What is Faith?

(Video Version)

Before we dive into this study, we want to first explain that we use many names and titles for YHWH Elohim interchangeably. This may confuse some readers who are coming out of the mainstream Christian churches, as they distinguish between Yeshua Messiah and YHWH Elohim as if They are separate. They are not separate, They are One.

Therefore, there cannot be one law from YHWH and another law from Yeshua. YHWH and Yeshua are one and there is only one law.

Some examples of the names and titles of YHWH that you’ll see us use interchangeably are: YHWH, Elohim, Yeshua, Messiah, Holy Spirit, the Truth, the Lamb, and the Word.

We would also like to address a point of false doctrine that is taught by mainstream Christian leadership, and that is the idea that there is more than one path to salvation. There is only one path, for both Jew and Gentile; there is only one Law, for both Jew and Gentile. If you are confused over this point, please consider reading our study One Path One Law before continuing with this study.

Defining Faith

Linguistically

The word “faith” in Hebrew is Strong’s h530 אֱמוּנָה em-oo-naw’: feminine of H529; literally firmness; figuratively security; morally fidelity:—faith(-ful, -ly, -ness, (man)), set office, stability, steady, truly, truth, verily.

Strong’s h529 אֵמוּן ay-moon’: from H539; established, i.e. (figuratively) trusty; also (abstractly) trustworthiness:—faith(-ful), truth.

Strong’s h539 אָמַן aw-man’: a primitive root; to build up or support; to foster as a parent or nurse; figuratively to render (or be) firm or faithful, to trust or believe, to be permanent or quiet; morally to be true or certain;:—hence, assurance, believe, bring up, establish, fail, be faithful (of long continuance, steadfast, sure, surely, trusty, verified), nurse, (-ing father), (put), trust, turn to the right.

Strong’s h540 אֲמַן am-an’: (Aramaic) corresponding to H539:—believe, faithful, sure.

Strong’s h543 אָמֵן aw-mane’: from H539; sure; abstract, faithfulness; adverb, truly:—Amen, so be it, truth.

The word “faith” in Greek is Strong’s g4102 πίστις pis’-tis: from G3982; persuasion, i.e. credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly, constancy in such profession; by extension, the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself:—assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity.

We can definitely see the Christian influence in that definition, but let’s look to it’s origin word to make sure we’re on the right track.

Strong’s g3982 πείθω pi’-tho: a primary verb; to convince (by argument, true or false); by analogy, to pacify or conciliate (by other fair means); reflexively or passively, to assent (to evidence or authority), to rely (by inward certainty):—agree, assure, believe, have confidence, be (wax) confident, make friend, obey, persuade, trust, yield.

Faith in both languages = confidence, belief, trust, obey, moral conviction of truth, surety, fidelity, and steadfastness.

What we have determined is that linguistically, faith in YHWH Elohim means a steadfast belief in, and obedience to, His established Truth.

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

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Scripturally

In scripture, we are given a definition of faith in the letter to the Hebrews:

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance^g5287 of things hoped for, the evidence^g1650 of things not being seen.

The word translated “substance” is Strong’s g5287 ὑπόστασις hoop-os’-tas-is: from a compound of G5259 and G2476; a setting under (support), i.e. (figuratively) concretely, essence, or abstractly, assurance (objectively or subjectively):— confidence, confident, person, substance.

The word translated “evidence” is Strong’s g1650 ἔλεγχος el’-eng-khos: from G1651; proof, conviction:—evidence, reproof. From Thayer’s Greek Lexicon: 1) a proof, that by which a thing is proved or tested, that by which invisible things are proved (and we are convinced of their reality), of the inward result of proving, a conviction; and 2) conviction, for convicting one of his sinfulness.

Now, let’s re-word this definition given in Hebrews in a way we can better understand:

The Greek word translated “things hoped for” is Strong’s g1679 ἐλπίζω el-pid’-zo; from G1680; to expect or confide:—(have, thing) hope(-d) (for), trust. From the Thayer’s Greek Lexicon: to trust; to flee for refuge; to wait, to hope (in a religious sense, to wait for salvation with joy and full of confidence), things hoped for, to direct hope unto one, in whom you have put your hope, to hope to receive something, of those who hope for something from God.

