Traditions
"Traditions" according to Webster, 1: a handing down of information, beliefs, and customs by word of mouth or by example from one generation to another without written instructions. 2: an inherited pattern of thought or action (as a religious practice or a social custom) 3: cultural continuity in social attitudes and instructions. During Christ's first advent, "Traditions" were things Christ was accusing the synagogue leaders of holding onto instead of His Father's word, "But answering He said to them, Why do you also transgress the command of God on account of your tradition?" (Matthew 15:3 Mark and Luke recorded the same). There are good traditions, but also bad traditions. The Jews made many laws that were not given to Moses by Jehovah but were considered as truth and also accepted as Mosaic laws and given to the people to keep. The people were taught these laws through the Temple priest, because the Pharisees and the Sadducees, who were the Jewish religious leaders, having the authority and the only ones possessing the scrolls at the temple. Unfortunately, this tradition of accepting man's ways in addition to God's ways later became a tradition in today's Christian churches, just as the Jewish laws were expanded, Christians added their earthly ways that later became honored traditions. Paul warned the Colossians of the traditions from men, "Watch that there not be one robbing you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the traditions of men, according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ." (Colossians 2:8). The words in the Book that Christ gave us are the Words of God, given to Him to give to us "I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but the One sending Me is true, and what I heard from Him, these things I say to the world." (John 8:26). Jehovah's words should be our only standard of truth, to guide our thoughts and actions, according to His pure ways.
Because of the vain imaginations of men, some of Jehovah's ways were altered
by the ambitions of men, adding to some of God's perfect precepts before and after
Christ's first advent. This same attitude of relying on the traditions of men has
already become well established in today's Christian churches. History does repeat
itself and has continued in these times. How could Christians be walking in the traditions
of men and not according to God's words, with such a quantity of Bibles available
to most everyone to read for themselves? This is certainly a larger subject then
I am capable of exploring and to present to you within these words, but I will share
a few prominent long-
First, "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy; six days you shall labor
and do all your work; and the seventh day is the sabbath to Jehovah your God; you
shall not do any work, you and your son, and your daughter, your male slave and your
girl-
Second: Another major "tradition" introduced by man, is the Trinity concept and doctrine, not found in God's word, but it has survived for more then 1600 years, adopted into the original church during the fourth century by Emperor Constantine, in conjunction with the church leaders he empowered; this he did for the purpose of uniting his kingdom under one religion, not paganism, nor Christianity, but in an attempt to merge all the religions of his kingdom, and the church was successful in adopting Sunday after a period of adjustment. This has become a strong tradition and hundreds of writers have dedicated much earnest effort in convincing Christians, and themselves, that the Trinity doctrine is from God. It is however, rightfully labeled as a mystery by the original church, but us knowing that God is not a God of confusion, this doctrine does not come from or fit in His holy Book. It is, however, taught in most all the Christian higher educational facilities, which makes it hard to dispute by anyone attending these colleges, and generally adopted by their students. If one reads and knows their Bible, it would be impossible to find any verse, unless you so desire to see it by adding words, beyond the verse's reality, but it does not exist in God's original word, only by man's imagination does it appear for them, along with man's vain desire to altered correct understanding. This is how it has survived for hundreds of years. I can't show you in God's word that this is an incorrect doctrine, because it is never addressed, nor is a triune god concept ever mentioned within the pages of the Bible, nor can one prove that it is within the words Christ gave us through inspiration, for the same reasons. There are well over a hundred verses stating or referring that God is "one", and there is not one stating that God is "three" or "three in one" persons or beings, nor that God is made up of three dimensions, or something along that line. However, there is mentioned a "Godhead" consisting of divine beings and only two qualify for our worship: God Jehovah and God's Son, named Jesus. The mentioning of a "Godhead" in itself, indicates that God is only "one". The "Godhead" is not a collective description of what God is; "God" is exactly what is given in His word, "one", "Hear, O Israel, Jehovah our God is one Jehovah." (Deuteronomy 6:4), The "Godhead" is mentioned, because there are two divine beings, but only one possesses the sovereign authority that only Jehovah the Almighty possesses, even though He later gives some authority to His Son, "And He also gave authority to Him to execute judgment, for He is the Son of man." (John 5:27).
