The Ministry's Articles of Faith

The Road to God Ministry's Mission Statement

1. To Boldly Present the Gospel of Yeshua the Messiah

2. Evangelize to the Jew first and then to the Gentile (Romans 1:16); But BOTH MUST BE EVANGELIZED EQUALLY

3. Adhere to the tenet of Olive Tree Theology; Jewish & Gentile Believers of Yeshua can worship together and maintain their own cultural distinctiveness.

4. Preach and teach against all forms of Replacement Theology!!!!!!!

5. To teach the Jewish roots and Jewishness of true Biblical Christianity to all Christians.

6. We are BIBLICAL LITERALISTS, taking the words of the Bible whenever possible. The ministry uses the Jewish TANAKH for the Old Testament and the KING JAMES VERSION of the Bible for the New Testament.

7. The evangelistic work done by The Road to God Ministry is always completed by it's creed that, "We are working to build God's Kingdom, and not man's empire."

8. We always evangelize and teach the literal doctrine of the imminent return of Messiah Yeshua and the Rapture of His church. Believing such, we feel there is a great urgency in witnessing to all the Lost, both Jews and Gentiles.

WHO WILL BE LEFT BEHIND????

What Will You Do If You Are Left Behind?

The purpose of this webpage is to give you instructions on what to do when Biblical headlines become reality. Prophetic Biblical events are now exploding with lightning-like speed, as God prepares the world for the sudden destruction and the cataclysmic judgments spoken of in the Book of Revelations. At the same time, God is preparing to remove true Christians from the face of the earth, in what is known as the Rapture. Many of your Christian friends and relatives will suddenly become “missing”. You can read about this awesome End-Time event in the Bible in 1Thessalonians 4:16-17, “For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump [shofar] of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” If you have witnessed the Rapture , if you are one of those who have been left behind, then here are some simple basic Biblical instructions on which your eternal destiny may be determined: 1. GET HOLD OF A BIBLE AND READ THE LAST BOOK, THE BOOK OF REVELATION. ALSO READ MATTHEW 24, LUKE 17 AND 21, MARK 13, AND 1ST AND 2ND THESSALONIANS. THIS WILL GIVE YOU A BASIC UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT HAS JUST HAPPENED AND WHAT IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. IF YOU ASK GOD TO HELP YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE READING, HE WILL DO IT. 2. RECOGNIZE THAT YOU ARE NOW IN WHAT THE BIBLE REFERS TO AS THE TRIBULATION PERIOD. MATTHEW 24:21 SAYS, "FOR THEN SHALL BE GREAT TRIBULATION, SUCH AS WAS NOT SINCE THE GEGINNING OF THE WORLD TO THIS TIME, NO, NOR EVER SHALL BE." ACCORDING TO THE BOOK OF REVELATION, OVER ONE-HALF OF THE POPULATION OF THE EARTH WILL PERISH DURING THIS HORRIFIC TIME OF UNPARALLELED DISASTERS. 3. A WORLD LEADER WILL EMERGE. THE BIBLE REFERS TO HIM AS THE ANTICHRIST, OR THE BEAST. READ 2ND THESS. 2 AND REVELATION 13, AND DANIEL7--9, SO THAT YOU CAN IDENTIFY HIM FOR WHAT HE REALLY IS. BEWARE, FOR HE IS NOT A MAN OF PEACE, BUT A MAN OF GREAT DECEPTION. MANY CHRISTIANS HAVE ALREADY IDENTIFIED THIS EVIL MAN, AS BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA!!! THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WILL BE DECEIVED DURING THIS TIME, BUT YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE ONE OF THEM. 2ND THESS. SAYS, "AND FOR THIS CAUSE, GOD SHALL SEND THEM STRONG DELUSION THAT THEY SHOULD BELIEVE A LIE: THAT THEY ALL MIGHT BE DAMNED, WHO BELIEVED NOT THE TRUTH, BUT HAD PLEASURE IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS." 4. NEVER TAKE A MARK IN YOUR RIGHT HAND OR FOREHEAD!!! ACCORDING TO REVELATION 13:16--17, YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO BUY OR SELL ANYTHING WITHOUT THIS IDENTIFYING MARK ON YOUR BODY. HOWEVER, REV. 14:9--11 SAYS, "IF ANY MAN WORSHIP THE BEAST AND HIS IMAGE, AND RECEIVE HIS MARK IN HIS FOREHEAD, OR IN HIS HAND, THE SAME SHALL DRINK OF THE WINE OF THE WRATH OF GOD,...AND HE SHALL BE TORMENTED WITH FIRE AND BRIMSTONE...AND THE SMOKE OF THEIR TORMENT ASCENDED UP FOR EVER AND EVER: AND THEY HAVE NO REST DAY NOR NIGHT, WHO WORSHIP THE BEAST AND HIS IMAGE, AND WHOSOEVER RECEIVETH THE MARK OF HIS NAME." WHAT AN EXTREMELY FRIGHTENING PICTURE!!! GO WITHOUT FOOD, OR SPEND ETERNITY IN HELL---WHICH WILL YOU CHOOSE??? JUST LIKE YOU REJECTED CHRIST BEFORE, OF YOUR OWN FREE WILL--GOD IS STILL GIVING YOU A FREE CHOICE. WILL YOU FOLLOW JESUS CHRIST OR THE ANTICHRIST??? 