Tradition is the Enemy of Truth

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charset=utf-8"> <style> p { margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1px } span.WPParaTextBox { border-width: 0.0133333in; border-style: solid; border-color: black; padding: 5px; margin: 0px; display: block } div.WPParaTextBoxWrapper { padding: 0px; float: none } body { font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; margin-left: 0.0375in; padding-left: 0.1in } </style> </head> <body> <p style="text-align: justify; line-height: 0.388889in"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-family: '@Gungsuh', serif">TRADITION IS </span><span style="font-family: 'AR DARLING ', serif"> </span><i><span style="font-family: 'Browallia New', sans-serif">THE ENEMY OF TRUTH </span></i></span></p> <br> <br> <br> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span>            </span>Every year God’s seven annual festivals reminds us of how He is working out His master plan for all mankind! </span><span style="font-size: 12pt">The first three annual Festivals, Passover, Days Of Unleavened Bread and Pentecost, picture events leading up to the first two Spiritual harvests of God’s called. The last four fall Festivals, Trumpets, Atonement, Feast Of Tabernacles, and Last Great Day reveals God’s plan for His future called spiritual servants along with the rest of mankind salvation in the world </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span>            </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt">In the book of Exodus 31, we are informed, God’s Sabbaths [ plural ] are a sign of His called out ones. “Speak you also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily My Sabbaths you shall keep: <span style="text-decoration: underline">for it is a sign between Me and you </span>throughout your generations; that you may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you” ( Ex 31:13).</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span>            </span>About 47 years ago, Joyce, my wife and I found out that many of the things we had been taught in church for most of our lives were <span style="font-weight: bold">not </span>based on what the Bible teaches, but rather on<span style="text-decoration: underline"> traditions</span> that were gradually developed over the past 2000 years. These traditions have become so accepted that <span style="font-weight: bold">few </span>people question them, or think about questioning them! The Bible warns us to beware of such deceptive “<span style="font-weight: bold">man made traditions.” </span> </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span>            </span>God inspired Hosea to write, “ My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you shalt be no Priest to Me: seeing you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children” (Hosea 4:6 ).</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span>            </span>All, called by God should question, what is my faith based on? Is it based on the Bible ? Or is it based on the ever changing tradition of men? Who are we going to believe? Are we going to believe the biblical record? Or will we put our trust in man? “The tradition of men” attempt to lead us away from truth! “Tradition is the enemy of truth!” </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt"> <span>            </span>The meaning of tradition is a Greek word <i>“paradosis,”</i>which means <i>“giving over” </i>or<i> “handing down.” </i>It refers to teaching what is handed down either by the oral word of mouth or the custom of men. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span>            </span>Traditions that would never have been accepted in the past are now common-place in God’s scatterer churches. Aren’t we told in the book of Deuteronomy 4 and verse 2, “You shall not add unto the Word which I command you, neither shall you diminish ought from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.” We are to be of the same spiritual mind our Creator is, keeping the same laws, statutes and ordinances that our family in heaven lives by. All of us need to hold onto those thoughts, daily! </span><span style="font-size: 12pt"></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span>            </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt">We have been blessed to understand this book sitting on our book shelves or on our night stands, is our instruction book for our eternal life. That is why we are told to “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth. Shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness” (2 Tim 2: 15-16).<span> </span></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span>            </span>As Jesus Christ went about preaching and teaching, He often ran afoul of the religious leaders over the matter of keeping <span style="text-decoration: underline">traditions</span>. “Plucking heads of grain on the Sabbath” (Matt 12:1-8). “Healing on the Sabbath day” (Matt12:9-14). “Eating with unwashed hands” (Matt15:1-2). </span><span style="font-size: 12pt">Today many Churches of God and those who branched off from the Worldwide Church of God, follow the oral intercalated Hebrew Calendar dates for celebrating God’s annual Holy Days.. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span>            </span>Example, the Day of Trumpets is to appear visibly and match what God <span style="text-decoration: underline">calls His first day </span>of the week, and first day of each month in a year. Gen 1: 3-5, “Then God said, let there be light; and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. <span style="font-weight: bold">So the evening and the morning were the first day.” </span>This appearance of “light for day and full darkness for night” is what to look for when starting each first day of a month. Those keeping Judaism intercalated Hebrew Calendar dates kept the Feast of Trumpets on September 5<sup>th</sup>, when the crescent moons light was visible. Genesis 1:3-5, tells us there was to be no visible light on the first day of each month! They made September 4<sup>th</sup> their preparation day when scriptures tell us not to work on that day! </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span>            </span>The question is, should we be doing the same? Should we be following the oral <span style="font-weight: bold">dehioth </span>rules (postponement rules) found in the intercalated Hebrew Calendar? </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span>            </span>These rules tell us we must postpone God's annual Holy Day Sabbaths. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt">These postponement rules were placed in the Hebrew Calendar by Hillel II, a Pharisees that taught and practiced Judaism, and who was never given God's Holy Spirit! Can he be trusted to tell us </span><span style="font-size: 12pt">which Holy Days dates, we are to keep?</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span>            </span>Phrasing that question another way, Can the religion of the Jews, be relied upon as faithful oral interpreters of God's laws in the Old Testament?” Now, for us in the Church of God, in Truth, this is a very important question if we want to be <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="text-decoration: underline">at one with God </span></span>at His appointed time for keeping His divine annual Holy Day Sabbaths, </span><span style="font-size: 12pt">especially knowing God’s Sabbath is a sign of His people. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt">God told Moses, “Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: 'surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, <span style="font-weight: bold">for it is a sign between Me and you</span> throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you” (Exo 31:13). </span><span style="font-size: 12pt"></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span>            </span>Every book and paper for the past 21 years, my wife and I have read in regards to the keeping of the <span style="text-decoration: underline">postponed</span> Holy Days, must rely heavily upon Jewish interpretation and Jewish traditions. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt">Now the reason we must do so, is because there is nothing - <span style="font-weight: bold">nothing, </span>in the Bible upon which we can clearly and authoritatively base their calculated conclusions on. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span>            </span>Lets begin to examine deeper into this subject, “Tradition of men– the enemy of truth.” Looking in the book of Romans chapter 3, starting with verses 1 to 4, that has been used in the scattered <span style="font-weight: bold">Churches Of God,</span> to imply that the Word of God has been given to the Jews for us to follow, because we are told, they are the ones we should look </span><span style="font-size: 12pt">to for authority regarding oral interpretation and the practice of the Old Testament scriptures. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span>            </span>The Apostle Paul writes, beginning in verse 1, of Romans 3: “What advantage then has the Jew ? or what is the profit of Circumcision? much in every way. Chiefly, because unto them were </span><span style="font-size: 12pt">committed the oracles of God. For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? <span style="font-weight: bold">Certainly not. </span>Indeed, let God be true, but every man a liar, as it is written, that you may be justified in your word and may overcome when you are judged” (Rom 3:1-4).</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span>            </span>Notice verse 3 again, <span style="font-weight: bold">"For what if some did not believe?" </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt">This was a reference to the general unfaithfulness among some of the Jews. Does that make God's Word any less true? of course not! because he said, </span><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect ? </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt">Verse 4 says<span style="font-weight: bold"> “certainly not,” </span> meaning, <span style="font-weight: bold">“God for bid, let God be true.” </span>We have to look to the word of God, not men, or his traditions </span><span style="font-size: 12pt">if we are to be in harmony with God’s truth, and trustworthy with God’s Word. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="font-weight: bold"></span></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span>            </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt">Now this context in which Romans chapter 3 appears, begins back in chapter<span style="font-weight: bold"> 2</span> and verse <span style="font-weight: bold">17. </span>You might notice in some Bibles, it says as a heading for this paragraph, <span style="font-weight: bold">"The Jews as guilty as the gentiles" </span> or it might say what my Bible says, </span><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">"The Jews knowing the law, is condemned by the Law." </span>Now those are interesting thoughts for us to think about if we are to be in harmony today with God’s Word <span style="text-decoration: underline">and not the oral traditions of men.</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="font-weight: bold"></span></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span>            </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt">   In Paul’s discussion of the guilt of the Jews, Paul momentarily admits their boasted privilege and their assumed superiority over others. Later he brings out the flagrant inconsistency between their lofty profession and their traditional practices. “Behold, you art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and make your boast of God, and know His will, and approve the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; And art confident that you yourself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness” </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt">(Rom 2:17-19).</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span>            </span>A common assumption of the Jews you might recall is in the opening chapters of the book of Matthew, where John the Baptist in chapter 3: verse 9, said to these people <span style="font-weight: bold"> "Think not that because Abraham is your father." </span>That shows us, they put a great deal of reliance on their heritage, physically, because there was a direct attachment by genes all the way back to Abraham. But were they obeying God? Were they submissive to Him? Were they really keeping His commands? </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span>            </span>Romans 2:and verse 20 reveals the way they thought of themselves. <span style="font-weight: bold">“An instructor of the foolish.