In order to have confidence that YHWH will fulfill all of His promises, we must first know what it is that YHWH promised and what He has already accomplished. We find His promises and accomplishments in the Law and the Prophets. Therefore, it is necessary to know the Law and the Prophets to have true faith, without this knowledge faith is blind. Blind faith will not withstand the lies and deceptions of this evil world.

By this evidence we know that Knowledge of the Law and the Prophets is necessary to have faith.

You’ve likely heard the old saying, “the proof is in the pudding.” The author of Hebrews is telling us that if we have true faith it will be visible in our actions; it will be shown in our obedience to YHWH’s commandments. Without that outward expression of our faith through obedience, our faith does not exist⁵. Our obedience is our love for YHWH Elohim⁶ and how we know that we know Him⁶; and if we love Him (obey His commandments) then He will love us⁷. Let’s examine some evidence of these truths in scripture:

James 2:20 But are you willing to know, oh vain man, that faith apart from works is dead⁵?

1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments⁶; and His commandments are not heavy.

1 John 2:3-6 And by this we know that we have known Him, if we keep His commands⁶. The one saying, I have known Him, and not keeping His commands is a liar, and the Truth is not in that one. But whoever keeps His Word, truly in this one the love of God has been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him. The one saying to rest in Him ought so to walk himself as that One walked.

Yeshua Messiah (the Truth) is not in the one who does not keep YHWH’s commandments!

John 14:21-24 He that has My commandments and keeps them, it is that one who loves Me⁶; and the one that loves Me shall be loved by My Father⁷, and I shall love him and will reveal Myself to him. Judas, not the Iscariot, said to Him, Lord, what has happened that You are about to reveal Yourself to us and not at all to the world? And Jesus answered and said to him, if anyone loves Me, he will keep My word, and My Father will love him⁷. And We will come to him and will make a dwelling-place with him. The one who does not love Me does not keep My words—and the word which you hear is not Mine, but of the Father who sent Me!

Acts 24:14 But I confess this to you that according to the Way, which they say is a sect, so I worship the ancestral God, believing all things according to that having been written in the Law and the Prophets,

By this evidence we know that obedience to YHWH’s Torah is necessary to have faith.

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Here is a scripturally and linguistically solid definition of faith:

The confidence—displayed through our obedience to Torah—that YHWH will fulfill all of His promises.

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Prerequisites of Faith

In the previous section we learned that two prerequisites to having faith are: Knowledge of the Law and the Prophets, and obedience to the Law. There is also a third one that comes in between these two: repentance. Once we have these three things, we have love for YHWH and belief in Him; and it is through belief in Him that we have faith.

Knowledge of the Law and the Prophets

Knowledge of the Law and the Prophets is the basis for our salvation. It is the starting point. No one can believe in YHWH Elohim without first knowing who He is and what He has done. We covered this in our study called Just Believe?

Colossians 1:10 for you to walk worthily of the Lord to all pleasing, bearing fruit in every good work, and growing into the full knowledge of God;

Our fruit is our works, to bear good fruit means that you do good work, which means being obedient to YHWH. When you walk worthily of the Lord, obeying His Law, you grow in your knowledge of YHWH. Why would that be? Because you need to learn His Law and His Prophets in order to be obedient. The two go hand-in-hand!

Acts 24:14 But I confess this to you that according to the Way, which they say is a sect, so I worship the ancestral God, believing all things according to that having been written in the Law and the Prophets,

Paul gave this testimony of faith to the courts in his own defense, when he was falsely accused of teaching against the Law of YHWH. He testified that he believed ALL of the Law and the Prophets and had not been teaching against them, yet mainstream Christianity still accuses him of both!

Through scripture we gain an understanding of everything that YHWH has accomplished already and everything that is yet to come. We see His plan for mankind and how much He loves us. It is through this knowledge that we can begin to believe in Him. For a better understanding of YHWH’s character—His Name—please see our study Who is YHWH Elohim?

Matthew 13:23 But that sown on the good ground is this: the one hearing the Word, and understanding it; who indeed brings forth and produces fruit: one truly a hundredfold; and one sixty and one thirty.

