John 3: 16 false hope or hope of glory

[[Joh 3:14-21/KJV]]
 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
John 3: 16 is one of the most popular verses from the scriptures. The reason is it gives people hope; now we must know the difference between a hope and a wish. A wish is something desired but with no reason to expect to receive what is desired; hope on the other hand is a desire for what we expect to receive.
When one reads “whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” without the context of why it was said or separates it from the entire conversation it was said in it develops a false hope of eternal life without change of how we currently live. This thing being true let us find the truth of what is being said.
The conversation is between Jesus and Nicodemas. Nicodemas though holding the position of a ruler of the Jews has just had his mind blown by Jesus statement that the only way to receive the Kingdom of God is to be born again. In Nicodemus mind being born into the Jewish nation should have assured him as being in the kingdom of God. Had not God himself called this nation and made both covenant and promises to his forefathers that his nation would one day be the head of all nations.
The term born again is common to us, so common it has lost its meaning in many ways. We have used it to say we except Jesus, we believe in him, and we will now try to live accordingly. Truth is that is only a life change; being born again means a whole new life nothing resembling the one you have known. God does not reform men from what is old, new wine needs a new wineskin…the old cannot hold it but will burst; God makes a new creation in Christ Jesus.
Nicodemus had never even heard such a concept…though in truth the writings of Moses and the prophets did speak of the breath of God and that His works where not accomplished by anything other than His breath (Spirit). Hence Jesus question “Art thou a master of Israel and don’t know these things”
Jesus explains that the flesh of his forefathers was still only flesh received from the fallen state of Adam, and anyone born of flesh is flesh(which would include all men, even the elect). To be born of the Spirit one must as Adam did have God place his breath and life in them.
Nicodemus was no fool. He might have missed the necessity of the birth of the Spirit but he had not missed that no flesh is able to share in the glory of God. So he ask the most reasonable question “How can these things be?”
Jesus points to the brazen serpent in the wilderness. The children of Israel where being destroyed by serpents (a representation of iniquity and rebellion towards God since the garden); Moses was instructed to place a brass (the hardness of mans uncircumcised flesh) serpent on a staff (cursed is any man that is hung on a tree). All of Israel who looked to this image was saved, notice it does not say all were saved.
In the same way Jesus was our cursed man on a tree, but it was our deserved curse and hardness He carried there. Those who looked to YHWH’s salvation in the wilderness were saved in like manner all who by faith look to YHWH’s salvation in Jesus are saved.
If we continue to read we see that we are being killed by the iniquity within us but those who have truly believed bring their ways to his light that He will take them and give him new life.
Those who love their old life and sin will not give it to Him to be taken and so they continue in death and reap its final harvest.
The end of these things is Jesus saves us from our sin, not to continue in sin. All who would believe the4y can continue in sin and receive the kingdom do not believe in Him and shall not have the kingdom of heaven. Those who give themselves to Him will find he takes the old, carries it to the death of the cross and gives them life through the breath of God sharing His life in them.

The whole armor of God: part 3

The armor of God: the helmet of salvation
[[Isa 52:7]] How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy Elohim reigneth!
[[Isa 52:10]] יהוה hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our Elohim.
[[Isa 56:1]] Thus saith יהוה, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.
[[Isa 59:11]] We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves: we look for judgment, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us.
[[Isa 59:16]] And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.
[[Isa 59:17]] For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke.
[[Isa 60:18]] Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise.
[[Isa 61:10]] I will greatly rejoice in יהוה, my soul shall be joyful in my Elohim; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
[[Isa 62:1]] For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.
[[Isa 62:11]] Behold, יהוה hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.
[[Isa 63:5]] And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me.
The name most of the world has come to know as Jesus was actually Yashuah or Yeshua opinions varies. I won’t argue which is correct as the idea that saying the name right grants any type of power is demonology. I bring it up only because his name has an interesting meaning.
As to the true statement that there is no other name under heaven by which men may be saved; this is about authority not pronunciation. If the King of all creation sends a messenger to a certain person or nation and the messenger says the name of his King wrong though those hearing know of whom he is speaking…will they escape wrath for disobedience…will they be excluded from the reward of obedience.
This is completely different from preaching a different Messiah or a different Gospel…if what is taught is against the scriptures then Yashua cannot contradict who He is.
I bring up the name to point out that Yashua is YHWH’s salvation for this is what His name means. So the scripture is a witness of His salvation not the means of accomplishing that salvation, even Messiah himself is the means by which our salvation is brought to and provided to us. The salvation itself is of YHWH meaning it is unshakable, undeniable, and immutable.
Anything found within your heart and mind that is opposed to His ways shall be changed as we put our trust in Him. It is this that inspired John to write that if our heart condemn us God is greater than our heart. The success of your salvation is sealed if you are in Messiah because it does not draw anything from you.
So when the valley of the shadow of death darkens your walk when evil threatens to take you your protection is that salvation is of YHWH…it is He who is your maker…he gives righteousness…He has predestined you...He is your aid…He is your victory…He is your health…He is your prosperity…He is your help…He is your salvation…If YHWH is for us who can be against us…..lean not to your own understanding but trust Him for those who put their trust in Him will not be ashamed.

