Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Does God REALLY Give Us Freedom?

This question was asked on one of the AllFaith Groups. I thought my reply might be of interest to some here.

What are your thoughts on this topic?

--- I Agree that we have choices, God's gift we call a free will, but do we really have unlicensed freedom of choice?

My reply:

Pretty much yes, within the confines of mortal limitations.

That does not mean we can do anything we want and be in harmony with God's Will of course, only that we are free to accept or reject His directions and fellowship.

Here's a quick overview:

Circa 2500 BCE the world flood occurred. After the waters subsided, God made a covenant with Noah and all of his descendants (including us). He said that if we wished fellowship with God we had to obey seven basic laws:

The Noahide Laws

1. Worship Only the One God
2. Honor and Praise the One God
3. Respect and Protect Human Life
4. Respect the Family
5. Respect the Rights and Properties of Others
6. Respect the Sanctity of all Life
7. Pursue/enforce Justice

We are all free to obey or disobey these laws, but if/when we disobey our spiritual connection with God suffers.

Later (circa 2000-1800 BCE) God established His eternal covenant with Abraham and his descendants -- that came through Sarah and Isaac (ie not through Hagar and Ishmael).

Later this covenant was clarified as the Torah (Law) was revealed to Moses at Mount Sinai (circa 1450 BCE).

Around 7 BCE our Master, Jesus (or Y'shua ben Miriam), was born. He lived 33 1/2 years and sought to reform Judaism and established the B'rit Hadashah or New Covenant through which everyone, Jew of Gentile, was/is granted access to God.

All who wish to know Peace with God are encouraged to choose, by their own free will, to accept the teachings and principles revealed by God.

This is not required, it is optional.

The fact that submission to God's Will is not required is demonstrated in every TV newscast, every newspaper etc. The world stands, for the most part, in open deviance of God's stated Will... for now.

As I understand the Scriptures, humanity is allowed to do almost anything it wishes (for good or ill) except for one thing:

Matthew 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

In the (I believe near) future there is going to come a point when the Jews will be utterly exterminated from the planet UNLESS God intervenes.

This "choice," this planned genocide of "the Elect" is what will bring the Second Coming of Y'shua.

There have also been other times when God has directly intervened in human affairs. Our freedom therefore is not absolute, but close.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

To distinguish between the above and the below,

Regarding the second coming of the Messiah:
First an introduction:
The historical first century Ribi Yehoshua ha-Mashiakh (the Messiah) taught this:

[Torah, Oral Law & Hebrew Matityahu: Ribi Yehoshua Commanded Non-Selective Observance
The Netzarim Reconstruction of Hebrew Matityahu (NHM) 5:17-20 (later redacted to “the gospel of Matthew” (which is anti-Torah and contradicts Ribi Yehoshuas teachings)]
[Glossaries found in the website below.]:

"I didn't come to subtract from the Torâh of Moshëh or the Neviim, nor to add onto the Torah of Moshëh did I come. Because, rather, I came to [bring about the] complete [i.e., non-selective] observance of them in truth.
Should the heavens and ha-Aretz exchange places, still, not even one י or one of the Halâkhâh of the Torah of Moshehshall so much as exchange places; toward the time when it becomes that they are all being performed -- i.e., non- selectively -- in full.
For whoever deletes one [point of] the Halâkhâh of these mitzwot from Torah, or shall teach others such, [by those in] the Realm of the heavens he shall be called 'deleted.' And whoever ratifies and teaches them shall be called ' Ribi' in the Realm of the heavens.

For I tell you that unless your tzәdâqâh is over and above that of the [Hellenist-Roman Pseudo- Tzedoqim] Codifiers of halakhah, and of the Rabbinic- Perushim sect of Judaism, no way will you enter into the Realm of the heavens." (see NHM)

Quote from www.netzarim.co.il ; “History Museum”

The reconstruction is made using a scientific and logic methodology. One of the premises is that the historical Ribi Yehoshua was a Torah-observant Pharisee (why that premise is true is found in the above website, in which you also will find more information about why a reconstruction is needed).

That is the will of the Creator. The only place to find the historical Ribi Yehoshuas authentic teachings are on the above Netzarim-website

The second coming:
That the Netzarim, in contradiction to Christianity and the Church, are the sole legitimate advocates of the Torah-teachings of Ribi Yehoshua is, in this sense, a restoration--resurrection, second coming--of the spirit of Ribi Yehoshua.

It has already come and no one noticed, exactly as Ribi Yehoshua predicted; and--suprise!--goyim Christians are converting to Torah, NOT the reverse. Game over. It's Christians who are "Left Behind"! Check-mate!
(quote: Paqid Yirmeyahu ha-Tzadiq)