For salvation, no. But the gospel says nothing about wearing your seatbelt when you drive, but it makes good sense to do so. Not everything we need to know about living is in the Gospel.

Kabbalah doesn’t change the fact of salvation, but it — like a seatbelt — is a tool to enhance the lives of those who follow Christ and those who don’t.

The blood of Jesus Christ has the unique power to forgive any sin, except the sin of denying the unique power of the blood of Jesus Christ.

There is no need to look beyond the simple gospel message. In fact, it can be eternally dangerous.

Pray for the guidance and protection of the Holy Spirit.

The terrible weather in the U.S. is just the beginning of the biblical birth pains. God will gently wake as many as possible before the greater pains to soon come. However, many will look away from Jesus Christ for answers and be deceived.

Watch and pray.

Shalom.

What an interesting topic; I would have loved to hear those lectures. I can identify in some ways with your journey: I come from both a Christian background (United Church of Christ) and a secular Religious Studies background, but over the past couple years have become more and more involved in a Jewish Renewal congregation here in Portland (Jewish Renewal blends Kabbalistic and Chassidic mystical traditions with progressive social ethics and gender egalitarianism). I’ve found your first point to be especially true; my experiences with Jewish Renewal have completely altered my understanding of the Hebrew Scriptures.

I’ll have to take a look for the book you mention, and I look forward to future posts on your blog about this topic!