Under re-construction

My beliefs and trust (faith) stems from adapting the 25 Beliefs of World's Last Chance and the Doctrines of Faith of the Shalom Assembly of Yahweh within my understanding of the Scriptures. World's Last Chance is a biblically-based community that has bible studies, articles, videos, and more to help prepare true believers for the soon return of Yahusha. The Shalom Assembly of Yahweh is one of many assemblies that spread the word of Yahuah, and uses Yahweh as the Father's name.

The Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation were all written under the inspiration of Yahuah and are in agreement (2 Timothy 3:16-17; John 10:35). The Brit Rishon (the First Covenant) is the foundation with which the writings of the Brit Chadasha (the Renewed Covenant) are to be interpreted (James 1:21-25; 2 Timothy 3:14-15: Matthew 4:4; John 5:39; Luke 24:44-45). All Scriptures are useful for teaching, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness (Matthew 4:4; 2 Timothy 3:16). The prophecies of Yahuah’s Word have declared the events of the end-time from the beginning (Genesis 3:15; 49:10; Isaiah 46:9-11; Revelation 1:7; 19:10-16). No one is to take from nor add to Scriptures (Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32, Proverbs 30:5-6, see also Revelation 22:18). Scriptures are not open to private interpretation (2 Peter 1:21). Scriptures should be studied daily (Psalms 1:1-3; 40:8; Acts 17:11; 2 Timothy 2:15). See also Exodus 20:1-17; Deuteronomy 4:2; Psalms 19:7-8; 119:11, 89, 105, 142, 151, Isaiah 8:20.

The name of the Heavenly Father is Yahuah (Psalm 68:4; Isaiah 42:8; Jeremiah 16:21). Yahuah means "I Am that which I Am" and is the verb of existence (to breathe, to give life), Exodus 3:14-15; Isaiah 63:12. The Almighty Yahuah is the Great Creator of all things and that He alone is to be worshipped as the true Alaheem (Mighty One) of the universe (Genesis 1; Exodus 20:2-6; Deuteronomy, 6:4, 13; 2 Kings 17:36; Psalm 99:9; Matthew 4:10). He has revealed Himself to His people through His Name (Exodus 20:2; 7; Genesis 12:8; 26:25; Exodus 3:13-15). He alone can give life and He alone can take life (Job 1:21). His people know His Name and are called by it (John 17:6, 11-12, 26; 2 Chronicles 7:14; Isaiah 52:6). Thus they use and revere His Name (Exodus 20:7, Leviticus 22:2, Deuteronomy 28:58, Psalm 105:1, Matthew 6:9, John 17:26). Yahuah is a Spirit and those who worship Him must do so in Spirit and in Truth (John 4:23-24). In order to please Yahuah his people must have faith in Him and believe that He will reward those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).

The name of Yahuah's Son is Yahusha (Matthew 3:16-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22). Aibreet (Hebrew) names (or shem) have meaning - Yahusha means "Yahuah delivers (or saves) - thus He literally came in His Father's Name, John 5:43. Prior to coming in the flesh, Yahusha was a spirit being created in eternity (Revelation 3:14; Colossians 1:15; John 17:5; Proverbs 8:22-31). He was the one who carried out the words of Yahuah and brought all things into being (Colossians 1:15-17; Hebrews 1:1-2; John 1:1-3, 10, 14; Genesis 1). He is a separate being who, in purpose, is one with Yahuah (John 10:30) just as a husband and wife are two individuals who are one in purpose in their relationship (Genesis 2:24). Through the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:1-7), He wills that His people be one (in unity) with Him, one (in unity) with Yahuah, and one (in unity) with each other just as He is one (in unity) with His Father (John 17:21-22; Deuteronomy 6:4). He was the spokesman for the Father in the Brit Rishon (Genesis 1:26; 19:24; Proverbs 8:25; Micah 5:2, John 8:58; 13:3; 16:28-30, 1 Corinthians 10:4). He came in the flesh having been born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23; John 17:5, Philippians 2:5-7) and lived a life without sin (Isaiah 53:9; 1 Peter 2:22). At his anointing (baptism) he became Yahusha haMeshiyakh (the Messiah). As the Savior of the world, He is the manifestation of Yahuah’s love for all of mankind (John 3:16-21). As the Lamb of Yahuah, He died on the torture stake as atonement for the sins of all mankind (Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 53:4-6; John 1:29, 35; Romans 3:24-26; Galatians 1:3-5; Ephesians 1:7; 5:1-2; Colossians 1:20-22; Hebrews 9:12, 15; Revelation 5:9-10). After three days and three nights, He was resurrected from the dead (Matthew 12:38-40; 28:1-2). Currently, He is in the heavens at the right hand of Yahuah (Matthew 22:44; Mark 16:19; Hebrews 1:3, 13; 12:2). He is the mediator of the new covenant between Yahuah and His people (Matthew 12:40; John 14:6; 1 Timothy 2:3-7; Hebrews 3:1; 4:14; 9:15; 12:24; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8). Yahusha is the head of His body of believers (Ephesians 4:15; Colossians 1:18).

