Faith….

….Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find Faith on the earth? Luke 18:8b

But what kind of Faith? and will Yashua Messiah find the right kind of Faith on the earth when He returns? This question arises out of one of Yashua Messiah’s Parables; recorded in Luke 18:1-8:

Luke 18:1-8 (KJV) And He spake a Parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint (not to give up); 2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: 3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. 4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; 5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. 6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. 7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? 8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find Faith on the earth? (Brackets mine)

Luke 18:1-8 (Concordant Literal Version) 1 Now He told them a parable also, so that they must always be praying and not be despondent, 2 saying, “A certain judge was in a certain city, who did not fear God and did not respect man.” 3 Now there was a widow in that city, and she came to him, saying, ‘Avenge me from my plaintiff.'” 4 And for a time he would not. Yet, after this, he said in himself, ‘Even if I am not fearing God nor respecting man, 5 surely, because of the weariness this widow is affording me, I shall be avenging her, lest she, coming, may belabor me into a consummation.'” 6 Now the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge is saying.” 7 Yet should not God by all means be doing the avenging of His chosen ones, who are imploring Him day and night? And He is patient with them.” 8 I am saying to you that He will be doing the avenging of them swiftly. Moreover, consequently, at the coming of the Son of Mankind, will He be finding The Faith on the earth?

Luke 18:1-8 (The Amplified Bible) Now Jesus was telling The Disciples a Parable to make the point that at all times they ought to pray and not give up and lose heart, 2 saying, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and had no respect for man. 3 There was a [desperate] widow in that city and she kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice and legal protection from my adversary.’ 4 For a time he would not; but later he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow continues to bother me, I will give her justice and legal protection; otherwise by continually coming she [will be an intolerable annoyance and she] will wear me out.’” 6 Then the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says! 7 And will not [our just] God defend and avenge His elect [His chosen ones] who cry out to Him day and night? Will He delay [in providing justice] on their behalf? 8 I tell you that He will defend and avenge them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find [this kind of persistent] Faith on the earth?”

Now I have included three versions of the same passage, as the second and third versions highlight points that I wish to raise.

Moreover, here we have, what appears to be, a somewhat troubling verse of Holy Scripture, but troubling for whom? Well certainly not for those who are truly born of God (born again), for they will be exercising their Faith everyday of their lives, so that when Yashua Messiah returns to this earth HE WILL definitely find Faith on the earth.

However, this is not the issue I wish to raise, for my good lady wife reminded me of some advice she received from a fellow believer many years ago. This advice went like this: “If you pray to The Father and ask Him for something or for Him to do something, then ask only ONCE and THANK HIM for hearing you, and KNOWING IN FAITH that He will answer you, whether positively, or negatively, and/or not straight away.” This is powerful Faith in action.

Now the widow in this Parable had no faith in the judge, and for good reason, she knew she would have to keep on badgering him until he did his job. Did she know how The System worked? I think so, but we’re not told. However, one thing is for sure, we know that the judge was a bent and corrupt judge, because he tells us so:

Notice, from the KJV: “Though I fear not God, nor regard man.” Then from the CLV: “Even if I am not fearing God nor respecting man”, and once more from The Amplified: “Even though I do not fear God nor respect man”. Furthermore, not only this, but we are also told by Yashua Messiah Himself (KJV): “There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man”. (CLV): “A certain judge was in a certain city, who did not fear God and did not respect man.” Finally, The Amplified: “In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and had no respect for man”.

We therefore have, in this very short story, a crucial point raised for our attention – TWICE! and when Yashua Messiah tells us something TWICE! we need to sit up and take notice, that is, IF we know what’s good for us.

Here are two more examples of this duality teaching that Yashua Messiah employed:

1) John 6:44 (MCV) NO MAN can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw (drag) him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

2) John 6:65 (MCV) And He said, Therefore said I unto you, That no MAN can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

1) John 8:32 (KJV) And ye shall know The Truth, and The Truth shall make you free.

2) John 8:36 (KJV) If The Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

So, in like fashion, He let’s us know TWICE! that this judge had no fear of God in his heart, nor any respect or regard for man. Now why would Yashua Messiah draw our attention to that? and what makes this issue so significant that He should highlight it TWICE! in this very short Parable? That’s easy to answer, because it’s all tied in with His miracle of walking on The Sea, and His non-respect of PERSONS (See links 1, 2 and 3 below for ALL the background knowledge to this subject)

OK, so if you have now read the other articles you’ll be up to speed and will know that if the WOMAN had been a PERSON, the judge would have immediately taken her seriously, but as she was there as a flesh and blood WOMAN – a widow, and not a PERSON, the judge did not consider her as even existing, so treated her with utter contempt. Therefore, she was a non-entity to be ignored, or treated with no respect or regard at all, for she was completely invisible to this criminal corrupt judge.