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt">A teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and truth in the law. You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? You who say, do not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who make your boast in the law, do you dis-honor God through breaking the law? Notice verse 24, a quote out of the Old Testament. “For the name of God is blasphemed, [profaned, reviled] among the gentiles because of you. As it is written.” </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span>            </span>Now we could go on further, but I think that is enough to show us that the Jews knew the law of God but they were not keeping it as instructed. Even though it was God's intention, that they follow His ways. But we find they were certainly not doing it, even as the printers of this Bible we study, saw and exhibited in the heading of verse 17, <i>“The Jews as guilty as the gentiles.” “The Jews knowing the law, is condemned by the law.” </i></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span>            </span>The book of Romans chapters 2 and 3, shows it’s context is saying just the opposite to what some Churches teach and reach as a conclusion! Yes, the Jews did have an advantage Romans 3:1 said, but also they were not taking advantage of their advantage! They were supposed to be the interpreters of the law, and the way of God. But, they failed totally in their God given responsibility!</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span>            </span>Now let's go to the Old Testament again, back to the book of Amos. In Amos, the second chapter beginning in verse four, where a judgment is pronounced upon Judah. “Thus says the Lord, for three transgressions of<span style="font-weight: bold"> Judah</span>, and for four<span style="font-weight: bold">, I will not turn away its punishment, because they have despised the law of the Lord, and have not kept His Commandments” (Amos 2:4). </span>We are looking here, because that was said so clearly!</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span>            </span>The Jews do not have a good record for keeping the commands of God, nor the ways of God, proving again they are not in harmony with God’s truth or ways, be it in the Old Testament, or New Testament times. They have<span style="text-decoration: underline"> not</span> been loyal to God's teachings! </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span>            </span> In the New Testament, Jesus Christ is found challenging the Scribes and Pharisees and their traditions. “Then the Scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, "Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread. He answered and said to them, <span style="text-decoration: underline">why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? </span>“...... Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men"(Matthew 15:1-3, 6,9. NKJV).</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span>            </span>While “proving all things” about Jews and their practice of Judaism, we find a law written if one dared to remove his neighbor’s landmark he was violating one of our Lords precepts, according to Deuteronomy 27:17, “Cursed be he that removes his neighbors <span style="font-weight: bold">landmark</span>. And all the people shall say, amen.” Keep that thought in mind as we examine, can Judaism and the Jews be trusted. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span>            </span> In the book of Hosea, reading chapter 5: verse 10, begins with <span style="font-weight: bold">"The princes ....." </span>meaning the leaders, it is a general term, sometimes it can mean the political leaders as well as a King or all the Ministers who serve under the King, it can also mean the spiritual leaders as well. “The princes <span style="font-weight: bold">of Judah </span>were like them that remove the <span style="font-weight: bold">Boundary</span>: therefore I will pour out My wrath upon them like water.”(Sounds like what Moses said earlier in Deut 27:17).</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span>            </span>Now that kind of description again, gives us a clear indication that they were breaking the commandments and not obeying God's laws! Nothing new under the sun. Today they are moving the boundary of God’s appointed times for His annual Holy Day dates by postponing them. Notice Jeremiah 44, the last recording we have of Jeremiah in Egypt. Jeremiah hoped to convince the Jews that their troubles and distresses had been caused by their </span><span style="font-size: 12pt">apostasy from the worship of the true God.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt">      <span>      </span>We will pick through some verses here and point out what the Jews were being accused of by God. Verse 1 of Jeremiah 44, “The word that came to Jeremiah <span style="font-weight: bold">concerning all the Jews.” </span>V 3<span style="font-weight: bold">) </span>“Because of their wickedness which they have committed provoke Me to anger, they burn incense, and serve other gods, do not this abominable thing that I hate. But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear to turn from their wickedness, to burn no incense unto other gods. Wherefore My fury and Mine anger was poured forth, and was kindled in the cities of Judah. Therefore now this saith the Lord, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; wherefore commit you this great evil against your souls, to cut off from you man and woman, child and suckling, out of Judah, to leave you none to remain. You provoke Me unto wrath with the works of your hands, and that you might be a curse and a reproach among all the Nations of the earth? Have you forgotten the wickedness of your fathers, and the wickedness of the kings of Judah, and the wickedness of their wives, and your own wickedness, and the wickedness of your wives, which they have committed in the land of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem? They are not humbled even unto this day, neither have they feared, nor walked in My law, nor in My Statutes [annual Sabbath laws], that I set before you and before your fathers” (Jer 44: 3-10). That is a lot of condemning and sentencing declaring the Jews and the House of Judah <span style="text-decoration: underline">unfit</span>! </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span>            </span>These people flatly refused to heed the Lord's message from Jeremiah. “As for the Word [ Jeremiah] that you have spoken unto us in the name of the Lord, we will not hearken unto you”(Jer 44:16).