“Remember the
former events of old, for I am Ěl, and there is no one else – Elohim,
and there is no one like Me, v.10
declaring the end from
the beginning, and from of old that which has not yet been
done, saying, ‘My counsel does stand, and all My delight I do.’” Yeshayahu /
Isaiah 46:9-10
If
we were to take the prophet seriously then we would look to the book of
Bereshith / Genesis to understand the times that we are living in today. This study is the author’s humble attempt to
show that everything you really need to know as a believer in Yahoshua Messiah
is found in the very beginning. Yahweh
Elohim is infinitely smarter than we are and therefore He knew that man’s
theological religious systems would royally complicate the understanding of His
plan and completely screw it up.
This
is the very reason He told us everything we would ever need to know in simple
picture form. Even a child can look at a
simple picture and understand it’s meaning.
If my theology or yours cannot be understood by a normal eight year old
boy or girl then I can pretty much guarantee you that we are dead wrong in our
understanding. I hope this study will
seriously challenge you and, if you haven’t experienced it yet, that it would
be the very catalyst Yahweh would use to cause a paradigm shift in your
theology.
In the picture
of the very first marriage we can clearly see;
Yahweh Elohim’s
plan for salvation ~ Our Justification
Yahweh Elohim’s
plan for set-apart relation ~ Our Sanctification
Yahweh Elohim’s
plan for intimate relation ~ Our Glorification
Bereshith
/ Genesis 2:18-24 “And יהוה Elohim
said, “It is not good for the man to be alone, I am going to make a helper for
him, as his counterpart.” v.19 And from the ground יהוה Elohim formed every beast of the field and every bird
of the heavens, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And
whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. v.20 So the
man gave names to all livestock, and to the birds of the heavens, and to every
beast of the field. But for the man there was not found a helper for him, as
his counterpart. v.21 So יהוה Elohim
caused a deep sleep to fall on the man, and he slept. And He took one of his ribs,
and closed up the flesh in its place. v.22 And the rib which יהוה Elohim had taken from the man He made into a woman,
and He brought her to the man. v.23 And the man said, “This is now bone of my
bones and flesh of my flesh. This one is called ‘woman,’ because she was taken
out of man.” v.24 For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and
cleave to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”
The overwhelming majority of “Christians” have never been
taught how to properly study their “Bible”.
Almost the entire body of “The Scriptures” from the book of Bereshith to
the book of Revelation was originally given to the Hebrew people. The ancient Hebrew method of studying “The
Scriptures” is known by the acronym PaRDeS. This stands for the Hebrew words Pashat,
Remez, Drash and Sod. The Apostle Rav
Shaul, (More commonly known as Paul, his Greek nick name, meaning short stature.),
instructed us to study “The Scriptures” according to this ancient tradition in
his first letter to the Corinthians.
But
now, brothers, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you
unless I speak to you, either by revelation (drash), or by knowledge (pashat), or by prophesying
(remez), or by teaching (sod)? 1Corinthians 14:6
Pashat ~ is the literal,
plain meaning / understanding, or knowledge level of understanding “The
Scriptures”.
Remez ~ is the hint
or prophetic level of understanding “The Scriptures”, i.e. Yahoshua’s first
coming.
Drash ~ is the hidden or
revelatory level of understanding “The Scriptures”, i.e. Yahoshua’s second
coming.
Sod ~ is the
doctrinal or teaching level of understanding “The Scriptures”, i.e. the
spiritual application that is only understood by Ruach ha Chodesh (the
set-apart Spirit) instructing our ruach (spirit). ~ 1Corinthians 2:12-16
Rav Shaul also alludes to these four
levels of understanding again in his letter to the Ephesians.
“That
the Messiah might dwell in your hearts through belief – having
become rooted and grounded in love, v.18 in order that you might be
strengthened to firmly grasp, with all the set-apart ones, what is the width (pashat) and length (remez) and depth (drash) and height (sod),
v.19 to know the love of Messiah which surpasses knowledge (pashat), in order
that you might be filled to all the completeness of Elohim.” ~ Ephesians 3:17-20
Romans
5:14 tells us the first Adam is a type and shadow picture of Yahoshua ha
MaShiach.
“But death reigned from Aḏam until Mosheh, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Aḏam, who is a type of Him who was to come.”
“But death reigned from Aḏam until Mosheh, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Aḏam, who is a type of Him who was to come.”
