This show is geared for people who want to understand Christianity from its first century origins. The original believers were called messianic, or followers of Messiah. The faith is a continuation of the faith of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and it started in the synagogues where both Jew and Gentile would be together to learn the Torah. This was the intent of Acts 15 and the gospel to go forth to the nations. Please follow this show or visit www.firstcenturychristianity.net for more teachings about how we can mirror that early faith today.
Yom Kippur 2024: Explaining the Last Adam
The history of the Day of Atonement is almost as old as earth itself. This day is applicable to Christians today and incredibly important for understanding the end of days.
Written notes of this message, given on the Day of Atonement 2024, are available at https://firstcenturychristianity.net/yom-kippur-2024-explaining-the-last-adam/.
10/13/2024 • 37 minutes, 42 seconds
Missouri Amendment 3 is Not About Women's Health Care
Amendment 3 in Missouri would legalize abortion based solely on "fetal viability". The amendment defines this solely on the abortion doctor's discretion, which would technically and literally legalize abortion up to and perhaps even after birth. This video explores the text of the law and explains why this law needs to be opposed even by people who may not be pro-life.
10/13/2024 • 8 minutes, 28 seconds
Christians Prepare for the Fast!
Preparing for the Fast
Be aware. Last year, October 7 was both the Sabbath and a high day. Israel was attacked. This year, October 12 is the Sabbath and the fast. This is a dangerous time.
The ten days between Yom Teruah and Yom Kippur, aka the Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement, are referred to as the Days of Awe. In Judaism, it is a time of repentance and soul searching ahead of the fast, which they consider to be the holiest day of the year. These are traditions so we take this info with a grain of salt understanding we can learn from traditions.
There’s also something to consider…. Christianity started as a sect of Judaism. The two were indistinguishable for decades after the ascension of the Messiah. Acts 15 was addressing what to do with Gentiles who accepted Yeshua, Jesus, as the Messiah and then showed up at synagogue. It’s more than reasonable to consider that our Messianic forefathers influenced Judaism before Messianics, aka Christians, were forced out of the synagogue. Jews associated the Day of Trumpets with having people be inscribed in the book of life and then, on the Day of Atonement, sealed in the book of life. These concepts have a New Testament eschatology flavor to them, don’t they?
We don’t know what the ten days between Yom Teruah and Yom Kippur signify. The bible doesn’t tell us. But they mirror the ten days between the first day of the first month of the year and the selection of the lamb for Passover. We know that Yom Teruah, the Day of Trumpets, signifies the return of Yeshua. We also know the Day of Atonement is associated with Yeshua’s sacrifice. Sometimes this is hidden, like in the special linen garment He was buried in and the one piece tunic He was crucified in. Those are reminiscent of the special clothes the High Priest wore on the Day of Atonement, when the High Priest came into the presence of Yahweh. We can see an easy parallel here. Sometimes the hints are not so subtle. In the book of Hebrews, it is written that Yom Kippur is a day for the forgiveness of sins committed in ignorance and the Messiah asked God to forgive His executioners because they did not know what they were doing. This would be a direct correlation. The Holy Days of Leviticus 23 are not just relevant to a New Covenant believer, they contain a lot of information about past and future events.
As you prepare for the fast, which starts at sunset October 11 through sunset October 12 this year, meditate on what the Messiah’s sacrifice has done for mankind. He has made a way for the forgiveness of sins committed in ignorance, to include His own executioners. This means He has made a way for the billions of people who have never known Him and His Father like we do. And praise Yahweh for sending His Son into the world for this purpose.
10/10/2024 • 7 minutes, 22 seconds
John 19-21
Messianic Commentary on the crucifixion and resurrection of the Messiah. For the entire series on this study of John, please go to
https://firstcenturychristianity.net/the-gospel-of-john/
10/7/2024 • 51 minutes, 25 seconds
The Day of Trumpets
The Day of Trumpets, also called Yom Teruah, is an ancient Holy Day that prophecies the return of the Messiah. This knowledge has been lost since the first century.
10/3/2024 • 1 hour, 2 minutes, 7 seconds
Joohn 17 and 18
The Father is the only true God and the mission of the Apostles.
For the entire series on the Gospel of John from a first century perspective, please go to https://firstcenturychristianity.net/the-gospel-of-john/
10/3/2024 • 58 minutes, 31 seconds
Vote no on Three in Missouri
Vote no on Amendment Three in Missouri
Amendment 3 in Missouri will make abortion more legal in
Missouri than it is in France or Germany. This constitutional amendment needs
to be opposed even if you are not opposed to abortion due to its macabre and
dark nature. Text of the law is the second entry at
https://www.sos.mo.gov/CMSImages/Elections/2024GeneralElectionBallotMeasures.pdf
Register to vote at https://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/goVoteMissouri/register
9/26/2024 • 4 minutes, 13 seconds
John 15:12 - John 16
The Gospel message includes loving your neighbor more than yourself which was the fabric of western civilization. Yeshua explains this in His last words before going to crucifixion.
For this entire series, please go to https://firstcenturychristianity.net/the-gospel-of-john/
9/23/2024 • 1 hour, 1 minute, 16 seconds
The New Covenant is Really New
The New Covenant is not a Renewed Covenant
Strange things creep in once we leave Babylonian Christianity. Face it, we are vulnerable. When we throw off the errors, it’s very easy to go too far. I’ve done it myself but on different subjects. This message is about the odd concept of a “renewed covenant”. This is language that some in the HRM started using about ten years ago. The problem they were trying to solve is real – the phrase New Covenant is very often misused by lawless Christians. The lawless ones have hitched their doctrines to the phrase “new covenant” to make it seem like Yeshua ended the law. Well, He didn’t do that. He changed the law and ushered in the New Covenant. The fact that the lawless ones misuse words and concepts doesn’t mean we need to compensate or surrender theological territory.
As an attempt to put distance between the proper faith, one of Torah plus Yeshua, some people made some convincing arguments that the New Covenant is really a “renewed Covenant”. This is ridiculous and there is no hint of this language in any of the New Testament. Unfortunately, people convinced themselves of this so much that this language may even show up in Sacred Name bibles, which is remarkably ironic. A movement that started by undoing age-old errors has come full circle, introducing their own new, Hebrew sounding errors.
I used to spend a lot of time “playing whack-a-mole” with these strange teachings when our assembly was called Hebrew Roots. I’ve tried to get away from that because by giving these ideas attention, they tend to grow. Just like how YHVH told Adam to not eat from that tree, and Adam told Eve, the forbidden fruit just looks so tasty. I also don’t like addressing these things because, well, people who haven’t heard of them are better off. But circumstances have come up that this needs to be addressed.
Before proving this through word studies, we do need to take a Romans 1 approach – the helicopter view. This ministry is called First Century Christianity, after all. And that’s what we strive to reproduce – the pure faith of the first believers. Paul wrote in Romans 1 that Creation testifies so the people are without excuse. From a helicopter view do we see a new or a renewed covenant with the actions of the Apostles? Did the Apostles mandate circumcision and instruct all the converts in the diaspora to pilgrimage to the Temple? No. They did not do this. The Ruach ha Kodesh made converts of Gentiles and Jews throughout the Roman Empire and to the East who all stayed put. They did something different. They accepted Yeshua as the Messiah and either continued to attend synagogue or started to, depending on the convert, wherever they were. This is not how people converted under the Old Covenant. From a big picture, it’s obvious as the nose on our faces the covenant was not a continuation of the Old but something different. We don’t need word studies to know this one is false. But some will, so here we go.
The danger of the “renewed” covenant is that it starts a fissure. People begin to have dangerous thoughts like “well, there’s nothing new in the NT”. This is not true in the least, but that thought leads to the rejection of Paul. Then they reject the Messiah. Then they become pseudo-Jews. You probably know people who have done this. Now, who wants us to reject Yeshua, brothers and sisters? Where does doctrine that separates us from the salvation offered at the cross come from? I think you know.
9/23/2024 • 25 minutes, 24 seconds
John 14-15:12
Yeshua telling the disciples information they will understand after His resurrection.
For the entire series on the study of John please go to
9/16/2024 • 45 minutes, 48 seconds
Government Authorized Religion
Are you ready to accept and embrace government authorized Christianity?
https://firstcenturychristianity.net/
9/10/2024 • 4 minutes, 22 seconds
Are You Really Ready for the Kingdom of God?
Have you given any thought to living in a divine monarchy with a theocratic government?
9/9/2024 • 5 minutes, 58 seconds
Lazarus and the New Mixed Multitude
Lazarus and the New Mixed Multitude
The Gospel of John studies mentioned in this video are at https://firstcenturychristianity.net/the-gospel-of-john/
The benefits of studying the whole bible and living the way Yahweh intended for us to live are plentiful. We understand it’s the same story, with the same expectations for mankind, from Genesis to Revelation. Today’s message is an excerpt from our congregational study on the Gospel according to John. You may watch those studies at firstcenturychristianity.net. These studies show things you Sunday preacher likely never contemplated. They show the remarkabl harmony of scripture and many levels of value for keeping the commandments, just as the Bible authors did.