The Ruakh haKodash (Holy Spirit) is Yahuah's very breath or spirit (Acts 2:1-4) that goes forth from Him to accomplish His will. Yahusha promised to send the Ruakh haKodash to His disciples so that they might witness the Truth of salvation throughout the earth (Acts 1:8). The Father sent the Ruakh haKodash in Yahusha’s Name as the Comforter, to bring all things to remembrance (John 14:25-26). The Ruakh haKodash is the spirit of truth (John 14:16-17; 15:26-27; 1 John 5:7) and it is given to those who obey the covenant of Yahuah through Yahusha (Acts 5:32). Those who are immersed into the Name of Yahusha receive the gift of the Ruakh haKodash through the laying on of hands by the elders (Acts 2:38; 5:32; 8:15-17; 19:6; 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6) and are sealed with the earnest of Ruakh haKodash (Ephesians 1:13-14). It is the spirit of life that dwells within those who qualify as sons (and daughters) of Alaheem (Romans 8:1-17) and by which a believer must walk (Galatians 5:16, 25).

The Scriptures describe true worshipers as those that keep the commands of Yahuah (His Turah) and have the belief and trust of Yahusha (Revelation 12:17; 14:12). His people obey Yahuah’s Covenant Law through their love for Him. Yahuah is causing His people to return to Him through the keeping of His Law (Turah) and back to the way of worship that He established (Malachi 4:4-6); the ancient path. As such, one is to observe and apply all of Yahuah`s laws, statutes, and judgments from the Scriptures (except the sacrifices mentioned in Hebrews 9 and ritual circumcision), Deuteronomy 6:6-9; 7:6-11; 28:58-62; Ecclesiastes 12:13; Matthew 4:4; 5:17-20; Acts 7:38; Revelation 12:17; 14:12; 22:14. His Son, Yahusha, is the Word made flesh (John 1:1-3; 14) and as such He is the physical manifestation of Yahuah’s perfect Law, the law of liberty, which is able to save all mankind (James 1:21-25). We, therefore, understand our responsibility to prove our love for Yahuah, Yahusha, and our fellow man by keeping Yahuah’s Turah (word) (John 14:15, 21; 15:12; 1 John 5:3). By doing this from the heart, we prove our faith to Yahuah so that we might be reckoned as righteous in Yahuah’s sight (James 2:14-26). They are a light to our path (Psalms 119:105).

The principles behind the 10 Commands (or Words) are . . . .

"'You shall love Yahuah your Elohim with all your heart, and with all your being, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great command." "And the second is like it, 'You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ On these two commands hang all the Torah and the Prophets."

Matthew 22:37-40, The Scriptures (1998)

Leviticus 19:18; Deuteronomy 6:4-7; Matthew 19:19; James 2:8

. . . . The love described here reflects the spirit of the entire Law of Yahuah. Yahuah has expressed His love for mankind through the gift of His Son (John 3:16-21). Yahuah is love (1 John 4:7-8; 4:16). Love is all important to true believers in Yahuah and Yahusha (1 Corinthians 13). We fulfill these two great commands by having the Law (Turah) of Yahuah written in our minds and hearts (Jeremiah 31:31-33; Hebrews 8:8-11; 10:16-18). This can only be accomplished if we are circumcised in our hearts and minds and thus we walk by the rule of Yahuah’s Covenant Law (Romans 2:28-29; Galatians 6:15-16). Those who possess the true love of Yahuah will willingly keep His commands as an expression of that love (1 John 5:1-3). Those who know Yahusha keep His commands and walk as He walked (1 John 2:3-6). With the exception of animal sacrifices, which were in place until Yahusha haMeshiyakh became our offering for sin (Genesis 3:15, 21; Psalm 51:16-17), the Law of Yahuah is still in effect (Matthew 5:17-20). Yahusha taught that, if we are to enter into life, we must keep the commands (Matthew 19:17). By choosing Yahusha as the Word made flesh and obeying Yahuah’s covenant Law through active love, we choose life (Deuteronomy 30:15-20; John 1:12-14). By obedience and praise, we offer spiritual sacrifices to Yahuah through Yahusha (Hosea 14:2; Philippians 4:18; Romans 12:1; Psalm 107:22; Psalm 116:17; 1 Peter 2:5). Even those perceived to be the least of Yahuah’s commands are to be obeyed (Matthew 5:17-20).