<span style="font-weight: bold">The Lord answered the Jews back, </span>in verse 26, “Therefore hear you the word of the Lord, <span style="font-weight: bold">all Judah </span>that dwell in the land of Egypt; behold, I have sworn by My great Name, saith the Lord, <span style="text-decoration: underline">that My name shall no more be named in the mouth of any man of <span style="font-weight: bold">Judah ......”</span> </span> <span>       </span>The people that keep the oral Hebrew calendar today want us to believe these Jews were given orally from God to Moses the rules for the postponements, God's annual Sabbath Holy Days. Those verses in Jeremiah, Hosea, and Amos did not sound like the Jews were trustworthy with God’s Word! </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span>            </span>Lets look at a couple more proofs in the Old Testament before going to the New Testament for evidence of God's trust of the Jews with His Statute, laws and His Word. Amos 2:4, this time we will finish reading the whole verse.“Thus saith the Lord; for three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; <span style="text-decoration: underline">because they have despised the law of the Lord, </span>and have not kept His Commandments, <span style="font-weight: bold">and their lies caused them to err, after the which their fathers have walked!”</span> Why would we want to follow them, Judah, the Jews and their postponed calendar dates?</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span>            </span>Look at another proof found in the Old Testament about God’s Holy Days being frowned at.“The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto Me; the new moons and Sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. Your new moons and your appointed feasts My soul hateth: they are a trouble unto Me; I am weary to bear them. And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide Mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood” (Isa 1:1, 13-15). </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span>            </span>Now let's go to the New Testament. We will begin in Titus where Apostle Paul is instructing Titus</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt">on the <span style="font-weight: bold">qualifications and teaching duties of a Elder,</span> <span style="font-weight: bold">before ordaining them into the ministry. </span>Titus 1:5 “For this cause left I you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are wanting, and <span style="font-weight: bold">ordain Elders </span>[ shepherds] in every city, as I had appointed you.” Paul continues to tell Titus in verse 10), <span style="font-weight: bold">“ </span>For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision.” </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span>            </span>That is interesting that Paul mentions vain talkers, deceivers, and specially they of the <span style="font-weight: bold">circumcision. </span> That should bring to your mind Rom 3:1, “What advantage then has the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?” What does Paul continue to say to Titus, in chapter 1 verse 11, “Their mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for money’s sake. That is using God’s tithes and offerings for <span style="font-weight: bold">teaching syncretism, </span>to promote <span style="font-weight: bold">myths like postponement rules! </span>Verse 14, <span style="font-weight: bold"> “</span><span style="text-decoration: underline">Do not give heed to Jewish fables [myths], and commandments of men</span>, that turn from the truth.”V16), “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny Him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate” [unto every good work corruptible] (Titus 1:16).</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span>            </span>How many ordained Elders [Ministers] do you know that teach Jewish fables [myths] today? Teaching its okay to postpone God's commanded annual Sabbaths that are found in Leviticus 23. We could parade through the whole Bible and go to each book and show ourselves the questionable record of these people. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span>            </span>We have all read of Christ in Matthew 23, announcing 7 woe's on the Jews calling them hypocrites, meaning, living a lie. He did not stop there He continued to call them, blind guides, serpents, generation of vipers. Another interesting set of verses are found in Matt 21, where Jesus Christ tells the Pharisees and chief Priests that they - Judah, the Jews, will not be responsible for the good news of God's coming Kingdom. “Jesus saith unto them, [the Pharisees and chief Priests] did you never read in the scriptures, the Stone [ Jesus Christ] which the builders rejected, the same is become the Head of the Corner, this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes. therefore say I unto you, the Kingdom of God shall be taken from you, [ Jews = House of Judah ] and given to a nation [House of Israel] to bringing forth the fruits thereof. And when the Chief Priests and Pharisees had heard His parables, they perceived that He spake of them”(Matt 21:42 - 43, 45 ). </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span>            </span>God's kingdom to come was at that time no longer dependent on the Jews to bring about His good news</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span>            </span>In John chapter 8: is another very interesting section of scripture, there we have our Lord and Master's description and character of the Jews - Judah. “I know that you are Abraham's seed, <span style="font-weight: bold">[descendants,] </span> but you seek to kill Me. <span style="font-weight: bold">[ why ]</span> Because My Word <span style="font-weight: bold">[The Old Testament, The Pentateuch, The writings, The Prophecy], </span>has no place in you”(John 8:37). Now that is, a crystal clear rejection of the Messiah! Now, how in the world, can a people like that keep orally a good record of what we are supposed to follow, for God’s divine annual appointed times.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span>            </span>Let's continue with verse 38, “I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father. Now they answered and said to Him, Abraham is our father. Jesus said to them, if you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham, but now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God, Abraham did not do this. But you do the deeds of your father. And they said to Him, we are not born of fornication. We have one father, god, and Jesus said to them, if God were your father, you would love Me .....” <span style="font-weight: bold"> [Christ is implying they didn't love Him?]