Testimony: Letter from Chad

Note: Periodically, the Olive Tree website will publish testimonials of individual members.


Dear Family and Friends,

I am writing this letter in regard to the many questions I have received about my faith. I’ll simply start by telling my story, and I’ll follow by answering the most frequent questions I am asked. I ask, whether you agree with me or not, you would still love me as friends the way that I have always loved you. I am also not trying to get you to visit my congregation; I’m just requesting that, as you read this letter, you would seek the Lord with all your heart, through prayer, scripture reading, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

A few years ago, while I was in college and attending my Presbyterian church, I told a good friend of mine that I desired to read the Bible for myself and asked him where I should start. He suggested that I start reading in Matthew, and so I did. I then went on to Mark…Luke…all the way to Revelation. (I got pretty lost in Revelation!!!) Once I finished the New Testament, I decided to start in the Old Testament. I remembered for many years being taught that the Old Testament had been “done away with;” so as a result, I never saw great importance in it. However, as I started reading it for myself, I noticed some things that made sense to me…like taking care of the poor and orphaned, leaving the corners of your field uncut for those that didn’t have food, keeping the Sabbath, loving God – the list goes on and on. I asked myself, “Are these really bad rules? Why have these been done away with?” I was also very confused by the fact that Jesus said that until heaven and earth passed away, not the least jot or tittle shall pass away from the law until all is accomplished. I sought the counsel of a pastor that I knew, and he said, “The Old Testament is just a history lesson. It tells us how things used to be done.” I wasn’t ever at peace with his answer, but I accepted it for a while…

About two years later, God led me away from my former church – but to where? I felt that though He had taken me from my friends at the Presbyterian Church, I didn’t yet know where He was leading me. I decided to visit a Baptist church in Waxahachie. I really enjoyed it! It was upbeat with a great worship and praise band and nice fellowship. So, I stuck around a while. I thought that was where the Father wanted me to be. Then about that time, one of my customers came in to H-E-B. He was a scruffy looking sort of fellow, and he invited me to go to a little congregation on Saturday called Olive Tree Ministries. I dismissed the idea. I didn’t believe there was anything he had to offer me that I needed, so I kept going to the Baptist church, all the while studying and seeking.

The only thing is, God wouldn’t leave me alone. For the next two months He kept dealing with me, and I kept fighting Him. Then I realized that I had asked for this!!! I asked God to show me the truth, no matter what it was. I just wanted to know and follow God! So I finally told God, “Fine, I’ll go there once, and if I don’t like it, I won’t ever go back.” At the Olive Tree, this guy gets up and starts teaching from the Old Testament and said that it applied to us today! But he also taught that you had to believe in Jesus for the salvation of your sins! I was confused…I had questions about this stuff before, but my whole life I had been taught that if you believed in Jesus, you didn’t have to keep the law!!! How could you do both…believe in Jesus AND keep the law?!? I didn’t believe it…but I kept going every Saturday and leaving with about two pages worth of notes every time!!! I kept thinking, “This can’t be right!!! Nobody else teaches this stuff. I can’t believe this stuff. But why do I understand so much more than I ever have before? If I really accept this, I won’t ever fit in again. Everyone will hate me. I can’t go back to the law…”

But God kept tugging at my heart – calling me…

It took me about a year of serious prayer to come to grips that this was where God intended for me to be. And that God intended for me to believe in Jesus for my salvation – AND HE INTENDED FOR ME TO KEEP THE LAW!!!


Questions I’m often asked about my Walk:


Do you believe in Jesus? – As the sole source of salvation from your sins?

The answer to both of these questions is YES!!!
John 14:6, Romans 3:21-24, Acts 4:11-12, Romans 5:8-11

Do you believe Jesus is God?

