In my lifetime, salvation has been promised with no need of repentance, just "repeat this prayer" and your eternity is secure. "Jesus" was billed as a password for judgment day, and earthly wealth became the symbol of "being blessed." In most denominations, Sabbath is "catch up day" and Sunday is the day to worship, go out for lunch, and buy and sell according to doing what is right in one's own eyes. And all this amongst the religious folk!
Most pulpits teach obedience to the Word is legalism. Although the New Testament tells us Messiah is the Word in the flesh, as well as the fact that believers are grafted into Israel, mainstream church teaches that Torah is for the Jews and Jesus came to abolish Torah . . . except tithing. Tithing was not abolished and homosexuality is still a sin. The stand on divorce and remarriage depends upon the denomination. Most believe or at least teach that Messiah came to make pork and shellfish clean. In the case of diet, New Testament context is everything!
For centuries throughout history, until the 1930s, babies were born at home, usually delivered by a midwife or neighbor lady. By the 50s, most babies were born in hospitals and by the early 70s, abortion was legal. In about 40 years, being fruitful and multiplying began to be treated as a medical condition, then an inconvenience or "choice" that ultimately placed life and death in the hands of man, according to the Supreme Court of the US in 1973.
As I write this, I'm reminded of the Jewish refugees who were refused asylum in the late 30s. The roaring 20s probably didn't seem too righteous in the eyes of our Creator, either. In continuing this paragraph, I'm feeling less and less confident that America really ever knew or experienced the difference between blessing and mercy. Deuteronomy 28 is clear in what is required for blessing. Isaiah 1 also connects blessing to obedience, as does all of Scripture.
Obedience doesn't earn anyone's salvation. Y'hshuwah brought salvation. Y'hshwuah means Yah is salvation! Nobody has earned their salvation, but all of Scripture definitely draws a clear connection between obedience and blessing. We've been granted a great deal of mercy in our ignorance and our arrogant lawlessness, but that time of protected mercy has come to a close. We have chosen to ignore the warnings and created a cursed society. The handwriting is on the wall and judgment is at the door.
Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written. And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom,
and finished it. TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. Daniel 5:24-27