The armor of God: the sword of the Spirit
Ephesians 6:1
And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Isaiah 11:4
But with righteousness He will judge the poor, And decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth; And He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked.
2 Thessalonians 2:8
Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming;
Revelation 1:16
In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength.
Revelation 2:12
"And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this:
Revelation 2:16
'Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth.
John 14:26
But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
John 16:13
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith
Acts 2:33
Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
Acts 2:38 –
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
1 Corinthians 2:10
But God hath revealed [them] unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
Galatians 1:12
For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught [it], but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 10: 3-5
"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;"
1 Timothy 6: 12
"Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses."
2 Timothy 2: 3-4
"Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier."
2 Timothy 4:7
"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:"
Ephesians 6: 10-12
"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
Hebrews 4: 12
"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
Finally a sword…now we are ready to fight, but wait. How do we use this sword? A sword has the purpose of consuming flesh by piercing and cutting it away. Not only this but our sword is the Spirit of God…do men wield God or does God wield men; surely the later.
What do the scriptures say of the gift of Gods Spirit in us?
1) He separates the wheat from the chaff. The seed (wheat) is the living Word of God the chaff (flesh) is not fit to be made the bread of life so it is thrown into the fire (consumed, crucified in the cross of Messiah).
2) He slays the wicked and the lawless one. Wicked means twisted but He has promised to make us straight paths (the way). The law of sin and death reveals to us that in our flesh (life received from Adam) we are lawless; for in our flesh dwells no good thing. The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has by Messiah carrying my flesh to death in His cross made the Spirit to be my life writing Gods law on my heart and mind…so as Paul says those having not the law do by nature the things taught in the law…a living way.
3) He makes war, but not with unbelievers or demons. He makes war with saints who as Balaam try to manipulate God for gain and teach other believers to take part in the sins of the world to the end that they can use others as merchandise for their own benefit.
4) He pulls down strongholds by casting down the imaginations of the flesh and every other thing that the flesh puts in place to take the full dependence of the believer away from Him
5) He divides between the soul (function of life) and the spirit(source of life), the actions and generative source, and judges the plans and motives of our heart.
So the purpose of the sword is to remove all hint of the flesh life/death in us. For we have the hope (a desired expectation) of glory(Gods manifested presence) in us, but God shares His glory with no flesh.
When the beam is removed from our own eye we will see clearly to help our brethren remove the speck from their eye.
Our fight is not to defeat the world, the flesh, and the devil, but a fight of faith to have faith that Yashua already has and by the making us one with Him; God is by his Spirit performing every promise of His life in us.

