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Blasphemy of The SPIRIT

Mat 12:22-23 Then they brought to Him one who was demon-possessed, blind and dumb. And He healed him, so that the blind and dumb man both spoke and saw. And all the crowds were amazed and said, “Is this the Son of David?”

The crowds were catching a glimpse of Truth! They were beginning to get it! But then, the “birds of the air” swooped down upon them! (See Matthew 13, The Parable of The Sower)

Mat 12:24-27 But when the Pharisees heard it they said, “This one does not cast out demons except by Be’elzebul, the ruler of the demons.”And Yahusha knew their thoughts, and said to them, “Every reign divided against itself is laid waste, and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand. “And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then does his reign stand? And if I, by Be’elzebul do cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? Because of this they shall be your judges.

Yahusha informs them that if Satan were to actually cast out the very demons that he is using to control people he would be contradicting his own efforts and thus be self defeating. We have a principle established by Yahusha; any kingdom, any city, any family and even any individual that is divided against itself cannot stand and will crumble. In other words; Countries, Communities, Churches, Marriages, Households and even Individuals who are at odds within themselves, are in confusion and will not stand. Look around you. Its happening even as I write this… Government is in complete chaos! Communities are rioting and burning! Churches closing! Heterosexual monogamous marriage is looked at as old fashioned! Family has been re-defined! Individuals, not able to cope, are taking medications at a record pace! Is there any question in your mind that Satan is using those living in their fleshly mindset to accomplish all of this? And yet, he is actually being used to destroy his own kingdom! How perfectly ironic…

Mat. 12:28-32 “But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of Elohim, then the reign of Elohim has come upon you. Or how is one able to enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he shall plunder his house. “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad. “Because of this I say to you, all sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven men. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Adam it shall be forgiven him, but whoever speaks against the Set-apart Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.”

The Master then gives the very serious warning regarding the Pharisees and all those who ascribe the works of HIS Spirit to the devil… a very serious unforgivable offense! The Pharisees of our time are making the same accusations against those who observe the Seventh Day Sabbath, the Torah and the Feasts of Yahwah, saying that those who observe these scriptural precepts have fallen from HIS favor and have cut themselves off from Messiah! Some have even suggested that we who believe that the gifts of The Set-Apart Spirit are for today, are being inspired by the devil! Those in opposition to HIS Word are truly those being inspired by demons.

Consider;

1Ti 1:8-11 And we know that the Torah is good if one uses it legitimately, knowing this: that Torah is not laid down for a righteous being, but for the lawless and unruly, for the wicked and for sinners, for the wrong-doers and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for those who whore, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and for whatever else that is contrary to sound teaching, according to the esteemed Good News of the blessed Elohim which was entrusted to me.

The ruling Pharisees of today’s Christianity have practically abolished the instruction in the Torah, claiming that it is not relevant for believers today! And in so doing, they have loosed upon themselves the very sinful behavior that collapses countries, communities, churches, marriage, families and individuals…

2Ti 4:3-4 For there shall be a time when they shall not bear sound teaching, but according to their own desires, they shall heap up for themselves teachers tickling the ear, and they shall indeed turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to myths.

That time is upon us…

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Leviticus 23; Feast of Weeks / Shavuot / Pentecost

This is article #2 in The Feast of Yahwah series. Article #1 covered The Moedim or Appointments of Yahwah that includes the 7th Day Sabbath and those appointments known as Spring Feasts of “Passover, Unleavened Bread and First-Fruits.” If you haven’t read that, please do so prior to reading this article so that you are up to speed with terms and definitions that also apply to this article. May you be blessed as a “lover of Truth” as you enjoy!

This is a straight forward look at Leviticus 23. We are picking up the commentary on verses 15-21 as they reveal Yahwah’s 4th Feast known as the summer Feast of Pentecost / Weeks / Shavuot

Verses 15 – 21‘And from the morrow after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, you shall count for yourselves: seven completed Sabbaths. Until the morrow after the seventh Sabbath you count fifty days, then you shall bring a new grain offering to Yahwah. Bring from your dwellings for a wave offering two loaves of bread, of two-tenths of an of fine flour they are, baked with leaven, first-fruits to Yahwah. And besides the bread, you shall bring seven lambs a year old, perfect ones, and one young bull and two rams. They are a burnt offering to Yahwah, with their grain offering and their drink offerings, an offering made by fire for a sweet fragrance to Yahwah. And you shall offer one male goat as a sin offering, and two male lambs a year old, as a peace offering. And the priest shall wave them, besides the bread of the first-fruits, as a wave offering before Yahwah, besides the two lambs. They are set-apart to Yahwah for the priest. And on this same day you shall proclaim a set-apart gathering for yourselves, you do no servile work on it – a law forever in all your dwellings throughout your generations.

The beginning day of counting is critical.

And from the morrow after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, you shall count for yourselves: seven completed Sabbaths. Until the morrow after the seventh Sabbath you count fifty days”

This reference to “the morrow after the Sabbath” cannot be referring to the weekly Sabbath (in the middle of Unleavened Bread observance), which occurred three days after The Messiah’s impalement on the fourth day of that week because of verse 14;

“And you do not eat bread or roasted grain or fresh grain until the same day that you have brought an offering to your Elohim – a law forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.”

Otherwise there would contradiction of verse 6;

“And on the fifteenth day of this month is the Festival of Unleavened Bread to Yahwah – seven days you eat unleavened bread.”

So, this must be referring to the Sabbath AFTER the observance of the seven days of Unleavened Bread for us to begin counting seven completed Sabbaths (7X7 = 49 + 1 = 50 days).

Do you see why? In Leviticus 23:6 we are commanded for “seven days you eat unleavened bread.” In verse 14, we are commanded NOT to eat bread! Yahwah would not contradict Himself in His commands, so we must conclude that the day to begin counting, that we would also refer to as “First-Fruits”, has to be the first First Day after the conclusion of Unleavened Bread!

This also lines up with two other very important events!

In Leviticus 8-9:1 we see the anointing AND ordination of Aaron and his sons as priests. (Pay particular attention to the length of time, (esp “8th day”), the anointing of the altar, the ordination of them into the priesthood and even them being “waved” as referenced in “First-Fruits!”

This event serves as an earthly “type” of what Yahusha, our Great High Priest actually did in “the true tabernacle” in heaven! Consider;

At the tomb after His resurrection in Joh 20:17 “Yahusha said to her, “Do not hold on to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father. But go to My brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My Elohim and your Elohim.’ ”

See also Joh 20:19-23 where Yahusha reveals Himself to His taught ones later that day…

Then eight days pass without Him being seen until Joh 20:26 And after eight days His taught ones were again inside, and T’oma with them. Yahusha came, the doors having been shut, and He stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!”

