What the Gospel is truly telling Christians!
THE GOSPEL
What the Gospel is truly telling Christians!
Also, the Gospel Criterion for Salvation
The comments in “The Dialog” are of Jody Britt and Steve Marlowe (M. Div.)
Recorded Meeting at a Bible study in a Coffee Shop, Redlands, CA.
THE DIALOG
Rev. Steve Marlowe: “Greetings! One and all, thank you Jody Britt for your participation in this dialog, and to the listening audience for your consideration in what I consider a very important topic. Many have now become familiar with the subject of “there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”Again, many thanks to Jody Britt for his comments in what we are calling: “The Dialog.” The Gospel of our Lord and Savior gives instructions, warnings, and commandments necessary for our salvation from a sinful world full of death and woe. Since we know that the name Jesus has only existed since the 17th century, I will use the name revealed from heaven. Let us begin with the testimony of the apostle Peter, found in Acts 4:8-12, “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: If we this day are judged for a good deed doneto a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of YAHSHUA the Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
This is the key to our discussion, “There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Apparently, in our modern English versions of the Bible, the name Jesus is the one name by which we must be saved, and there is no other. And, so it is the majority of Christians would agree that the name of “Jesus” is the “one and only” name by which we must be saved, however, we have only to go back to the 17th century to find a different name with a different pronunciation and a different spelling. The evidence for the change is found in the King James Version written in the year 1611 CE, where we find not “Jesus” (pronounced: “gee-sus”), but the name “Iesus” (pronounced: “ee-sus”). History will show that Iesus, of the Latin language, comes from the Greek name “Iesous,” which is a transliteration of the Aramaic name “Yeshua.”
I submit that a revealed name from Heaven cannot be changed by the linguistics of mankind. I further submit, that these names, “Jesus, Iesus, and Iesous,” are substitute names not revealed from God, and therefore, these names are counterfeits. I believe that within the Bible the true revealed name of salvation can be found. The basis for my belief is Acts 4:8-12, and this last statement is conclusive, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” This last statement alone precludes the names of Jesus, Iesus, and Iesous.”
Jody Britt: “Steve, in ch. 4 verses 10-12 of Acts, “...let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” In this we are in complete agreement; however, are these verses saying someone can name their dog ‘Jesus Christ,’ and thereby call upon it to be saved? Perhaps, if their name was Timmy, and they had fallen down a well this dog could lassie its way to retrieving help. No bit of hyperbole though indeed the name has power. It is in the one name that the power and authority, actually resides. And yes, I believe to call one’s dog ‘Jesus Christ’ would be using His name vainly.
Notice that most translators use ‘Jesus Christ’ in their translations. I see no evidence of foul play for it is adapted in many other words going from the Greek to modern English. Would a Hebrew person of Jesus’ time pronounce His name Jesus? No, most probably he heard it pronounced ‘Iesous’ in the common mercantile language of the day, which was Greek. He would also hear it as YAHSHUA from fellow Hebrews in some settings but remember the language of the time was Hellenistic Greek. I’m also reminded of the early Christians who used the Ichthus, which is Greek for fish, as an acrostic and symbol, which is IXOYE, that is Iota, Chi, Theta, Upsilon, Sigma, which uses the Iota for Iesous and obviously in identification with Jesus Christ. These letters represent Jesus Christ, God, Son, and Savior.”
