Paul is the number one person people quote when talking about Christianity. This is most likely due to the fact that nearly half of the New Testament is attributed to his authorship. Sometimes it would seem as if he, rather than Christ, is the foundation of Christianity. When attempts are made to understand the life of Jesus, His theology and practice are filtered through our perceptions of how Paul taught. For example, most will admit that Jesus was Jewish and that He kept the Torah, but many Christians have been taught, according to the mainstream interpretation of Paul’s doctrine, that He did not intend His disciples to follow His footsteps in this regard, but rather that His ministry initiated a new religion with new rules. Noticing Paul’s massive amount of influence on the Christian religion, some have come to believe that Paul himself started Christianity. Some who have disagreed with the standard doctrine on Paul have gone so far as to completely reject his writings as heretical after mistakenly interpreting a difference between the message Jesus brought and the message Paul brought. It is clear that there is a lot of misconception surrounding Paul that must be cleared up. In this study, we are going to take a closer look at this apostle to learn more about his life and his beliefs. In order to get a good understanding of what Paul taught, we must begin by understanding how Paul thought.

Before we get to Paul, there are a few terms we are going to be using throughout this study which must first be defined. The first is the word Torah. This is a Hebrew word which means “teaching” or “instruction,” but is most often translated as “the Law.” It includes the first five books of the Bible, which contain God’s instructions for His people. The second term we will be using is Yeshua. Yeshua is the Hebrew name which was transliterated through into Greek as Iesous, and transliterated once more into English as Jesus. In Hebrew His name translates to “The Lord’s Salvation.”

Who Was Paul?

Part of the goal of this study is to demonstrate what Paul’s worldview was. Unless we fully comprehend the perspective of Paul, his words will easily be twisted, as was already happening in his own days (2 Peter 3:15-18). Now, time has driven the wedge further still between who Paul said he was and who his accusers said he was (Acts 21:27-28). 

What is a worldview? The word worldview comes from German, where it is a compound of “world” and “view/outlook”. It is a term used to describe a framework of thought which a person holds and which they see the world through. It is more than just a perspective, but would better be described as a foundation of principles on which opinions are formed. All new information we receive is processed through our worldview, and it is our basis for interacting with the world around us. Therefore it is useful not only to understand the worldview of Paul, but also to recognize where our own worldview influences the opinions we form.

An essential aspect of understanding a worldview is examining context. We must look at where a person was raised, what type of education they had, what cultural influences they have been exposed to, and so on. To that end we will be examining Paul according to what we find about him in Scripture, and this will be supplemented by what we know about the religious beliefs of the world in which Paul lived. Paul’s Jewishness is an essential part of his teachings and his worldview, and it does us a great disservice to extract him from this position. 

With that, we are going to start looking at the life of Paul to see who he really was. We first meet Paul in Acts 7. The previous chapter introduces Stephen, a man empowered by the Holy Spirit. Opposition arose as Stephen was doing mighty things through God’s power, much to the irritation of one of the religious groups, called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, or in some translations, Libertines. There are multiple reasons this synagogue could be called by this name. The first is that the founders or a large portion of the congregants were either slaves who had been set free and subsequently converted to Judaism, or the sons of such men. Another option is that these members were not converted, but had been born Jewish and then taken into slavery through Roman conquest, only to be released later. A third explanation is that the word “Libertines” does not refer to a social status, but a place. There is reference to a place called “Libertina” in some early religious documents which place its location in North Africa. Supporting this theory is the fact that some early manuscripts of Acts record “Libyans” instead of “Libertines.”

Acts 6:9 gives us more information about this synagogue: “But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and argued with Stephen.” We see that this is a congregation composed of North Africans (Cyrene is in Libya and Alexandria is in Egypt), and some western Asians (Cilicia is along the coast of Turkey, and what is referred to as Asia in the text is what is today known as Asia Minor). These places were all well-known for their large Jewish populations. Being part of the Roman world, they were also immersed in the Hellenistic culture of the day in one way or another. 

When we speak of Hellenism, we mean the influence of Greek culture upon the cultures of other nations. The word “Hellenism” comes from the Greek word hellas, meaning “Greece.” The ruler Alexander the Great is largely proclaimed to be responsible for this trend which has been extremely influential in shaping today’s world. Alexander was the king of the region of Macedonia in the 300s BC, and his rule was characterized by extensive military campaigns throughout the eastern-Mediterranean and Persia. Today he is known for his great military success and the fact that as he conquered, he brought Greek culture to the defeated lands while for the most part allowing them to keep their own culture. The adoption of Greek culture and its mingling with the cultures of the conquered nations is what defines the Hellenistic period. This Hellenization affected the most fundamental parts of daily life: religion, philosophy, art, literature, and entertainment.  

As Rome began to grow, the territories previously influenced by the Greeks began to slowly be adopted into their empire. The Romans themselves had been greatly influenced by the Hellenists, not because the Greeks had forced anything upon them, but because they held a deep respect and appreciation for Greek cultural and academic accomplishments. As Rome expanded into areas untouched by Alexander the Great, they continued his vision which had become one with their own.

The Jewish people did not survive this conquest completely untouched by these influences. The mark of one who followed God was that he meditated on His Word at all times (Joshua 1:8, Psalm 1:2). But Hellenism offered an alternative to this, bringing a huge amount of social pressure to sink into secular pursuits of philosophy and entertainment. In reaction to this, there was an attempt to return to traditional religious values, and the Jewish council at some times banned the reading or speaking of the Greek language altogether. Not all aspects of Greek culture were idolatrous on the surface, but at its core it was fueled by a desire for earthly pursuits and an idolatrous, polytheistic religious system. While some communities within Judaism did fall victim to the Greek machine, a strong zeal kept this from spreading to the greater practice of the faith. 

We see that the Synagogue of the Freedmen is mainly composed of Jews from areas which were greatly influenced by Hellenism. While this doesn’t mean these individuals supported or engaged in idolatrous practices, at the very least it means that they were familiar with the Greek language and customs. Glancing ahead in Acts, we find that Paul is a member of this synagogue (Acts 7:58). Several times, Paul is referred to as being from Tarsus (Acts 21:39, 22:3), which was the capital of the region of Cilicia, and was a major port city and center of trade. It was also an educational hub and center of learning after becoming part of the Roman Empire in the 60s BC. Tarsus was designated as a “free city,” which meant it was a self-governing city within the Roman empire, able to create its own laws and taxes. 

Not much is known of Paul’s upbringing, but what we do know comes from his own mouth. We are briefly going to look in Philippians 3:4-5, where we will return later on in more depth. For now, we want to focus only on what Paul says about himself and what we can discover about his upbringing and identity. 

The first point he mentions is that he was “circumcised the eighth day,” This indicates that not only was he Jewish, but he was born as such. When God introduced His covenant with Abraham, he explicitly mentioned that any sons were to be circumcised on the eighth day as a sign of the covenant (Genesis 17:9-14). 

The next thing he mentions is that he is “of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin.” This shows that his parents were not proselytes either, but were Israelites themselves, and not only Israelites, but of the tribe of Benjamin. This tribe had given Israel their first king, who Saul may have been named after (1 Samuel 9:21). Although it was the smallest of the tribes, it along with Judah remained faithful to the house of David when the other ten tribes broke away.

Paul continues to title himself “a Hebrew of Hebrews.” This is a summary of all of the above and an assertion that he was a Hebrew who lived and believed like a Hebrew. It could also possibly be a statement meaning he and his family did not succumb to the Hellenistic influences which surrounded him, but rather remained true to their Jewish heritage. While Paul may not have allowed his religious views to be influenced by Greek culture, it is clear he used it as an evangelical vehicle. For instance, the manuscripts we have of Paul’s writings are in Greek. This makes sense, because he was writing mainly to Gentiles outside of the land of Israel who would not likely understand the Hebrew or Aramaic language. In several places, Paul quotes Scripture from the Septuagint. The word “Septuagint” comes from the Latin word septuaginta which means “seventy.” You may also see it abbreviated as LXX, which is the number 70 expressed in Roman numerals. The Septuagint is a Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament which was produced in Alexandria so that the Jews spread around the world who did not speak Hebrew could still read and live according to the Torah. Its name is derived from the tradition that 70 (or alternatively, 72) scholars worked on translating the Hebrew into the Greek form. Despite living in the Hellenistic atmosphere, Paul affirms that he did not compromise his Hebrew culture at any point, but that he is in fact more Hebrew than the others who claim to be so, but are not. 

The next line we will examine is “as to the Torah, a Pharisee.” Although Paul was born in Tarsus, he got his education about the Torah in Jerusalem: “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated under Gamaliel, strictly according to the Torah of our fathers, being zealous for God just as you all are today” (Acts 22:3). 

Who was Gamaliel, and why does Paul bring up here the fact that he was educated under this man? We see one other reference to him in Scripture. Peter and the apostles had been preaching in the Temple, and the Sanhedrin was trying to decide how to dissuade them.

But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the Torah, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men… In the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” (Acts 5:34-35, 38-39)

Here we see Gamaliel as a voice of mercy. According to Christian tradition, he secretly believed in Yeshua, even achieving the position of sainthood in the Catholic and Orthodox churches. As a leader of the Jewish council, his opinions in general were more lenient in regard to rulings about interpretation of Torah. As the grandson of the famous rabbi Hillel, Gamaliel was well-respected, and he is the first person to be bestowed by the Sanhedrin with the title Rabban, which means “our teacher.” His influence within Judaism is expressed in the traditional words: “Since Rabban Gamaliel the Elder died, there has been no more reverence for the law, and purity and piety died out at the same time” (Mishnah Sota 9:15). 

Paul says he was “educated under” Gamaliel. Other translations put it more literally as “educated at the feet of Gamaliel.” This did not mean that Paul listened to Gamaliel teach every once in a while, but that he was his disciple. In first century Judaism, discipleship was the common method of teaching. The job of a disciple was to learn everything about their teacher and become exactly like him so that they could then in turn bring up disciples of their own. They adopted the way that their teacher interpreted the Torah, both written in the books of Moses and oral traditions. 

So if Paul was a disciple of Gamaliel, and disciples were to be like their teacher, then we can reasonably assume that Paul and Gamaliel would share some common beliefs. For starters, we see in Acts 5 that Gamaliel was a Pharisee. Paul, too, proclaims that he is a Pharisee (Acts 23:6). We also learn from this verse that Paul was descended from Pharisees as well, so from an early age he would have been brought up with their teachings.

Pharisees are seen throughout the New Testament, but are often misunderstood by present readers. Divorced from their cultural context, the Pharisees are often seen as the bad guys. It is true that among the Pharisees there were some flawed beliefs, as we see in Yeshua’s condemnation of them. But if we examine the foundations of their faith, we may find that we have more in common with them than has generally been recognized. 

The two largest groups of Jews in the first century were the Pharisees and the Sadducees.  The Sadducees tended to be among the upper class, consisting of wealthy men and priests. Because of their social status, some of them had close political relations with the Romans, and tended to show more regard for secularism/Hellenism than the things of God. As far as doctrine goes, they did not believe in the resurrection of the dead, the afterlife, angels, spirits, or anything like that. Their hyper-literal understanding of the Torah left no room for application in personal life, and thus their popularity faded away with the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD. 

Standing in opposition to them were the Pharisees. The Pharisees were not as financially well-off as the Sadducees, but were still often middle or upper class. The things mentioned above that the Sadducees didn’t believe in were held to be true by the Pharisees. In addition to the written Torah, they believed in an oral Torah, that is, traditions that had been passed down through the centuries by word of mouth, purporting to go all the way back to Moses. They understood the word of God to apply to all areas of life as interpreted by the oral traditions. The Orthodox Judaism of today is the modern descendant of this group. 

In addition to these two groups, there was another: the Essenes. This was a community who separated themselves from Israel, choosing to live near the Dead Sea. It is believed that it was formed by a dissatisfied priest, referred to as the Teacher of Righteousness in their writings, who wanted to separate from the worldliness and leniency of the priesthood and general population. The group was well-known in those days for their devotion to asceticism, communal living, celibacy, and ritual purity. They became well-known in today’s world after the discovery of a cache of religious documents in the caves of Qumran in the 1940s. There are some interesting ideas of theirs which appear to be paralleled in the New Testament writings, although this does not necessarily indicate that the apostles were friendly or theologically aligned with the Essene community in general. Because of the diversity of beliefs within Judaism at that time, an individual or group could easily be influenced by the teachings of another group without completely adhering to the same governing doctrines.

Of these main groups, we see that the beliefs espoused by Yeshua and the apostles aligned more with the Pharisees than with those of the Sadducees or Essenes. Indeed, even in regard to traditions, Yeshua only condemned them when they stood in opposition to a written command (Matthew 15:3, 23:23; Mark 7:13). Yeshua attended meals with Pharisees, meaning he had a somewhat friendly relationship with at least some of them (Luke 7:36, 14:1). While the Sadducees’ teachings were less Scripturally sound (Matthew 22:23, 29), we see that Yeshua condemns the Pharisees more often. Perhaps this is because they were nearer to the truth, and thus more capable of changing their ways (Proverbs 3:12, Psalm 94:12). Despite this, we see that many Pharisees still in the end did not receive Him. 

So did Paul remain a Pharisee? Aside from his verbal testimony to that fact (Acts 23:6), we should be able to see the evidence of it in his writings. In regard to traditions, Paul himself passed on traditions, both orally and in writing, to the assemblies of believers which he wrote epistles to (1 Corinthians 11:2, 2 Thessalonians 2:15), while condemning traditions that were merely made by men (Colossians 2:8). His agreement with the Pharisaic idea of a resurrection and an afterlife are made clear in his writings, and in fact they are at the very center of our faith (1 Corinthians 15:12-18). His belief that the Torah had application for each individual person and for every part of life permeates his teachings (2 Timothy 3:16), and the manner in which he uses Scriptures as proof-texts for his teachings also bears resemblance to the Pharisaic methods of interpreting Scripture, methods he would have learned in Jerusalem under his rabbi.

To summarize, Paul had a lot going for him in regard to the flesh. He was a Pharisee, from the tribe of Benjamin, educated under Gamaliel. He had the benefit of growing up  among the Hellenistic scholars of Tarsus as well as observant Pharisaic parents. He was observant to the Torah and traditions of his fathers, and never saw these things as conflicting with the gospel. 

Saul the Persecutor 

Now that we have a good understanding of Paul’s upbringing, let’s return to the story of Stephen. We see that the members of Paul’s synagogue brought up false accusations against him, saying that he was teaching against the Temple and against the Torah, and so he is brought before the Sanhedrin, who were the judicial council of Jewish religious leaders. In his testimony, Stephen goes on to prove that it was not him who was walking in opposition to the Torah, but all those of the council who had failed to believe in, and paved the way for the death of, Yeshua (Acts 7:51-53). At this, the Sanhedrin is visibly enraged. But Stephen’s next statement is the real turning-point of the trial: “But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Yeshua standing at the right hand of God; and he said, ‘Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God’” (verse 55). The council perceives this as blasphemy, which was a crime punishable by death. From their perspective, Yeshua was a false messiah and Stephen was equating him as equal to God. “When they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him; and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul” (verse 58).

This is our first encounter with Paul, who is introduced to us here as Saul. We will learn more about his names later in the study, but for now let it suffice to say that Saul and Paul are two interchangeable names for this apostle. Acts 8:1 goes on to say of him, “Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death.” While he did not actively participate in hurling stones at Stephen, it is evident that Saul was trusted by the men who did. In our modern terminology, here Saul would be considered an accomplice to the act, as he made no effort to stop the men, and in fact engaged in the stoning by watching over the cloaks of those who killed him. In their perspective, they were doing justly in the sight of God, for He had commanded them to treat blasphemers this way (Leviticus 24:16). Their hearts had been hardened to the truth, and an innocent man paid the price for their rebellion. 

Gamaliel’s merciful opinions do not appear to have taken Saul’s interest, but instead this stoning inspires him to drive out the menace of this group once and for all. We see that the Holy Spirit empowered the disciples to speak with words that were beyond argumentation (Acts 6:10). Since public debate had not put down this movement, the only option left was physical violence: “But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison” (Acts 8:3). 

The term “church” used here and elsewhere in the New Testament may be a misleading translation. Throughout the New Testament, the word ekklesia is translated as “church” in most English versions. However, a more literal term would be “assembly” or “congregation,” as there was no church as we think of it today. Using the word “church” may affect our understanding of these verses improperly, in that our modern understanding of what the church looks like is far removed from what is actually being referred to. In fact, the Greek word ekklesia is used in the Septuagint of the Old Testament to refer to the congregation of Israel when they were assembled before Mt. Sinai. The assembly of believers Paul is persecuting here was variously called the Way (Acts 9:2), the Notzrim/Nazarenes (followers of the Natzer, meaning “the Branch”, Jeremiah 23:5, who was a Nazarene, Acts 6:14), and not until later as Christians (Acts 11:26). Even in the latter case, it was not Christianity as we know it, but in fact it was still a sect within the larger Jewish sphere. It is this fact that gives us the proper perspective for the next appearance of Saul in Acts.

“Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem” (Acts 9:1-2). Notice again the reference to “the Way.” In Acts, this is the formal name used most often in reference to those who believed in Yeshua. There are several important facts here that will put our understanding of the “church” into its proper perspective. First of all, Saul goes to the high priest for permission to find those who belonged to the Way. If this group had been operating outside of the confines of Judaism, then the high priest would not have had any authority over them. Secondly, Saul’s request is for letters which will go out to the synagogue leaders. The group known as the Way had apparently not ceased from attending the main synagogues in their cities, but instead had assimilated in among the other sects of the day in coming together for prayer and Torah study, and undoubtedly to preach the good news that Yeshua is the Messiah. This passage also serves to show that Saul had close ties to the religious leaders of the day; not just anyone could go to the high priest to ask permission to do something such as this.

Saul’s Conversion?

Continuing on, we see that as Saul is on his way to Damascus with these letters from the high priest in hand, he has an experience that changes his life. Most Bibles title this passage, “Saul’s Conversion,” or something similar. This is a misunderstanding, as we will seek to explain. First let’s read the passage:

As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Yeshua whom you are persecuting, but get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do.” (Acts 9:3-6)

The heavenly glory of the Lord leaves Saul blind for three days. God sends a disciple named Ananias to lay his hands on Saul, who was staying at the house of a man named Judas. Not much is said of Ananias other than that he was “devout by the standard of the Torah, and well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there” (Acts 22:12). Understandably, Ananias is leery of going to see this terrible man who has been such a bitter enemy up to this point. But God assures him that it is not a trap and that Saul will “bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel” (Acts 9:15). God also tells Ananias that Saul is praying. From this we learn that Saul was a man of prayer, and we can only imagine the great travail he must have been experiencing. Undoubtedly his thoughts turned to Stephen, and how those words he had spoken before the Sanhedrin were so applicable to him in this hour: “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 

Ananias goes to the house on Straight Street and does as God told him: 

So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Yeshua, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized. (verses 17-18)

Some people mistakenly assume that this experience marked the end of Saul and the beginning of Paul. They think that from this point on, Saul the Pharisee was dead and Paul the Christian was alive and well. At least, that’s what the title “Saul’s Conversion” seems to imply. According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of conversion is “the act or process of changing from one religion, belief, political party, etc., to another.” Reason would follow, then, that Saul converted from Judaism to Christianity. After all, he was even baptized! 

Let’s see what Saul himself has to say about this: “But this I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Torah and that is written in the Prophets” (Acts 24:14). Notice that Saul says they call the Way a sect. Saul considered the way he was walking to not be merely a sect of Judaism, but the true manifestation of it: that is, believing everything in accordance with the Torah and prophets, especially their testimony that Yeshua is the Messiah and the Son of God, which was the crucial piece most Jews were missing. He was not converted from one religion to another, but rather found the religion he was already in was now made complete through Yeshua. Some people also mistakenly assume that God changed Saul’s name to Paul during this experience on the road. This is not seen anywhere in the text, and in fact the name Paul is not used until Acts 13. 

So if Saul wasn’t converted, then what did happen? The fact that Saul didn’t forsake his Judaism on that road in no way diminishes the great importance of this event. Saul undeniably had a life-changing encounter which led him to believe in Yeshua and desist from persecuting the Way.  From that time on, he begins preaching in the synagogues about Yeshua and is filled with the Holy Spirit. Instead of seeking to kill and imprison the congregation of believers, he joins with them in their imprisonment and death. Through all this, he never did abandon his previous beliefs in regard to Judaism. Saul was still Saul of Tarsus, and he still was very much Jewish in every way, shape, and form.

In Acts 9:20 we see Saul still in Damascus proclaiming Yeshua in the synagogues. As the days continue to go by, the Holy Spirit begins to work through him more and more: “But Saul kept increasing in strength and confounding the Jews who lived at Damascus by proving that this Yeshua is the Messiah.” Notice that his argument is still about whether or not Yeshua was truly the Messiah who Israel had been expecting, not about any matter of Torah-observance. It took a vision from heaven to convince Saul of the truth about Yeshua, and although his arguments confounded (i.e. perplexed, amazed) those who heard, his opponents were not easily persuaded. This new sect known as the Way was dangerous in their sight because of just how convincing it was. What they failed to realize was that it was convincing because it was true. Since they could not beat Saul’s arguments through the Spirit, they decide to get rid of him. Saul now gets a taste of what he has been putting the believers through: “When many days had elapsed, the Jews plotted together to do away with him, but their plot became known to Saul. They were also watching the gates day and night so that they might put him to death” (verses 23-24). 

Lowered out of the wall in a basket under cover of darkness, Saul continues to Jerusalem. There, he begins arguing with some Hellenized Jews (verse 29). Perhaps Saul thought he could find some common ground to build off of, since he was familiar with the Greek way of life. This group, however, was apparently just as offended by Saul’s message about Yeshua, and so the assembly of believers makes a way for him to return home to Tarsus for a time. In Saul’s absence, things seem to calm down for them: “So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase” (verse 31). 