YES!!!!!
1. Thomas calls Him my Lord and my God. John 20:28
2. God purchased His assembly with His own blood—that is only possible if Jesus is God. Acts 20:28
3. Jesus has the power to forgive sins. Matthew 9:6
4. Jesus claims oneness with the father. John 10:30 The religious leaders attempted to stone him as this point because of His claim. (verse 33)
5. Paul puts Jesus and God on the same level. 1 Cor. 1:3, 2 Cor. 1:2, Gal. 1:3, Eph. 1:2, Philippians 1:2, 1 Thes. 1:1, 2 Thes. 1:2, 1 Tim, 1:2, 2 Tim. 1:2, Titus 1:3-4, Philemon 1:3
6. It’s hard to argue with John 5:20-23

Why do you keep the law?

1. The Hebrew word for Law is Torah (Strongs #8451), which means direction or instruction. I gladly accept the direction and instruction of God.

2. It’s how I show God that I love Him.
Jesus said:
“If you love Me, you’ll keep My commandments.” John 14:15
According to 1 John 5:3:
For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.

3. Jesus told us to keep the law.
He states in Matthew 5:17-19:
"Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

4. I know about Jesus through the Law.
Jesus tells us in John 5:46-47:
"For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?"
Paul speaks in Colossians 2:16-17 of the Laws that they:
“…are a shadow of the coming things, and the body is of the Christ.”
God has graciously given us laws to observe His annual feasts in order to teach us about Him and remind us of what He has done and will do. Keep in mind that Jesus was crucified on Passover (1 Cor. 5:7), buried during the festival of Unleavened Bread (Luke 22:1; 1 Cor. 5:8), raised to life on Firstfruits (1 Cor. 15:20), and then sent the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. Thus, he was the body of what is foreshadowed in 4 of the 7 yearly Biblical feasts. (Leviticus 23) Since we have seen this happen, shouldn’t we observe these feasts and look forward to how the 3 fall festivals (Trumpets, Day of Atonement, Tabernacles) hold significance in God’s continuing plan for us?

Also bear in mind in regard to Passover, Jesus stated:
"I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." (Luke 22:15-16)
From this verse we can see that the Passover still has a coming fulfillment. We still have more to learn about Jesus and His plan for mankind through these feasts. I STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT YOU DO SOME RESEARCH ON THE FEASTS MENTIONED IN LEVITICUS 23!!!

5. I know God through the Law.
Hosea 4:6 says:
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being My priests. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.
And in Jeremiah 9:23,24:
Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things.
1 John 2:3 tells how to know God:
By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.

6. I learn how to be Holy through keeping the Law.
Deuteronomy 28:9 tells us:
The LORD will establish you as a holy people to Himself, as He swore to you, if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in His ways.
The word translated as holy in scripture comes from the Hebrew word “kodesh” (Strongs #6944), which means “set apart.” You will see “holy” expressed in scripture as “consecrated, set apart, sanctified, or hallowed.” We are called to be set apart from unbelievers for God’s purposes, and this is accomplished when we follow Him and keep His commandments.
1 Peter 1:14-16 says:
“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."

Do you know what Peter is quoting when he says YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY? It is Leviticus 11:45-47:
For I am the LORD who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God; thus you shall be holy, for I am holy. This is the law regarding the animal and the bird, and every living thing that moves in the waters and everything that swarms on the earth, to make a distinction between the unclean and the clean, and between the edible creature and the creature which is not to be eaten.
Paul also tells us in Romans 7:12:
The Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.

7. To walk in the spirit, I need the law!!!
1 John 3:24 tells us:
The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.
We’re also told in Romans 8:6-8:
For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

8. To express my faith.
James 2:17-18:
Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. But someone may well say, "You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works."
Romans 3:31 poses the question and gives the answer:
Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law.

9. The law defines what God’s definition of sin is.
According to Romans 3:20:
“because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.”
Again, according to 1 John 3:4
Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.

