How and Why to Become a Christian* - Download PDF Article

You are not an accident of nature neither are you an advanced primate as is taught in schools. Your ancestors were not monkeys who evolved over time from nothingness! Benjamin Franklin stated “It would be judged an affront to your understanding that he would have to go about proving the first principal, the existence of a Deity, and that He is the Creator of the Universe, for that would suppose you to be ignorant of what all mankind is all ages have agreed to.”FN1 John Locke said, the necessity of a belief in God is “the foundation of all morality, and that which influences the whole life and actions of men, without which (atheism) a man is to be considered no other than one of the most dangerous sorts of beasts.”FN2 (Atheists have no fear of the Creator.) The Bible states, “Inasmuch as, what may be known of Yahweh, is manifest among them, for, Yahweh, unto them, hath made it manifest,–– For, the unseen things of him, from a world’s creation, by the things made, being perceived, are clearly seen, even his eternal power and divinity,––to the end they should be without excuse” (Rm. 1:19-20). Those who reject the Creator choose rather to worship the creation, as did Darwin, by, “Saying, to a tree, My father, art, thou! And to a stone, Thou, didst give us birth…;” “And, exchanged the glory of the incorruptible Yahweh, for the likeness of an image of a corruptible man, and of birds and fourfooted beasts and reptiles” (Jer. 1:27, Rm. 1:23).

The so-called science of today has two stupendous assumptions, which must state that visible matter is eternal and that matter can produce life. We state that the visible universe is not eternal, and that it has not the power of originating life!FN3 We live in a physicalFN4 world that was created by an unseen force. If we trace the beginnings of our physical world (the universe) we must all arrive at the same conclusion being that at some point in time there was a period when it did not exist, rather there was an emptiness, a vacuity,FN5 a vacuum,FN6 a void; neither matter nor physical life existed in any form. In the book of the physical world, vacuity, emptiness or void are always the first words on the first page. Physical matter and life cannot come into existence without a Creator. Isaac Newton said, “Gravity explains the motions of the planets, but it cannot explain who set the planets in motion. God [Yahweh] governs all things and knows all that is or can be done.”FN7Matter and life springing into existence from emptiness by a Creator is a supernatural event. You are a creation. You have creators! In the physical world, you, as an individual did not exist before the egg of your mother and the sperm of your father united. If their egg and sperm did not unite, you, as an individual would not exist even though the matter that you are composed of does exist. A vacuum would still exist in relationship to your existence as an individual. Your parents and their parents and their parents and on and on and on we go, were all creations; all had creators. We would call you insane or deranged if you denied the existence of your creators but this is exactly what many in our society proclaim.

What the Creator wants from Us!
The Creator has given us a decision to make. We must choose between one of two choices; choose life or death. We must choose either to obey and love Him by living a life of lovingkindness, justice and righteousness or obey and love the evils of the world. If you choose life you will be hated by unbelievers and deceived believers but with this choice you will have Communion with a loving Heavenly Father and receive the gift of spirit, which enables you to walk in the supernatural. You will eventually live with Him in His promised Garden called Paradise where there is neither death nor disease; neither is there pain nor tears. In the future Garden of Yahweh there will be only life, love, joy and peace. There will be a river of life, bright as crystal, issuing forth out of the throne of Yahweh and of the Lamb and, night, shall be, no more; and there will be no need of the light of a lamp or the light of a sun, because, Yahweh, will give us light,––and we shall reign unto the ages of ages. (Rev. 22:1, 5). If you choose death, the wicked and the deceived people of the earth will love you but you will forfeit any Communion with the Creator. You will dwell in darkness with all of its fruitsFN8 and eventually perish!

Who is the Creator?
Yahweh is the name of the Creator; "Thus, saith GOD  himself––Yahweh,––Creator of the heavens, that stretched them forth, Out–spreader of earth, and the products thereof,––Giver of breath to the people thereon, And of spirit to them who walk therein" (Is. 42:5). Yahweh is holy and requires holiness in our lives.FN9 Yahweh delights in lovingkindness, justice and righteousness.FN10 The blessing, and the glory, and the wisdom, and the thanksgiving, and the honor, and the power, and the might,––be unto our God, Yahweh (Rev. 7:12). Yahweh wants to become your Father, if you so choose.

