The DO's and DON'Ts of BELIEVERs In CHRIST

The Torah has 613 Laws and Regulations for the Jews. There are 127 New Testament commands for the Believer, as compiled by Dr Harold Willmington (Willmington's Guide to the Bible, pp 878-879).

The Jews of old were under the 613 Mosaic Laws (the Torah), which represented an ethical code given by GOD to Israel to govern the nation until the coming of Messiah YESHUA. ALL Believers IN CHRIST today (whether Jews or Gentiles) are under GRACE...AMAZING GRACE...the UNearned, UNdeserved, UNmerited Favor of GOD.

JESUS said, Come to Me, ALL you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you REST. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I AM gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find REST for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30)

JESUS summed up ALL the Law and Prophets, even the 127 Do's and Don'ts of Believers -- 'You shall LOVE The LORD your GOD with ALL your Heart, with ALL your Soul, with ALL your Strength, and with ALL your mind,' and 'your Neighbor as yourSELF.' (Luke 10:27)

The 127 DO's and DON'Ts of Believers IN CHRIST JESUS:

1. Abstain from all appearances of evil. (1 Thessalonians 5:22)

2. Abstain from all fleshly lusts. (1 Peter 2:11)

3. Avoid troublemakers. (Romans 16:17)

4. Avoid profane and vain babblings. (1 Timothy 6:20)

5. Avoid false science. (1 Timothy 6:20)

6. Avoid foolish questions. (Titus 3:9)

7. Avoid arguments about the law (Titus 3:9)

8. Be reconciled to a brother. (Matthew 5:24)

9. Be wise as serpents. (Matthew 10:16)

10. Be harmless as doves. (Matthew 10:16)

11. Be thankful. (Colossians 3:15)

12. Be patient toward all men. (1 Thess 5:14; 2 Timothy 2:24)

13. Be ready to give an answer of the hope that is in you.

(1 Peter 3:15)