I believe that HE took His own blood and did in the “true tent” (Heb. 8:2) what Moshe did to Aaron and his sons for them to serve as types of The True!

Now back to Shavuot…

This Feast is known by several names; Pentecost, Feast of Weeks, Shavuot. Historically it was during this one day observance when Moshe received The Law / Torah of Yahwah and upon bringing them down from the mountain found the children of Yisrael worshiping and dancing before the golden calf. He subsequently threw the stone tablets containing the Commandments of Yahwah to the ground in disgust. The result; Commandments broken, 3000 people were slain for their rebellious idolatry. (Exodus 32)

For us in The New Covenant this Feast was the day when The Set-Apart Spirit was poured out upon the 120 taught ones in the upper room who were waiting obediently to The Master’s Command to “wait for the Promise of The Father” and having received the infilling of the Set-Apart Spirit, their testimony caused no small stir on the streets of Yerushalyim and as Peter spoke in answer to the crowd’s question as to what it meant for the 120 to be supernaturally speaking in numerous languages the wonders and blessings of Yahwah, subsequently 3000 people were added to HIS Kingdom!

Luk 24:49 “And see, I am sending the Promise of My Father upon you, but you are to remain in the city of Yerushalayim until you are clothed with power from on high.”

Joh 14:15-17 “If you love Me, you shall guard My commands. And I shall ask the Father, and He shall give you another Helper, to stay with you forever the Spirit of the Truth, whom the world is unable to receive, because it does not see Him or know Him. But you know Him, for He stays with you and shall be in you.” (See article on “Differences Between the Old and New Covenant”)

Joh 14:26 “But the Helper, the Set-apart Spirit, whom the Father shall send in My Name, He shall teach you all, and remind you of all that I said to you.”

Act 1:4 And meeting with them, He (Yahusha) commanded them not to leave Yerushalayim, but to wait for the Promise of the Father,“which you have heard from Me…”

Act 2:1-8 “And when the Day of the Festival of Weeks had come, they were all with one mind in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from the heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and settled on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Set-apart Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them to speak. Now in Yerushalayim there were dwelling Yehudah dedicated men from every nation under the heaven. And when this sound came to be, the crowd came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marveled, saying to each other, Look, are not all these who speak Galileans?
And how do we hear, each one in our own language in which we were born?”

Act 2:41 Then those, indeed, who gladly received his word, were immersed. And on that day about three thousand beings were added to them.”

This day and culminating events are also significant because of The New Covenant that was promised in the following prophetic passages;

Yermiyah (Jeremiah) 31:31-37, Hezekiel (Ezekiel) 36:24-28

Lev 23:22 ‘And when you reap the harvest of your land do not completely reap the corners of your field when you reap, and do not gather any gleaning from your harvest. Leave them for the poor and for the stranger. I am Yahwah your Elohim.’ ”

Again proving that Yahwah’s heart has always been that of “inclusion” and not “exclusion!” The poor and those who were not Yisra’el, but were of the nations and tender towards the things of Yahwah, HE will not exclude from His Kingdom any who are lovers of Truth and believe!

May you be a lover of Truth and may you be walking in belief! As Yahwah gives revelation, we plan to have the 3rd article on the Fall Feasts posted soon!

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The Sabbath and Spring Feasts of Yahwah

Leviticus 23

Verses 1-2 And Yahwah spoke to Mosheh, saying, “Speak to the children of Yisrael and say to them, ‘The appointed times of Yahwah, which you are to proclaim as set-apart gatherings, My appointed times, are these:

Clearly, these verses establish that these “moedim” (appointments) are not feasts of man but are Yahwah’s Feasts. They are Feasts that His people are to observe and proclaim through “set-apart” gatherings on the days and in the ways that He establishes.

Verses 3-4 “Six days work is done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, a set-apart gathering. You do no work, it is a Sabbath to Yahwah in all your dwellings. These are the appointed times of Yahwah, set-apart gatherings which you are to proclaim at their appointed times.”

The weekly 7th day Sabbath is included as the beginning of the appointments that are commanded by Yahwah to observe and proclaim. (See article on “Catholic Quotes on changing the Sabbath”)

Verse 5 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, between the evenings, is the Passover to Yahwah.”

Under the Old Covenant, the Passover is to commemorate Yisrael’s deliverance from the bondage of slavery in Egypt, by the power of Yahwah (Exodus 12), and also serves prophetically as a look into the New Covenant and the future sacrifice of “The Lamb of Yahwah who takes away the sins of the world”, who’s blood is applied to the believer’s life by belief, thus being delivered from sin and death. (John 1:29, 36 & Rev. 5:12)

Verse 6-8 “And on the fifteenth day of this month is the Festival of Unleavened Bread to Yahwah – seven days you eat unleavened bread. On the first day you have a set-apart gathering, you do no servile work. And you shall bring an offering made by fire to Yahwah for seven days. On the seventh day is a set-apart gathering, you do no servile work.”

This Festival, under the Old Covenant, is to commemorate the day that Yisrael left Egypt. (Exodus 12:17) Leaven (in type) signifies sin. Thus, “unleavened” speaks of without sin. Having been delivered from the bondage of slavery and idolatry, Yisrael must now begin the process of removing the leaven (sin of unbelief) that permeates their lives.

And for us, in the New Covenant who believe in Messiah’s death and resurrection must allow the Set-apart Spirit to teach, guide, convict and change us from the influences of Adam, the “old man” into the image of Yah’s Son, Yahusha“the new man”.(Yohanan 14:15-26, Ephesians 4:22-24)

Verses 9-14 And Yahwah spoke to Mosheh saying, “Speak to the children of Yisrael and you shall say to them, ‘When you come into the land which I give you, and shall reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf of the first-fruits of your harvest to the priest. And he shall wave the sheaf before Yahwah, for your acceptance. On the morrow after the Sabbath the priest waves it. And on that day when you wave the sheaf, you shall prepare a male lamb a year old, a perfect one, as a burnt offering to Yahwah, and its grain offering: two-tenths of an of fine flour mixed with oil, an offering made by fire to Yahwah, a sweet fragrance, and its drink offering: one-fourth of a hin of wine. And you do not eat bread or roasted grain or fresh grain until the same day that you have brought an offering to your Elohim – a law forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.”

The verses seem pretty self explanatory for Yisrael under the Old Covenant. They emphasize the importance of acknowledging Yahwah FIRST in all that is received. It is the responsibility of the priest to acknowledge through the lifting and (literally) shaking the first of the first-fruits to Yahwah along with a perfect male lamb a year old offered on the alter along with the accompanying flour, oil, and wine offerings.