How does Yahweh Communicate to Us?
He had His holy prophets write His words of instructions, which men now call the Holy Bible.FN11 Isaac Newton said, "I have a fundamental belief in the Bible as the Word of God, written by those who were inspired. I study the Bible daily."FN12 John Locke, a natural law philosopher from whom a great part of the Constitution of the United States was derived, said, "The Bible is one of the greatest blessings bestowed by God on the children of men.- It has God for its author; salvation for its end, and truth without any mixture for its matter.- It is all pure." John Adams, a founding father and the second president of the United States said, "I have examined all religions, and the result is that the Bible is the best book in the world."FN13  This Book, which we will call the Word of YahwehFN14 rather than the Bible, reveals Yahweh's will for our lives. The Word of Yahweh is the Manual of Life. Yahweh also communicates with us individually by way of spirit. Spiritual communication gives us information needed in everyday life, such as is needed in our jobs, marriage and the rearing of children etc.

Who is Yahshua?
Yahshua is Yahweh's only begotten Son who lived a sinless life. (Jesus is the English name used today but the name Jesus, was a corruption of the Greek name to the English name. Yahshua is his Hebrew name, which Yahweh named him. Yahshua means 'Yahweh is Salvation.') He gave his life as a sacrifice for our sins thereby, redeeming us from everlasting death, if we so choose and gave us a life that is more than abundant (Jn. 10:10). His sacrifice for us made us holy, thereby allowing us to approach Yahweh through him. He died the death that should have been ours because of our wicked thoughts and deeds. He was our substitute. Yahshua is the man of heaven that is presently sitting at the right hand of Yahweh running his Church, which is His Body, He being the Head.  He is the Messiah, the Anointed One of Yahweh, who is called Christ. Yahshua is our only introduction to the Father. There is no other way to the Father than though His Son, Yahshua. If you reject Yahshua, you reject the Father.FN15

What is a Christian?
A Christian is someone that has made Yahshua their Master and they also have believed in their heart that Yahweh raised him from among the dead. They are members of the Body of the Christ; ones who have received the spirit of Yahweh and life age-abiding. They are referred to as being saved or being born again. They are members of a heavenly family, children of Yahweh and brothers and sisters of Yahshua their Lord and Savior. They are asked, "…in behalf of all, died he [Christ],––in order that, they who live, no longer for themselves, should live, but for him [Christ] who, in their behalf, died and rose again" (2 Cor. 5:15).FN16

What is Salvation?
The Word of Yahweh uses the word 'saved,' to refer to people who are kept safe and sound, rescued from danger or destruction. These individuals are safe from everlasting death because they have received the gift of life age-abiding. Every human being is born into sin and death and has subsequently sinned against Yahweh by breaking His laws. Ephesians 2:1-6 sums up who we were and who we presently are; "Unto you also––being dead by your offences and sins, In which at one time ye walked, according to the age of the world, according to the prince of the authority of the air, of the spirit that now energizes in the sons of disobedience, Among whom also, we all, had our behavior, at one time, in the covetings of our flesh, doing the things desired by the flesh and the mind, and were children, by nature, of anger––even as the rest,––  But, Yahweh, being rich in mercy, by reason of the great love wherewith he loved us,  Although we were dead by our offences, gave us life together with the Christ,––by favor, ye have been saved,––  And raised us up together, and seated us together in the heavenlies, in Christ." Therefore, every person needs to be rescued (saved) from the penalty of that sin. Romans 6:23 says: "For, the wages of sin, is death; but, Yahweh's gift of favor, is life age–abiding, in Christ Yahshua our Lord." Your sins have earned you death, but deliverance from the power of sin and death is available through the works of Christ.

How much will salvation cost me?
You must change Lordships. The word lord means master, which means "he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding." Sin is now the Lord and Master of your life. You must give up your master position and make Yahshua your Lord and Master. This entails obeying his commandments, bowing your knees to Yahweh and Yahshua and submitting to their will. We are born in sin, a slave to sin. Christ, who was sinless, died for all of us in order that we may live through his works. He paid the price to redeem us from our old master, sin. He now becomes our new Master, if we so choose and he asks us that we no longer live for ourselves but for him, who in our behalf died and rose again.FN17 Salvation comes to you as a "gift."  Romans 6:23 says, "the gift of Yahweh is life age-abiding." And Romans 6:23 is not the only verse to call salvation a gift. In Romans 5:15-17, the word "gift" is used five times! You don't work for a gift—it is freely given. The gift of salvation and life age-abiding is being offered to you simply because Yahweh desires your fellowship. He wants you to live with Him, too, but that is up to you—it is your decision. You can have life age-abiding through Christ if you so desire or you can choose age-abiding death.

How do I receive the free gift of Yahweh's salvation?
Romans 10:9
That, if thou shalt confess the declaration with thy mouth––That Yahshua is, Lord, and shalt believe with thy heart––That, Yahweh, raised him from among the dead, thou shalt be saved."