14. Be transformed. (Romans 12:2)

15. Be patient in tribulation. (Romans 12:12)

16. Be children in (avoiding) malice. (1 Corinthians 14:20)

17. Be men in understanding. (1 Corinthians 14:20)

18. Be steadfast. (1 Corinthians 15:58)

19. Be unmovable. (1 Corinthians 15:58)

20. Be always abounding in GOD's work. (1 Corinthians 15:58)

21. Be of one mind. (Romans 12:16)

22. Be separate from the unclean. (2 Corinthians 6:17)

23. Be angry and sin not. (Ephesians 4:26)

24. Be filled with The SPIRIT. (Ephesians 5:18)

25. Be anxious for NOthing. (Philippians 4:6)

26. Be an example to other believers. (1 Timothy 4:12)

27. Be gentle to all men. (2 Timothy 2:24)

28. Be ready to teach. (2 Timothy 2:24)

29. Be content with what you have. (Hebrews 13:5)

30. Be vigilant. (1 Peters 5:8)

31. Do not be like the hypocrites in prayer. (Matthew 6:5)

32. Do not be afraid of men. (Luke 12:4)

33. Do not be conformed to this world. (Romans 12:2)

34. Do not be children in understanding. (1 Corinthians 14:20)

35. Do not be deceived by evil companions. (1 Corinthians 15:33)

36. Do not be unequally yoked by unbelievers. (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)

37. Do not be drunk with wine. (Ephesians 5:18)

38. Do not be weary in well-doing. (2 Thessalonians 3:13)

39. Do not be slothful. (Hebrews 6:12)

40. Do not be influenced by strange doctrines. (Hebrews 13:9)

41. Beware of false prophets. (Matthew 7:15; Philippians 3:2)

42. Beware of evil men. (Matthew 10:17)

43. Beware of covetousness. (Luke 12:15)

44. Beware of backsliding. (2 Peter 3:17)

45. Do not bid false teachers GODspeed. (2 John 10, 11)

46. Bring up children in the LORD. (Ephesians 6:4)

47. Cast your cares upon GOD. (1 Peter 5:7)

48. Have confidence IN GOD. (Hebrews 10:35)

49. Come out from among the world. (2 Corinthians 6:17)

50. Count it JOY when you are tempted (tested). (James 1:2)

51. Treat others as you expect to be treated. (Matthew 7:12)

52. Desire the milk of the Word. (1 Peter 2:2)

53. DO ALL for GOD's GLORY. (1 Corinthians 10:31; Colossians 3:17, 23)

54. Do all things without murmuring or disputing. (Philippians 2:14)

55. Earnestly contend for the faith. (Jude 3)

56. Give no place to satan. (Ephesians 4:27)

57. Give thanks. (Ephesians 5:20; Philippians 4:6)

58. Give time to reading. (1 Timothy 4:13)

59. Give no offence. (1 Corinthians 10:32)

60. Give freely. (2 Corinthians 9:6, 7)

61. Give as GOD has prospered. (1 Corinthians 16:2)

62. Give willingly. (2 Corinthians 8:12)

63. Give purposely. (2 Corinthians 9:7)

64. Do not grieve the Holy SPIRIT. (Ephesians 4:30)

65. Grow in GRACE. (2 Peter 3:18)

66. Have no fellowship in darkness. (Ephesians 5:11)

67. Have compassion. (Jude 23)

68. Have a good conscience. (1 Peter 3:16)

69. Hold forth the WORD of Life. (Philippians 2:16)

70. Hold fast sound words. (2 Timothy 1:13)

71. Honor fathers. (Ephesians 6:2)

72. Honor mothers. (Matthew 19:19)

73. Honor widows. (1 Timothy 5:3)

74. Honor rulers. (1 Peter 2:17)

75. Lay aside all envy. (1 Peter 2:1)

76. Lay aside all evil speaking. (1 Peter 2:1)

77. Do not lay up treasures on earth. (Matthew 6:19)

78. Let your light shine. (Matthew 5:16)

79. Let everyone deny himself. (Matthew 16:24)

80. Let him share with the needy. (Luke 3:11)

81. Let everyone obey civil laws. (Romans 13:1)

82. Let no man deceive himself. (1 Corinthians 3:18)

83. Let everyone examine himself at communion. (1 Cor 11:28)

84. Let your requests be made known to GOD. (Philippians 4:6)

85. Let your speech be with grace. (Colossians 4:6)

86. Do all things in decent order.

87. Let those who are taught support the teacher. (Galatians 6:6)

88. Let wives submit to their husbands. (Eph 5:22; Colossians 3:18)

89. Let husbands love their wives. (Ephesians 5:25)

90. Let wives reverence their husbands. (Ephesians 5:33)

91. Let everyone be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. (James 1:19)

92. Let the afflicted pray. (James 5:13)

93. Let the adorning of women be more inward than outward.

(1 Peter 3:3, 4)

94. Don't let the left hand know what the right hand is doing. (Matthew 6:3)

95. Do not let sin reign in the body. (Romans 6:12)

96. Do not let the sun go down on your wrath. (Ephesians 4:26)

97. Follow things that edify. (Romans 14:19)

98. Walk in The SPIRIT. (Galatians 5:25)

99. Do not provoke one another. (Galatians 5:26)

100. Do not be weary in well doing. (Galatians 6:9)

101. Come boldly to the throne of grace. (Hebrew 4:16; 10:19-23)

102. Do not forsake assembling together in worship. (Hebrews 10:25)

103. Exhort one another. (Hebrews 10:25)

104. Lay aside every weight. (Hebrews 12:1)

105. Run with patience the race before us. (Hebrews 12:1)

106. LOOK to JESUS. (Hebrews 12:2)

107. Offer the sacrifice of praise to GOD continually. (Hebrews 13:15)

108. Do not judge one another in doubtful things. (Romans 14:1)

109. Do not cause others to stumble. (Romans 14:13)

110. Mark troublemakers. (Romans 16:17; Philippians 3:17)

111. PRAY for your Persecutors. (Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:28)

112. Pray for laborers. (Matthew 9:38; Luke 10:2)

113. Present your body to GOD. (Romans 12:1)

114. Put on the NEW man. (Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10)

115. Put on the whole armor of GOD. (Ephesians 6:11, 13)

116. Do not quench the SPIRIT. (1 Thessalonians 5:19)

117. Consider yourself DEAD to SIN. (Romans 6:11)

118. Redeem the time. (Ephesians 5:16)

119. Resist the devil. (James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:9)

120. Restore backsliders in meekness. (Galatians 6:1)

121. Strengthen feeble knees. (Hebrews 12:12)

122. Study to show yourself approved to GOD. (2 Timothy 2:15)

123. Take no anxious thought of tomorrow. (Matthew 6:34)

124. Take the LORD's supper. (1 Corinthians 11:24-26)

125. Be careful not to despise little ones. (Matthew 18:10)

126. Be aware of yourself and your doctrine. (1 Timothy 4:16)

127. Withdraw from disorderly people. (2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14)

Those not IN CHRIST, though they examine these sayings as written in the Bible, will not truly understand the depth, yet utter simplicity, of these teachings. One must have the INdwelling Presence of the SPIRIT of GOD in his Heart, for HE teaches the believer into ALL TRUTH regarding The WORD of GOD.