The relevance to us in the New Covenant is the acknowledging of Yahusha as typified by;

Sheaf of the first-fruits – 1Cor.15:20-23 “But now Messiah has been raised from the dead, and has become the first-fruit of those having fallen asleep. For since death is through a man, resurrection of the dead is also through a Man. For as all die in Adam so also all shall be made alive in Messiah. And each in his own order: Messiah the first-fruits, then those who are of Messiah at His coming…”

The Priest – Heb.4:14 “Therefore, since we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Yahusha the Son of Elohim, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who was tried in all respects as we are, apart from sin.”

The Perfect Male Lamb – John 1:29 “On the next day Yohanan saw Yahusha coming toward him, and said, “See, the Lamb of Elohim who takes away the sin of the world! “(1Pet.1:18-19; Rev.12:11)

The burnt offering (offered once to be consumed) to Yahwah – 1Pet.3:18 “Because even Messiah once suffered for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to Elohim, having been put to death indeed in flesh but made alive in the Spirit…”

Grain / Fine Flour – Bread /Body / Wine /Blood – Lk. 22:19-20 And taking bread, giving thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you, do this in remembrance of Me.” Likewise the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the (new) covenant in My blood which is shed for you.(1Cor.11:23-29)

Oil / Anointing – Heb.1:8-9 But to the Son He says, “Your throne, O Elohim, is forever and ever, a scepter of straightness is the scepter of Your reign. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness. Because of this, Elohim, Your Elohim, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”

These are just three of the seven Feasts of Yahwah according to the Scriptures. On this site we will be posting on going commentary on these and the Summer and Fall Feasts as Yahwah gives us revelation and opportunity! Our desire is that you, as a lover of Truth, will be encouraged and edified by these efforts!

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Comparing The OLD Covenant To The NEW Covenant

Many folks in “professingdom” today are not familiar with the Scriptural differences between The First (Old) Covenant and The Second (New) Covenant. Some think that the separation point in their bibles between The Old Testament and The New Testament marks what is applicable and not applicable for them today! I personally believe that it is that very separation point in their bible that has contributed to today’s confusion regarding the two covenants. Let’s consider a few;

Where The Law is Written

The Law (Torah) of The Old Covenant was written on Stone Tablets. Exo 24:12 And Yahwah said to Mosheh, “Come up to Me on the mountain and be there, while I give you tablets of stone, and the Torah and the command which I have written, to teach them.”

The Law (Torah) of The New Covenant is written on Hearts. Jer 31:33 “For this is the covenant I shall make with the house of Yisra’after those days, declares Yahwah: I shall put My Torah in their inward parts, and write it on their hearts. And I shall be their Elohim, and they shall be My people. Also see Ezek. 11:19-20,36:25-27.

Who’s Blood is required

The Old Covenant was validated by the blood sacrifice of animals. Exo 24:5-8 And he sent young men of the children of Yisra’el and they offered burnt offerings and slaughtered peace slaughterings of bulls to Yahwah. And Mosheh took half the blood and put it in basins, and half the blood he sprinkled on the altar. And he took the Book of the Covenant and read in the hearing of the people. And they said, “All that Yahwah has spoken we shall do, and obey.” And Mosheh took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, and said, “See, the blood of the covenant which Yahwah has made with you concerning all these Words.”

The New Covenant is validated by The Blood of Messiah. Heb 9:11-14 But Messiah, having become a High Priest of the coming good matters, through the greater and more perfect Tent not made with hands, that is, not of this creation, entered into the Most Set-apart Place once for all, not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood, having obtained everlasting redemption. For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the defiled, sets apart for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of the Messiah, who through the everlasting Spirit offered Himself unblemished to Elohim, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living Elohim?

Circumcision

The Old Covenant required circumcision of the flesh. Lev 12:2-3 “Speak to the children of Yisrael saying, ‘When a woman has conceived, and has given birth to a male child, then she shall be unclean seven days, as in the days of her monthly separation she is unclean. And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin is circumcised.”

The New Covenant requires circumcision of the Heart. Col 2:11 “In Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Messiah…”

Rom 2:29 “But a (believing) Yehudi is he who is so inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in Spirit, not literally, (in the flesh) whose praise is not from men but from Elohim.”

Php 3:3 “For we are the circumcision, who are serving Elohim in the Spirit, and boasting in Messiah Yahusha, and do not trust in the flesh…”

The Priesthood

The Old Covenant Priesthood of Aaron. Lev 1:5 “And he shall slaughter the bull before Yahwah And the sons of Aharon, the priests, shall bring the blood and sprinkle the blood all around on the altar which is at the door of the Tent of Meeting.”

The New Covenant Priesthood IN Messiah Yahusha. Heb 7:21 For they (Levites) indeed became priests without an oath, but He (Yahusha) became Priest with an oath by Him (Yahwah) who said to Him, Yahwah has sworn and shall not regret,‘You (Yahusha) are a priest forever according to the order of Malkitsedeq”

Rev 1:6 “…and has made us sovereigns and priests to His Elohim and Father, to Him be esteem and rule forever and ever. Amein”

Rev 5:9 -10“And they sang a renewed song, saying, “You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals, because You were slain, and have redeemed us to Elohim by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and made us sovereigns and priests to our Elohim, and we shall reign upon the earth.”

The Mediator

The Old Covenant required a man to be the mediator. Heb 7:11Truly, then, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood – for under it the people were given the Torah – why was there still need for another priest to arise according to the order of Malkitsedeq and not be called according to the order of Aharon?

The New Covenant has a better man as the mediator. Heb 12:24 …and toYahusha the Mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling which speaks better than the blood of Hebel (Abel).

1Ti 2:5 For there is one Elohim, and one Mediator between Elohim and men, the Man Messiah Yahusha...

The Tabernacle

The Old Covenant Tent was a copy. Heb 8:4-5 For if indeed He (Yahusha) were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the Torah, who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly, as Mosheh was warned when he was about to make the Tent. For He said, “See that you make all according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”

The New Covenant has to do with the True Tent. Heb 8:1-2 Now the summary of what we are saying is: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Greatness in the heavens, and who serves in the set-apart place and of the true Tent, which Yahwah set up, and not man.