Rav
Shaul is telling us, if we carefully look at the first Adam we should be able
to see Yahoshua at His first coming, (remez or prophetic level of
understanding), Yahoshua at His second coming, (drash or hidden level of understanding),
and the Doctrine of Yahoshua, (sod or spiritual level of understanding).
In
Bereshith we read that Yahweh Elohim put the first Adam to sleep, opened up his
side, and took out his rib, for the purpose of giving him, his wife Eve,
(pashat or literal level of understanding).
John
19:33-37 records the last Adam, Yahoshua, was also put to sleep and His side
was also opened, (remez or prophetic level).
“but when they came to יהושע
and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. v.34 But one of the soldiers pierced His
side with a spear, and instantly blood and water came out. v.35 And he
who has seen has witnessed, and his witness is true. And he knows that he is
speaking the truth, in order that you might believe. v.36 For this took place
in order for the Scripture to be filled: “Not one of His bones shall be
broken.” v.37 And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom
they pierced.”
Rav
Shaul tells us in Ephesians the last Adam also received a wife when his side
was opened.
v.31 “For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” v.32 This secret is great, but I speak concerning Messiah and the assembly.” ~ Ephesians 5:31-32
v.31 “For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” v.32 This secret is great, but I speak concerning Messiah and the assembly.” ~ Ephesians 5:31-32
In
the first picture Adam and Eve were raised to life and came together as husband
and wife at the very end of the sixth day.
Bereshith 3:8 tells us that Yahweh Elohim would come to the garden to
walk with Adam and Eve in the cool of the day, which is a Hebrew euphemism for
the evening period when the sun is beginning to set. The first time Adam and Eve would have walked
with Yahweh Elohim, in the garden, would have been as the sun was setting at
the beginning of the seventh day (the Sabbath).
This was the first honey-moon.
In
1Corinthians 15:12-28 & 45-52 Rav Shaul tells us the last Adam’s (Yahoshua’s)
wife will be united with Him in consummation at the resurrection, (drash or
hidden level of understanding). This
will occur at the very end of the sixth, thousand year, day since the fall of
man / Adam, not from the time of the original creation.
But,
beloved ones, let not this one matter be hidden from you: that with יהוה one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years
as one day. 2Kepha
3:8
We
will then reign with Him as kings and priests for a thousand years. This will be the seventh, thousand year, day
since the fall of the first Adam. This
will be the bride’s honey-moon period with Yahoshua, (drash / hidden level of
understanding).
Revelation
20:6 “Blessed and set-apart is the one having part in the first resurrection.
The second death possesses no authority over these, but they shall be priests
of Elohim and of Messiah, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.”
Yahweh
told Mosheh, (Moses), a man should do nothing but cheer up his wife for the
first year of their marriage union.
“When
a man has taken a new wife, let him not go out into the army nor let any matter
be imposed upon him. He
shall be exempt one year for the sake of his home, to rejoice with his wife
whom he has taken.” Debarim 24:5 ~ (Pashat / Literal Understanding)
This
same Mosheh tells us Yahweh Elohim will rise up another Prophet (Yahoshua) of
whom Mosheh is a type and shadow picture, (remez / prophetic and drash /
hidden).
“יהוה your Elohim shall raise up for you a Prophet like me from your
midst, from your brothers. Listen to Him,” Debarim 18:5
At the time of the rebellion of Yisrael
Yahweh told Mosheh the prophet that one day would equal a year and vice
versa. (Bemidbar / Numbers 14:34 &
Ibrim / Hebrews 4:12)
With this understanding the one year
honey-moon period could also equal one day by the Word of Yahoshua the Prophet
and He already told us that with Him, and no other, one day can equal one
thousand years. The Millennial reign of
Yahoshua will in fact be the greatest honey-moon in all of history, (remez /
hidden level of understanding)!
Was Adam created for Eve or was Eve created for
Adam?
Or
put another way, is Yahoshua (the last Adam) for the redeemed saints of Elohim
or are the redeemed saints of Elohim for ha Ma Shiach?
I
learned a long time ago if you ask the right question then you will find the
right answer. The answer always lies in
the framing of the right question. When
it comes to “The Scriptures” the right question can only come by the
inspiration of Ruach ha Chodesh.
What
good work did Eve do to deserve her husband Adam?
What
good work did you or I do to deserve the Master Yahoshua ha MaShiach?
Just
in case you think there is anything about you or I that merits the favor of
Yahweh I would like to encourage you to carefully / prayerfully consider the
following “Scriptures”.