The Word of GOD is Living and POWERful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the Heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

If you've just read this and feel the SPIRIT of GOD speaking to your conscience -- stop and listen, for our FATHER in Heaven is drawing you to Himself, to His SON. JESUS CHRIST, even NOW, is knocking at the door of your Heart. THROUGH JESUS, you may have forgiveness of ALL your SINs and PEACE between you and GOD. By receiving CHRIST as LORD and Savior of your life, you are given the Holy SPIRIT, Who then imparts to you the RIGHTEOUSNESS and TRUTH of JESUS and emPOWERS you to do the above, one day at a time.

Then the priceless Wisdom of The WORD of GOD, the Bible, will be unlocked for you. JESUS Himself is the Key -- for HE is the TRUE Way to the Knowledge of GOD, to REGENERATION, and to the Door to ETERNAL Life!

The GOOD News -- The Gospel of GOD

What is the GOOD News -- the Gospel of GOD? The definition, according to John MacArthur's Study Bible, is this: "GOD will forgive sins, deliver from sin's power, and give eternal hope." (Page 1691, Note on Romans 1:1)

Those who believe and follow the writings of the Bible, the Torah, the Qur'an (where all three books include the Pentateuch, the Five Books of Moses) -- understand that GOD, as a holy and righteous Judge, hates sin, cannot and will not tolerate sin; and therefore, must judge the doer of sin. Because of man's gift of free will, sin abounds today as it has throughout history. Sin created enmity between GOD, the Creator, and His creation, man.

But GOD, in His omniscience and loving wisdom, provided a substitutionary payment to atone for the sinner through the blood of the sinless Person of CHRIST JESUS. In 739 B.C., the prophet Isaiah foretold this act of grace from GOD. (Isaiah 9:6,7 and 53:1-12) In A.D. 30, the Reality of the Gospel of GOD became Actuality -- payment was made for all mankind, on the cross, by the blood of the promised Substitute -- JESUS, the CHRIST... the MESSIAH.

GOD, the ultimate Judge, in His holiness and righteousness, requires justice for sin. JESUS, the GOD-Man, GOD's own only Son, was the ultimate payment that satisfied the Holy One's wrathful vengeance against sin. JESUS took upon Himself all of mankind's sins -- past, present and future -- and incurred the full brunt of GOD's unfathomable wrath against sin.

Can i even grasp this thought: the excruciating agony at the cross -- yet physical torture was "less painful" compared to the emotional, mental, soulful, spiritual anguish of total separation from the fellowship of One-ness which the Father and Son shared before time began. That moment when the Father executed His own Son at the cross -- venting His holy anger at the sinless One who became sin -- could that moment have been like a thousand years to JESUS? (With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 2 Peter 3:8)

This is why believers in CHRIST throughout history have died for their faith and others have left all to do GOD's will -- their faithful allegiance to JESUS as the crucified CHRIST who took on Himself the sin of the world and as the risen Savior who has promised eternal life to those who trust in Him.

No other leader in all the world's major religions (Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Chinese and African traditional religions), has died and risen -- yes, risen!

Secular scholars and researchers who have diligently investigated JESUS' history and the Bible's accuracy have concluded to the veracity of the Bible and it's sacred writings about JESUS. (i.e., Simon Greenleaf, Royal Professor of Law at Harvard University, considered by many to be the greatest authority on legal evidences; Josh McDowell, who wrote Evidence That Demands a Verdict to disprove the resurrection of CHRIST believed the evidence he found and converted; Frank Morrison, a British lawyer who went to Palestine to disprove the resurrection ended up writing the book, Who Moved the Stone? to prove the resurrection; Lew Wallace, wrote Ben Hur, to prove the reality of the resurrection of CHRIST -- from Faith Bible Institute workbook; C. S. Lewis, author, who questioned his own religious roots, re-embraced CHRISTianity after fully examining and taking it apart.)

No other Person has fulfilled GOD's Word as prophesied in the Holy Scriptures. No other Man has performed the countless (witnessed and documented) miracles that confirmed His deity... and the most outright visible sign from GOD to authenticate JESUS as His Son -- was the empty tomb... the fact of the resurrection.

CHRIST JESUS is the only way to receive GOD's forgiveness of sin -- to make peace with GOD -- to be justified before the holy Judge's blinding purity.

JESUS Himself said plainly, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6)

Only JESUS' own pure righteousness can withstand GOD's laser beam scrutiny. Only the CHRIST can stand between GOD's holy wrath against a sinner on Judgment Day. JESUS is the reason for the confidence of peace before GOD's holy and righteous judgment -- He is the believer's personal Defender -- the holy Advocate.

No religious leader, teacher or prophet -- past or present -- no man, can survive GOD's righteous and holy and perfect judgment. Only the totally pure and perfect, holy and righteous GOD-Man, CHRIST JESUS, has accomplished what no mortal ever could -- victory over death... salvation... redemption... atonement for the sinner -- so that all who believe in Him may receive His gift of eternal life and peace with GOD, the Almighty Creator.

