Categories
Apostolic Writings Appointments With God Prophets and Writings Tabernacles

Bear fruit of righteousness to enter the Kingdom of God

God requires us to “bear fruit.” This is not optional. Yeshua got so angry at the Pharisees because of their failure to produce righteousness that he said God would give the kingdom of God to another nation that produces it.

Categories
Apostolic Writings Discussions

Galatians 1:10–3:29: God’s declaring believers righteous determines membership in ‘His people’ rather than observance of His law

Galatians in general and chapters 2 and 3 in particular frequently are used to prove that observing the Law isn’t required for believers. However, the discussion of “justification” and “works of [the] law” in this passage reinforces that the real problem was excluding “justified” believers in God and His Messiah from membership in Israel, whose constitution is the Law of God.

Categories
Apostolic Writings Discussions

Acts 9:32-46 — Peter demonstrates imputed holiness, righteousness, ‘greater Israel’

Continuing the study of “the saints” in Acts 9:32, we learn that righteousness and holiness are gifts of God. Peter’s healings, including baptism of the dead, show that the “commonwealth of Israel” isn’t a new Israel but a more inclusive Israel.

Categories
Discussions Torah

Genesis 13 — ‘righteous’ Lot chooses to live near Sodom

Many have faulted Lot for choosing the good land on the plains near what later became known as the condemned city of Sodom, yet he really was “veiled righteousness” on display in the city. Abram’s choice of places to settle also had lasting consequences.