Steve Marlowe: “Based on your introductory statements, you hold to the name Jesus, because it is a common translation. You have admitted that ‘It is in the one name that the power and authority, actually resides.’ You also have admitted that people of Christ’s day would not have called Him ‘Jesus,’ but would have heard ‘Iesous,’ due to the common mercantile language of the day, which was Greek. But then, you say, ‘...from fellow Hebrews in some settings they would hear ‘YAHSHUA.’ I believe what you are saying is that the name does not matter how it is pronounced, which seems to be a common sentiment among Christians. It seems Christians are blinded to the stark changes in the one name given, that is revealed, by which we must be saved due to an attributed authority given to languages and tradition which makes void the revelation of God. People focus on the pronunciation and not on the clear changes in the very name of our Savior. Does one’s language override the very revelation of God? So far as the Ichthys is concerned, which I find as a sidebar, however, for clarification purposes, the first evidence of the Ichthys is in the late 2nd century. Looking further online, the symbol's use among Christians had become popular by the late 2nd century, and its use spread widely in the 3rd and 4th centuries, as noted in the Book by Rasimus, T., Revisiting the Ichthys: A Suggestion Concerning the Origins of Christological Fish Symbolism, Pp 327-348, 2011.According to tradition, ancient Christians, during their persecution by the Roman Empire in the first few centuries after Christ, used the fish symbol to mark meeting places and tombs or to distinguish friends from foes. According to an article written in Christianity Today, by Elesha Coffman, “When a Christian met a stranger on the road, the Christian sometimes drew one arc of the simple fish outline in the dirt. If the stranger drew the other arc, both believers knew they were in good company.” As you said, In Koine Greek, which translates into English as 'Iesus, Christ, God's, Son, Savior':
Iota (i), Iēsoûs (Ἰησοῦς), and Iesus, and by the 17th century Jesus.
Chi (ch), Khrīstós (Χρῑστός), meaning: Christ "anointed."
Theta (th), Theoû (Θεοῦ), "of God", the genitive singular of Θεóς, Theós, "God"
Ypsilon (y or u), (h)uiós (Yἱός), "Son"
Sigma (s), sōtḗr (Σωτήρ), "Savior"
My question is, since the Iota (i) is removed, does the Ichthus represent the name Jesus?
Jody Britt: “If people are asked who is Jesus? This is an excellent question to ask. They are typically knowledgeable enough to respond ‘lunatic, liar, or LORD.’ This is the name known to almost every language on earth as the real question regarding salvation. When people come to salvation, it is the name Jesus Christ who was associated with the love and grace that enveloped them and His love and voice they respond to. We would be equally in grave error and arrogance to claim that all those saved in the name of Jesus Christ are in error and not truly saved.”
Steve Marlowe: “I wonder if Christians take the warnings in the Gospel seriously. Let us look at the warning in Matthew 7. We read, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad isthe way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13-14). YAHSHUA is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and His name is salvation, and few there be that find it. We all agree that there is only one name by which we must be saved, but then many of us fall into the linguistic trap, which produces many changes and alternate names never revealed by God. YAHSHUA has made it clear on the Cross, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34). I do not seek to judge who will be saved, or who will not be saved, however, there are clear warnings in the Gospel that people do not heed, or dismiss them as about someone else. I think that is a mistake. In Luke 24, we read, “Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (Luke 24:46-47). And I emphasize, “that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations…” Did the apostles and disciples preach from Jerusalem in the name of Jesus? the answer is no. Did they preach the gospel in the name of Iesus? again, the answer is no. Did they teach and preach the gospel in the name of Iesous? The disciples who knew the Messiah personally never called Him ‘Iesous.’ The apostles, including Peter, never testified to the name Iesous, let alone Jesus. Well, Iesous is a transliteration of the name Yeshua, so did they preach the gospel in the name of Yeshua? My strong belief is that they preached in the name of YAHSHUA, but many may have interpreted YAHSHUA as Yeshua, as this was the common Aramaic name they would have been familiar with, and so it goes they heard Yeshua, and many scholars today recognize the name Yeshua as His actual name. I do believe it is an error to reject the revealed name of YAHSHUA for the erroneous names Jesus, Iesus, or Iesous, as we are warned in John 3:18, “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” Christians who reject the name YAHSHUA, I believe strongly, are in jeopardy. There is one revealed name by which we must be saved, which cannot be subject to the linguistics of mankind, as the apostle Paul heard the name revealed in Hebrew, as he testified, “And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am YAHSHUA, whom you are persecuting” (Acts 26:14-15). ‘Jesus’ is not a Hebrew name, and so he wrote to the Philippians about the name he heard when he encountered YAHSHUA on the road to Damascus, for he writes, “...and thatevery tongue should confess that YAHSHUA theChrist is LORD, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:11). The languages of mankind do not supersede the revelation of the LORD.
