The Two-Thousand Year Old Christian Mistake

Posted on February 18, 2014 by Pete Rambo

I like following James as he wrestles with important matters of theology. This is a terrific post where he takes the difficult step of challenging Christendom with some hard truth. I think we agree on much in this post… Exactly what the final product looks like, remains to be seen, but, like James, we are on a journey in search of truth and we ask our Father to reveal Himself and truth at every turn!!

Enjoy wrestling with this post!!

James Pyles's avatarMorning Meditations

Ezekiel 36:26. You don’t need to turn to it, just listen. God says, now watch this promise. “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you.” verse 27. “And I will put my Spirit within you.” Now do you read any conditions there? What are the conditions for getting the Spirit? What are they? Is there an if there? Nope. God says I will do it. Now the credibility of God is at stake. If a Christian has to do something to get the Holy Spirit then in theory, there are some Christians who never do that something so they never get the Holy Spirit. Therefore the promise of God is invalidated in their behalf. No the credibility of God is at stake. And secondly the credibility of Jesus is at stake in John 14, verse 16.

-Pastor John MacArthur
“From Judaism…

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The ‘yoke of the law?’ IVPNT: Acts Pt. 2

Posted on February 18, 2014 by Pete Rambo

Continuing where we left off yesterday, let’s dig a little more into Dr. William J. Larkin’s Yoke(Ph.D.) treatment of Acts 15 in his IVP New Testament Series Commentary on Acts.  Yesterday we considered his use of ‘law-free gospel.’  Today, we will consider another phrase he uses,  ‘yoke of the law,’ which is pretty commonly misused in Christendom.

What solution to the controversy does this freshly articulated understanding yield? James makes an “official” proposal of one negative and one positive action with respect to Gentile converts. We should not make it difficult for them: that is, Jewish Christians should not pressure Gentile converts (compare Judg 14:17; 16:16 LXX) into adopting circumcision and the yoke of the law Continue reading →

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Moonrise, sunset… A few pics…

Posted on February 17, 2014 by Pete Rambo

If there is one truly spectacular aspect to this piece of property our Father led us to rent, it is the views.  For being in the middle of rolling hills, we may have one of the highest and most panoramic views in the county.  We are surrounded by fields that fall away from the hill on which the house sits.  ss6308

I love moonrises and sunsets…  We get plenty of them.  I often say, ‘I need to take some pics…’  Well, recently, I started keeping a camera handy and want to share several pictures from the last week. Continue reading →

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Christendom and the ‘Law-Free Gospel.’ IVPNT: Acts Pt. 1

Posted on February 17, 2014 by Pete Rambo

Yesterday, I posted a piece concerning Christian attitudes regarding Jewish believers who keep God’s Commandments and I evidenced the anti-Torah/antisemitic bias by quoting a number of commentaries.  Leading the evidence was The IVP New Testament acts 15 comCommentary Series volume on the Book of Acts, by William J. Larkin, Jr., Ph.D., because I happen to have it on my shelf…  Dr. Larkin was a professor of mine in seminary and published this commentary in 1995, a couple of years before my time (class of ’02, M. Div. Pastoral) at Columbia Biblical Seminary and Graduate School of Missions.

As I mentioned in the article, early in my coming to a fuller understanding of what it means to walk in righteousness and the ways of our Father, I pulled this book off my shelf to compare what I was seeing in Acts and what a former mentor had seen…  I ended up making copious notes in the margins of numerous pages where I saw bias against the larger scope of Scripture in favor of this new religion Continue reading →

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Stronger faith = less obediece? Say, what?!?

Posted on February 16, 2014 by Pete Rambo

In an online conversation a while back, a seminary educated (seemingly intelligent) individual, referring to Acts 21:20 said, “In the case of Acts 21 it was weaker brothers who were zealous for the Law.”

eve20apple1That statement stuck in my craw and settled in my ‘draft box’ to ferment…  If we take that simple statement and draw a corollary, it would say, ‘Brothers who are strong in the faith don’t concern themselves with obedience to the Law.’  Or, taking it to the next level we could say, ‘The stronger one’s faith is, the less Law they need to keep…’

So…  Just how strong does one’s faith need to be for, say, lying?  Stronger faith lets you steal as well? Still stronger you can…

Seriously!!

I knew this sentiment, “weaker brothers were zealous for the Law,” a lie straight from the pit of hell, was in different corners of Christendom, but did not realize how pervasive until I started digging a little… Continue reading →

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How did you get that steeple on your church?

Posted on February 15, 2014 by Pete Rambo

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Ki Tisa, Shabbat 2/15/14 In His Presence

Posted on February 15, 2014 by Pete Rambo

Here is this week’s Shabbat message and some excellent music!! You will be encouraged as you are drawn to leave the congregation and come to the Presence at the Tent of Meeting… out in the wilderness.

Pete Rambo's avatarDavar Chaim

Due to weather challenges, Shabbat services at Davar were cancelled this week, however, our family sat this morning to worship and look into the Word at the message I had stdas0498prepared.  Here is the recording of that time…  We consider several pieces of the Torah portion, but focus on Exodus 33:7-16 and drawing near to or desiring the Presence of our King.

Following is the mp3 of the message and below it is the album referred to (we use Ruach Adonai Alai, track 13) in the recording.  May both the music playlist and the message be a blessing to you!  Shabbat Shalom!