Slide 2 (Exo 12:37-38 NAS95)
The congregation at the base of Mount Sinai was a mixed multitude. It included Israelites and non-Israelites. When YHVH spoke the Ten Commandments, it was for all mankind. There is a stark parallel with the Exodus and the end of days. When God executed the 10 plagues on Egypt, He wasn’t just calling out the Israelites. He was calling anybody inside that country who would listen. He was showing the known world that He is the Elohim of elohim, the most powerful being in existence, and if you knew what was good for you, you would hitch your existence to Him and leave the false gods in the dust.
The net result was a mixed multitude being on the other side of the Red Sea and hearing YHVH when He spoke the commandments. These people were grafted into Israel and began the history of the children of God.
This is very similar to those of us who accept Yeshua as the Messiah, also coined Jesus as the Christ. We are adopted children of Abraham and heirs according to the promise. We join the family of God when we accept that His Son died for the sins of those who would accept Him.
Yeshua started to allude to this when He began His ministry. In Luke 4, He provoked those in the synagogue to expel Him by pointing out God worked miracles with the gentiles in days of old. The Jews did not care for that at all. They wanted to be exclusive and He was reminding them that was never the intent. Yahweh is the God of all the universe, not one just for the Jewish people. While they are special, we can see they started as a mixed multitude and the Gospel was intended for all mankind.
What if I told you the New Covenant was also inaugurated with a mixed multitude? What if I told you that the death and resurrection of Lazarus was intended to bring that mixed multitude together? Well, that’s what happened!
Slide 3(Joh 11:4 NAS95), (Joh 12:17-23 NAS95), and (Joh 12:28-30 NAS95)
One of the things we emphasize in our ministry is that the chapters and verse numbers in the bible are not really there. They were inserted over 1000 years after scripture. Those chapters and verse breaks tend to make us think episodes and stories end where the breaks are. But that is not the case at all. In John 11, when Yeshua says the Son of God will be glorified by Lazarus’ death, we read to the end of 11 and think that the story ends with Lazarus’ resurrection and everybody marveling. But the story continues to John 12 and shows many, many people were drawn to curiosity because of this specific miracle including some Greeks. The bible uses the terms for Greeks not just to mean people of Greece, but to refer to the nations – people who are just “not Israel”.
Today, we all have the opportunity to leave Egypt and join the family of God. Are you curious enough to listen as well?
9/3/2024 • 13 minutes, 57 seconds
John 12
The purpose of Lazarus’ resurrection.
The distinction between Yahweh and Yeshua.
The purpose of the Gospel.
A new mixed multitude for a new covenant.
This is part of a Messianic series on the Gospel of John. The series is at https://firstcenturychristianity.net/the-gospel-of-john/
9/1/2024 • 1 hour, 17 minutes, 1 second
John 11
John 11
The resurrection of the dead and the state of the dead explained.
The parallels between the death and resurrection of Lazarus and Jesus aka Yeshua explored.
One of the most egregious misuses of religion explored.
Another intersection of predestination and free will.
The series on the Gospel of John is available at https://firstcenturychristianity.net/the-gospel-of-john/
8/25/2024 • 55 minutes, 6 seconds
Stop Rejecting the Messiah!
Please Stop Rejecting the Messiah
Calling Yeshua, aka Jesus, “God” or “Yahweh” rejects Him as the Messiah and is playing with fire.
There’s a fear that if people reject Yeshua as God, or see God and Jesus as two beings not one being, that they are likely to reject the New Testament. This is the opposite of my experience. People that I’ve seen reject Jesus have been the ones who think Yeshua and Yahweh are the same being. These often also call it the “renewed” covenant. This slippery slope often results in trying to recreate the wilderness experience and live like it’s the days of Moses. We do not live in the days of Moses, we live in the days of Yeshua and the New Covenant inaugurated in His blood.
The people who see Yeshua as just a man who was born of Mary but is still the Son of God call themselves Biblical Unitarians. These folks see a complete distinction between God and Jesus with Jesus have a starting point about 2K years ago. I’ve NEVER seen one of these folks reject the New Testament. In fact, they seem more attached to the New Testament than most.
To explain why believing Yeshua and Yahweh are the same being leads to rejection of the Messiah, we just have to look at John 3:16
Slide 2 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (Joh 3:16 NAS95)
If you believe that Jesus is God, then this sentence makes no sense at all. It would be a different gospel entirely, that God came down here and pretended to be His own Son or something. Even Trinitarians, who we are the hardest on, understand there’s a separation. When you cross the divide to them not being “them” but just one being, then hundreds of verses no longer make any sense.
Slide 3 Jesus (Yeshua) said to her, "Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.'" (Joh 20:17 NAS95)
This is just one of the starkest examples out of innumerable verses that is incomprehensible if Yahweh and Yeshua are the same being. Beyond this, there’s a handy proof text in the OT for us to know exactly who the Father is:
Slide 4 But now, O LORD (YHVH), You are our Father, we are the clay, and You our potter; And all of us are the work of Your hand. (Isa 64:8 NAS95)
My preferred bible puts YHVH as LORD in all caps. This clearly states who the Father is and it’s Yahweh.
Beyond the hundreds of verses in the NT where Jesus and God are different, we also need to have prophecy identifying the Messiah. This is how the bible works. God tells us what’s going to happen, sometimes cryptically sometimes not, then it happens. Most often when the prophecy happens nobody realizes it until after the fact, which was clearly the case with Yeshua. He had to explain who He was to them after His resurrection, hence my citing of John 20:17. The prophecies of Yeshua also have Him as not being YHVH. Psalm 2, Psalm 22, and Isaiah 53 all speak of someone other than YHVH being the Messiah. The one I want to focus on, though, is the one in Micah:
Slide 5 (Mic 5:1-4 NAS95)
This plainly says One will go forth from YHVH, One who existed from eternity, who will be a ruler in Israel. And He will come in the Name of YHVH, whom we know to be the Father. Brothers and sisters this IS the gospel, that God sent His Son into the world so that whoever believes in the Son will have eternal life. We know those who have the Son have life, those who do not have the Son do not have life. Any doctrine that teaches Yeshua is not the Son of Yahweh must be discarded, not even considered, otherwise you will have lost your Messiah, the Mediator between God and man.
8/22/2024 • 13 minutes, 55 seconds
Are the False Gods Real?
Are the False Gods Real?
I just finished reading Jonathan Cahn’s book Return of the Gods. For those of us who got into the faith once delivered because of the pagan roots of the biggest tenets of mainstream Christianity, this book is very familiar territory. Cahn takes the knowledge we all share about Baal, Molech, and Ishtar and brings it right into modern times. He also provides a great refresher on the reality that these gods were worshiped under different names by different cultures. Diana of the Ephesians is the same goddess as Artemis and Ishtar, for example.
Cahn traces the modern-day debauchery of sexual sin in the western world directly to the return of these gods. He does so in a remarkably convincing fashion. Cahn shows the largest success of Christianity was the removal of idolatry and the institution of biblical morality from most of the known world. Idolatry and these abominable sexual practices we see returning are tied together throughout scriptures. Romans 1 tells us this for the New Testament reference, but we can read the horrific practices of sacrificing children and temple prostitution all over the Old Testament when Israel went astray. Which was a lot more often than not.
For those who may wonder about the overwhelming slaughters Israel was ordered to bring to the Canaanites, well, it was because of these practices. Israel was to purify Canaan of idolatry not just for the sake of idolatry but to remove the behaviors of the people of Canaan from the face of the earth. Child sacrifice and abominable sexual practices had to be completely purged from the land along with the idols.
A disappointment is that Cahn doesn’t also tell his readers that Christmas and Easter are both pagan holidays tied inextricably to these abominations. It’s a shame that he clearly knows this information but doesn’t make the connection so his readers can take the appropriate action to purge the paganism from their lives today. Easter is the worship of a pagan fertility goddess and the resurrection of her lover called Tammuz. It’s not about Messiah at all. Christmas with its worship of evergreen trees and its timing at the winter solstice is also a fertility celebration. The 12 days of Christmas, the yule log, the mistletoe, and all that stuff were also tied to abominable sexual practices and idolatry.
But now to today’s question, one I poised to the assembly on Shabbat. Are these false gods real? The bible seems to say both things.
The prophets of Pharaoh could do some of the stuff that YHVH let Moses and Aaron do. The false prophets in the end times will be able to call down fire from heaven. When the witch of Endor brought up Samuel… it worked. So these beings seem to have powers and seem to be quite real. That also explains why we see the same abominable idolatrous practices all over the world spanning thousands of years. To reconcile the contradiction about gods made with hands not being gods at all, I would equate that to the physical idols. Those trinkets or statues held no power. But it appears whatever they represented did. And we should take care to avoid any practices that might open ourselves up to them. Shalom.