The Word that Yeshua is referring to is the Law and the Prophets, which pointed to Him as the Messiah. The fruit is obedience to the Law; therefore, in this verse we see that learning the Law brings obedience to the Law. And the Law gives us knowledge of sin, as sin is disobeying the Law. (Please see our study on What is Sin? for more information.)

The Greek word translated “sin” is Strong’s g266 ἁμαρτία ham-ar-tee’-ah: from G264; a sin (properly abstract):—offence, sin(-ful). From the Thayer’s Greek Lexicon: a failing to hit the mark. In the N. T. always in an ethical sense, and

• 1. equivalent to a sinning, whether it occurs by omission or commission, in thought and feeling or in speech and action;
• 2. that which is done wrong, committed or resultant sin, an offence, a violation of the divine law in thought or in act.

If you come from a background in mainstream Christianity, you may have heard that sin is “missing the mark”. What they don’t tell you is that “the mark” is perfect obedience to YHWH’s commandments!

1 John 3:4 Everyone practicing sin also practices lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.

Romans 3:20 Because by works of law no flesh will be justified before Him—for through law is full knowledge of sin.

Romans 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not, Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

Paul explains how we know what sin is through the Law. The Law is how we can identify what is acceptable and unacceptable to YHWH. Having knowledge of the Torah means we can live lives that are pleasing to YHWH; and when we sin, we know to repent!

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Repentance of Sin

How can you have sincere repentance if you do not know what sins you have committed? You cannot know your sins without first learning the Law, as sin is disobeying the Law. Without the Torah, we would not know what sin is and would be unable to repent.

Proverbs 28:13 He who hides his sins never prospers; but he who confesses and forsakes them shall have pity.

Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, Repent! For the Kingdom of Heaven has drawn near.

Mark 1:15 And after John was delivered up, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, and saying, The time has been fulfilled, and the kingdom of God draws near. Repent and believe in the Gospel.

Yeshua preached repentance and related it to the Kingdom of Heaven drawing near, the logical connection is that repentance is necessary for citizenship in the Kingdom. If we sincerely repent, our sins will be forgiven (justification) and we will have a place in the Kingdom of Heaven. Without repentance, there is no forgiveness.

Luke 15:7 I say to you that so is joy in Heaven over one sinner repenting, than over ninety-nine righteous ones who have no need of repentance.

Luke 15:10 So I say to you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner repenting.

Just imagine the Heavenly choir of angels rejoicing in song for each soul that is redeemed through the blood of the Lamb because they repented of their sins and sinned no more!

Luke 24:45-47 Then He opened up their mind to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, So it has been written, and so it was necessary that the Christ should suffer, and to rise from the dead on the third day; and repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached on His Name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

The only Scriptures at this point in time was the “Old Testament”. Yeshua opened their minds to the Law and the Prophets to ensure that the disciples would fully understand the Gospel and could then begin preaching the Gospel to the world. This is our model as well, first we begin learning the Law and the Prophets, then we recognize our sin and repent, and then Yeshua is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. Forgiveness is our justification, the washing us clean and making us righteous, which is necessary to enter the New Jerusalem (Salvation). We can see how everything fits together if we choose to see. For those who have an ear, let them hear!

Acts 2:38 And Peter said to them, Repent and be baptized, each of you on the name of Jesus Christ to the forgiveness of sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Peter preached that to have forgiveness (justification) you need to repent and be baptized. He also tells us that the way to receive the Holy Spirit is through repentance and baptism, this is in conflict with the mainstream Protestant teaching of a “sinner’s prayer” for that purpose. You can find our study on the role of baptism in salvation, here.

Acts 3:18-21 But what things God before announced through the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ should suffer, He fulfilled in this manner. Therefore, Repent, and convert, for the blotting out of our sins, so that times of refreshing may come from the face of the Lord, and that He may send forth the One before proclaimed to you, Jesus Christ, whom Heaven truly needs to receive until the times of restoration of all things, of which God spoke through the mouth of all His holy prophets from the age past.

