BUILDING ON THE FOUNDATION

There are many Brethren who are "BABES" or "LITTLE ONES" in the knowledge of the will of YAHWEH that can only digest the milk of the word. There are also many brethren who are more mature in the knowledge of the will of YAHWEH who increasingly digest the strong meat of the word. But, we must all understand that All Brethren must start out as "Babes" or as "little children" in the Messiah.

Mat. 18 (3) And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. (4) Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. (5) And whoso shall receive one such little child in My name receiveth Me. (6) But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in Me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

To become a "BABE" or a "LITTLE CHILD" in the Messiah, one must do what YAHshua said to do.

Mark 1 (14) Now after that John was put in prison, YAHshua came into Galilee, preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of YAHWEH, (15) And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of YAHWEH is at hand: REPENT and BELIEVE ye THE GOSPEL."

Repent means to return from ones ways to YAHWEH'S ways. The gospel (good news) is that YAHshua died for the atonement for sins of the whole world and is now, risen from the dead, He is Mediator of the New Covenant.

All, regardless of what organization they start out sitting in who truly repents off their sins and accepts the death of the Messiah as the atonement for their sins, receives baptism in the name of the Messiah becomes a part of a very special Assembly. The Apostle Peter tells who they become through YAHshua.

1 Peter 2 (5) Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a Spiritual House, a Holy Priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to YAHWEH by YAHshua Messiah. … (9) But ye are a Chosen Generation, a Royal Priesthood, an Holy Nation, a peculiar [exclusive; unique] people; that ye should show forth the praises of HIM who hath called you out of darkness into HIS marvelous light:

The above scriptures confirm that everyone in body of the Messiah is part of the "Royal Priesthood"!

The Apostle Paul tells us that ALL grow into a Holy Temple in the Sovereign for a habitation of YAHWEH. He also mentions the foundation for it.

Eph. 2 (19) Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of YAHWEH; (20) And are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, YAHshua Messiah Himself being the Chief Corner Stone; (21) In Whom ALL the building fitly framed together groweth unto a Holy Temple in the Sovereign: (22) In Whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of YAHWEH through the Spirit.

Paul discusses using different building materials to build on the foundation with.

I Cor. 3 (10) According to the grace of YAHWEH which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. (11) For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is YAHshua Messiah. (12) Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; (13) Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. (14) If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. (15) If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but HE himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

It is very obvious that the gold, the silver, and the precious stones represent nonperishable things. The wood, the hay, and the stubble represent perishable things.

There are a many brethren sitting in congregations that have built onto the foundation of the Messiah with the following perishable things!

Colossians. 2 (6) As ye have therefore received Messiah YAHshua the Sovereign, so walk ye in Him: (7) Rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. (8) Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments [principles] of the world, and not after Messiah.

Those were good examples of the wood, hay and stubble in the above. TRADITIONS of MEN and the RUDIMENTS of the WORLD. Another one is in this next scripture.

Matthew 15 (6) … Thus have ye made the commandment of YAHWEH of none effect by your TRADITION. (7) Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, (8) This people draweth nigh unto ME with their mouth, and honoureth ME with their lips; but their heart is far from ME. (9) But IN VAIN they do WORSHIP ME, teaching for doctrines the COMMANDMENTS OF MEN.

The wood, hay and stubble are TRADITIONS or CUSTOMS of men, the RUDIMENTS of the world, and COMMANDMENTS of MEN! The above things WILL NOT come through the fire, BUT many of those Brethren will still come through the fire on judgment day!

We also have many brethren in organizations that have built onto the foundation of the Messiah with an abundance of what Paul calls gold, silver and precious stones.

In contrast to the TRADITIONS or CUSTOMS of MEN, the RUDIMENTS of the world, and the COMMANDMENTS of MEN we should use just the OPPOSITE: the TRADITIONS or CUSTOMS of YAHWEH, the RUDIMENTS of the KINGDOM OF YAHWEH, and the COMMANDMENTS of YAHWEH. These are the very things that will come through the fire with the Brethren on judgment day and a reward for their work will be given to those who built upon that foundation with them. Restating what Paul said:

I Cor. 3 (10) According to the grace of YAHWEH which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. (11) For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is YAHshua Messiah. (12) Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; (13) Every man's WORK shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. (14) If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, He shall receive a reward. (15) If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but HE himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Regardless of the sincerity, on Judgment Day all worship that was done with the wood, hay, and stubble (TRADITIONS or CUSTOMS of men, the RUDIMENTS of the world, and the COMMANDMENTS of men WILL BE LOST. Many of those "Babes" in those organizations building with them will be found almost naked. Yet they can be saved yet as of by fire.