Jody Britt: “This is no different than those claiming a baptism without full immersion or performed not in moving waters, or the precise phrase of the Father, the Holy Ghost, and Jesus Christ, are not saved. Now, we get crazed over minutia like mint, dill, and cumin. (quoting Matthew 23:13-24) “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.
“Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform it.’ Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold? And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obliged to perform it.’ Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift? Therefore he who swears by the altar, swears by it and by all things on it. He who swears by the temple, swears by it, and by Him who dwells in it. And he who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits on it. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!” But one may run the same embarrassment of being faced by Christ and asked, ‘Why have you lost sight of the weightier things?’ Also, God is not bound by our definitions, translations, or expectations. He is! Regardless of any supposed, ‘changes to the very revealed name of God’, as you say. His nature, His attributes, His glory, His power, His name, and all that makes Him, God is not lessened in the slightest by anything His creatures could say or do. He is not dependent upon nor bound by His creation. He is not more or less per the opinions of any creature.
Steve Marlowe: Forgive me, but I fail to see how your misapplication of Scripture proves your point on the subject at hand. I am not advocating the traditions of men deserving of woes. I am, as you quoted, advocating the revelation of the Lord, namely, the revealed name of our Savior. The importance of which, as it is written, “For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13), which, you seem to be calling minutia. Does God accept the gods, or idols we create? Do we sinners get to ‘make up’ a name not revealed from God, and call ourselves saved? Do we not live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God? I honestly do not understand how we can get around and ignore this emphatic statement: “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Is this not what the Sadducees and Pharisees were doing abiding by their traditions, which were never revealed by God? Now, Christians are holding to names of salvation, which were never revealed by God, namely, Jesus, Iesus, and Iesous. What part of “there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved,” that we do not understand? There is a revealed name, YAHSHUA, and there are no other names like Jesus, Iesus, or Iesous, by which we are to be saved. The name of salvation is revealed in Hebrew, and not to be transliterated into an entirely different name by the power of the tongue of man, which makes void the revelation of God. The prophet Isaiah identified the name YAH as the essential name of salvation, for we read, “Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; ‘For Yah, the Lord, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation’” (Isaiah 12:2 NKJV). The Hebrew expression of Halleluyah, meaning, “Praise YAH!” And this is the very name, YAH, that was revealed to Moses. “Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?” And God said to Moses, “HaYAH Ashar HaYAH” [translated: “I AM WHO I AM.”] And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM {translated: YAH} has sent me to you.’ Moreover, God said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: ‘The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations” (Exodus 3:13-15). YaHaWaH and the essential part YAH is forever. The Savior, Himself, told the people, that He is YAH, when He said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM {YAH}” (John 8:58). Christ told them that He is YAH, their very God, and so they picked up stones to stone Him, for what they thought was blasphemy. The only name of the Savior is YAHSHUA, and there is no other name.
Jody Britt: Yes, the Old Testament as we call it, or Tanaka in Hebrew, was indeed mostly written in Hebrew, but the New Testament was written in Greek. The Old Testament had been translated into Greek as well and most of our Bible translations are derived from the oldest and most trusted of these translations. Other names like El Shaddai are not ‘simply substitutes,’ they are revealed descriptions of His attributes and are of awesome importance. This is how God reveals Himself, not only to the Hebrews but to us as well. ‘Salvation is of the Jews,’ ‘...believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He” (John 4:21-26). As I would attempt to explain to my dear old Granny, yes, Jesus Christ was very much a Jew. The O.T. Scriptures have outlined what to expect in a Messiah but also why we need one. The O.T. amazingly reveals the Creator to His creation, His plans to those who love Him, and that ultimately His Son would come from the Jews. Yes, salvation is from the Jews, but not the Hebrew language itself, nor any magic word. It’s found in the Word made flesh in Jesus Christ.