In regard to Romans 3:20 above, notice that we are not saved by works, but by the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. However, when we ask Him to save us and become our master, we become slaves to righteousness and must follow His commands to stop sinning. He is Lord; He sets the rules. Rom. 6:19-20:
For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. (the law)

10. I need a light in the darkness of this world. Let me qualify this statement by saying that Jesus said “I am the light of the world.” (John 8:12) With that being said, please refer to Psalm 119:105-109
Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path. I have sworn and I will confirm it, That I will keep Your righteous ordinances. I am exceedingly afflicted; Revive me, O LORD, according to Your word. O accept the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me Your ordinances. My life is continually in my hand, Yet I do not forget Your law.

11. Why should I fight the Law? It was and still is the infallible word straight from God’s mouth.
Matt 4:4:
“It is written: man shall not live on bread alone but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” (Jesus, quoting Deut. 8:3)

Speaking of the Old Testament since the New was not yet compiled, 2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us:
“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”


Jesus IS the Law. He is called the “Word of God,” and His life was a perfect reflection of the law – God’s instructions how to live our lives. Why should I fight Jesus’ very character? Why should I want to disobey the laws that Jesus came down and subjected Himself to so that He could be an example for us? Why shouldn’t I do as Jesus did? Why should I ignore 1 John 2:3-6:
We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, "I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

Many people have asked me, “Don’t you feel like you are under bondage? You aren’t under the law anymore.” Was Jesus in bondage or legalistic because He perfectly kept His Father’s instructions? Is God such a bad father that He would give us laws that were unnecessary or unkeepable? Doesn’t 1 John 4:8 say God is love? And 1 Sam 15:29; Mal 3:6 say He doesn’t change. Why are we consistently misinformed that no one could ever keep the law, even though God says in Deut. 30:11-14:
Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, "Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?" Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, "Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?" No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.

Where did we get the idea that the Law is a curse? Certainly the penalty for breaking God’s law is a curse, but not the instruction itself. Otherwise, abstaining from slander, homosexuality, adultery, lying, stealing, coveting, etc. would be a curse, because they are all parts of the same Law. Jesus took the penalty on Himself, thus nullifying the curse; but He didn’t do it so that we would be free to break the Law. Sadly, this is exactly what is taught – That it is okay to ignore and break God’s eternal laws because Jesus died for us. (see Psalms 119:89,160)

Personally, I feel free and enjoy keeping God’s law. James 1:25 speaks of that freedom:
But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.
The law of liberty is also referred to in Psalm 119:44-47
So I will keep Your law continually, Forever and ever. And I will walk at liberty, For I seek Your precepts. I will also speak of Your testimonies before kings And shall not be ashamed. I shall delight in Your commandments, Which I love.

James and David felt liberated while they were keeping God’s law as I do!!! I would strongly suggest reading all of Psalm 119 to get a view of how David felt about God’s law, keeping in mind that scripture says that David is a man after God’s own heart and Jesus is called the son of David.


What about verses that say the Law was done away with?

I know the verses that many consider anti-law—here is a list:
Romans 2:12-13, 17-18, 20-21, 23, 27, 29; 3:19-21; 4:2, 5-7, 13, 15-16; 5:20; 6:14-15; 7:4-6, 9, 11, 25; 8:3-4; 9:31; 10:4; 13:8-10; 14:2-6, 13-23
1 Corinthians 6:12; 8:13; 9:20-21; 10:31; 15:56
2 Corinthians 3:3, 6, 15-16
Galatians 2:2-3, 7, 19; 3:10,13, 19, 23-25; 4:4-5, 9-10, 21, 30-31; 5:1-3, 6, 11, 18, 22-24, 6:2, 13, 15
Ephesians 2:15
Philippians 3:4-6, 9
Colossians 2:8, 11, 14, 16-17, 20-22
Titus 1:14-15; 3:9
Hebrews 7:11-12, 18-19, 28; 8:6-7, 13

These verses need to be read in the context in which they were written. At the completion of this letter, I will write commentary on every one of these verses, which will be available upon request. I will be commenting based on the following rules:

1. Scripture cannot contradict scripture
2. Scripture interprets itself in other parts of scripture
3. Verses must be understood in the context of surrounding verses.
Why do you call Jesus Yeshua?