8/19/2024 • 13 minutes, 11 seconds
John 9 and 10
Trying to enter through a different door and the ancient, yet subordinate, relationship between Yahweh and Yeshua.
This study is part of a series on the Gospel of John. All the videos of this series are posted at this link once they're completed. https://firstcenturychristianity.net/the-gospel-of-john/
8/18/2024 • 1 hour, 25 minutes, 26 seconds
John 8
Revealing the truth about the woman caught in adultery and the famous "I am" statement in John 8 does not mean what most teach.
This video is part of a series on the study of the Gospel of John. Previous chapters are available at the link. Further chapters will be uploaded as they come available. https://firstcenturychristianity.net/the-gospel-of-john/
8/11/2024 • 1 hour, 48 seconds
Do You Have a Relationship with Your Church?
The Torah keeping groups have a blessed tradition of
corporate prayers. Does your congregation?
8/8/2024 • 5 minutes, 1 second
John 7
The Pharisees Were Chickens
This is part of our congregational study of the Gospel of John from a Hebraic perspective. The series and many other teachings on early Christianity are available at https://firstcenturychristianity.net/the-gospel-of-john/
8/4/2024 • 1 hour, 21 minutes, 9 seconds
John 6
Miracles do not produce faith.This video is part of a study our congregation is going through for the Gospel of John. The series is available at the following link. New chapters will be uploaded as they become available. https://firstcenturychristianity.net/the-gospel-of-john/
7/29/2024 • 53 minutes, 42 seconds
Bibles that Lie
This is an excerpt from our study on John 5. The KJV translators purposely manipulated the text at John 5 to introduce doctrines the bible doesn't support. They actually changed the words of Jesus, aka Yeshua, to things He did not say. They did this to make people believe doctrines of men. Today, people making Sacred Name bibles and Hebrew Roots bibles are doing this same thing. This video shows those lies and how to quickly evaluate a bible for accuracy at two specific places.
7/25/2024 • 17 minutes, 43 seconds
John 5
Recording of our study on John 5. This chapter contains the
entire Gospel and ties the whole bible together. It also shows why the KJV
should be discarded because of its bias. The future contains two resurrections,
one of life and another of judgment. There is no such thing as damnation.
Please go to https://firstcenturychristianity.net/the-gospel-of-john/ to hear
all the studies on the book of John.
7/21/2024 • 1 hour, 19 minutes, 10 seconds
Politics and Religion
From Roe versus Wade until now.
Supreme court, overturning Roe. Huge win for Christians. But it wasn’t. It was a win for the Constitution. Many, perhaps tens of millions, mistakenly thought overturning Roe meant outlawing abortion. It didn’t. It meant putting that decision back into the hands of the people. Which it did.
Something happened in the 50 years of Roe that I think people are just starting to realize. We stopped being a religious nation. Now that Roe is overturned, quite a lot of Christians are realizing that most people are OK with abortion in some fashion. Our state had a trigger law to outlaw the practice. It’s good our politicians did that when nobody thought the law was ever going to be overturned. Because now that it’s overturned, outlawing it seems politically impossible. Why? Because even people who self-identify as Christians grew to accept the practice or simply don’t care as much as the devout believers.
When Roe was wrongly decided, the nation would have mostly outlawed abortion. It took a court to invent a right and making a decree to enact this barbaric practice. Fifty years on, the situation is reversed. A nation that has legalized weed and can’t figure out basic gender biology doesn’t really care that much about abortion. Times have changed.
Times have changed but I don’t think we realize the extent. Most Americans are involved in public policy and debate because that’s our culture. We are raised to understand the Republic and at least be aware of it, if not involved. Many of us whose lives are founded on scripture have been lobbying Godly principles for quite a while. But the country has shifted. Those of us who are faithful understanding basic right and wrong through the Bible. We value absolutes and we know no other way. And, naively, we connected those who shared our policy preferences to the bible. It now turns out that quite a lot of people who value liberty and the same things we do don’t come to those points through scripture but some other way. Or maybe they don’t really value our principles at all and were just using us as a means to an end. Either way, times have changed.
Whether it was from maturing or as a natural reaction to realizing the change, I have personally been distancing myself from following politics in the last couple years. Old habits do die hard, but it’s becoming clear that Godly principles are fading away and those of us who are faithful in the God of Abraham are quickly being faced with a choice. Who are we going to serve?
In the first century AD, the world was dominated by a pagan country. Rome wanted nothing to do with Judaism or Christianity. They allowed people to have different religious beliefs as long as it didn’t interfere with their dominance. We know in the last days that persecution will come. Most believe that persecution will come overnight but we know from history it doesn’t work that way. It comes over time. I would say that if your feeling increasingly separated from the rulers of this world, Yahweh is probably nudging you that direction. Brothers and sisters, we cannot serve two masters. At some point, we will have to make a choice. Choose wisely.
7/16/2024 • 11 minutes, 30 seconds
Peace with all Men
Shalom brothers and sisters,
When I say shalom today, I mean it as I wish peace for us all because peace is not what we have today.
The result of the fall in the Garden of Eden is that our society undergoes cycles of violence and instability. The first cycle culminated in the first destruction of earth because all men’s thoughts were evil continually. This pattern has played out over and over. Just in the last hundred years, almost exactly, we’ve had two world wars and a Cold War where governments attained the power to exterminate life on earth. We seem to be on the upswing of another cycle, with Israel being told to stop and make peace with demons, Russia invading Ukraine, mass shootings happening at an alarming pace, and now our former president’s attempted assassination. These events are meant to wear us down, coarsen our hearts, and elicit negative reactions thus continuing the cycle. But this is not the path of believers.
We have just lived through another startling historic event that we will remember exactly where we were and what we were doing when we heard the news. Somebody tried to assassinate a former president at a campaign rally. Three people behind the president were shot, one fatally. We learned this information through the same news that continually ramps up the very rhetoric which leads to these events. It appears we are on a hamster wheel, huh?
The old adage of “you are what you eat” is true. Violence begets violence and it doesn’t start with a violent act. Our Messiah taught us, or reminded us, that it starts with evil thoughts. It starts with envy, jealousy, or in many cases, poor souls believing the click-bait “if it bleeds it leads” media and internet personalities telling them repeatedly that the world is going to end. Our news diet is incredibly rich in Vitamin Fear to the point that we likely don’t notice it anymore, and certainly not on the level we did with earlier tragedies.
The cycle will try to complete again with those in the world. We’ll learn who the shooter was, some will blame guns, others will blame rhetoric, people will try to classify the crime so it can be put on the shelf. Rinse, repeat as necessary. But we will not. We know better. We know the cycle. We know we’ve been commanded to be peaceful stewards of the knowledge of God and His Christ.
We know that Yahweh cares for all His creation and does not want any to perish. We know He sent His Son to suffer violence so we can have the opportunity for salvation. We know, through Torah and the Messiah, how to attain peace in this life. Believe in Yeshua, follow the Torah, and be positive influences, trying to draw people to our common faith. We know this world is violent and corrupt so we choose not to participate in that evil. We choose to surround ourselves with loving brothers and sisters, related by blood, by marriage, and by the adoption we receive through the shed blood of Yeshua.
My friends, stay strong in the faith in these trying times. Pray for our leaders. Pray for people to soften their hearts. And pray for the return of Yeshua.
7/14/2024 • 5 minutes, 1 second
John 4
The Samaritan woman at the well shows us how we are supposed to receive the Messiah. The rest of this study can be found at https://firstcenturychristianity.net/the-gospel-of-john/
7/14/2024 • 1 hour, 20 minutes, 40 seconds
John 2 and 3
Study of John chapters 2 & 3. The rest of the study is available at https://firstcenturychristianity.net/the-gospel-of-john/
7/14/2024 • 1 hour, 13 minutes, 21 seconds
Heresy Police
Heresy Police
When we leave mainstream Christianity we are often called heretics and cultists. This language does not invite anyone to want to see your point of view at all. The history of this language is one of murder, so please take stock of your words and thoughts. But to be blunt, you do not have the power to call someone a heretic. All judgment has been given to Yeshua the Messiah, not you. While we have to make judgments about doctrines to believe and where to worship, when you start condemning people, you have gone way too far. God has a purpose for all His children and we must trust He is in control. The word “cult” has been so overused that it lacks meaning. Using this word for people who keep the Torah while simultaneously using it properly for people who have set up literal cult compounds is not helpful.
Independence Day – the competing denominations had to get along to defeat the British and then make a county. These are people whose not so distant ancestors were either persecuted or were the persecutors back in the old world not that long prior. If they were able to get over their doctrinal differences and see the bigger picture, we can, too.
