Dear Doves,The following web site contains many interesting thoughts that can lead to a better understanding of God's Word, in my humble opinion.The following is the last paragraph from the linked site and is provided to give you an idea of the writing style of the author Dr. Stephen E. Jones. I have also read his book (online and free) entitled The Rapture in Light of Tabernacles ( http://www.gods-kingdom-ministries.org/COLDFUSION/booklet.cfm?PID=112 ) and found it changed my mind somewhat regarding the probable timing of the Rapture. I can now see that the next event for those who remain and are alive is probably the Feast of Tabernacles with Trumpets being for the resurrection of the dead in Christ.Please read his work if you have the time and interest and let us all know what you think of his non-traditional views, based on a fresh interpretation of relevant Scripture in every instance.YBICRobertObedience
Most Christians understand that God wants them to be obedient. Some mistakenly make obedience a prerequisite for salvation (justification), and this puts them under the bondage of trying to be good enough to merit salvation. That view is held by those who do not know the difference between Passover and Pentecost. Passover brings us justification by faith, apart from works (Rom. 3:28). Pentecost, however, brings us into obedience and cannot be separated from our works.
In Pentecost, we are led by the Spirit to do whatever God leads us (or tells us) to do each day. That is the meaning of obedience. It directly affects everything we do. If a person claims to be filled with the Spirit, but refuses to be obedient, he is not a true Pentecostal. 2 Cor. 10:5 says that we conduct spiritual warfare for this purpose:
5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.
The Apostle Peter confirms this, saying in 1 Peter 1:14 and 15,
14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, 15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior.
We need not belabor this point, since most people understand that obedience is a virtue. As I see it, the more important problem is that people have dissociated obedience from the law. It is not that the first five books of Moses represent the entire law. It is not. The law is the entire written word, along with every spoken word that God has ever said to men on an individual basis. Whatever God tells men to do is a law, simply because it requires obedience. The only qualifier to this is that men must also pray to know the will of God in every command. If we try to obey according to our carnal understanding, we are sure to fail regardless of our “good intentions.”