5. YOU MUST RECOGNIZE THAT TO BECOME A BORN-AGAIN CHRISTIAN DURING THE TRIBULATION, WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY COST YOU YOUR LIFE!!! REVELATION 20:4 SAYS, I SAW THE SOULS OF THEM THAT WERE BEHEADED FOR THE WITNESS OF JESUS, AND FOR THE WORD OF GOD, AND WHICH HAS NOT WORSHIPPED THE BEAST, NEITHER HIS IMAGE, NEITHER HAD RECEIVED HIS MARK UPON THEIR FOREHEADS, OR IN THEIR HANDS; AND THEY LIVED AND REIGNED WITH CHRIST A THOUSAND YEARS." 6. FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS 1 THROUGH 5 WILL STILL NOT GET YOU INTO HEAVEN. THE MOST IMPORTANT INSTRUCTION THAT THE BIBLE GIVES TO HAVE ETERNAL LIFE IN HEAVEN IS THE SAME ONE THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE FOLLOWED BEFORE THE RAPTURE HAPPENED AND THE TRIBULATION BEGAN. THAT IS, TO REPENT OF YOUR SINS AND TO ACCEPT JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR PERSONAL LORD AND SAVIOUR. THIS WORLD IS FULL OF PEOPLE WHO MISTAKENLY BELIEVE THEY ARE ON THEIR WAY TO HEAVEN. THEY ARE GREATLY DECEIVING THEMSELVES, AS THEY WILL SOON FIND OUT WHEN THE RAPTURE TAKES PLACE. WHO WILL BE LEFT BEHIND????  1. ALL THOSE WHO ARE COUNTING ON THEIR CHURCH MEMBERSHIP, CHURCH ATTENDANCE, CHURCH AFFILIATION, OR RELIGION TO GET THEM TO HEAVEN. 2. ALL THOSE WHO ARE COUNTING ON THEIR BAPTISM TO GET THEM TO HEAVEN. BAPTISM IS AN ACT OF OBEDIENCE AFTER SALVATION. 3. ALL THOSE WHO BELIEVE THAT A BELIEF IN GOD, OR FAITH IN GOD, IS ALL THEY NEED. EVEN SATAN AND ALL HIS DEMONS BELIEVE IN GOD. 4. ALL THOSE WHO ARE TRUSTING IN THEIR GOOD WORKS. EPHESIANS 2:8--9 SAYS, "FOR BY GRACE ARE YOU SAVED THROUGH FAITH; AND THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES: IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD: NOT OF WORKS, LEST ANY MAN SHOULD BOAST." 5. ALL THOSE WHO HAVE TRIED TO BECOME A "CHRISTIAN", WITHOUT RECOGNIZING AND REPENTING OF THE SIN IN THEIR LIFE. ROMANS 3:23 SAYS, "FOR ALL HAVE SINNED", AND ROMANS 6:23 SAYS, "FOR THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH; BUT THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD." YOU MUST REPENT OF YOUR SIN, WHICH MEANS TO TURN AWAY FROM YOUR SIN AND TO ASK JESUS CHRIST TO COME INTO YOUR HEART AND LIFE AND GIVE YOU POWER OVER THAT SIN. TRUE REPENTENCE MUST TAKE PLACE FOR YOU TO BE SAVED. CONFESSING YOUR SINS, OR FEELING REMORSEFUL FOR YOUR SINS IS NOT ENOUGH. IF YOU ARE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE READ THIS EMAIL BEFORE THE RAPTURE HAS TAKEN PLACE, WHY DON'T YOU ASK JESUS TO COME INTO YOUR LIFE NOW. THEN YOU WILL NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT WHAT TO DO AFTER THE RAPTURE TAKES PLACE--YOU WILL BE AMONG THOSE WHO HAVE DISAPPEARED YOURSELF!!! JESUS SAID IN JOHN 14:6, "I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE: NO MAN COMETH UNTO THE FATHER, BUT BY ME. WON'T YOU PUT YOUR COMPLETE HOPE AND TRUST IN JESUS, AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOUR TODAY? IF YOU ARE AN UNSAVED PERSON, OR A BACKSLIDDEN, WORLDLY, COMPROMISING, OR LUKEWARM CHRISTIAN, WILL YOU SAY THIS PRAYER, AND REALLY MEAN IT IN YOUR HEART: "DEAR JESUS, I KNOW THAT I AM A SINNER. I REPENT OF MY SINS. I TURN AWAY FROM MY SIN, AND TURN MY LIFE OVER TO YOU, JESUS. I BELIEVE THAT YOU DIED ON THE CROSS FOR MY SINS. I BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE THE SON OF GOD, AND THAT YOU PAID THE PENALTY ON THE CROSS FOR MY SINS. I ASK YOU NOW, TO COME INTO MY HEART AND LIFE TO BE MY PERSONAL LORD AND SAVIOUR. PREPARE MY HEART FOR YOUR SOON RETURN, SO THAT I CAN ESCAPE THE HORRIBLE JUDGMENTS THAT ARE SOON TO STRIKE THIS PLANET. JESUS, PREPARE MY HEART FOR THE RAPTURE. THANK YOU LORD, FOR SAVING ME. IN JESUS' NAME, AMEN." Thank you to Ron Reese at rgreese49@aol.com  for the permission to use this message.