Bereshith
6:5 “And יהוה saw that the wickedness of man was great in the
earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil
continually.”
Yirmeyahu
/ Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is crooked above all, and desperately sick – who
shall know it?”
Mismore
/ Psalm 14:2-3 “ יהוה looked
down from the heavens on the sons of mankind, To see if there is a wise one,
seeking יהוה. v.3 They have all turned aside, They have together
become filthy; No one is doing good, not even one.”
Romans
3:10-18 & 23 “As it has been written, “There is none righteous, no, not
one! v.11 “There is no one who is understanding, there is none who is seeking
Elohim. v.12 “They all have turned aside, they have together become worthless.
There is none who does good, no, not one.” v.13 “Their throat is an open tomb,
with their tongues they have deceived,” “The poison of adders is under their
lips,” v.14 “Whose mouth is filled with cursing and bitterness.” v.15 “Their
feet are swift to shed blood, v.16 ruin and wretchedness are in their ways, v.17
and the way of peace they have not known.” v.18 “There is no fear of Elohim
before their eyes.””
v.23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the
esteem of Elohim.”
A HEBREW WEDDING
PICTURE
To
better understand Yahweh’s unconditional grace to the elect let us examine the
illustration of a pre-arranged marriage by the decree and seal of the bride’s
father.
In
early Hebrew customs the parents of the bride and groom would pre-arrange
marriage for their children, many times from an early age. (Bereshith / Genesis
24) At the appointed time they would be
betrothed to one another in a formal ceremony.
Legally, they would become husband and wife in every way except for
consummation. (Yahoshua’s parents Yoseph and Mariam were betrothed in this
exact way. ~ Mattithyahu / Matthew
1:18-25) At the betrothal a pre-agreed
contract would be signed by all parties and the father of the groom would
decree the marriage to be pleasing in his sight and legally binding by affixing
his signature / seal. Both the bride and
the groom would receive their own copy of this official contract, called a
Ketubah in Hebrew.
In
addition, the groom would pay the bridal price agreed to and give the bride a
token of his affection. At this time the
husband and wife would go their separate ways for a year to two years. The husband would go to build a home for his
bride, (usually as an addition to his father’s house), and to build up his
business, and the bride would go to prepare herself to make a home for her
husband with the help of her girl friends, sisters, and mother.
Finally,
at the time the father of the groom thought all was sufficiently prepared he
would tell his son to fetch his bride and bring her to him for a glorious seven
day wedding feast and celebration. The
honey-moon would last for one year. (Debarim
/ Deuteronomy 24:5)
All
of this is an ancient picture that points to Yahoshua and His bride, Yisrael / “the
church ”. We have been betrothed to Him
by the set-apart Spirit and we have received the set-apart Spirit as a deposit.
(2Timothy 1:14) The bridal price of 30 pieces of silver was paid for Yahoshua
so He could purchase us with His own blood. (Way yiqra / Leviticus 27:4,
Mattithyahu / Matthew 27:3-9) We were
given our copy of the contract, written in stone, and also on our hearts,
sealed by Yahoshua’s Father at Mt. Sinai, in the fourth commandment. and also
we were given the seal of the set-apart Spirit sealed on our hearts at Mt.
Zion. (Shemoth / Exodus 31:18 & Ibrim / Hebrews 8:10; Shemoth 20:8-11; Ephesians
1:13 & 2Timothy 2:19) The entire
Word of Elohim is our covenantal contract today, our Ketubah, which He has
written on our hearts!
Yahoshua
has gone away for almost 2,000 years to prepare a place for His bride in His
Father’s house. (Yahonan / John 14:2-3)
The bride is preparing herself to meet Him in the air at the time the
Father tells Yahoshua to go get His bride. (1Corinthians 15:50-52 &
1Thessalonians 4:13-17) We are then going to celebrate the marriage supper of
the Lamb and honey-moon with our Messiah for 1,000 years, on the seventh 1,000
year day with Him. (Revelation 19:9 & 20:6)
Now
I ask you again in either the ancient Hebrew wedding picture or in the fulfillment
of the picture, in Yahoshua ha MaShiach, what did the bride do to deserve a
groom?
(For
those who are interested, here is the link to a very good teaching on this subject
of, Yahoshua in the Hebrew wedding feast.
As always, chew the meat and spit the bones!)
http://www.rebeccaatthewell.org/youtube.html
Lest
there be any lingering doubt in your mind who chose who, please prayerfully
consider the following passages from “The Scriptures”.
