Theo-logical beliefs of...

"The Believers"

Tanakh (Torah-Neviim-Ketuvim = Genesis to Malachi) mentions the word "believe" (Hebrew: aman) one hundred and eight (108) times.   Something as important as "believe" should demand very close scrutiny, but it's not a popular discussion among "the Believers."  Originally followers of Y'shua (the original name for Jesus) were referred to as "Disciples", or those who "Fear Elohim", but over time that also changed.  Many refer to themselves as "Believers" because they don't approve of the "Christian" label, they prefer not to use nomenclature similar to homosexual priests, sun worshippers, pagans and a host of denominational Christian opportunists, lying and greedy TV evangelists, big massive church empire politicians (with whitened smiles).  However many "Believers" have made up a new improved theological Alice in Wonderland that is neither Belief in Mashiyach or the Common Good, nor Faith.  Problem being that many "Believers" will read this and figure it applies to the other "Believers" and see themselves as exempt from all such criticism.

Y'shua taught in Mark 9:23 "If you are able to believe, anything is possible to be for him who believes."  Notice it does not say... "If you are able to believe anything...".  The mark of false "belief" is theology that negates Torah.  The fact is that although Rabbis and Pastors claim to have great respect for Torah, their own authority is superimposed over the Word of YHWH, so over and over we find Torah and the teachings of Y'shua being negated by Christianity and Modern Judaism and also by most people who call themselves "Believers."

Bible concordance #539 'aman {aw-man'} BELIEF: is a primitive root; the AV translates aman as - believe 44, faithful 20, sure 11, established 7, trust 5, verified 3, steadfast 2, continuance 2, father 2, bring up 4, nurse 2, be nursed 1, surely be 1, stand fast 1, fail 1, trusty 1, assurance 1.  AMAN is translated 44 times as "believe" in the Authorized Version, 17 times in the King James Bible.  These are the 17 occurrences in the KJV where we find the word "believe".  Ex 4:1,5,8-9 19:9;  Nu 14:11; De 1:32; 2Ki 17:14; 2Ch 20:20 32:15; Job 9:16 39:12; Pr 26:25; Isa 7:9 43:10; Jer 12:6; Hab 1:5.

"Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvelously:

for I will work a work in your days, which you will not believe, though it be told you."

Habakkuk  1:5

Notice that "believe" in Scripture can have the same meaning as... "I believe I'll have another beer..." or "I believe it's time for a bubble bath."  Belief can be turned on or off like a switch, believing by itself provides no assurance of salvation because...

"You believe that there is one Elohim; you do well;

the demons also believe, and tremble."

Ya'akov (James) 2:19

The demons "believe" there is One Elohim alright, and they even tremble at this fact, which is something that a lot of "Believers" don't even do.  A lot of "Believers" don't tremble, they've turned off the "tremble switch" because their "belief" says that "God is love" and they "believe" they are destined for rapture or heaven.  Perhaps it's better than having a Quaker or Shaker switch that says you're supposed to Shake or Quake Wednesday night, between 6 and 9pm, when it's the right thing to do... or during "church" times.

However, the most famous "Believer" in Scripture; "BELIEVED in YHWH; and He counted it to him for righteousness" (Genesis 15:6), this of course is Avinu Avraham.  On the strength of this Scripture many "Believers" claim that "belief" is what it takes to walk in the One True Faith, they liken themselves to "Avraham" because of it, but Avraham had some rare and peculiar qualities. 

Ya'akov (James) implores, "But will you know, O vain man, that Faith without works is dead?"  James 2:20.  These words of James (Ya'akov) don't bode well for some "Believers" who highly esteem "belief" as their "reasonable service", yet Ya'akov seems to suggest there was much vanity among "the believers" even of his day.  Certainly, we all have our blind spots when it comes to living in and understanding the One True Faith, however many are taught to apply circular reasoning, they teach that Faith is equivalent to "belief", but no, it is most certainly not the same.

For many Believers, "belief" is like a switch, like having a selection of specific religious opinions that develops over time.  One can put on a certain Belief hat as they congregate with other "Believers" who sport the same beliefs.  Maybe you've noticed, and pardon me for noticing but some "Believers" can flick off their "belief switch" just as quickly as they can flick it on.  Haven't you ever stopped to wonder why some "Believers" are so unbelievably fickle about Faith yet get real upset when you question their "belief."  That's because "belief" is a cultural cliché among believers who are taught to vocalize their theological position at the drop of a hat to substantiate their "belief."