GOD so loved the world, His creation, that He sent His only Son to be killed, as the Lamb to the slaughter -- and all that GOD asks of each sinner is acceptance of His most precious gift -- His very own Son.

GOD's promise is this: whosoever believes in CHRIST JESUS will be saved. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him. (John 3:36)

Here is the $1,000,000 question: Will you go to Heaven when you die? Your fate is in your own hands. It's not your sin that closes up the gates of Heaven for you, but your rejection of the GOOD News -- the Gospel of GOD, which is the Revelation of CHRIST JESUS.

i have claimed the promise of the GOOD News from the GOD who cannot lie, who never ever breaks promises, who is ever faithful and true to His Word. i am saved...Hallelujah!

Have you claimed GOD's promise of the GOOD News of JESUS CHRIST?

PRIDE -- Lethal Weapon of the Fallen Angel

Pride is so wily, more wily than Wiley Coyote.

Pride is so subtle, under radar like a stealth bomber.
Pride is deadly and satanic...it's of Lucifer -- the angel of light who fell from Heaven.
Pride will keep the lost, lost; the prisoner, shackled; the sinner, forever condemned.

On Rapture Alert, Ron Graham details the truth about pride in his essay: For Every Man. May the SPIRIT of GOD cause the reader's heart to be pierced with the liberating Truth. May the chosen people of GOD, the Jews, and all Gentiles of the world, come to the awesome revelation of GOD...that Messiah has come. And will come again!

Ron Graham (twotug@embarqmail.com) also wrote:

Jeremiah records the words of God, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:13).

The Jewish Scriptures (The Torah, The Prophets, and The Writings, which make up the Tanakh or the Jewish Bible) paint a very clear picture of who the Mashiach (Messiah) will be when He eventually comes to the nation of Israel. In fact, there are over 300 prophecies in the Hebrew Scriptures, which detail many facts about this coming Messiah/King.

Here is just a sampling (and remember, all these verses come from the Jewish Bible):

Messiah was to be born at Bethlehem: Micah 5:1.

Messiah would be from the tribe of Judah: Genesis 49:10.

Messiah would present himself by riding on an ass: Zechariah 9:9.

Messiah would be tortured to death: Psalm 22.

Messiah would arrive before the destruction of the Second Temple: Daniel 9:24-27.

Messiah's life would match a particular description, including suffering, silence at his arrest and trial, death and burial in a rich man's tomb, and resurrection: Isaiah 52:13-53:12.

Prophecy is remarkably specific. In detail as to lineage, birthplace, time and lifestyle, Jesus matched the Messianic expectations of the Hebrew Scriptures. The record of this fulfillment is to be found in the pages of the New Testament.

Interestingly, the Jewish Scriptures paint seemingly two different pictures about the Messiah to come. For one, they talk about the Messiah who will come as the reigning King, who will usher in a period of unprecedented peace on earth. But many verses talk about the Mashiach who will be a suffering Servant, who will suffer and die for the sins of the people. For many hundreds of years the rabbis believed that there would be two Messiahs, the King Mashiach ben David, and the suffering servant Mashiach ben Joseph. The rabbis, unfortunately, were not able to see that one Messiah would accomplish both missions.

Prophecy was indeed fulfilled in the Jewish Messiah. Yeshua came to the "lost sheep of the House of Israel" 2,000 years ago. He came as Isaiah chapter 53 so clearly states, to die and "suffer" for the sins of the Jewish people. He came to the nation of Israel, but was rejected.

If the Jews would have accepted His "once for all" (Hebrews 10:10) atonement for sins, Yeshua would have ushered in the Kingdom of Heaven at that point in history. But the Jews did not recognize Him. Even though they had the Word of God in their own Hebrew Scriptures, and more than 300 descriptions of who He would be when He comes, they missed Him.

As a result, the Good News of God's Kingdom went forth to the Gentile world, and for 2,000 years now, both Jew and Gentile have come together in Mashiach, looking forward to His soon return as reigning King, just as the rabbis have always expected.

Although the nation of Jews rejected Yeshua when He came, God has always, through the last 2,000 years, kept a "remnant" of believing Jews for Himself. Many thousands of Jews alive today, have received Yeshua as their Lord, and Savior, and Mashiach. They have been blessed with "new life" in Him, and they look forward to eternal life with Him in God's heavenly Kingdom.

i've shared the above for Jewish friends, those who may be part of the Remnant, on the cusp of receiving the Way, the Truth, and the Life. May the deadly pride in all of us be blasted to smithereens(!) by the purifying Light of CHRIST JESUS.

(Note: art illustrating pride is not mine, but "life" above is.)