Romans
8:29-30 “Because those whom He knew beforehand, He also ordained beforehand to be conformed to the
likeness of His Son, for Him to be the first-born among many brothers.
v.30 And whom He ordained beforehand, these He also called, and whom He called,
these He also declared right. And whom He declared right, these He also
esteemed.”
Ephesians
1:4-6 “Even as He chose us
in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be set-apart
and blameless before Him in love, v.5 having previously ordained us to adoption as sons
through יהושע Messiah to Himself, according to the good pleasure of
His desire, v.6 to the praise of the esteem of His favour with which He
favoured us in the Beloved.”
&
11-12 “In whom also we did obtain an inheritance, being previously ordained according to the purpose
of Him working all matters according to the counsel of His desire, v.12
for us to be the praise of His esteem – those having first trusted in Messiah.”
2Thessalonians 2:13 “But we ought to give thanks to
Elohim always for you, brothers, beloved by the Master, because Elohim from the beginning chose
you to be saved – in set-apartness of Spirit, and belief in the truth.”
Yahonan
6:37 “All that the Father
gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I shall by no
means cast out.”
&44
“No one is able to come to
Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him. And I shall raise him up in
the last day.”
Mattithyahu
11:25-27 “At that time יהושע
responding, said, “I thank You, Father, Master of the heavens and earth,
because You have hidden
these matters from clever and learned ones and have revealed them to
babes.1 (Footnote: 1Luke 10:21.) v.26 “Yea,
Father, because so it was well-pleasing in Your sight. v.27 “All have been
handed over to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor
does anyone know the Father except the Son, and he to whom the Son wishes to
reveal Him.”
Ephesians
2:1-9 “And you were dead in trespasses and sins, v.2 in which you once walked
according to the course of this world, according to the ruler of the authority
of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience, v.3
among whom also we all once lived in the lusts of our flesh, doing the desires
of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, as also the
rest. v.4 But Elohim, who
is rich in compassion, because of His great love with which He loved us, v.5
even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Messiah – by
favour you have been saved – v.6 and raised us up together, and made us
sit together in the heavenlies in Messiah יהושע, v.7 in order to show in the
coming ages the exceeding riches of His favour in kindness toward us in Messiah
יהושע. v.8 For by favour you have been saved, through belief, and
that not of yourselves, it is the gift of Elohim, v.9 it is not by works, so
that no one should boast.”
Is Elohim’s
Favor Evil?
Suppose
I randomly gave 1 million dollars to 10 people out of a crowd of a 1,000. Two questions would automatically come to
mind to the 990 who did not receive the 1 million. The first question would be, why did those ten
people receive a million dollars? The
second question would be, where is my million dollars? Most of the crowd would condemn me for my
generosity to the 10 because I was not equally generous to everyone.
However,
in the eyes of the ten recipients of my favor I would be considered most worthy
of all their praise, honor and esteem.
This is exactly how the favor of Yahweh is depicted in the Scriptural
teaching of Rav Shaul.
Romans
9:18-23 v.18 “So, then, He
favours whom He wishes, and He hardens whom He wishes.
v.19
Then you shall say to me, “Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted
His counsel?” v.20 But who are you, O man, to talk back to Elohim? Shall that
which is formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?”
v.21 Does not the potter have authority over the clay, from the same lump to
make one vessel for value and another not for value? v.22 And if Elohim,
desiring to show wrath, and to make His power known, with much patience
tolerated the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, v.23 and that He might
make known the riches of His esteem on vessels of compassion, which He had
prepared beforehand for esteem,”
I
remember when I was first converted, at five years old. Ruach ha Chodesh (the set-apart Spirit)
revealed to me my desperate need for salvation, gave me the desire to yield to
His leading and then gave me the will to surrender fully unto Him. Afterward, He filled me with Himself and gave
me the unspeakable joy of Heaven. Anyone
who is willing to be completely, intellectually honest will have to admit the
finished work of the cross is 100% the work of Heaven and will tolerate no
interference from man.
What is Sanctification?
Justification
and sanctification are as about as different as day and night. However, both day and night are required to
make one, (Hebrew 259, Strong’s Concordance ~ 'echâd),
day!!!
Bereshith 1:5 “And Elohim called the light ‘day’ and
the darkness He called ‘night.’ And there came to be evening and there came to be morning, the first
(echad) day.”
This
is the Hebrew concept known as compound unity.