Once you make Yahshua your Master, Romans 10:9 goes on to say that you are to believe in your heart that Yahweh raised Yahshua from among the dead. Once you have confessed with your mouth that Yahshua is your Lord and Master and believed in your heart that Yahweh raised him from among the dead, you are saved. Salvation, although a free-gift, is conditional upon one believing and acting upon Romans 10:9. Yahweh wants all men to be saved (1 Tim. 2:4), and He is offering salvation and spirit as a free gift.

Many verses in the New Testament show that salvation is easy to get and that you get it by believing, or trusting, in Yahshua. The Word of Yahweh often uses the phrase "having faith in Yahshua." "Faith" is a biblical word that means "trust." Thus, having faith in Yahshua simply means trusting in him, and thus trusting that his work is adequate for you to be saved. The following are just a few of the scriptures that clearly teach that salvation is by faith.

Romans 3:22
"…righteousness from Yahweh comes through faith in Yahshua Christ." (Righteousness is the state of being right before Yahweh. When you confess that Christ is your Master and that he rose from among the dead, your sin is paid for and you are "right" with Yahweh, so the Word of Yahweh says that your "righteousness" comes by faith [trust] in Yahshua Christ. All saved people are righteous in Yahweh's sight).

Romans 3:26
Yahweh "justifies those who have faith in Yahshua" ("Justifies" is a legal word. We are "just" in the sight of Yahweh because Yahshua has paid for our sin and there is no sin against us, so the Word of Yahweh calls us "justified." A good way to remember the definition of "justified" is by thinking, it is "just if I had never sinned).

Romans 3:28
"…man is justified by faith."

Romans 5:1
"…we have been justified by faith."

Romans 9:30
"…righteousness that is by faith."

Romans 10:4
"Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes."

Galatians 2:15
"We…know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Yahshua Christ."

Yahweh makes it easy to be saved, to become a member of the Body of the Christ. Once, in his travels, the Apostle Paul was thrown in prison. A jailer asked Paul the most important question any human could ask: "What must I do to be saved" (Acts 16:30)? Paul's answer was short and to the point: "Believe in the Lord Yahshua and you will be saved" (Acts 16:31). The same is as true for you and me as it was for that jailer nearly 2000 years ago. If you make Yahshua your Master, you will be saved.

The Additional Benefits of becoming a Christian?
Yahweh and Christ will abide in you by way of spirit; "Yahshua answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him (Jn. 14:23, Eph. 2:22). Christians become members of the household of Yahweh (Eph. 2:19). They receive "power, after the holy spirit comes upon them, which enables them to do supernatural works (Acts 1:8). They also receive the "peace of Yahweh, which surpasses all understanding" (Phil. 4:7). Christians become members of a supernatural organism called the Body of the Christ. Christ becomes their Head, instructing them through out their lifetime in the ways of justice, righteousness and lovingkindness (1 Cor. 12:12). Christians receive the fruits of the spirit, which are love, joy, peace, long–suffering, graciousness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self–control (Gal. 5:23-24). A Christian can operate supernatural power by operating word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, gifts of healings, energies of mighty works, prophesying, discriminations of spirits, tongues, and translation of tongues (1 Cor. 12:7-11). A Christian can become the hands, feet and mouth of Christ if they submit and act upon his instructions, which are given in the Word of Yahweh and by revelation.

Don't I have to do some kind of work to be saved—get baptized, confess my sin, etc?
No. Christ paid for your salvation. It is offered as a gift. The Word of Yahweh says your salvation is a gift. It plainly states you get salvation by faith. It also specifically says that salvation is not earned by works:

Ephesians 2:8 and 9
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of Yahweh—not by works, so that no one can boast.

This verse is very clear. It says that you have been saved by Yahweh's grace through your faith. That means that when you have faith in Christ, Yahweh saves you by His grace ("grace" is undeserved favor from Yahweh). The verse goes on to say that salvation is a gift and that it is not by works. Titus 3:3-7 is also very instructive concerning our former nature and our present gifts and deliverance; "For, even we, used, at one time, to be––thoughtless, unyielding, deceived, in servitude unto manifold covetings and pleasures, in malice and envy, leading on, detestable, hating one another.  But, when, the graciousness and affection for man of our Savior Yahweh, shone forth,  Not by works which we had done in righteousness, but, according to His mercy, He saved us––through means of the bathing of a new birth, and the molding anew of holy spirit.––  Which he poured on us richly, through Yahshua Christ our Savior,  In order that, having been declared righteous by his favor, we should be made inheritors, according to hope, of life age–abiding."

Many Christians do not realize that salvation is a gift of Yahweh's grace and that it is "not by works." They are taught that to be saved they must go to church or lead an almost perfect life with no drinking, dancing, etc. That is simply not what the Word of Yahweh says about salvation! No one can find a verse that says, "You must go to church to be saved," because there is no such verse. Nor are there any verses that say that you must lead an almost perfect life to be saved. Salvation is a gift—you do not earn it by your works, you receive it by faith in Christ's work.