After Peter’s vision and the subsequent baptism in the Spirit of Cornelius and the Gentiles who were with him, some of the assembly began to preach to Gentiles: “But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Yeshua” (Acts 11:20). When Barnabas sees this, he heads off to Tarsus to look for Saul. Perhaps he knew that Saul was called to be the apostle to the Gentiles, and so he brings him to Antioch where this phenomenon is taking place. While their ministry is there, many people are brought to belief in Yeshua.

Up until now, we have still seen the Scriptures refer to Paul as Saul: “While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them’” (Acts 13:2). This work begins as they set out for Cyprus, an island in the eastern Mediterranean. When they arrive, they travel around to the synagogues, where they preach the word of God. As they are going around, they encounter a false prophet named Bar-Jesus. We are also told that his name is translated as Elymas. It is interesting to note that just after the two names of Bar-Jesus are introduced, we are told of Saul’s alternate name as well: “But Elymas the magician (for so his name is translated) was opposing them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. But Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fixed his gaze on him” (verses 8-9). 

From this point on, the Scriptures refer to him solely as Paul, except when he is retelling the story of his experience on the road to Damascus. The text here implies that the names were used alternatively, not that his name was changed to Paul. But from where would he get this name?

First, we must realize that this was a time where the Roman Empire had an enormous amount of influence over most of the world around the Mediterranean. As was mentioned earlier, Saul was born in the Roman-controlled city of Tarsus. It is recorded that he was born a citizen (Acts 22:28). Rome wasn’t like America where if you are born here, you are a citizen. Citizenship was a special right that not everyone had. One could gain citizenship by birth if their father was a Roman citizen. So how did Saul’s father gain citizenship? Some methods of gaining citizenship include being freed from slavery, through service in the military or government, bribery, or other means.

Some scholars suggest that Saul belonged to a prominent family in the city who had been gifted citizenship due to their support of Rome. Others point to the fact that a Roman emperor had granted citizenship to the earliest settlers of Tarsus, speculating that his parents or grandparents moved there at that time. Because of the complexity of the issue and the fact that the particulars of Saul’s citizenship are not recorded, the best we can do is speculate. For the purposes of this study, it suffices to say that Saul was most likely given both names at birth in order to easily assimilate into the Jewish and Roman cultures he grew up in. 

What benefit would Saul have received by being a Roman citizen? Some of the rights which belonged to citizens were not things we would consider to be necessarily positive, but they were a sign of status in those days, such as the right to serve in the military or to pay certain taxes. Other rights were of more personal benefit. A Roman citizen could not be given the conventional methods of punishment such as scourging (whipping). They had the right to a trial if they were accused of a crime. If they were found guilty of a crime punishable by death, the method of execution was beheading, as opposed to the excruciating ordeal of crucifixion which was used for non-citizens. 

So why is this the first time we see mention of Saul’s alternate name in Scripture? One likely possibility is that since he was beginning to venture out into preaching to the Gentiles, his Roman name would have come in handy in identifying with those he was reaching out to. Although he and Barnabas were speaking in the synagogues in Cyprus, the encounter here is between them and a proconsul who is stationed on the island. A proconsul was a Roman military leader, but they were also involved in civil affairs. 

An interesting point to consider is that the proconsul’s name was Sergius Paulus (Acts 13:6-7). Paulus is the original Latin form of the anglicized name Paul, and so perhaps this is why the introduction to Saul’s name takes place here. Thinking of it this way, the phrase “Saul, who was also known as Paul,” is simply telling us that the proconsul and Saul share the same name.

What we have seen so far is that Paul is never seen acting in opposition to his Jewish beliefs. His conflicts with some of the Jews are not based on his opinions on Torah, but on the message he brings of Yeshua the Messiah. We have also seen that Saul did not change into Paul, but that the latter name was used more often since his mission was mainly to the Gentiles. There is no mention at all that God suggested any changes of this kind.

False Teachers

We have previously mentioned Philippians 3, but there is more there which we can glean about who Paul was. He starts out with a warning in verse 2: “Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision.” Speaking of dogs, Peter tells us in 2 Peter 2:20-22 that a person who, after leaving the world’s ways and coming to the knowledge of Messiah, then returns to their sinful lifestyle is like a dog who returns to its vomit and a pig that returns to the mud after being washed. This saying comes after Peter is speaking against false teachers, who were trying to lead people away into pursuing the lusts which they had formerly indulged in when they were of the world. 

What is the meaning behind the imagery of the dogs and pigs? These were common ways to refer to Gentiles in those days. We see this in Matthew 7:6 and 15:21-28. The reason Gentiles were treated this way was because of the impurity and idolatry which was present among the nations. The Roman and Greek world was centered on polytheism and the worship of idols. It had transcended religion and become a cultural influence which was imposed upon conquered regions. The Jewish people realized the dangers of allowing close ties between the pagans and their own people, as had in the past so often led them into idolatry. Another reason for this name-calling is that the Jewish people believed that Israel alone was destined for salvation and care by God. There is a tradition that before God gave the Torah, he first offered it to all the other nations, who were unwilling to follow God, so He chose Israel alone to walk in His ways. While it is true that Israel is the possessor of the covenants, the promises, and Yeshua (Romans 9:4-5), we as Gentiles are now able to become adopted into the family of Abraham through faith in Him (Romans 11:17-21). 

This allusion would make sense in the passage in Peter, as he is making the point that one who is not transformed by Yeshua through a complete revocation of the old, idolatrous self will return to their previous sins because they are still unclean in the heart. But what about the passage we mentioned in Philippians? Here Paul is talking about the teachers, not the ones who follow their impure guidance. Another name he gives them is “the false circumcision.” Paul is making the point that simply being Jewish does not equate with righteousness. One can be circumcised outwardly but be a pagan “dog” in the depths of the heart. The Gentiles who sought to be saved through circumcision had not truly changed their ways, but had returned to the works of the flesh. 

Paul continues to pursue this line of criticism against the false teachers. He claims that he has more reason to boast then these other men due to his credentials:

If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Torah, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Torah, found blameless. (Philippians 3:4-6)

Although he has more reason to put confidence in the flesh then the false apostles, he realizes that for him to do so would be in vain:

But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Messiah. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Messiah Yeshua my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Messiah. (verses 7-8)

This is not a forfeiture of his heritage or his values, but rather a declaration that these things which he previously put his faith in are of no importance in gaining justification before God, which is only attainable through faith in Yeshua. It is the same argument we see in Acts 15, which we will examine in depth later on. 

So what does all of this tell us about Paul? He was completely committed to Messiah and not the world. He was not a person who had converted to Judaism, but was a full-blooded Hebrew. He did not believe that his heritage would merit him salvation, but instead he put his faith in Yeshua. He condemned those who put confidence in their Jewish heritage or in ritual conversion to Judaism. He puts no confidence in the flesh even though he might have had more reason than others to do so. Through everything, he remained a practicing Jew with integrity and devotion to his faith and to his God.

As Paul went out to preach the gospel, he experienced the wide range of beliefs present in the world. Among the Jewish people, there were various sects to contend with. Although we often split Judaism of that day down into simply Pharisees and Sadducees, even these groups were divided within themselves. 

Different schools of thought arose on interpretation and application of Torah. These groups would often debate their thoughts on a topic in order to fully flesh out the true meaning of a passage of Scripture. When we see the apostles arguing with the other Jewish groups, they were using this same method of discussion common to that time and place. 

Naturally, Paul, being a devout Jew, believed in the Hebrew scriptures. He learned them as a child and he lived them out in his adult life. He was familiar with the process of argumentation common among the rabbis. But Paul also lived in a culture that was very much Hellenistic. Many Jews were Jewish in name only. They were not devoted Hebrews, but lived like Gentiles, especially in their business dealings, such as we see with the tax collectors in the Gospels (Mark 2:15, Luke 15:1). 

But as we have seen, Paul said that he was a Hebrew of Hebrews, a Pharisee zealous for God. Paul was true to himself. He knew who he was and he knew the Scriptures, and the Scriptures told him that the Gentiles would one day come to salvation along with the Jews. So as Paul headed for the Gentiles, he came with the message that was for the Gentiles and not the Jews. That message was that Gentiles did not have to become Jewish in order to be saved. From our perspective this seems obvious, but in those days it was not understood that way.

Before we go any further, it is important to understand the perspectives on salvation within Judaism. Our understanding of salvation is different from what has been asserted by Judaism throughout the ages. Today we understand salvation, in the context of Christianity, to mean that when we die, we will not be subject to eternal punishment in hell, but will spend eternity in heaven. This opportunity is afforded to anyone who accepts Yeshua and His atoning sacrifice as a free gift. But what would the term “salvation” mean to a Jew?

Examining the Old Testament, we see that there are no explicit descriptions of an afterlife. Since the Sadducees held only a literal understanding of the Bible, they did not believe in an afterlife, so they saw no reason to be saved from anything. The Pharisees, however, saw hints and glimpses in the Scriptures, and understood that death was not the end of individual existence (Proverbs 15:24, Isaiah 26:19, Daniel 12:2). Because of the lack of explanation in the Old Testament, the exact understanding of this afterlife was hazy and open to interpretation. Due to the myriad explanations which have arisen from this vacuum, we will cover only the opinions which are most broadly accepted. 

The afterlife is called Olam HaBa, meaning “the World to Come.” This name is used both in reference to the Messianic Age, which we call the Millennium or the Millennial Reign of Christ, and the eternal afterlife. Some interpret that these times are one and the same, while others separate them, distinguishing between a time after the resurrection of the body with the soul and an eternity where only the soul exists without the physical body. 

We often misunderstand the relationship that exists in Judaism between keeping the commandments and entering eternal life. Jews do not believe that eternal life is earned by keeping the commands perfectly. The majority opinion is summed up in the words of the Talmud: “All Israel have a share in the World to Come.” The merit of salvation is not keeping the commands, but it is because of the covenant God made with Israel, and His grace which He has revealed in the promises He made (Isaiah 45:17, 60:21). Paul himself echoes this fact, expanding Israel to include Gentiles who believe in Yeshua (Romans 11:25-26). Although the belief is that all Israel has a share in the World to Come, the individual’s continued status within the covenant and the greatness of the share they will receive in the World to Come depends on their adherence to the commandments. Those who were more righteous will receive a better reward, and those who were less righteous may have to go through a time of purification similar to Purgatory in Catholicism. 

Just because someone was born into Israel does not mean that they will enter the World to Come, however. Some sins explicitly merit the punishment of being “cut off from Israel,” which is understood as being separated from the blessings of God (Leviticus 18:29, 20:6, Numbers 15:30), including those of the World to Come. 

In Judaism, the motivation for keeping the commands is not supposed to be to gain merit in the eyes of God, but to do the things that He has said are good for His people to do, and they are to be done not because of a desire for eternal reward, but simply because it is their covenant duty and how they show love for God. This is echoed in the Chapters of the Fathers (Pirkei Avot): “Be not like servants who minister unto their master for the sake of receiving a reward, but be like servants who serve their master not upon the condition of receiving a reward; and let the fear of Heaven [God] be upon you.” Yeshua teaches His disciples in a similar fashion in Luke 17:7-9.

So if entrance into the World to Come is understood as being based on the covenant relationship with God and attachment to the blessings which rest upon Israel, then how did Gentiles fit into this? One idea which has been somewhat accepted in Judaism is that those who are Gentiles can not enter eternal life, period. This doesn’t mean they inherit eternal torture, but merely cease to exist after death. As we have brought up earlier, this belief about Gentiles was because there was often a distinct line drawn between Judaism and the rest of the world, who practiced idolatry. In their opinion, the only option for the nations is to go through the ritual conversion process and become Jews. 

The process of conversion was similar to what it is today. The convert-to-be begins by finding a rabbi or teacher to learn the basics of the faith from. They spend time with this spiritual adviser, learning more about practicing Judaism to see if they really want to convert. After a sufficient period of learning, usually at least a year, the next step is to meet with what is called a beit din, which is a group of at least three well-respected members of the community. They will talk with the one who wants to convert to see if they are still willing to go through with the conversion and what their motives and expectations are. It is not something to be taken lightly, as after the conversion the full responsibilities of the covenant will rest upon them. If the meeting goes well, the next step is circumcision. This is the sign of the covenant which God decreed for the people of Israel, so it is necessary for one who wishes to become a Jew. After the circumcision, the only thing left to do is immerse in a mikveh. A mikveh is a ritual immersion pool which contains natural, flowing water. The convert will be completely submerged underwater and rise, as a sign of rebirth and commitment. This is where the concept of Christian baptism originated. To finalize the conversion, the new convert would offer up sacrifices in the Temple. After the destruction of the Temple, sacrifices could no longer be offered up, and so instead the new convert would give to charity or do a particular good deed. After this immersion and sacrifice, the convert is no longer considered a Gentile, but they are now considered a proselyte Jew.

While the idea that no Gentiles can be saved has seen acceptance through the years (most likely including during the time of Yeshua), the majority view today is that those of the nations who act in accordance with righteousness will enter the World to Come. Righteousness for Gentiles in this context means fulfilling the covenant relationship which God established with Noah. Noah existed before the Jewish people, and so the writers of the Talmud say that the covenant God made with Noah is for all of mankind (Genesis 9:9, 18-19). They developed a list of seven rules which go along with this covenant: 1. Do not worship false gods, 2. Do not curse God, 3. Do not murder, 4. Do not commit sexual immorality, 5. Do not steal, 6. Do not eat a live animal, and 

7. Establish courts of justice. The first six laws were derived from various passages in Scripture where God shows certain expectations of mankind in general, and the last is established to uphold the other six. 

Why would a Gentile want to become Jewish? If they recognized that the God of Israel was the one true God, the only way to be accepted by the Jewish community was to become a proselyte. Although the Torah does not teach that this needs to happen, the Jewish people at that time were leery of Gentiles in general and wanted to be sure their desires were genuine. Another motivation may be that under Roman law, Jews were protected from having to participate in the worship of false gods, but Gentiles were not. If they didn’t participate in the pagan rituals of society, they could be punished for atheism. 

So what we have seen is that the concept of salvation in Judaism was somewhat vague: it is more focused on what to do in this life, and leaves the judgment up to God. However, those who have accepted belief in eternal reward and punishment believe it is contingent upon the covenant and the promises that God made with Israel, and therefore in order to share in the blessings of the covenant, a Gentile must convert and become an Israelite. This idea was popular in Yeshua’s day, but afterward Jews became more open and posited that Gentiles could also receive the blessings of the covenant by maintaining the covenant which God made with Noah. 

The Jerusalem Council

The debate over how people were saved affected all of the varied sects and denominations of Judaism, especially the Way. In Acts 15, we find a debate which we have lost perspective on through the years. Unless we understand the worldviews of those who are debating, we cannot truly grasp the meaning of this decision and the implications it had on the early community of believers.

The chapter begins with an introduction to the council of Jerusalem. Some men have been going around saying that the Gentiles who are coming to belief in Yeshua can only be saved by undergoing the ritual conversion to Judaism:

Some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” And when Paul and Barnabas had great dissension and debate with them, the brethren determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders concerning this issue. (verses 1-2)

These men were of the opinion that Gentiles needed to renounce their nationality and become proselyte Jews in order to experience the blessings associated with the covenant. Previously, the Gentiles had not been a big factor, since all of the initial believers in Yeshua were Jewish (Matthew 10:5-6). After it was made clear that Gentiles were part of God’s plan, as evidenced through their reception of the Holy Spirit (Acts 10), and especially as Paul and Barnabas began preaching almost exclusively to the Gentiles, the issue of their place in the community of Israel was one that needed to be carefully thought and prayed about. 

The conversion process, which we introduced earlier, is not found anywhere in the Torah. There is no set of rules for how a Gentile can become Jewish, except as laid out in the oral traditions. The Pharisees believed that the oral traditions which had been passed down from previous generations had originally been taught to Moses on Mt. Sinai by God Himself. This is why the phrase “according to the custom of Moses” is used here in Acts 15, since it was not an issue of the written Torah of Moses, but rather the oral custom of conversion attributed to Moses. 

Instead of including instructions for conversion, the written Torah includes details about how a foreigner who wishes to reside among the Israelites and live among them is supposed to act and be treated (Leviticus 24:22, Numbers 9:14, Deuteronomy 31:11-12). Indeed, a mixed multitude came up out of Egypt among the people of Israel (Exodus 12:38). This group, containing both Jews and people from other nations, ceases to be known as a mixture of nations, but is continuously referred to solely as Israel. Those who had joined themselves to Israel in this way continued to reside among them, even partaking in the covenant at Mt. Sinai. Instead of a formal process of conversion, the Scriptures make it evident that faith in the God of Israel and submission to His will is what links a foreigner to the people of Israel, and that no conversion is required for this status to be achieved (Ruth 1:16, Isaiah 56:6-7). It is important to also note that the foreigner in this position does not become Jewish, but maintains his ethnic status as a “sojourner” even while participating in the covenant with Israel (Exodus 12:19, 20:10; Numbers 15:14-16, Deuteronomy 31:12).

Continuing on in Acts 15, we see that the council comes together to reach a conclusion about how the Gentiles are to be accepted into Israel and therefore receive the blessings associated with the covenant.

And the apostles and the elders came together to look into this matter. And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brethren, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us; and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. Now therefore why do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?” (verses 6-10)

Peter begins to speak, reminding the council that he had been sent to preach to some of the Gentiles. He tells them that God gave the Holy Spirit to the Gentile believers, just as He had done to the Jewish believers previously. If God had shown His acceptance of the Gentiles without them having been converted, then why should they have to be converted to be saved? In giving them the Holy Spirit, God had revealed that the heart of the one receiving had been circumcised. Peter’s argument is that since God had already shown His acceptance of the Gentiles while they were still of the nations by circumcising their hearts and giving them the Holy Spirit, therefore they did not need to be physically converted in order to receive the other gifts of God, most notably salvation. Further basis for this belief lies in the fact that Scriptures speak of Jews and Gentiles worshiping God (Isaiah 2:2-3, Micah 4:2, Acts 15:16-17), therefore it is necessary for Gentiles to retain their national identity even while becoming part of Israel.

From Peter’s words in verse 10 has arisen a stumbling block in Christian interpretation. The traditional understanding is that since Gentile believers are saved and grafted in by faith, we therefore are no longer saved by works and have no need to be under the “yoke” and the “burden” of the Torah. But we have already seen that the predominant view held by the Jews was not that salvation was attained through keeping the Torah, so it wouldn’t make sense for him to be framing it that way. The issue, as is evident in the opening of chapter 15, is whether Gentiles are saved by undergoing ritual conversion to Judaism. Additionally, according to Scripture, the Torah is in fact not a burden (Deuteronomy 30:11-14, James 1:25, 1 John 5:2-3). 

If this is so, then what is the burden that the council and their fathers were not able to bear? We find the answer in the words of Yeshua: 

Then Yeshua spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them. They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger. (Matthew 23:1-4)

These heavy burdens were the contrived oral commandments: not all of them, but the ones which missed the true purpose of the written command (Mark 7:9-12, Luke 11:42). Notice that even though He acknowledges that these oral traditions are burdensome, He does not tell the people to disobey the authority of the religious council, for this would have been against the Torah (Deuteronomy 17:9-11). He also makes reference to the yoke He brought, which is easy to bear (Matthew 11:29-30). If the Gentiles were going to be compelled to be circumcised, they would be placing themselves under the authority of the Sanhedrin, and would need to abide by all of the oral traditions as if they were written commandments except where these traditions contradicted the teachings of Yeshua. 

Yeshua grants His disciples with the power to make legal rulings. This system of ruling was not something new or recently devised. The rabbinic council would frequently meet together to determine a proper halakhah for a commandment. The word halakhah means “the way to walk,” and it is the instructions for how a particular commandment is supposed to be done. Yeshua gives His disciples the legal authority to make these types of rulings within the community of His followers in Matthew 18:18-20: “Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” This terminology, “binding and loosing,” was used by the Pharisees to describe the authority they had to make rulings about commandments. The Jewish Encyclopedia entry on “Binding and Loosing” puts it this way: 

The power of binding and loosing was always claimed by the Pharisees… The various schools had the power “to bind and to loose”; that is, to forbid and to permit; and they could bind any day by declaring it a fast-day. This power and authority, vested in the rabbinical body of each age or in the Sanhedrin, received its ratification and final sanction from the celestial court of justice.

James, the head of the council, had a big decision to make. He makes his ruling on the issue of the Gentiles in Acts 15:19-20: “Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles, but that we write to them that they abstain (1) from things contaminated by idols and (2) from fornication and (3) from what is strangled and (4) from blood.” He did not stop there, but goes on to explain in verse 21, “For Moses from ancient generations has in every city those who preach him, since he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.” During the time of the Jerusalem council, Gentiles still went to the synagogue every Sabbath and worshiped alongside regular Jews who were not believers (Acts 14:1, 18:4). This was the way it was expected to be, and the council did not aim to change that. Their goal was a sustainable relationship between Jewish and Gentile believers. 

We see an example of the different classifications of people within the synagogue in Acts 13. In verse 26 Paul says to those in the synagogue, “Brethren, sons of Abraham’s family, and those among you who fear God, to us the message of this salvation has been sent.” These are three distinct groups of people. “Brethren” would refer to those who were Jewish by birth, like Saul (Romans 9:3). Sons of Abraham were those who had gone through the conversion process to Judaism. The last group is “those who fear God.” The term “God-fearer” in those days was a specific term which meant a Gentile who forsook other gods in order to worship the God of Israel. They would meet in the synagogues with the Jewish people and engaged in some level of Torah-observance, but they did this without converting to Judaism. In most cases, they did this in preparation for conversion, as we discussed previously in regard to the learning period prior to conversion. Then if they did choose to go through the formal conversion process, including circumcision, they were then termed “proselytes” or “sons of Abraham.”