We see this concept developed further in the relationship between the
first man and the first woman.
Bereshith
2:24 “For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and cleave to his
wife, and they shall
become one (echad) flesh.”
It
is very interesting to note this is exactly how Yahweh Elohim describes himself
in “The Shema”, as first recorded in Debarim 6:4-9.
Deuteronomy
/ Debarim 6:4 “Hear,
O Yisra’ĕl: יהוה our Elohim, יהוה is one
(echad)!”
And this same oneness (echad) is exactly what Yahoshua
prays for us to know as His chosen people in Yahonan 17:20-23.
“And
I do not pray for these alone, but also for those believing in Me through their
word,
v.21
so that they all might be
one (echad) , as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, so that they too
might be one (echad) in Us, so that the world might believe that You have sent
Me. v.22 “And the esteem which You gave Me I have given them, so that they might be one (echad) as
We are one (echad), v.23 “I in them, and You in Me, so that they might be
perfected into one (echad), so that the world knows that You have sent
Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.”
The idea of multiple parts making one whole was / is
Yahweh Elohim’s idea from the very beginning.
Whereas most believers are familiar with the Roman Catholic / Pagan
concept of trinity they do not realize this is simply a very clever counterfeit
of “The Scriptural” understanding of compound unity.
The
first time we see the picture of set apartness is once again, “In the
beginning.” Adam was wholly set apart unto
Ḥawwah / Eve as her husband and Ḥawwah
was wholly
set apart as Adam’s wife. They were mutually
and exclusively set apart to the other.
It is from this picture that the apostle Kepha speaks to us from across
the ages.
“Instead,
as the One who called you
is set-apart, so you also should become set-apart in all behaviour, v.16
because it has been written, “Be set-apart, for I am set-apart.”” 1Kepha / Peter 1:15-16
The
apostle Shaul / Paul is also drawing from the picture of marriage when he speaks
to us via his letter to Rome.
Romans
10:9 “That if you confess
with your mouth the Master יהושע and believe in
your heart that Elohim has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.”
The word translated as confess is actually from a Greek
compound word that means covenant as in a marriage covenant!!!
homologeō
~ pronounced ~ hom-ol-og-eh'-o
From
a compound of the base of G3674 and G3056; to assent, that
is, covenant, acknowledge:
- con- (pro-) fess, confession is made, give thanks, promise.
When
an individual enters into set-apart matrimony he, or she, vows to hold onto
that one person, to the exclusion of everyone else in the world, no matter what
the circumstances of life may be. This
is exactly what we do when we convert and follow Yahoshua the Messiah. We commit our life to Him to the exclusion of
everyone and everything else in the world.
He did the same for us when He died for us almost two thousand years
ago. In the light of this understanding,
set apartness could also just as readily be defined as wholly-ness!
Should
anyone doubt the picture of sanctification is found with all clarity in the
marriage
covenant,
Rav Shaul continues to teach from this very picture in his letter to the
Ephesians.
Ephesians
5:22-33 “Wives, subject
yourselves to your own husbands, as to the Master. v.23 Because the
husband is head of the wife, as also the Messiah is head of the assembly, and
He is Saviour of the body. v.24 But as the assembly is subject to Messiah, so also let the wives be to
their own husbands in every respect. v.25 Husbands, love your wives, as Messiah also did love the
assembly and gave Himself for it, v.26 in order to set it apart and
cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word, v.27 in order to present it
to Himself a splendid assembly, not having spot or wrinkle or any of this sort,
but that it might be set-apart and blameless. v.28 In this way husbands ought
to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves
himself. v.29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but feeds and cherishes it,
as also the Master does the assembly. v.30 Because we are members of His body, of His flesh and of
His bones. v.31 “For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother and be
joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” v.32 This secret is
great, but I speak concerning Messiah and the assembly. v.33 However,
you too, everyone, let each one love his own wife as himself, and let the wife
see that she fears her husband.”
According
to Shaul every time we see two people abiding in the covenant of marriage we
should witness these two things, a) the husband loving his wife, exclusively,
laying down his own life to provide for her and protect her, even as Yahoshua
did for us and b) the wife reverencing / respecting her husband, even as we are
supposed to reverence Yahoshua and His Word.
The
primary purpose of this study is not really about the physical marital
relationship. This is a subject
sufficiently covered by many others, however, I did want to share these words
of encouragement as an additional bonus.