The Temple

The Old Covenant Temple was Man’s idea and was built by man. 2Ch 6:7-10 And it was in the heart of my father Dawid to build a House for the Name of Yahwah Elohim of Yisra’el. But Yahwah said to my father Dawid, ‘Because it was in your heart to build a House for My Name, you did well in that it was in your heart. But you do not build the house, for your son who comes forth from your loins, he does build the House for My Name.” “Now Yahwah has established His word which He spoke, and I (Solomon) have been raised up instead of my father Dawid and sit on the throne of Yisra’el as Yahwah promised. And I have built the House for the Name of Yahwah Elohim of Yisra’el.”

The New Covenant Temple (Dwelling Place) is Yah’s idea and is being built by HIM. 1Pe 2:4-5 “Drawing near to Him, a living Stone – rejected indeed by men, but chosen by Elohim and precious – you also, as living stones, are being built up, a spiritual house, a set-apart priesthood, to offer up spiritual slaughter offerings acceptable to Elohim through Yahusha Messiah.”

1Co 3:16 Do you not know that you are a Dwelling Place of Elohim and that the Spirit of Elohim dwells in you?

1Co 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is the Dwelling Place of the Set-apart Spirit who is in you, which you have from Elohim, and you are not your own?

Also see;Eph. 2:20-22; Heb. 3:6; Rev. 3:12

The City of Destination

The Old Covenant promised a land and an earthly city. Deu 34:1-4 And Mosheh went up from the desert plains of Mo’ab to Mount Nebo to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Yeriho And Yahwah showed him all the land of Gilas far as Dan, and all Naphtali and the land of Ephrayim and Menashsheh, all the land of Yehudas far as the Western Sea, and the Negev and the plain of the Valley of Yeriho the city of palm trees, as far as Tsoar And Yahwah said to him, “This is the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Yitshak to Yaacob saying, ‘To your seed I give it.’ I have let you look at it with your eyes, but you do not pass over there.”

Isa 1:21-23 “How the steadfast city has become a whore! I have filled it with right-ruling; righteousness lodged in it, but now murderers. Your silver has become dross, your wine is mixed with water. Your rulers are stubborn, and companions of thieves. Everyone loves bribes, and runs after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless, nor does the cause of the widow reach them.”

Mat 23:37-39 (Yahusha crying out)“Yerushalayim, Yerushalayim, killing the prophets and stoning those who are sent to her! How often I wished to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, but you would not! See! Your house is left to you laid waste, for I say to you, from now on you shall by no means see Me, until you say, ‘Blessed is He who is coming in the Name of Yahwah!” See Ps. 118:26.

The New Covenant promises a Heavenly City. Rev 21:1-3 RNKJV “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the new Jerusalem, coming down from YHVH out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of YHVH is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and YHVH himself shall be with them, and be their Elohim.

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Measuring Belief Systems By The Commandments

Prior to Yahwah giving HIS people HIS Commandments through Moshe(Moses) in Exodus 20, they found themselves in bondage to a nation of idolators. Egypt worshipped many gods. Yahwah delivered HIS people from Egypt’s gods and then gave HIS Commandments with HIS promise to put HIS Commands in their hearts and cause them to walk in them. It is on that basis, that I present the following. HIS Commands are an excellent measuring stick of whether or not a belief system is in submission to HIM and walking in the New Covenant.

Eze 36:26-27 “And I shall give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you. And I shall take the heart of stone out of your flesh, and I shall give you a heart of flesh, and put My Spirit within you. And I shall cause you to walk in My laws and guard My right-rulings and shall do them.”(All Scriptures are from the ISR 98, unless otherwise noted)

Commandment #1

Exo 20:2 “I am Yahwah your Elohim, who brought you out of the land of Mitsrayim, out of the house of slavery. You have no other mighty ones against My face.”

Even though this was spoken to the people of Yisrael, it is clearly understood by those who study the Scriptures (Genesis – Revelation), Who this “Elohim”(Hebrew) meaning “mighty one” is. HE identifies HIMSELF by NAME. My studies on HIS Name at the time of this writing have brought me to believe that HIS Name is Yahwah, THE Supreme Mighty ONE. You must understand that there has been and still is an aggressive movement to hide the true Names of The Father, Yahwah and HIS Son, Yahusha. I am not dogmatic that the Names that we currently use are accurate, but I do know this, HE will continue to confirm exactly who HE is to those coming to understand what The Father’s and The Son’s Names are NOT! All who believe The Scriptures from Genesis – Revelation are to call upon HIM by NAME and are not to have ANY other mighty one (real or fabricated) in HIS Place. Any belief system that forsakes HIS Truth and settles for a name and character that is simply not HIM, is a false belief system and will not know or understand The New Covenant.

Zec 10:2 “For the household idols spoke emptiness, the diviners saw falsehood, and relate dreams of deceit, they comfort in vain. Therefore they have wandered about like sheep. They are afflicted, for there is no shepherd.”

Mat 24:24 “For false messiahs and false prophets shall arise, and they shall show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones.”

Commandment #2

Exo 20:4-6 “You do not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of that which is in the heavens above, or which is in the earth beneath, or which is in the waters under the earth, you do not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, Yahwah your Elohim am a jealous Elohim, visiting the crookedness of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing kindness to thousands, to those who love Me and guard My commands.”

Will man choose The Living Elohim? Or will he continue in lifeless images resembling created beings “in heaven above, in earth beneath, or in the water under the earth?”

Any belief system that expresses a propensity for idolatry through it’s propagation of images/pictures/likenesses of messengers (angels), man / woman, animals (or any combination of the aforementioned), is in opposition to HIS Commandments and is a false belief system not knowing nor understanding The New Covenant and will find itself devoid of protection from the powers of darkness.

1Ki 18:21 “And (Elijah) came to all the people, and said, “How long would you keep hopping between two opinions? If Yahwah is Elohim, follow Him; and if Ba’al follow him.” But the people answered him not a word.”

Rom 1:20-23 “For since the creation of the world His invisible qualities have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, both His everlasting power and Mightiness, for them to be without excuse, because, although they knew Elohim, they did not esteem Him as Elohim, nor gave thanks, but became vain in their reasonings, and their undiscerning heart was darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and changed the esteem of the incorruptible Elohim into the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds and of four-footed beasts and of reptiles.”

Commandment #3

Exo 20:7 “You do not bring the Name of Yahwah, your Elohim to naught, for Yahwah does not leave the one unpunished who brings His Name to naught.”

This commandment addresses the seriousness of not rightly discerning the proper attitude in regards to HIS NAME. Of necessity, we must consider the meaning of the word translated “vain”. It is the Hebrew word “shav”. From the Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries, and from the Brown / Driver / Briggs Dictionary, #H7723 we can conclude that any misuse of (desolating, ruining), any overuse of (selfishly, idolatrous), and/or any nonuse of (rendering useless, using deceptively, falsely, making nothing, empty, worthless) HIS NAME is taking HIS NAME in vain. This is a serious issue!