The whole armor of God: part 2

The armor of God: gospel of peace
[[Eph 6:15]] KJV And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
[[Num 6:26]] KJV The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
[[Isa 26:3]] KJV Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
[[Isa 53:5]] KJV But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
[[Joh 14:27]] KJV Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
[[Joh 16:33]] KJV These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
[[Rom 8:6]] KJV For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
[[Rom 5:1]] KJV Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
[[Phi 4:7]] KJV And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
[[Jas 3:18]] KJV And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
[[Psa 85:7-13/KJV]]
7 Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation.
8 I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.
9 Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.
10 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
11 Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
12 Yea, the LORD shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase.
13 Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps.
In the natural when we think of what makes for a great warrior many things come to mind; a cunning mind, heightened perception and awareness, strength, skill, experience but seldom do we consider the feet. Yet without a solid footing none of the rest can be effective.
The shield walls of Rome made strength from several men combined into one fighting unit, and to be effective the shield wall had to be able to repel enemy forces running into it at a full run. If it broke then it lost its combined strength and became just individual men fighting; which removed its advantage.
So the soldier’s footing against a wave of their enemies onslaught was of vital importance. The romans response to this need was to place what amounts to cleats in their sandals.
In this way Paul compares our footing in our redeemed life to be set by the gospel of peace. I find it interesting that the very prince of peace Jesus said he did not come to bring peace but a sword. It is important to understand how both are 100 % true; else we will develop a wrong way of acting toward God and man.
Jesus said my peace I give to you not as the world gives…and in this lays the answer to our seeming conflict. Jesus brings men into a peace and oneness with God, and by doing so he brings them into life for God is life. However He will never make peace with death or its allies of sin, separation, and self-sufficiency, but instead he brings the sword against it.
In the world what is called peace is when men divide lands, resources, and people among their recognized established sovereignty. Neither YHWH nor his anointed will ever recognize that death has sovereignty over any of His creation or men. He will make no peace with death in those who are deceived by bondage to it or in those that are his.
The peace Yeshua has given us is peace with God. He has taken away in his own body those things which bound us to death and passed through death and the grave and we were in him by our faith when the Spirit of God pulled Him out of death and made him alive. It is by Yeshua’s obedience that we have been redeemed to peace and by that redemption we are given the grace of YHWH’s life’s breath abiding in us and that life purges every shadow of death from those who put full reliance in him and by that grace the assured hope of his glory in us…for we have been made one with our Elohim.
Some think YHWH stands above our lives judging if we are doing what is right or wrong, but by Yeshua he has gotten into the waters of mankind to save those who are drowning. When a man is drowning and he has struggled for a while to no avail panic sets in. When this happens they are an enemy to both themselves and anyone who would attempt to rescue them. So if YHWH knocks you out, drags you to shore and violently pumps your chest while trying to breathe life into you….don’t think He doesn’t love you.
In Philippians 2: 12 Paul says to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling many people quote this verse to say God expects you to work for salvation, but I warn you to depend on anything from you is carnal and the carnal man is enmity with God. However let’s let Paul finish his own thought for verse thirteen tells us for it is God which works in you both to will and to do what is good and pleasing to Him.
To conclude if you want to stand in Messiah believe on YHWH, trust in Yeshua’s redemption, and depend on the Spirit/breath/life of God to live for you and through you….this is the gospel of peace.

The armor of God: shield of faith
Romans 10:17 - So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
James 2:19 - Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
Hebrews 11:6 - But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Matthew 21:22 - And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
Mark 11:22-24 - And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. (Read More...)
Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: (Read More...)
Luke 1:37 - For with God nothing shall be impossible.
Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1 - 13:25 - Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Read More...)
Ephesians 2:8 - For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:
1 Corinthians 2:5 - That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. (Read More...)
James 2:24 - Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
James 2:14-26 - What [doth it] profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? (Read More...)
2 Corinthians 5:7 - (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
Psalms 46:10 - Be still, and know that I [am] God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
“You are saved by grace through faith” has any phrase from Gods word been more kidnapped, abused, used for a sick wicked lust and left dead in a ditch for the dogs than this.
The idea of being saved has been made little more than a get out of hell free card. Gone is the power of God driving out everything that would cause harm or separate us from Him such as sin, unbelief, unforgiveness, or worldliness; replaced with we just have to endure till one day He makes it better after all we are just like the world just forgiven.
Grace has been changed to God overlooking our weakness and assuring us He loves us while we continue to kill ourselves and those around us; when in truth it is the gift of God himself living in us sharing his life, power, to will and to DO in us.
Then there is the subject of this post: faith. It has been taught as something that we develop in order to get God to act which is both silly and idolatrous. It has been taught that we learn Gods word and apply it to what we need because God has to honor his word…again idolatry.
The creator, regardless of love for you, is never at the rule or desire or desperation of the creation.
Faith is not simply belief that God can or will do what he says, but faith has full assurance that He is and has done His word. The result of our unwavering dependence and reliance that what He says is what He is doing is seen in our actions by which we see His actions.
At a modern marriage festival it is a tradition for the bride and groom after they have entered into a contract of marriage and before (presumably) they consummate the marriage to have a dance. Our faith is like this dance.
The groom and bride cannot both lead this dance; this struggle would be more wrestling than dancing. The groom cannot lead a bride who refuses to move her feet, so if she is waiting on Him to move first neither one moves. To see the groom move requires us to move at his leading.
The word amen means so be it or so it is and this same word is translated as faith. The word also carries the idea of a nursing Father along with to render firm, to trust, to be permanent, quiet, certain, establish. So the picture painted in the Hebrew is the safe assurance of an infant in the arms of a loving Father.
Since our Father can create the universe with the sound of his words who can take us out of his hands…He can be trusted. Our trust in Him can defeat every device of those who would try.