However, because she was so determined to get justice she became like a dog with a bone and sank her metaphorical teeth into his butt and would not let go until he did the honourable thing and gave her justice.

If we then add in the fact that this judge was a blasphemous, Godless, secular, criminal wretch, it all begins to make sense, for his god was Satan, and only Satan’s servants, that is, his fellows, would be seen and heard favourably in his court. Their treatment would have been the exact opposite of what the widow received. In today’s language they would most likely be fellow Freemasons.

OK, so having cleared up that crucial element to this Parable, we then move on to the subject of Faith and what instruction Yashua Messiah gave us within these few verses. Namely, should we bother The Father with repetitive prayers like the widow bothered the criminal judge with her repetitive demands and requests? No way, is the answer to that. As already stated regarding the advice my wife received from a fellow believer – ONE request is enough. Our Father is not deaf, nor is He forgetful or cold, heartless and indifferent toward us, like the criminal judge was toward the widow, so do not treat Him as if He were. If we make our one-off requests, fully trusting, that, will then be us displaying the real Faith His Son Yashua Messiah wants to find when He returns.

As for praying, yes by all means, and keep on praying, but make sure your prayers are not boring and repetitive. You can also pray in tongues, if you have that gift, and don’t know what to pray about – that also displays Faith.

In Yashua Messiah’s name

Brother Charles

1. For There is No Respect of Persons With God – Romans 2:11 – But What is a Person? – Parts 1 & 2:

https://isthefathercallingyoutohisson.wordpress.com/for-there-is-no-respect-of-persons-with-god-romans-211-but-what-is-a-person-parts-1-2/

2. Why Did Yashua Messiah (The Lord Jesus Christ) Walk on The Sea – Part 1 of 2:

https://isthefathercallingyoutohisson.wordpress.com/why-did-yashua-anointed-the-lord-jesus-christ-walk-on-the-sea/

3. Why Did Yashua Messiah (The Lord Jesus Christ) Walk on The Sea – Part 2 of 2:

https://isthefathercallingyoutohisson.wordpress.com/2021/03/10/why-did-yashua-messiah-the-lord-jesus-christ-walk-on-the-sea-part-2-of-2/

Are You a 21st Century Foolish Galatian?

So how can anyone be a “Foolish Galatian” in the 21st century? They were just a first century phenomenon weren’t they? And only a serious problem for Paul and all the other Grace filled Assemblies in Galatia, surely? How can there be such a problem today? This must be nonsense, I hear you say. Well, it’s not as nonsensical as you might think and, in order to get a full understanding of what it’s all about, we need to take a look at Galatians to gain a better knowledge of what Paul was having to deal with.

We also need to know how the: “Justification through obedience to The Law” problem, for Grace filled and saved people, has never gone away. This vile evil concept is still with us today and do not err in your thinking, by making light of it:

Galatians 3:1 (KJV) O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not ‘obey’ (a corrupt translation – should read “you who have not been convinced of or persuaded by:-”) The Truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? (Brackets and italics mine)

Galatians 3:1 (Amplified Version) O you poor and silly and thoughtless and unreflecting and senseless Galatians! Who has fascinated or bewitched or cast a spell over you, unto whom—right before your very eyes—Jesus Christ (the Messiah) was openly and graphically set forth and portrayed as crucified?

From the Amplified Version we get a better insight into how dumb and stupid these people were and how dumb and stupid modern Galatian people are as well. Let’s look at verse 2 for our proof and evidence:

Galatians 3:2 (KJV) This only would I learn of you, Received ye The Spirit by the works of The Law, or by The Hearing of Faith?

Galatians 3:2 (Amplified Version) Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive The [Holy] Spirit as the result of obeying The Law and doing its works, or was it by hearing [The Message of The Gospel] and believing [it]? [Was it from observing a Law of Rituals or from a Message of Faith?]

So here’s a question for all you blasphemers out there who think you can be saved by OBEDIENCE to The Commandments: Did you receive the gift of The Holy Spirit as a result of obeying The Commandments or by hearing The Message of Faith and BELIEVING it?