Steve Marlowe: “Well, I certainly do not believe that ‘El Shaddai’ is ‘simply a substitute’ name.’ El Shaddai is a descriptive name, but not the personal name of the Lord. And reading from “Names of God Bible (NOG),” As God “...spoke to Moses, ‘I am Yahweh.’ I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as El Shadday, but I didn’t make myself known to them by my name, Yahweh” (Exodus 6:2-3). There is essentially one name for God, which is YAH (HaYAH ‘the I AM’), as we praise this name, YAH, by the expression: ‘Halleluyah!’ Praise YAH, God has a personal name, and the name YAH is “the name which is above every name.” The apostle Paul on the road to Damascus heard the name YAH, in the name of our Savior, as ‘shua’ means ‘my help’, as in ‘salvation,’ and therefore the apostle Paul acknowledged, ‘YAH, the name which is above every name,’ and shua, as he heard ‘YAHSHUA’. He, the apostle Paul, wrote in Philippians 2:9, “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name…” So, is this name, YAHSHUA, to be restricted to Hebrew, and transliterated to an entirely different name devoid of its true meaning in another language, NO! The apostle Paul further stated, “...and that every tongue should confess that YAHSHUA the Christ is LORD, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:11). As has been stated, the name Jesus has only existed in its present form since the 17th century, and therefore was never revealed by God, and consequently, the apostles in the 1st century, and the believers in the centuries preceding up to the 17th century, never heard of the name ‘Jesus.’ The Hebrew Scriptures give testimony to the name which is above every name, as the only essential name for our salvation, therefore, the only name by which we must be saved is YAHSHUA. The name YAHSHUA has this meaning: YAH, I AM, and shua, for salvation, which is I AM Salvation. The name of Jesus has no etymological meaning relating to salvation nor does its origin pertain to any historical development of words and their meanings whatsoever regarding salvation, nor does Iesus or Iesous. Are adherents to one of these names going to cry out unto salvation by a name devoid of any meaning to God? And if so, are they not thereby denying the true name of salvation, and not heeding the warnings contained in the gospel? “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18). The sentiment, that it is about the Person and not about the Name, is a sentiment not per the Word of God, and thereby goes against the warnings found in the Gospel.”
Jody Britt: “I like the Hebrew Spring, the Greek Stream, and the Latin Pool, as the saying goes, but your use discredits the care of the scribes, who took care, by the power of the Holy Ghost to protect God’s Word. I would find the analogy best suited for the cultural additions and trappings laid onto associated religions and their commentaries. The Good News is that we are not saved by religion, traditions, or works of any creature. Salvation is by faith alone in the life death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh. Scripture itself has proven faithful against all its adversaries time and again.”