Getting back to the ruling in Jerusalem, we see that this is a short list of rules, and it contains some interesting choices. Why these four in particular? Obviously these were not the only commands that Gentiles were supposed to follow, so what was their purpose? The answer is that James and the Jerusalem council basically advocated observance of the laws that had been given to mankind from the beginning, like what we saw with the Noahide commands. These four commands also had the problem of idolatry in mind: consuming food offered to idols, temple prostitution, and participation in sacrificial rituals that were all associated with paganism. Notice that none of these commands directly come out and forbid idolatry, since that was already a commandment in the Torah (Exodus 20:3). Since the Jews had laws against associating with idolaters, these four rules would prove to Jewish believers that the Gentile believers had indeed forsaken their past pagan lifestyle so that they would be able to come together in fellowship. These four commands established a basic level of Torah-observance that allowed the Gentile to assimilate into the community of believers where he would begin to learn more about his role as a Gentile now grafted into the body of Israel. This is also similar to the concept of “elementary teachings” spoken of in Hebrews 6:1-2, which were a baseline to be built off of rather than a stopping point. 

So what bearing does the Jerusalem council have on us today? We generally do not have to worry about whether our markets are offering up their goods to idols, at least not here in America. But even the appearance of idolatry needs to be eliminated from our lives. Sexual immorality was forbidden, and today we should guard our hearts by not even watching programs or movies that promote such things. Eating meat which came from a strangled animal and blood are no longer associated with sacrifice, but have to do with a basic level of kosher observance, similar to that which we saw in the Noahide laws. Leviticus 17:13-14 explains the reason blood is not to be consumed:

So when any man from the sons of Israel, or from the aliens who sojourn among them, in hunting catches a beast or a bird which may be eaten, he shall pour out its blood and cover it with earth. For as for the life of all flesh, its blood is identified with its life. Therefore I said to the sons of Israel, “You are not to eat the blood of any flesh, for the life of all flesh is its blood; whoever eats it shall be cut off.”

God here gives a universal reason not to consume blood. The life of all flesh is its blood, therefore neither the native-born Israelite nor the sojourner are to eat meat with the blood remaining in it.

Now it seems as if we no longer have regard for the decision of the council at Jerusalem. But Paul did, and so did the early Gentile believers who took this decision to heart. We read the letter that was sent to the Gentiles in verses 23-29 which tells us that the Holy Spirit led James in his decision. In verse 31, we read that the letter was read and received with great encouragement and rejoicing.

The Gentiles were now accepted and they could fellowship with the Jewish congregation because of the rules set in place to do so. We also see that Paul and the rest of the council did not start a new religion here. What he had previously believed about Gentiles, that they did not have to be circumcised to become a part of Israel, was now a part of the standard halakhah. It was still a given that the Gentiles would be in the synagogue every Sabbath, listening to the words of Moses within the framework of Judaism, supplementing the teaching they would receive there with the words of Yeshua as preached via the apostles and other believers. 

So what we see here is that James and the Jerusalem council basically advocated observance of the laws that had been given to mankind from the beginning, and were frequently violated in the cultural and religious customs which surrounded them. This ruling solidified the fact that Gentiles do not need to become Jewish to be grafted into Israel, but certain commandments should be placed on their shoulders initially to aid their acceptance into the Jewish community. The four commands for Gentiles do not explicitly include Sabbath observance, but it was implicitly understood that they would be honoring the seventh day, instituted at the time of creation, at least in part alongside the Jews in the synagogue. 

We have seen who Paul was, how he would have viewed the world, and what his mission field looked like. Now we want to look at Paul’s doctrine, especially some passages in the epistles which, as traditionally interpreted, might seem to contradict some important truths contained in Scripture. 

Paul’s Doctrine

As Paul has been misunderstood, so has his doctrine. Even in his own day this was the case, as we will see later on in his trials, and as Peter tells us in 2 Peter 3:15-16:

Just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. 

So we must come with an open mind and heart to look deep into the Scriptures to see the truth of God’s word, for often if something is found in Scripture in one place, it is affirmed by other scriptures as well.

Romans

Paul wrote the book of Romans to believers while in Corinth. We see in the first verse of chapter 1, Paul tells us that he is “a bondservant of Messiah Yeshua, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God.” Here Paul is telling us, as he did in most of his writings, that he was an apostle called by God. In Paul’s day, an apostle was like an ambassador who represented another party. They were sent out to act in the name of the party who sent them, and in all respects had the authority of that party. As we saw earlier going back to Philippians, Paul was distinguishing himself from any false apostles who were bringing teachings contrary to the truth, apostles who had not truly been sent out by God to preach the gospel of Yeshua. 

Paul tells us that he has been called for the sake of the gospel of God. Paul’s mission has some interesting parallels with the Teacher of Righteousness in the Qumran community. This figure is mentioned in the Dead Sea Scrolls as one who “announces good tidings… preaching the gospel to the humble… And all the nations shall know Thy truth and all the peoples, Thy glory.” He claims to have been entrusted with the mysteries contained in the Scriptures, and his message is preached to those who will pay attention to his words and thus return to God. This idea is similar to the calling of Paul to preach the gospel to the humble so that all of the nations who are willing might turn to God. This gospel is what Paul calls the “Mystery of the Messiah” (Ephesians 3:1-7), because the full depth of the message had not been recognized until His coming, although it had been present throughout Scripture all along.

The Greek word for “gospel” or “good news” is euangelion. In the prophets, we see the concept of good news is brought up in Isaiah 52:7, which aligns this term with salvation and restoration for the people of Israel. Isaiah 61:1-3 continues this alignment of good news and the restoration of Israel, bringing promise of the favorable year of the Lord, or the year of goodwill, in which Israel will dwell and prosper in the land. This period of time is spoken of throughout the prophets, and it all has to do with the Messiah in the Messianic age. The Messianic Age is the time when Yeshua will rule for one thousand years in the city of David, which is Jerusalem, and fulfill all of the prophecies which He didn’t fulfill during His first coming (Isaiah 62:8-9, Revelation 20:6). 

With these prophecies in mind, it is important to understand the correct gospel message. In Romans 1:16, Paul tells us, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek [the nations].” So what was this gospel that was to the Jews first and then to the nations that Paul was not ashamed of?

We want to take a closer look into the good news and we want to start with the announcement of Yeshua’s birth:

And the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths, and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” (Luke 2:10‐14)

So what was this good news that was to bring joy to these shepherds? It was the long awaited Savior, the Messiah, whom Israel had been waiting for. For Israel, this was surely good news. Luke tells us what the angel told Mary when he reveals God’s plan to her: “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and His Kingdom will have no end” (Luke 1:32-33). Isaiah 9:1-7 speaks about the Messiah and the victory He will achieve over His enemies. 

What we have seen from Isaiah and the angels is that this child that was to come will be a mighty warrior and He will defeat His enemies and He will establish His Kingdom on the throne of David in Jerusalem (Jeremiah 23:5-6, Ezekiel 37:24-25). But what about the gospel message? When we read these passages, we do not see anything about Messiah dying for our sins and rising again on the third day. 

When we see the words “good news,” we must understand where we get that translation from. The words “good news” were translated into the Old English as “godspell,” which we interpret today as “gospel.” The gospel message is the good news, and it was this good news or gospel message that the people of Israel were waiting for. “How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation and says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!'” (Isaiah 52:7, Romans 10:15).

If Israel was waiting for their Messiah, then let’s look at what Yeshua Himself has to say about the good news: 

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to bring good news to the afflicted; He sent Me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to captives, and freedom to prisoners, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, to grant those who mourn in Zion, giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord. Then they will rebuild the ancient ruins, they will raise up the former devastations, and they will repair the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations.” (Isaiah 61:1-4, Luke 4:18-19, 21)

When John the Baptist sent his disciples to Yeshua to find out if He was truly the Messiah, Yeshua quoted part of this verse to them, and He added, “Blessed is he who keeps from stumbling over Me” (Luke 7:23). 

We will continue to look at the Messiah’s message, but first let’s see what John preached, for he was the one crying out in the wilderness to prepare for the Messiah. We see in Matthew 3:2 that John says, “Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” Yeshua Himself called John the greatest prophet of His day, and this was his message. Matthew 4:17 tells us that Yeshua’s message was also, “Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” When Yeshua sent out His disciples in Matthew 10:17, He told them to go out and preach saying, “Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand.” 

Now if John the Baptist was going to teach the people the way of salvation, we see that the message of salvation, which is the gospel message (or the good news), starts with repentance. Yeshua’s name means “Salvation,” so we know that He was going to teach the people the way of salvation, and He preached the same message. Yeshua even tells the churches in Revelation to repent (Revelation 2:5, 16, 21; 3:3). So this is not just a Jewish matter, but a Gentile or Christian issue, and that issue is that the way of salvation comes through repentance, a coming back to the Word of God as a way of living. We also see in Acts 17:30 and 26:20 that Paul’s message was for those who had not yet believed. This message has to be important, because it is about Yeshua and the fulfillment of His job as the Messiah. Of course repentance has to be the first and foremost important issue. John writes in 1 John 1:5-10, “If we say we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.” To enter into the Kingdom, one must repent. That word, “repent,” means to make a complete turn around. It means to come back to the truth of God’s word. 

So if the angels and John, Yeshua, and His disciples preached the main message of the Kingdom, what happened to the message of the cross? We tend to confuse the Gospel message (Good News), which tells us about the fulfillment of Yeshua’s role as the Messiah, with the Salvation message. To receive the work of Messiah on the cross, we must come to the cross and be washed by the blood, but we must come in repentance of our sins, for God tells us that He will never turn away one who is contrite and humble, but He will resist the proud (James 4:6). Today we can live in newness of life. We can begin to live in the Kingdom and to taste and see that God is good.

But repentance is only the first part of the message. The second half is “for the Kingdom of God is at hand.” So what did John and Yeshua and the Apostles all mean by this phrase, “the Kingdom of God (or sometimes ‘of heaven’) is at hand”? 

The people of Yeshua’s day knew exactly what this phrase meant. You see, the people had been waiting for their Messiah to come and deliver them. They had been waiting for their King. All of this was promised through the prophets. So now they hear the words, “It is here, the Kingdom is here, it is at hand!” We see the Apostles ask Yeshua, “When will you set up Your Kingdom?” (Acts 1:6). John also sends his disciples to ask Yeshua, “Are you the One we have been expecting?” (Matthew 11:2-3), meaning, “Are you the one who will set up God’s Kingdom here on earth?” Yeshua asks His disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” (Matthew 16:13). Yeshua tells the people to believe in Him, or at least believe in the works that He did (John 14:11). You see, if we do not truly believe in Yeshua as the Messiah and as the coming King who will sit one day on the throne of David in Jerusalem, we will not believe that His Kingdom is here, right here, next to us. We will not take hold of it and become part of it, right now, today. We will not operate in Kingdom principles, nor will we live in the full victory of our King and the work He did on the cross for us. 

This is the full message of the gospel, the true good news of the Kingdom of God. Yet it is Yeshua’s final words to His apostles that set the tone for the rest of the Scriptures: 

It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority [that is, when He will fulfill the prophecies and establish His Kingdom in Jerusalem]; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth. (Acts 1:7-8)

Before anyone could have the hope of an earthly Kingdom of God, it was necessary for them to take hold of the King and the spiritual blessings which were presently available because of His work on the cross. The sole responsibility for bringing about the earthly Kingdom rests on God, but while we wait for that day, our present calling is to work in the power of the Kingdom as it is among us today, “testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Yeshua the Messiah” (Acts 20:21). This is where the emphasis is placed throughout the Apostolic Writings, and likewise such is the case here in Romans 1, where Paul is speaking about the good news of salvation. Verse 17 goes on to say, “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘But the righteous shall live by faith.’”

What else can we learn about the gospel of salvation? Paul tells us that it is the power of God (verse 16). The power of God is proclaimed throughout Scripture, especially His power in accomplishing His will through wisdom. Proverbs speaks of wisdom as righteousness (Proverbs 8:8, 22-23), and the wisdom of God is revealed to us through the Torah: His word, teachings, oracles, statutes, and commandments (Deuteronomy 4:5-6, Psalm 19:7-14, Proverbs 7:2-4). Isaiah tells us that His word does not return void, but accomplishes what it was sent out to do (Isaiah 55:10-11). Paul was eager to preach the message of salvation. This power, this wisdom, this righteousness was and is our hope. It is Yeshua Himself, the wisdom of God, the Torah made flesh, the righteousness of God. 

God’s wisdom is His purpose to redeem the whole world through His people Israel (to the Jew first). From the beginning, the calling of Israel was to be a light to the nations (Deuteronomy 28:10, Isaiah 60:2-4, Micah 4:2). It is them to whom God revealed Himself in the past, and again will as the Messiah in the future:

To whom belongs the adoption as sons and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Torah and the Temple service and the promises, whose are the fathers and from whom is Messiah. (Romans 9:4-5) 

This message of good news found its goal in Yeshua the Messiah. Preaching the gospel of salvation will bring hope to the nations and make them part of the commonwealth of Israel. We as the church do not, nor ever will we, replace Israel:

I say then, they (Israel) did not stumble so as to fall, did they? May it never be! But by their transgression salvation has come to the nations, to make them jealous. Now if their transgression be riches for the nations, how much more will their fulfillment be… For if their rejection be the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead. (Romans 11:11-12, 15)

Isaiah also prophesied about the relationship between God and His chosen people: 

“For a brief moment I forsook you, but with great compassion I will gather you. In an outburst of anger I hid My face from you for a moment; but with everlasting loving-kindness I will have compassion on you,” says the Lord your Redeemer… “In righteousness you will be established.” (Isaiah 54:7-8, 14a) 

Who is this righteousness but Yeshua the Messiah of Israel? Although they rejected Him for a time, God has not left His people to be abandoned. History has seemed cruel to the people of Israel, and some have misunderstood this to mean that God has rejected them completely, instead changing His graces to be upon the Christian church alone. But this ideology is directly addressed in Scripture: 

The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: “Have you not noticed that these people are saying, ‘The Lord has rejected the two kingdoms he chose’? So they despise my people and no longer regard them as a nation. This is what the Lord says: ‘If I have not made my covenant with day and night and established the laws of heaven and earth, then I will reject the descendants of Jacob and David my servant and will not choose one of his sons to rule over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. For I will restore their fortunes and have compassion on them.’” (Jeremiah 33:23-26)

If all of these promises are for Israel, then what about the nations? How do we fit into the master plan? Well, Romans 11 continues:

But if some of the branches were broken off, and you being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partakers with the rich root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant; remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. (verses 17-18)

With the influx of Gentile believers, it would have been easy for the movement to become overwhelmed until few ethnic Jews remained. This is indeed what has happened, for as time progressed, some influential people have ignored Paul’s warning to not become arrogant toward Israel, who is still God’s chosen. These teachers have rejected the tree they were grafted into and attempted to plant one of their own, ignorant of the fact that God yet stands with His chosen ones (Deuteronomy 4:30-31, 32:43; Isaiah 8:9-10).

So now that we have looked at God’s plan of salvation and know the gospel (good news) that Paul preached, let’s take a closer look at it.

Justification

The main theme of Romans is the justification of sinners. Justification is the way in which God accepts a sinful human being and sets them in a place of right-standing through Yeshua. In Classical Greek, the word interpreted as “justification” meant punishment or condemnation, like that in a legal system. In Scripture, however, it is used to indicate an acquittal or freedom from such condemnation or punishment. The Scriptures do not speak of anyone who was able to justify himself by paying the penalty for his own sin (Psalm 49:7-9). Scripture makes it clear that God punishes sin through discipline as a channel toward purification, but it is not through this judgment that the subject of punishment is made just before God. In other words, just because you have suffered the consequences of your sinful actions does not mean that your record is clean. We are justified only because of the sacrifice of Yeshua and the repentance which accompanies our faith in Him. 

In Hebrew, the word “sin” comes from the root word chata, which means “to miss,” mainly in regard to missing a goal. It is used in the context of an archer missing his target. The target which man aims at is the commandments of God, and sin is a failure to hit that target. Paul explains that although the Torah was given to the people of Israel at Mt. Sinai, God’s attributes were made known to the whole world so that no one has an excuse for having disobeyed Him: it is the duty of all mankind to obey God (Ecclesiastes 12:13). So how does the archer correct his sin? He examines himself to see where his form was incorrect, and adjusts accordingly so that he is able to hit the mark. This is the practice that is implied in Romans 2:13, “For not the hearers of the Torah are just before God, but the doers of the Torah shall be justified.”

The main criticism we see of the Pharisees in the Gospels is that they were guilty of hearing but not doing the Torah. They practiced many deeds, but these were according to their own standard of righteousness rather than the true heart of the commandments. Previously we have discussed some of the beliefs the Pharisees espoused and the fact that Christianity has continued in many of their interpretations of the Scriptures. While this is true, their position was not free of some glaring flaws. They had made their own target, and considered themselves righteous by being able to hit that mark, but in reality they had missed the true meaning and purpose of the Torah. 

In Luke 10:25-29, a lawyer came to Yeshua. This is not so much a lawyer as we are accustomed to, but it was a person whose profession was to study Torah. He came to Yeshua, basically seeking to justify himself:

And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Torah? How do you read it?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”

This commandment, to love the Lord and to love your neighbor, is found in Leviticus 19:18 and in Deuteronomy 6:5. Even before Yeshua came, these commands were already understood to be a summary of the whole Torah. The man talking to Yeshua was well-educated, and so he was aware of this fact. But knowledge does not always equal action, and sometimes we corrupt our knowledge to justify ourselves. Looking for a way to find a justification for himself, he asks, “And who is my neighbor?” Within Judaism, there has been some level of debate as to who exactly the neighbor of an Israelite was. Some have said it is all mankind, others have said that the command to love your neighbor only applies to fellow Jews. Perhaps the lawyer in this passage held a dislike for his Samaritan neighbors, and so Yeshua goes on to use an illustration to explain that loving our neighbor excludes no one.

The man’s question was about how to attain eternal life, or in other words, how to receive justification before God. Yeshua did not use this time to explain the death and resurrection that He would endure, or that belief in Him would merit the man eternal life. Rather, after the lawyer correctly asserts the motivation which should lie behind the keeping of the Torah, Yeshua tells the man, “Do this and you will live.” Does this mean we are saved by works?

In the first three chapters of Romans, Paul makes the argument that all have sinned, Jew and Gentile alike. Romans 3:10 tells us, “There is none righteous, not even one.” In the eyes of God, Gentiles and Jews are both under the same obligation, that being to walk rightly before Him: 

For when Gentiles who do not have the Torah do instinctively the things of the Torah, these, not having the Torah, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Torah written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Messiah Yeshua. (Romans 2:14-16)

Because of this fact, Paul says that there is no room for relying on one’s lineage for salvation. As we talked about in regard to Acts 15, some among the believers held the opinion that Gentiles needed to be circumcised in order to be grafted into Israel, and that was how they achieved salvation. But Paul says that not everyone who is circumcised outwardly has allowed God to change their heart through the power of the Holy Spirit.

So if the uncircumcised man keeps the requirements of the Torah, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? And he who is physically uncircumcised, if he keeps the Torah, will he not judge you who though having the letter of the Torah and circumcision are a transgressor of the Torah? (Romans 2:27).

So Paul is saying that God has a standard for behavior which He wants everyone to follow. Even though not everyone has ever read, or even heard of, the Torah, when they do the things which the Torah requires, they show that they have the Torah written on their hearts. Paul is explaining that Jewish lineage or external rituals such as circumcision do not effect any change within a person, and are insufficient for justification before God. 

Does this mean that circumcision or Jewish lineage have no value? In Romans 3:1-2, Paul declares, “What advantage has the Jew? Or what is the benefit of circumcision? Great in every respect! First of all, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God.” Paul reminds us once again that the Jew is first and the nations are second (Romans 1:16). Being a descendant of Abraham is not alone sufficient for justification, but the descendants of Jacob are still especially blessed and chosen on account of God’s grace and His unchanging promises. Because of this, circumcision does have great value, for it is the sign of the covenant between God and Abraham, which is an everlasting covenant (Genesis 17:9-11, 19). Paul’s point is that even though the Jewish people are not justified before God by their lineage or by being circumcised, these things are nonetheless important and of value in God’s sight. The people of Israel have been specifically called from among the nations of the earth to serve Him in a special way (Deuteronomy 7:6, Amos 3:2).

Paul continues to say, “What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin” (Romans 3:9). Despite the special calling of the Israelites and God’s faithfulness to them, this does not grant them any special privileges in regard to salvation. No person is able to walk in the requirements of the Torah perfectly, so we are all equal in our indebtedness to God. Jews and Greeks alike are in need of God’s forgiveness and mercy.

So what is this all saying about justification? In order to answer the question of salvation by the works of the Torah, it is helpful to remember the covenant God made with Abraham. Romans 4:3 and Galatians 3:6 tell us that Abraham believed God and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. This was more than just belief of the mind, but was a living faith evidenced by a complete submission of his will to God, as we see throughout his life. This same type of faith enables us to enter into covenant with God as well:

But now apart from the Torah the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Torah and the prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Yeshua the Messiah, for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is Messiah Yeshua; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Yeshua.” (Romans 3:21-26)

Who is the righteousness of God? Yeshua! Yeshua atones for our transgressions through His death and resurrection when we believe in Him. This belief is not stagnant, but is shown to be genuine as we repent and become faithful to God in Yeshua. In what way is this righteousness of God “apart from the Torah?” It is apart from the Torah in the sense that it is a justification that cannot be achieved through obedience to the Torah. There is no one who can be righteous in the sight of God, for as Paul tells us, all have sinned. The fact that our salvation is not achieved through obedience to the Torah does not mean that it is no longer God’s righteous standard, or that somehow faith is in opposition to the Torah: “Do we then overthrow the Torah by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the Torah” (verse 31). 

So what is this all saying about faith and works? About now we start quoting from what is seen as the other side of the faith vs. works argument in James 2:14-26. Verse 18 says, “But someone may well say, ‘You have faith, and I have works; show me your faith without works and I will show you my faith by my works.’” Can we have it both ways?