Isa 52:5-7 “And now, what have I here,” declares Yahwah, “that My people are taken away for naught? Those who rule over them make them wail,” declares Yahwah “and My Name is despised all day continually. “Therefore My people shall know My Name, in that day, for I am the One who is speaking. See, it is I.” How pleasant upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings good news, who proclaims deliverance, who says to Tsiyon, “Your Elohim reigns!”

The Father wants HIS Name Known! (Jer.16:19-21)

The Master, Yahusha gave HIS taught ones HIS Father’s Name! (John 17:6,11,12,26)

There is not another name that can deliver! (Acts 4:12)

Believers will have HIS True Name upon them! (Rev. 3:12, 22:4)

Any person and / or belief system that is rendering HIS NAME (or the knowledge of HIS NAME) as worthless, not important, etc., will not be held guiltless and is not knowing nor understanding The New Covenant!

Commandment #4

Exo 20:8-11 “Remember the Sabbath day, to set it apart. “Six days you labour, and shall do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of Yahwah your Elohim. You do not do any work – you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days Yahwah made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore Yahwah blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart.”

Any belief system that rejects the 7th day as the Sabbath and does not set it apart as Yahwah has set it apart, ie. resting from work that is done the other six days of the week, is a false belief system, not knowing nor understanding The New Covenant.

Mat 15:9 “But in vain do they worship Me, teaching as teachings the commands of men.”

(See article “Catholic Quotes on who changed The Sabbath”)

Commandment #5

Exo 20:12 “Respect your father and your mother, so that your days are prolonged upon the soil which Yahwah your Elohim is giving you.”

The Master repeats it in HIS answer to the man asking what he must do to inherit eternal life, saying in Mar 10:19 “You know the commands, ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not rob,’ ‘Respect your father and your mother.’ ” “Respect” here means to “prize, revere, place great value upon”…

HE then says in Mar 10:29-30 “Yahusha said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for the sake of Me and the Good News, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come, everlasting life.”

Who should take precedent in your life? Gen.12:1, Matt.12:46-50, Lk.9:59-60, Lk.14:26…

Any belief system that contradicts the words of The Master is a false belief system that is not knowing nor understanding in The New Covenant.

Commandment #6

Exo 20:13 “You do not murder.”

Consider;

Exo 21:12-15 “He who strikes a man so that he dies shall certainly be put to death.

But, if he did not lie in wait but Elohim delivered him into his hand, then I shall appoint for you a place where he is to flee. But when a man acts presumptuously against his neighbour, to kill him by treachery, you are to take him even from My altar to die. And he who smites his father or his mother shall certainly be put to death.

Psa 106:37-38“And they slaughtered their sons And their daughters to demons, And they shed innocent blood, The blood of their sons and daughters, Whom they offered to the idols of the land was defiled with blood.

Mat 23:34-35 “Because of this, see, I send you prophets, and wise men, and scholars of Scripture. Some of them you shall kill and impale, and some of them you shall flog in your congregations and persecute from city to city, so that on you should come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berechiah whom you murdered between the Dwelling Place and the altar.”

Any belief system that propagates a false messiah and / or condones the premeditated murder of the innocent is a false belief system, not knowing nor understanding The New Covenant.

Commandment #7

Exo 20:14 “You do not commit adultery.”

Lev 20:10 ‘And a man who commits adultery with the wife of another man, who commits adultery with the wife of his neighbour: the adulterer and the adulteress shall certainly be put to death.”

Mat 19:4-6 And He answering, said to them, “Did you not read that He who made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh? So that they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what Elohim has joined together, let man not separate.”

Heb 13:4 “Let marriage be respected by all, and the bed be undefiled. But Elohim shall judge those who whore, and adulterers.”

Any belief system that condones sexual practices that are forbidden in the Scriptures is a false belief system, not knowing nor understanding The New Covenant.

Commandment #8

Exo 20:15 “You do not steal.”

Lev 19:11-12 ‘Do not steal, do not lie, do not deceive one another. And do not swear falsely by My Name and so profane the Name of your Elohim. I am Yahwah.”
Joh 10:10 “The thief (devil) does not come except to steal, and to slaughter, and to destroy. I have come that they might possess life, and that they might possess it beyond measure.”

Joh 12:4-6 (Judas, a thief helped himself to the money bag)

Rev 21:8 “But as for the cowardly, and untrustworthy, and abominable, and murderers, and those who whore, and drug sorcerers, and idolaters, and all the false, their part is in the lake which burns with fire and sulphur, which is the second death.”

Any belief system where theft, misuse of ministry money, profaning the Name of Yahwah, defrauding and / or swindling one another are common, is a false belief system, not knowing nor understanding The New Covenant.

Commandment #9

Exo 20:16 “You do not bear false witness against your neighbour.”

Exo 23:1 “Do not bring a false report. Do not put your hand with the wrong to be a malicious witness.”

Lev 19:16 ‘Do not go slandering among your people. Do not stand against the blood of your neighbour. I am Yahwah.”

Joh 8:43-45“Why do you not know what I say? Because you are unable to hear My Word. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you wish to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has not stood in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks the lie, he speaks of his own, for he is a liar and the father of it. And because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me.”

1Jn 2:22 “Who is the liar, except the one denying that Yahusha is the Messiah? This is the anti-messiah, the one denying the Father and the Son.”

Any belief system that condones lying, slander, gossip and a fabricated identity of The Messiah is a false belief system that is under the sway of the wicked one, not knowing nor understanding The New Covenant.

Commandment #10

Exo 20:17 “You do not covet your neighbour’s house, you do not covet your neighbour’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, or whatever belongs to your neighbour.”
Psa 10:3 “For the wrongdoer boasted of his cravings; And the greedy one cursed and despised Yahwah.”

Jer 5:8 “They were like well-fed horses, every one neighed after his neighbour’s wife.”

Col 3:5 “Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: whoring, uncleanness, passion, evil desire and greed of gain, which is idolatry.”

Any belief system that encourages greed, material wealth, and selfishness rather than contentment and others-centeredness is a false belief system, not knowing nor understanding The New Covenant.

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Matthew 5:17

Matthew 5:17

Why did YAHUSHA have to address false assumptions? Evidently there were rumors that HE was discontinuing the Law…and possibly even the Prophets of the Scriptures. Why do we have to address this question? Because the same false assumptions exist today!