Third: At someone's death, it is generally taught that one either goes to Heaven
or is sent to Hell (there are other possibilities mentioned in some Christian denominations),
but Biblically, death is described as, "His breath will go out; he returns to the
earth; in that day his thoughts perish." (Psalm 146:4), "All that your hands find
to do, do with your strength. For there is no work, or planning or knowledge or wisdom
in Sheol, there where you go." (Eccles. 9:10), "Sheol" is translated as grave, Hell,
and, pit. The KJV uses grave and this would make sense with the descriptions of death
given. About the dead, "For the living shall know that they shall die; but the dead
do not know anything, nor do they have any more a reward; for their memory is forgotten."
(Eccles. 9:5), and they can not praise God, "The dead do not praise Jehovah; nor
all those who go down into silence." (Psalm 115:17). If the dead ones spirit has
no memory or thought, they would have no knowledge of being with God, if entering
Heaven were the case. Could there be a purpose for being in Heaven with God if the
dead have no awareness of anything? John in Revelation speaks of two different resurrection,
"Blessed and holy is the one having part in the first resurrection. The second death
has no authority over these, but they will be priest of God and of Christ, and will
reign with Him a thousand years." (Revelation 20:6), and the dead that were not rise
in the first resurrection will be raised after the thousand year rest of earth, "But
the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were ended..." (Revelation
20:5), because the earth was at its rest with Satan bound in its depths, "And he
laid hold of the dragon, the old serpent, who is the Devil, and Satan, and bound
him a thousand years." (Revelation 20:2). At Christ's second advent the saved saints
will be with Christ in New Jerusalem, during Satan's one thousand year imprisonment
on the earth, , "because the Lord himself shall come down from Heaven with a commanding
shout of an arc-
Forth: God's name, which appears 6746 times in the Old Testament, and "Jehovah"
is the most accepted English translation, because the Hebrew word for His name is
"Yehovah", although, most all English Bibles substitute His name with "Lord", "LORD"
or "God" without any authority from a deity, Jehovah Himself or His Son, Jesus. There
does remain in the King James Version four uses of the name "Jehovah" and this is
similar with other Bibles, except for The Jehovah's Witness Bible, the American Standard
Version Bible (now out of print), Young's Literal Translation Bible and the J P Green
Interlinear Bible, which contain the proper amount of His holy name in the Old Testament
only (confirmed in its Hebrew text). One realizing this error and leaving His name
unspoken and vainly dishonored, would seem to qualify as a tradition of men, and
this error is continued by most churches. His personal name can be easily confirmed
by looking up "Lord" and "God" and "Jehovah" in the Strong's Concordance and by counting
the amount of #3068 and #3069 recorded, then look up #3068 in the Strong's Hebrew
Dictionary part. #3068 is translated as God's personal name, "Jehovah". "to the place
of the alter which he had made there at first, And Abram called on the name of Jehovah
there." (Genesis 13:4). Just as Christ has a personal name, "Jesus" in the New Testament,
and "Michael" in the Old Testament, God surely has a personal name, "Jehovah", "Lord"
and "God" are both titles that do apply as a title for Jehovah, but not as a name.
The title "Lord" also applies to Jesus in the New Testament, also "lord" is given
to many men in both Testaments. This scenario becomes confusing as to who is being
written of in certain verses, and it becomes more important when considering the
third Commandment, "You shall not take the name of Jehovah your God in vain; for
Jehovah will not leave unpunished the one who takes His name in vain." (Exodus 20:7)
and don't be mislead, just because we don't use "Jehovah" in our anger, ones unauthorized
replacement of His name with a common title is far more hurtful to Almighty God.
This error mainly falls on the translators, but would also include those knowing
this error, and leaving it out, supporting another of man's self imposed traditions.