God has provided a source of righteousness independent of Torah, but not contrary to it. As we saw in Romans 3:21, we can achieve justification only because of Yeshua, who is called “the Lord our Righteousness” (Jeremiah 23:6). When we put our faith in the work of Yeshua and do not rely on anything we can do to achieve our own justification, He is faithful to forgive us of our sins and help us to grow in our faith. What we sometimes fail to remember is that this is the same standard of righteousness that has been established all along. As Scripture makes clear, the ancients were also justified by their faith rather than their works. Despite this, we see that they did not find any incompatibility between this faith and obedience toward God through keeping His commandments.

In other words, faith rests in belief but is proved by our actions. Even the demons believe in the authority of God and the power of His Son (Matthew 8:29, James 2:19). Clearly their belief is not the kind that saves, however. Scripture is clear that God will judge mankind and render to each one according to his deeds (Ecclesiastes 12:14, Matthew 16:27, Romans 2:5-8). He will judge based on our faithfulness to Yeshua (Matthew 25:34-40). Paul echoes the words of the prophet when he tells us that “the righteous shall live by faith” (Habakkuk 2:4, Romans 1:17). The ones who are considered righteous in the sight of God are those who rely on Yeshua for the forgiveness of sins, and then live and act in faithfulness, just as Yeshua walked in faithfulness to God, obeying His every command. Our hope in the Messiah is sure and forever secure, as He lives to make intercession for us before the Father. If we put our faith and trust in Him, then He will never forsake us as we seek to keep His commandments. “Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

This part of justification, that of faithfulness, concerns all those who observe the Torah, the Jewish people. God will deliver them from the house of judgment because of their affliction and their faith in the true Teacher of Righteousness, the Messiah. Just as the patriarchs were justified by faith in the God of Israel, so too all those of the house of Israel who have kept faith, walking in the righteousness of God and yearning for the Messiah, will not be turned away.

An interesting perspective on faith arises when we closely examine Romans 3:22. Most often, this verse is translated to say that the righteousness of God is through “faith in Yeshua.” However, because of the ambiguity of the Greek word which is used, an alternative translation of the phrase is “faithfulness of Yeshua;” that is, the righteousness of God is through Yeshua’s faithfulness. Yeshua is the Lord our Righteousness, and it is He who showed complete faithfulness to the Father (John 5:30, Hebrews 3:6). It is Yeshua’s faithfulness to the Father which saves us. While it is still necessary for us to have faith in Yeshua, it was He who first walked in faithfulness, even giving up Himself as an atonement for our sins. 

Verse 22 continues to say that this faithfulness is “for all who believe; there is no distinction.” After previously showing Yeshua’s role, Paul switches the focus back onto man. God’s faithfulness was revealed in the fulfillment of His promise to send the seed of Abraham, His Messiah, in whom all the nations will be blessed. Yeshua’s faithfulness to God establishes His righteousness, which God places upon all those who are faithful to Yeshua. 

The opportunity to benefit from His faithfulness is “for all who believe,” yet it is to the Jew first and then to the nations. “There is no distinction,” for together we are of one flock:

For He is our peace, who made both groups into one, and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the law of commandments contained in ordinances, that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by having put to death the enmity. (Ephesians 2:14-16) 

How is it that we are now one people? What is this enmity, this law of commandments contained in ordinances? Ask most people, and they will tell you that it is the Law of Moses, the Torah. They will say that the Torah was a dividing wall between the Jews and the nations, and now since Yeshua fulfilled the Torah, it is finally out of the way for good. But is this the correct interpretation? 

As we have previously discussed, there is a distinction between the written Torah and the oral Torah, also known as the “traditions.” In the written Torah, there is no commandment which would have created enmity between Jews and those from the nations who wished to worship the One True God. In fact, the Torah was supposed to be the opposite of a dividing wall: 

So keep and do them, for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.” (Deuteronomy 4:6)

The wisdom contained in God’s Torah was designed to attract the nations when they saw God’s people obeying them in true faith and love. If one of these people who recognized this wished to join Israel, the written Torah does not contain any instructions on how they are to be converted. Instead, there are rules set in place to ensure that a non-Jew who wishes to join Israel will be well-treated and take their place in the community. Those of the nations who saw the wisdom in God’s commandments and genuinely sought to obey them were encouraged to never feel as if there was a wall between them and Israel: 

Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the LORD say, “The LORD will surely separate me from His people…” The foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, to minister to Him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be His servants, every one who keeps from profaning the sabbath and holds fast My covenant; even those I will bring to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. (Isaiah 56:3, 6)

Further evidence that this wall is not the Torah is the Greek which is used in the phrase “law of commandments in ordinances.” The Greek word for “ordinances” is dogmasin, which is used to indicate manmade decrees: never the commandments of God (Luke 2:1, Acts 16:4). 

So if the wall was not the Torah, then what was it? As we spoke of earlier, some of the man-made commandments which had been established made things difficult for the Gentiles. They painted Gentiles as a lesser class of people, completely impure, unworthy of respect or inclusion. They said it was only by becoming a Jew through conversion that this miserable state could be remedied. Likewise, the Gentiles looked with scorn on the Jews, seeing them as elitist and snobby. In fact, in the temple at that time there existed a partition, a dividing wall, which forbade Gentiles from entering further into the temple on penalty of death. Paul explains that symbolically this wall is now torn down through Yeshua and the Gentiles who put their faith in Him are now also adopted as children of God in spite of the decrees of men and the enmity which was engendered between Jews and Gentiles.

After the Holy Spirit was given to the Gentiles in Acts 10, it was made clear that God had a much bigger plan than anyone had imagined. The walls of enmity that man had built up to separate between Jew and Gentile had now been torn down, and salvation was something which could be laid hold of by anyone who would choose to believe. 

Amid the people of God, there is no distinction because all are sinners who rely on the sacrifice of Yeshua to receive justification. Does this mean that we are all exactly the same? Of course not, for we all have special gifts, abilities, and individual traits which separate us from others. In the same way, there are undeniable differences between Jews and Gentiles, and yet all who believe are justified by faith without distinction. 

Just as man’s efforts had brought division between Jew and Gentile, so too man’s efforts were inadequate in obtaining justification: “No man can establish his steps, for their justification belongs to God, and from His hand comes the perfect way” (Qumran scrolls). Justification is a gift from God by His grace through the redemption which is in Messiah Yeshua (Romans 3:24). 

So if justification is the act of removing the guilt and penalty of sin, thus making one right with God, then redemption is the price paid for purchasing that justification. The idea of redemption is best illustrated in the purchasing of a slave. Yeshua redeemed us from slavery to our evil inclinations, our sinful nature (Romans 6:1-4). His death and resurrection frees man from the realm of darkness and brings us into His Kingdom of Light. Now we are free people, but not free to continue to sin (Galatians 5:13, 1 Peter 2:16, 1 John 3:9). Our liberty from slavery in Egypt (the kingdom of darkness) makes the way for us to become slaves in the Kingdom of God (Matthew 11:29, Romans 6:18). 

What have we seen so far in regard to justification? It is not based on lineage, it is not based on anything we have done or can do, but it requires faith in Yeshua and His redemptive work. The fact that the Torah has been written on our hearts is made evident when we walk in faithfulness to Yeshua, just as He also walked in complete faithfulness to the Father. Because Yeshua has redeemed us from slavery to sin, we must submit ourselves to the yoke of the Kingdom, following in the footsteps of Yeshua. 

As we continue into Romans 3:27-28, Paul tells it this way: “Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the Torah.” Paul is speaking to Jewish believers and saying plainly that neither they nor the Gentiles have to do the works of the Torah to receive justification. While it may be tempting to stop at this point and declare that the Torah is therefore completely unnecessary in the life of the believer, Paul himself refutes this argument as he goes on to say in verses 29-31:

Or is God the God of the Jews only? Is He not the God of the Gentiles also? Yes, of the Gentiles also, since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one. Do we then nullify the Torah through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Torah.

In verse 27 Paul mentions a law of faithfulness. What is the difference between the law of faithfulness and the law of works which Paul is contrasting against each other? We cannot immediately assume that the “law of works” is the Torah, for the Torah itself is a matter of faithfulness. Just when you thought you had the answer, Paul throws us a curve. Let’s analyze how verses 27-31 all fit together. 

Israel is not able to boast in the fact that they have the Torah, although it gives them the election. According to God’s plan, their possession of it made the way for the nations to be accepted into the people of God. The law of faith is that through belief in Yeshua, we receive justification, which allows us to walk in faithfulness. This law does not nullify the Torah, but it does stand against seeking to be saved by works of the Torah. If Israel cannot boast because of their possession of the Torah, neither can the Gentiles claim that Yeshua’s faithfulness annuls the Torah, thus also annulling Israel’s election. 

God’s faithfulness and righteousness are witnessed to by the Torah (verse 21), and are the grounds of Israel’s election. Paul describes this witness in Galatians 3:8, where he says that this good news of justification for the Gentiles was revealed to Abraham. Here, the Torah itself preaches the good news of God’s promise to Abraham: that through his seed, all the nations of the earth will be blessed. The sons of Abraham are not just his physical descendants, but are all of those who are faithful to God’s promise to Abraham, to whom God imputed righteousness because of his faithfulness to God (Romans 4:3). Thus the Torah establishes that the “Sons of Abraham” are those who walk parallel with Abraham in faithfulness to God’s promises. Paul assures his Jewish readers that this faithfulness to Yeshua does not annul the Torah, but makes it stand as the standard of living which God has given to His people, both to the Jews and to the nations (Ecclesiastes 12:13, Isaiah 2:3). 

So we have seen that: 1. the church has not replaced Israel, and 2. Israel’s sin and rejection of the Messiah has not lead to their own rejection by God, because of His grace which has been given to those who believe in the promises. Although they did not receive Yeshua corporately (as a nation), one of the biggest foundations of the Jewish faith is the belief that the promised Messiah will come. God’s eternal covenant with them justifies those who walk in faithfulness to the Torah and an expectation and belief in the Messiah, just as their father Abraham did. For the Scriptures tell us that all Israel shall be saved: not because of any deeds they have done, but because of their faith and God’s mercy (Isaiah 45:17, Jeremiah 33:16, Romans 11:26-32).

So what is the verdict on justification? According to Paul, all men are unrighteous and unable to stand pure before God, and are thus worthy of eternal punishment. But Yeshua was faithful to God, even to the point of death on the cross, so that He may become righteousness to anyone who will believe. Even though justification cannot be achieved through obedience to the Torah or circumcision (that is, conversion to Judaism), these things are not abolished because of faith, but on the contrary, it is only in faith that the Torah can truly be lived out and that individuals remain members of Israel. The work of Yeshua has also allowed justification to be received by people of the nations by the same law of faith, apart from works of the law. This does not remove Israel from their place before God, and it does not mean that the Torah is done away with. It does mean that all of humankind is made righteous in the sight of God in the same way as they have from the beginning: through faith. When we believe in Yeshua and allow Him to circumcise our heart, our desire will be to live the way He has laid out for us in His word. This holds value for Israel, who shall be saved because of their faithfulness according to their knowledge of who the Messiah is supposed to be and what they expect Him to accomplish according to Scripture, and because of God’s faithfulness to redeem according to His promises revealed in the covenants He has made with them.

As we move on now to Romans 7, we see Paul speaking to his Jewish brethren at the congregation in Rome. The chapter begins, saying: “Or do you not know, brethren (for I am speaking to those who know the Torah), that the Torah has jurisdiction over a person as long as he lives?” (Romans 7:1). Paul refers to the Torah and specifically calls the attention of the Jews in the assembly at Rome. They are still under the jurisdiction of the Torah, but not for justification, as we explained earlier. In verses 2-4, Paul goes on to say:

For the married woman is bound by law to her husband while he is still living; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law concerning her husband. So then if, while her husband is living, she is joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress, though she is joined to another man. Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Torah through the body of Messiah, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.

What does it mean to die to the Torah? Some have attempted to explain Paul’s comparison here by saying that believers are no longer obligated to obey the commandments of God. Is this true, or is Paul saying something else?

First, we must understand that this passage is not isolated, but is a continuation of Paul’s message in chapter 6, which we are going to examine more closely so that we can understand chapter 7. He had been explaining that we who have believed in Yeshua have become one with Him in His crucifixion. How? He says in verses 6-7, “our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin.” When we believe in Yeshua and accept His sacrifice on our behalf, it is as if our old self has died. 

As a result of this death, we are now able to rise to new life in Him, no longer slaves to sin, but slaves to righteousness. He charges his readers, “present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace” (verses 13-14). This verse is used by many to say that the Torah is no longer valid. When considered along with the rest of the passage, however, we see that this is far from the truth. So what does it mean to be under grace as opposed to under law? And how does not being under law allow us to present ourselves to God as instruments of righteousness? 

To answer this question, we must relate it to the passage it is contained within. Paul tells us that we have died with Messiah, and therefore sin no longer has power over us, “for he who has died is free from sin” (verse 7). How is it that we are free from sin? If we were truly free from sin, then we would never need to repent or change, because we would already be perfect. Aside from our own personal experiences, Scripture also testifies that even after our acceptance of Yeshua, we will still sin (James 3:2, 1 John 1:8). Therefore, being free from sin more accurately means we are free from the power of sin. The power of sin lies in the fact that all of mankind has sinned and is deserving of eternal death. Therefore, being free from sin means being free from the eternal wages of our sins (Romans 6:23). 

The phrase “under law” does not mean living in obedience to the Torah, but rather it means being under the power of sin, under the weight of our punishment which we have earned by disobeying God’s Torah. Because we are unable to perfectly walk in the ways of the Torah, we are held under the power of sin, for, “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the Torah” (1 Corinthians 15:56). Those who are under law are those who are still bound to their own debt of sin. How can we be so confident that “under law” does not equate to obedience to the law? Well, let’s look at the verse which directly follows this phrase: “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be!” (Romans 6:14). Since sin is transgression of the Torah, we can be sure that Paul is not advocating forsaking the Torah. This point is further proved in verse 19, where Paul ties the old man who died with Messiah to transgression of the Torah: “For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to Torah-lessness, resulting in further Torah-lessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification.” 

Because we are not bound by the power of sin and the wages of our transgressions as defined by the Torah, we are free to live under grace. This means that we are covered with the blood of the Lamb, and so we can be confident that our sins are forgiven when we come to the cross in repentance. This grace is given not so that we may further transgress the Torah, but so that we may live in the full resurrection power that is within us in order to walk more closely with God through the obedience of His commands, devoting our bodies as instruments of righteousness.

In order to more clearly explain this, Paul continues into chapter 7, comparing a believer to a married woman. According to the Torah, if a woman’s husband dies, then she may marry another man without being considered an adulteress. Therefore she is free from the punishment which the Torah prescribes for one who is an adulteress, which is stoning to death (Leviticus 20:10, Deuteronomy 22:21, John 8:1-5). Likewise, while we were sinners giving in to our evil inclinations, we were “married” to the punishment of our sin as a result of our disobedience to the Torah. But because of the death and resurrection of Yeshua, we are now considered dead to our sinful nature. Since we are dead, we are no longer bound to the punishment of our sin according to the Torah, which is death (Deuteronomy 30:19). We are now set free from slavery to sin and are free to join ourselves to another husband, who is Yeshua, our Bridegroom (John 3:29; 2 Corinthians 11:2). He bore the punishment for our transgressions on the cross so that we would be free to serve Him without fear of punishment. We were previously slaves to sin, but now we are slaves to righteousness.

Paul is not saying that the Torah has died or that it becomes obsolete because of Yeshua, but rather the penalty of eternal separation from God, which we have earned through disobeying God, has been paid on account of Yeshua’s death on the cross. When we put our faith in Him, it is as if we ourselves have died, and indeed our old self has been buried with Him in order that we might walk in God’s ways. He did not come to rescue us from serving Him, but to “rescue us from this present evil age” (Galatians 1:4) so that we may serve Him. It is this same point that Paul is making in Galatians 2: 

For through the Torah I died to the Torah, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Messiah; and it is no longer I who live, but Messiah lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. (Galatians 2:19-20)

Having put his evil inclination to death and dying to sin, the believer is now able to perform God’s will in keeping his commandments and to serve God in the newness of life (Romans 6:4).

On the one hand, you may choose to serve your own sinful desires; on the other hand you may serve God. If one chooses the latter, then he must die to sin and become alive to God (Romans 6:11, 1 Peter 2:24). Torah observance on its own does not free a person from his evil inclinations; in fact, it brings knowledge of the evil desires within him. Instead, he must first die to his evil inclinations, and then he will be free to obey the Torah in faith, obeying God. Yeshua Himself uses a similar analogy in Matthew 6:24 to illustrate that it cannot be both ways: you are either serving God or are in slavery to the flesh. Paul is going back to his argument in Romans 3:19-20, that through the Torah comes the knowledge of sin. When we see that our behavior does not line up with the righteous standard God has given us, we realize just how sinful we are. Not only that, but the punishment for sin in the Torah is death (Deuteronomy 11:26-28, 30:19). 

In Romans 7:4, Paul explains what this means for us in a practical sense: “Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Torah through the body of Messiah, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.” A person may only “live to God” by dying to the Torah through the Torah. This death takes place so that we may “bear fruit for God,” which is our good deeds which we do in the fullness of the Spirit (Luke 3:8, John 15:1-10, Galatians 5:22-23). Righteousness and salvation are the fruit which God gives to His children who have the inheritance of eternal life (Proverbs 11:30, Isaiah 3:10, 58:6-8). The fruit (rewards) of sinful deeds is death and destruction, whereas the righteous inherit eternal life. A person must be free to serve one master, either to serve his own flesh unto death or to serve the Creator unto eternal life. We crucify the flesh so that our death leads to the inheritance of eternal life by walking according to the Spirit of Truth (Romans 6:4-5). 

The Qumran community describes man’s total dependence on God’s grace as the only way to be justified: 

And I know that righteousness is not of man, nor of the sons of men perfection of way, to the Most High God belongs all the work of righteousness, whereas the way of man is not firm unless it be by the Spirit which God has created for him to make perfect a way for the sons of men… for it is thou who hast established them from before eternity and the work[…] they shall recount Thy glory in all thy dominion. For thou hast caused them to see what they had known {by bringing to an end} former [things] and by creating things that are new, by setting aside the former covenants and by {setting up that which shall remain for ever}… and thou hast cleansed man of sin because of thy glory that he may be made holy for thee from all unclean abomination and from (every) transgression of unfaithfulness… that this vermin that is man may be raised from the dust to [Thy] secret {of truth} and from the spirit of perversity to [thine] understanding… That he may be renewed with all [that is] [and] shall be and with them that know, in a common rejoicing.

In Romans 7:6, Paul goes on to explain that release from the Torah corresponds to dying to sin:

But now we have been released from the Torah, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.

The newness of the Spirit is here placed in opposition with the oldness of the letter. This bears similar language to passages such as 2 Corinthians 3:3-6. A cursory reading of these verses might cause one to assume that the letter is the Torah itself. This does not make sense, however, especially considering Paul’s own words in Romans 7:14: “For we know that the Torah is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin.” So the difference is not the Torah, but the place on which it was written. In the old covenant, the Torah had been written on tablets of stone and only pointed out man’s sin, but provided no way to overcome this (Exodus 32:16, 1 Corinthians 15:56). With the dawn of the new covenant, the Torah can now be written on our hearts (Ezekiel 36:26-27): not a different Torah, but the same Torah which has always existed, for in it is expressed the very character of God (Psalm 119:1-3, Isaiah 51:4). Since we have been released from the sinful nature, we can begin to obey God in the way which He has always desired (Deuteronomy 32:46, Psalm 37:30-31, Jeremiah 31:31-33). 

Dying to the Torah means dying to sin and the punishment which the Torah describes is necessary because of it. Paul uses many types of substitutionary words like “circumcision” for Jews and “uncircumcision” for Gentiles, and he is doing something similar here with the phrase “dying to the Torah.” He knows what these terms mean, and the people he was writing the epistles to knew what they meant. As people failed to recognize Paul’s background and the fact that he never gave up his Jewishness, it naturally follows that his theology has been misunderstood as well. It is not that Paul is ever saying that the Torah should not be kept, for he continues in verse 7: 

What shall we say then? Is the Torah sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Torah; for I would not have known about coveting if the Torah had not said “You shall not covet.” 

Paul knows that the Torah is good because it has shown us what sin is, it is in fact the opposite of sin. It reveals to us how we could be if we were the way God would have us: pure and holy, free from sin. When we see this righteous standard God wishes us to live by, we are reminded of our human weakness. Is the fault, then, with God for showing us His ways? Or is the problem with the Torah because it reveals God’s will? Of course not. A by-product of our knowledge of the right ways established in the Torah is the temptation to disobey, to rebel, to follow our own desires and the temptations of the enemy: “For apart from the Torah, sin is dead” (verse 8). If God had not given the Torah or revealed His will for mankind, then there would be no such thing as sin, since there would be no righteous standard to compare our behavior to. Since we do know God’s standard, however, we must join ourselves with Yeshua in His death in order to defeat sin in our lives.

Paul continues to entertain this thought in verse 9, where he begins to speak of himself in a simpler time: “I was once alive apart from the Torah; but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died.” When was Paul alive apart from the Torah? For he had been raised in a Pharisaic household, learning the customs of his fathers from an early age. He is speaking of his youth, before he reached the age of responsibility. According to Jewish tradition, until a child reaches his Bar Mitzvah, he is not obligated to keep the full responsibilities of the covenant, because he is still a child. Once Paul reached this age of responsibility, the Torah came along and revealed to him his evil inclinations:

And this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me; for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. (verses 10-11)

Paul was able to so beautifully form the analogy comparing a woman and her husband to a person’s relationship with sin before coming to faith because he knew exactly how it felt. He, too, had found that his sinful nature had warranted him a death sentence because of the Torah. Paul is speaking like one who has been deceived by a friend—a friend who now becomes an enemy attempting to kill him. It is reminiscent of the serpent deceiving eve in Genesis 3:13. 

