The Timeless Gospel

The Simple Message of the Gospel
Quotes used in the Bible text, from the Hebrew Scriptures, are (in parentheses).

Put plain and simply the Gospel is the Word of God (YHWH). The Gospel is the Voice of YHWH providing instructions for living life pleasingly before HIM. Paul tells us, in Romans 10:15-18 “And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the Gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!’ (Isaiah 52:7, Nahum 1:15) But they have not all obeyed the Gospel. For Isaiah says, ‘YHWH, who has believed our report?’ (Isaiah 53:1) So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of YHWH. Buth I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed: Their sound has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of he world.’ (Psalm 19:4) But I say, did Israel not know: First Moses says: ‘I will provoke you to jealousy bo those who are not a nation, I will move you the anger by a foolish nation.’ (Deuteronomy 32:21) But Isaiah is ver bold and says: ‘I was found by those who did not seek ME; I was made manifest to those who did not ask for Me.’ (Isaiah 65:1) But to Israel HE says, ‘All day long I have stretched out MY hands to a disobedient and contrary people.’” (Isaiah 65:2)

This portion of Paul’s letter to the Romans shows us clearly that the Gospel was given to Israel. The Gospel is not a new thing that begins when Yeshua came, as we begin to read in Matthew! This is borne out by Hebrews 4:2-3, which says, “For indeed the Gospel was preached to us as well as to them; (contextually reading Chapter 3 you will find the “them” referenced by the writer are those who were delivered from Egypt) but the Word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. For we who have believed do enter that rest, as HE has said, ‘So I swore in MY wrath, They shall not enter MY rest.’” (Psalm 95:11) The Gospel was preached to Israel and the mixed multitude that came out of Egypt. God, I believe Yeshua, speaking through Moses, said in Exodus 19, that if the people would hear HIS Voice and obey HIS commandments they would be to HIM a special people above all the people of the earth; a kingdom of priests. HE tells us the same thing in Revelation Chapter 1. This is the Gospel: Hear the Voice of YHWH, HIS commandments as established in HIS Word, believe them, which will be proven by our doing them, and we will be HIS special people and HE will be our God. We are not to add to HIS Word or take away from HIS Word. (Deuteronomy 4:2, Proverbs 30:6, Revelation 22:18_19) Those who add to or subtract from HIS Word will have the plagues written in the Book added to him/her, and the one who subtracts from HIS Word will have his/her part in the Book of Life taken away from him/her. Revelation 22:14-15 tell us that those who keep the commandments have the right to the Tree of Life and those on the outside are “dogs, and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.” Yeshua said, in John 17:17 that the Word of the Father is “Truth.” It is by this “Truth” that we are sanctified, according the same prayer of Yeshua in John 17:17. Psalm 119 focuses in on what Truth is; Truth is Torah, the commandments of YHWH. The Psalmist tells us that the Torah is delightful and is good and holy, just as Paul says in Romans 7. And in case you might believe men, who say that Torah is the things of the flesh and man centered doctrine, Paul tells us, in Romans 7, that the Torah is spiritual.

So we now see that the Gospel is hearing the Voice, who gave Torah (Instructions for life) believing the Voice, and obeying the Voice. The Voice is Yeshua, the Living Word – the Living Torah (John 1). Revelation tells us that those who overcome during the Great Tribulation are those that have faith in Yeshua and keep the commandments of God. HE, Yeshua, is both. But it all must be mixed with faith; hearing, believing and doing. James tells us in James 2:26, that faith without works is dead. Paul says in Ephesians 2:8-10, that we are saved by grace (Greek word “charis,” the divine influence on the heart with the reflection seen in the life) through faith (hearing, believing and doing the commandments of God – Yeshua,) that HE prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Faith accesses grace. Grace is the work of God, the Holy Spirit, in our lives. It is the implementation of the New Covenant whereby HE writes HIS Law on the fleshly tablets of our heart and puts it in our minds and causes us to walk in HIS statutes and keep HIS commandments. (Ezekiel 36, Jeremiah 31, Hebrews 8) The Spirit of Yeshua will not add to or subtract from the Word, in transgression of the commandments.

Hebrews 11:6 tells us that “without faith it is impossible to please YHWH.” If faith without works is dead, as James says, and as Paul says, we are HIS workmanship, created (made new with a new heart by grace) in Yeshua, for good works that HE prepared beforehand, we begin to see a clearer picture emerge. This is especially made clearer in the light of the Truth of the Gospel that is timeless and is contained in Torah and the Prophets. Remember that is how Yeshua preached the Gospel to the two on the Emmaus Road; from the Torah of Moses and the Prophets. It is only in Yeshua, by HIS grace, accessed through faith in HIM. Faith in HIM cannot be separated from faith in what HE said – HE is the LIVING Word, the LIVING Torah, the LIVING Divine, Loving Instructions of our Creator. Colossians 1 tells us that Yeshua is the Creator! John says, in John 1, that Yeshua was in the beginning, with God, is the Word, and is God!

The warning of not adding to the Torah or subtracting from it is a dire warning. That is why I, and many of those I fellowship with, are almost bulldog like in our stand against any additions and subtractions to the written Word of the Almighty. It’s why we focus so much on accurate word meanings, and contextual study. It’s why we are careful to go back and read the quotes contained in the Apostolic Scriptures (the so-called New Testament) in the context of the Holy Scriptures they were originally given. And remember that they were given originally by Yeshua, according to Peter. It is why Yeshua said, in Matthew 5, “You’ve heard it said, but I say to you…” It’s because men had added to and or subtracted to the pure Word of the Almighty Creator. HE was taking them back to HIS original intent. You can go back to the Torah and find exactly HIS position on the Law already spoken there – by HIS own Voice!

Today, we as men, still have the tendency to add to or subtract from HIS written established word. Commentaries fill libraries and bookstores, with more being written every day. We must be careful to weigh every commentary, every word written by men, in light of the Torah given in Scripture. Acts 17 tells us that the Bereans checked out Paul in light of Scripture, to see if what he said was in keeping with it. Are we any better? Is any great heralded church father any better than Paul? I don’t think so. Neither am I. Check me out. I don’t want to be guilty of adding to or subtracting from the pure unleavened Word. I don’t want to add leaven. It causes me to stumble and I certainly don’t want to be a cause for others to stumble.

The Truth of the Gospel is timeless. It is who God (Elohim) is. Yeshua (Jesus) is God. The Father is God. The Holy Spirit is God. HE is the self-existent, pre-existent ONE. HIS Word predates creation. HE does not change, therefore HIS Word does not change. Do we believe HIS Word, or does fear of man and fear of change keep us bound to the lies of additions and subtractions by men of any persuasion, be they traditional Christianity of any denomination or Orthodox traditional Judaism, or Messianic Judaism? Judaism is not the Way. The ways of the professing church, as we have seen it represented by and large, is not the Way. The Way is the Truth (the pure Word of YHWH) and the Life (Life is in HIS commandments). Yeshua is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and the only way to the Father. Do not add to or subtract from Yeshua, the Living and written Word, otherwise you just might not reach the destination; the Father’s house and the place HE has prepared for those who love HIM. Yeshua said, “If you love ME, keep MY commandments.