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Ki Tisa 2014. A few thoughts….

Posted on February 14, 2014 by Pete Rambo

A few hours ago I sat down to pen this post when instead a post about kidding and farm life in the snow rolled out of my head…  So, ‘take 2!’

I have not made it a habit of commenting on the weekly Torah portions, but for some incense-altarreason, I have several random thoughts this week to share…  Nothing really connected.  Just a few thoughts on what many may regard a minor pieces…

The portion, Ki Tisa, meaning ‘when you elevate,’ is Exodus 30:11-34:35, and covers a lot of territory.  Sabbath as a perpetual covenant sign (31:16-17)!  Idolatry/golden calf as syncretism (32:5)!

I just want to point out a few other items that I found interesting…

30:34-38.  Incense on the altar.  As we studied the furniture of the Holy Place in the last weeks, I’m not sure why it didn’t hit me, but as I read of the incense on the altar Continue reading →

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Make a difference for the Kingdom!

Posted on February 13, 2014 by Pete Rambo

Here is a chance to make a HUGE impact for the Kingdom.  Rabbi Itzhak Shapira has written an incredible book revealing the Jewish Messiah from Judaic literature and the Scriptures.  I reviewed this exceptional work, titled The Return of the Kosher Pig.   The book is being translated into Hebrew and into Spanish!!  Funds are needed for this work.  Jews will be reached by the thousands!

Please consider joining me in this historic opportunity.  You may add your support at http://www.fundly.com/ahavatammiministries

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…the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart…

Posted on February 13, 2014 by Pete Rambo

How many of us have memorized this verse?

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.   Psalm 19:14

Many of us.  In fact, I know many pastors who use this as part of their prayer before beginning a sermon.

Having memorized this verse, it lept out at me as I was doing part of my ‘Who is…’ series.  There is a clear declaration of Yahweh as the Redeemer, but what grabbed my attention even more was the reference.  This comes from Psalm 19!!!

Oh.  You don’t know why that is so important? Continue reading →

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Snow and kidding…

Posted on February 12, 2014 by Pete Rambo

The snow/sleet/freezing rain mix continues to fall and we are largely buttoned up…  I say largely, because every three hours I am wrapping up and making a trip to the barn to benjamincheck on the goats.  One mama in particular.

One of our best milkers, a Nubian named Impressive, was the size of a compact car a couple days ago and could not get up.  It had become a dangerous situation for her and the babies, so when we started seeing early delivery signs we were relieved, but labor was slow and hard.  So much so that, for the first time since we have owned animals, maybe seven years, we had the vet make a house call.  Twice!  Now you know why we named the golden boy in Gunnar’s arms, ‘Benjamin.’  Took several benjamin’s to keep the vet happy!  (After I showed the bills to Jeremiah he decided to double down on his studying!!)

“Impressive,” the impressively large mama, had three kids, Continue reading →

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Who is… The Savior?

Posted on February 12, 2014 by Pete Rambo

The ‘Who is…‘ connections should be getting easier!!  In the last few days we have looked at several, resulting in a series!  Today we want to consider, “Who is…  The Savior?”

Christendom would immediately ascribe the title of ‘Savior’ to Yeshua.  In that, they would be right!  … Partly.  Yeshua Jesusin Hebrew

Indeed, His very name means ‘salvation!’

We are very familiar with the title from well-loved Scriptures such as Luke 2:11,

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

And,

He is the one whom God exalted [a]to His right hand as a [b]Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.  Acts 5:31

And, a dozen more such references in the New Testament.  That Yeshua is the Savior is incontestable Continue reading →

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Christendom: ‘Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow, IF…’

Posted on February 11, 2014 by Pete Rambo

I’m sitting here watching the snow fall.  Masses of flakes bigger than golf balls are snowing2showering upon the surrounding fields.  Slowly the last vestiges of any remaining green or brown grass are disappearing under a relentless cascade.  Soon, all will be white!

Every time I see snow, particularly as it progressively covers a landscape, I am reminded of Isaiah 1.  Like many readers, I ‘hear’ the prophet’s words as he declares a message from Yahweh,

“Come now, and let us reason together,”
Says Yahweh,
“Though your sins are as scarlet,
They will be as white as snow; Continue reading →

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Total mindbender! My head almost exploded!

Posted on February 11, 2014 by Pete Rambo

Yesterday I included a video by Bill Sanford on the Alef-Tav.  In the video he makes a statement that set fireworks off in my head to the degree that it almost exploded!  I can’t wait for the next person to tell me, ‘But, I’m a New Covenant believer.’  As lovingly as I can, I’ll reply with, “….   (You’ll have to watch the video.  See if you can find the line that set off fireworks! I’ll post the line that did it for me in the comment later today.)

Enjoy!!

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Local weather calling for snow… Again!!

Posted on February 10, 2014 by Pete Rambo

Local weather is calling for snow…  Again!!  Frankly, one good snow every two or three years is about normal for this Southeastern region.  snow6A couple weeks ago we had a moderate sleet/snow mix, so maybe a big one is in order…  Still, this winter has been very cold and not very ‘nice.’

In our family Bible reading this morning we were discussing a passage that touches on the whole weather issue…  In fact, daily, the weather that we concern ourselves with should serve as a continual reminder Continue reading →

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