This passage in Acts shows us the importance of knowing the Law and the Prophets. First, Luke says that it was through the prophets that the people recognized Yeshua as the Messiah at his first coming. Then, he goes on to explain that repentance and conversion is necessary to blot out our sin; which, as we already covered, requires knowledge of the Law. Then, Luke reveals that Yeshua Messiah will come back again to restore all things and that this too was told to us by the prophets from the “Old Testament”; which is why we need to study them so that we will recognize Yeshua at His return.

Romans 2:4-10 Or do you despise the riches of His kindness, and the forbearance and the long-suffering, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? But according to your hardness and your impenitent heart, do you treasure up to yourself wrath in a day of wrath, and revelation of a righteous judgment of God, who will give to each according to his works: everlasting life truly to those who with patience in good work are seeking glory and honor and incorruptibility; but to those even disobeying the Truth out of self-interest, and obeying unrighteousness, will be anger and wrath, trouble and pain on every soul of man that works out evil, both of Jew first, and of Greek. But glory and honor and peace will be to everyone that works out good, both to the Jew first, and to the Greek.

YHWH will give to everyone based on their obedience to Him. Those not obeying YHWH, but following their own heart, are doing works of evil and will face the anger and wrath of YHWH’s judgment on the Day of Wrath. Those obeying YHWH, following His heart, are doing good works and will be resurrected not to judgment but to Salvation.

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow as to the promise, as some deem slowness, but is long-suffering toward us, not having purposed any of us to perish, but all of us to come to repentance.

James 5:16 Confess faults to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous one has great strength, having been made effective.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous that He may forgive us the sins, and may cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Revelation 3:19 I, as many as I love, I rebuke and I chasten. Be zealous, then, and repent.

YHWH’s desire is for you to spend eternity with Him. That is why He created you! He will give you every opportunity to learn the Truth and repent of your sins, even to the point of giving you little knocks to get your attention. He loves you and will give you correction when you need reminding to live your life in obedience to Him. You are special to YHWH.

Hebrews 10:26-29 For if we are willfully sinning after receiving the full knowledge of the Truth, there remains no more sacrifice concerning sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment and zealous fire being about to consume the adversaries. If anyone did not regard the Law of Moses, that one dies without pity on the word of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment do you think he will be thought worthy to receive having trampled on the Son of God, and having counted the blood of the covenant in which he was sanctified common, and having insulted the Spirit of Grace?

Identifying sin is required before repentance, and obedience is required after repentance. We cannot repent and then go on sinning, as this would be calling Yeshua’s sacrifice on the cross a common thing and insulting the Spirit of Grace!

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Obedience to the Law

Obeying the Law in itself does not justify you, however, you cannot be justified if you do not obey the Law.

James 1:22-24 You see that faith worked with his works, and by the works the faith was made complete. And the Scripture was fulfilled, saying, “And Abraham believed God, and it was counted for righteousness to him, and he was called, “Friend of God.” You see then, that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

Luke 11:28 But He said, No; rather, blessed are those hearing the Word of God, and keeping it.

Romans 2:10-16 But glory and honor and peace will be to everyone that works out good, both to the Jew first, and to the Greek. For there is no respect of persons with God. For as many as sinned without Law will also perish without Law. And as many as sinned within Law will be judged through Law. For not the hearers of the Law are just with God, but the doers of the Law shall be justified.

The false doctrine of “faith alone” started by Martin Luther to counter the Catholic doctrine of salvation by works based on man’s traditions (and buying your way into Heaven), created conflicts in scripture between some of Paul’s letters and the rest of the Word of YHWH. By cherry-picking from Paul and taking him out of context—which Peter warned us can happen if we are not fluent in the Law and the Prophets—mainstream Christian leadership is perpetuating the appearance of conflict in the Word.

Matthew 5:17-19 Do not think that I came to annul the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to annul, but to fulfill. Truly I say to you, Until the heavens and the earth pass away, in no way shall one iota or one tittle pass away from the law until all comes to pass. Whoever then shall break one of these commandments, the least, and shall teach men so, he shall be called least in the kingdom of Heaven. But whoever does and teaches them, this one shall be called great in the kingdom of the Heavens.