There are many people doing good works who have never confessed that Yahshua is their Lord and who do not believe in his resurrection. Often they are taught that if you are a good person, Yahweh will give you life age-abiding. The Word of Yahweh is very clear that good works do not save you, as we have just read in Ephesians 2:8 and 9. It is wonderful to do good works or be a "good person," but that does not get you saved. The Word of Yahweh says that the unsaved person is "dead in sin" (Eph. 2:1), and no one who is "dead" can do any good works. He must first receive life via the new birth, and then he can work for Yahweh. Don't guess about how to get life age-abiding. Yahweh gave you His Word to openly show you the way of salvation, and Yahshua said, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life." You come to the Father only through Yahshua.

Do I lose my everlasting life if I sin after I have been saved?
We presently live in an age in which Christ is now seated at the right hand of Yahweh, the age where there is neither male or female, Gentile or Jew but all are one in Christ. People who are living in this age cannot get saved by doing good works, and they cannot undo their salvation if they sin. Their salvation is a free-gift from Yahweh. Yahweh never takes back His gift of salvation. The Word of Yahweh is very clear about this; "Not by works which we had done in righteousness, but, according to his mercy, he saved us––through means of the bathing of a new birth, and the molding anew of holy spirit.––Which he poured on us richly, through Yahshua Christ our Savior, In order that, having been declared righteous by his favour, we should be made inheritors, according to hope, of life age–abiding" (Titus 3:5-7).

Many people teach that if you sin, you lose your salvation and then you have to get saved all over again, but that is not true. Yahweh wants you to be absolutely sure that you cannot lose your salvation, so the Word of Yahweh emphasizes its permanence in many ways.As you have seen, salvation is called a "gift" over and over. A term for salvation is "born again" or "new birth" (1 Pet. 1:3 and 23). We all know that birth is permanent. Once I am born, I am a child of my mother and father forever. Even if I am a horrible kid and my parents really don't like me, the birth is permanent. Yahweh wants Christians to know that He loves us and that we are His children no matter how we behave, so He uses the term "birth" to describe what happens to us when we are saved. Birth is a one-time occurrence that cannot be undone.

When you are saved, Yahweh gives you spirit. Because it is spirit, you can't feel that it is within you, but it is Yahweh's permanent seal in you claiming you as His child. Ephesians is very clear about getting saved by believing and then being sealed with spirit:

Ephesians 1:13 and 14
In whom, ye also––hearing the word of the truth, the glad–message of your salvation,––in whom also believing,––were sealed with the spirit of the promise, the holy.
Which is an earnest of our inheritance...

Read those verses again. They are so rich. The Word of Yahweh says you are sealed with spirit, Yahweh's gift. Therefore, you are sealed! Yahweh's salvation does not "leak out" if you sin. You were sealed when you believed, and that seal is a "guarantee" of life age-abiding, your "inheritance."

Because your salvation is permanent and you cannot lose it, Yahweh says you are His child! "Behold, what manner of love, the Father hath bestowed upon us––that, children of Yahweh, we should be called,––and such we are!" (1 John 3:1). Surely it cannot be that one day you are a child of Yahweh and the next day you aren't. Yahweh chose to communicate to us in the words we use in our everyday speech, and we all know that children are a permanent addition to a family. No one has children in his family one day and then does not have them in the family the next day. The same is true for Yahweh's family as for our human families. Yahweh calls you His child to make the point that you are permanently in His family. That is also why unbelievers are never called "children" of Yahweh—they are not part of the family.

Children have their father's "seed" in them, and Christians are born of "incorruptible seed" (1 Pet. 1:23). The Word of Yahweh is very clear: If you are saved, you are born into Yahweh's family, you are permanently a son or a daughter, you are sealed with holy spirit and Yahweh calls you a child of Yahweh.

Why should I stop sinning if I cannot lose my salvation?
First, anyone who lives a sinful life becomes a "slave to sin" (Rom. 6:16). Their fellowship with the Father is interrupted even though they are still His children. Yahweh is holy and he only communions with those who are holy.FN18 Sin takes its toll on the people committing the sin and on those who are in contact with them. Sin is like a contagious disease. It directly affects the carrier as it also spreads its harm to the innocent. The wages of sin is death. Christians should want to escape the tyranny of sin and desire justice, righteousness and lovingkindness.