He recognizes that the enemy is not the Torah, however: 

So then, the Torah is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. Therefore did that which is good become a cause of death for me? May it never be! Rather it was sin, in order that it might be shown to be sin by effecting my death through that which is good, so that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful. (verses 12-13)

Paul is emphatic in explaining that the fault is not with the Torah, but that it is in fact the sinful nature within him that brought death. The Torah does not cause us to sin, but it requires perfection, which following our flesh does not allow us to reach. Sin becomes revealed for what it truly is when compared with the perfect Torah. 

When a person chooses to serve the God of Creation, the giver of the Torah, then he must die to himself. Paul tells us in Galatians 5:24, “Now those who belong to Messiah Yeshua have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Death is painful, and yet once we have died, we are free. Messiah came so that we may be free—free from the Torah? May it never be! Free from the sin that had us in bondage? Yes! We were slaves to sin (Romans 6), which is equated with leaven (1 Corinthians 5:6). We were members of the kingdom of darkness, or this world (2 Peter 2:19), which is equated with Egypt. And so we too as believers have our own Exodus and our own Passover, as Yeshua has taken us out of the kingdom of darkness into His Kingdom of Light (Colossians 1:13-14).

So what have we learned so far? Paul has been teaching about the relationship between a person and sin. When we come to belief in Yeshua, we become one with Him in His death. This metaphorical death frees us from the power of the sinful nature, which is death itself. Sin derives this power from the fact that we as fallen mankind are unable to perfectly adhere to the demands of the Torah. Therefore, since we are no longer under the power of sin, we are also no longer under the condemnation which the Torah dictates for one who violates it. Now, this does not mean that the Torah is no longer the righteous standard which God has given us to live by. On the contrary, now that Yeshua has set us free from the power of our sinful nature, we have been invigorated by the Holy Spirit and the circumcision of our hearts so that we are able to draw ever-nearer in relationship with God by keeping His commandments (John 14:15).

In Romans 7:14 Paul continues his discourse, going more in depth on the spiritual and physical battle that takes place within man. In verse 15 he says, “That which I am doing, I do not understand….” Here once again Paul speaks of having to choose between serving two masters. He finds himself doing that which he does not wish to do, and so he is in need of God’s grace.

The Qumran scrolls speak of God’s gift of wisdom, His sophia in Greek, as the source of man’s justification. In God’s grace, He gives man knowledge of His truths, His mysteries, by which the “sons of light” may walk according to the Spirit of holiness so that they may do what is right and good: 

All the judgments of chastisement are in Thy wrath and abundance of pardon in Thy goodness. And Thy mercy is obtained by all the sons of thy lovingkindness, for Thou has made known to them Thy secrets of truth and given them understanding of all thy marvelous Mysteries. (Qumran scrolls)

The Qumran community believed that God had given man the knowledge of how to walk according to the Spirit of holiness, truths which they called His “mysteries.” This Spirit of holiness which was revealed to them in part is what we know to be the Spirit of Yeshua, the Righteousness of God.

Paul goes on to describe his struggle between the two ways: the way of righteousness and the way of sin. Paul knows that the Torah is right and good. He also knows that his own will is powerless against his sinful nature, and that it cannot be overcome simply by observing the Torah. One can not put down his evil inclinations by sheer brute power of will. He may be able to overcome individual temptations or desires at particular times, but he is unable to change who he is on the inside. The flesh does not want to give up its rule. It is only through becoming dead to self that these desires can be overcome.

“For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Yeshua the Messiah, abound to the many” (Romans 5:15). Paul knows that he is totally dependent on God’s grace in Yeshua to cleanse his whole being through the Spirit of holiness. He expands on this thought in Titus 3:5-7: 

He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Yeshua, the Messiah our Savior, that being justified by His grace we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

In Romans 7:17-20, Paul says that it is no longer him doing the sinning, but the sin that dwells within him. He knew that nothing good dwelt in him, that is, in his flesh. Even though he wished he could do good, he did not do the good things he wished. In Second Temple Jewish thought, the word “flesh” was a specific term which was used to mean the part of a person which motivates him to do evil. This flesh was set in direct opposition to what was called the spirit. The spirit then was the part of man which was naturally inclined to obey God’s commandments. Therefore when Paul says that nothing good dwells in his flesh, he was not maligning God’s creation and claiming that matter itself was evil, nor was he attempting to excuse his behavior by saying it wasn’t really him who was sinning, but rather that sin itself was sinning through him. His point was that the evil part of him, symbolized by his flesh, is the wellspring of sin in his life. This idea of two natures within man was prevalent within both Qumran and the mainstream Judaism of the day, and the idea is also carried into the New Testament. Because of this inherent part of our nature, mankind becomes dependent on God for grace and forgiveness when we stray from His ways, but even more than that, we must long for Him to change us so that we will no longer sin (Psalm 119:33-40). Another way to understand the flesh is that it represents mankind outside of God’s grace. Our sinful nature is directly opposed to God, synonymous with sin, and thus spirit is the opposite of this sin/flesh. Since walking in the flesh means walking in sin, then walking in the spirit is done through obedience, which itself is only truly doable on account of God’s grace and mercy in our lives. 

Starting in verse 18 Paul talks about the battle between the “Spirit” and the “flesh.” Within us, we have the evil desires of the flesh, and these desires are at war with our desire to do good. If we desire to do good but continue to do evil, this is the flesh still having mastery over us. 

In verse 21 Paul says, “I find this law at work.” The Greek word for “law” is nomos, and Paul usually uses this word to refer to the Torah, although the word itself is not only used to refer to the Torah. Here in this phrase, his use implies a different meaning, one of a rule or principle. This rule, or law, is the root of our struggle with sin: “when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand.” Paul’s struggle, like ours, is with the fallen, sinful nature of man. This is something that is within each one of us from the time we are born. Even a young child has within him from an early age this same struggle. He wants to do what is right, but something within him pulls at him, begging him to go the other way. Paul has found that this fact is like a law, something which cannot be argued against, but is simply the way it is. Although he wishes the sinful nature was gone, it seems to be a rule that these desires are not so easily quenched.

In verse 22, Paul says that in his inner being he delights in God’s Torah. He is showing us the conflict within. He knows that through the righteousness of Yeshua we have been renewed (2 Corinthians 4:16, Ephesians 3:16, 4:24). When we are baptized into the death and resurrection of Yeshua through death to the sinful nature and rebirth through the Holy Spirit, we receive this righteousness, which gives us the power to walk according to God’s righteous standard. Just like the Psalmist, Paul has found delight in the Torah in his innermost being, his soul (Psalm 1:1-2; 119:16, 77, 174). The inner man has been renewed in righteousness, and therefore it longs to obey God and to do His will.  

Humans are not purely spiritual, however, for we also have physical desires which are contrary to those of the spirit. Paul continues with the illustration of this secondary law, that of the sinful nature, to show the conflict that goes on in the life of the believer: “But I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members,” (verse 23). 

So this “other law,” the “law of sin,” is the very existence of these evil desires that rage within us and pit us against obeying God. When we give in to those desires, we are taken captive by them (2 Corinthians 10:5). So strong is Paul’s desire to obey, yet the flesh reacts, pulling him the opposite direction. We can feel the conflict and the pain he is feeling at this: “Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?” (Romans 7:24). Paul is acknowledging his miserable state, realizing that he cannot free himself, but is in desperate need of a Savior. It is a harrowing predicament Paul has found himself in, and he is not alone in it, for we all are in the same desperate position.

Only God can save through the power of Yeshua the Messiah! It is only through His atoning work that we can have the victory over the sinful nature. After describing the miserable state of man, Paul lifts us back up again by telling us how our place in the body of Yeshua changes all of that: “Thanks be to God through Yeshua the Messiah our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin” (verse 25). Paul says that in our “mind” or our will, we desire to obey God’s Torah, but in the “sinful nature” or our flesh, we are slaves. But thanks be to God that He has given us His Son to pay the penalty for our sin and set us free from the power of our sinful nature! This redeemed state is further explained in chapter 8.

What have we seen so far in regard to the law of sin? The law of sin is not the Torah of God, but is the fact, the law/rule, that we were previously slaves to sin. This law lies in opposition to the Torah, and it was this law which we were submitting ourselves to before we came to put our faith in Yeshua. There is an inner conflict within us, where we desire to obey God, and yet our sinful nature must be continually put to death so we may become slaves of righteousness. 

In chapter 8 Paul continues his thought from chapter 7. He starts by saying, “There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in the Messiah Yeshua.” The Greek word translated here as “condemnation” is katakrima, which doesn’t so much mean condemnation as it does mean the punishment which is a result of condemnation, or what we may call a judgment or sentence. Once we have received the righteousness of God through Yeshua, we are no longer bound to the death sentence which we merited because of our sinful nature. Being free from condemnation does not mean that we are free from any type of hard times or troubles (2 Corinthians 6:4-10), or free from experiencing discipline from the Lord when we stray (Job 5:17, Hebrews 12:4-13, Revelation 3:19). 

The reason there is no condemnation is because “through Messiah Yeshua the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2). This is the same point Paul was making in chapters 6-7: we have been freed from the eternal result of our transgressions because of the sacrifice of Yeshua. He also is continuing with the theme of a battle between the “Spirit” and the “flesh.” Once again Paul returns to his use of “law of sin and death” to mean the sinful human nature and our servitude to it, which results in spiritual death. We are no longer under that slavery, however, for we have been set free from the power of the sinful nature so that we may serve God (James 1:25). This also harks back to Deuteronomy 30:15+19 where God says, “See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction,” and then He goes on to say, “choose life that you may live”. 

So where does the problem come in? The problem is our human weakness which God has to deal with. The Torah brings man to the knowledge of sin. The problem was not the Torah in and of itself, but rather our sinful nature is the problem. Romans 8:3 says the Torah was “weakened by the sinful nature.” This does not mean that the Torah was made to be less than perfect, but that the power it gives to those who would walk in it was made void because of our inability to fulfill it. That is why God sent Yeshua in the likeness of sinful man, so that we may experience the fullness of the power of the Torah through the New Covenant.

The purpose of the New Covenant is explained in Jeremiah 31:33: “I will put my Torah in their minds and write it on their hearts.” So God sent His Son in the weakness of human limitation in order to set mankind free from the law of sin and death and to act as a sin offering. When Yeshua died on the cross, He did so willingly in order that He would become the “firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:29). Just as His “flesh” died on the cross, so too our “flesh” must die so that we may live with Him (Romans 8:13, 2 Corinthians 4:11). 

In verse 4, Paul explains that one of the reasons God sent Yeshua was “so that the requirement of the Torah might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” The requirement of the Torah is perfect obedience to God’s statutes, ordinances, and laws (Deuteronomy 6:25). Yeshua fulfilled the Torah without fault because He is “the Lord of Righteousness.” That is why He is the end (that is, the goal) of the Torah for all who believe (Romans 10:4). His perfect fulfillment of the Torah had been God’s plan all along, and it is through His righteousness that we are considered righteous. The Torah does not benefit us if there is no way for us to obey it, and so Yeshua died so that we may also die to sin. So when we are baptized into Yeshua’s death and resurrection, we are cleansed by the Holy Spirit, and when we are filled with the Spirit, we are then able to fulfill God’s righteous decrees (Ezekiel 36:27). Our obedience is not what saves us, but we rely on Yeshua to live and work through us so that we may grow closer to God through obedience to His commands. 

After discussing the battle between the flesh and the Spirit within an individual, Paul begins to show what this looks like by contrasting in verses 5-8 two different types of men: the sons of light and the sons of darkness, those who walk by the Spirit and those who walk by the flesh:

For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the Torah, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

So we see once again the idea that man cannot serve two masters. He either serves the Spirit or the flesh; if he serves the flesh through sin, then he is unable to obey and please God, but if he serves God through the Spirit, then God’s grace strengthens his hands in obedience. In verse 8 the word translated “please” is the Greek word areisai. The root of this word is aresko which is a verb that Strong’s Concordance defines this way: “to please, with the idea of willing service rendered to others; hence almost: I serve.” This is equivalent to the Hebrew word hithalekh, which means to walk, as before God. So when we please God we are making Him our master and serving Him, walking according to His commandments. 

The same hostility that exists between flesh and Spirit is the same as that which currently divides Israel from the Gentile nations. Just as Yeshua is the only one who can bring both the flesh and the spirit into service to God, so too He is the only one who makes the two groups into one new man. 

Now in Romans 8:9-11, Paul addresses those who walk by the Spirit, saying that when we are walking in the Spirit, it is because the Spirit of God dwells within us. This naturally evokes the imagery of the tabernacle and the temple, where the presence of God tangibly dwelt in a powerful way. This physical manifestation of God’s glory was referred to in Jewish literature as the shekhina, which means “the dwelling presence of God.” This term is not found in Scripture, but is used in other literature to describe the manifestation of the glory of God (Exodus 33:14, 1 Kings 8:10-11). 

Paul compares this dwelling presence of God to Yeshua, “in whom the fullness of the Godhead dwells” (Colossians 1:19, 2:9). Just as the tabernacle housed the presence of God, so too when we prepare our hearts and allow the Spirit of Messiah to dwell in us, we become as a temple which houses His presence (1 Corinthians 3:16; 2 Corinthians 6:16-18). By the power of the Holy Spirit, God’s dwelling presence, our hearts of stone are turned to hearts of flesh (Ezekiel 11:19). This “dwelling presence” is in the bodies of those who are faithful to Yeshua: “You are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Messiah, he does not belong to Him” (Romans 8:9). The prophets spoke of this when they prophesied about the outpouring of the Spirit (Isaiah 32:15-17, Ezekiel 39:29, Joel 2:28-29). We do not have the fullness of this indwelling today, however, and that is the whole point of Paul’s message here in Romans 6-8. Although we have been inaugurated into the new covenant through the blood of Yeshua, the full promises of this new covenant have not been fulfilled (Jeremiah 31:33-34, 38-40; 32:37-41; 33:14-18). As a result, right now we are only able to experience the power of the Spirit in part of what it will be. We have only received a down payment as proof that we will one day receive the fullness and the fulfillment of these prophecies (2 Corinthians 1:20-22).

“But if the Spirit of Him who raised Yeshua from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Messiah Yeshua from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you” (Romans 8:11). Paul is continuing to contrast life and death. We know that Abraham’s body was “as good as dead,” and that the seed of Abraham, Isaac, was figuratively brought back to life when Abraham offered him on the mountain (Genesis 22). So also Yeshua, the promised seed of Abraham (Galatians 3:16), was raised from the dead by the power of God’s dwelling presence. In the same way, He will also give us new life through the indwelling of His presence. 

In verse 12, Paul explains how this newness of life is going to change the way we live our life: “So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.” The phrase “under obligation” comes from the Greek word opheiletes, Literally translated, it refers to one who is under service, as in a bond-servant, or one who is bound, as to a master. This definition can be seen in the King James Version translation of the verse: “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.” So, the way that we please (serve) God is by putting to death the flesh as our master and being released from defilement through the Holy Spirit to serve our Creator. 

Paul goes on to say that if we are led by the Spirit as described above, then we are sons of God (verses 14-17). He makes it clear that all who are led by the Spirit are God’s children, both Jew and Gentile (Romans 2:10-11). We can only walk in this way through the circumcision of our hearts by the Spirit of holiness (Romans 2:29). There was an idea in Jewish thought which was common in Paul’s day about the merits of a son over that of a servant. God refers to the people of Israel as both sons and servants (Deuteronomy 14:1, Leviticus 25:55), as is everyone else who follows God (Titus 1:1, Galatians 3:26). The status of a son is higher than that of a servant, and yet the role of each is used to illustrate a particular aspect of the life of a believer. We must be careful when interpreting Scripture to recognize where similar analogies differ so that we will not be confused by their meaning. 

In this particular passage, Paul uses the comparison between son and servant to represent love and fear. The son serves the father out of love and a desire to please his father, but the servant serves out of fear of punishment. So without God’s adoption, we are orphans, having no hope in the world (Galatians 4:5, Ephesians 2:12). Paul says that because we are now sons, we are no longer bound to serve him out of fear, but as sons out of love. 

As we continue with this thought, we should keep in mind that Paul is using these terms as an illustration, for elsewhere in Scripture the terminology of being a servant is used in a positive light (e.g. John 12:26, Revelation 22:9). The point he is making here is that the true sons of Abraham serve God out of love, not fear of His wrath, and have died to sin by being raised to newness of life with Yeshua (Romans 6:3, 7:1, 8:1). It is also important to note that the fear Paul mentions is not the fear/awe of the Lord, but is a fear of eternal punishment. What’s the difference? The first is vital to our relationship with God (Ecclesiastes 12:13, 1 Peter 2:17, Revelation 14:6-7), while the second shows a lack of faith in the atoning power of Yeshua (1 John 4:18). 

Prior to coming to faith in Yeshua, we were slaves to our sinful nature, following our own desires to our own spiritual harm, living in fear of death. Now that we have been freed through the sacrifice of Yeshua, we are not to serve God with a constant fear of not being good enough to receive justification, “For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons” (Romans 8:15). Where does Paul get this idea of adoption? The idea of a foster-father or a guardian is found in several Biblical texts. For example, in Psalm 27:10, David says “though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me.” David reasoned that even if his parents abandoned him, the Lord would receive (adopt) him. Other references to guardians or foster-fathers are Ruth 4:16, 2 Kings 10:1, and Isaiah 49:23. Yeshua tells His disciples that He will not leave them as orphans, but that the Holy Spirit will be as a guardian to them (John 14:16-18). Bearing all of this in mind with his previous arguments, Paul concludes that by putting to death the flesh, we have now received this adoption as sons of God. 

Our adoption as God’s son is made legal by witnesses. Biblical law requires two witnesses (Deuteronomy 19:15, Matthew 18:16). Paul informs us that there are two witnesses which make our adoption “legal”: “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also.” (Romans 8:16-17). A slave does not inherit the father’s property, but rather the son does. Therefore when we receive our adoption as sons, we also receive the promises and blessings associated with being an heir. Paul began this idea of us being fellow-heirs with Israel in Romans 4. Abraham is the father of both Israel and the Gentiles because his faithfulness came prior to his act of circumcision. It is as if we become his children when we exhibit the same faith in God which carried him through his life. 

Not only are we now adopted as fellow heirs with the people of God, but Paul takes it a step further and calls us co-heirs with Yeshua (verse 17). How is this possible? Because of what he says in Galatians 3:16. There he says that Messiah is the promised “seed” of Abraham. So if we are adopted as sons of Abraham and Yeshua is also the seed of Abraham, then we are co-heirs with Yeshua. Yeshua’s death and resurrection made Him “the firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:29). 

Paul says that we know we are co-heirs with Yeshua if we “share in His sufferings” (Romans 8:17). How is it that we do this? Are we supposed to intentionally cause ourselves physical harm? Obviously not, but rather when we crucify our sinful nature through Messiah, we join with Him in His death, which allows us to share in his resurrection (Romans 5:1-11, 12:1). We also experience various persecutions and trials, and when we patiently share in His suffering through these times, we can be confident that we will also share in His glory. 

Many Scriptures refer not only to Messiah’s suffering, but also of Him “coming on the clouds with power and glory” (Mark 13:26). The glory Paul tells us we shall partake of if we are indeed co-heirs with the Messiah is the coming Kingdom of God. We see in Matthew 5:3-12 that there is reward, or glory, based on endurance of persecution and faithfulness to God in Yeshua. 

To recap, Paul is instructing us about our relationship with God now that we have been set free from the sinful nature. Just as Yeshua’s body was resurrected, so too we have been resurrected to life in Him so that we may serve Him: not as slaves who work out of fear of losing their position, but as sons who lovingly work, knowing that they will receive their inheritance if they remain diligent and work out of love for their father. Because we have been brought to life with Yeshua, we must also go through the sufferings He went through: not necessarily scourging and crucifixion as He bore, but we must put to death the deeds of the flesh and expect that we will go through hard times of discipline and persecution. These times are the proof that we will one day share in the glory of Yeshua. Because we are co-heirs with Him, we can expect to receive glorification and resurrection just as He did. 

This time of glorification is what the entire world looks ahead to: “For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God” (Romans 8:19). The word translated here as “anxious longing” is apokaradokia, and it is a word that is not observed in use much before the year 200 BC. It finds a suitable translation into Hebrew as the word ta’arog. This is from a root word found in Psalm 42:1, “My soul pants for Thee O God.” It also appears in Joel 1:20 where it says, “Even the beasts of the field pant for You.” The creation longs and even pants for the restoration which will take place in the Messianic Age. God will restore glory to the “sons of man” when he destroys darkness in the final, awful day of judgment, when the whole world will be liberated. When this happens, God will reveal the glory of his sons to the whole of creation when He clothes us in garments of honor, which are given to us through the victory of Yeshua, and our bodies are transformed into imperishable spiritual bodies. 

Not only will we, the children of Adam, be returned to our original state of glory, but Paul goes on to say in Romans 8:20-21 that God will restore nature, which in the present day lies under the curse because of man’s disobedience. All of creation hopes for rebirth. In order that every wrong may be made right, God promised that He would make a new heaven and a new earth (Isaiah 65:17, 66:22). In that day, Paul says that the freedom from sin and death that we experience through Yeshua will be extended to all of creation. Our victory over the evil inclination will eventually be extended to include every part of creation when the ruler of this world is finally destroyed at the end of times (Revelation 20:10, 20:1-3). 

Not only does creation “pant” and long for this day, but Paul continues in verse 22: “the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.” Several Scriptures allude to the fact that before the coming of the Messiah, there will be a time of suffering that will come, which the rabbis referred to as the “birth pangs of Messiah” (Isaiah 21:3, Jeremiah 4:31, 13:21, Mark 13:8). Birth does not come without distress, and in the same way we see that through the most difficult and lamentable of times comes the greatest fulfillment of hope. 