The whole armor of God: part 1

The armor of God...the shield wall of believers

[[Eph 6:10-13/KJV]]
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

I have watched over the years as certain teachings have come and gone in the church. Like a wave of the ocean crashing on the beach everyone would teach these things and slowly they would fade away.
One such teaching was on the armor of God and spiritual warfare. these teachings ranged from the silly ( people dressing in army uniforms and yelling at the devil) to the informative ( everything you could ever want to know about how to use Roman armor).
Yet when my battles came the knowledge of how to wear my helmet or when I should use my shield was just enough information to leave me bleeding on the battlefield.
So for a few post I would like to deal with the armor of God, but with prayer and hope toward God that the Spirit will establish his truth in your heart.
Let us begin before we get to the workings of our protection and assault with some clarity. The armor of God is not our armor it is Gods; if we are not in Christ but the world or if we are living in the ability of the flesh instead of the Spirit we are not in his armor.
The second consideration is that it speaks of the whole armor. This is to say it is all or nothing...much like the fruit of the Spirit. We are not developing these things we are trusting God has given them to us and that they will complete what they where given for as we trust in him.
Keep this in mind also a roman soldier was trained, conditioned, and equipped far beyond those he faced on the battlefield, but by himself he was only a skilled fighter easily killed by a blow from somewhere out of his field of sight...but when joined with others the shield walls of Rome subdued the world for a thousand years.
We need each other..so I ask those who read this to give a moment of prayer that the Lord would use me to help my brothers and sisters faith to be strengthened and encouraged...that I may one day have the same from them...that we may all be one

The armor of God… belt of truth
[[Eph 6:14]] KJV Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
[[Joh 14:6-7/KJV]]
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
[[Joh 14:16-17/KJV]]
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
[[Joh 15:26]] KJV But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
[[Joh 16:13-15/KJV]]
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
[[Joh 17:16-19/KJV]]
16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
[[Joh 18:37]] KJV Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
*(John 1: 14, 17...8: 32)(1John 1: 6, 8...2:20)(2John 1:2, 4, 13)(3John 1:3, 4, 8)(James 1: 18)(1Peter 1:22)(Rom 1:18)(Gal 5: 7)(Eph 4:15)(1Tim2: 4)(2Tim2:15..3: 7)(Titus1:1)
Have your loins gird with truth…the belt was to hold everything in place and carry both provision and the sword. The loins are the place from which life is produced. These things are interesting and give us much to meditate upon, but knowing the truth is what is effective to possessing what we meditate on.
Most times this truth is said to be our bible. Jesus has said both Moses and His apostles are witnesses of Him but He is the truth. We have a living way and a living truth as He is the life in us who have placed our full reliance and trust in God.
If we think of the truth witnessed in the bible as being the truth then it follows that we should learn the truth. We should study to show ourselves approved but we must never confuse learning about Him with knowing him.
If someone tells you what I said or did that does not mean you know me. Jesus concludes only the spirit of a man knows that man; in this same way only the Spirit of God knows Him. This is the reason we have been given the Spirit of God that we may be one with Him and know Him in a way that only He knows himself; this is the grace that has been given to them who place their faith in him. If we must decipher from what He says and does who He is then we have no choice but to lean on our own understanding and in that way we will never know Him.
So test the spirits if they are from God or man. How? Let all things be established by two witnesses. So if that which you believe is not found in the witness of Moses and the apostles it is not qualified as the truth.
Jesus has said there would be those on that day that said they had done things for him but He would say depart I never knew you. There were those who Jesus said prided themselves on having the scripture for in having them they believed they had salvation also some have a form of godliness by ever learning but never coming to knowledge of God.
To know God is to be made one with him. In the natural this happens between a husband and wife when their marriage is consummated. In the spirit this happens when we lose our life in the crucifixion of Jesus and His Spirit makes Gods life to be our life. This is the living truth