Some say, "we're not Christians we're "Believers" we observe the Seventh Day Sabbath, use the Name of YHWH and Y'shua, we keep the Feasts of YHWH and we don't dine on swine."  Another popular label is "we're Believers, we've come out of the Babylon based Churches."  I certainly would not argue against the importance of many Beliefs but lets investigate the function of belief itself.

FAITH (Heb. EMUNAH) is derived from the word belief, and it is a functional continuum as thought (belief) leads to action (faith) among the righteous.  James refers to that very unpopular term "works", as he explains what Faith is.  James clearly defines FAITH for the "Believer" who would pretend that theology in itself is sufficient.

Faith without works is dead.  Faith doesn't exist without obedience!  The greatest FAITH a person can have is to turn 180 degrees away from religion and act upon the Word of YHWH.  All action of obedience and truth is FAITH, observing Torah is an act of Faith.

Remember Avinu (our father) Avraham?  A GREAT Believer?  The father of Judaism, Christianity and all other Judeo-ism's.  What made his belief so GREAT?  Here's the answer, "Because Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws" (Genesis 26:5)

Belief is the switch, the prerequisite to Faith that one must switch on to Mashiyach before entering into Faith.  Think about who switches on their belief, is it the Ruach haKodesh that switches on your belief or do you?  Do you switch on belief for yourself?  Yes of course, and you can also switch it off and become an "unbeliever."  Where do we cross the line, in our minds or in our actions?  The answer of course is both first we change our mind then we change our actions.  Belief is knowing WHAT decision we are going to make whenever we encounter the need for a decision, we believe in who we are in Mashiyach but then we also have to believe and choose to live accordingly.

Let's think about the power we have that is activated because of our ability to believe.

Grace empowers us to exercise Faith.  FAITH requires co-laboring with YHWH to act according to and by His Righteousness.  For example Y'shua is Adon (Master) of the Shabbat, each of Y'shua's Disciples, past, present and future, observe Shabbat.  It is the action of observing the 7th Day Shabbat from evening to evening in the Name of YHWH and His Mashiyach that is of Faith!  Every instruction YHWH gives us requires FAITH to obey and observe, true Faith often brings a measure of testing and trial and resolve.

Consider the disproportionate amount of times translators have used the word "believe" in the English "New Testament"*, (114 times).

Mt 9:28 18:6 21:25,32 24:23,26 27:42; Mr 1:15 5:36 9:23,42 11:23,31 13:21 15:32 16:17; Lu 8:12,50 22:67 24:25; Joh 1:7,12 3:12 4:21,42,48 5:38,44,47 6:29,36,64,69 7:5,39 8:24; Joh 8:45-46 9:18,35,38 10:26,37-38 11:15,27,40,42,48 12:36,39; Joh 12:47 13:19 14:1,11,29 16:9,30-31 17:20-21 19:35 20:25,31; Ac 8:37 13:39,41 15:7,11 16:31 19:4 21:20,25 27:25; Ro 3:3,22 4:11,24 6:8 10:9,14 15:31; 1Co 1:21 10:27 11:18 14:22; 2Co 4:4,13; Ga 3:22; Eph 1:19; Php 1:29; 1Th 1:7 2:10,13 4:14; 2Th 1:10 2:11; 1Ti 1:16 4:3,10; 2Ti 2:13; Heb 10:39 11:6; Jas 2:19; 1Pe 1:21 2:7; 1Jo 3:23 4:1 5:13;

The word believe is mentioned 6.7 times more often in the NT than in the Tanakh, why do you think that is?  Mashiyach requires a decision right here and right now.  You are deciding in your spirit right now how you will judge what you are reading, the spirit in you weighs and proves everything and tests everything to guard and progress who you are in Mashiyach.  When Y'shua came to earth his people were put to the test.  The NEW TESTAMENT tells us of the places where tens of thousands of Jews (myriads of myriads) made decisions for Y'shua and that was followed by tens of thousands of Gentiles.  The basis of acceptance of Y'shua is a belief initiated by a decision to do and become the person that we are empowered to be transformed into.

If you've been a "Believer" for any length of time then it is very possible that at one point you may have even left the "the faith," or became lukewarm or a backslider and went into "the world" but then you returned to the Father and became a "Believer" again.  Perhaps you made some bad decisions and wished you would not have denied Mashiyach but you became a stronger "Believer" the second time round because of it.  Do you see that BELIEF is not the same as "the FAITH which was once delivered"?  Faith is a constant whereas belief is everything but constant, believe cannot bring spiritual stability and maturity on it's own.