To emphasize the importance of His holy name, "Jehovah" appears eight times in the
Ten Commandments, could we dare change any of God's Ten Commandments, written onto
stone by Jehovah's finger? I haven't been able to find out when His name was removed
and replaced with a title, but I'm positive it was after Christ's first advent, since
He never mentioned this in His inspired words to the any New Testament writer. This
has become another well-
Fifth: The general Christian understanding of those that will be saved to God's kingdom is also a misunderstanding of God's word and is another tradition of men. At Christ second advent, those taken up with Jesus will then be living a thousand years in New Jerusalem with Jesus and the angels of God, spending some time reviewing the books that were used for judgment by Jehovah and we will, from these same books of men's accounts, will be confirming that Jehovah's judgments are perfectly correct and just, because those not included in the first resurrection would not be fitting for God's pure environment. Then after the thousand years are completed, the second resurrection, of the unjust dead will be on the earth and Satan (released from his bounds) will gather them to make a final attempt to overtake New Jerusalem, but without success, and Satan, his angels, the false prophets and those not written in the Book of Life, those having held onto sin will be thrown into the Lake of Fire, along with death, "And if anyone was not found having been written in the Scroll of Life, he was thrown into the Lake of Fire." (Revelation 20:15). Then, the old world, having already been destroyed at Christ second advent, God Jehovah will make a new earth for the saints living in New Jerusalem, "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and the sea no longer is." (Revelation 21:1), and there they will live for an eternity, experiencing and doing all the plans God has waited all these years to share with His chosen people, things unimaginable to us because of our limited abilities, being created. All that exists, after the Lake of Fire has completed its task, will be part of the Kingdom of God and all places will be considered to be part of Jehovah's Heaven.
Sixth: "Righteousness by faith" is another taught error that is not Biblical,
as it has been taught. This is preached with many words, implying that Christ's righteousness,
which He personally acquired during His first advent, having been lowered to the
nature of man, "but we do see Jesus crowned with glory and honor, who on account
of suffering of death was made a little less then the angels, so that by the grace
of God He might taste of death for every son." (Hebrews 2:9), is then transferred
to those who believe in Jesus; His righteousness then becomes our righteousness
and God doesn't see our transgressions, but only sees His Christ's perfect righteousness.
This understanding is contrary to what is presented in the Old Testament, and contrary
to what Jesus has called us to do. First, Christ calls sinners to repentance, "I
did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." (Luke 5:32), "and
repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached on His name to all the nations,
beginning at Jerusalem." (Luke 24:47), and we all fit that category. Repentance is
not only a regret of what we have done, but also stopping of our sin in the future.
Second, Christ called all to follow Him, "And whoever does not bear his cross and
does not come after Me, he is not able to be My disciple." (Luke 14:27) "Then Jesus
spoke to them, saying, I am the light of the world; he following Me in no way will
walk in darkness, but will be the light of life." (John 8:12) and, "For you were
called to this, for even Christ suffered on our behalf, leaving behind an example
for us, that you should follow His steps." (1 Peter 2:21), and His accomplished righteousness
on earth qualified Him the title of the "Lamb of God". Righteousness by faith comes
from following Christ's lead, which He walked perfectly in God's laws, and following
Jesus calls us to do the same, because a faith without our personal effort is pointless,
"You see then, that a man is justified by his works, and not by faith only." (James
2:24). This clearly states man's doing, and not simply inheriting Christ's own righteousness
to be counted to us. We are to work out our own salvation. It is our heart that needs
changing, we need cleansing from our worldly ways, "So then, my beloved, even as
you always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much rather in my absence,
work out your salvation with fear and trembling." (Philippians 2:12). The only time
for this cleansing to be accomplished is our time right now. Believing is important,
and faith is surely a necessity, because it is a step toward desiring oneself to
be perfect, as God told Abram, "And when Abram was ninety-
There are, unfortunately, other traditions that man has invented that are not
according to God's word and more importantly, contrary to God's way. God's word has
given us the best and correct way to live in order to bring us to a peace, happiness
and Jehovah's salvation, which Christ has established for us with His blood sacrifice.
Those chosen do not have to pay the price of the second death, and those that are
chosen are the ones who realize that our hearts need to be cleansed. We are to consume
God's words and to do them, which can be an example, leading others to their salvation.
We are designed and designated to live with our Creator, Jehovah God, "And God Jehovah
formed the man out of dust from the ground, and blew into his nostrils the breath
of life; and man became a living soul." (Exodus 2:7) for an eternity. This is God's
desire, but it also must be our desire, and to achieve this desire we need to understand
why we should desire this, by knowing God's will for us, accomplished ideally by
reading His expressed words, delivered to us by Jehovah's only-