Your Life, Your Duty, Your Responsibility
It is Your Life
Rebirth
It is Your Life
Philippians 2:12 "... work out your own salvation with fear and trembling
By Your servant and His, Dan L Baxley
Answering the question, asked by the First Believers --
What Shall We Do?
In the beginning of this Website (1998), it has been the purpose not to tell others how to live. This website was aimed at those who already had some king of religious base and were first, seeking. A second purpose was to let those who found themselves being shunned for having deviated from the popular teachings but most of all, to introduce the true Identity of our Savior. After years, decades, there has been a continuing line of emails asking what to do. It has taken many decades to understand this question and seeing that this is a fair question, a question that should be answered. As usual, the answer will not be the one most expect. I and my brother have had many years to ponder and work through what it is to be a Follower of YaHshua. You asked, and so did those brothers and sisters in the first century -- what must we do?
(Act 2:37) When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"(Act 2:38) Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the Name of YaHshua the Christ (Anointed) for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Not just repentance and baptism but in the Name of YaHshua. The Prophet John, called for repentance and baptism, to get people to turn from their evil ways. Johns Baptism is called, the Baptism of Repentance, but that is not complete. Yes, it changes lives and makes for better people but it is not a complete baptism. One of the reasons the enemy has covered up the true Identity of our Savior is to keep as many as possible from completing the Baptism that leads to eternity, something only can be attained by and through YaHshua, the Son of the Living God. The First Born -- more on that later -- but for now, focus on this event and the instruction.
The crowd gathered around and hearing the Apostle Peter (Cephas) speak were stunned and confused and in a state of guilt, and asked, "What are we to do"? Word this anyway you want, it it all the same question, a question we hear today. Too many think they already have the answer, or never give it much thought, thinking it is all figured out, but it is not. Many professing Christians have repented from their sins and their previous life styles, or way of thinking, and have been baptized, but very, very few have been baptized into His Name. Certainly, most have been baptized into a name, but not His Name. There are other problems with Christianity, but this is the number one issue and until this is understood and resolved, the ability to see the paganism behind modern Christianity cannot be fully understood.
The importance of knowing and acknowledging His Name, the Name He was given at birth cannot be overstated. All we need do is to hear the first message, the first sermon delivered on that first Pentecost after the Resurrection of our Messiah and Savior, YaHshua. How important is it that we have the right name?
(Act 2:21) And everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved.'
And what were the Apostles, after the first mass baptisms, teaching?
(Act 4:1-2) The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. They were greatly disturbed because the Apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in YaHshua the resurrection of the dead.
Nothing about restoring the Old Covenant, nothing at all. No mention about keeping this or that covenant agreement, and agreement the Israelis had broken over and over again and not realizing that they had, as a people, been divorced by their God, YaHWeH, the actual person of YaHshua, in His previous Glory, before coming in the Flesh -- by whom everything was and has been created -- Hebrew 1:1-3.
Recap:
There you have it, Peter gives the Key to being saved -- calling on Him, by Name, not some arbitrary title, a title that has been given to many others, but by His Birth Name, a Name that YaHshua says belongs to His Father --John 5:43, Mt 12:21 , a Name given to Him by His Father, even before He was born, given to Joseph and Mary, to name Him -- luke 1:31 -- your bible probably says, Jesus, but that is wrong and a lie. The name, Jesus, never existed until about 400 years ago, it certainly did not exist at the time of our Lord's birth. No, the Angel from Heaven, Gabriel, told Mary and Joseph to Name Him YaHshua. In the old English that name was Joshua, and that name is with us to this very day and in the Hebrew/Jewish form, YaHshua, existed during the time of Moses and belong to the man that would ultimately lead the chosen people, Israel, into the Kingdom, the Promised Land. That is the name our Lord and Savior was named and that is the Name in and under which the Apostles all preached and taught.
While Peter told everyone, literally giving them the Key to Salvation, that was not enough, the people seemed deaf to what Peter (Cephas) had just said and asked, What shall we do? Peter obliged them in their request and told them what to do --... Go and be baptized in His Name ..., but first, repent, repent of your sins -- a kind of reboot.
Three things to do. Three things in answer to that question, What are we to do? #1 Believe in His Name. #2 Repent, and #3 Be baptized into His name. What to do? First things first, is to believe in His Name, the name that Identifies Him from all others that may be called gods or savior, but are not really. To the world, it would seem, any name will do, but in reality the names the world calls on are all fakes and frauds and are names to other gods that are no gods. Think about it, the false name, Jesus, is pronounced by many in the world, as Heyzeus, which is to say, The Zeus. The Latin name from which the name Jesus was born, was Iesvs, pronounced by many as Isis -- just listen to some priest of Roman speaking prayers in the old Latin and you hear exactly that.
