by John and Ruth Greene
“Indeed, follow Elohim’s work in you, pure and willing, even to work fervently in His purpose. Fulfill it completely, set apart from grumbling and debate, in order that you are set apart and innocent children of Elohim, without blame in the midst of a perverse and corrupt generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world of man.” – Philippians 2:13-15, direct translation
To be set apart is what each disciple of Messiah must be dedicated to. This is all about Elohim’s [‘God’, YHWH] track of righteousness, which He has firmly established for His sons and daughters to walk on. This is a protected battlement of dedication that His dedicated people walk on, what Romans 8:29 actually refers to when translated properly. Those that follow this track of righteousness continue in His righteous Way. (James 1:4; Ephesians 1:5; 1 Corinthians 9:27; Psalm 23:1-6, 119:105; “YHWH: The Choice to Stay Loyal“; “The Truth About Restoration“; “Justice & Righteousness“; “The Basics of Strongholds & Idolatry“)
“Because of what He already knew beforehand and predetermined, conformed to the likeness of His Son, Himself came to be firstborn in many brothers. Now what He predetermined, these were also called, and whom He called. These He also justified as righteous, and whom He made righteous, these also magnified. What then say to these? If Elohim is for the sake of us, what can be against us?
And besides, He did not spare His Own Son, but to the contrary, delivered Him up for us all. How will He not, in union with Him, also favor us all? Who will call into question Elohim’s elect? Elohim is righteous. Who judges? Messiah was slain, and how much better that He is raised up, Who is even at the right hand of Elohim, Who also makes intercession for our sake. Who will separate us from the love of Messiah? Tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or scarcity of food, or nakedness, or danger, or war? As it is written, ‘For your sake we are killed all day, we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.’ No, in all these we are conquerors through our love.” – Romans 8:29-37, direct translation
This paints a different picture than most translations do, and what some Christian denominations trumpet to their gathering. It is not mystical. Disciples, nor the people of the world are like robots where Father’s Purpose is concerned. Elohim’s Way through Yahshua [Jesus] is set out, just as He was appointed to set Elohim’s sons and daughters free. We are set apart with a purpose and a Way to walk! (Mark 16:15; Matthew 10:16, 28:18-20; Hebrews 3:14, 10:38-39; “Strongholds & the Armor of YHWH“; “A Yoke of Slavery or Freedom“; “Following the Right Jesus“)
Disciples walk…
“…as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts in your ignorance, instead, as the One who called you is set-apart, so you also should become set-apart in all behavior, because it has been written, ‘Be set-apart, for I am set-apart.’” – 1 Peter 1:14-16, ISR98
In this Way of obedience and love, each one walks this Way on an established track already laid out by the Father. There is only One Way to salvation. Each person has a decision to make, ‘free will’ to choose the path that he or she will follow – the narrow gate or the wide road to destruction. This is based on the heart condition of each person. Each one will decide whether he or she will be set apart or dedicated to the purpose of Elohim here on earth and into the Kingdom. (Mark 16:16; John 3:5, 14:6; Acts 4:10-13; 1 Peter 3:21; James 2:18-24; 1 Timothy 3:11-12; 1 John 5:11-12; 2 Corinthians 5:17; “Foundation of Salvation“; “Roots of Salvation“; “Recognizing the Counterfeit“; “The Image & Mark of the Beast System“)
“Enter in through the narrow gate. Because wide is the gate and spacious the road, put to death through destruction, and many, by their reason, agree to enter. For narrow is the gate and troublesome is the road, the one that leads to life, and few agree to obtain it.“ – Matthew 7:13-14, direct translation
“Therefore now, there is no condemnation for those in Messiah Yahshua, who do not walk after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Messiah Yahshua delivers me from the law of sin and death, for the reason that the law was unable in that it was weak through the flesh. Elohim dispatched His Son in the form of sinful flesh, and (peri) making the Way around sin, judged against sin in the flesh in order that the righteousness of the law be completed in us walking, not after the flesh, but to the contrary, after the Spirit.” – Romans 8:1-4, direct translation
The heart condition of those that hear the Word is presented and explained in a parable by the Master. (Matthew 13:3-53; Luke 21:34; 2 Timothy 3:1-5)
“When anyone hears the word of the reign, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is that sown by the wayside. And that sown on rocky places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but is short-lived, and when pressure or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. And that sown among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the worry of this age and the deceit of riches choke the word, and it becomes fruitless. And that sown on the good soil is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields – some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” – Matthew 13:19-23, ISR98
By being set apart to Elohim and through your agreement with Him, you are separated from false teachers and religious error. Because of this you have the need for discernment, as well as the need for the Set Apart Spirit [‘Holy Spirit’]. You need scripture and the Set Apart Spirit to help you to mature well in your trust, to be effectively marked [charagma] as a genuine disciple. In this way, you become a new man or woman in Messiah. (Matthew 22:14; 2 Corinthians 6:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:6-22; “Understanding Sin”; “Discernment the World Doesn’t Have“; “Discernment: Having an Ear to Deeper Understanding“)
“These people draw near to Me with their mouth and respect Me with lips, but their heart is distant from Me. But in vanity they worship Me, teaching for instruction the commandments of men.” – Matthew 15:8-9, direct translation
“Take heed that you separate yourselves from false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inside are ravening wolves. You will know to mark them by their fruit. Does anyone gather grapes from a thorn, or a fig from a brier? In this way, all beneficial trees bear honest fruit, but a worthless tree bears harmful fruit. A beneficial tree cannot bear harmful fruit, neither a worthless tree bear honest fruit. All trees that do not bear honest fruit are cut down and cast into fire. In this manner, by their fruit you will know them
Not all that say to Me, ‘Master, Master,’ enter into the purpose of the Kingdom of Heaven. To the contrary, he that yields the purpose of My Father in Heaven. Many say to Me in that Day, ‘Master, Master, have we not prophesied in Your Name, and in Your Name cast out devils and in Your Name yielded many miracles? Then at that time I will agree with the authority of Heaven, them I never knew. You! Depart from Me ministers of wickedness.” – Matthew 7:15-23, direct translation