Let’s put this another way: Did you do anything or contribute anything by way of obedience to The Commandments in order to receive this free undeserved gift? If you did, let’s hear about it ‘cos I love a good laugh at the expense of vain puffed-up fools who think they can earn their own salvation by obedience to The Commandments.

Paul then begins to cement his case:

Galatians 3:3 (KJV) Are ye so foolish? having begun in The (Holy) Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? (Brackets mine)

Here again we can see how these stupid people had begun in The Holy Spirit which means that they were called by The Father to His Son by The Holy Spirit, but then said: “No thanks, we know a better way!!” And here is the first example of this evil mind set:

John 6:65-66 And He said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. 66 From that many of His Learners (disciples) went back, and walked no more with Him.

These numb skull stiff necked people were just like The Galatians – they were precursors of those that Paul had to deal with later on. They thought they knew a better way, a way based upon their own initiative and motivation, their own efforts and their own vain imaginings of salvation under their own fuel and steam and not to mention their own terms and conditions. These bods had no use for The Holy Spirit, why would they, they were self-sufficient via their own righteousness through obedience to The Law – The Commandments.

Move forward a decade or so, to Paul’s time, and we then have these same kinds of vile wretched people who thought that The Holy Spirit’s saving Power was not enough i.e. NOT GOOD ENOUGH for them, can you believe that? So they re-invoked The Law – The Commandments, and obedience to same, in order to become ‘more righteous’ (chuckle, chuckle, chuckle) than their brothers and sisters living under Yashua Messiah’s Glorious Saving Grace being led by The Holy Spirit.

When we stop and think about this, it can only be summed up as gross mind-numbing blasphemous stupidity. What is even more mind-numbing and amazing is The Truth that these same types of stupid people are still with us today and yet, at the same time, profess to be Christians and/or followers of The Way – Yashua Messiah – how does that work!!??

Let’s be clear about this because elsewhere Paul makes it very plain:

Galatians 2:16 (KJV) Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of The Law, but by The Faith of Jesus Christ, even (so that) we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by The Faith of Christ, and not by the works of The Law: for by the works of The Law shall no flesh be justified. (Brackets and emphasis mine)

Now we must fully comprehend the points Yashua Messiah is explaining here, through Paul:

Point 1) No man is justified i.e. made righteous by the works of The Law. This includes obedience to The Ten Commandments. How do we know that? Easy, because Sabbath Day observance is no longer required under Grace. Everyday is now a Sabbath Day for those who have entered into Yashua Messiah’s Sabbath Rest = everyday is now a Sabbath Day for those who believe totally in Him for their salvation. See Hebrews Chapters 3 and 4 and then read it and internalise it.

Point 2) Mankind is justified only by Yashua Messiah’s Faith i.e. HIS FAITH, NOT OUR FAITH. Yashua Messiah gives us Faith, along with Grace, so that we can believe. Without the free gifts of His Faith and His Grace we would not be able to believe and then build our faith for rewards only upon that Foundation.

Point 3) We are then justified by His Faith and Paul makes that very clear with his statement: “That we might be justified by The Faith of Christ.” Get this clear in your minds, folks, and written on your hearts: YOUR FAITH does not feature in this arrangement, so YOUR FAITH does not feature at all in your salvation – period.

OK, let’s move on, because Paul now starts to lay it on the line:

Galatians 2:17 (KJV) But if seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves also were found to be sinners, is Christ then a minister of sin? Let it not be!

So, if we claim to be justified in, through, and by Yashua Messiah’s Sacrifice, His Faith and His Grace and are also found to be sinners, what is going on? Can sinners ever be justified? Can sinners enter The Kingdom of God? Can blemished and spotted bridal gowns attend The Wedding Feast? Nay, God forbid. Hence Paul asks can Yashua Messiah be a pastor of sin? Yet what points out our sin? What reveals our sin? What condemns us for our sins? The Law and The Commandments reveal and point out our sins and then condemns us. So is Yashua Messiah a Pastor of The Law and thereby condemning us or is He a Pastor of Truth, Love, Mercy, Redemption, Forgiveness, Faith and Grace?

Let’s remind ourselves:

Romans 8:1 (KJV) There is therefore now no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus.

If there is now no condemnation for those IN Yashua Messiah where has The Law gone and what need is there for The Law and/or The Commanndments? The Law/Commandments or The Whole Law and the ensuing condemnation go hand in hand, as does The Law and obedience, so if there is now no more condemnation how can there be any Law over us? How can there be any need for obedience to The Law or The Commandments if they are no longer over us and condemning us?

Answers on the back of a postage stamp, thank you.

Brother Charles