1Kepha
/ Peter 3:1-7 “In the same
way, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that if any are
disobedient to the Word, they, without a word, might be won by the behaviour of
their wives, v.2 having seen your blameless behaviour in fear. v.3 Your
adornment should not be outward – arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting
on dresses – v.4 but the hidden Man of the heart, with the incorruptible
ornament of a meek and peaceable spirit, which is of great value before Elohim.
v.5 For in this way, in former times, the set-apart women who trusted in Elohim
also adorned themselves, being subject to their own husbands, v.6 as Sarah
obeyed Aḇraham, calling him master, of
whom you became children, doing good, and not frightened by any fear. v.7 In
the same way, husbands, live understandingly together, giving respect to the
wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the favour of
life, so that your prayers are not hindered.
As
husbands we are called to honor our wives and be understanding / compassionate
towards them or Heaven will not answer us when we pray. I do not know about any other man, but I for
one do not want my prayers to be hindered because I was not acting
compassionately toward my wife. Yahweh
Elohim established the husband as the master of his house. (1Corinthians
11:3) However, it is quite evident,
the expectation is for him to rule in kindness and with love, never in cruelty
or abusively.
Now
I know most wives do not want to hear what I am going to say next, according to
“The Scripture” you are to subject yourself to your husband as your
master. Your behavior toward him is to
be one of absolute respect and not one of disputation and argumentative. As long as he is not requiring you to disobey
Yahweh Elohim, according to His Word, you must obey His established
authority.
How
we conduct ourselves in our new life as believers in Messiah testifies to our
understanding or lack of understanding
of our call to live set apart unto Him.
2Corinthians
5:15 “And He died for all, that
those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who
died for them, and was raised.”
When
we get married we abandon the life we knew previously in exchange for a new
life with our spouse. If someone claimed
to be married, but they never made love to their spouse, lived in a completely
separate home, had completely separate friends, and a completely separate life,
would that be a marriage? No! That would not be a marriage. That would be a fraud! In the exact same way, if we claim to be a
believer in Yahoshua ha MaShiach and nothing ever changes in our lives, how can
we claim to belong to Him?
It
is astounding to me how many people claim to be “Christians” and yet there is
no discernible difference in their lives vs. those who are not
“Christians”. Steven Curtis Chapman
wrote a hit song years ago called “The Change”.
The lyrics are brilliant as they describe the complete disconnect in the
western “church” about the difference between saying you’re a “Christian” and
living the life, as exemplified by Yahoshua and His apostles. Here are the lyrics to the first verse and
chorus.
“Well
I got myself a T-shirt that says what I believe
I got letters on my bracelet to serve as my ID
I got the necklace and the key chain
And almost everything a good Christian needs, yeah
I got the little Bible magnets on my refrigerator door
And a welcome mat to bless you
before you walk across my floor
I got a Jesus bumper sticker
And the outline of a fish stuck on my car
And even though this stuff's all well and good, yeah
I cannot help but ask myself ...
I got letters on my bracelet to serve as my ID
I got the necklace and the key chain
And almost everything a good Christian needs, yeah
I got the little Bible magnets on my refrigerator door
And a welcome mat to bless you
before you walk across my floor
I got a Jesus bumper sticker
And the outline of a fish stuck on my car
And even though this stuff's all well and good, yeah
I cannot help but ask myself ...
What
about the change
What about the difference
What about the grace
What about forgiveness
What about a life that's showing
I'm undergoing the change, yeah
I'm undergoing the change”
What about the difference
What about the grace
What about forgiveness
What about a life that's showing
I'm undergoing the change, yeah
I'm undergoing the change”
“The
Change”, Steven sings about and all the NT authors write about is our call to
sanctification! Our call to be wholly
set apart unto Yahoshua ha MaShiach according to His Word!
Ephesians
2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Messiah יהושע unto good works, which Elohim prepared beforehand that we should walk in
them.”
Make
no mistake about it we were saved by grace through faith so that we could do
the good works we have been called to do. (Ya ‘acob / James 2:17-18) It is true we are all called to a specific call
according to the gifts Ruach ha Chodesh (the set-apart Spirit) has ministered
to each one of us (1Corinthians 12), but in order to walk according to His
Spirit and in Truth, we must first abide in His Word. (Yahonan 8:31-32) “The Scriptures” from the beginning until the
end tell us what we are supposed to do and even what we are not supposed to do
as believers in the Messiah, Yahoshua.
