truth of salvation – Larus Press

What is family?

In the Kingdom of GOD we are a family of believers, as Matthew 12:50 says, “For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”

In the world, we have blood relatives which is the traditional definition of “family”.

In our hearts, we have close friends, special colleagues, neighbours whom we may call “family”.

Family is so valuable and important to the human being. We are made for relationship and family. “And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” (Genesis 2:18)

Family, I will define as those with whom there is a special bond: be it spiritual, physical, or interpersonal. Whichever way you define it, family is vital to our happiness and to our quality of life.

What of Evangelism

In our sphere of influence, we will consider our family as those closest to us and therefore most important to us. If they know Jesus we want them to grow, right? And if they do not, don’t we want them to discover Jesus for themselves?

So, why is it so important and yet often so difficult to speak of our Lord casually and naturally to our family members? Why is it difficult to discuss the “elephant in the room” with blood relatives who know what we believe but show no interest?

We need to practise balance in our witness

I am not an evangelist by calling, but like all of us who know Jesus, am called to “And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations.” (Mark 16:10)

Can we season our conversation with salt: not too much or it loses its natural flavour, and not too little for the food we offer will not be preserved.

A Prayer

Father, we pray for our families, that those on our hearts will grow, discovering more and more about the truth of Jesus: of who He is and His love, power and might, and that those who do not yet know Him personally, that you will draw them to you until they surrender and discover the peace, love, joy, contentment and truth of the only salvation available.

In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

Law and Grace – not law versus grace

“They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do.” Galatians 2:10

What are we Gentiles to do with the history we receive from the Jews and the freedom we gain in Yeshua/Jesus?

Law versus Grace has reared its head in recent days, as Hebraic Roots are (re)discovered for those of us who walk in the light of Jesus’/Yeshua’s salvation.

The principle of Faith without Works is dead (James) competes with We are Saved by Grace, not of Works lest any man should boast (Ephesians). Both are true! But how?

“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” Galatians 5:16-18 has many facets. Recently, I wrote about fasting as regards the flesh and Spirit. Now, I’ll address the aspect of the Law of GOD — named Yehovah* — versus Grace of GOD.

It is my understanding and experience, that Gentiles are saved by the grace of GOD and not by walking in the Law of Moses. Jesus came to fulfil the law, and as the sacrificial lamb of GOD that takes away the sins of the world through faith in him (John 1:29), he delivers all who believe and follow him, just as the Hebrews were delivered from Egypt the night they put the blood of the sacrificial lamb on their door posts so that the angel of death would pass over them (Exodus 12:21).

BUT it is also my belief that GOD gave us the feasts to celebrate Him. And He gave us the unconditional love and blessings of the covenants of Adam, Noah and Abraham before the conditional covenant with Moses, the latter of which Jesus fulfils (Matthew 5:17). No, we do not need to keep any law except that which is written on our hearts (Romans 2:15) in love for one another (John 13:34), but in love for GOD I choose to honour His Sabbath and I recognise his feasts, not in order to receive salvation, but in order to give back to Him a fraction of what he’s given me.

We are saved by GOD’s grace and mercy through the work of Jesus/Yeshua. But we can honour Him by celebrating in the ways that He has provided for us, whether we are Jew or Gentile, for there is neither in the Kingdom of GOD (Galatians 3:28).

If you meditate on what I’ve written above, and give due consideration to it, I’m certain you will find your way forward by the Spirit of GOD, to balance tradition (which is empty) with revelation (which is Yehovah’s way of leading and guiding us).

“But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.” (1 Peter 5:10)

*See Nehemiah Gordon’s research into the various texts which give us the obscure vowels to the YHVH name we are familiar with in Biblical text, to complete His name correctly.