So, what to do? Believe on Him. Who? Him, YaHshua, and no other. Then what, Profess your belief in Him as the First Fruit, the First Born (resurrected) of God the Father. And after that? Repent of your sins. And then go and be baptized into that name you have confessed to be the Son of the Living God, having come in the flesh. You do not "repent" of your sins to me or anyone else, but to Him, to the One whom you have sinned against. So, what is Sin. We will get into that more, later, but for now, suffice it to say that it is any wrong action or wrong thought you have ever had in your life -- yes, even wrong or sinful thoughts. Remember, all of these first converts were all there, at Pentecost to observe Torah (The Law), and yet, Peter's message was to repent. Major observers of Torah are being told to Repent? More on that later, as well, but for now, if you continue in this series of articles, about, what to do, this will be covered in more detail.
The way to Salvation and What then?
Of course, we know that there are different levels after Salvation -- really, this should not be overlooked -- not all Saving or Eternal rewards are the same, there are differences, not everyone is equal. For example: The 144,000, a specialized group of those Saved. These are those called out of each of the Israeli families, known to us as the 12 Tribes. There will be a slected number, 12,000 form each, resurrected, 144,000 in total, who will be with YaHshua, in person, and go wherever He goes -- His entourage, you might say -- Make no mistake, our Savior and Creator are not done with Israel/Judah -- He did not call them to fail, but fail they did, and still He is going to save them, and this is but the beginning, as our Lord and Savior, YaHshua, prepares Himself to meet the Bride, as you will see.
The Apostle John is given a vision and direction as if in real time and then reports on what he saw and what was revealed to him -- I will quote from the NIV as it seems to have the clearest voice in this matter and need no great interpretation or interpreter:
(Rev 14:1) Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with Him 144,000 who had His Name and His Father's Name written on their foreheads. NIV
(Rev 14:4) These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they kept themselves pure. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among men and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb. NIV (Note: These are either virgin males, or those who have not defiled themselves with other religions -- religions are often symbolized as a woman or women. Either way, these are all Israelis, from each of the Tribes or Families of Israel)
And then, there is that other group of people, from every nation and language who are also Saved and entering into eternity -- another revelation comes after the 144,000 are mentioned, after that special number of those called out, those from among the Tribes of Israel, privileged to travel with our Savior, YaHshua, wherever He may go, they go -- but, there is another larger group, or collection of people, another special group:
(Rev 7:9) After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. NIV
And who are these? To be specific, we are told that these are those who come out of the Great Tribulation, or time of Trouble. Apparently, those who have gone through the Tribulation Period and kept their Faith and confession in YaHshua. I know, others want this to be expanded into including all of Christianity, but this just does not fit what is written. One thing that it does reveal, is that this Tribulation is a worldwide event, not just some local Trouble, but a time of Trouble and Tribulation for the whole population of the world.
(Rev 7:13) Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes-- who are they, and where did they come from?"(Rev 7:14) I answered, "Sir, you know." And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Is there more than one Great Tribulation? Or is it talking about the one to come? Certainly the First Congregation in YaHshua, endured persecution and even more so later, but is that the Great Tribulation or is this Tribulation still to come? It would seem that these are a special group, a group recognized after the selection of the 144,000 are revealed, which should lead us into the timing of this Great Tribulation as something still in the works. What about those who have endured in their confession, even unto death, From the Cross to now? We and they, are the Guest, those invited to the Wedding Feast
(Mat 9:14) Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?"(Mat 9:15) And YaHshua said to them, "Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.
That's right, the Disciples are identified as the Guest to the wedding and YaHshua, the bridegroom. In the following verse you will notice that the Bride has made herself ready and yet, there are Guests in attendance. The Guest, are not the Bride, the Bride is identified as the Heavenly Jerusalem -- just something to remember -- when we see something in parenthesis, the words between are added and not correct, in this case.
(Rev 19:6) Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.(Rev 19:7) Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready.
(Rev 19:8) Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)(Rev 19:9) Then the angel said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!' " And he added, "These are the true words of God."
Letting the Revealed words identify, for us, just who the Bride is, we go to the Word --
(Rev 21:2) I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem (YaHshalom), coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
There you have it. YaHshua is the bridegroom, and the Heavenly Jerusalem is the Bride and most others are the guests. Not to forget, His entourage is the 144,000, all Israelis. Then there will be those coming out of the Great Tribulation, which has not happened yet, and these are privileged to be right in front of the Throne area. and then at the Wedding Feast the Guest, all those invited in by their confession -- some of the first, being last and some of the last, being first -- Revelation 7:9-12 -- for the context and
(Rev 7:9) After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.(Rev 7:10) And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."(Rev 7:11-12) All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: "Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!"
(Rev 7:13) Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes-- who are they, and where did they come from?"(Rev 7:14) I answered, "Sir, you know." And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.(Rev 7:15) Therefore, "they are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will spread His tent over them.