(For
a more comprehensive look at what is required of each of us as converted
followers of our Messiah please see the blog, “YOUR TALK, TALKS AND YOUR WALK
TALKS. DOES YOUR WALK-TALK THE SAME AS YOUR TALK-TALKS?”)
http://robertarthurmcduffie.blogspot.com/2011/12/your-talk-talks-and-your-walk-talks.html
In
the bonds of marital relations we are constantly growing, especially in the
early years, in the knowledge of our spouse.
We learn more detail about their past, and their particular likes and
their dislikes. In addition, we learn
just how selfish we really are and how we must grow in personal favor toward
one another in order to have a harmonious home.
In the exact same way Kepha’s last words to us are for us to grow in the
knowledge of our Master Yahoshua and our favor found in Him and in favor toward
one another.
2Kepha
3:18 “But grow in the
favour and knowledge of our Master and Saviour יהושע
Messiah. To Him be the esteem both now and to a day that abides.”
Amĕn.
The bottom line is we do not have to guess what the
preferences of our Master and Groom are as He has already told us what is
pleasing to Him and how to live the set apart life unto Him.
1Yahonan
2:3-6 “And by this we know that we know Him, if we guard His commands. v.4 The one who says, “I know Him,”
and does not guard His commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. v.5
But whoever guards His Word, truly the love of Elohim has been perfected in
him. By this we know that we are in Him. v.6 The one who says he stays in Him
ought himself also to walk, even as He walked.”
&
5:2-3 “By this we know that we love the children of Elohim, when we love Elohim
and guard His commands. v.3
For this is the love for Elohim, that we guard His commands, and His commands
are not heavy.”
Perfect
love for our Heavenly groom is demonstrated by our obedience to His commands,
with a heart of faith.
Q.
Where do we find His commands, which we are to obey?
A.
The whole counsel of “The Scriptures”, from Bereshith – Revelation, the
foundation of which is His Torah, “The Instructions”.
What is Glorification?
Glorification
will be the sum total of our justification and our sanctification.
Justification
+ Sanctification = Glorification!
The
day is soon coming when we are going to meet our Messiah in the air and we will
be transformed in His presence and changed into His likeness. Many have come to know and refer to this
event as “the rapture” of the saints. I
think this is a very appropriate term as all the saints who will soon be raptured
will also be enraptured in the presence of their Heavenly Groom.
1Corinthians
15:42-55 “So also is the
resurrection of the dead: it is sown in corruption, it is raised in
incorruption; v.43 it is sown in disrespect, it is raised in esteem; it is sown
in weakness, it is raised in power; v.44 it is sown a natural body, it is
raised a spiritual body; there is a natural body, and there is a spiritual
body. v.45 And so it has been written, “The first man Aḏam became a living being,” the last Aḏam a
life-giving Spirit. v.46 The spiritual, however, was not first, but the
natural, and afterward the spiritual. v.47 The first man was of the earth,
earthy; the second Man is the Master from heaven. v.48 As is the earthy, so
also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who
are heavenly. v.49 And
as we have borne the likeness of the earthy, we shall also bear the likeness of
the heavenly. v.50 And this I say, brothers, that flesh and blood is
unable to inherit the reign of Elohim, neither does corruption inherit
incorruption. v.51 See,
I speak a secret to you: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, v.52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For
the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we
shall be changed. v.53 For this corruptible has to put on
incorruption, and this mortal to put on immortality. v.54 And when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal
has put on immortality, then shall come to be the
word that has been written, “Death is swallowed up in overcoming.” v.55 “O Death, where is your sting? O grave, where is
your overcoming?””
For
the saints of Elohim, the anticipation of the rapture / resurrection is not
unlike the engaged groom and bride who live a great distance apart during their
courtship / betrothal and are eagerly yearning for the day they will no longer
live apart. When we are living the set apart life, by the power of Ruach ha
Chodesh, with all our being we will say, along with King David,
“Whom do I have in the heavens? And I have
desired no one besides You on earth.” Mismore / Psalm 73:25
When
we become one (echad) with our Heavenly Groom, as we enter into His Millennial
Kingdom we will say,
“You
show me the path of life; In Your presence is joy to satisfaction; At Your
right hand are pleasures forever.” Mismore 16:11
Even
as newlywed honeymooner’s we will soon begin to experience unparalleled
intimacy. Our joy and rejoicing will be
effortless and will never end. This is
the glorious fellowship we desire with Him and with one another.