The Roman Road

The Roman Road

The Roman Road to Salvation There is None Righteous Romans 3:10 - 12 (KJV) As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Everyone Sins Romans 3:23 (KJV) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God, Price of Sin Romans 6:23 (KJV) For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. To Be Saved Romans 10:9 (KJV) That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. What It All Means To put your faith in Yeshua ha-Mashiach (Jesus the Christ) today and accept the incredible free gift of salvation all you must do is ask Him into your heart. The Lord has been waiting for you to become receptive and believe the truth of the Good News since his crucifixion arrival in 33 A.D.. The Messiah's gift of eternal life transcends the boundaries of nationalities, cultures, and even religions as this wonderful opportunity is open to EVERYONE... regardless if they may be a Jew, Gentile, Muslim, Hindu or an atheist. All we have to do is ask. SAVE ME NOW!!!!!!!! To accept the gift of Messiah Yeshua please pray the following prayer or one similar to it... "Dear Lord, I know that I am a sinner and that I am destined to hell. I know that without you I cannot save myself. Lord, I now turn away from my sins and accept the sacrifice and the blood you shed on the cross for me. I accept you as my Lord and Saviour and pray you to take me to Heaven. In Yeshuas' (Jesus') name, Amen."

To Die Without Hearing the Gospel of Jesus of Nazareth

To Die Without Hearing the Gospel of Jesus of Nazareth One of the many tough theological questions Evangelical Christians ask themselves today is that of the eternal fate of those who have died without ever hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Would a loving and kind God send those souls who lived their lives morally correct and knew that their spiritual paths were amiss, yet were never exposed to the Gospel; would these individuals be judged upon the Last Day and sent to an eternity in Hell? Does this fit in pattern with the theme of a loving and just God who sent His only begotten Son in a propitiation for the entire human race? The questions get even more difficult when bible passages begin interfering with these issues. Passages that read, “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak (John 12:48-49)” 1 Also, “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”2, another verse reads, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the father, but by me.”3 These direct verses coming from the lips of Christ himself are often confused and misinterpreted when compared to other passages that speak of opposing viewpoints. An example of this divergent outlook can be found in Paul’s Epistle to the Roman church in which he writes, “For when Gentiles, which have not the law, do by the nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves”4 Various Christian denominations and even varying clergy throughout Christendom have held differing views upon this subject. One varying perspective is that those who may become a law unto themselves will be allowed to enter into the Kingdom of God as ‘guests,” perhaps as those “guests” Jesus speaks of in His parable of the wedding feast which he relates in the Gospel of Matthew chapter 22:1-14. I conclude that any man or woman who is able to make a choice of free will (this excludes children and those who are mentally unstable, ect.) must make a profession in faith in Jesus the Christ of Nazareth prior to their physical death in order for their souls to be saved. This views stands regardless of whether or not these individuals have been exposed to the Gospel of Christ or remain ignorant to the Word.

