The Alef Tav Story--The "Truth" Of The Matter

By the leading of the Holy Spirit, I have become acutely aware of the fact that Holy Scripture CANNOT be correctly interpreted from a western (Christian) perspective.  Our Bibles were written for Hebrew people by Hebrew people.  If we are to learn pure and complete truth concerning Biblical content, we MUST divest ourselves of all Christian thinking in favor of Hebrew perception.  Consider what Messiah says about Himself and truth.

"Yeshua said unto him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto the Father, but by Me'".   John 14: 6

In looking at the Greek language from which our English Bibles are translated, we find the word for "truth" means "a verity".  This sounds simple and straight forward but is woefully lacking in divine revelation that can ONLY be seen through the Hebrew language and perspective.  

In consideration of the Alef Tav story, we still have a Hebrew apostle writing about the life of our Hebrew Messiah.  Far more properly than the Greek rendition, the Hebrew word "emet" should be considered.  With the letters "Alef, mem, and Tav", one should begin to see the truth hidden by Christian reliance upon a language not used by the apostles, their followers, or their Messiah.

Let me describe this word in baseball terms.  A batter hits a long fly ball that eludes all defenders.  With all the speed he can muster, he runs around the bases and slides safely into home base just ahead of the throw.  Just as jubilant celebration begins, another umpire calls the runner out--because, in his zeal to run the bases, he didn't touch first base.

Our Alef Tav Messiah emphatically says, "I am...the truth..."  Yet, our baseball runner missed first base--the first letter of "emet".  When we remove the "Alef" from "emet", we are left with the Hebrew word, "met", which means "death".  In this, I am reminded of the words of Paul to the Romans.

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of YHVH is eternal life through Yeshua our Messiah and Adonal".   Romans 6: 23

Herein lies a problem in contrast.  On one hand, we have people like our baseball runner that hits that long fly ball, runs to first base, and stops there (grace).  In regards to these, they have rightly heeded the words of Messiah through John.   

"And you shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free".   John 8: 32

The first group has hit a home run according to the words of Messiah through John.  Though they are clear to run the bases, they elect to stay on first base.  As baseball enthusiasts know, far more often than not, that runner is usually still standing somewhere out on the bases when the third out is made and never makes it to home base.  In a spiritual sense, many like these will hear the following from Messiah through Matthew.

"Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, and in Your name have cast out devils, and in Your name done many wonderful works?  And then will I profess unto them, 'I never knew you: depart from Me, you that work iniquity.'"  Matthew 7: 22-23 

On the other hand, there are many that try to make it safely home without the benefit of Alef Tav (works).  They spend their lives trying to earn their redemption through the medium of "good works".  These will definitely hear the same sad words above through Matthew.  It is truly as Paul wrote to the Ephesians.

"For by grace you are saved through faith, and not of yourselves; it is the gift of YHVH, not of works lest any man boast".   Ephesians 2: 8-9

There is a proper order in regards to grace and works.  Additionally, neither are properly utilized separate from each other.  "Faith (Grace) without works is dead", says James.  Nor, is redemption separate from works, as Paul concluded with the Ephesians.

"For we are his workmanship, created in Messiah Yeshua unto good works, which YHVH has before ordained that we should walk in them."   Ephesians 2: 10

The proper order is clearly shown in the first commandment of the ten.  No, it's not "you shall have no other gods before Me".  That's the second.  Thanks to western perspectives and Christian Bible translators, the second has been divided into two commandments, effectively obscuring the first.  From a Hebraic perspective, the first is as follows.

"I am Adonai your Elohim, Who has brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage."   Exodus 20: 2

In harmony with the first great commandment to "love the Lord your God",  Yeshua our Law Giver says through Moses, "Believe in Me".  That is the first order of business.  We must first realize our desperate, sin nature and trust Messiah as our Redemption.  If one doesn't come to grips with this first commandment, they have no hope of keeping the other nine.

In this, many of my Christian brethren have it right.  However, they have foolishly "stopped at first base". They sit back on their "blessed assurances" trying to be a good person and wind up practicing what I've often called "sloppy agape".  In actuality, I have met many Christians that were "good people" before they expressed a profession of faith, yet, afterward, became proud, arrogant, egotistical, and just "the pits" to be around.  These just "got religion".

There is something that should happen after our redemption, and grace is bestowed.  Before we attain our actual salvation (home base), there is second and third base to attain.  Before Messiah spoke the words, "You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free", He spoke the following regarding second and third base, as recorded by John.
 

"As He spoke these words, many believed on Him.  Then said Yeshua to those Jews which believed on Him.  'If you continue in My Word (Torah), then you are My disciples indeed'".   John 8: 30-31

According to the accounts of ALL the apostles, continuing in His Word meant keeping His commandments (Torah).  There was no New Testament in their days.  The ONLY Scripture they had was "the Law and the Prophets".  Only the Christian twisting of Scripture through at least the last seventeen centuries could and did distort the doctrine of Messiah and the apostles. 

One example of this devious twisting is seen in a billboard sign I saw as we drove west bound through Ft. Smith, Arkansas.  On the left side of the sign, there was a picture of a cross with the word "grace" written below.  On the right side, there was a picture of the ten commandments with the word "curses" written below.  Written at the bottom of the sign and centered between "grace" and "curses" were the words "your choice".

According to the unchanging Scripture and ideals of our Alef Tav Father/Messiah, this message is blasphemy and was authored by those that subvert truth for "doctrines of demons".  Consider the following from Moses.

"Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; a blessing, if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: and a curse, if you will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which you have not known."   Deuteronomy 11: 26-28

These words were spoken just after Moses was presented with the ten commandments.  As only understood from the Hebrew, the word, "blessing" is accompanied by the letters, "Alef Tav".  For the word, "curses", the Alef Tav is omitted.  According to this unchanging edict from Father, the proponents of this Arkansas message, as well as at least a majority of Christianity, find themselves clearly in the same category as those that received the curses.

I ask from the proper perspective a similar question as the proponents of this Arkansas message.  Will you choose the complete spectrum of grace (touch all the bases), or will you choose to miss one or more of these bases and expect to arrive safely at home base (His eternal kingdom)?  The "complete" spectrum (touching ALL the bases) is the formula to true peace and encouragement.  The latter?  Eternal pain and misery (Matthew 7: 21-23). 

To Be Continued...