Second, you are united to Christ, identified with him in the most intimate way possible. That is, you were crucified with him, you died with him, you were buried with him, raised with him from the dead, ascended with him and seated with him at the right hand of Yahweh (Rom. 6:1-10; Eph. 2:6). Being thus joined with Christ, why would you want to continue to be joined to sin in our day-to-day life; "for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Beliar? Or what part hath a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement hath a shrine of Yahweh with idols? For, we, are the shrine of a God, that liveth:––even as Yahweh hath said––will dwell in them, and walk, and will be their God, and, they, shall be my people. Wherefore come ye forth out of their midst, and be separated,––saith Yahweh,––and, one impure, do not touch; and, I, will give you welcome, And will become your Father, and, ye, shall become my sons and daughters, saith Yahweh of Host" (2 Cor. 6:14-18).

Third, it is right and proper to thank the one who has given you a gift. Yahweh and His Son have given you the greatest gift of all—life age-abiding. The greatest gift you can give back is your life in service to them.

Fourth, how you live and serve in this life will determine how Yahweh will reward you in this life and in your future life. Christ is going to come back to earth and set up a kingdom ("The meek will inherit the earth"), and not every person in that kingdom will have the same rewards. Many verses attest to this truth:

Matthew 16:27
For the Son of Man is destined to be coming, in the glory of his Father, with his messengers,––and, then, will he give back unto each one, according to his practice.

1 Corinthians 3:12-15
But, if anyone is building, upon the foundation––gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, Each one's work, shall be made, manifest; for, the day, will make it plain, because, by fire, is it to be revealed,––and, each one's work, of what sort it is, the fire itself will prove:–– If, anyone's work, shall abide, which he built, a reward, shall he receive,–– If, anyone's work, shall be burnt up, he shall suffer loss, but shall, himself, be saved––though, thus, as through fire.

2 Corinthians 5:10
For, we all, must needs be made manifest before the judgment seat of the Christ, that each one may get back the things done by means of the body, according to the things which he practised, whether good or corrupt.

Colossians 3:23-25
Whatsoever ye may be doing, from the soul, be working at it, as unto the Lord, and not unto men,–– Knowing that, from the Lord, ye shall duly receive the recompense of the inheritance,––unto the Lord Christ, are ye in service; For, he that acteth unrighteously, shall get back what he had unrighteously done, and there is no respect of persons;

There are many other verses like these that plainly say that Christians will be rewarded now and in the future kingdom of Christ for what they do for him. The Word of Yahweh exhorts you to work hard so that you will be richly rewarded now and in the future kingdom.

I've done so many terrible things in my life. Can I still be saved?
The Word of Yahweh is clear that every person has sinned. Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of Yahweh." When it comes to sin, Yahweh's opinion of all people is the same: "There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks Yahweh. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one" (Rom. 3:10-12).

Yahweh is realistic about people—we are all sinners. The Word of Yahweh never makes a statement like "Christ died for everyone except murderers" or "Christ died for everyone except adulterers." The Word of Yahweh states very clearly that Yahweh gave His Son so that "whoever believes in him will not perish, but have life age-abiding" (John 3:16).

The Apostle Paul described himself as "chief of sinners," because he tortured Christians before becoming one himself. To him, he was as low as a human being can go morally. Paul is a wonderful example of the mercy and longsuffering of the Lord, for if a man like him can be saved, anyone can be.

When we confess our sins and ask for forgiveness then Yahweh is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse from all unrighteousness (1 Jn. 1:9).  Communion is then restored with our Father and our Lord. King David committed adultery and murder but he repented of his deeds and was forgiven (2 Sam. 12). King Manasseh lived a wicked life for fifty years, which included acts such as, "innocent blood, did Manasseh shed in great abundance, till he had filled Jerusalem, from one end to the other" (2 Kgs. 21:16). At the end of his reign he repented and Yahweh forgave him (2 Chr. 33:12-13). If David and Manasseh can be forgiven, so can you. Forgiveness is available to those who desire it.

Become a child of Yahweh; Receive all of the Benefits:
You will receive holy spirit, which is supernatural power.
You will become an heir of Yahweh and a joint heir with Christ (Rm. 8:17).
You will be justified before Yahweh.
You will be sanctified (that is, "made holy") in Yahweh's sight (1 Cor. 1:2).
You will be redeemed from the power of sin and death.
You will receive life age-abiding; Paradise is your future home!

These changes are very real and should powerfully influence how a Christian thinks and lives. But because these changes do not automatically affect a person's behavior, each Christian has a decision to make. Are you going to believe what you see and feel ("Gee, I don't feel righteous or holy, etc.") or are you going to believe what Yahweh says in His Word? As a Christian, you must learn to "live by faith and not by sight" (2 Cor. 5:7). It is essential for good Christians to learn to trust what Yahweh says. For example, Yahweh says He loves you, and Yahweh's love is real even if you don't feel loved. The same goes for what Yahweh has made you to be in Christ and how He thinks about you. Yahweh made you righteous, holy, and justified even if you do not feel that way.