Once we understand how everything fits neatly together, it all makes perfect sense and there are no conflicts. As we know that there are no contradictions in YHWH’s Word, we should know better than to follow a doctrine that teaches contradictions. It is our individual responsibility to learn the Truth and in this age of information at our fingertips, ignorance is a choice!

YHWH and Yeshua are one and the same, and Yeshua said to obey His commandments!

Leviticus 22:31 And you shall keep My commandments, and shall do them; I am YHWH.

Deuteronomy 6:16 You shall not test YHWH your God as you tested Him in Massah. You shall diligently keep the commands of YHWH your God, and His testimonies, and His statutes which He has commanded you.

Matthew 12:50 For whoever shall do the will of My Father in Heaven, that one is My brother and sister and mother.

Deuteronomy 12:32 All the things that I command you, take heed to do them, and you shall not add to it nor take away from it.

Galatians 3:15 Brothers, I speak according to man, a covenant having been ratified, even among mankind, no one sets aside or adds to it.

The leadership in mainstream Christianity may say that Paul is talking about a different law in Galatians than the one Moses wrote about in Deuteronomy. The context surrounding this verse in Galatians is the Law of Moses. Both men are saying that no one can add to or take away from the Torah. It would make no sense for YHWH to say that no one can take away from the Torah, and then take away from the Torah, and then say no one can take away from the Torah! And if Paul is talking about a different law here, and it’s just a coincidence that it has the same rule applied to it as to the Torah, the rule that no one can add to or take away from it (which, apparently YHWH then broke?), then that would mean that YHWH said no one can ever take away from Torah, then took away from Torah, and then said, “Ok, I was just joking last time, but for reals this time, here’s a new law with the new covenant, don’t take away from this one!” Seriously, though, that is ridiculous!

YHWH did not break His Law by taking away from the Torah, because breaking the Law is sin and YHWH is righteous, perfect, sinless. YHWH has not changed His mind either, because YHWH does not change!

Malachi 3:6 For I am YHWH, I change not…

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ, the same yesterday and today and forever.

Yeshua Messiah told us that no one who practices lawlessness (sin) will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, rather only those who obey YHWH’s Law will be resurrected to salvation.

Matthew 7:21-23 Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but the ones who do the will of My Father in Heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophecy in Your Name, and in Your Name cast out demons, and in Your Name do many works of power? And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; depart from Me, those working lawlessness!

Romans 3:30-31 Yes, also of nations, since it is one God who will justify circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. Then do we make Law of no effect^g2673 through faith? Let it not be! But we establish^g2476 Law.

The Greek word translated “of no effect” is Strong’s g2673 καταργέω kat-arg-eh’-o: from G2596 and G691; to be (render) entirely idle (useless), literally or figuratively:—abolish, cease, cumber, deliver, destroy, do away, become (make) of no (none, without) effect, fail, loose, bring (come) to nought, put away (down), vanish away, make void.

The Greek word translated “establish” is Strong’s g2476 ἵστημι his’-tay-mee: to stand (transitively or intransitively), used in various applications (literally or figuratively):—abide, appoint, bring, continue, covenant, establish, hold up, lay, present, set (up), stanch, stand (by, forth, still, up).

Paul is confusing and difficult to understand. Peter warns us of this in his second epistle, saying that some people misunderstand Paul and fall into the error of lawlessness. This was a problem two thousand years ago at the time Paul was writing his letters, how much worse is it for us today, two thousand years removed from the culture and language of their day?

What Paul is saying here is that both Jews and Gentiles will be justified by faith, not by works (obedience to the Law), but that does not mean we are not to obey the Law. Our faith does not abolish, make void, or make of no effect the Law, which is also what Yeshua Messiah said in Matthew 5:17-19. Paul says that our faith will cause the Law to stand!

So how can that be? How does our faith ensure the Torah will stand? Lets look at a few seemingly contradictory verses and see if we can find answers.

James 2:17 So also faith, if it does not have works, is dead by itself.

James 2:20 But are you willing to know, oh vain man, that faith apart from works is dead?

James 2:22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? (NKJV)

Being made perfect means being justified. James is telling us that it is our works that justify our faith!

Romans 3:28 Then we conclude a man to be justified without works of the Law.

Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by works of the Law, but through faith in Jesus Christ—we also believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ, and not by works of law.