</span> "... for I proceeded forth and came from God, nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My Word"(John 8: 38- 43). Jesus very clearly represented the family of God.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span>            </span>These people, who were supposed to represent the family of God, did not! Jesus now gives a clear definition of His feelings about the Jews teachings and their character. <span style="text-decoration: underline">“You are of your father, the devil,</span> and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth <span style="font-weight: bold"> [meaning we get a mixture of truth and error– Syncretism ]</span>. “You are of your father the devil and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. And when he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources. That is, he does what is natural to him. For he is a liar and the father of it” (John 8: 44). Jesus is implying, these liars, have no light in them. “To the law and to the Testimony, if they speak not according to this Word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isa 8:20</span><span style="font-size: 12pt">). It is extremely clear God did not arrange His appointed times for His annual Sabbath Holy Days through the Jews!</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span>            </span>The Apostle Peter alerts us to wake up. “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the House of God, and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?”(1 Peter 4:17-18). It is frustrating to watch God’s paid ordained elders and teachers <span style="text-decoration: underline">not</span> <span style="font-weight: bold">“proving all things.” </span>Knowing what Deuteronomy says, “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you” (Deu. 4:2). The book of Revelation cements Apostle Peters words by saying “For I testify unto every man that <span style="font-weight: bold">heareth the words of the prophecy of this book</span>, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the Holy City, and from the things which are written in this book”(Rev22:18-19). Teaching fables, myths, and untruths would be called <span style="font-weight: bold">practicing syncretism </span>with God’s instruction book, mixing the truth with error!! </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span>            </span>In the pages of Galatians, the Apostle Paul express shock, “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the Gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from Heaven, preach any other Gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other Gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ. But I make known to you, brethren, that the Gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the Church Of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my Contemporaries in my own Nation, <span style="font-weight: bold">being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers” </span>(Gal 1:6 -14 NKJB).</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span>            </span><i>Mr Armstrong wrote in the Good News Magazine, January 1983, page 27. “It is important that we understand here that Judaism is not the teaching of the Old Testament but the interpretation of it. Judaism is a mixture of the ordinances of the Old Testament with the false doctrines of the Jewish Elders.” </i>That, at that time, was Mr. Armstrong’s feelings! <i></i></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 0.5in"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Notice who King David put his trust in. “It is</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt">better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in Princes” (Psalms 118 :8 - 9). </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span>            </span>There is so much more that could be said about who's authority we should trust, God's written word or the Judaism’s oral teachings.                                                    James Russell</span></p> <br> <br> <div class="WPParaTextBoxWrapper" style="width: 45%; float: left; clear: left"><span class="WPParaTextBox" style="border: 0.0666667in double #0020f0; background-color: #cccccc"><p><span style="font-size: 14pt">         </span><span style="font-size: 16pt">The Path To Open Success</span></p> </span></div> <br> <br> <br> <br> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">What is the Fear of the Lord?</span></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt">    To fear God is to have an attitude of awe and humility before Him (Prov. 15:33). It is to recognize Him as our Creator and our complete dependence upon Him in every activity of our lives.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">Why have so few people developed this fear of God?</span></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt">      The temporal value system of this world is based on what is seen, while the eternal value system of Scripture is based on what is unseen. (2Cor. 4:16-18; 5:7). The former exerts a powerful influence upon us, and we struggle with giving up the seen for the unseen.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">What are the conditions for attaining wisdom?</span></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt">       True wisdom can only be gained by cultivation the fear of the Lord (Job 28:28; Psa. 86:11; Psa 111:10; Prov. 1:7,9-10).</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">What is wisdom?</span></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="font-weight: bold"> </span>     Wisdom is the key to a life of beauty, fulfillment, and purpose. (Prov. 3:15-18). Wisdom is the skill in the art of living life, with every area under the dominion of God. It is the ability to use the best means at the best time to accomplish the best ends.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">How can we increase in our knowledge of God?</span></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt">      We become intimate with God as we talk with Him in prayer and listen to His voice in Scripture. The better we know God, the more we love Him and want to respond to His desires for our lives. Faith in God is simply trusting Him as a person, and trust is manifested in action.</span></p> <br> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt">                                           New Open Bible Study</span></p> </body> </html>  </div> </td> </tr></table></body>