Throughout the Gospels and the Epistles it is very clear that for those individuals who have been exposed to the Good News of Jesus and have rejected God’s offer of salvation, their eternal fate has been sealed. Whether or not people are religious and/or morally upright within their own culture does not matter. The Bible is unmistakable in its declaration that if you reject Christ, then you are setting yourself up for a judgment of damnation. Jesus refers to this in his parable of a house built upon a poor foundation, “He is like a man which built a house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded on that rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built a house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin was great.”5 Clearly, Jesus is speaking to those who have heard his words yet refuse to accept them as the truth or who decline to openly profess their faith. In doing so they have created a self-fulfilling prophecy of their own judgment of damnation.

Yet, in dealing with those who have never herd the Gospel how does one justify the possibility of creating that self-fulfilling prophecy? The first factor that needs to addressed in answering this dilemma is pointing out that hearing the Gospel is irrelevant to the issue of salvation. “People don’t go to Hell simply for rejecting Jesus; people go to Hell because they are sinners. Not believing in Jesus simply seals their fates.”6 It is important to note that as humans we are each born into sin through our first ancestor Adam. As such, there is no way to be justified or purified of our sins through the Law outside of the usage of a blood sacrifice performed either in the Tabernacle or the Temple in Jerusalem; obviously both of which no longer exists. Thus, without the perfect sacrifice of Jesus the Messiah and Son of God we each would remain living and dying within our sins; regardless of whether or not we may have heard the Gospel within our lifetime. “That means there is no such thing as a truly “innocent” person or a truly “innocent” heathen. People aren’t innocent before God; they are morally guilty of rejecting the truth about God. When people who have never heard the gospel die, their eternal fate is not determined on whether or not they rejected Jesus. You can’t reject a person you never knew in the first place.”7

Journalist and author, Lee Strobel, engages this issue when he discusses this heated debate with Dr. Ravi Zacharias of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries regarding the Apostle Paul’s debate with the Greek philosophers in Athens, “…he’s pointing out that there’s a sovereign plan in creation, where each person is assigned a place of birth. God knows where we will be born and raised, and he puts us in a position where we might seek him. We are clearly told that wherever we live – in whatever culture, in whatever nation – he is within reach of every one of us.”8 This line of thought is continued in Strobel’s interview with Dr. J.P. Moreland of the Talbot School of Theology who states, “If all a person needed was a little bit more time to come to Christ, then God would extend their time on this earth to give them that chance. The simple fact is God rewards those who seek him.”9

The Bible keeps returning to a very strong and overt statement, that there is no excuse good enough for not having accepting faith in Christ. The first chapter of the book of Romans is one of several examples throughout Scripture where this is discussed. God has been revealed throughout creation, “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.”10 I believe God will always provide the answers to those who may be searching for more answers. These divine provisions may not come in an onion paper format handed to them by a Christian missionary, but if there is any chance for a heathen to accept Christ as their propitiation prior to their death, then I believe God will find a way to save that soul.

Dr. Elmer Towns, dean of Liberty University’s School of Religion agreed with these doctrinal views when he stated, “Though God is not desirous of sending people to hell, men leave no choice when they continually reject the gospel. Even the man who has never heard the gospel preached has rejected other attempts by God to point him to salvation. If the man would respond positively to these appeals, God would provide a gospel preacher to lead him to salvation.”11 Christian doctrine clearly states that those who do not hear the gospel will be not be saved. “A person must first know the gospel, which means he has an intellectual knowledge of salvation.”12

So again we must ask, what of those heathens who may not have heard the Gospel? As previously questioned, do these morally upright heathens become a “law unto themselves” and as such are they given entry into the Kingdom of Heaven, even as “guests” perhaps as those spoken of in Jesus’ parable of the wedding feast in Matthew 22:1-14. This theory is invalidated for a multitude of reasons. First, regardless of being a "law unto themselves, the law simply cannot save anyone. It is only through the grace and faith in Jesus Christ that an individual can be saved. When one attempts to be saved through a law he or she will be judged by the law; thus if someone becomes a law unto themselves, they shall in turn be judged by that law that they have now become and as Scripture teaches us, it is impossible to fulfill the law of salvation to perfection. Thus we must rely upon our faith in the one who sent to release us from these laws to save our eternal souls. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”13 It is faith that guides us. “Faith involves believing, and without believing there can be no salvation ([Romans] 10:9,10).”14 The Apostle Paul quoted the Old Testament prophet Habakkuk in Romans 1:17 when he stated that, “the just shall live by faith.”