Yeshua is Jesus’ name in Hebrew. It means salvation, which is what Yeshua/Jesus is. The letter ‘J’ didn’t come into use until about 400 years ago. Does that mean you’re not saved if you don’t call him Yeshua? Of course not. I was just as saved when I called Him Jesus as now. When I tell people about the Christ, I’m comfortable using the name Jesus. The priority is not whether we call Him Yeshua or Jesus, but that we do what Jesus said to do. I would suggest, however, that wisdom and understanding increases with the knowledge of the original languages. Isaiah 12:2,3 tells us:
"Behold, God is my YESHUA, I will trust and not be afraid; For the LORD GOD is my strength and song, And He has become my YESHUA. "Therefore you will joyously draw water from the springs of YESHUA.
Didn’t Jesus say the same thing to us? In John 7:38 He said:
“If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’“

What religion are you?

This is the question I really don’t like, especially since Jesus Himself was never titled as from a Jewish sect. What difference does a title make? I’ve never claimed to be anything but a Believer. I have many brothers and sisters in Assembly of God, Presbyterian, Baptist, Messianic, etc. I currently attend the Olive Tree in Waxahachie, which is labeled a Messianic Congregation. I believe that Jesus is the one that saves me from my sins and I’m so grateful for salvation through Him that I’m willing to do what His Word says, which includes studying and being obedient to the best of my ability. It also includes prayer and guidance from the Holy Spirit. I guess that sums it up pretty well. Feel free to ask questions!!!

What Bible do you use?

I have a parallel Bible that contains NASB, NIV, KJV, and NLT. I use the New American Standard version as my primary text because, in my opinion, it stays closest to the original languages. I also use the Interlinear Bible translated by Jay P. Green. It’s good because it has the original text in Hebrew and Greek along with the translated words and Strongs number above every word. Keep in mind that our English versions of the Bible have been translated from Hebrew to English, Greek to English, and in the case of the Septuagint, Hebrew to Greek to English; as a result, English translations vary. There is no “perfect translation” of the Bible. Does that mean we can’t trust the Bible? Of course not. The Holy Spirit is more than capable of guiding us into all truth (John 16:13). But on the other hand, some verses are harder to interpret due to losses in translation. Need an example? According to Acts 12:4 KJV 1611 version:
And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
This verse is talking about the arrest of Peter by King Herod. The problem is that the word Easter is mistranslated from the Greek word “pascha” (Strongs #3957) the word for the Biblical feast of Pesach (Passover). (The early believers didn’t observe Easter, nor would it be celebrated until 300 years after Jesus’ death.) This is just one of many examples. Will I throw out my KJV after I finish this letter? Of course not!!! Though if you’re considering studying God’s Word, I would suggest using multiple versions to compare and contrast—accompanied by a Strong’s Concordance or lexicon. I would suggest getting the Interlinear Bible by Jay P. Green, it’s a valuable resource!!!

Why don’t you eat pork?

God says not to. Leviticus 11:7-8:
and the pig, for though it divides the hoof, thus making a split hoof, it does not chew cud, it is unclean to you. You shall not eat of their flesh nor touch their carcasses; they are unclean to you.
Leviticus 11:45-47:
For I am the LORD who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God; thus you shall be holy, for I am holy. This is the law regarding the animal and the bird, and every living thing that moves in the waters and everything that swarms on the earth, to make a distinction between the unclean and the clean, and between the edible creature and the creature which is not to be eaten.
We are called to be holy to God as evidenced by what we eat.