When you are saved, you are brought into Yahweh's family. You become a child of Yahweh, are born again and sealed with holy spirit. However, your behavior does not usually change right away. Occasionally you hear of someone who, at the time he was saved, had a wonderful change in his life that Yahweh accomplished. For example, an alcoholic may have immediately given up alcohol. That kind of thing sometimes happens, but it is the exception, not the rule.

Yahweh gives instructions to His children. The Word of Yahweh says not to fornicate, lie, cheat or steal. It commands you not to commit adultery. It says to put away bitterness and revenge and instead to be patient, kind and loving. It says to be giving and to pray. There are many things the Word of Yahweh tells you so that you can lead a pure life. It takes time, effort and discipline to learn to keep the commands of Yahweh and live like a Christian. Many verses attest to this, and we will quote two:

Galatians 5:16-17
I say, moreover––by spirit, be walking, and, fleshly coveting, ye will in nowise fulfill;  For, the flesh, coveted against the spirit, but, the spirit, against the flesh,––for, these, unto one another, are opposed, lest, whatsoever things ye chance to desire, these, ye should be doing!

Romans 12:2
And be not configuring yourselves unto this age, but be transforming yourselves by the renewing of your mind, to the end ye may be proving what is the thing willed by Yahweh the good and acceptable and perfect.

You have to make up your mind to obey Yahweh and do what He says. If you don't, you will listen to the "desires of your sinful nature" and miss out on His blessings. It is not always easy to keep the commands of Yahweh. Even the great Apostle Paul occasionally wrestled with his sinful nature and had a hard time (Rom. 7:14-20). You will not always succeed at keeping Yahweh's commands, but He wants you to do your best. You will be rewarded at the Judgment for the things you do for Christ now. Changing the flesh is your job. Yahweh will help, but He can't do it without you. The reason that so many Christians are "carnal Christians" is that they have never decided to go to war with their flesh and bring their body into obedient submission to the Word of Yahweh. These carnal Christians are still saved, but they are living like unbelievers.

Does the Word of Yahweh say what the next life will be like?
It certainly does. And it is unfortunate that, in many Christian Churches, tradition has for the most part hidden the truth about the future Yahweh reveals in His Word. Knowing about the future is supposed to motivate people to want to be saved, and motivate the saved to want to obey Yahweh. Most Christians believe that the saved will spend forever in "heaven," a place somewhere up in the air. This contradicts the clear teaching of Yahshua and the Word of Yahweh. In one of the best known verses, Yahshua taught that "The meek shall inherit the earth" (Matt. 5:5).

Yahweh made the earth for people to live on and enjoy as He did with the Garden of Eden. The Word of Yahweh says that in the future there will be a new earth that will replace this earth that has been corrupted. It would not make sense for Yahweh to create a "new earth" if all the saved people were going to live in heaven. Yahweh has to make a new earth in the future because the one we live on now will be destroyed. Some of the things that the Word of Yahweh says about life on the future earth are:

The Messiah will rule over an age-abiding kingdom (Dan. 2:44; 7:13 and 14; Rev. 11:17).
The Messiah will rule from Jerusalem, from David's throne (Isa. 9:7).
The wicked will be destroyed, but the meek will inherit the earth (Ps. 37:9-11; Ezek. 37:11,12; Dan. 12:2 and 3; Zeph. 3:8-12, Mal. 4:1).
The saved will know Yahweh (Isa. 29:23 and 24; Jer. 31:33 and 34; Ezek. 11:18-20, 1 Cor. 13:12).
There will be justice on earth (Isa. 2:4; 9:6 and 7; 11:1-5; 32:1,2,5,16 and 17; Jer. 23:5 and 6; 33:15).
There will be no war (Isa. 2:4; 9:4-7; Micah 4:3 and 4; Zech. 9:9-11; Hosea 2:18).
People will be healed of sickness and disease (Isa. 29:18; 32:3 and 4; 33:24; 35:5 and 6; Jer. 33:6; Mal. 4:2).
The people will live safely (Isa. 11:6-9; 32:18; 54:14-17; 60:15-18; 65:17-25; Jer. 23:4-6; 33:6; Ezek. 28:26; 34:25-31; Micah. 5:4 and 5; Zeph. 3:13-17).
The land will be healed and the deserts will bloom (Isa. 32:15; 35:1,2 and 7; 44:3; 51:3).
There will be an abundance of food (Isa. 25:6; 30:23-26; 35:1,6 and 7; 41:18-20; 51:3; Jer. 31:5,11-14; Ezek. 47:1-12; Hosea 2:21 and 22; Joel 2:19-26; 3:18; Amos 9:13).