The second important factor in dealing with this question of salvation to those who may be ignorant of the Gospel is the question of with whom does God truly hold responsible for the heathen’s lack of knowledge. First and foremost it is near impossible for this author to comprehend how any Christian could misunderstand or have conflict with Jesus’ instructions in the last verses of the Gospel of Matthew, also known as the Great Commission, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”15 When this verse is accompanied with the words of the post-exile prophet Ezekiel in chapter 33, it becomes clear with whom God will responsible for the lack of knowledge of the Good News of His son Jesus, “Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if a people of a land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman; If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be on his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul. But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.”16 These passages from the prophet Ezekiel is one that is often considered the “paramount” verses explaining the necessity of Christians to evangelize and to witness the Gospel to all ends of the earth. For some Christians these words of Ezekiel hold true only to those who may live and breathe close to their hearts, such as family and friends. Yet, we are being specifically told that it is our responsibility as Christians to be spreading the Word of the Good News to the heathen and when this is not being done, it is our responsibility as Christians for the failure of the heathen’s knowledge of Jesus Christ. I honestly do not believe this responsibility effects our own salvation as Christians, but it will determine the level at which we each will be judged and reviewed as each of us are delegated job duties and places in heaven. As it is said, “you will reap what you sow.”

The third and final factor that must be looked at when studying these important topics is what is the definition of the term “gospel.” Translated the word “gospel” simply means “good news.” But the question is, the good news of what? That human beings may renter into God’s Grace that was lost through Adam’s sin and was later finally atoned for by the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ. In other words through faith in Jesus Christ human beings can be made justified or spiritually perfect in the eyes of God. Yet today, the term “gospel” has been generalized to become a term to represent the Synoptic Gospels of the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John). But in truth all that the entire gospel is is the knowledge of salvation through Jesus Christ. Intellectual understanding of how we lost favor in God’s eyes through Adam’s sin is not a necessary part for anyone to be saved or justified. Only one thing is needed, a profession in faith in Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Thus when I state that the Gospel of Jesus Christ of Nazareth must be preached to the heathen I do not only declare that our fellow human beings alone have the capacity to preach the good news. I truly believe the very author of Scripture itself, the Holy Spirit, has the capacity to reveal the gospel at his desire, at his will, to whom he deems worthy. By such, the gospel will be spread to the uttermost parts of the earth. “None has a valid excuse for rejecting the gospel.”17

Now that we have concluded that the heathen’s will be considered “unsaved” I believe it is essential that we discuss the nature of hell itself? Is hell truly a lake of fire and brimstone or is it something else entirely? In truth, this is a difficult subject to delve into, one that could be the subject of a thesis all it’s own. Varying scholars each have their own opinions as to the true nature of Hell. From the Jewish aspect Hell is not a lake of fire, but exists with Sheol, the waiting place for the dead. In fact, in true Rabbinical Jewish belief there is no concept of an eternal hell. Some conservative Christian scholars today still hold to the view that hell is truly a lake of fire and brimstone, one that all who are condemned shall enter, no matter what their sins may be. Yet, more liberal Christians are emerging teaching that hell is not even a real place, but a state of mind, or a construct of the psyche where the eternal soul shall exist without the benefit of knowing or communing with God in any fashion. Even the Roman Catholic Church has their own views, one of which can be seen through the writings of the classic Italian poet Dante Aligheri in his work of The Inferno. In this instance, those who lived morally correct and never heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ would be condemned to spend eternity in the second circle of hell, also known as Limbo; which is the placed reserved for the virtuous pagans. Here these damned souls would receive no punishment for their lack of faith in Christ, yet at the same time they would also never receive any form of happiness, as they would never know God. In a final outlook, some scholars hold to a view of annihilationists where they truly believe that those souls who have been condemned to an eternity in hell will be erased from existence completely, instead of being eternally punished for their lack of faith. In truth, I am unsure where my own beliefs stand concerning the structure and nature of hell. I do believe there is a lake of fire and brimstone awaiting Satan and his fallen angels as well as for the antichrist, the false prophet and many evil souls throughout history; but I am far from unsure in regards to the fate of others. I admit I do have a difficult time understanding how God could send a morally correct Jewish woman who truly believed in her religion, without holding malice towards Christ or Christians in the same level of punishment as he would for someone like Adolf Hitler, Haman the Agagite or Cain son of Adam. For myself I cannot help but fall back to one single biblical verse that continues to comfort me at times when I know that I truly at am a loss of true understanding of God’s ultimate plans, “The secret things belong unto the Lord our God.”18 With that verse in mind I can remember that I do not have to know everything; what is important is that God knows what He is doing and what He has set. I often feel the theological disputes over the nature of hell are more psychological then theological in nature, being based predominately upon emotion and not biblical doctrine. The facts our God has given us some pretty well stated information on hell. Yet, as stated in the beginning of this paper, it is difficult to rationalize how a loving God would eternally torment souls for simple unbelief. This puts me in mind of a lesson I learned twenty years ago when I was still searching for the truth of Jesus as my Savior. “God never said we had to like it; he just said we had to do it!”