Verse 17a “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets”

“destroy”: Strong’s Hebrew & Greek Dictionaries

G2647 “kataluo”

From G2596 and G3089; to loosen down (disintegrate), that is, (by
implication) to demolish (literally or figuratively); specifically (compare G2646)
to halt for the night:—destroy, dissolve, be guest, lodge, come to nought,
overthrow, throw down.

Notice the context: It appears that HE is referring to BOTH the Law AND the Prophets. The context seems to suggest that whatever HIS intention is for EITHER, is HIS intention for BOTH. Has HE done away with the Prophets?

Verse 17b “I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.”

“fulfill”: Strong’s Hebrew & Greek Dictionaries

G4137 “pleroo” play roo o

From G4134; to make replete, that is, (literally) to cram (a net), level up (a
hollow), or (figuratively) to furnish (or imbue, diffuse, influence), satisfy, execute
(an office), finish (a period or task), verify (or coincide with a prediction), etc.:—
accomplish, X after, (be) complete, end, expire, fill (up), fulfil, (be, make) full
(come), fully preach, perfect, supply.

The following verses use the same Greek word “pleroo”;
Matthew 3:15 “But יהושע answering, said to him, “Permit it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fill all righteousness.”
– Is YAHUSHA saying here “to do away with or discontinue all righteousness?”
Philippians 2:2 “…make my joy complete by being of the same mind, having the same love, one in being and of purpose…”
– Is Paul saying here “to do away with or discontinue his joy?”
Colossians 1:25 “…of which I became a servant according to the administration of Elohim which was given to me for you, to fill the word of Elohim…”
– Is he saying here “to do away with or discontinue the Word of YAH?”
2Thess 1:11 “To this end we always pray for you that our Elohim would count you worthy of this calling, and complete all the good pleasure of goodness, and the work of belief with power…”
– Is he saying here “to do away with or discontinue HIS good pleasure?”

Proponents of the belief that YAHUSHA “fulfilled” the law from this point on in this chapter, thus “discontinuing” or “doing away with law altogether”, also say that HE intends to now introduce a “new standard or set of laws” state that HE now proceeds to negate the “Old Testament Law” throughout the remainder of this chapter. These people became known as “Antinomianists” during the 2nd / 3rd centuries. This word came from the Greek word for “lawlessness” found throughout the New Testament. (See References on page 2)

Here is what the Holman’s Bible Dictionary says about this early movement:

ANTINOMIANISM (an tih noh’ mih an ihsm) The false teaching that since faith alone is necessary for salvation, one is free from the moral obligations of the law. The word antinomianism is not used in the Bible, but the idea is spoken of. Paul appears to have been accused of being an antinomian (see Rom. 3:8; 6:1, 15). While it is true that obedience to the law will never earn salvation for anyone (Eph. 2:8-9), it is equally true that those who are saved are expected to live a life full of good works (see, for example, Matt. 7:16-20; Eph. 2:10; Col. 1:10; Jas. 2:14-26). Since we have been freed from the dominion of sin through faith in YAHUSHA, we have also been freed to practice the righteousness demanded by YAH (Rom. 6:12-22).

In Legge’s “Forerunner’s and Rivals of Christianity” a work on the history of the Early Church, he states”

(in the late 2nd to early 3rd centuries) “Some well-known Church Fathers who came from Gnosticism were Epiphanius, who had been a Nicolaitan, Ambrose of Milan, who had been a Valentinian, and Augustine, who had been a Manichean for 9 years before joining the Catholic Church. All these Gnostic sects were distinguished by their rejection of the Old Testament Law, some of them even rejecting the Mighty One of the Old Testament, and some of them even equated the Mighty One of the Old Testament with the Evil One! In their rejection of the Old Testament Law, the Valentinian Gnostics even rejected all moral laws, leading to scandalous living.

The Marcionites were later on refuted, but they also contributed toward the aversion to, and even rejection of, the Old Testament. Manes and his followers, the Manicheans, from among whom Augustine came, “looked on Judaism with horror, rejected the Old Testament entirely…”

“LAWLESSNESS”

G458

From G459; illegality, that is, violation of law or (generally) wickedness:—
iniquity, X transgress (-ion of) the law, unrighteousness.

References to “lawlessness” in the New Testament:

Matthew 7:23 – And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

Matthew 13:41-42 – The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire.

Matthew 23:38 – Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

Matthew 24:12 – And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.

Romans 6:19 – I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.

2Corinthians 6:14 – Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

2Thessalonians 2:7 – For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work;

Hebrews 1:9 – (quoting from numerous Psalms & Prophets)You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness

1John 3:4 – Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.

Please notice that the consistent use of this word “lawlessness” in these verses, contextually is describing some very serious consequences!

  • In light of these verses is it safe for anyone to say that YAHUSHA is saying in Matthew 5, that HE has “done away with ALL Old Testament Law?”
  • When does YAHUSHA say that this will be accomplished?

Matthew 5:18 – “For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.”

When is that going to happen? Sometime in the future according to these verses:
2Peter 3:10 – But the day of the Master will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
Rev 20:11 – Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them.
Rev 21:1 – Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.

Again, in light of what the Scriptures say, is it wise to say that YAHUSHA in Matthew 5:17 is suggesting that The LAW of YAH is NOT relevant any longer?

You decide. I pray that you make your decision based on what the Scriptures are saying instead of what man is saying…

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The Law of The Spirit

THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT

The following paragraph from a typical commentary is supposed to help the reader understand and rightly apply Romans 8:1-8. The perspective seen in this commentary reflects that perspective held by much of today’s traditional Christianity regarding The Law of YAH. Unfortunately an unspiritual approach has enabled this nonbiblical perspective to be propagated. May you see the contradictions and inconsistencies of this commentary and today’s unbiblical view of YAH’S Word!

The commentary states;

“How does the Christian live a righteous life without a constant struggle to keep God’s Law? Paul introduced another universal principle: the law of life lived in the power of the Spirit (8:1-2). Old Testament Law failed to produce righteousness. So in Messiah God condemned “sin in sinful man’’ and provided His Spirit, who enables believers to fully meet the Law’s requirements without “trying” (vv. 3-4). We focus on responding to God’s Spirit rather than on trying to keep laws (vv. 5-8). If we’re controlled by the Spirit who brought life to Messiah’s dead body, He will bring life to us who are spiritually dead (vv. 9-12). Our obligation is not to the Law, but to respond to the Spirit’s promptings (vv. 13-16).

Romans 8:1

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Messiah YAHUSHA.”

Some would have us believe that Paul is making a distinction between the The Law of YAH and Messiah YAHUSHA. However, if we are to stay with the context of the previous chapter we realize that Paul addresses the condemnation that comes upon those who “add to and/or subtract from” (Dt. 4:2 & 12:32) YAH’S Word and as the result are guilty of creating their own (or another) law! This the Pharisees were guilty of. This today’s Christianity is guilty of as well.