More written content at https://firstcenturychristianity.net/heresy-police/
7/5/2024 • 22 minutes, 39 seconds
John Chapter 1
Interactive study on the Gospel of John, chapter 1, from a Messianic perspective. John 1: 1-5 explained and harmonized with the rest of scripture. The origin of "the Word" also explained.
6/29/2024 • 1 hour, 17 minutes, 57 seconds
The Lord's Day
The real meaning of the phrase "Lord's day" unlocks prophecy like you never thought possible!
The Lord’s Day
Slide 1 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet, saying, "Write in a book what you see, and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea." (Rev 1:10-11)
A misnomer in Christian parlance is that this is referring to Sunday, aka the first day of the week with the reference to the Lord’s day. There actually isn’t anything tying this phrase to Sunday except the traditions of men. In fact, I think this is the only place in the bible where the phrase “Lord’s day” appears. Sunday is not what is meant by the term Lord’s day. In fact, it’s referring to a day an annual day, not a weekly one. Those of us who have returned to original, first century Christianity know exactly what day this is speaking of and it’s an annual observance.
The phrase “sound of the trumpet” is the key to understanding the verse. John was in the Spirit on the Day of Trumpets, Yom Teruah in Hebrew. He was still keeping the festival days and it was, and is, widely understood that the “great and terrible day of the Lord” is the first day of the 7th month on the Hebrew calendar.
Slide 2 Again the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, 'In the seventh month on the first of the month you shall have a rest, a reminder by blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. 'You shall not do any laborious work, but you shall present an offering by fire to the LORD.'" (Lev 23:23-25)
Here's the commandment and you can make the association rather easily. This is also called the “day no man knows” because it’s the only holy day we don’t see coming in the Torah. Passover, Atonement, and Sukkot start in the middle of months and Pentecost gets counted out. Yom Teruah, or the Feast of Trumpets, or the Day of the Lord, is the one you have to prepare for and then wait for the sound of the trumpet from the kohen to tell you it has arrived. Think about how Jericho fell. It's actually a prophecy about the end of this age. They march 7 times, the 6 doing nothing. Then on the 7th, they go 7 times and blow trumpets and shout at the end, which destroys the pagan temple. The Messiah is coming back and will usher in the Messianic kingdom, the last 1000 years of this overall age. At the end of that 1000 years, all will be judged, those who’s names are written in the book of life will enter eternity. The Lord’s Day signifies all this and is observed annually, on the first day of the 7th month. John continued to keep Torah his whole life while accepting Yeshua as the Messiah. It only makes sense he would get the vision of the end on the day that represents it.
Slide 5 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Messiah will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. (1Th 4:15-18)
Paul gives us great insight about the return of Yeshua here. The Day of Trumpets is the holy day that foreshadows the return of the Messiah. Many of Yeshua’s parables reference this. “if the owner had known when the thief was coming”, “if the virgins had prepared their oil”, and “those who the master finds doing His will” all come to mind.
6/27/2024 • 7 minutes, 9 seconds
A New Religion
A New Religion: I don't think the present paradigm that is replacing historical religion with a new one is anything to be proud of.
Up front, this isn’t about discrimination. We work and live alongside people we disagree with all the time. This nation is about individual liberty mated with duty to community. Many of us are very OK with the idea of tolerance and competition in the marketplace of ideas. However, for it to be about tolerance, we all get to exist and express ourselves. If one group thinks their way of life is better but only that group gets to speak freely, then we have a totalitarian society, not a pluralistic one. The people in the seats of power worldwide now should have had to read books from Ray Bradbury, George Orwell, and Ayn Rand in high school or in college telling us explicitly not to live the way we are living today. Those books were not road maps to utopia, they were alarms about entertaining the very ideas that permeate society today. Disclaimer over.
The inability to cry for help. Everything is normalized. Acting out is even encouraged and sanctified. Having unholy behavior become pseudo-holy is also part of a religion.
Mankind wants religion. It’s in our DNA.
Define religion - https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/religion
: a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices
: the service and worship of God or the supernatural
: commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance
: a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith
: scrupulous conformity
They get holy ground? Seriously, they took the most common ground possible, an intersection, and made it holy. Off limits. By order of law. Same with idolatry. The guys in the book of Daniel. Making us genuflect before the accepted doctrine is literally a religion.
Made us male and female, they want to undo that, too! Foundational shifts.
Alternative creation story – Accident with a capital A. All religions have a creation story, gods or God. Take your pick.
Alternative apocalypse – telling us it’s hotter and hotter when we can remember it’s the same. Prophets – wrong prophets. Climate change, get real. Pollsters always wrong, still using them.
Stuff that’s off limits – each day waking up to find out what words are ok. Makes those who get to determine this to be our gods. They decide what language is acceptable, they rule the world.
"One's god is that which is one's ultimate reality. Therefore, it cannot be questioned. So there arose new movements, causes, ideologies, and systems of thought that could not be challenged or questioned no matter how irrational they were - because they were now gods." Jonathan Cahn, Return of the Gods.
You’ll excuse me if I don’t think the current reality is anything to be proud of. Under the guise of “you can’t make me do anything”, we’ve allowed ourselves to be overrun. The only way we can respond, brothers and sisters, is to continue worshiping the true God in the Name of His Son, Yeshua.
https://firstcenturychristianity.net/
6/24/2024 • 18 minutes, 56 seconds
Studying Yourself Stupid
Exploring how and why people study themselves off a cliff right after coming to the knowledge of the truth.
6/19/2024 • 20 minutes, 45 seconds
Pentecost Sunday
Pentecost is not a random day in the first century where the Apostles happened to be gathered. It's an ancient Holy Day and their observance shows they were still keeping Torah. Yeshua sending the Spirit on this day shows He expected them to still keep Torah after He ascended.
More teachings on the importance of Torah to Christians at https://firstcenturychristianity.net/
6/12/2024 • 5 minutes, 6 seconds
D-Day Plus 80
D-Day Plus 80: Israel's Example of Military Service compared and contrasted with the history of the United States.
There are many remarkable parallels between ancient Israel and the United States. Some of these are purposeful, such as the president having to be a natural born citizen. Some of these parallels are not coincidental at all. Those which are not coincidental show us the hand of God in the formation and use of our nation.
Israel had a basic founding on the commandments. Chief among those was the prohibition on going after other gods or learning the ways of the nations. They had a cycle of faithfulness and sinning that continued until the first century AD. Their fame and power was established at the Exodus, when Yahweh made know His power. They rode that established reputation until they were dispersed in AD70.
In the message D-Day Plus 80, I chronicle the peak of the power of the United States and how our present situation began with the same sin committed by Israel. After the conquering of Canaan, Israel apportioned the land and became a nation. Then "all the men did what was right in their own eyes" which began the slide to sin. They lacked unity and shunned their mission of representing God on earth as a faithful, lawful nation.
The United States, with our allies, landed in France on June 6, 1941 and fought our way to Berlin. We dispatched the evil Nazi government with enormous effort and focus. We also defeated Tojo's Japan, fighting tooth and nail in the Pacific. To defeat Japan, it took two nuclear weapons. They were an incredibly fierce nation. Then our men came home and started the same slide as Israel. We have since adopted a "do what's right in your own eyes" mentality. We have exchanged what made us great, unity and a common morality, with division and focusing on self.
This is just a sample of the message, where I chronicle some great parallels between ancient Israel and the United States. 80 years away from D-Day, we are a very different nation. But we do retain some of the virtues and values of our forefathers.
Available in print at https://firstcenturychristianity.net/d-day-plus-80/
6/10/2024 • 58 minutes, 5 seconds
The Sabbath Brings Peace through Order
The Sabbath, Order, and Peace. From Creation through to the New Jerusalem, observing God's Sabbath brings peace by establishing order in the home and in society.
By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made. (Gen 2:2-3)
Does anybody think God needed to rest? This is similar to Yeshua being baptized. The Messiah had no sin, so He had no reason to get baptized other than for our example. This is the same thing. Yahweh had no need to rest. In fact, He doesn’t even reside within the constraints of time and space. He is resting here to demonstrate what mankind is supposed to do. After making man, YHVH takes a break. The first thing Adam experienced as a living being was Shabbat. Have you ever thought of that? YHVH made the heavens and the earth and all that are in them. Then, on the 6th day, He makes man. On the seventh, He rests while in fellowship with man and His creation. The beginning of that age began with peace and that peace was established upon order.
Order is required for peace. Order is established at Creation. Order creates peace. Knowing what to expect. Six days of labor and then one where God appreciates all He had made.