Steve Marlowe: “Another way to keenly look at the saying, is that the pure Hebrew Spring is corrupted along the way by the Greek Stream, and stagnates in the filth of the Latin Pool. I deny, that my use of Scripture discredits the care of the Hebrew scribes, and I do not discredit the power of the Holy Spirit to protect God’s Word. If the name of salvation was not important then the Scriptures would not give testimony to the Person of Christ and the revealed name given under heaven as both essential to our salvation for all believers (Acts 4:12). When the Jews translated the Hebrew Bible into the Greek language, called the Septuagint, the name of God was obscured, as YHWH became the Greek name for Lord, ‘Kurios.’ Ever since the Babylonian invasion of Judea (circa 587 BCE), the Jews have sought to hide the name from the Gentles to prevent them from being able to profane the name of God. In the synagogues, the Jews were careful to use only titles for God, for example, ‘Adonay’ (meaning Lord), ‘HaShem’ (meaning ‘the name’), and ‘El Shaddai’ (‘God Almighty’). To this day, many do not realize, that ‘the LORD’ in our English Bibles represents God’s name ‘YHWH,’ as in Hebrew consonants of Yod, Hey, Waw, Hey, which is known as the Tetragrammaton, as the Hebrew words were absent of vowels in the Scriptures. When the readers in the synagogues would read Hebrew word to Hebrew word, they would invariably come to the name YHWH of God and attempt to pronounce it forgetting to say, “Adonai,” instead. To remind the reader to say, “Adonay,” instead, the Rabbis would take the vowels, [as vowels did exist, just not in the Holy Writ], from these Hebrew words, ‘Adonay’ [a-o-ay], and ‘Eloah’, meaning God [e-o-a], and Elohim, meaning Gods [e-o-i]. When the Roman Catholic Church would persecute Jews, raid their synagogues, and take their gold and their Holy Scriptures, they would place these Scriptures in their libraries where scholars would study them. Some Hebrew Scriptures use the vowels of Adonay, others use the vowels of Eloah, and still others would use the vowels of Elohim. Jews living in different areas, although doing the same practice of adding vowels, would use Eloah more frequently while in other areas they used Elohim or Adonay. Raymondus Martini was a 13th-century Dominican friar and theologian. He is remembered for his polemic work Pugio Fidei (c. 1270 CE). He was aware of the vowels placed onto the Tetragrammaton, but he did not know that these vowels were added from another word, specifically ‘Eloah.’ The vowels of Eloah placed onto YHWH, which in Latin became IHVH, caused the hybrid name IeHoVaH. The Dominican theologian did not know of the practice of the Jews to place vowels from other words onto God's, that is the four consonants, of His name for the sole purpose of reminding the reader to say, “Adonay,” instead of pronouncing the name of God. He believed Iehovah was God’s actual name, but he was mistaken. Petrus Galatinus was an Italian Friar, philosopher, theologian, and Orientalist, he also held the office of provincial in the province of Bari, and that of penitentiary under Pope Leo X. He came across in the Vatican Library the Hebrew Scriptures, and he too, saw Hebrew vowel points around the Tetragrammaton, and he too did not know that these vowels e-o-a in Hebrew were from the word Eloah. Galatinus believed he found the name of God. He wrote his chief work De Arcanis Catholicae Veritatis, at the request of the pope, the emperor, and other dignitaries, in 1516, and he also put what he thought was the name of God in his book, ‘Iehovah.’ It was in the 17th century that the letter ‘J’ was officially added to the English alphabet, which in English, Iehovah became Jehovah, a name never revealed by God. There are more numerous examples of the vowels of Eloah upon the Tetragrammaton more than any of the other two words, Adonay, and Elohim, combined. With the addition of the letter ‘J’, the names of Iehovah and Iesus changed to Jehovah and Jesus. Recently, a Karite Jew, by the name of Nehemia Gordon found numerous examples of these vowels upon the Tetragrammaton, and he began propagating the name Yehovah (YHVH), thus perpetuating the false name.
Jody Britt: “Now I had to look up Nehemia Gordon, who appears as a wolf in a sheep’s masquerade, attempting to draw believers, especially Messianic believers, away from Truth and Christ. The guy isn’t worth time aside from saying, ‘Yuck,’ and having nothing to do with him. The Tetragrammawhatits (being silly on purpose) is simply a great example of human error, and failed logic. But, also, a testimony to how most adapt when presented with the truth. Yes, many old preachers will still fall back on saying, ‘Jehovah,’ just as many will continue to misspell or pronounce other words even though they know better. Happens to us all and don’t feel a need to correct every slip-up. Jehovah’s Witnesses make this especially funny due to the fact they claim their founder to have been a prophet with the unquestionable gift of prophecy, tongues, and prophetic utterances like his translation of an Egyptian shopping list transforming it into a Book of Joseph, and other such nonsense.
