Stephen’s False Witnesses
In Acts 6 some non-believing Jews bribe some other Jews to be false witnesses against Stephen. For one to be labeled a false witness the witness has to be lying about what he is accusing someone of doing. What were these false witnesses accusing Stephen of doing?
Acts 6:11-14 Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, "We have heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against YHWH." 12 So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. 13 They produced false witnesses, who testified, "This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. 14 For we have heard him say that this Yahushua of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us."
Again, for these people to be labeled as false witnesses what they are testifying to must be false. In other words, Yahushua of Nazareth did not change the customs of Moses. Line upon line, precept upon precept, rightly dividing the word of truth. No matter what commentary one subscribes to there is no such thing as a false false witness. Shouldn’t we embrace the truth rather than try to rationalize it away?
More discernment. In Acts 7:38 during Stephen’s speech to the Sanhedrin he refers to Israel as “the church in the wilderness”. “Church” is “ekklesia” in Greek which is the same word used to refer to the believers in the New Testament. How could Israel be part of the church before Yahushua came? Blood of a Lamb---Because they believed in the promise of a Redeemer; we believe that the Redeemer has come. Same YHWH, same belief, same righteousness. Israel was considered as part of the church yet they were required to obey the customs of Moses. Hmmm. The reality is that they are the first church and there is no difference between them and the modern church; those that comply will be accepted, those that do not will be judged. Acts 10:35 “But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.” Seems fairly straightforward.
Truth. Adam sinned and brought enmity between YHWH and man. Yahushua by living a sinless life, was declared worthy to be our Passover sacrifice thus reconciling us back to YHWH. We are judicially back where Adam was in the Garden of Eden. Now everyone will be judged on his own behavior, not condemned already because of Adam. We have right standing with YHWH but are expected to obey His commandments or we will be judged just as Adam was judged. It is the only way to reconcile what the Scriptures clearly state in Revelation.
Revelation 22:14-15 “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. 15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.”
Revelation 3:4-5 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. 5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
Ananias and Sapphira were believers, “saved” just as we are. But after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (when YHWH’s presence was fully manifested) they were judged for lying. In the same manner “plague” judgments were released on Israel in the camp where He dwelled due to sin (Numbers, Exodus etc.). Sin cannot abide in His presence, just as it could not abide 6,000 years ago. We know that YHWH does not change and is not a respecter of persons. Bearing that in mind, Which is more consistent? YHWH removed/compromised the obedience requirement of His commandments and will now allow sin in His presence or YHWH placed within us His impartial Spirit whom makes all things possible to him that truly believes/applies/desires/agonizes not to sin. Do we have itching ears that prefer to hear fables rather than truth? I think so.
We have confused being “saved/declared righteous” with “eternal life” and they are not the same.
Matthew 19:16-17 “And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?…but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.”
If you do not follow the rules and have a character change, YHWH is not going to let you into the New Jerusalem; sin (transgression of the Torah) was the problem in the Garden. Can you live in Saudi Arabia and obey American laws? No, you have to adopt the laws of the land or suffer the consequences. It is the same with the Kingdom of YHWH. That is what Acts 15:20 was all about. YHWH has not changed, the YHWH that judged Israel is the YHWH that will judge the church. We have been adopted into the “olive tree”, we have not changed it or replaced it, the tree is the same. A recurrent theme throughout the OT is whatever happens to the fathers, happens to the sons. One is called out, given instruction, tested and judged or blessed depending on the result. For instance, Israel was called out of Egypt, tested in the wilderness and judged. Abraham was called out of the Chaldees, tested with Isaac and blessed. Yahushua was called out of Egypt, tested in the wilderness and blessed. The same pattern will play out in the last days according to Revelation: a people are called out of Babylon, tested during the tribulation and judged/blessed accordingly. If anyone can explain “instant, eternal salvation” in light of the book of Revelation, I would like to hear it.