There are no contradictions in the Word of YHWH Elohim. If we were to take these two verses from Romans and Galatians separate from the rest of scripture, it would seem like Paul is saying that we don’t need to obey the Law, and indeed that is how mainstream Christianity chooses to understand them; however, that is not in harmony with the rest of the Word. If instead, we understand all of scripture together as one cohesive unit, with no contradictions, then we see that faith justifies a person, but works justify faith. And now we understand what Paul meant when he said that our faith will cause the Law to stand!

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Through knowledge of the Law and the Prophets we begin to believe in YHWH, and we learn what is sinful—then we are able to repent of our sins. When we repent, Yeshua Messiah forgives us for our sins; which is possible because He has already paid the price for them with His blood. His forgiveness justifies us, making us Salvation-ready. However, after repentance we must do our best to live in obedience to the Law so as to not trample on the Son of God, count the blood of the Lamb a common thing, and insult the Holy Spirit!

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Perfecting Our Faith

Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter^g5051 of our faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (NIV)

The Greek word translated “perfecter” is Strong’s g5051 τελειωτής tel-i-o-tace’: from G5048; a completer, i.e. consummater:—finisher. From Thayer’s Greek Lexicon: a perfecter, one who has in his own person raised faith to its perfection and so set before us the highest example of faith, Hebrews 12:2. The word occurs nowhere else.

Yeshua set for us the standard for our faith in His perfect obedience to YHWH’s commandments.

James 2:22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect^g5048? (NKJV)

The origin word for Strong’s g5051, and the Greek word translated “perfect” in this passage, is Strong’s g5048 τελειόω tel-i-o’-o: to complete, i.e. (literally) accomplish, or (figuratively) consummate (in character):—consecrate, finish, fulfil, make perfect.

So, Yeshua set the standard of faith for us to emulate by making His faith perfect. James says faith is made perfect by works. This is why we are to look to Yeshua’s works to see how we are to be living out our faith. Yeshua kept the Law of YHWH perfectly, because He was without sin; therefore, we need to be looking to that example as our standard. We need to obey all of YHWH’s commandments.

1 John 2:6 The one saying to rest in Him ought so to walk himself as that One walked.

Our faith is justified (i.e. made perfect) by our obedience to YHWH’s Law (i.e. our good works).

The Epistle of James was written by Yeshua’s brother, and is likely the earliest New Testament book to be compiled. This is the same James who took over the leadership of the Assembly in Jerusalem and presided over the Jerusalem counsel. We see in Acts 15 that it was James who made the final judgment on which laws the new Gentile believers would need to begin obeying immediately. Given the high position he held in the Apostolic Church, it is surprising that only this small section of the New Testament was devoted to his writings. It is also surprising, given his importance to the early church, that he is all but ignored within mainstream Christian churches.

The Epistle of James, chapter 2, verses 14-26, are devoted to explaining how to perfect our faith. James points out how our faith will profit us nothing if we are not loving our neighbour as ourself, which is the second greatest commandment in the Torah, according to Yeshua.

James 2:14-17 My brothers, what is the gain if anyone says he has faith, but he does not have works? Is faith able to save him? But if a brother or a sister is naked and may be lacking daily food, and any one of you say to them, Go in peace; be warmed and filled—but does not give them the things the body needs—what gain is it? So also faith, if it does not have works, is dead by itself.

The example of works that James used is one of the commandments in the Torah. James does not need to list the entire Torah for his readers to know that he meant the whole Torah, because the Law is a package deal, it’s all or nothing. For more information on how many commandments there are in the Law and how the whole Law is repeated in the New Testament, please see our studies in The Torah.

Deuteronomy 15:7-8 If there is a poor man among you, one of your brothers inside any of your gates in your land which YHWH your God is giving to you, you shall not harden your heart, nor shut your hand from your needy brother. But you shall surely open your hand to him, and shall surely lend him enough for his need in that which he lacks.

Abraham had faith and obedience, as James tells us in the next passage of his epistle:

James 2:18-22 But someone will say, You have faith, and I have works. Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is One. You do well; even the demons believe and shudder. But are you willing to know, O vain man, that faith apart from works is dead? Was not our father Abraham justified by works, offering up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith worked with his works, and by the works the faith was made complete.