Satisfying to have a clean house every Friday. Satisfying to have a family routine. Same as creation week. Gas tank is full. House is clean. Shopping done. Laundry done and put away. Yard mowed. Take out for dinner to keep the mess to a minimum. Time to relax with God, family, and then our family in Messiah. Get together in person with people that we can trust. People who will support each other and share things we can’t with the world. We share a message, some songs, a meal. After having done this for over 20 years, it’s impossible to imagine not doing it. It’s a lifestyle and a very pleasant one nonetheless.
Available in print at https://firstcenturychristianity.net/the-sabbath-order-and-peace/ where you will find thousands of hours of teaching on first century Christianity!
6/4/2024 • 35 minutes, 52 seconds
Original Christianity
Original Christianity
One of the hardest things to come by today is truth. Everyone is lined up on each side of issues, minds are made up, and very few people take the time to research and have a dialogue. This leads to a lot of friction and good ideas never considered at all because they come from “the other side”. In practical life, this is not making our society better at all. In fact, the opposite is happening.
When it comes to learning about Christianity, this “us versus them” paradigm has been in place for a really long time. But how does one learn real, original Christianity today? The internet is flooded with information. From videos to podcasts to blogs to books, it’s complete information overload. How does one even choose which of the many Bible translations to read? To try and provide a path forward, I have made a series of videos meant to teach you how to read the bible and come to faith the same way the early converts did. This series does not force feed a bunch of doctrine but empowers you to be able to come to the truth on your own. The original Christians were not intended to learn everything at once, but rather begin a lifelong journey of learning how to love God and live the way His Son, Jesus did.
These messages are for people who are curious about original Christianity and want to learn truth without the baggage of the last 1850 years. If you want to learn how Christianity was intended to be received by the early converts, this is the place to be. Please watch them in the order presented because they build on each other. This will help you start your studies with a solid foundation. If you aren’t new to Christianity but are wondering why modern Christianity seems so different from that of the bible, these messages will help you to sift the wheat from the chaff and draw nearer to God and His Son.
Thanks for your time. Please drop a line if these messages help you and be sure to share them with friends and family. The nature of the world shows us change is coming. People have questions and want to know about eternal life. Let’s help spread that knowledge.
The series of messages is available at https://firstcenturychristianity.net/original-christianity/
5/29/2024 • 3 minutes, 36 seconds
Facts Lies Mistakes and Pride
Facts Lies Mistakes & Pride: The last message in the series Learn Real Christianity from Scratch! available here https://firstcenturychristianity.net/from-scratch/
Learning topics of substance, especially something foreign or new, requires working through biases and pre-conceived notions. We are also required to be disciplined, patient, and methodical. I explain how to do this in this installment of the message. I also explain the incredible gravity of why we need to apply these virtues to arrive at the truth.
Discipline is key. Society has great systems for arriving at truth and facts. From childhood, most of us were taught the Scientific Method. This is a recipe for challenging hypotheses until they pass enough tests to become Scientific Law. This method requires patience, discipline, and objectivity. The same virtues are required when we take up matters of law. Our judicial system is set up very similar to that of the Torah. Two or more witnesses are required to establish facts in the Bible, specifically facts about sin and law.
In business, society has systems of standards like the International Standards Organization and the Six Sigma method of improvement. These systems, and their equivalents, are established similar to the Scientific Method. They drive us to challenge norms and constantly improve through methods established to unearth truth.
Two big examples of how disregarding societal standards come from two instances. One is ancient and biblical. The other is recent and societal. The recent departure was the maniacal usage of hand sanitizer during COVID. Those who work in labs are trained, drilled even, to know how to respond to airborne pathogens. Hand sanitizer has no effect. Yet ALL of society's leaders in science disregarded their training at the drop of an emotional hat.
The second centers around the mission of these messaged: Christ and Him Crucified. When the people had the Messiah executed, they emotionally disregard a foundation of the Torah. This foundation was part of their core identity: the law of two or more witnesses. They threw all they knew to be true out the window and had an innocent man executed, even shouting they had no king but Caesar. That sentence rejected YHVH as their true King and Yeshua as their Prince. This message, in video above and print at https://firstcenturychristianity.net/facts-lies-mistakes-pride/, shows you how to avoid being like these two groups of bad actors
5/26/2024 • 50 minutes, 36 seconds
How to Read the Bible
How to Read the Bible: The bible, like all literature, contains nuances. This is the third installment of the series How to Learn Real Christianity from Scratch. I explain some of these nuances to help you learn scripture the way it was meant to be received.
One first should start with a bible that is literal, accurate, and provides the information in as non-biased fashion as possible. The New American Standard Bible of 1995 fits this bill very well. This version contains hints that enable readers of English to get more out of the bible than previous versions. I show the power of one of those hints in detail in this message.
Another key to learning how to read the bible is to avoid the chapters and verses. This sounds shocking, but those were added over 1000 years after the Messiah ascended. The people who put the chapters and verses in the bible were at least as removed from their original intent of the text than we are today. The chapters and verse often break up thoughts and sentences and give the impression there are gaps in time when there are none. It takes effort, but if you read the bible without the chapters and verses, you will experience the fluidity of how it was originally meant to be read.
In this message, I show the culture of how the New Testament was meant to be read. The Jews of the first century cited scripture by just referring to a phrase or sentence from a passage. Since all believers attended synagogue, they knew Moses and the rest of the Old Testament by heart. Jesus aka Yeshua leveraged this form of communication in His discussion with his detractors. In fact, His dying words "Eli, Eli, llama sabachtani" used this very technique to tell those looking that He was fulfilling a prophecy. Paul expected anyone who read his letters to be familiar with this communication method. This is why his letters oftentimes have sentences that just look out of place.
The key place I use to explain this technique, and the hints built into the NASB95, is the greatest commandment. Yeshua was telling us how to love God when He told his challenger what the greatest commandment was. This message is available in video or print at https://firstcenturychristianity.net/how-to-read-the-bible/
5/23/2024 • 32 minutes, 55 seconds
Repentance is Works
Explaining how repentance is 100% works, 100% required for salvation, and what it really means in its original context.
Please visit https://firstcenturychristianity.net/ for more teaching about first century Christianity.
5/22/2024 • 7 minutes, 1 second
Weighing the Evidence
Weighing the Evidence: avoiding key pitfalls. The second message in the series about learning real Christianity from scratch.
This message begins with a recap of the first message titled Learn Real Christianity from Scratch. If you haven't started with that one, I highly recommend it. It's available here https://firstcenturychristianity.net/learn-real-christianity-from-scratch/. Key information is to begin your studies with the NASB95 version of the bible. This translation is literal, readable, and remarkably true to the original texts while removing as much doctrine as humanly possible. You can read about this translation at this link https://www.blueletterbible.org/bibles/preface-to-the-new-american-standard-bible-1995.cfm
Learning when the books of the bible were written, by whom, and what else was going on in the world at the time gives you great insight. This context helps us to learn the scriptures the way they were intended to be read. We should also avoid reading the chapters and verses. This is remarkably important because those were added over 1000 years after the New Testament authors died. The people who added the chapters and verses are just as removed from the first century Christian or Judean culture as we are today. Weighing the evidence of scripture requires us to consume scripture within the culture it was written (as much as possible).
A key pitfall to avoid is falling into the trap of creeds. Christianity today is a system of memorized doctrines. The folks who do this don't even realize it because it's taught from the moment a person begins to talk. Those of us raised in mainstream Christianity are taught it's biblical. But the way we learn this is to memorize a doctrine with proof texts rather than reading the scriptures and arriving at conclusions. These messages about learning real Christianity from scratch are intended to teach people who have never been indoctrinated how to avoid that trap. Frankly, if the doctrine is true, you'll get there soon enough!
Understand this path we are on is a long path. It's a journey. You are not saved by doctrine and you are not in a rush. Imagine if you could have another lifetime with your earthly father. Would you rush through it like you did the first time, making immature mistakes, or would you slow down and savor your time with him? Obviously it's the latter. Being born again is our chance to learn about our heavenly Father. We need to come at this like children, but children who know we have a new lease on life. Take your time on this journey and weigh the evidence along the way.
This message is available in video and print at https://firstcenturychristianity.net/weighing-the-evidence/
5/15/2024 • 45 minutes, 42 seconds
Learn Real Christianity from Scratch
Learn Real Christianity from Scratch. This is the first message in a series to help people with little to no education about Christianity or the bible get started. Historically, Christianity is taught by comparing the doctrines of denominations. The reality of the 21st century is that half of the population has no foundation in a church setting at all. This is a great place to be because new believers can learn real Christianity without having to sift through the last 1900 years of bad doctrine!
In this message, I explain why Christianity matters at all. This is not a hobby, an academic exercise, or a money making opportunity. Oh, no. Christianity matters because we want to attain eternal life. The only religion that offers this is real Christianity. The key to eternal life is to know Jesus Christ and Him crucified. This is what the Apostle Paul focused on in his evangelistic work throughout the western world in the first century.