Paul expresses this in Romans 7:22-23,

“For I joyfully concur with the Law of YAH in the inner man, but I see a DIFFERENT law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind (the Law of YAH), and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members.”

An All Knowing ELOHIM would know that men would eventually replace HIS Law with their own law. The other law that Paul refers to in Romans 7 is that law that his sect had taught him to walk in prior to his coming to the unadulterated Law of YAH through his conversion in MESSIAH YAHUSHA! These two laws are in opposition to each other and cannot be reconciled. Paul describes the struggle that he has as he commits to the Law of YAH through the renewal of his mind as a recipient of HIS SPIRIT, while at the same time his flesh wars against YAH’S Law at every turn. But YAH ALSO foreseeing this, promises the remedy to HIS own in Ezekiel 36:26-27;

“Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put MY SPIRIT within you and cause you to walk in MY Statutes, and you will be careful to observe MY Ordinances!”

In Messiah, one has the capacity to walk in obedience to HIS Law, by the power of HIS SPIRIT.

So again, we see Paul stating in Romans 8:1 that the condemnation of walking in a law made by man is overcome by those who reject the law of man and allow the SPIRIT to accomplish HIS work of causing HIS people to walk in HIS STATUTES and ORDINANCES. (HIS Law) Paul further clarifies this as we move on…

Romans 8:2

“For the law of the Spirit of life in Messiah Yahusha has set you free from the law of sin and of death.”

Some (in their lawlessness) would have us to believe that this “law of the Spirit” is a law that is completely disconnected from and in contradiction to the already established Law of YAH! How can that be? We must ask ourselves; Has the Spirit of YAH somehow established HIS own set of laws? Has the Spirit of YAH decided to act on his own accord? Consider what YAHUSHA says concerning the character/nature and ministry of HIS Spirit:

John 13:16

“But when HE, the SPIRIT of Truth comes, HE will guide you into all the truth; for HE will not speak on HIS own initiative, but whatever HE hears, HE will speak; and HE will disclose to you what is to come”

John 14:15-17

“If you love me, keep MY Commandments. And I will pray the Father , and HE shall give you another Comforter (HIS SPIRIT), that HE may abide with you for ever; the SPIRIT of TRUTH whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth HIM not, neither knoweth HIM: but you know HIM; for HE dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”

John 14:26

“But the HELPER, the Set-Apart SPIRIT whom the FATHER will send in MY name, HE will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”

From these verses it is apparent that the only Law/Commandments that The SPIRIT of YAH is to have anything to do with is YAH’S Law, those Commandments uttered by YAH HIMSELF!

Some even attempt to take their argument further and would have us to believe that the Commandments that YAHUSHA is referring to in John are only those which HE established during HIS earthly ministry! Lets keep in mind what John the apostle says in regards to who YAHUSHA is! According to his gospel in chapter 1, verse 1;

“In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with YAH and the Word was YAH. HE was in the beginning with YAH.”

John says that YAHUSHA came as The Word / YAH incarnate. So, if YAHUSHA is both The Word & YAH, when did HE begin to speak the things that the SPIRIT is to “bring to our remembrance?” Some would have us to believe that YAHUSHA began to speak beginning in the New Testament. How can that be if HE is described in the New Testament as YAH The Word??? If YAH does not change and YAH’S Word does not change, how do we biblically rationalize having TWO opposing sets of YAH’S Law in existence? (i.e. one set of laws in the Old Testament and another set in the New Testament)

So, since HE is The Living Word of YAH, when YAHUSHA states that the Set-Apart SPIRIT will “bring to your remembrance all that I said to you” HE is referring to the process of the fulfillment of Jeremiah 31 and Ezekiel 36 with HIS Statutes, HIS Ordinances being now on the hearts and in our minds of those who receive HIM! Those who would rather have a New Testament (ONLY) YAHUSHA with a New Testament set of commandments are perverting the Scriptures and have fallen into what the New Testament refers to as “lawlessness” (anti-law) or the attitude and actions of rejecting the Law of YAH. For that they will have to stand before The Living Law of YAH and give an account. I fear that it will not be a pleasant experience for them…

Many who reject this truth cite verse 3 in Romans 8 to somehow try and establish a case for YAH’S Law being “weak and beggarly”. But notice where the real weakness lies…

Romans 8:3

“For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, YAH did; sending HIS own SON in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, HE condemned sin in the flesh,”

There are two possible applications to what Paul refers to here.

  1. Paul is saying that the Law of YAH was rendered weak “through the flesh”, being written on stone it was not capable of empowering anyone to obey it.

  2. Paul is saying that men have taken YAH’S perfect Law and polluted it by “adding to it and/or subtracting from it” making it weak and fleshly.

In either case, or even the combination of these two possibilities, it makes no difference, YAH sent HIS SON, The Living Word to inaugurate the New Covenant through HIS sinless life (as witnessed by HIS Law), proving HIMSELF to be the atoning sacrifice for OUR sins as The LAMB of YAH!

Romans 8:4

“that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”
Look at how perfectly this all fits together in context! Because Messiah YAHUSHA, (being YAH / Word incarnate) walked according to The Law of YAH, exposing the law of man (lawlessness), and lived sinless so that HE would be an acceptable sacrifice on the cross for our sins, as proven by HIM being victorious over sin and death, we now by having HIS Law upon our hearts & minds are empowered by HIS SPIRIT to walk in obedience to HIS Law and experience victory over the flesh! Blessed be HIS Name!

Romans 8:5

“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.”
Simply put; “If your religion is based on what man (flesh) establishes, (additions to / subtractions from HIS Law), that is where your allegiance will be. If your religion is based on what YAH establishes, (HIS Law in your heart & mind) being quickened by HIS SPIRIT , then consequently your allegiance will be to HIM/HIS Word!” Paul states it this way so that you and I can objectively determine exactly where our own allegiance lies!

Romans 8:6

“For to be carnally (fleshly) minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”

Being fleshly minded (having your allegiance to what man establishes) will result in death. This is what Paul referred to earlier in verse 2, as “the law of sin and of death.”

