ...." (Eph. 2:8), can be paraphrased thus: "You have been admitted into the household of GOD by the grace of GOD through faith in Yahshua." The stage of admission into the household of GOD is the stage of initial or present salvation. Through faith in Yahshua, you have been saved from continuing to live in sin. You are no longer to be governed by your carnal nature that lusts after the things of the flesh. You are now to walk in newness of life, a life of obedience to the Commandments of GOD in the example of Yahshua, a life in which the Spirit of GOD governs you. You do not return to your former way of life. The text says: "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? GOD forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. ...Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin" (Rom. 6:1-4, 6). And the text also says: "Do we then make void the Law through faith? GOD forbid! Yea, we establish the Law" (Rom. 3:31).

Coming to GOD through Yahshua or being admitted into the household of GOD does not confer automatic salvation on the Gentile as erroneously taught by false preachers and prophets. It is, so to speak, only an induction to salvation. That is the stage of initial or present salvation. The Gentile inductee is then expected to maintain his position of being saved from slavery to sin by walking continuously in the realm of grace, in order to enjoy continuous salvation. To be in continuous salvation is to walk in spirit and be obedient to the Laws of GOD, and never fulfilling again the lusts of the flesh. The text says: "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. ... Because the carnal mind is enmity against GOD: for it is not subject to the law of GOD, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please GOD" (Rom. 8:1, 7-8). He builds upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets. He strives to shape his life to conform to the image of Yahshua who was obedient to GOD's Laws and spoke of himself: "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matt. 11:29-30).

The exhortations of the Apostles as extensively reproduced above then come into full play here. In addition, the following exhortations also come into play: The text also says: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of GOD, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto GOD, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of GOD" (Rom. 12:1-2).

In light of the texts set out above, that is, Ezek. 18:24, 26; Heb. 6:4-6; Heb. 10:26-27, one is required to remain in continuous salvation in order to qualify for final or ultimate salvation at one's death, when one can then say that one has run a good race and finished one's course and kept the faith, as the Apostle Paul had cause to say of himself, for the text says: "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith" (2 Tim. 4:7). The exhortation is: ".... Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" (Phil. 2:12).

I would add that the race of salvation is not an easy one but attainable. The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy saying: "No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully" (2 Tim. 4-5).

The way of salvation is a narrow way and only a few find it, as Yahshua said: "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it" (Matt. 7:13-14).

The way of salvation is the way of trials and tribulations. Yahshua said we shall be hated because of him. The Apostle Paul exhorted: "Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22). And it is written: "Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all" (Ps. 34:19). But the motto is, "Forward ever, backward never."

To qualify for final or ultimate salvation, one must remain steadfast in the faith, living for Yahshua and keeping GOD's Laws in order to abide in the love of Yahshua, for the text says: "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father\'s commandments, and abide in his love" (Jn. 15:10). It also says: "Keep yourselves in the love of GOD, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life" (Jude 1:21). The text says: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom. 8:35-39).

The parables of the ten virgins and of the talents are lessons in steadfastness (continuous salvation) as no one knows the hour of his death or of the Lord's coming, for the text says: "Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh" (Matt. 25:1-13).

And also: "For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord\'s money. After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matt. 25:14-30).

The text says: "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up" (2 Pet. 3:10).

Those who endure in the faith to the end shall be saved, and not those who are admitted into the household of GOD and dismiss the Laws of GOD as Mosaic, Old Testament or nailed to the cross. Those who do not keep the details of the Law of GOD in the example of Yahshua are not in the faith and their effusive pleading of the blood of Jesus and claim to being born again is meaningless and hollow. The Apostle Paul exhorts: "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" (2 Cor. 13:5). The church in Smyrna was exhorted: "...be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life" (Rev. 2:10).

Chapter 6: CONCLUSION

To be in the faith is not to speak in diverse tongues, prophesy, work miracles and wonders and cast aside the Commandments of GOD. While speaking in tongues, prophecy, working of miracles and wonders are spiritual gifts that help to edify those who are truly in the faith, they are a distraction to those who are averse to the Laws of GOD. Yahshua was deliberate when he said: "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity" (Matt. 7:21-23).

Make no mistake about it: the kingdom of GOD is for those who keep the Commandments of GOD in the example of Yahshua the Messiah, for the text says: "And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of GOD. And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of GOD. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of GOD, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, LORD GOD Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? For thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest" (Rev. 15:1-4). The text also says: "Blessed are they that do his Commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie" (Rev. 22:14-15). And the text says further: "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of GOD, and the faith of Jesus. And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them" (Rev. 14:12-13).

The text does not say, "Blessed are those who speak in tongues, prophesy, or work miracles and wonders."

When a man shall have been faithful to the end, then shall the saying come true which says: "A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one\'s birth" (Eccles. 7:1). And also: "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints" (Ps. 116:15).

It is now abundantly clear that the statement, "FOR SIN SHALL NOT HAVE DOMINION OVER YOU, FOR YOU ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW, BUT UNDER GRACE" is simply an exhortation to Gentiles to live a life of obedience to all the commandments of GOD in the example of Yahshua.

• By The Apostle (Justice) Paul Madubochi

• Note: This message contains sacred literature. Please do not deface or discard