Belief is connected with decision making.  We trust that Mashiyach has called us and we feel Joy and Peace and this helps our belief and trust to grow but then we can turn belief on or off so this is why we need to be grounded in Faith, in doing and becoming a new creation in Mashiyach.

The Ketuvim Netzarim (writings of the Nazarenes) is approximately one quarter (25%) the size of the Tanakh but the main theme therein is deciding for Mashiyach, i.e. that Y'shua is Mashiyach.  Obviously if the demons are also "believers," belief in itself can't hold a huge assurance of salvation can it?  The fact of the matter is that the Christo-Pagan church has superimposed Greek ideas about belief and human conscious overtop true FAITH.  The Hellenized mind sees gnosis/knowledge about YHWH as god itself and those who paint the most convincing model of "belief" are the ones who win the most fame and respect, the "believers" adopt this value system which they've applied as their response to the teachings of Mashiyach.

Belief is a cerebral effort that has the potential to lead someone to Faith,

but belief in itself is no guarantee of Faith.

Surely we could use hundreds of examples, I already mentioned the 4th Commandment and I do so because some "believers" are famous for trashing the 7th Day Shabbat in favor of Sun-day, and other believers will defend Shabbat according to the Seventh Day when YHWH ceased from His work and asked His Creation to do the same as unto the authority of Mashiyach who is "Master of Shabbat."  Mashiyach is Master of eternal covenant, he doesn't change the Word of YHWH because he IS the Word of YHWH that came to earth in the flesh of a human being.

But some "Believers" say that every day is their Shabbat because they believe what the post-apostolic Gentile church fathers have told them, so you see one believes and the other does not believe but both call themselves "Believers".

It is an extremely serious matter to understand how the demons use theologians to twist terms and definitions in the Scriptures.  The word EMUNAH (Faith), is derived from the prime Hebrew word AMAN, (believe).  EMUNAH (Faith) is only used FIVE times in the Tanakh!  The word FAITHFUL occurs 71 times, 20 of those times it is derived from the word AMAN (BELIEVE).  Obedience is the act of Faith therefore hear and obey occur over 600 times in Scripture because this is how we enter into a relationship with YHWH and His Mashiyach, we simply say NO to religion and become obedient to the Word of YHWH.

Just as the word faith is derived from the word belief, so are actions of faith made unto YHWH by every true "believer", but the one is not necessarily the product of the other.  Demons believe but they have no faith and trust in YHWH to produce the fruits of repentance.

 "This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that you affirm constantly,

that they which have believed in Elohim might be careful to maintain good works. 

These things are good and profitable unto men."  Titus 8

Here again we see that belief in itself has little potential unless we are careful to maintain good works.  Good works is not man's own religion, but these are actions of faith according to Torah, or "Torah Observance".  Torah means "instruction in righteousness". 

It is a detestable thing when "Believers" decry Torah Observance as being optional or unnecessary activity for salvation.  The fact of the matter is that obedience is the down payment of Salvation, it is the new creation of the new man within us that gives us the confidence that we've passed from death unto life.  Obedience is imparted back to us by grace when we put our trust in Mashiyach, the beauty of righteousness compels us to be obedient and want to live pure lives without disobedience.

"Believers" who ardently lessen Torah and good works towards Salvation have come into agreement with doctrines of demons that "believe" cheap grace will redeem their cheap soul from their cheap sins.  Grace isn't cheap, there is nothing mundane or common about Grace, anyone who tramples on the Blood of Y'shua will suffer if and when they are rewarded in the World to Come.  Grace is given so we can be transformed into the Image of Elohim, so that our attitudes and values change as we become conformed to the "mind of Mashiyach".  Grace is the power to live by Torah.

He that turns away his ear from hearing Torah,

even his prayer shall be abomination.

Proverbs 28:9

Believe and have Faith, really means to TRUST in YHWH and DO HIS WORD!  YHWH says, DO Shabbat, so we joyfully enter Shabbat rest.  YHWH says, FAST on Yom Kippur, so we humble ourselves, we afflict our souls and FAST.  YHWH says don't dine on swine, so we don't because YHWH says so!  We don't need to make up "belief" that suggests that we are free to transgress against His Word because it's not easy to be disciplined or be obedient.  The theology of "the Law nailed to the cross" is from the adversary of Faith, this is what unfaithful carnal "Believers" believe, they who lack the Faith to walk in Righteousness have no Grace to turn from sin so they "sanctify" sin according to a "belief".  We are instructed to come out from among them and be separate!  Enter into the JOY of YHWH and experience the victory in our soul to know that we will choose to do the right thing regardless of what religion entices us to think and do.  We know we will obey because Mashiyach is within us to obey and we have the joy of knowing who we are in him.