The future life Yahweh offers is one of food, fun and fellowship. It is hard to imagine a life with no sickness, no war or fighting, no injustice, more food than we can eat and all the time in the world to enjoy each other and purposeful activity. Christians will get to enjoy that life—forever.

Yahweh is offering you everything you have always wanted in this life but just can't seem to get, and all you have to do to get it is to accept His free gift of salvation through Yahshua Christ.

What happens to me if I do not make Yahshua my Lord and Master?
The Word of Yahweh says that "the wages of sin is death" (Rom. 6:23). Christ will judge every person who has ever lived. Those who have made him their Master and Lord will receive everlasting life. They will be rewarded according to the good works that they have done (2 Cor. 5:10; Col. 3:23-25; 1 Thess. 4:6; 2 Tim. 2:12; 1 John 2:28). Those who have not accepted Christ because they have not heard of him or his work will be judged righteously according to his wisdom and their works. Those who will not bow to Yahshua and make him their Lord will perish; be thrown into the lake of fire, which is called the second death (Rev. 21:15). (They are dead and not alive being tortured in a place called hell.) So the choice you have is either to receive life or death; "I call to witness against you today, the heavens and the earth, that life and death, have I set before thee, the blessing and the curse,––therefore shouldest thou choose life, that thou mayest live, thou and thy seed" (Deu. 30:19).

It is a common teaching in Christianity that the unsaved will burn forever, but that cannot be true, for then everyone would have everlasting life (albeit of poor quality). The Word of Yahweh is clear that only the saved have life age-abiding. The wicked will receive the wages of their sin—death. There are many verses that say the wicked will be destroyed or perish, one of which is 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9; "…against them that refuse to know Yahweh, and them who decline to hearken unto the glad–message of our Lord Yahshua,  Who, indeed, a penalty, shall pay––age–abiding destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his might." 

Conclusion written by Edward Irving in 1825FN19
The Voice of our Creator speaks through the things which are made, and there is no doubt that the oracle of the works of Yahweh is loud in commendation of His power and providence. Now natural knowledge, when thus divorced from the knowledge of nature's God, satisfies not our inner cravings, which must join league with spirit in order to taste its proper delight. When the soul once finds a kindred soul, then begins her revelry of delight, unfeigned friendship, chaste love, domestic affection and pure devotion. Who compares the intensity and delight of these conjunctions with the stale and heartless sympathy there is between a natu­ralist and his museum, or a scholar and his books? How refreshing to such a spirit when the dark cloud Yahweh has retired within bursts, and in visible glory He displays Himself to His benightedFN20 children, speaking to them in an intelligible voice and revealing the secrets of His nature. Then comes rest, and with rest refreshment and enlargement of soul. There is no cause beyond to long after. Than Yahweh the mind can ascend no higher, and should be satisfied with His likeness. Here there is perfection without a blemish, which we range the world for in vain, justice never perverted, which it has been the glory of man to live under, mercy, with all the tender affections which pacify and harmonize the life of man, holiness, holding a spotless reign over the happy fields of heaven.

Do ye love to meditate nobleness of nature? Here it is infinitely noble. Do ye love to contemplate stupendous power put forth in soft acts of goodness? Behold it here, pouring the full river of pleasure though the universe. Here is the Father of all families, from thehighest in the heaven above to the lowest tribe upon the earth beneath, serving out justice and liberality to them all. What more would you fill your mind with than the idea of Yahweh, which, while it fills, elevates, enlarges, and refines.

Nay, the closer to bring you into fellowship, He has dispatched from His highest sphere the image of Himself to act the divine part among earthly scenes. He clothes Himself in the raiment of His Son; His Son puts on like passions and affections. He opens up the heart of Yahweh, and shows it wondrous tender to His fallen creatures. He opens up his own heart, and shows it devoted to death for their res­toration. He stretches out his hand, and disease and death flee away. He opens his lips, and loving-kindness drops upon the most sinful of men. Whosoever comes he cherishes with food, fetched from the storehouse of his creating word. He brings hope from beyond the dark grave, where she lay shrouded in mortality. Peace he conjures from the troubles of the most guilty breast. The mourner he anoints with the oil of joy. He comforts all that mourn. And what more can we say? But that, if the knowledge of death averted from your heads be joy, and the knowledge of offences forgiven be contentment, and the knowledge of Yahweh reconciled be peace, and of Paradise offered be glory, and the fountain of wisdom streaming forth be light, and strength ministered be life to the soul, then, verily, this peace, contentment, honor, and life is yours, Christian believers, through the revelation of Yahshua Christ, the Son of Yahweh.

