Black Hebrews Biblical Answers

Biblical Answers for Black Hebrew Israelite Beliefs

Some B. H. I.s sects believe that God is a pure energy force that exists in all things and all elements on the earth The Bible clearly teaches in Genesis that we are made in the image of God, and the Bible clearly reveals the personhood of the God. God did not make the world out of part of Himself; He made the world out of a substance called “nothing” as He says in the beginning of Genesis. Therefore, God is not in “all things” and “all elements.” However, He definitely controls all.

Some believe that Jesus is the Father in another mode of existence, which means that there is no Trinity, and Jesus is not both human and divine. The Bible teaches there is one God who exists in three persons. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They are coeternal, coequal, and of the same nature. A good example is Acts 5 when Ananias and his wife Sapphira held back some of their personal property. Instead of giving like other members of the church, so that the goods distributed would meet the needs of their brothers and sisters in Christ, they chose to give less than what they really could have given.

However, they still wanted the recognition for their giving. In verse three Peter asked Ananias why Satan had filled his heart to lie (be deceptive and sneaky) to the Holy Spirit and keep part for himself. While in verse 4 Peter informed Ananias that in doing this he had in fact actually lied to God. We see here that the Holy Spirit and God are used interchangeably. Furthermore, when John says (in the book of John, Chapter1) that in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God, he is saying that Jesus is God because Jesus is the Living Word. In fact, the Bible is all about Jesus. The Old Testament tells us that He will come, and the New Testament tells us that He came and will come again. In verse three (Chapter 1 of John) we find that all things were made by the Word. If the Word created all things then Jesus must be God? Jesus is God in the flesh (John 8:58 with Exodus 3:14; John 1:1, 14; 8:24; 10:30-33; Matthew 12:8, 1 John 4:2-3).

Some B. H. I.s believe that only the Old Testament is the inspired Word of God How can one read the Bible, suggest that they live their lives according to it, and then refuse and deny it’s teaching and it’s authority? One cannot pick and choose the scriptures one likes and disregard the rest. The Holy Spirit teaches us in 2 Timothy 3:16 –17 that “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction so that the man of God may be complete thoroughly equipped for every good work.” He did not say the Old Testament only; He said “all” scripture.

There are also those who believe that the Holy Spirit is the “mind” of the Father, which is shared with the Son and transmitted through the laying on of hands in Jesus’ name. They liken the Holy Spirit to the wind and suggest that He is not a person a force.The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit (capital H, capital S – proper noun, standing for a person) is fully God. He has a will (1 Cor. 12:11). He speaks (Acts 13:2). He can be grieves; which means He has emotions (Ephesians 4:30). He creates (Genesis 1:2; Job 33:4). He gives gifts (1 Cor. 12:8-11). He loves (Rom. 15:30). He convicts of sin (John 16:8). He encourages (Acts 9:31). He guides us (John 16:13). He teaches (John 14:26). He comforts (John 14:16-26). He testifies of Jesus (John 15:26). He empowers us (Micah 3;8). He intercedes for us, and He gives us joy (Rom. 8:26 and Rom. 14:17). This proves that He is not a mere force, but is indeed a person

There are even those B. H. I.s who believe that keeping the laws of the Old Testament saves them and gives them assurance of going to heaven after they die. However, in John 8:24 Jesus said, “If you do not believe I AM, you will die in your sins.” Jesus Christ is the proper object of faith. The B. H. I.s’ faith is useless because it is in and of themselves and the law. The law (in the Pentateuch) was meant to be a schoolmaster to show man how to live until Christ came. This is important because, Jesus, being 100% God and 100% man is able to be a sufficient sacrifice for all our sins. He had to offer a sacrifice of greater value than what mere man could give so that we could have a mediator who understands the things we go through.

Contrary to what B. H. I.s believe, we are saved, not by our works or the laws, but by faith in Jesus Christ and what he did for us through His death, which was authored by the grace of God (Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 3-5, Galatians 3-5). Satan is deceiving the Black Hebrew Israelites by having them try to be justified through carrying out the law, but this just keeps them alienated from Christ. They reject grace, and think that some how they can make themselves holy. It is not possible. You cannot add to the work of God. The law is a mirror that shows us how dirty we are. A mirror cannot cleanse us, but Jesus can.

There are also those who believe that the resurrection of Christ has not happened, but that there will be a final resurrection of those who keep the law. To deny the physical resurrection is to deny the work of Christ’s sacrifice and to be condemned to hell. The book of Galatians teaches that we must believe the gospel message in its entirety or our very existence is in vain. He died for sin, rose from the dead, and freely gives the gift of eternal life to all who believe (Romans 10:8, 1Corinthians 15:4, 1 Corinthians 5:17, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John).

He died for me and for you too; no matter if you have been led astray or not. In fact, in Paul’s letter to Timothy the Holy Spirit warned us that people, in latter times, would give heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons. He said that people would go as far as to tell others to abstain from certain types of foods as a way of becoming more spiritual. This sounds like legalism to me. Nevertheless, Jesus saves people to the utmost and redeems people far beyond any ritualistic practices.

citations forthcoming

What is a Black Hebrew Israelite? | Biblical Answers to Black Hebrew Israelite Beliefs | The Old Testament Law | Dialogues with Black Hebrews | Witnessing to Black Hebrews