This is the idea Paul is presenting here concerning the pains of childbirth. It is not only creation that groans, but we who have been renewed through Yeshua also groan while we wait for this final redemption to come. In Jewish Biblical interpretation, there is a form of logic called kal v’chomer, which literally means “Light and heavy.” It’s a way of linking two ideas together by saying, “if a is true, then how much more is b true.” We can see examples of this in Proverbs 11:31, Luke 11:13, and 2 Corinthians 3:9, to name a few. Paul uses this method to compare the fact that if the whole of creation is groaning while it waits for redemption, how much more do we groan as we await physical redemption (2 Corinthians 5:1-10). 

“And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body” (Romans 7:23). The mention of first fruits here is an allusion to the first fruits which were offered at the festival of Shavuot, also called Pentecost. Shavuot is also the day when the Torah was given on Mt. Sinai. In Judaism, there is a tradition that in Exodus 20:18, when the people saw the thunder and lightning, that God’s words appeared like tongues of fire (Jeremiah 23:29). As we know, this is the same thing that happened on the day of Pentecost in the book of Acts (Acts 2:3). So at the first Shavuot the Torah was written on tablets of stone, and in Acts 2, the giving of the Spirit is like the writing of the Torah on the hearts of man (Ezekiel 36:27, Joel 2:28, 

1 Peter 1:1-2). Since God’s gift of the Holy Spirit cleanses us from the impurity of the flesh (sin) and brings us into eternal life, we become like a spiritual offering. But this is still only the first fruits: we have not received the fullness, and that is why we groan within ourselves (Ephesians 1:13-14, 2 Corinthians 1:21-22, 5:5). 

Romans 8:25 says, “If we hope for what we do not have, we wait for it patiently.” Because we have died to sin and become sons of God through Yeshua, we have been sealed for the World to Come. As we wait patiently, Paul says we groan, just like the creation. But man’s groaning is linked to the Holy Spirit. Because of our weakness and inability to master our own evil inclination, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us by giving us the words to praise God (verse 26). God is the one who searches our hearts through His Spirit (Psalm 7:9, 1 Samuel 16:7). 

Proverbs 20:27 says, “The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all the innermost parts of his being.” The traditional use of this verse in Judaism is that God’s Spirit searches out man’s intentions. The church father Clement of Alexandria used the same interpretation when he quotes this verse in his first letter to the Corinthians, replacing “lamp of the Lord” with “Spirit of the Lord.” It is also possible that this is the same thought behind Luke 2:35, where it says “so the thoughts of many will be revealed, and a sword will pierce your heart also.” This language is also similar to that in Hebrews 4:12, where it is said that the Word of God pierces as far as the division of soul and spirit, joint and marrow, and is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. So what Paul is saying here is that the Spirit of God searches and knows man’s thoughts, He intercedes for them, frees them from the evil inclination, and gives them knowledge according to His will. 

So even though we experience anguish alongside creation at the fact that we are not yet glorified and have not yet received the fullness of our inheritance, the Holy Spirit consoles us and gives us the ability to persevere. God discerns our emotions and desires and encourages us to continue doing good and seeking the Kingdom while convicting us of our sin and giving us wisdom in how to conduct ourselves in accord with righteousness.

Moving on in Romans, Paul continues his theme of redemption as he begins talking about God’s intervening power for those who love Him. God’s plan for those who follow and love Him is important for Paul to convey (1 Corinthians 2:9, 8:3). The saints are referred to as those who love God and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). Jeremiah 29:11 says, “I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” The plan and the good purpose in this verse was to send the Messiah to redeem His people and to one day bring them back to the land, as this prophetic word was spoken to them while they were in exile. Isaiah 61:1-2 also speaks of the favorable year of the Lord and the anointing of the elect for the purpose of bringing this about. Therefore Paul is trying to link the intercessory role of Yeshua with the election and redemption of Israel. 

All of this has to do with the theme of election (Romans 8:33). The term election means “a choosing or selecting of a person or group.” Paul has shown how this election is not only for the Jews, but for the Gentiles as well. As we observed earlier, the general belief of the Jewish people was that Israel alone was called and elected by God for the purpose of serving Him. In Romans 1-3, Paul explained that although the pagan nations were involved in idolatry, Israel also fell into this trap, as well as other sins. He showed that God renders to each man according to his deeds (Romans 2:12-29). In chapter 3:1, he spoke of God’s unbreakable covenant with Israel and the fact that all men are equal in God’s sight because all have sinned (Romans 3:9). 

Since we are all equal in God’s sight, the opportunity has been opened for all to be equal in faithfulness to Yeshua. Therefore the election is not based solely on nationality, but is set to include those who join themselves to Israel through faith in the God of Israel. The election of Israel is not negated, but rather we receive our election through faith based on the election and the Messiah of Israel. Although God has now brought the nations into His promises, He will still be faithful to His promises to the nation of Israel and work all things together for their good. He has not forsaken them and has assured them that the year of His good favor will come upon them. 

Paul uses many words to describe election such as “foreknew,” “predestined,” “called,” “justified,” and “glorified.” In Romans 8:29-30, he lists these in ascending order, like a series of acts. The result of election is that God glorifies his people through Yeshua and gives gifts of righteousness to all who are faithful to God through Yeshua, both Jew and Gentile. 

Paul has been making the argument that just because God has brought the Gentiles into the promises and Israel as a nation has been generally unfaithful in receiving the Messiah, this does not mean that God has forsaken the nation of Israel. Paul continues this argument through the rest of this chapter and through chapter 11. 

As if he were in a court of law, he refutes any possible objections when he says, “What shall we say then?” as if he is answering someone’s objection. His response is that “if God is for us, who can be against us?” (verse 31). The sign that God’s unconditional love for Israel is still intact is His son, Yeshua. Abraham was willing to offer his own son (Genesis 22), but God spared Abraham’s son Isaac in order to keep His promise to carry on Abraham’s seed. In response to Abraham’s faithfulness, God confirmed His continued election of His people Israel by not sparing his own Son (2 Corinthians 1:20). Both Israel and the Gentiles share in the work of Yeshua, but it is God’s faithfulness to His election of the nation of Israel that brought salvation to the whole world through His gift of righteousness in the Messiah Yeshua (Romans 9:4-5, Ephesians 2:12-13). 

Paul continues using these legal terms: “Who can bring a charge against God’s elect?” (Romans 8:33). Paul argues that because God, who is Judge of all creation (Psalm 96:13), is Israel’s “father” (Malachi 1:6), no one can bring charges against them because He has given them grace and favor through Yeshua’s righteousness. This grace is available to all who believe so that we can walk in the spirit of holiness. 

“Who is the one who condemns? Messiah Yeshua is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us” (verse 34). When Paul uses the word “intercession,” it is to be understood as in a legal sense. No one can bring a charge against God’s elect because Yeshua Himself is our justification, and He pleads our case for us. 

Paul is refuting the argument that because the collective nation of Israel rejected Yeshua, that God is no longer their justifier. The very fact that God sent his Son proves God’s love for His people. Yeshua’s death brings life to His people. He does not condemn, but intercedes on their behalf (John 3:16-18). It is through God’s faithfulness to Israel that we share in their blessings. 

Paul says that Yeshua is at God’s right hand making intercession on behalf of His people. Isaiah 9:6 calls one of the names of the Messiah “Wonderful Counselor.” This fits into Paul’s legal argument, as if Messiah serves as legal counsel for the people. Daniel 7:13-14 depicts the Messiah as interceding before God at the end of days. So if Yeshua is the one who intercedes on behalf of God’s chosen, then how can He condemn them? He cannot condemn them, because He is at the right hand of the Father, interceding on their behalf. 

God, like the loving Father He is, expressed that love for His people in sending the Messiah Yeshua (1 John 4:10). Paul says that nothing can separate Israel from the love of God, and by extension nothing can separate us of the nations from the love of God when we join ourselves to Israel through faith in Yeshua (Romans 8:38-39). Even their temporary rejection does not nullify their election, and their tribulations and distress do not show that God has forsaken them. Even those who receive Yeshua as their Messiah suffer these things (Matthew 5:11, Mark 13:9, 1 Corinthians 4:11-13). 

Even though we experience these trials and persecutions, these do not show that God has forsaken His people. In Romans 8:36, Paul quotes Psalm 44:22: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” This verse is used to describe a principle in Jewish thought called Kiddish HaShem, which means “the sanctification of God’s Name.” One of the ultimate ways that God’s Name is sanctified is through martyrdom. When a person chooses death over renouncing his beliefs or convictions, this act brings glory to God’s Name. Paul quotes this verse that depicts Israel as sheep to be slaughtered, as if the people are asking God, “If you love us so much, how come you kill us?” Paul is telling us that Israel is God’s chosen, and nothing can separate them from God’s love. The people of Israel, including those from the nations who come to God through Yeshua, can find themselves suffering even when they are walking in obedience. When this happens, we are being persecuted for bearing God’s name. 

In verse 35, Paul lists some things which some may perceive as able to come between us and God, but continuing into verses 37-39, he states that he is confident that nothing is able to separate us from the love of God in Yeshua. In speaking of our overwhelming victory over those things, he uses a rarely used compound form of the Greek root word nikao, which means to be victorious. The word he uses is hupernikomen which means to be more than a conqueror. The LXX uses the same word to translate a phrase in Psalm 51:4 that Paul quotes in Romans 3:4. The Hebrew of that verse says, “you shall be made blameless (justified) in your judgments,” and in the LXX it says, “you shall be victorious (hupernikomen) in your judgments.” So when Paul says that we have overcome tribulation, distress, and persecution, it means that we find our righteousness by God through these things, becoming one with Yeshua in His sufferings. 

Yeshua intercedes on the behalf of Israel and all of us who have joined with them in faithfulness to God. All who are the sons of God have victory over the evil inclination, over those who rebel against God, and over those who claim Israel is rejected as God’s people. Paul ends the chapter by restating his conviction that God has not rejected His people, and nothing can separate them from His love. There is nothing in all of creation that can separate God’s elect from Him: nothing from the past, in the present, nor in things to come. Nothing from Israel’s history, whether faithfulness or the lack thereof, can invalidate the promises God has made.

In concluding this section, we need to remember several things. Torah observance does not free a person from the evil inclination; that was never its purpose. First, we must die to the sinful nature through the righteousness of the Messiah Yeshua. Only then are we free from the penalty of sin and can experience regeneration so that we may obey God’s Torah in faith. As long as we are bound by the evil inclination, it is impossible for us to please, or serve, God. As far as the election of Israel goes, we need to remember that just because the children of Israel rejected Yeshua, that does not mean that God has rejected the whole nation or removed His blessing from them. The very fact that He sent His Son proves that He has not rejected them, and we become grafted in among them, becoming co-heirs with Israel and with Messiah as sons of Abraham through faith.  

Another part of Romans which has been widely misunderstood is Romans 14. Many believers read this chapter and go away believing that through Yeshua, God has gotten rid of the dietary laws of Leviticus 11 and the Biblical Sabbath day. Many believe that these are just matters of conscience. We will take a deeper look at this and a few other similar passages to see if we can find out what Paul was actually saying.

In the chapters leading up to this one, Paul had been dealing with the issue of sincere love for our brother (Romans 12:9, 14-21; 13:8-10). Now he applies these to a specific situation that was going on in the community at Rome. Apparently there had arisen some type of dispute about certain eating habits and holy days. 

He begins by saying, “As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions” (verse 1). In confronting this issue, his main point is that all things should be done with a commitment to love our neighbor and seek his good. When he refers to weakness and strength, he is referring to the measure of faith each believer possesses. It is important to note that this is not an issue of one group being right and another wrong, but it is a question of “opinion,” or as some translations put it, “disputable matters.” 

Now we arrive at the two sides of the debate in question: “One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only” (verse 2). Who are these two groups, and what are the reasons behind their diet choices? The traditional argument claims that this was an issue between those who still followed the kosher laws (the weak in faith who only ate vegetables) and those who realized that these laws were no longer important.

The two sides of the debate are not necessarily distinguished ethnically, that is, Jews on one side and Gentiles on the other. As we will see, the issue is more complex than that and is grounded in the culture and religion of both Jewish and Gentile believers in a pagan world. 

One thing that is worth reiteration as we proceed is that the topic of this debate is considered a matter of opinion. Surely a matter of following a commandment wouldn’t be considered simply a difference of opinion to Paul. One way or another, if this issue had some solid conclusion based on Scriptural fact, then Paul would have been much more firm in his language, as this is what he does throughout his epistles. In keeping with the traditional understanding of Paul, if he had indeed been adamant against believers keeping Torah, in this case kosher laws, then we would surely expect him to be much more severe in condemning anyone eating only vegetables in order to avoid breaking kosher, and while we have seen that this interpretation of Paul is incorrect, we must point out the inconsistent logic it applies to this passage. On the contrary, we have seen Paul tell us that those who follow God subject themselves to the Torah (Romans 3:31, 8:7). With this in mind, we can confidently assert that this dispute is not related to the kosher laws in the Torah. So what was the problem?

The problem, in short, was Rome itself. Idolatry filled every aspect of life to the point where even food sold in the marketplace was often offered to idols by dedicating a portion of the item to the idol, then selling the rest in the market. Judaism considered food sacrificed to idols “defiled,” as we see exemplified in Daniel 1:8-12. Daniel knew that portions of the meat and wine of the king would have been involved in pagan offerings, so he refused to partake of it, and God blessed him for it. This stance on food was passed on to the new Gentile believers in the Jerusalem council (Acts 15:20). Because of this, apparently some members of the community, whether Jew, Gentile, or a mix thereof, had become so afraid of accidentally consuming such food that they chose to refrain from meat entirely. The other group felt safe to eat “all things.” Being able to eat “all things” quite obviously does not actually mean all things, for example poisonous plants and animals. Extending this limitation, to a Jew unkosher animals would not be considered food at all, thus believing they could eat all things would not include breaking kosher, as we previously established. What this phrase actually meant was that the man strong in faith felt free to eat any food from the marketplace or at someone’s house, unless it had been explicitly made known to him that the food in question had been sacrificed to an idol. This teaching is paralleled in 1 Corinthians 10:25-28. 

Not only had there been disagreement on this matter, but apparently it had led to some ill will between the two disagreeing parties: 

The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. (Romans 14:3-4) 

Matthew 7:1 says, “Do not judge, or you will be judged.” When our hearts are full of love for our brother, there is no room for us to judge them. Just as Paul spoke of in leading up to this point, “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love” (Romans 12:9-10). Since neither group is acting in violation to the Torah, their judgments and contempt for one another are not rooted in truth, but in the flesh. 

Paul says that each person is to respect the other and realize that God accepts both their convictions. Earlier in our study we talked about the two masters: the sinful nature and the Spirit. Paul applies this concept to loving our brother. Because we can serve only one master, we are accountable to Him alone. When we choose to serve God, He becomes our Master. This means we do not have the right to judge another brother, for in a sense this is setting yourself as master over him. But each person is responsible only to God. We all stand as individuals before Him, and Paul emphasizes that we each have the liberty to organize our priorities according to God’s will. We see a type of this example of God honoring personal conviction in Jeremiah 35:1-10, 18-19.  

Paul now turns his attention to special days: “One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind” (verse 5). Due to our theological assumptions, the first thing we think of when we hear this is the Sabbath, although this is not mentioned anywhere in the text. There are many types of days which this could be talking about, but the most likely is some type of fast days which were esteemed as holier or more distinct than other days. This is based on verse 6: “He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God.” This would seem to be contrasting one who eats against one who esteems the day and doesn’t eat. We see an example of the practice of regular fasting in Luke 18:11-12, and this practice carried over from Judaism into the early followers of Yeshua, for He assumed that they would be fasting after His death and resurrection (Matthew 6:16-18, Mark 2:18-20). In both Jewish and pagan circles, these fast days were not arbitrarily assigned, but were chosen for a special purpose according to a certain timetable, and therefore these fast days were chosen due to their holy status. While fasting was indeed part of the believer’s life, setting aside a fixed schedule of days which were better to fast on (outside of Biblically assigned fast days) because of a belief that these days had special holiness is not something that can be proved either way, and therefore is a matter of conscience, not worth arguing over.

The phrase, “Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind” must be carefully understood within its context so it will not be twisted to mean something it is not. It goes back to Romans 14:1 which indicates that both the dispute over diet and special days are not a matter of right or wrong, but a matter where neither side can be proven objectively correct. This is not to say that this applies to every disagreement between believers, for someone can be convinced in their own mind of something that is contrary to God’s truth, and in such cases it is not beneficial for them to continue in this thinking (Ephesians 5:11, Titus 2:15, 1 Timothy 5:20). Paul himself corrects people on their behavior all throughout his epistles, showing that he did not apply this idea of absolute freedom from doctrinal limits in most situations. 

He continues in verses 7-8: “For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.” The wording Paul uses brings to mind a passage from the Jewish work “Chapters of the Fathers,” which is a compilation of rabbinic sayings with dates from 200 BC to 200 AD. In one place, it says, “Any dispute that is for the sake of Heaven is destined to endure; one that is not for the sake of Heaven is not destined to endure.” Paul would have been familiar with the rabbinic style of thinking, and so he most likely was trying to convey a similar thought. If both sides of the debate were doing their actions to please God, then in the end each group would be rewarded by God for holding to their personal service of Him, so long as they were able to disagree without resorting to contempt or judgment. 

Another tradition he would have been familiar with is that a blessing over a meal is a way a person may honor God (verse 6). The practice of blessing after a meal is traditionally considered to be commanded in Deuteronomy 6:10-12, but tradition also commanded that a blessing be given before eating as well. Yeshua sets an example of this in the story of the loaves and fish (Matthew 14:19, Mark 6:41). When a person devotes everything in his life to be sanctified by God, he becomes a living sacrifice to prove what is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:1-2).

Because this is the case, then, Paul explains that it is not our place to judge anyone who walks out their convictions differently than we do (Romans 14:10-12). Since God has created everyone and we are all equal in His sight, we must respect our fellowman, knowing that we have the right to judge no one. Paul uses Isaiah 45:23 to show that all will stand before God and give account for their actions. If we compromised on something that God put in our hearts to do, then will He reward us for such an action (verse 23)? And will He reward someone who judged their brother, who was living the way they saw as right within the framework of God’s righteousness? 

In Romans 14:13, Paul says that instead of judging, we should be careful to not put a stumbling block or obstacle in someone’s way. We see the idea of a stumbling block first in Leviticus 19:14. Literally interpreted, this seems like a strange commandment, but underneath lies an important message. The standard Jewish interpretation of this verse equated a blind person to one who lacked knowledge, and therefore placing a stumbling block in front of them meant doing something which caused them to sin. We see Yeshua use the phrase this way as well in Matthew 18:6-7. What relevance does this have to the issue in Rome? Paul is trying to make the point that in judging someone else, you may cause them to sin by harboring resentment towards you. In this particular circumstance, it may also be that if the one weak in faith compromises on his beliefs about meat from the marketplace because of your judgment, he may mistakenly believe that other more fundamental beliefs are also susceptible to compromise (see also 1 Corinthians 8:9-11). 

Now we move on to verse 14. Since all people are created by God and will give an account to God, Paul’s main objective is to love his brethren and respect their convictions. Paul puts this belief in the importance of honoring the convictions of others into practice. Although he is convinced that “nothing is unclean in itself,” he acknowledges that if anyone is convinced that something is unclean, then to him that thing is unclean, and therefore it would be sinful for that one to partake of it. 

At first glance, most believers would be quick to say that Paul is here negating the kosher and purity laws in the Torah by saying that “nothing is unclean.” What did Paul actually mean by this? We must look at the Greek language to get our answer.

The Greek word used in this verse for “unclean” is koinos. This word means “common,” in the sense of something which is not holy. When used in reference to Jewish purity, koinos refers to otherwise holy/pure things which have become as if they were unholy, for example through defilement by touching an unclean thing. 

This word is contrasted against akathartos. This word means “unclean.” It is most often used in the New Testament in reference to unclean spirits, but is also used in Acts 10 as well as in the LXX to refer to food which God has called unclean. In Acts 10:14, the two words koinos and akathartos are both used, further signifying that there is a distinction between the two: “But Peter said, ‘By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common (koinon) or unclean (akatharton).’” 

We see a similar issue of ritual purity being dealt with in the first part of Mark 7. Yeshua and the Pharisees were having a debate over unwashed hands. This hand-washing wasn’t about getting rid of germs, but was because the Pharisees believed that to eat with unwashed hands was defiling their body, or making it “common,” koinos. Their discussion was not over unclean (akathartos) food, but rather about the tradition they had about the handling of food and if eating food with unwashed hands made a person “unclean” (koinos). So what was the issue? Yeshua tells us in verse 8: “Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.”

We have to remember whenever we are reading Scripture that we always have to look at the context: what happens before and after a verse, or even a chapter or book, of Scripture. So we need to understand that the discussion in Mark is not about kosher foods, but eating practices. Then, out of the blue in Mark 7:19, we see it says, “Thus He declared all foods clean.” Did Yeshua negate the commandments about dietary restrictions, thus “neglecting the commandment of God,” as He had just condemned these Pharisees for doing? Is this an accurate translation? 

Once again, looking at the Greek text is important to understanding the meaning of the verse. A literal reading of the Greek in Mark 7:19 says, “because not it enters of him into the heart, but into the belly, and into the draught goes out, purifying all the food.” The King James, among others, therefore translates the final phrase as part of Yeshua’s quote: “[Do ye not perceive that]… it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught [latrine, sewer], purging all meats [foods]?” According to these translations, Yeshua is not declaring all unkosher foods now fair game, but is saying that through the process of digestion any perceived defilement of already kosher food is lost and excreted with the other waste. This makes more sense considering the context, which is Yeshua arguing that eating with unwashed hands does not defile a person, but rather the actions that arise from a person’s heart are what defiles him. Even if we operate on the assumption that the translation “He declared all foods clean” is accurate, we still do not arrive at an abrogation of the Leviticus 11 food laws. When understood this way, the phrase effectively means the same thing: food that God has declared clean is not made unclean (koinos) by eating it without ritually washing the hands. This is the same point Paul is making in regard to food dedicated to idols. 

