Eternal Life and The Forgiveness Of Sin: Are They The Same Concept?
I preface by stating we are not MADE RIGHTEOUS by keeping Torah, just as Paul states JUSTIFICATION, “…is the gift of YHWH: not of works, lest any man should boast”.
I am going to try to demonstrate something that most do not understand because of what we have been taught.
Eternal Life (SALVATION) and the forgiveness of sins (JUSTIFICATION) are not the same thing.
A problem with Christian theology is that it confuses "eternal life" with the "forgiveness of sins". We need to look at things the way they actually are not the way we have been taught they are. Here is a practical way to think about:
You are a thief who has just been pardoned by the Governor. Can your pardon get you out of prison if you are caught stealing again? No. Well, the "forgiveness of sins" is your pardon and "eternal life" is your freedom which is maintained by obeying the laws of society which are YHWH Commandments.
I believe the following scriptures will show that "forgiveness of sins" is by unmerited grace; "eternal life" is by striving.
"For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins."
"To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins."
"Whom YHWH hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of YHWH;"
"In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;"
"In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:"
ETERNAL LIFE IS BASED ON WHAT YOU DO AFTER BEING FORGIVEN/CLEANSED:
Matthew 19:16 "And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have ETERNAL LIFE? 17And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, YHWH: but IF THOU WILT ENTER INTO LIFE, KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS."
The Scriptures say YHWH cannot lie (Titus 1:2). The above verse is true. Let YHWH be true and every man a liar. Man is subject to misinterpretation but the Word is infallible.
Hebrews 5:9 "And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;"
"To them who by PATIENT CONTINUANCE in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, ETERNAL LIFE:"
1 John 2:24 "Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning (Torah). IF that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. 25And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life."
"But now being made free from sin, and become servants to YHWH, ye have your fruit unto set-apartness, and the end EVERLASTING LIFE."
"Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able."
"For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting."
Matthew 10:22 "…he that endures to the end the same shall be saved"
I have not found a scripture that states ETERNAL LIFE is attained by confession/believing.
YHWH' s will is for man to love HIM and his neighbor. Because we cannot of ourselves do it does not change the fact that that is what He wants. We are to strive to keep His Torah, when we sin we are to confess and repent and keep striving. This is what the overcomers of Revelation 2-3 do. The goal is to live as Messiah lived.
The great commission was to make “disciples” out of the nations.
Matthew 28:19 "Go ye therefore, and MAKE DISCIPLES of all the nations,…”
How do you make disciples? By:
"…baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Set-Apart Spirit: 20 TEACHING THEM TO OBSERVE all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world."
"Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If YOU CONTINUE in MY WORD (Torah), then are ye my DISCIPLES in-deed;"
Paul is making “disciples” by teaching Torah observance to Gentiles.
Acts 16:21 "And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men (Paul and Silas), being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,21And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans."
The lack of distinguishing between justification and eternal life is why Christians cannot explain the following verses:
Revelation 22:14 "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city."
"He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is RIGHTEOUS, LET HIM BE RIGHTEOUS STILL: and he that is set-apart, let him be set-apart still."
Hebrews 5:9 "And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;"
Matthew 5:20 "For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven."
Ecclesiastes 12:13 "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear YHWH, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.14For YHWH shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil."
People are basing their eternity on limited interpretations of Paul’s letters and ignoring the rest of the Scriptures. Paul warns us repeatedly that “grievous wolves” and “workers of iniquity” are going to pervert the path of the assembly. (1 Timothy 4, Acts 20:28-31, 2 Timothy 4). We are living in it.
Paul wrote Thessalonians in 50AD and he stated that the “mystery of iniquity” was already at work. He was referring to the Gentile doctrine of sanctification apart from Torah observance. This is the great apostasy--- FALLING AWAY FROM TORAH.
"Paul, a servant of YHWH, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of YHWH's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after Godliness;In hope of eternal life, which YHWH, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;"
Did Philip follow the commandment to make disciples with the Ethiopian? Yes, he baptized him and the Ethiopian was expected to continue observing Torah. Notice he did not spend months or years with the eunuch only that day. Why? Because he was already following Torah, he was already a disciple (Acts 8:26-39)
Do we see a pattern?
What does Peter mean by this statement,
"Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that YHWH is no respecter of persons: 35 But in EVERY NATION he that FEARETH HIM, and WORKETH RIGHTEOUSNESS, IS ACCEPTED with him."
What is righteousness?
"All scripture (Torah) is given by inspiration of YHWH, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for INSTRUCTION IN RIGHTEOUSNESS:"
"Now we know that YHWH heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of YHWH, and doeth his will, him he heareth."
YHWH has proclaimed anyone “clean” who has accepted the blood sacrifice of Messiah for the forgiveness of past sins.
Acts 10:15 "And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What YHWH HATH CLEANSED (made acceptable), that call not thou common."
The entire "good news" is that the Kingdom of YHWH is being restored and we have an opportunity to enter the Kingdom by 1st being cleansed by the Blood Sacrifice of Messiah and then by obeying the rules of the Kingdom.