To attain eternal life, we must know Jesus Christ. Jesus, whom I call by His Hebrew Name Yeshua, is not just a man who showed up in the first century with a bunch of new teachings. He is the ultimate Messiah and Son of God. He was explained and prophesied about throughout the Old Testament, and this is where most of His teachings originate. The Old Testament was the only bible they had in the first century. It was also only available to the general population in synagogues.
This message, available above in video and below in print, explains how to begin to learn real Christianity. This is not hard if you choose the right bible and understand what you are reading. I explain some very basic information that will help you on your path to understand who Jesus is, why He came, and how to attain eternal life.
This message is available in pdf at https://firstcenturychristianity.net/learn-real-christianity-from-scratch/
5/5/2024 • 55 minutes, 25 seconds
John MacArthur Rebuttal
Rebutting John MacArthur on his recent comments with respect to mental issues and medication. Frankly, how does a man get this old and believe such nonsense, let alone a minister?
5/2/2024 • 14 minutes, 52 seconds
Binary Decisions
Binary Decisions: The two biggest binary decisions in the history of mankind hinge on a little-known holy day in the Bible. These decisions are also tied to refusing the mark of the beast.
Our society struggles with binary decisions to this day. When King Solomon wrote there was nothing new under the sun, this is part of what he was speaking about. Since the Garden of Eden, mankind has wanted to have a magical third option where we get to have our cake and eat it, too. This is just not the case, particularly with matters of salvation.
The First Day of Unleavened Bread is the day after the Passover. This holy day is established in Exodus 13 as a remembrance of what Yahweh did for His people when he led them out of Egypt. Observing this day is a sign on one's hand and one's forehead. That's a direct correlation to the mark of the beast. This means if you want to avoid the mark of the beast, obey the commandment. This also associates the mark of the beast with lawlessness. In both cases, the mark represents faith and behavior. Those who believe in Yahweh will obey His commands in deed and in faith. Those who don't will do the deeds of the beast.
The First Day of Unleavened Bread is also the first day that Yeshua, aka Jesus, was in the tomb. These two events are tied together in God's plan of salvation, which I explain in the video. The Exodus is a huge illustration that we only have two choices: follow Yahweh into the unknown or remain separated from Him. Continuing to remain faithful to Yeshua even when the future is unknown is key to salvation.
Please enjoy this message which showcases how eternal life really does boil down to a binary decision. Please visit https://firstcenturychristianity.net/ for more teachings about the faith once delivered to the saints.
4/25/2024 • 30 minutes, 50 seconds
Preparing for Passover 2024
Basic instructions on how to commemorate the Messiah's death and observe the spring 2024 annual Holy Days in a New Covenant context. Please visit https://firstcenturychristianity.net/preparing-for-passover-2024/ for a pdf of the notes of this message.
Please visit https://firstcenturychristianity.net/holy-day-dates/ for a modern calendar to show dates and observances.
4/8/2024 • 28 minutes, 25 seconds
Problems with the Trinity II
Introduction video about problems with the Trinity for the page https://firstcenturychristianity.net/problems-with-the-trinity/
For more information about this very important topic, please visit the page above.
4/7/2024 • 8 minutes, 40 seconds
Christian Rituals
Christian Rituals: We must examine ourselves before taking the bread and wine. Take a step back and examine what just happened with Easter Sunday. Look at the rituals and match them against what the Bible really says to do. Did your Easter services mention anything about examining yourselves? Did you take the bread and wine?
The message is part of the ministry located at https://firstcenturychristianity.net/
4/3/2024 • 6 minutes, 48 seconds
A Series of Crossroads
Following up on “Everyone is Wrong… but Me.”
Is God important?
How do you love Him?
Being devout to a denomination is not the right path!
This message is part of the ministry located at https://firstcenturychristianity.net/
3/30/2024 • 49 minutes, 34 seconds
Historical Proof of Jesus the Messiah
The principal source outside the bible showing the Jesus the Christ, aka Yeshua the Messiah, existed and was resurrected.
3/28/2024 • 5 minutes, 16 seconds
Passover or Easter?
Are believers supposed to observe Passover or Easter to commemorate Yeshua the Messiah aka Jesus the Christ?
This message is available in print at https://firstcenturychristianity.net/bible-topics-index/pagan-holidays/easter-is-pagan/ where you will find many more resources about the faith once delivered to the saints.
3/17/2024 • 50 minutes
Yahweh has a Plan!
Yahweh has a project of perfecting the universe. We're a part of that plan but we need to remember to live in our own time.
This video is an excerpt of the longer message given on March 9, 2024 which is located here https://firstcenturychristianity.net/putting-in-the-work/
3/14/2024 • 7 minutes, 25 seconds
Putting in the Work!
A message given on March 9, 2024 about the differences between coming to the faith once delivered today versus 20 years ago. Some topics covered:
Using legitimate sources
Reading actual books
No following pastors or preachers
Respecting people with different perspectives
Trigger doctrines that cause us to study deeper
Problems in mainstream Christianity
Problems in the Hebrew Roots Movement
What time frame we should really focus on to get the knowledge of the truth
Please visit https://firstcenturychristianity.net/ for more messages like this!
3/10/2024 • 1 hour, 29 minutes, 35 seconds
The Law and the New Testament
The New Testament depends on the Law. We need it for our identity and, in addition to the Messiah, for our salvation. The video above and its companion pdf below show in absolute terms that the Torah is a requirement for salvation when Yeshua, aka Jesus, returns.
"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.' (Mat 7:21-23)
These verses show that there will be Christians, believers in Yeshua, who will be rejected when He returns for lawlessness. This lawlessness is exactly what it sounds like: The rejection of the Torah. This verse should put terror in all who have been taught that the Law was ended at the cross. That's clearly not true. Those who teach this will be the ones rejected. This will be an absolute shock as they think He is coming back to receive them, but their rejection of the Torah makes them actual enemies.
The accusation that the first century Christians taught against Moses starts very early in the faith. Stephen was accused of this in Acts 6. In Acts 7, he gives a speech that proves he did not reject the Torah or his heritage at all. It ends with him convicting the council of breaking Torah and they murder him, breaking it again.
Paul was also accused of breaking Torah. Not only does he refute this in word, but he did it in deed. In Acts 24, Paul tells that he brought the alms from the congregations to the temple. He had been purified and was following Torah by bringing the offerings into the storehouse. Paul makes it clear in his testimony that he believed all of the Torah and the prophets, thus rebuking the lawless claim.
The New Testament depends on the Law. We would not understand the Messiah at all without the Torah and the prophets. The apostles continue in Torah their whole lives. And those who claim to be Christians at the return of Yeshua who don't follow the Law will be in for a horrible surprise.
This message and its pdf are available at https://firstcenturychristianity.net/the-law-and-the-new-testament/
3/3/2024 • 30 minutes, 42 seconds
Problems with the Trinity
This is the introduction video for the content located at https://firstcenturychristianity.net/problems-with-the-trinity/
2/29/2024 • 10 minutes, 50 seconds
The Chief's Parade Shooting was the Result of a "Dispute"
Here's what we can do about it.
2/25/2024 • 9 minutes, 37 seconds
Explaining the Spring Holy Days
Explaining the Spring Holy Days
When we put the traditional observances of Christianity to the test, well, they often fail. The Bible doesn’t support any observance remotely similar to Easter. The apostles never gathered on a Sunday in honor of the resurrection, they never had anything to do with eggs or bunnies, and none of them at pork at any point in their lives. The reality is that Jesus, aka Yeshua, commanded a specific observance on a specific annual date to be added to the Holy Days the disciples were already observing.
On the night He was betrayed, He washed the feet of the disciples, and shared bread and wine. He said the bread and wine were symbolic of His body and blood. After washing the feet of the disciples, he said that they (we) should do to each other as He had done for them. And He specifically said to have that bread and wine in remembrance of Him.
These commandments are added to the Spring Holy Days the apostles already kept. The Passover, which can refer to the entire week-long observance, continued to be kept by the disciples once they became Apostles. Paul was taught to keep the Night He was Betrayed directly from the resurrected Messiah. He then commanded the congregations he either started or visited do as was done on the night Yeshua was betrayed. This included observing not just that night, but also the Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread.
The message above in video, and below in print, is titled Explaining the Spring Holy Days. With comments from our congregation, I explain when to observe each day of this week-long celebration. I explain what to do as well, and support it all with easy to follow scripture. It would be best to watch the video, but the notes are there for easy searching. If you’re seeing this message on a social media site, the printed version is available at https://firstcenturychristianity.net/explaining-the-spring-holy-days/
2/25/2024 • 1 hour, 5 minutes, 44 seconds
He Gets Us Reaction
Reaction to the Super Bowl ad about people washing each other's feet.