.Armor of God: breastplate of righteousness
[[Rom 1:16-17/KJV]]
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
[[Rom 3:20-22/KJV]]
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
[[Rom 4:4-6/KJV]]
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
[[Rom 4:13]] KJV For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
[[Rom 5:17]] KJV For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
[[Rom 7:12]] KJV Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
[[Rom 7:18]] KJV For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
[[Rom 7:24-25/KJV]]
24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
[[Rom 8:3-4/KJV]]
3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
[[Rom 9:30-33/KJV]]
30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.
31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
[[Rom 10:3-4/KJV]]
3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
Duet( 4: 2-3, 8)( 9: 14)(32:4) Psalm(36: 6)(40: 10)(65:5)(112:3)(116:4-6)(119:142)(145:17) Jeremiah(9:23-24) Isaiah(5:16)(41:10)(51:8) Micah(7:9) Matthew(5:20) John(3:21) 1Cor(1:30) 2Cor(5:21)Philippians(1:11) 2Tim(2:22)(3:16)(4:80) 1John(2:29)(3:7)(4: 4-21)(5:18) 1Peter(2:24)(3:14)
The breastplate serves an obvious function for a soldier; preservation of life. In our modern day we still wear body armor for this same purpose, but we have laid aside this gift from God claiming it is too heavy for us to bear.
We have replaced it with a badge or name tag saying sin cannot hurt me because Jesus was righteous; ignoring that sin steals, kills, and destroys the life of a believer in the same way as an unbeliever.
Let us begin with the beginning…what is righteousness? It is to do those things that naturally emanate from the life of God. The commands, statutes, and ordinances found in scripture are teachings of who we should be. It is uncircumcised ears, eyes, heart and lips(still covered by the dead flesh inherited from Adam) that see these things as things to be done. So it is if we live trying to obtain to life by our own work generated by our ability or will or even our love we will find that all we produce is sin and death.
The redeemed man must receive life in the same way Adam received life “ God breathed into him and he became a living soul”…”the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead will quicken(make alive) your mortal bodies.”
A quick reading of the OT scriptures listed above show that righteousness belongs to God: which is sensible since it is a description of what comes from who He is. It is also obvious from scripture that no man is righteous without imputation from God. As you depend and rely on the author of your faith to be your maker; he teaches you to rely on Him to both will and do in and through you.
When we trust him he teaches us to trust him more. So it is from faith to faith that His righteousness is revealed in our lives. We have been made one with Him. Our life is His life shared in us, and as He lives through us his righteousness acts through us.
If you are a believer and there is something in your life that you know must go DO NOT fight to remove it by your will or ability. Trust rely and depend that God has promised those who trust in his redemption and redeemer life and also that those who put their trust in him will not be ashamed.

Is your faith in Jesus established?

[[Deu 17:6]] KJV
At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.

[[Mat 18:16]] KJV
But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

[[2Co 13:1]] KJV
This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.

[[Joh 5:46-47/KJV]]
46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.
47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?

[[Act 1:8]] KJV But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

a few decades after the death of the Apostles a heretic rose up named Marcion. He began to teach that Christianity was a separate religion from Judaism, that God had rejected the Jews and replaced them with the church,among other incorrect teachings.
As his influence increased his heresies became bolder to the point that what we call the Old Testament was had to be a failed covenant with old Israel and therefore not applicable to the church... that the only thing that should be considered scripture for the church was the writings of Paul(with the perverse thought that Paul was against Moses) and an edited version of Luke. That the God of the Old Testament was a violent tyrant but Jesus had come and shown the true loving God. At that point the church leaders declared him a heretic and his conclusions as heresies.
The problem is the conclusions where thrown out but many of the little precepts remained. The little foxes spoil the vine...
In our modern church the old is seen as being over so very little is it studied except in a very edited way.
let all things be established in the mouth of two witnesses...
Jesus is the word made flesh.. what word? The testimony of Moses and the prophets. The things taught there are literally his DNA. The testimony of the Apostles and their witness of Him in the Gospels in the epistles is the second witness by which our faith is established.
If we listen to only one witness then nothing can be established according to Jesus own words.