1Yahonan
1:3-4 “We announce to you what we have seen and heard, so that you too might
have fellowship with us. And truly
our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son יהושע Messiah. v.4 And we write this to
you in order that your joy might be complete.”
It
is most incredibly tragic that most of “Christianity” will miss out on this
esteem and the blessed hope of the saints (Titus 2:13) will never be realized
for them. The Messiah will say to the
majority of “Christendom”, “I never knew you, depart from Me, you who work
lawlessness!”
Mattithyahu
7:21-23 ““Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Master, Master,’ shall enter into the
reign of the heavens, but he who is doing the desire of My Father in the
heavens. v.22 “Many shall say to Me in that day, ‘Master, Master, have we not
prophesied in Your Name, and cast out demons in Your Name, and done many mighty
works in Your Name?’ v.23 “And then I shall declare to them, ‘I never knew you,
depart from Me, you who work lawlessness, (literally, Torahlessness)!’”
Yahoshua
is the Savior of the world. This is an
undisputable fact of “The Scriptures” and of history. But, if you will take careful note, this is
not the issue at hand!!! The issue at
hand is sanctification, not justification!
In other words they call Him Master / Husband, but never cared to honor
Him as their husband, by doing what He commanded them to do.
If
you claim to be justified by His favor, but have never been sanctified by His
favor, then you have never known His grace!
His grace is the empowerment to live our lives sanctified unto Him. Why in the world would Yahoshua want to take
a bride for Himself who is not interested at in pleasing Him according to His
desire? From the very beginning of His
ministry on Earth He made it perfectly clear that He did not come to do away
with His Torah (Instructions) for His bride.
Mattithyahu
5:18 “For truly, I say to you, till the heaven and the earth pass away, one jot
or one tittle shall by no means pass from the Torah till all be done.”1
Footnote: 1Luke 16:17.
Q.
Has Heaven and Earth passed away?
A.
No, not even to the most casual observer!
Q.
Has all of “The Torah” been fulfilled?
A.
No! No, it has not! Only one half of the
Feasts of Yahweh have been fulfilled, the spring feasts! The fall feasts of Yahweh have yet to be
fulfilled at Yahoshua’s second coming.
This is why Shaul says the Feasts of Yahweh are a shadow of good things
to come! (Col. 2:16-17) Notice He does not
say good things that are already!
Consider,
Abraham was called a friend of the almighty Elohim!
Ya ‘acob 2:21-23 Was not Aḇraham our father declared
right by works when he offered Yitsḥaq his son on the altar? v.22 Do you see that the belief was working
with his works, and by the works the belief was perfected? v.23 And the
Scripture was filled which says, “Aḇraham believed Elohim, and it was reckoned
to him for righteousness.” And he was called, “Elohim’s friend.”
Q.
Why was Abraham called the friend of Yahweh Elohim?
A.
Because He obeyed Yahweh Elohim out of a heart of faith toward Yahweh!
Bereshith 26:5 “because Aḇraham obeyed My voice and guarded My Charge: My commands, My laws, and My Torot1.” (Footnote: 1Torot - plural of Torah, teaching.)
Bereshith 26:5 “because Aḇraham obeyed My voice and guarded My Charge: My commands, My laws, and My Torot1.” (Footnote: 1Torot - plural of Torah, teaching.)
We
are also called the friends of Yahweh Elohim if we will obey Him out of a heart
of faith!
Yohanan
15:14 “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you!”
When
a bride and bride groom come together the ancient sages taught the shekinah
presence of Yahweh would then enter into the marriage bed as they became swept
away in the ecstasy of the intimacy of their union. In the exact same way we can expect to know
the esteem and intimacy of union with our Heavenly Groom when we present
ourselves set apart unto Him alone, by favor through faith.
It
is my prayer that we will all submit ourselves unto Him and to His Torah, as
wise stewards, and that it will be said of us,
“Well done, good and trustworthy servant. You were trustworthy over a little, I shall set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.” Mattithyahu 25:23
And
that like Rav Shaul we may honestly say,
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have guarded the belief. v. 8 For the rest, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Master, the righteous Judge, shall give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all those loving His appearing.” 2Timothy 4:7-8
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have guarded the belief. v. 8 For the rest, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Master, the righteous Judge, shall give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all those loving His appearing.” 2Timothy 4:7-8
Shalom,
shalom,
Robert
McDuffie ~ Mismore / Psalm 119:18 & 89
7rapturesrobert@gmail.com
941-227-5433