2/13/2024 • 5 minutes, 43 seconds
You Matter
Nobody lights a lamp and puts it under a basket means that you matter. Jesus Christ, aka Yeshua, died for you because you have worth and can be righteous. The mainstream Christian doctrines surrounding works being somehow bad force a conclusion that believers are worthless. If there are none righteous, and you are going to stay unrighteous, then the Messiah died for nothing.
This teaching unravels these destructive and evil doctrines. These wrong teachings, called the doctrines of men, must be refuted because you matter. Yeshua taught expressly against these concepts, and I explain why people believe the opposite of plain scripture in the message. Nearly every page of the Gospels contains parables, teachings, or stories about righteous deeds versus unrighteous deeds. Christ clearly expressed that the disciples, prior to His death and resurrection, were the light of the world. They needed to live so that their righteous deeds could be seen by men and thus draw men closer to Yahweh.
The book after the Gospels is not called Acts because it is fashioned after a play. It's called Acts because it records the righteous deeds of the first century believers. Their righteousness was based upon the Torah and they lived their lives precisely so mankind could follow their lead and learn righteousness. This teaching is provided in pdf and video format because you matter and it is Yahweh's desire that you be saved and learn to be righteous.
The pdf is located here https://firstcenturychristianity.net/you-matter/. Please sign up for our newsletter while at the website and enjoy other teachings about first century Christianity.
2/11/2024 • 44 minutes, 44 seconds
The Most Important Moment in History
The bible chapter Acts 2 records the most important moment in history to date. The events from Creation through the Gospels all point to this moment in time when salvation is offered to all mankind. This message explains how the significant events in history connect to Acts 2.
The Creation of the earth displays how YHVH is a God of order. The Torah outlines a culture. It is not just a law but a comprehensive way of life. The prophets and history offer remarkably accurate prophesies. They also show us how to appreciate the structure of biblical literature. The Gospels show us what God expects of us through His Son. The remarkable culmination of prophecies and the emotional pain the Mesiah experienced illustrate YHVH's plan for mankind.
From Acts 2, we see the Ruach ha Kodesh (Holy Spirit) given directly to the common man. This enabled the apostles to communicate to people in their native languages so there is no confusion about the The Most Important Moment in History. The people who participated in the Messiah's murder are humbled. They publicly profess their sins and repent. They, and we, learn the recipe for salvation: repent of your sins, accept Yeshua as the Messiah, and be baptized for forgiveness. Then Peter explains this message is for all whom God will call to Himself, which is why it matters to us.
Please enjoy this video on The Most Important Moment in History as we explain an overview of God's plan of salvation for mankind.
This message and it’s pdf notes are available at https://firstcenturychristianity.net/the-most-important-moment-in-history/
2/4/2024 • 1 hour, 11 minutes, 11 seconds
Arguments Against the Trinity
Arguments against the Trinity are necessary because this doctrine has been made mandatory for salvation when it is not. This comprehensive and thorough study shows who Jesus aka Yeshua really is from both the Old and New Testaments. The message is written out in pdf at https://firstcenturychristianity.net/arguments-against-the-trinity/ for easy reference.
The Trinity and its related doctrines (such as Oness) are not found in the scriptures. These doctrines are absolutely not required for salvation. There isn’t a single scripture mandating these beliefs and there are more verses that refute the Trinity and its variations than one can count. What we must believe for salvation is expressed plainly and frequently in the New Testament. I begin the message with a brief note on how to be saved.
Arguments against the Trinity span history as well as scripture. This doctrine is supremely entrenched into Christianity as a precept of men. It was created over time and codified in the 400s AD. I go into the history of the Nicene Creed in a different message called “God is not a Trinity”, but in short, the Trinity is 100% a precept of men. Yeshua was specifically adamant against making doctrines out of the precepts of men. He is recorded as saying this in Matthew 15:9 and Mark 7:7. He was citing the Old Testament when He admonished the Pharisees about this practice. The prophet Isaiah uttered this in Isaiah 29:13 as a comprehensive refutation against those who make traditions and the ideas of men out to be doctrines equal to the commandments.
The Trinity is a documented doctrine of mankind. It's history is traced starting with the council of Chalcedon in 451 and working backward. With this doctrine, Christianity hasn’t just taught a precept of men as a commandment, it has made this false doctrine a requirement for salvation.
Arguments against the Trinity are abundant. The New Testament seems to contradict this doctrine on each page in some fashion. I made this study to be a comprehensive and understandable as I could. Understanding the Yeshua is the Son of God who took on a mission from Yahweh to save mankind from eternal death is the most important information in history.
1/26/2024 • 1 hour, 29 minutes, 42 seconds
If My People
The phrase "If My People" is used to reference scripture about humbling ourselves. The context of these verses shows us how to obtain humility. Most of Christianity uses these verses properly, to show believers that if we bumble ourselves, turn from our wicked ways, and seek the face of God then He will hear us. However, the context is when Solomon had finished the first Temple and the entire nation of Israel was keeping Torah properly.
In fact, the Temple completion took place during Sukkot, also known as the Feast of Tabernacles, which is a holy day from Leviticus 23. The Israelites were at the pinnacle of faithfulness and blessings and they were warned, just as Moses warned them prior to his passing, that they would fall away. When they fell away, Yahweh would communicate this to them by having bad things happen, which needed to drive repentance.
Repentance is only possible when we follow the Commandments, the Torah. As Paul wrote, we only know of sin if we know the Law. This message explains the scripture surrounding the phrase "If My People" and then connects it to First Century Christianity. These verses only apply to us if we are His People. The New Testament explains how those who accept Yeshua as the Messiah become adopted children of Yahweh. We, who were not a people, become His people through His Son, and then we learn repentance.
The inauguration of the Temple when these scriptures were recorded is also a foreshadowing of the return of the Messiah. The first temple was filled with Yahweh's presence so much that the priests could not enter. This was a baptism by fire. When Yeshua returns, He is bringing a temple not made with hands. He will rule from Jerusalem and all mankind will need to go there for Sukkot. If you want to be part of that, click here to learn how to seek His Face and have "If My People" apply to you!
More at https://firstcenturychristianity.net/if-my-people/
1/14/2024 • 32 minutes, 8 seconds
Humility and Respect
Humility and Respect
James 3:1 we must be careful and mindful to only teach what is true and to treat the Word of God with the utmost respect.
This ministry is about First Century Christianity which is also called The Way. I’m more of a generalist and only study things out as needed. The goal here is to provide a solid resource for those coming out of Babylon. The brethren need to be able to learn what to retain from mainstream Christianity, what to discard, and what to learn about the faith once delivered. But it’s more than just learning. We must learn then do. Knowledge must drive action or else it is meaningless. This ministry is a resource to teach you HOW to walk out the faith once delivered, not just what to believe. Now a little history and why I’m talking about humility and respect.
More at https://firstcenturychristianity.net/about-us/
1/8/2024 • 10 minutes, 49 seconds
The Recipe for Salvation
When the Spirit came upon the Apostles in acts two, Peter was inspired to explain the recipe for salvation with power and authority. The video below is a group discussion about the requirement for water baptism in detail. We cover the origins of baptism, who is authorized to baptize another, when it's appropriate to be re-baptized, and the theological/spiritual meanings of this outward sign of faith.
Tagore Kota visited this week. He is studied on Koine Greek and explained in great detail the meaning of the Greek words behind baptism. He also gives a remarkable correlation between Noah's Ark and the blood of Messiah. Other contributors to the discussion are Everett Leisure, Tim Roberson, and Tiffany Flores.
Acts 2 is the dividing line between the Old Covenant and the New. The Spirit guided Peter's words and allowed the message to be heard in all the languages present. Peter was inspired to preach, just as Yeshua prophesied. Most of his sermon were direct citations of the Old Testament. But the new information included the recipe for salvation: Repent of your sins, accept Yeshua as the Messiah/Son of God, and be baptized. This is the Gospel that was preached to the known world from that moment on.
Theologically and spiritually, the fulcrum point between the Old and New Covenant is the death and resurrection of Yeshua. But the 50 days after His resurrection go on the left side of the dividing line because He was teaching them without parables and explaining everything, starting with Moses. The Ruach, aka the Holy Spirit, was yet to come, as well. Once the Ruach came, the New Covenant kicked off and the word went forth from Zion.
The final, and perhaps most important topic covered, is what exactly the Jews who didn't accept Yeshua rejected. The recipe for salvation is defined above but is a starting point. After one is baptized, one must learn the Torah. This is because the remnant, those who are Messiah's at His return, are those who believe in Him and who keep the Torah. The Jews believe in Yahweh and keep the Torah. Mainstream Christianity believe in Yeshua (they call Him Jesus), but they do not keep the commandments. Please enjoy the discussion!
Please visit https://firstcenturychristianity.net/ for more messages on First Century Christianity!
1/7/2024 • 1 hour, 34 minutes, 34 seconds
Bible Study Tips II
The bible was meant to be ready normally, not hyper-literally.