Without a doubt I believe that without hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ of Nazareth and making a profession in faith prior to one’s physical death a human soul cannot be saved from hell. It is near impossible to escape the facts of biblical doctrine and clearly stated verses like Christ’s words in John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the father, but by me”19

References

Epp, Theodore H. How God Makes Bad Men Good. The Good News Broadcasting Association, Inc.: Lincoln, Nebraska. 1978. Pritchard, Dr. Ray. (2000). What About Those Who Never Hear the Gospel? http://members.aol.com/OrthodoxUM/SalvationPritchard1.html Strobel, Larry. The Case for Faith. Zondervan: Grand Rapids, Michigan. 2000. The King James Study Bible. Thomas Nelson & Liberty University. 1988. Towns, Dr. Elmer L. Concise Bible Doctrines. AMG Publishers: Chattanooga, Tennessee. 2006.

Yeshua in the Tenach

Yeshua in the Tenach

Yeshua in the Tenach In dealing with my Jewish brethren for the past many years in Canada, the United States, Argentina, and Uruguay, I had one great difficulty, and it was this: My Jewish people would always fling at me this challenging question, "If Jesus is our messiah, and the whole Old testament is about Him, how come His name is never mentioned in it even once?" ...   "Where do we find that NAME?" you ask. Here it is beloved: Every time the Old Testament uses the word SALVATION (especially with the Hebrew suffix meaning "my", "thy", or "his"), with very few exceptions (when the word is impersonal), it is the very same word, Yeshua (Jesus), used in Matthew 1:21. Let us remember that the angel who spoke to Mary and the angel who spoke to Joseph in his dream did not speak in English, Latin, or Greek, but in Hebrew; and neither were Mary or Joseph slow to grasp the meaning and significance of the NAME of this divine Son and its relation to His character and His work of salvation. For in the Old Testament all great characters were given names with a specific and significant meaning.   For example, in Genesis 5:29, Lamech called his son Noah (comfort), saying, "This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands." In Genesis 10:25, Eber calls his firstborn son Peleg (division); "for his days was the earth divided." The same is true of Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob (changed to Israel -- God's Prince), and all of Jacob's sons (see Genesis, chapters 29-32). In Exodus 2:10, Pharaoh's daughter called the baby rescued from the Nile, Moses (Drawn Forth) and she said: "Because I drew him out of the water." And so we can go on and on to show the deep significance of Hebrew names.   Now then, when the angel spoke to Joseph, husband of Mary, the mother of our Lord, this is what he really said and what Joseph actually understood: "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus [Yeshua (salvation)]: for he shall save [or salvage] his people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21) ... So let us proceed to show clearly the Hebrew name YESHUA (Greek, Iesus; English, Jesus) in the Old Testament.   Now then, when the angel spoke to Joseph, husband of Mary, the mother of our Lord, this is what he really said and what Joseph actually understood: "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus [Yeshua (salvation)]: for he shall save [or salvage] his people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21) ... So let us proceed to show clearly the Hebrew name YESHUA (Greek, Iesus; English, Jesus) in the Old Testament.   When the great Patriarch Jacob was ready to depart this world, he by the Holy Spirit was blessing his sons and prophetically foretelling their future experiences in those blessings. In verse 18 of Genesis 49 he exclaims, "I have waited for thy salvation, O Lord!"; or "In thy Yeshua (Jesus) I am hoping (trusting), O Lord!" ... YESHUA (Jesus) was the One in Whom Jacob was trusting to carry him safely over the chilly waters of the river of death. Jacob was a saved man, and did not wait until his dying moments to start trusting in the Lord. He just reminded God that he was at the same time comforting his own soul.   When the great Patriarch Jacob was ready to depart this world, he by the Holy Spirit was blessing his sons and prophetically foretelling their future experiences in those blessings. In verse 18 of Genesis 49 he exclaims, "I have waited for thy salvation, O Lord!"; or "In thy Yeshua (Jesus) I am hoping (trusting), O Lord!" ... YESHUA (Jesus) was the One in Whom Jacob was trusting to carry him safely over the chilly waters of the river of death. Jacob was a saved man, and did not wait until his dying moments to start trusting in the Lord. He just reminded God that he was at the same time comforting his own soul.   Something very interesting occurred one spring in St. Louis. I was visiting in the home of our friends, Brother and Mrs. Charles Siegelman, and another Jew was present there. He claimed Jewish orthodoxy for his creed ... The good Jewish brother opposed the claims of Christ in the Old Testament verbally, and in a friendly fashion, most violently. His best offensive weapon, he thought, was to fling at me and at all of us there the well known challenge: "You can't find the name 'Jesus' in the Old Testament" ; and this he did.   I did not answer him directly, but asked him to translate for us from my Hebrew Bible, Isaiah 62:11. Being a Hebrew scholar, he did so with utmost ease, rapidity, and correctness; and here is what and how he translated that text verbatim: "Behold, Jehovah has proclaimed unto the end of the world. Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold thy Yeshua (Jesus) cometh; behold, His reward is with Him, and His work is before Him." Just then he crimsoned as he realized what he had done and how he had played into my hands, and he fairly screamed out, "No! no! You made me read it 'thy YESHUA' (Jesus), Mr Glass! You tricked me!" I said "No, I did not trick you. I just had you read the Word of God for yourself. Can't you see that here SALVATION is a Person and not a thing or an event? 'HE comes, HIS reward is with HIM, and HIS work is before HIM." Then he rushed at his own Old Testament, talking away frantically, saying, "I'm sure mine is different from yours." And when he found the passage, he dropped like a deflated balloon. His Old Testament was, of course, identical. All he could use as an escape from admitting defeat was to deny the divine inspiration of the book of Isaiah.   Then skipping on to Habakkuk, we have the greatest demonstration of the NAME "Jesus" in the Old Testament; for here we have both the name as well as the title of the Savior. In 3:13 we read literally from the original Hebrew: "Thou wentest forth with YESHA [variant of YESHUA -- Jesus] of [or for] thy people; with YESHUA thy MESSIAH [thy Anointed One: i.e., with Jesus thy Christ]; thou woundest the head of the house of the wicked one [Satan]." Here you have it! The very NAME given to our Lord in the New Testament -- Jesus Christ! So don't let anyone -- Jew or Gentile -- tell you that the name JESUS is not found in the Old Testament.   And so when the aged Simeon came to the Temple, led there by the Holy Ghost, and took the baby Jesus in his arms, he said, "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: for mine eyes have seen thy salvation [YESHUA -- Jesus]." Luke 2:29-30 ... Not only did his eyes see God's SALVATION -- God's YESHUA (Jesus) -- but he felt Him and touched Him. His believing heart beat with joy and assurance as he felt the loving heart of God throbbing in the heart of the holy infant Jesus.   "And thou shalt call his name Jesus (SALVATION, YESHUA): for he shall save (salvation, salvage) his people from their sins!" Matthew 1:21   This article was published with the permission of www.thehypertexts.com.