This reveal comes after the 144,000 are identified. Following that reveal we see a great number standing before the Lamb who we know is YaHshua. Salvation is declared, and coming from both God the Father and the Son, the Lamb. Everyone round about the Throne bow down in worship toward God the Father and the Lamb, YaHshua. This vision is massive, crammed into just a few verses -- a population of resurrected, coming out of the Great Tribulation, that time of trouble, yet to come (Rev 3:10-22), from every nation and tongue and the 144,000 are there too, along with all of the Elders of Heaven, and the Angels and the spirit beasts. What follows this? The Wedding Feast, as we previously noted and referenced earlier -- Rev 19. Something should be considered -- these events appear to be a separate event from the Wedding Feast. This gathering around the Throne appears to be taking place in Heaven. All the rules, overcome and over thrown, as those coming out of the Great Tribulation and the those counted among the 144,000 are taken to Heaven and going before the Throne of God the Father and the Lamb, YaHshua. The Wedding Feast, appears to take place on this Earth. The Father is not present, but the Son is, and He is the Bridegroom, waiting to meet His Bride which has been prepared in Heaven, the New Jerusalem, coming down --
The Wedding Feast: YaHshua, the Lamb, also identified as the Bridegroom is on Earth and going in to the Wedding Feast and the "guests" of the Bridegroom, are invited in to the Feast, and we have already seen who these "guests" are. Yes, many individuals have sacrifice their own lives for YaHshua, in keeping the Faith. It would appear, however, that the 144,000 and those having come out of the Great Tribulation are collected as a group or collective and have suffered in masse. While some believers may not have had the opportunity to pay the ultimate price in their journey of overcoming, but will be invited in to the Feast just the same. Some of the first to come to the Messiah YaHshua, will be last to enter, so to speak, while some, many, of the last to enter, will be granted the special position at the head of the line and will be first. This is a principle our Lord YaHshua revealed to us and his Disciples, long ago.(Rev 21:9) One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb."(Rev 21:10) And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of Heaven from God (the Father).
(Mar 10:29-30) I tell you the truth, YaHshua replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for Me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields--and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.(Mar 10:31) But many who are first will be last, and the last first."
We have already read about how the first to hear the official, Gospel Message, at the Frist Pentecoste after the Resurrection and Ascension or YaHshua, First Born Son of the Living God and Father of all. Before that message, our Savior revealed other things, things that reached outside of the typical thinking so ingrained into the Jewish communities. Seeking to know YaHshua's teaching, He was asked straight out -- I paraphrase the attitude of that moment -- "Okay, big shot, tell us what is the "work" our God requires?" -- we go to the Word;
What? The WORK of GOD is to "believe"? Yes, to Believe in the ONE He SENT! So, do you believe? Then Repent and be you baptized into His Name, by His Name, professing His Name, a Name that signifies who the Son of the Living God is, and also declares who the Father is.John 6:28 Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?"John 6:29 YaHshua answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one He has sent."AGAIN:(Act 2:21) And everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved.'
(Act 2:37) When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"
An Additional Blessing(Act 2:38) Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the Name of YaHshua the Christ (Anointed) for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
John 20:29 YaHshua said to him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen, and have believed."
Please make a mental note -- many people become confused by the simplicity that is found in the YaHshua confession. Not only among those coming into the realization that most of Christian Doctrine and confessions are based on pagan doctrine. Adding to this mix of truth and error are the wolves who have been roaming freely among the flock for centuries, appearing to be what they are not -- even teaching doctrines of devils -- 1 Tim 4:1.
It is only natural to ask, What do we do now? Many are those deceived and being deceived that happily to lead those who will listen into some form of captivity, using their favorite chains of doctrine, binding the unsuspecting seeker into a certain way of thinking that seems right, but under closer examination, proves to be a trap. Once entrapped, it is very difficult to break out, it nearly takes an "act of God", so to speak -- even from the tamest of religious causes or orders, there is a brand, a flavor, for just about every seeker -- and being a seeker we have to ask, What are we seeking? Some want stability, and find it in religion. But, some seekers are looking for answers, searching their own minds, looking, instinctively, for that freedom YaHshua, the Messiah of the Hebrew/Christian Bible, offers. If you continue to seek, continue to challenge, holding those behind the pulpit, be literally or not, accountable with hard questions -- testing every spirit by the word, that is the instruction, not just to us, but to everyone.
1 John 4:1 -- Beloved, don't believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of the FATHER, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Yes, you may find yourself on the outside and asking, What do I do now? This is the question I hope to answer in this first of many articles to follow.
If you are moved to confess YaHshua as your savior, the One and Only Savior and seek baptism -- you know, the first converts did not dally, they did not seek out a preacher of someone they think is holy to baptize them, they sought out baptism immediately. Some asked, What is to prevent me from being baptized right now, here is water? And the simple answer was, Nothing. Go to this link for more on the Baptism question --
Going even further -- go to this link for a greater answer > WHAT MUST WE DO?
A Friend Helping another Friend, Giving His Life to Our Lord and Savior, YaHshua
HalleluYaH
Questions and Comments to -- servant@servantsofyahshua.com