1/3/2024 • 6 minutes, 50 seconds
Bible Reading Tips
Tips to enhance your bible studies! In this installment, I talk about where the chapters and verses came from and the timing of the New Testament writings.
1/2/2024 • 7 minutes, 55 seconds
Be Holy as I am Holy
Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Messiah Yeshua. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY." (1Pe 1:13-16)
Peter was not creating a new type of holiness when he wrote these verses. He was drawing from the Old Testament. The phrase "as it is written" is our hint to look for this concept in the Torah. The video below shows how to achieve holiness today. Many believers don't believe that holiness or righteousness can be achieved at all. This is an error in doctrine and psychologically damaging. Peter would not have told us to be holy if it were not possible. Each of us has worth and is to strive for the goal of Messiah. We were created by Yahweh for a purpose.
Western society has lost the concept of holiness or holding things sacred almost completely. Mainstream Christianity holds December 25 as its most sacred day of the calendar. In our faith, we know that Christmas is not a bilbilcal holiday at all. However, while watching football on Christmas, I realized that our nation appears to hold nothing sacred anymore. For football to be on TV during this holiday at all is a huge change from just 20 years ago. Having three games on so people could spend their day immersed in the NFL is astonishing.
The message is available in video from a couple providers below. It's written out in pdf below that. Enjoy and please like and share this wherever you find it!
More messages like this are available at https://firstcenturychristianity.net/
12/31/2023 • 46 minutes, 22 seconds
Deception
In this message/discussion, I explain the depts of deception within our society and how we arrived in the present state. This deception includes confusion within religions, of course, which was and continues to be done by Satan. The adversary wants to deceive whoever he can to draw worship for himself or, at a minimum, draw worship away from Yahweh, the one true God, and His Son, Yeshua. However, our present state of confusion goes beyond religion. We can trace our present state of affairs to a nation that no longer exists. The USSR purposely introduced deceit and confusion through the countries they overthrew. This was done by infiltrating schools and the media in order to introduce conflicting messages and concepts into a society. I prove they did this to use with a video of a former KGB agent who defected in the 1980s. This agent outlines how the USSR would destroy societies from within through methods of deception. Because we have lost fundamental tools of comprehending information. I briefly outline the differences between social sciences and pure sciences. How we receive, categorize, and digest information on a basic level is crucial to returning society to normal. This pertains to religion because people are coming to the knowledge of the truth but then immediately being pulled into ludicrous directions. Folks who are easily led astray often have much zeal but entertaining flawed information, by mis-categorizing good information, or by setting unreasonable expectations of proof for doctrines. Please enjoy this message through one of the video offerings and provide some feedback! Shares and like are always appreciated! https://firstcenturychristianity.net/
12/24/2023 • 1 hour, 10 minutes, 15 seconds
Liberating the Pursuit of Truth: Eliminating Unnecessary Hurdles and Unveiling the Facts
We have many hurdles to overcome when performing a deep study into scriptures and formulating doctrines. Some of these are artificial requirements we put on ourselves like requiring source data when we either have it or it's not even necessary. In reality, there really is no source data on the flood and we all accept it as truth! I also go through a practical scenario where source data isn't really necessary at all. Formulating doctrines starts with simply reading the bible cover to cover and then trusting the Holy Spirit to lead one into truth.
More messages about the faith once delivered at at
https://firstcenturychristianity.net/
12/20/2023 • 33 minutes, 39 seconds
Are Underdogs Good or Bad?
The story of David and Goliath is often used to showcase the power of underdogs. We often give deference to the powerless through a conditioning that says those with power are usually the bad guys. Is this really the case? I contend the story of David and Goliath isn’t really about the weak or powerless, though. If we pick that story apart, it’s about a larger theme that plays out in the end times.
The United States is often paralleled with Israel and sometimes these parallels are impossible to ignore. Israel has both been the underdog and the overwhelming power, so has the United States. Our nation has had a series of "come from behind" victories that no other civilization shares, which helps condition us to favor come from behind victories. After World War II, though, the USA had to stop being the underdog and become the world's policeman.
At both ends of the bible, those with overwhelming power are actually the good guys! This message shows how underdogs are neither inherently good or bad and shows that we in the USA are conditioned to favor the weak because of our country’s history, not because of Marxism.
There is a sinister nature to favoring the underdog. The Torah tells us not to favor the poor or the rich, the weak or the powerful, in matters of judgment. We must base our judgments on individual circumstances to determine proper justice.
Please join us at https://firstcenturychristianity.net/ for more teaching focused and based on first century Christianity!
12/17/2023 • 36 minutes, 16 seconds
How to Choose a Bible
Oftentimes, the first time we learn something becomes the baseline for anything related to that skill or knowledge. Choosing the best bible available allows one to set the best foundation for a lifetime of learning. This message provides litmus tests to determine very quickly if a bible is worth your time. I also recommend the most accurate and readable translation I know of and why. The written Word is primarily how God has chosen to communicate with us and the only way for us to determine false teachings. Please watch this presentation and allow me to help you choose the best bible with which to start or continue your walk.
For more teachings like this and about early Christianity please visit https://firstcenturychristianity.net/
12/13/2023 • 35 minutes, 35 seconds
Tribulation Takes Time
This is an in-depth study on the rise and fall of civilizations
from a biblical perspective. Key points:
The time it takes for societies to fall is a lot
longer than we think.
The timeline between Adam and the flood is about
1600 years.
The United States is a metaphor for Israel and a
wicked nation simultaneously.
Specifically how the New Testament shifted the
focus from a singular nation back to a global effort of salvation similar to pre-flood.
Very specific instances of falling away in the
present day and why it is so difficult to get people to repent today.
Please visit https://firstcenturychristianity.net/
for more teachings from the perspective of early Christianity.
12/10/2023 • 1 hour, 20 minutes, 12 seconds
The Great Tribulation
Yeshua aka Jesus was saying things the audience already knew in Matthew 24. For instance, the abomination of desolation and the great tribulation were things that had already happened once! Click here for a deeper understanding of events to come!
Please visit https://firstcenturychristianity.net/ for more teachings on early Christianity!
12/4/2023 • 23 minutes, 28 seconds
The Apostle Paul
How to understand the Apostle Paul and the crucial doctrines that we only have because of his writings.Please like, follow, and find more teachings on first century Christianity at https://firstcenturychristianity.net/
11/30/2023 • 1 hour, 6 minutes, 39 seconds
The Life and Times of the Holy Spirit
This message is a discussion on the Holy Spirit, called the Ruach Elohim in Hebrew, from Genesis through the New Testament. We discuss many aspects of the Spirit including that people can lose it and even bad people can have it. Do you have any thoughts on this message?
https://firstcenturychristianity.net/
11/19/2023 • 1 hour, 17 minutes, 29 seconds
The Continuity of Scripture and the Faith
Are you following a different Gospel? Are you sure?
A big draw to the way we approach the faith is its continuity. We know when the Messiah returns there will be no more observing Sunday, Christmas, and Easter and the entire world will realize He is a totally separate being from the Father. So if then, why not now?
https://firstcenturychristianity.net/the-continuity-of-the-faith/
11/13/2023 • 12 minutes, 57 seconds
Predestination and Free Will
Are predestination and free will really competing ideas? No, but it's complicated.
For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. (Rom 8:29-30)
11/12/2023 • 28 minutes, 33 seconds
Do Christians and Jews Worship the Same God?
A question that really doesn't need to be asked.
First Century Christianity -
11/9/2023 • 7 minutes, 36 seconds
For God so Loved the World
An exposition on John 3:1-21 and the many
hidden things in Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus about how to obtain eternal life.
https://firstcenturychristianity.net/
11/4/2023 • 42 minutes, 50 seconds
Israel and Racism
Would you ever consider discriminating against the apostle Paul?
First Century Christianity -
11/2/2023 • 6 minutes, 48 seconds
The Sign of God's People
Here's how to be identified as a child of God.
More teachings about the faith once delivered available at the link below.
First Century Christianity -
10/28/2023 • 40 minutes, 22 seconds
We have a Spiritual Problem
Many on the news and in social media are saying we have a mental problem with all the violence in the country and the world. I contend we have a spiritual problem.https://firstcenturychristianity.net/
10/26/2023 • 4 minutes, 38 seconds
Managing Emotions and Seeing Truth Clearly
I talk about managing emotions from a biblical perspective and how believers should react to the #IsraelAttack in this week's message. Yes, it's OK to be angry. Then what? For more teachings on how to apply first century Christian beliefs to modern events, please visit https://firstcenturychristianity.net/
10/21/2023 • 45 minutes, 25 seconds
Judgment Day
Here's a message that's very foundational to the first century faith. Judgment Day: When is it and how are people ultimately judged? #ChristJesus #judgment
For more teachings about First Century Christianity, please visit
First Century Christianity -