Being spiritually minded (having your allegiance to what YAH establishes) will result in life! This is what Paul referred to earlier in verse 2, as “the law of the Spirit of life in Messiah Yahusha…”

Romans 8:7

“Because the carnal(fleshly) mind is enmity against YAH; for it is not subject to the Law of YAH, nor indeed can be”


Notice which mind cannot be subject to The Law of YAH! It’s the carnal/fleshly mind who is not experiencing The New Covenant as prophesied in Jeremiah 31, Ezekiel 36 and witnessed on The Day of Pentecost in Acts 2! It’s the carnal/fleshly mind who rejects YAH’S Law, written on the heart/mind, empowered by HIS SPIRIT causing obedience to HIM! But today’s Christianity is being taught that it is the spiritual minded believer who is to reject YAH’S Law, saying that obedience to YAH’s Law is “legalism, bondage, etc.” and is irrelevant to him/her today!!! That is diametrically opposed to what we have just read in The Scriptures!

Romans 8:8

“So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please YAH.”

Those with their allegiance to what man establishes cannot please YAH because they have their minds set on a man made standard that either pollutes YAH’S Law by adding to it and/or subtracting from it OR they reject YAH’S Law altogether. Both cases are examples of “lawlessness” (anti-law). According to YAH’S Word “without faith it is impossible to please YAH.” True scriptural faith can only be experienced byhearing, believing and obeying YAH’S Word. True scriptural faith cannot be experienced by believing and obeying man’s law, traditions and practices… One Law is “the law of the SPIRIT of life in Messiah YAHUSHA.” The other law is “the law of sin and death.” I encourage you to choose wisely…

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“In” Israel? or “In” Messiah?

(Author’s note; References to names such as Israel, Jesus, Jacob, Paul as well as titles such as God, Lord, Holy, etc., have been replaced using a more accurate name / term in an effort to remain consistent with the Truth)

 

After reading several books over the years that attempt to identify gentile believers as becoming Israelites, especially using the Bereshith (Genesis) 48:19 text as proof that gentiles make up the dispersed of Ephraim, I began to notice that they constantly are referring to us as being grafted “into Yisrael”, “in Yisrael”, in one form or another. This is disconcerting to me. Many, in their efforts, do such a masterful job of keeping focus in developing the accurate typologies in and through the lives of the patriarchs. But some seem to leave the context and get carried away with more of a romantic look rather than a Scriptural one.

One author in particular wrote a book in a genuine effort to dispel what Shaul (Paul)) refers to as “the secret of the Good News.” In it the author states masterfully that we gentile believers have covenant rights by adoption as he suggests we find our type in the Bereshith (Genesis) 48 text. Here he interprets the text as prophetically describing the type; (the adopted sons of Ya’aqob/Yisrael through Ephraim and Manasseh) as representing us ultimately being adopted through Messiah (the adopted son of Joseph, Mary’s husband), into Yisrael. This, in my opinion, is where the type being seen as the reality.

Normally these teachers and authors acknowledge the typology seen in Ya’aqob/Yisrael, Joseph, Ephraim/Manasseh accurately but instead of translating the message into what the typology represents they continue in the typology! I’m not emphatically saying that we believing gentiles are NOT descendants of Ephraim. That may be the case! However, even if that is the case, according to the Scriptures, it is NOT the point!

Since the phrase “secret of the Good News” is found in Shaul (Paul)’s letter to the Ephesians, lets take a few minutes and consider some of the text surrounding that phrase. Specifically, lets see how many times the phrase “in Yisrael”, “into Yisrael”, “by Yisrael” and/or “through Yisrael” are mentioned in this letter. After doing repeated word searches of the above, I found exactly NONE! Not once does Shaul (Paul) make a reference to the Ephesian believers being found “in, into, by, or through” Yisrael. He does reference gentile believers as being once separated from “the commonwealth of Yisrael.” However, that is in reference to the civil polity of citizenship that would depict their community as what it was suppose to be; a called out people unto Messiah, who serve HIM. Not an entity unto itself. So, when Shaul (Paul) suggests in Ephesians that there is a secret regarding the Good News, he does not disclose that secret as being found IN any one people group.

However, when doing a similar search in Ephesians using the terms “in, into, by, through” as referenced to Yahusha, MESSIAH, ELOHIM, MASTER, etc, we find this;

“IN Yahusha”; 6 reference verses

“IN MESSIAH”; 5 reference verses

“IN Yahusha Messiah” 5 reference verses

“IN HIM” 6 reference verses

“THROUGH WHOM” 1 Reference (speaking of Yahusha)

“BY HIM” 2 reference verses

“IN The MASTER” 6 reference verses

Lets also do a similar search for the terms “in, into, by, and through” in reference to THE SET-APART SPIRIT!

“IN the SPIRIT” 4 reference verses

“THROUGH HIS SPIRIT” 1 Reference

“BY WHOM” 1 Reference (speaking of HIS SPIRIT)

Okay. Now lets add it all up and see what we have;

“IN, INTO, BY, Through” Yisrael= 0

“IN, INTO, BY, Through” Yahusha (in one form or another) = 30

“IN, THROUGH, BY” The SPIRIT = 6

So Shaul (Paul), in his effort to inform and encourage the Ephesian believers concerning the secret of the Good News makes 36 references of who it is that they are in, into, by, through. Thirty six references in six chapters is an average of six times per chapter! Six times per chapter Shaul (Paul) reminds them, in one form or another that their identity is IN WHO the types in Torah spoke prophetically of. Shaul (Paul) does not mention the types used to establish the true (maybe say “even once”) one time in his disclosure of the secret of the Good News to the believers in Ephesians.

Now, here is the kicker! The one reference “of Yisrael” mentioned regarding the “commonwealth” is offset by:

“OF Messiah” 12 reference verses

“OF ELOHIM” 17 reference verses

“OF The MASTER” 3 reference verses

“OF The SPIRIT” 3 reference verses

That’s another 35 reference verses to THE ONE WHO the type depicted! All total, that is 71 references verses of the total 153 verses in Ephesians! That comes to nearly 12 references per chapter, or almost one reference in every other verse to THE ONE WHO we find our identity in!!!

So, what is my point here? Is it to once again denigrate Yisrael and exalt a replacement? YAHUAH FORBID! My point is simply that YAH had given HIS plan through HIS chosen people. HE typified that plan for those who would be able to see beyond themselves and find their identity IN HIM! Because man has not done very well at remaining focused on the differences between the type and the true, we find ourselves constantly wrangling about how this or that fits into our theology…

In conclusion, let me summarize;

  • We have been adopted by THE FATHER into THE Family of YAHUAH by believing what HE said and did through HIS SON; Yahusha.
  • We who do THE FATHER’S desire have been adopted by HIM and recognized as the brothers and sisters of Yahusha, along with all from every nationality who believe and obey what YAH has said.
  • We have been given citizenship in the city which comes down from heaven and should not be preoccupied with any earthly city in the meantime… May you walk in Truth and in Blessing!