Have Jews of today’s popular culture lost their path to the LORD?

Have Jews of today’s popular culture lost their path to the LORD? This is a tough question to ask, especially for a secular or non-practicing Jewish individual in today’s modernized world. Forgotten traditions and ethnic and cultural taboos have become so intertwined with a that many Jews no longer even know why they may be performing or acting upon a particular tradition. Other times it is fear or hatred of what the Jewish people see as anti-Semitism that clouds our judgment on any subject pertaining to religion. But to stay on the road to ADONAI, the LORD, we must keep our eyes and minds focused upon the Jewish Bible, the TANAKH. It is through the Jewish Bible that we can see seven steps that will keep Jews, all Jews, on the proper road to ADONAI.

#1

We must each come to understand that there is a barrier between man and God, sin. This barrier originated with the fall of Adam and Even from the garden of Eden. “So the LORD God banished him from the garden of Eden, to till the soil which he was taken. He drove the man out, and stationed east of the garden of Eden the cherubim and the fiery ever-turning sword to guard the way to the tree of life” (Gen 3:23-24).

#2

We must each understand that there is nothing we can do to remove that barrier between man and God. “No, the LORD’S arm is not too short to save, or his ear too dull to hear; But your iniquities have been a barrier Between you and your God, Your sins have made Him turn His face away And refuse to hear you” (Is 59:1-2).

#3

We must each come to understand that it is only through the shedding of blood that sin can truly be atoned for in the eyes of God. “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have assigned it to you for make expiation [atonement] for your lives upon the altar; it is the blood, as life, that effects expiation” (Lev17:11).