Does that mean that everyone in all assemblies will still be saved? No!

Mat. 7 (21) Not every one that saith unto Me, Sovereign, Sovereign, shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he that doeth the will of My FATHER which is in Heaven. (22) Many will say to Me in that day, Sovereign, Sovereign, have we not prophesied in Thy name? And in Thy name have cast out devils? And in Thy name done many wonderful works? (23) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.

"Iniquity" (word # G458) means "illegality" i.e. violation of law. He is referring to violating YAHWEH'S law.

As a Babe in the Messiah grows spiritually, he learns more and more of which laws to quit violating to be more in will of YAHWEH.

Sin is the transgression of the law and we have to stop sinning or transgressing HIS law if we expect stay in Him, see Him or know Him.

I John 3 (4) Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. (5) And ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin. (6) Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him.

Replacing the TRADITIONS or CUSTOMS of YAHWEH, the RUDIMENTS of the KINGDOM OF YAHWEH, and the COMMANDMENTS of YAHWEH with the TRADITIONS or CUSTOMS of men, the RUDIMENTS of the world, and COMMANDMENTS of MEN is not in accordance to the laws of YAHWEH. Therefore, it is iniquity!

Consequently, we do have many Brethren out there even though they are still just "BABES" in the Messiah. It can also be very dangerous to remain a Babe. As the parable in Matthew 25 relates, if you don't use that which you have been given you are subject to have it taken away from you and given to someone else.

Therefore, WE as Brethren, must share the word with one another with LOVE. We must be extremely careful not to exalt ourselves above any of the Brethren lest we make judgmental ERRORS concerning some of those "LITTLE ONES" who have repented according to their knowledge and accepted the Messiah's death as the atonement for their sins. IF we are not careful, we may offend or cause them to stumble even farther from the truth.

Sometimes we make a serious mistake when we make others feel that they cannot be saved unless they are obedient to all the laws that we understand that we are to obey. This turns them off and then we don't have a chance to witness any further to them.

WE must also try to keep these scriptures in mind.

Romans 14 (4) Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? To his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for YAHWEH is able to make him stand. … (10) But why dost thou judge thy Brother? Or why dost thou set at nought thy Brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Messiah. … (13) Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his Brother's way.

2 Timothy 2 (23) But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. (24) And the servant of YAHWEH must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, (25) In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if YAHWEH peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

Even though there are many organizations which have built upon the foundation of the apostles, the prophets, and YAHshua Messiah, the Chief Corner Stone with mostly the wood, hay and stubble, we can still rejoice in that they also preach that the Messiah's death is the atonement for man's sins. The Apostle Paul felt the same way.

Phil. 1:15-18 Some indeed preach Messiah even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: the one preach Messiah of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: but the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel. What then? Notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretense, or in truth, Messiah is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

Those congregations at least get the message that it is through the risen Messiah's death that they have the opportunity to accept His death as the atonement for their sins.

After accepting the Messiah's death as the atonement for their sins and truly repenting, they need to be baptized in the name of the Messiah for remission of sins and receive the Holy Spirit. When and if they outgrow that organization in the grace and knowledge of the Messiah and that organization refuses to grow with them, then maybe it is time to move on to wherever the Spirit of YAHWEH leads them and come out of Babylon (spiritual confusion). YES! YAHWEH has people in Babylon. If HE did not have any people in Babylon in these end times, He would not send out the command for them to come out!

Revelation 18: (4) And I heard another voice from Heaven, saying, Come out of her, MY people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. (5) For her sins have reached unto Heaven, and YAHWEH hath remembered her iniquities.

We will all be greatly rewarded if we will heed the following advice given through the Apostle Paul.

I Thessalonians (14) Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

II Thessalonians 3 (6) Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Sovereign YAHshua Messiah, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. (7) For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; ... (14) And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. (15) Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

T.A.H.

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