We walk and work for our own salvation (Philippians 2:12) and Steve Berkson of mtoi.org sums it quite well:

We should "become the type of person Yahweh wants to live with forever."

Sin is the transgression (breaking) of the Law of Yahuah, the Turah (1 John 3:4). It can only be recognized through knowledge of Yahuah’s Law (Romans 7:7). Without that knowledge it is impossible to know what sin is, and therefore it is impossible to repent (turn back to Yahuah). It is sin that separates us from Yahuah (Isaiah 59:1-8). Through His sacrifice, Yahusha removed the wall of separation between Yahuah and His people, making us acceptable in His sight through the offering and shed blood of His Son (Ephesians 2; Isaiah 53). We overcome sin, through acceptance of Yahusha as our Savior and Redeemer, by walking in His ways through obedience to His commands (Micah 6:6-8; 1 John 1:5-10; 2:1-6). Those who worship Yahuah must do so in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24). Willful sin brings the penalty of death (Hebrews 10:26-31).

The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). The first death is that of the flesh and lasts until the resurrection while the second death is total destruction in the lake of fire (Gehenna) and is reserved for those who, because of their wicked works, do not have their names written in the book of life (Revelation 20:11-15; 21:8). When a person dies physically they lose the breath of life and remain in a state of unconscious rest (sleep) until they are resurrected (Genesis 2:7; Daniel 12:2; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; Ecclesiastes 9:5). Yahusha is the only one who has ascended into heaven (John 3:13; Acts 2:34). All who do not have a place in the first resurrection shall stand before the judgment seat of Yahusha at the end of the 1,000 year reign and be judged according to their works and their knowledge of the truth (Romans 2:12-16; Revelation 20:12-13). The lake of fire is a consuming fire that brings complete death, just as it did to Sodom and Gomorrah and it is not an eternal fire of suffering (Jude 7; Isaiah 66:24; Psalm 7:20-22; Malachi 4:1-3; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10). The word hell means grave or pit and is translated from sheol (Hebrew) or hades (Greek).

shathen (also called Satan the Devil, meaning slanderer and adversary) is a spirit being who is the father of sin and lies, thus he opposes the Truth (John 8:44; Genesis 3:1-5; Job 1:6; 2:1). shathen was cast out of heaven because of his pride (Isaiah 14:12-20; Ezekiel 28:13-19; Luke 10:18). He is the great dragon, the deceiver of the whole world, and the accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:7-10). He seeks to destroy all of Yahuah’s creation and makes war with those who keep the commandments of Yahuah (Revelation 12:17). During the 1,000 year reign of Yahusha, shathen will be bound (Revelation 20:2-3). At the end of the millennium he will be released and will again deceive the nations. Ultimately, he will endure torment and be destroyed in the lake of fire (Ezekiel 28:16; Romans 16:20; Hebrews 2:14; Revelation 20:7-10).

Repentance of past sins, then immersion into Yahusha’s name (His character), are needed to make a covenant of life with Yahuah (Acts 2:38; Romans 6). It is a full immersion done backward, one time, into Yahusha’s name. It is a sacred act that symbolizes the burial of carnality and the resurrection of the spiritually cleansed person through Yahusha's death and resurrection (Romans 6:4-11). This outward action indicates an inward change by which the individual brings forth evidence of having been changed from being carnally minded (motivated by the flesh), to being a spiritually minded person (motivated by Yahuah’s Ruakh haKodash) (Colossians 3:1-17). A person must have reached the age of accountability, approximately 20 years of age, (taking spiritual maturity into account, as noted in Numbers 1:2-3; 14:29; 32:11). After this conversion process, a person has the responsibility to nurture the Ruakh haKodash presence in their life by developing the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-26) and the gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:1-11). A person is saved by grace and not by works (Ephesians 2:8-10). Salvation is a free gift from Yahuah which cannot be earned (Romans 6:23). It is given to those who make a covenant with Yahuah through the shed blood of our Savior (Romans 3:21-26) while remaining faithful to the end (Matthew 24:13).