According to droves of false shepherds the "Believer" will be forgiven every hideous and despicable sin of their flesh except... "unBelief"... ?  How sick is that!!!  This unscriptural heresy is the crown jewel of false religion.  It's the I'm ok, you're ok, gospel where a river of Jesus's blood flows ankle deep through the church and washes away the past, present and future sin, allowing the "Believer" to keep on sinning... as long as they "Believe" in Christ.  WHAT a shame! what a crime! what a wicked church that begs for judgment upon itself!  Some "believers" have even been married and divorced 2, 3, 4, 5 or more times.  While they were "Believers" they married other "Believers" who divorced other "Believers".  The best thing is to do is,

 Say NO to false religion!

It's not likely that the scorners and mockers be "reformed" or put out of the congregations because in many cases the majority view does not stand for righteousness.  So to live according to Truth and Faith we must speak the truth in love and brace ourselves to be crucified by those who believe that by murdering us with their tongues they are doing god's service.

The fact of the matter is that many in the household of Faith are not able to distinguish good from evil because most "Believers" are ignorant of the Word of YHWH and obstinate against discipleship.  Most "Believers" have lofty material visions, fantasies and dreams of carnal grandiose positions, just like the "unbeliever."  Most Believers want the quick fix, a religion and leader to assure them of Salvation, listen to their troubles and keep conversations light and funny.  It's acceptable among most "Believers" to gossip anyone down who doesn't uphold their theology and many fabricate lies, assassinate characters, slander and manifest all manner of perverse thought and conversation against those who would spoil their religious fun and frolic.  Most "Believers" would also cry "CRUCIFY HIM, CRUCIFY HIM" if Mashiyach were to point out their hidden sins as he did with the Scribes and Pharisees.  Many Believers can talk about the evils of the Harlot Church system and government, corporate and religious conspiracies but do very little about becoming a Kedoshim (Set Apart People) of YHWH.

Most Believers have little or no shame with only very faint elements of Messiah consciousness, paganism has been syncretized into the religious belief systems who claim to belong to Y'shua (Jesus).  In Canada and America most "Believers" are powerless because they have very little faith and love for Truth, so they live like the rest of the population and feed the beast by going to war against other people who are enemies of their state, but not necessarily YHWH's enemies.  The state has become their salvation and authority rather than the Government of Mashiyach.

"Be not deceived; YHWH is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap.  For he that sows to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.  And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.  As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all, especially unto them who are of the household of faith."  Galatians 6:7-10

The path of the Just is JUST.

The JUST are made RIGHTEOUS by the Ruach of YHWH through His Mashiyach,

 and they DO RIGHTEOUSLY.

The Righteous are Set Apart from sin through Grace.

The Set Apart ones are a Kedoshim (Set Apart Holy People) unto YHWH.

Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the unrighteous,

nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful.

But his delight is in the Torah of YHWH;

and in His Torah does he meditate day and night.

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water,

that brings forth his fruit in his season;

his leaf also shall not wither;

and whatsoever he does shall prosper.

Psalm 1:1-3

Shalom U'Vrachot,

Baruch Ben Daniel

*The Ketuvim Netzarim (writings of the Netzarim) are a collection of the writings circulated by the Netzari Jewish followers of Mashiyach.  Rav Shaul was known as a ringleader of the Netzari.  These early writings came to be known as the New Covenant by Christians.  However this is theological spin on Jeremiah 31:31-33, as there are certainly precious few Christians who welcome Torah being written upon their hearts, and this is precisely the requirement of the "New Covenant" in YHWH according to His Mashiyach.  Marcion, a Christo-Pagan wild eyed church founding carnal heretic coined the words and concept of "New Testament" and "Old Testament".  Marcion's theology was that the God of the "Old Testament" was a ruthless God of vengeance, but the God of the "New Testament" was kind and forgiving.  Hence the inventor of much modern Christo-Pagan theology came from the Marcion, who mainstream Christo-Pagans teach was a heretic, because Marcion didn't believe Y'shua was the long waited Messiah of the Jews.  Marcion also taught that his own followers never knew the truth of what Y'shua was teaching, but only he did.  And this is also what a lot of Christian leaders teach today, in fact some of the "big boy" American Christian leaders have been preaching that if Apostle Paul were alive today he would sit at their feet and learn from them about "the holy ghost."