I appreciate your patience on this. I know this is something you feel passionate about, but I disagree with many of your assertions and regard it as a bit legalistic. Regarding, hiding God’s name from the Gentiles by using the wrong vowel points is an odd assumption. Most believe this was done to simply avoid misusing the name of God vainly in casual reading. It came from both a legalistic view of Scripture and a high opinion of God. It was a reminder to the reader to say, ‘LORD,’ rather than YHWH, and risk breaking the Law. Perhaps, some saw this as a way of protecting Gentiles from sin, or even thinking Gentiles as unworthy, but I’ve never seen evidence only assumptions. Yet again, we see a human legalistic tool that confuses and distances people from God. The Jew’s devotion to the letter of law over the spirit of the Word of God led them to many errors. I believe this is much the same. We worship Him in Spirit and Truth and He knows the deepest groan and sigh of our hearts. There was once one language and perhaps it was Hebrew, though we can’t know this. Since Babel, there have been many languages and many peoples and God’s word has been translated to almost every one. Some translations are better than others, and occasionally there is a fringe version that should never been, but there is enough honest and historical scholarship to refute the errors and these errors are few and well documented. But that’s not the same as being dependent upon knowing a particular language, culture, or particular word to be saved, and that’s where the logic of your thesis attempts to flow upstream.”
Steve Marlowe: “In Christian theology, ‘legalism’ is used as a pejorative, or kind of put down, against anyone making a prerequisite for salvation, whether that prerequisite is from God or man. The term, Legalist, is applied to one who holds to the idea that "by doing good works or by obeying the law, a person earns and merits salvation. Early believers in Christ thought to impose circumcision upon new Gentile believers, or they would not be saved. I submit, that there must be a clear distinction between what man stipulates and what God commands. If in 1 Corinthians 11, God commands the wearing of head coverings in worship for women, and we reject this teaching, we are in sin because we are rejecting the Word of God." Citing Philippians 2:12, as stated that the term "legalist" has been often applied incorrectly to those following biblical directives. In the same vein, when there is something in what a person says, that churches don't like, they call it 'legalism'. The Pharisees and Sadducees, as described in the Gospels, are often regarded in general by Christians as legalists. Historically, many Christian New Testament scholars attacked Judaism for supposedly being ‘legalistic.’ Legalism is when mankind, or a church, places a prerequisite upon one’s salvation, however, when God places a prerequisite, it is not considered legalistic, nor is one a legalist who points out to one God’s stipulation and commandments that lead to salvation. Consider Matthew 7:21-23, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” God has laid out the Way to forgiveness of sins, redemption, and salvation through the Person and name of His Son. There will be those on the Day of Judgment, who will expect to be received, but will be told to “depart.” Many will cry out, ‘Lord, Lord,’ thinking that they belong and that they have done work in His name, indicating why they thought they would be received, and so, they cried out ‘Lord, Lord’, but the Lord says to ‘depart,’ so they gave a rebuttal, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?” But to no avail, He still tells them to depart. When I have witnessed in the true and only name of salvation, YAHSHUA, and tell many that this is the only name of Salvation and that there is no other, they feel no need to listen because they feel more assured that Christ will accept them, however, as the Lord has rightly judged, they are “workers of Lawlessness,” in that they are really a law unto themselves. It is not by the determination of God’s will, but really by their own will. They choose their own doctrines, and then they go their own way. When I tell them His name is YAHSHUA, and this is the only name of salvation, they say, “I know Jesus, and I have seen demons cast out in the name of Jesus!” I doubt that this is the case. The demon has but to be still, but holding, and remain in possession of the person. As Satan is a great deceiver (Revelation 12:9). If the Savior wanted us to rely on casting out demons and witnessing wonders as the determining factor for belief, then why did He say, “A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” And He left them and departed” (Matthew 16:4).
In conclusion, I want to thank Jody Britt, and all who thought to hear this “The Dialog.”