You may say, “Jesus said that nothing goes into the body makes him unclean but it’s what comes out of the body that makes him unclean. That means it doesn’t matter what you eat because Jesus made all animals clean to eat.” This is one interpretation of Mark 7. However, this verse is not talking about eating pork!!! Verse 3 gives the context:
“For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they carefully wash their hands, thus observing the traditions of the elders.”
This tradition is not found in God’s law, it is a tradition that was added later by men. Does that make it a bad tradition? No, for health reasons and sanitation issues it is a good tradition to wash your hands before you eat. However, Jesus said:
“Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.” (Mark 7:8)
Continue on and read all of Mark 7. The issue in not eating pork, it is eating bread with unwashed hands. These people didn’t even consider pork food; just like we don’t consider rat, horse, poison ivy, or cockroach food. As our parents have taught us not to eat certain things (dirt for instance), so God taught His people what was and was not food. Let us examine a verse from 1 Timothy 4:4-5:
“For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; for it is sanctified by means of the Word of God and prayer.”
Where in previous scripture are the foods that we eat “sanctified by means of the Word of God?” Again, sanctified means to be holy or set apart. God says we are to be holy as He is holy and we are to make a distinction between the clean and the unclean creatures.

You may also say, “God told Peter to kill and eat the unclean animals that came down in the sheet in Acts. He also says what He has cleansed don’t consider unholy. That means that all animals are clean to eat.” I would reply by saying that this was a vision from God and that the unclean animals represent the Gentiles in this vision. (Acts 10:28) At this time, Gentiles were considered unclean by Jews, and were even referred to as “dogs” (e.g. Matt. 15:22-26). Notice that the vision takes place three times, and after the completion of the vision, three gentiles come to visit Peter. God uses dreams and visions to represent His plan, and they were never intended to be applied literally by all mankind. Do any of you have stalks of grain capable of eating and swallowing the rest of your crops? (Genesis 41:22-24) We are NOT allowed to re-interpret visions from God when the interpretation is already given, and this interpretation was given in verse 28.

Why don’t you celebrate Christmas?

Deuteronomy 12:2-4 states:
Destroy completely all the places on the high mountains and on the hills and under every spreading tree where the nations you are dispossessing worship their gods. Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones and burn their Asherah poles in the fire; cut down the idols of their gods and wipe out their names from those places. You must not worship the LORD your God in their way.

Verses 29-31 remind us:
The LORD your God will cut off before you the nations you are about to invade and dispossess. But when you have driven them out and settled in their land, and after they have been destroyed before you, be careful not to be ensnared by inquiring about their gods, saying, "How do these nations serve their gods? We will do the same." You must not worship the LORD your God in their way, because in worshiping their gods, they do all kinds of detestable things the LORD hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices to their gods.

Christmas (likewise Easter and Halloween) takes most of its practices from ancient ungodly practices. An example is ancient tree worship (Asherah poles and Asherim) Jeremiah 10:2-5 speaks of it:
This is what the LORD says: "Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by signs in the sky, though the nations are terrified by them. For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel. They adorn it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so it will not totter. Like a scarecrow in a melon patch, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them; they can do no harm nor can they do any good."

My concern is that by doing these things, we are not keeping ourselves holy before God and are being disobedient. We are called to be holy to God. 1 Peter 2:9 tells us:
“But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

I’m afraid that we also provoke the Lord to anger by worshipping Him in any other way than He tells us. We aren’t to take practices from ungodly nations and mix them with the worship of the one true and living God. We aren’t to attempt mixing light and darkness. 1 Corinthians 10:21-22 refers to when the golden calf was used to worship the Lord:
You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? We are not stronger than He, are we?

************


Thank you for reading this letter. I know it is lengthy, but it is difficult to write or even verbalize a quick explanation that would do justice to this wonderful thing God has done in my life. He is SO good, and His Word, the whole Word, is a light to my life. He saved me many years ago, but He didn’t stop there. He continues to draw me on, teaching me more and more of Himself through His Word, shaping me into the man He created me to be. I hope you can begin to understand the joy I have by experiencing God in this way.

Please don’t take any of this letter as a personal attack. It’s not meant to be – I didn’t write the scriptures. I simply believe this is where God is leading His people. Just like me, God has been drawing many this same direction. Please prayerfully consider everything that I’ve written. It was meant to explain my beliefs but is also for the edification of the body of Christ. Jesus tells us:
"But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." John 4:23-24







God Bless,
Chad

The Lord bless you, and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance on you, and give you peace. Numbers 6:24-26

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. John 14:27