So let’s get back to Romans 14. We need to remember that Paul’s message is all about love for our brother in Yeshua: “For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Messiah died” (verse 15). The word “grieved” corresponds to the Hebrew word for “wrongdoing.” So just as there can be wrongdoing in words, so there can also be wrongdoing in eating. The big issue is how far we can take our “freedom” in the Lord. As the old saying goes, “My right to swing my fist ends where your nose begins.” When it comes to the body of Messiah, our right to do whatever we please ends where God’s commandments begin, which includes loving our neighbor and sacrificing our will. 

Paul has the understanding that not respecting another’s commitments is like saying that God does not respect them either. He also says that treating things that are forbidden as though they are permitted does not nullify these things. His idea is that no one should be forced to compromise: the only compromise that is permissible is when it is done voluntarily, out of love. The best way to serve God is by sanctifying all our thoughts and acts by walking in the Spirit in love. Sometimes, we need to go beyond a strict observance of our own perceptions of the law, which is right and good, in order to do what is right and good. How do we serve Messiah in this way? By offering our bodies as living sacrifices in the sense of loving our fellow man, as in the golden rule (Luke 6:31). There is another principle in Jewish thought called “the paths of peace” (from Proverbs 3:17). This principle states that we should not judge our brother for his personal convictions and we should not do things that would cause him to stumble. 

Romans 14:20 goes on, “Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are clean, but they are evil for the man who eats and gives offense.” The phrase “all things are clean” here is obviously not unlimited in its scope (Ephesians 5:5, 1 Thessalonians 4:7, Revelation 21:27). But keeping the rest of the chapter in mind, this verse is echoing the words of Yeshua in Mark 7, although Paul adds that if a man eats meat he feels is defiled, if it goes against his conscience, to him it is sin. 

He goes on to say we should not eat meat, drink wine, or do anything that causes our brother to stumble (verse 21). Here is more evidence for the theory that this passage is about food dedicated to idols. In Judaism, wine, being made of grapes, is not restricted through the Levitical food laws. However, wine was offered to idols ceremonially in the ancient world, and this could be considered a source of impurity for the wine that would make it appear unclean to some. Paul re-emphasizes his main point in bringing up this dispute, that we must wholeheartedly watch ourselves so as not to hurt our brethren through hypocritical attitudes. Even if the things we do are not sinful of themselves, if they cause someone else to sin, then we share partial responsibility for their guilt. We must be faithful not only to our convictions, but to our brother by loving him even if his convictions differ from ours (1 John 3:18-24).

“Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves” (Romans 14:22). Paul continues the theme of blessing/giving thanks from verse 6. If we want to be blessed, we need to know that the things we bless are acceptable in God’s sight. That is the only way we will prove God’s good, acceptable, and perfect will (Romans 12:2). 

Chapter 14 draws to a close with Paul saying, “But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin.” The word “doubting” is the Greek word diakrino, which means to make a distinction, to distinguish, or to judge. If we act contrary to our convictions concerning what we eat, when we eat it, and with whom we eat it, we condemn ourselves. James 4:17 says “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” So Paul agrees that if we participate in things that are against our convictions, then it is sin, so long as our convictions are aligned with God’s will. We see that there are two sides to our convictions before the Lord: things we feel may be sanctified and things we consider unable to be sanctified. Both of these must be balanced with our ability and willingness to love our brother when the things he feels can be sanctified differ from ours. 

In summary of this chapter, we need to look back to verse 1. Remember, we always have to look at Scripture in context. Verse 1 says we should not pass judgment on “disputable matters.” I think we would all have to agree that God’s commands are not disputable. We need to acknowledge that what Paul is addressing are areas of personal conviction, not the commandments of God. This is the issue at hand here in Romans 14, in Mark 7, and in other such Scriptures. In matters of truth, let us be zealous; but in matters of preference, let us not be quick to pass judgment or criticism: “For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17).  

The next section of our study will focus on the book of Galatians. When we read this book, we must remember that even in his own day, Paul was being misunderstood 

(2 Peter 3:15-16). Why did Paul write the book of Galatians, and whom was he addressing? We know that Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles (1 Timothy 2:7). In Hebrew, the word for “apostle” is shaliach, which means “one sent.” In the first century, the majority of Jews lived outside of the land of Israel, so it was common for the Sanhedrin, the ruling body, to send out letters by a shaliach. This is how they would send out rulings and instructions to the synagogues in the diaspora. Paul, however, was not sent by man, but directly by Yeshua the Messiah. 

Previously we touched on the types of people in the synagogue: Jews, converts to Judaism, and God-fearers. The latter is the group which Paul is mainly addressing in this letter. So Paul tells us that he is an apostle: “not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Yeshua Messiah and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead” (Galatians 1:1), sent out to deliver truth to the Gentiles. Many scholars believe that Galatians is the first of Paul’s epistles and the oldest writing in the New Testament, pre-dating the writing of the gospels and the book of Acts. 

In Galatians 1, we are introduced to Paul’s gospel. Apparently there were some false teachers who had come to Galatia, challenging the message which Paul had brought: “I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Messiah, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Messiah” (verses 6-7). Although the message which others brought is not explicit here, it can be gleaned from the book of Galatians and the arguments which Paul uses against the community there. This teaching was so contrary to truth that Paul went so far as to call a curse against those who taught it (verses 8-9).

Continuing in verses 11-24, Paul explains why he has authority to believe that his gospel is the truth. He explains that his is not “man’s gospel” (verse 11), that is, not a message thought up or preached by himself or any other human being. Rather, he received his gospel directly from Yeshua (verse 12, see also Acts 22:17-18, 21). In Paul’s day, most believers were Jewish, including the apostles. Their task was to go around telling other Jews about their Messiah. This was a message preached and received by man, as is the conventional method. Paul, on the other hand, became a believer in a very unusual way: supernaturally (Acts 9:3-6). Because he had this assurance that his message was true, he didn’t feel the need to consort with any of the apostles about this gospel or try to seek approval from them before preaching it (Galatians 1:15-24). 

So what was Paul’s gospel, his good news? Paul and the other apostles all included the Gentiles in salvation through Yeshua. The distinguishing point of Paul’s gospel is that many of the other leaders expected the Gentile to eventually become legally Jewish. Paul did not, and this is what his gospel to the Gentiles hinges upon (Ephesians 3:4-7).

Some scholars believe that Galatians was actually written before the Jerusalem council in Acts 15. The passage in Galatians 2:1-10 speaks of a journey to Jerusalem, but due to conflicts of details, it is unsure if this is the trip where the council took place or if it is a separate occasion. Up until that decision, the common consensus was that Gentiles would become legally Jewish upon professing faith in Yeshua. Paul did not agree, and eventually, according to Acts 15, the rest followed suit. So then what is the “other gospel that is no gospel at all“? It is the message that Gentiles must become legally Jewish through circumcision in order to become part of Israel (Galatians 2:3-5). 

In Galatians 2:11-21, Paul and Peter have a confrontation related to this issue. Many read this passage and think that Peter had been living like a Gentile, that is, disregarding the Torah and rejecting his Jewish heritage and religious expression, but in the presence of some influential Jews “reverted” to Judaism. But is that what the Scripture says?

We need to remember that Peter was the first of the apostles to go to a Gentile. This event is recorded in Acts 10:9-11:18. It is a very lengthy passage, so we will only hit the main points. Peter receives a vision from the Lord: a sheet with all kinds of animals on it is lowered, and the Lord tells him to kill and eat. Peter replies, “Surely not, I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” This happens three times. The vision ends with God saying, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” Many say that this is God doing away with the kosher food laws. Let’s take a closer look.

First we need to look at the two words used: impure and unclean. Previously, we discussed how these are two words in Greek. One is something normally “clean” that is contaminated. The other is something that God has commanded as unclean. So in Acts 10:14 when Peter says “common,” he means the first definition, and when he says “unclean,” he means the second. The key to understanding this passage is Acts 10:28. According to Jewish law (not the written Torah, but traditional oral teaching), Jews were not even allowed to eat normally kosher food with a Gentile. This was because a Gentile, by nature, was considered contaminated by idolatry. Prior to this vision, Peter would have considered even a God-fearer unclean. So what was Peter’s interpretation of the vision? That he should call no man unclean. The issue was not food, but people. Peter doesn’t begin to eat pork after the vision, but instead he goes and ministers to a Gentile God-fearer. God shows him that he can enter a Gentile’s house and even eat with him without becoming unclean. Remember, a God-fearer was a Gentile who was not converted, but was attending the synagogue and participating in the basics of the Torah. He would never have thought of serving something contrary to the food laws of Leviticus.

Now we can return to Galatians with a proper understanding of the context of Paul’s issue with Peter. Peter had been the first of the apostles to accept Gentiles as uncircumcised, since he saw they had received the Holy Spirit without being converted. Due to this, he saw that eating with God-fearing Gentile believers in Yeshua was not an impure thing: “For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision” (Galatians 2:12). These false teachers, called the “party of the circumcision,” were those who believed that Gentiles needed to be circumcised (formally converted) in order to achieve salvation. This is the gospel which Paul is opposing all through Galatians. These men could have been Jews preaching circumcision for all, or they could have been proselytes themselves who were trying to convince other Gentiles to convert. Apparently Peter and others felt intimidated by them, and so they concede to their beliefs (verse 13). 

Paul is not going to let this slide, so he calls Peter out in front of everyone: 

But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?” (verse 14)

He reiterates that this has to do with the “truth of the gospel.” Paul’s gospel had to do with the fact that Gentiles did not need to be formally circumcised and undergo conversion in order to share in reaping the blessings of Israel, including the Holy Spirit and the gift of salvation through Yeshua. Therefore those who were teaching a false gospel were preaching otherwise, sharing the opinion of those in Acts 15:1. Their position was that circumcision was the logical next step for Gentiles who were joining themselves to Israel. The truth of the gospel was that through Yeshua, the dividing wall between Jew and Gentile has been broken down, meaning both groups are united in the body of Yeshua while maintaining ethnic identity.

Paul asks Peter, “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?” Is he saying that Peter is no longer living according to the Torah? The common interpretation of verse 14 is that Peter had indeed previously abandoned the Torah (Sabbath, dietary laws, etc.), but now he was trying to convince Gentiles to come under its heavy burden, and this is what Paul was coming against him for. This interpretation, however, does not make sense considering the catalyst of the argument, which was regarding table fellowship, which is a matter of oral interpretation rather than God’s commandments. So what does Paul mean?

Peter was previously living like a Gentile in the sense that he refused to accept the mainline Jewish practice regarding the ritual purity of Gentiles. He was talking with, worshiping with, and even eating with Gentile God-fearers, which was completely against the predominant Jewish views regarding Gentiles. This doesn’t mean he didn’t still keep Torah; on the contrary, he was living in the true heart of the commandments now that he was loving his Gentile brothers and sisters in Messiah. Peter recognized that Gentiles who believe in Yeshua do not need to be circumcised and convert to Judaism, as he demonstrates, for example, in Acts 15:7-11. But when he separates himself from eating with the Gentiles to appease those of the party of the circumcision, he is essentially agreeing with them in saying that the Gentile believers are impure before God until they become circumcised, thus “compelling the Gentiles to live like Jews.” The phrase “live like Jews” is from the Greek word Ioudaizein, which is sometimes translated as “Judaize.” In the LXX, this term is used to indicate conversion to Judaism through circumcision (Esther 8:17), and we see it is used the same way here in Galatians. Paul’s condemnation of Peter has nothing to do with teaching Gentiles to keep Torah, but is about falling back to a “salvation by works,” where salvation and inclusion into Israel is attained by being physically Jewish or converted to Judaism through circumcision.

Paul aligns this belief with justification through “works of the Torah” (Galatians 2:15-16). Some have been led to believe that the keeping of the commandments is itself justification through the “works of the Torah,” and therefore should be avoided. The Dead Sea Scrolls shed some light on this phrase. One of the scrolls is entitled “Selection on Works of the Torah.” Discussed within are various halakhic rulings, mostly regarding ceremonial purity. Paul may or may not have known about this document, and perhaps this phrase was used in other contexts as well. But bearing this in mind, we see that Paul was applying the term to mean specific rulings, particularly those related to becoming legally Jewish, and saying that a person is not justified by observing these. This fits with the overarching theme we have seen thus far, that being conversion and acceptance of the believing Gentiles. 

Paul continues to make the point that the wall of partition has been broken down between Jews and Gentiles, and this unity means that there is no need for the Gentiles to become Jewish through circumcision, “For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I prove myself to be a transgressor” (verse 18). If, after recognizing that Gentile believers are sanctified through Yeshua, the walls were again built up between the two groups so that Gentiles must be circumcised, then they would be found to have fallen for the false gospel that Paul warns against.

Let’s continue to look at Paul’s dialogue against Peter in verse 19. Here Paul says that he died to the Torah to live to God. For most Christians, this is a simple verse. They would say Paul is contrasting his former life as a Jew and his new life as a Christian. There are some problems with this belief. If it is true, then Paul is a hypocrite (Acts 25:8, 28:17). We know that Paul was a faithful Jew. So when he says things like this, he does not mean he is forsaking his former ways of faithfulness.

He clarifies what he means by the phrase “I died to the Torah” in the next verse: “I have been crucified with Messiah; and it is no longer I who live, but Messiah lives in me.” This is similar language to that which he uses in Romans 7:1-12. As we learned there, Paul was making the point that Yeshua bore the punishment for our transgression of the Torah. It is as if we have already paid the price for our sin when we put our faith in Yeshua. This gives us freedom so that we may “live for God,” walking in faith and obedience to His commands, putting to death our sinful nature daily. For, since Yeshua obeyed the Torah without fault, if He is living through us then we will inevitably be doing those same deeds He did. As Paul was saying, this relationship is through faith, not by being from a certain ethnic background or observing certain ritual traditions.

His dialogue against Peter ends in verse 21: “I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Torah, then Messiah died needlessly.” If we achieved salvation by merely becoming circumcised, then there would have been no need for Messiah to die. But this is not how we are saved, and it is not how anyone was saved prior to Yeshua. Everyone who is righteous before God is not so on account of things they have done or their lineage, but because they have faith in God to forgive their transgressions when they earnestly repent (Ezekiel 33:12-16, Daniel 9:18-19, Hosea 14:1-4). Even before Yeshua was born, those who lived by faith were trusting in Him, even if they didn’t understand it fully (John 8:56, Hebrews 11:13). 

So to summarize, this passage says nothing of Peter turning from Judaism and living like a pagan. He had not turned from Judaism, but was living the way the vision of the sheet had revealed to him. After some men came who did not believe the same way, he changed his tune. Remember, if we consider the fact that Galatians may have been written before the events of Acts 15, there was still no hard and fast rule at the time of this event about how Gentiles should be included. And if in fact this happened soon after the Jerusalem council, then Peter and the others would be even more at fault. So what about the “false believers?” In order to be “false” believers, they must be claiming to be believers, so since they were trying to force the Gentiles to become legally Jewish, they could have been Jews, but more likely they were Gentiles who had already become legally Jewish. Paul was not anti-Torah, but he was bringing the teachings of the Judaism of his day that related to Gentiles forward and adapting them to his gospel as revealed by Yeshua Himself. This involved correcting those who taught that the only way for a Gentile to be justified was by legally becoming a Jew. 

Now let’s move on to Galatians 3. Here Paul seems to contrast the Spirit and faith against the Torah:

You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Yeshua the Messiah was publicly portrayed as crucified? This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Torah, or by hearing with faith? 

What was the folly in Galatia that had Paul so upset? Somehow most Christians today believe that the Galatian believers who came to belief in Yeshua were keeping a form of modern Christianity until these men came along and turned them back to Judaism. We must remember that the first century Christians were a sect of Judaism and were functioning within the synagogue system (Acts 14:1, 18:4, 17:17). There was no Christianity as we know it today. The books in what we call the New Testament were letters written to individual communities, and had not been written until, at the earliest, around 50 AD. 

The problem in Galatia was that the Gentiles who had previously received the Spirit were now under theological attack from those who were trying to get them to become circumcised and go through the legal conversion to Judaism. Paul’s question in verse 2 is an attempt to get them to focus on the root of their belief. They did not receive the Spirit by converting to Judaism, but rather through faith in Yeshua. Though they were uncircumcised, the Holy Spirit was given to them as the sign of the New Covenant and of salvation. Since they received it while still a Gentile, then it is evident that conversion to Judaism is not a prerequisite for salvation. Peter and some other Jewish believers recognize this in Acts 11:1-18, and this is the issue which was addressed at the Jerusalem council in Acts 15. 

Paul continues this line of reasoning in Galatians 3:3: “Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” Flesh obviously refers to physical things. So he’s saying, “After beginning your walk with a spiritual transformation, are you now trying to be perfected through a physical transformation by becoming Jewish (through circumcision of the flesh)?” He can’t be referring to following the rules of the Torah, for the Torah itself is spiritual, and thus also lies in opposition to the flesh (Romans 7:14). 

Why does this seem to be such a big issue for Paul? Remember, Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles. He wanted to see what Scripture said about the justification of Gentiles, and he found his answer in Genesis: 

Even so Abraham ‘Believed God and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,’ [Genesis 15:6]. Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham. The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “All the nations will be blessed in you.” (verses 6-8)

Even before the command of circumcision, Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness. So Paul reasoned that since Abraham was declared righteous on the basis of faith prior to circumcision, circumcision and Jewish status cannot be a prerequisite for salvation (Romans 4:11-12, 16-18). Here we also see a succinct statement of Paul’s gospel: “All the nations will be blessed in you.”

So where does the big misunderstanding come in? It is based on wrong assumptions. To Paul, “works” refers to attempts at earning justification through conversion to Judaism and the various extra laws which necessarily rest upon a person once they go through such a conversion. He was not opposed to Gentiles being obedient to God according to the commandments within the Torah that apply to them as Gentiles. He was talking about Gentiles becoming Jewish in an attempt to be justified before God or accepted by men. In regard to this usage of works, there is no discrepancy between Paul and James. Paul, when writing to Gentiles about a very particular issue, used the term works to mean conversion, circumcision, and becoming Jewish. James wrote to Jewish believers, so when he referred to works he meant doing good deeds. The real faith vs. works question was this: “Can an uncircumcised Gentile be saved by faith, or does he need to undergo the works of circumcision and become Jewish?” And the real grace vs. law question was: “Can an uncircumcised Gentile be considered a son of Abraham and receive the same grace Abraham did, or does he have to keep the Torah first in order to receive it?” So we see that Paul and James were both right.

Paul continues to condemn the Gentiles’ behavior in Galatians 3:10: “For as many as are of the works of the Torah are under a curse; for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the Torah, to perform them.’” After reading this verse, many would see a Messianic Jew or a Christian who decides to honor the seventh-day Sabbath or eat kosher, and say to them, “Don’t you know that you are putting yourself under a curse?” Some versions of Scripture word this passage “those who rely” or “depend” on the works of the Torah. However, in the literal reading of the passage it says, “those who are of the works of the Torah.” 

Paul is quoting Deuteronomy 27:26, the phrase spoken during the giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai. Everyone who tried to avoid that curse found themselves unable to meet the requirements necessary to do so. We could paraphrase Galatians 3:10 like this: If a person is legally Jewish, either through conversion or heritage, and they rely on these and other works for justification, they are under a curse, because the Torah says that anyone who does not keep the Torah is under a curse. In fact, all of mankind is under that same curse (Romans 3:19). 

The next verse in Galatians continues this thought: “Now that no one is justified by the Torah before God is evident; for, ‘The righteous man shall live by faith.’” Since nobody is able to perfectly obey the Torah, and are thus under a curse, it cannot be through obedience that we are justified, otherwise everyone who ever lived would be doomed. Instead, it is through faith that the righteous live. This does not mean that Torah observance out of love for God and His word invokes a curse. The curse is upon everyone, regardless of attempts to live up to God’s standard. The only way to be free of it is to live by faith in Yeshua. A side-effect of this faith is that it will cause us to want to always live the way God wants rather than following what is right in our own eyes. 

So how should we look at this situation? Let’s compare it to Christianity today. There are many different doctrines of faith within the Christian realm, each with their own doctrines. Some say that once you hold to that set of beliefs, you are “in.” Some even take this to the point of saying that once you are “in” you can never be “out” of that faith. It is a similar situation that was going on in Galatia that Paul was addressing. Gentiles were being encouraged to become legally Jewish by those who still held the belief that only someone who was legally Jewish could be justified. Paul was warning them that if they became legally Jewish, they would be held legally responsible to obey the whole Torah, because that’s what the Torah says, according to verse 10 above.

Paul goes on to say in Galatians 3:12 that the Torah is not of faith. He seems to contrast those who keep the Torah against those who live by faith. This has caused the majority of the church to shun even a hint of Torah observance. Did Paul really mean that faith and Torah observance are opposites? 

Let’s look at life and death. Deuteronomy 30:19 says, “I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life.” Paul looked at these two terms, life and death, with more than just the literal meaning. For Paul, “to live” is what some would call “saved:” in other words, to attain the right to participate in the resurrection and eternal life in the Kingdom and the World to Come. So then, to “die” is what some would call “unsaved” or “lost“: in other words, to face death without hope and with dread of the final judgment. Paul did not invent these definitions, rather they were common terminology and interpretations he would have learned as a Pharisee. An example is in Leviticus 18:5, which says, “Keep my decrees and laws, for the man who obeys them will live by them. I Am the Lord.” This verse was interpreted by the well-known Torah scholar Rashi to mean that resurrection into the World to Come was granted by obeying God. So to Paul the phrase “He who practices them shall live by them” would mean that the one who obeys the commands will find eternal life through them. Because of this, relying on obedience does not come from a heart of faith. Those who are expecting to receive their justification by converting to Judaism and becoming reliant upon outward acts rather than deeds borne out of love from the heart are not truly acting in faith.