Abraham’s belief made him act in obedience to YHWH. His obedience made his faith complete, which means the same as made perfect or justified. Abraham perfected his faith by living in obedience to YHWH.

James 2:23-26 And the Scripture was fulfilled, saying, “And Abraham believed God, and it was counted for righteousness to him, and he was called, “Friend of God.” You see then, that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. But in the same way Rahab the harlot was also justified by works, having received the messengers, and sending them out by another way. For as the body is dead apart from the spirit, so also faith is dead apart from works.

Paul dealt extensively with the issue of people teaching that Salvation is through obedience to the Law. He even led a group to Jerusalem to have the problem dealt with by the Jerusalem Council. Paul stressed hard in his letters that the Law cannot justify a man, only faith can do that. However, Paul never said anywhere that obedience to the Law is no longer required. In fact, he defended himself in the Jewish court against accusations that he was teaching against obedience to the Law.

James, in his epistle, stresses the role of obedience to the Law on our path to Salvation.

One could imagine the confusion within the early assembly with the blend of Jewish and Gentile cultures. The Gentile converts probably didn’t want to obey the Torah, much the same as Christians today don’t, but for the Jews it was very much a part of their lives. Gentiles wanted to be able to continue living exactly as they had been, not changing their behaviour, and still feel assured that they would have eternal life. This is the same problem we see in the mainstream Christian churches today, there is a lack of desire to know the Truth because with knowledge comes a conviction to make changes.

Many Christian leaders today just parrot the same tired excuses for disobedience that are based on verses cherry-picked from Paul’s letters and choose to ignore the other 99.9% of scripture. We understand how difficult it can be to accept that what you have believed, and even taught, for many years is wrong. We seek the leaders courageous enough to set ego aside and look with fresh eyes at the whole Word of YHWH.

We understand how difficult it can be to step out of your comfort zone and question what your church leadership has taught you. Especially given that the false “faith-alone” doctrine makes life much easier because it means you don’t have to change anything about how you are living. We know how tempting it is to just accept the lame excuses for why the Torah isn’t for Christians. Perhaps it would help to see, with each bite of bacon, the whip lashing across Yeshua’s back; or with each Sabbath not set-apart, the stake driven into His wrist. Perhaps the price of obedience would not seem so high to us, if we could see the price paid for our disobedience.

Our mission is to reach those who thirst for the Truth with an unquenchable thirst, who will stop at nothing to please YHWH Elohim, who desire nothing less than to live in a way that honours the Blood spilled on our behalf.

Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come! And the one hearing, let him say, Come! And the one thirsting, let him come; and the one desiring, let him take of the water of life freely.

Perfecting, completing, and justifying are synonymous. Obedience to YHWH, which means obeying His Torah, is required to perfect our faith, and that faith is not alive unless it has been perfected. We can not be justified by faith that is dead!

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There are no contradictions in the Word of YHWH. YHWH’s whole Word is perfect and complete from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21.

2 Timothy 3:16 Every scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.

The only way for the doctrine of “faith alone” to be true is if we understand that faith must be alive. Most Christians have not been taught the scriptural definition of faith, never mind what it means for faith to be alive or dead. They believe that having faith just means believing “God” exists and that “Jesus Christ” is His son. Christians are taught to say a magical prayer asking “Jesus” or the Holy Spirit into their heart and that is all they need to do. After that, they go on about their lives the same as before, believing they now have salvation—once saved always saved. This is no different than the group Paul and Barnabas had issue with that were teaching you just needed to be circumcised and then you were saved. The Gentiles would get the snip and continue practicing false god worship. Today, Christians simply convince themselves and each other that they are “good people”, but no one ever gives a definition of what being good means, nor do they address the fact that Yeshua said no one is good except YHWH.

This is why preaching justification by faith alone is a dangerous game, very few people know what it means! If, however, we understand what the Apostles understood and taught, that faith is confidence that YHWH will fulfill all of His promises, and that our faith must be alive, and that it is made alive by our works, and that works means obedience to YHWH, and that this is what “perfecting our faith” means, then we could say that justification is by faith alone.

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