But if you rather prefer the fortune of the brutes that perish, to look upon the light of the sun, and eat the provision of the day, to vegetate like a plant through the stages of life, and, like a plant, to drop where you grew, and perish from the memory of earth, having done noth­ing, desired nothing, and expected nothing beyond: If this you prefer to the other, then have you heard what you lose in the present; hear now what you lose in the future!

You lose Yahweh's presence, in which all creation rejoices. You lose Yahweh's capacity to bless you with His manifold blessings, which the cherubim and seraphim can speak of better than a fallen man. You lose the peace and perfect blessedness of the new earth, Paradise, which from this present earth we can hardly catch the vision of. Have you suffered spiritual oppression and drowning from fleshly appetites, freedom from this you lose. Have you groaned under the general bondage of the creation, and called for deliverance, this deliverance you lose. Have you conceived pictures of quiet and peaceful enjoyment amidst beautiful and re­freshing scenes, the realities of these you lose. Have you felt the ravishment of divine communion, when the conscious soul breathes its raptures, but cannot utter them, the everlasting enjoyment of these you lose. What Adam and Eve enjoyed within the unblemished Garden of Eden, with the presence of Yahweh, you lose. What Peter, James and John felt upon the Mount of Transfiguration, where they would have built tabernacles and remained forever, you lose. Can you, brethren, think of this world's fare with con­tentment? If you are wicked, how do your sins find you out, or overhang you with detection. If you are holy, how your desires outrun your performance, and your knowledge your power; how you fall, are faint, are back-sliding, are in darkness, are in doubt, are in dismay. You are not content with this world's fare, you long af­ter something higher and better; hence the perpetual cheer­ing of hope, and instigation of ambition, and thirst after novelty, and restlessness to better your condition. When man comes to wish, to expect to labor or care for nothing higher or better than his present condition, he is supreme­ly miserable. Yahweh has left these witnesses within our breasts out of whose mouth will say, "You strove after something happier." It was the labor of your life to reach it. I let down heaven's glory to your eager eyes. You put it away; therefore be it put away from your habitation for ever. Oh, ye who labor by toil and trouble to exalt your condition, will ye not exalt it far above the level of thrones or principalities, or any name that is named upon the earth."

Yet if emblems can assist you, then do you join in your imagination the emblems and pictures of Paradise. What are the conditions of its people? "Then shall they build houses, and dwell, in them,––And plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them."FN21 What is their enjoyment? "And it shall come to pass–That, before they call, I, will answer, And, while yet they, are speaking, I, will hear." What their haunts? "The wolf and the lamb, shall feed, in unity, And, the lion, as an ox, shall eat straw." What their employment? "And they shall dwell––every man––under his own vine and under his own fig–tree, with none to make them afraid,––for, the mouth of Yahweh of hosts, hath spoken;"FN22 living in the ec­stasies of melody, making music to Yahweh of Hosts, and to the Lamb for ever and ever. For guidance, the Lamb that is in the midst of them, shall lead them by rivers of living waters, and wipe away all tears from their eyes. For knowledge, they shall be like unto Yahweh, for. they shall know even as they are known. For vision and understanding, they shall see face to face, needing no intervention of language or of sign. For or­dinances through which the soul makes imperfect way to her Maker, there is no temple in the city of their habit­ation, for Yahweh Elohim of Host and the Lamb are the temple thereof. There shall be no night there, and they need no candle, neither light of the sun, for Yahweh of Host gives them light, and they shall reign for ever and ever, nay, the very sense has its gratifications in the City of Yahweh. The building of the wall is of jasper, the city of pure gold like unto clear glass; the foundation of the wall garnished with all manner of precious stones. Every one of the twelve gates are pearl.

Then, brethren, let me persuade you to make much of the volume which contains the password to the City of Yahweh, and without which it is hid both from your knowledge and your search. And if in this volume there be one truth more prize worthy than another, it is this, that Christ has set open to you the gates of the City, and that he alone is the way by which it is to be reached. He has gone before to prepare its mansions for your reception, and he will come again to those who look for his appearing. For his sake be ye reconciled to Yahweh, that ye may have a right to the tree of life, and enter by the gate into the City.

What you have written is hard for me to believe. What do I do now?
Keep seeking. Yahweh promises that if you ask, He will answer. This is a small article, and so obviously it cannot cover everything. Get a literal Bible, such as the Emphasized Rotherham Bible and read it for yourself. We must accept the fact that we are unyielding, thoughtless and deceived before we can improve our present state. The Word of Yahweh is the truth and it will set you free!

Suggested first time readings in the Bible, which consist of only 70 pages. Read them in this order: Gospel of Luke, Acts, Romans, 1 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and 1 Thessalonians.
For more information contact: www.teleiosministries.com

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