As people of faith, true believers form a qahal (or in Greek ekklesia) for gathering together. The Body of Yahusha governs all of Yahuah's people and assemblies. We are responsible to exercise our belief and trust in Yahuah and Yahusha by obeying Yahuah’s Covenant Law from the heart (Hebrews 11) and through the works that He designated and established. The good works of the Law which we bring forth are the proof of our belief. True believers seek to be a spiritual people in Yahuah’s sight by being born anew through water (water immersion into the name of Yahusha) and through the spirit (Yahuah’s Ruakh haKodash) and thereby gain entrance into the Kingdom of Yahuah. In the Body of Yahusha, Yahuah blesses certain people with different gifts to further the work, Romans 12:4-8; 1 Corinthians 1:10-13; 3:4-9; 12:1-31; 14:1-40; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 4:3-13; 1 Timothy 2:11-15; 3:1-16. Those who are immersed into Yahusha’s Name and remain faithful to the covenant will be in the first resurrection and will meet Yahusha in the air upon His return to establish the Kingdom of Yahuah on the earth (Matthew 24:29-31; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; 1 Corinthians 15:50-58). These faithful believers shall reign with Yahusha in His Kingdom upon this earth (Revelation 1:6; 5:10; 20:4-6). Yahuah’s Word (i.e. His Covenant Law) is the Truth (John 17:17) and that the Truth sanctifies Yahuah’s people and sets them free from the bondage of sin (John 8:31-36) and its destructive ways (Romans 6:23).

Clothing must be clean and should be modest and practical (1 Timothy 2:9-10; 1 Peter 3:1-4; Revelation 17:1,4; 12:1). As the ancient nation of Y'shra'al (Israel) did then, believers should wear 4 tassels (the hem, with blue thread) Numbers 15:38-39; Deuteronomy 22:12; Matthew 9:20-21, 14:36. For men, the hair should not be long. For women, makeup should be at a minimum as makeup is portrayed in a bad light by Jezebal (Jeremiah 4:30). Besides, we should not want to appear differently than what we are (both inside and outside). See 1 Samuel 16:7.

Tithes and offerings are used to support the Levitical Priesthood (Numbers 18:20-24). The priesthood was changed (Hebrews 7:11-12), but the principle of supporting His assemblies remains the same. Tithing is important to feed Yahuah’s people and to promote the message of truth to others (John 21:15-17; Matthew 28:19-20; 2 Corinthians 11:7-9). The tithe is 10% of a person’s increase and it is set-apart to Yahuah (Genesis 14:18-20; Deuteronomy 14:22-29; 16:16,17; Leviticus 27:30-33; Malachi 3:8-12; Matthew 23:23; 1 Corinthians 9:7-14). Tithes are used to provide for the needs of the brethren and for the teaching of Yahuah's word (spread the good news). We give 10% away so that Yahuah will not accuse of stealing from him (Malachi 3:7-12). A second tithe (tenth) is set aside to cover all offerings and personal expenses incurred in attending Yahuah’s appointed times (Deuteronomy 14:22-27). Once every three years, in the third and sixth year of a sabbatical cycle, a third tithe is also to be kept and used by each person to financially help those who are in need (Deuteronomy 14:28-29; 26:12-15).

Yahuah's dietary food Laws were not annulled by Yahusha's death, but remain for His New Covenant believers (Leviticus 11; Deuteronomy 14; Isaiah 65:4; 66:17; 2 Corinthians 6:17). Things harmful to the body or mind such as tobacco products, excessive alcohol, certain drugs, "junk foods" and unclean meats are hurtful lusts which harm the body. The satisfying of worldly lusts is inappropriate for those committed to serving Yahuah. We must keep our minds and bodies pure if Yahuah's Ruakh haKodash is to dwell there (1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 6:19-20; 10:31; 1 Timothy 6:9; Leviticus 3:17). Only those meats which are approved of Yahuah, through His Word, are to be eaten (1 Timothy 4:1-4; Acts 10:14; 11:7-8). We must not misapply the dietary laws and use them to discriminate against anyone (Acts 10:28; 10:34-35; 11:12, 17-18). The laws pertaining to being ceremonially clean are to be taught and followed so as to make a distinction between that which is set-apart and that which is common (Ezekiel 22:26: 44:23: Leviticus 11-15). These laws teach us to be set-apart and sanctified to Yahuah (Leviticus 11:43-47; Deuteronomy 14:2; Matthew 5:48). Yahuah expects us to apply these things spiritually and be a separate people who refrain from inappropriate associations which are considered unclean (2 Corinthians 6:14-18).