Exploding Misconceptions - Part 2

The fifth thing that many have a misconception about is what a true Christian is. A true believer is a person that not only believes that Yeshua (Jesus) is the Messiah, but has also has received the atonement for his or her sins that He purchased with His blood on the cross on a hill near Jerusalem called Golgatha (a place of the skull) and Calvary (Latin for Golgatha). A true believer has a relationship with the God of the Bible, the God of the Jews and Christians. In the beginning, after the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension to the Father of Messiah Yeshua, and the giving of the Ruach Hachodesh (Holy Spirit) to the 120 in the upper room on the day of Shavuot (Pentecost), believers were called the sect of the Natzrim (Nazarenes) (Acts 24:5). They were called Christianos (Christians) first at Antioch (Acts 11:26)... As a derogatory term. It means Christ like (i.e., Messiah like). They were saying that these believers in Yeshua were like a bunch of little messiahs running around all over the place, because of the miracles they did.

Messiah Yeshua said, "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out demons; they shall speak with new tongues [(i.e., in languages they didn't learn)]; [if] they shall take up [or be bitten by] serpents [snakes]; and if they drink any deadly thing [unknowingly], it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." (Mark 16:17,18 KJV) (Words in brackets are mine to help clarify the text.) In Yochanan (John) 14:12-17 (KJV), Messiah Yeshua also said,"Verily, verily [truly, truly], I say unto you, he that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto the Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it. If ye love me, keep my commandments: and I will pray [ask] the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter [Paraklete - one called along side to help], that He may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of Truth [refers to the Ruach Hachodesh (Holy Spirit)]; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." This was fulfilled on the day of Shavuot (Pentecost) when the 120 in the upper room was baptized (immersed) in the Holy Spirit (Acts chapter 2). They were filled with the Spirit and anointed (empowered) by the Spirit to do the work God had called them to do.

And number six, no one can claim to be a Christian and hate his neighbor at the same time. All who hate others are not of God, neither do they know Him. "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother, abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother, is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him." (1 Yochanan (John) 3:14,15 KJV) "If a man say, 'I love God,' and hateth his brother, he is a liar. For he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God, whom he hath not seen?" (1 Yochanan (John) 4:20 KJV) Messiah Yeshua said, "Ye have heard that it hath been said, 'Thou shalt love thy neighbor; and hate thine enemy,' but I say unto you, 'Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them." (Matthew 6:43,44 KJV) He also said, "This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (Yochanan 15:12,13 KJV) When asked, "Which is the first commandment of all?" Messiah Yeshua answered him by quoting the Shema (Hear), the Jewish profession of faith, "The first of all the commandments is, 'Hear, O Israel; the Lord our God is one Lord, and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength:' this is the first commandment. And the second is like it, 'Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.' There is none greater than these." (Mark 12:28-31 KJV)

Therefore, all the evil that was committed in the name of Christianity, was not done by true believers. These people that committed evil down through the millennia and preached hatred, were Christian in name only. They did not act Christ like. God is unconditional love. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." - Messiah Yeshua (Yochanan 3:16,17 KJV)

More to follow in the next post. In the mean time, please read the post called, "Consider This," if you have not done so already.

Jerry