#4

We must each come to understand that God did provide the Jewish people the means and opportunities to atone for their sins when He gave Moses TORAH (the Law). “You speak to us,” they said to Moses, “and we will obey.” (Ex 20:16)

#5

We much each come to understand that the actions of the Jewish nation during the Exodus proved beyond a doubt that it was impossible for the Jewish people to perfectly keep TORAH. “The LORD spoke to Moses, “Hurry down, for your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt, have acted basely. They have been quick to turn aside from the way that I have enjoined upon them” (Ex 32:7-8). “But the people grew restive on the journey, and the people spoke against God and against Moses” (Num 21:4b-5a).

#6

We must each come to understand that God promised to send to the Jewish people Has Messiah who would make the blood atonement for the Jewish people. “He shall come as redeemer to Zion, To those in Jacob who turn back from sin – declares the LORD” (Is 59:20. “But he was wounded because our sins, crushed of our iniquities. He bore the chastisement that made us whole, And by his bruises we were healed. We all went astray like sheep, Each going his own way; And the LORD visited upon him The guilt of us all” (Is53:5-6)

#7

We must each come to understand that only one figure throughout history has fulfilled the multitude of Jewish Biblical prophesies of the true identity of Messiah.

• Messiah will come before the 2nd Temple is destroyed. (Daniel 9:26)

• Messiah will be divine. (Isaiah 9:5-6)

• Messiah will die by crucifixion. (Psalm 22:14-17)

• Messiah will be resurrected. (Isaiah 53:10)

• Messiah will be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:1-2)

• Messiah will be born of a virgin. (Isaiah 7:14)

Logical Conclusion Says...

And these are just seven prophecies of many that exist throughout the Jewish Bible…. In the end, logic tells us there can only be one simple answer… Yeshua (Jesus) of Nazareth must be the Jewish Messiah! That means as the Jewish Messiah it is through Yeshua’s blood sacrifice, which he made being crucified on the first day of Passover in 33 A.D. we have each been cleansed or atoned of our sins. Yet, Yeshua did so much more for us! For on the third day of Passover, on the Feast of Firstfruits, he was resurrected from the dead, and by doing so he gave each of us who believe in him the promise of eternal life and redemption.

Accepting this precious gift is simple, more then simple; all that we must do is ask for it. We need to let go and give the LORD His due. Say this prayer:

ADONAI ELOHIM, I bless you and I thank you. I confess my sins pray for pardon as I take Messiah Yeshua in my life as I now live to serve his will. I pray in the name of Yeshua haMashiach. Amen.

If you prayed that prayer with faith, you have now had your sins atoned and are on The Road to God. MAZEL TOV!

The Sad Time Has Come.

Hello my friends and shalom in the name of our Risen Lord Yeshua ha Mashiach (Jesus Christ),

For those of you who are close followers of The Road to God Ministry it will come as no surprise to you that over the last year and a half I have become somewhat absent from the ministry website and this blog.  I could blame many justifiable reasons for my absence, but in the end it all comes down to the same thing, gastroparesis.  I have sadly lost complete control over what happens to my digestive system, not to mention the havoc that is being played on my diabetes.  It's is a daily battle I play.  I don't speak of this for pity sake, rather it is to aid you in understanding my reasoning of what is to come.

Just recently I received word from my domain and web hosting company Access Globe that they will no longer be able to offer me the opportunity to update the website, ever.  They presented a fix by telling me I would have to pay $400 a year on top of my other fees to keep The Road to God Ministry website.  As you might expect I checked around the internet for other hosts, only to find "foolishness" not worthy of explaining.

I have spent some time thinking, praying and discussing this through and I decided that the www.theroadtogodministry.com website will be shut down.  I will transfer EVERYTHING that is on the website to this to this blog.  I will be maintain our Facebook page as well as our Twitter account (@TheRoadtoGod).  It's that easy and that difficult.

If anyone has any constructive ideas on how to build this ministry, then please speak up.  Leave a comment here on the blog or e-mail me direct at theroadtogodministry@gmail.com.  NO idea will be ignored.

I personally would like to thank everyone who has stood by me these years, praying as I grew sicker.  Let me start with the Ruach ha Kodesh for staying at my side, even when I could not feel Him.  I need to thank everyone at First General Baptist Church of Waterford for their continued prayers.  In particular I wish to thank my Men's Bible Study Group.  Cliff, Dana, and El have stood by me at times that I could not look at myself in the mirror.  Thank you my brothers for your continued concern and mercy.  I also wish to that my family (Lost & Saved) for their continued concern and understanding.  Thank you Pastor James Okenda of Kenya for the continued prayers of your congregation   Your continued strive to do the will of God is would be nonexistent without your continued faith.  

I pray the Ruach ha Kodesh (the Holy Spirit) will increase my all of our faith and that He increases my will to serve.

Blessings IHS,

Steve