So what Paul is saying is that no one is exonerated before God by becoming legally Jewish, because the righteous will enter the World to Come by faith. Becoming legally Jewish by works of the Torah is not of faith, but the one who as a result of his faith does the commands will receive a reward in the World to Come (Luke 12:33, John 14:15, 21; 1 John 2:3-6, Romans 2:11-13). 

Instead of presenting faith as against the keeping of Torah, Paul is clarifying the role that each of these things plays in the life of the believer. Since he was writing to a community that was falling into deception about how they received their justification, his goal was to bring the truth in relation to that practice. In letters to some of the other assemblies, he is more focused on their actions (Titus 2:14, 2 Thessalonians 1:8, Ephesians 5:11).   

The righteous man who lives by faith is the one who lives by God’s commands and does them (Romans 2:6-10). After he has been redeemed from the curse of the Torah, that is, he has put his faith in the death of Yeshua for his sins (Galatians 3:13), this faith will manifest itself in a desire to live the way God has established for mankind, Jew and Gentile alike (Ecclesiastes 12:13, Galatians 3:14). Even when our desire is to walk in this way, we will still slip up and sin. When this happens, we must show our faith by repentance, trusting in the blood of Yeshua to wash us clean so that we may turn from the impure and strive for holiness (Hebrews 12:14, 1 Peter 1:14-16, Revelation 22:11-12). Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are his workmanship, created in Yeshua the Messiah for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” If we look at it this way, then there is no problem here: we are justified by faith, and we live out that faith and show our right standing before God by obedience. 

Welcome

Welcome to spring.  After a long winter it is so nice to see the flowers peeking through the ground and the days are getting longer. It’s the time for the resurrection of the “Dead from Winter” and everyone cries Hallelujah! People feel renewed as they begin to spend more time outside I would like to share this Sandiegram with you.

Spring is Here

Lord, as the earth renews itself in the spring, let me be renewed as I accept You in my life. As winter lets go to spring, let me shed my old ways and allow Your Spirit to live within me so that I may have life again. Like the buds on the trees that burst so that leaves may grow, let Your love burst within me. Fill me with Your living water that I may grow. As the flowers give forth a beautiful fragrance, let my praises to You give out a beautiful fragrance that will rise to reach You. Cut out the evil in my life, Lord, just as the weeds are cut down that I may come to You with a pure heart. Let this spring in my life be the beginning of new life that will one day lead me home to You. Amen

From the Sandiegram, What Season is Best of All? Copyright 2010

It’s Time to Renew

It seems that there are so many things in our lives that we have to renew from time to time. One thing that we do not get a notice of renewal is in our own lives. We must be renewed. Titus 3:5-7 tells us, “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we did in righteousness, but in accordance with His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He richly poured out upon us through Messiah Yeshua our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

At this time of Resurrection, and Springtime, we tend to think of new life. We countdown the days till Pentecost, so that we can prepare for the coming Holy Spirit. Yes! The Holy Spirit already came, but we celebrate every year at Pentecost, or at least we should, to remind us that we need to be renewed in the Holy Spirit. We are going to take a closer look at the Holy Spirit and why we need Him in our lives.  Yeshua tells us in John 15:26 this about the Holy Spirit, “I will send you the Helper from the Father. The Helper is the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father. When He comes, He will tell about me.” 

So the first thing we see is that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth. We know that the sword in the armor of God is the sword of the Spirit, it is the Word of God. God is truth, His Word is truth and the Spirit is truth, He leads us in all truth. John 16:13a tells us,  “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth.” The Helper Holy Spirit helps us to pray as it says in Romans 8:26-27,  “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.  And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” The Holy Spirit helps us to mature in our walk with God.

Colossians 1:9-12, “For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,  and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of His holy people in the kingdom of light.”

Ephesians 4:11 -16 tells us, “So Messiah Himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,  to equip His people for works of service, so that the body of Messiah may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Messiah. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.  Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of Him who is the head, that is, Messiah.  From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

This all happens through the Holy Spirit, for He gives gifts to all of God’s people as 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 tells us, “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led.  Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Yeshua  is accursed!” and no one can say “Yeshua is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;  and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord;  and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.  To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.  For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit,  to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,  to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.  All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as He wills.”

Romans 12:3-8 says this, “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.  For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Messiah we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.  We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith;  if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;  if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”

The Holy Spirit not only gives gifts but through Him we bear fruit as Galatians 5:13-25 tells us, “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.  For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.  For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;  idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions  and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.  Those who belong to Messiah Yeshua  have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.  Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.”

The fruit, gifts, truth, prayer, this is our whole walk with God. This is who we should be and need to be, but we can only do it though the Holy Spirit.  As we countdown to Pentecost, let us prepare our hearts to receive a fresh outpouring in our lives. Let us examine ourselves as 2 Corinthians 13:5 tells us to do. “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Messiah Yeshua is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!”

Let us look at Titus 3:5-7 once again, “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we did in righteousness, but in accordance with His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He richly poured out upon us through Messiah Yeshua our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

We see here that we are not saved by our righteous deeds, but by the washing of regeneration and the renewing by the Holy Spirit.  This means that we need to be new as Ephesians 4:20-24 tells us,  “We need to take off the old man and put on the new. But you did not learn Messiah in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Yeshua,  that, in reference to your former way of life, you are to rid yourselves of the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,  and that you are to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,  and to put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.”

So you see it is not about just being a good person, but you need to be a new creation as 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us, “Therefore, if anyone is in Messiah, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” And to be a new creation you need the Holy Spirit. Only He will lead you in all truth and He will teach you and give you gifts and fruit so that you can mature and be that new creation.  We must repent of our sinful ways and no longer run after the world.  1Peter 4:3-6 tells us, “For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of indecent behavior, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties, and wanton idolatries.  In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them in the same excesses of debauchery, and they slander you;  but they will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.  For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as people, they may live in the Spirit according to the will of God.”

So let us be washed in the blood of the Lamb as John and the book of Hebrews tells us, 1 John 1:7, “But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Messiah Yeshua His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” Hebrews 9:14, “Just think how much more the blood of Messiah will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Messiah offered Himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins.”

And let us say, “Come Holy Spirit and fill my heart today.”

Excerpts from A Commentary on the Jewish Roots of Romans by Joseph Shulam

Romans 8:27, “and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”

The expression “He who searches the hearts” is frequently found in the  Tanakh (The Hebrew Scriptures), and normally describes God’s sovereign power to judge man because He knows his innermost thoughts and attitudes. Here, however, Paul appears to be following a tradition based on Proverbs 20:27, in which God’s Spirit is the one who divines man’s intentions. This tradition is reflected in a passage from Clement of Alexandria’s First Letter to the Corinthians, in which he interprets the original text of Proverbs 20:27 (“The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all the innermost parts of his body”) as though the “lamp of the Lord” is the “Spirit of the Lord” rather than the “spirit of man.” This transposition is easily made, since it is through God’s light that man’s spirit is disclosed:

      Take heed, beloved, lest his [Messiah’s] many good works become toward us a judgement on us, if we do not do good and virtuous deeds before him in concord, and be citizens worthy of him. For he says in one place:- “The Spirit of the Lord is a lamp searching the inward parts.”… For he is a searcher of thoughts and desires; his breath is in us, and when he will he shall take it away. (1Clem.21.1-2,9)

 Flusser suggests that this tradition based on Proverbs 20:27 also lies behind the words in Luke 2:35, which speaks of the “sword”  (Yeshua) which will “pierce Israel’s soul” so that the “thoughts of many hearts may be revealed,”  as well as in Hebrews 4:12, where as the “word of God” it pierces as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow,  and [is] able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. The interpretation of Proverbs 20:27 reflected in 1 Clement understands man’s “thoughts and intentions” as pertaining to his “soul,” “spirit,” and “flesh” (cf.”bones and marrow”). In the preceding verse, Paul says the “he who searches the hearts” knows the “mind of the spirit.” The “spirit of the Lord,” as both the “candle” and the “sword,” searches men’s thoughts and intentions. The Spirit of God thus “searches” and “knows” man’s thoughts, according to Paul, because  he intercedes on their behalf, cleansing them from their evil inclination and enlightening  their eyes with “knowledge” according to God’s will.

Ann’s Lemon Pie

Nothing says spring like a good lemon pie, and we think that you will enjoy this one.

Crust: 1 cup of flour    1/2 tsp salt    1/3 cup of Crisco or butter    3-4 Tbsps of water

Mix: flour and salt and cut in Crisco or butter. Add water, mix with fork.

Roll out dough and put in a pan and  crimp sides.

Bake: 10-12 minutes at 450 degrees. Let cool.

Lemon Non-Cholesterol Filling:  1 cup of sugar   1/3  cup corn starch

1 1/2 cup water   1 cup egg beaters or regular egg yolks   1/2  cup lemon juice

1Tbsp grated lemon peel    2Tbsps butter or margarine

Mix: sugar, corn starch in pan, stir in water till blended. Bring to a gentle boil over medium heat/boil for 1 minute. Stir constantly till thick and transparent. Pour  egg beaters in a small bowl and slowly stir in hot mixture, stirring constantly, adding all the mixture. Pour in lemon juice,and return to pan , stir over medium heat…3-4 minutes till thick. Add lemon peel, the butter or margarine and stir till well blended. 

Pour into cool baked crust

Meringue: 3 egg whites   1/2   tsp of vanilla   1/4  tsp cream of tartar  

6 Tbsps of sugar

Beat egg whites, vanilla and cream of tartar till  peeks  form, then gradually add sugar and beat at high speed until stiff, and shiny.  Spoon onto pie filling and bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes until golden brown and then let cool completely.  Keep refrigerated, and ENJOY!

Hebrew Corner

This month’s letter is the letter  

Kaf/khaf

The difference between kaf and khaf is a dot in the middle of the letter.  Kaf without the dot has a “k” sound but with the dot, khaf  sounds like a “ch” Kaf is the eleventh letter in the Hebrew alphabet. It has the numerical value of 20, which is the same for the letter Yod, the hand.  Kaf looks like a palm of a hand and the literal meaning of Kaf means palm of a hand. Isaiah 49:15-16 says this about Jerusalem,“Can a woman forget her nursing child and have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you. Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are continually before Me.”

 The word for spoon in Hebrew is also the word kaf and what do you put in the palm of your hand but a spoon.  The value of twenty also is a symbol of crowning accomplishment. The Torah mentions four crowns: 

 *The Crown of Torah, 

*The Crown of the Priesthood, 

*The Crown of the Kingdom, 

* The Crown of a Good Name. 

In the Apostolic Scriptures it mentions five crowns: 

The Crown of Life, “Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” (James 1:12), 

The Crown of Righteousness,  “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;  in the future there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing. (2Timothy 4:7-8), 

An Incorruptible Crown,  “Everyone who strives for the prize exercises self-control in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible one.”  (1 Corinthians 9:25),

 The Crown of Glory,   “And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.”   (1 Peter 5:4) 

 The Crown of Thorns,   “And after twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and put a reed in His right hand; and they knelt down before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”  (Matthew 27:29, Mark 15:17 and John 19:5)

And we know that our Messiah is the Torah, and He is the Great High Priest, and He is the Righteous King of Kings, Who is full of glory. Praise His Name!

Just a Note

If you have enjoyed receiving the Clarion, we ask that you pass it on to your family and friends.  Besides the Clarion we have new teachings every month on our website at www.judeochristianclarion.com.  And don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Parler, Mewe and Pinterest. Join in on the conversation. We would love to hear from you. 

Now let’s move on to another of Paul’s interesting analogies. In Galatians 3:19-26, Paul compares the Torah and Jewish status to a paidagogos, a tutor. Because of the wording in this portion of scripture, the majority of the traditional church taught that the Torah was just a guardian until Messiah came, and that once He came, the Torah is canceled. Is this true? If it is, then we have a problem, because Yeshua said He did not come to cancel the Torah (Matthew 5:17-20, John 14:15-21). If Paul teaches contrary to Yeshua, he is a false teacher. Thankfully, we know that that is not true. 

God made the promise to Abraham that all nations would be blessed in His seed. Paul goes on to say that the Torah was added “because of transgressions… until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made” (Galatians 3:19).  The Torah was added to identify and define God’s righteous standard (Romans 5:20), as well as to provide a foreshadowing of how mankind could be cleansed from sin through redemption when sin works through us. In Galatians 3:20, Paul quotes Deuteronomy 6:4 to remind us that the revelation of God through the Torah is not separable from His being. The Torah serves to reveal God’s essence until the promised seed comes, His blessed Son, who is “the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature” (Hebrews 1:3). “Until” does not mean that now that Yeshua has come, the Torah does not reveal God’s nature. We see this term used similarly in Psalm 110:1: “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.” The word does not signify an ending of one thing and the beginning of another, but the state of the first looks toward the second. In other words, the verse could read something like, “Why the Torah then? It was added because of transgressions… looking toward the seed [who] would come to whom the promise had been made.”

After saying all of this, Paul wants to make sure we don’t think Torah contradicts the promise to Abraham of salvation through faithfulness/faith and all nations being blessed through the Messiah. Galatians 3:21-22 says, 

Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Messiah Yeshua might be given to those who believe.

The word “imprisoned” is not necessarily the best choice for the Greek word here. It actually means “to shut in, enclose, or confine.” In that sense, the verse means that we are all left without any other means of salvation but through Yeshua. Because of our inability to be perfect, the only way we can achieve justification is through Yeshua. We also see that the word translated as “believe” here is actually a form of the Greek word for “faith.” We don’t have a word in English for “faithing,” but the original word implies an active, ongoing, trusting, relational, obedient, confident exercise of faith in God’s promises. 

Verses 23-26 continue with his explanation of the role of the Torah. The phrase “held captive under the Torah, imprisoned” is an unfortunate translation. It makes the Torah sound like it was keeping people from faith, or somehow holding them back, when it is not the Torah, but our sinful nature that holds us back (Romans 7:16-17). The Greek word translated as “held captive” is more literally translated as “guarded,” and likewise the word for “imprisoned,” means “shut in” or “enclosed.” Thus the function of the Torah which Paul describes here is not to serve as a harsh prison warden, but as a protective guardian.

This concept is further developed in verse 24. In English, Bibles often translate the word paidagogos as “tutor” or “guardian.” This term is not synonymous with the modern English word pedagogue, which has a somewhat negative connotation, meaning “a dull, formal, or pedantic teacher.” Since Paul is using the analogy of a paidagogos, we need to understand exactly what this was in Paul’s day. Upper class families in the ancient Greco-Roman world would hire a person to serve as a warden for their children. This person, a paidagogos, was responsible for the conduct of the child. His full job was to be a caretaker, to supervise, and to direct the child’s conduct and moral behavior. He would also serve as a type of bodyguard, protecting the child from both outside forces and inward desires. 

Paul is saying that the job of the Torah was previously to do this same thing for the Jewish people, protecting them and leading them to the Messiah. Rather than enslaving them, it served as a source of protection and moral guidance. Because the Jewish people were under the care of the paidagogos, previously any Gentiles would need to come fully under the authority of the paidagogos by becoming Jewish. The job of the paidagogos, however, is to lead to the teacher, the Messiah. Now that He has come, the Gentiles are joined to Him and taken under His authority along with the Jewish people: “But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian” (verse 25). 

Does this mean that we no longer follow the instructions of that guardian? No, but the lessons which the guardian teaches us are learned more in depth as we mature. Once we have come to faith in Yeshua, we see the Torah in the light of His revelation. Every part of the Torah reveals Yeshua, for He is the Living Word, and therefore every “jot and tittle” within the Torah has something to teach us about Yeshua. Through the Torah, we learn that we are unable to keep it perfectly, which leads us to Yeshua. Nevertheless, the lessons it teaches us and the ways it expects us to behave are essential to growing closer to Him in holiness. We must remember that this is a metaphor, and thus has certain limitations. In order to understand this metaphor, we must understand its purpose: Paul is creatively articulating to the Gentiles why they do not need to become Jewish through circumcision. Now that the object of faith has come, the way has been opened for the Gentiles also to join to Him and learn, and thus the role of the Torah as a paidagogos is not applicable to them. This by no means negates the Torah as a lifestyle for the redeemed to walk in.

Paul goes on in Galatians 3:26-29 to explain that “in the Messiah Yeshua we are all sons of God through faith… There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Messiah Yeshua.” We also see this in other Scriptures (Colossians 3:10-11, Ephesians 2:15-16). In the broader Christian community, most say that these verses prove that after coming to faith, Jewish people are no longer really Jewish, but are now a new creation, no longer bound to their former religious expression. According to this “one new man” theology, Jewishness is erased by the Messiah. The problem with this is that instead of there no longer being any Jew or Greek in Messiah, everyone is Greek. 

What was Paul’s rule for the churches in this matter? He lays out his thoughts in 

1 Corinthians 7:17-24. This passage clarifies Paul’s intent in Galatians 3. When it comes to salvation and justification, all are made righteous through faith alone, which Paul is speaking of in Galatians. When it comes to living out that faith, what counts is following God’s commands, as he is speaking of in the passage in 1 Corinthians. There are different expressions of faith for different members in the body. 

Think about it this way: Paul says “there is neither male nor female” (Galatians 3:28). Does this mean that in Messiah there is no difference between men and women? Besides any obvious physical differences, Paul himself gives different instructions for different groups of people (Titus 2). This is not because there is a different standard of holiness for everyone, but because certain commands don’t apply to everyone the same way. This is true in the Torah as well, where different commandments apply only for certain groups of people. There are certain commandments only for Levites (Numbers 1:51), there are different times of purification for men and women (Leviticus 12:2, 5). and there are certain things foreigners are not able to do (Exodus 12:43), among many other distinctions. 

We see an example of what the body of Messiah should look like in Genesis 2:24. In marriage, a husband and wife become one, but they are still two different people, a man and a woman. The same is true in the body of Messiah. Both believing Jews and Gentiles are brought into Yeshua through faith, and each have a distinct way of living out their faith in accordance with the calling of God. Now let’s look at Acts 15:9. We all have the same access to salvation through Yeshua, but this does not eliminate distinct identities and roles (1 Corinthians 12:12-27, Romans 12:4-5). 

In Galatians 3:29, Paul said to the God-fearing Gentile believers, “If you are Messiah’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs according to the promise.” As we see in Romans 11, Gentiles are grafted into the promises of Abraham. We know that Abraham is the father of many nations. Believers from the nations become the spiritual children of Abraham and become fellow heirs with the Jewish people when they put their faith in Messiah. The Gentile does not become Jewish; he keeps his nationality. If you were Italian, you remain Italian, or if you were Greek, you retain that nationality. If you were Jewish, you stay Jewish. This is why Abraham is called the father of MANY nations, not one nation.

So we see here that if a Jewish person receives the work done on the cross by Messiah, he is still a Jew, but what you would call a complete Jew, for our lives are complete in Yeshua. Many Jewish people who believe in Yeshua never call themselves Christian,  for a believing Jew is still a Jew. Remember, we have been grafted in and the roots support us, not the other way around (Romans 11:17-18).

Now we move on to chapter 4 of Galatians, starting with verses 1-12. The traditional interpretation of these verses claims that they show without a doubt, that no one should be “enslaved,” which is true. The confusion arises over what the Galatians were being enslaved to. This interpretation also claims that Paul rebukes them for following the biblical calendar. Is this true? It is interesting to note that though this interpretation teaches that it is un-Christian to keep the biblical calendar and honor God’s holy days such as the sabbath, they see no conflict between Galatians 4:10 and the celebration of days as long as they are Sundays; months as long as they are not biblical months; seasons as long as they are Lent, Advent, Christmas and Easter. 

In Galatians 4:3, and 4:9, Paul addresses “elementary principles” of the world. In 4:3 he says, “in the same way we (the Jewish people) also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world.” And in 4:9 he says that the Gentile believers were also once slaves to these “weak and worthless principles of the world.” No one is exactly sure what Paul meant by this phrase, but he used it several times: in Colossians 2:20-21 in reference to ascetic practices, and here in Galatians. The Greek word he uses is stoicheion, which has to do with elements that comprise a series, essential parts, or members of a row. It was also a military term denoting a row, rank, or a line in a military formation. In Paul’s time it had several meanings, one of which was the basic elements of the cosmos (fire, earth, air, water), another being spiritual forces such as angels, or it could simply mean the basics of something, as in elementary teachings. As far as Paul’s use, two main categories are frequently accepted: elementary principles refer to Torah and Judaism or elementary principles refer to paganism and idolatry.

Let’s look at the first theory. We must ask ourselves, would Paul really put God’s commands in the same category with idolatry? Is it really possible that he would refer to the precepts of the Lord as “weak and worthless” or as “elementary principles of the world?” Psalm 19:7 says, “The Torah of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.” Paul himself says in Romans 7:12 and 14 that the Torah is holy, righteous, good, and spiritual. Do we believe that God changes? Is He untrustworthy? If He is unchanging, then how can He change His word?  Because of how Galatians has traditionally been interpreted, it is a logical succession from “the law is no longer important” to “the Biblical feast days are no longer important.” As we have seen in this study, the book of Galatians is not intended to dissuade anyone from keeping God’s Torah, but was a correction on false teachings that were going around about circumcision and how the Gentiles were to fit into the community of believers, which was at this time predominantly Jewish.

Let’s look at the second theory. Do the “elementary principles” refer to certain practices within paganism and idolatry? Again let’s look at Galatians 4:8: “Formerly, when you (Gentile believers) did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods.” Paul reminds his Gentile listeners of their previous life of idolatry. So, if they were raised in this idolatrous system, then it would make sense that the “weak and worthless elementary principles of the world” are not God’s ways, but the idolatrous rituals and false religion they had been raised in. So, if this is the case then he was not telling them to avoid God’s calendar, but rather to avoid falling back into the pagan calendar they had been raised in.

As we have worked our way through Galatians we have been straightening out common misconceptions. One question we should ask ourselves is, was Paul a hypocrite? You may wonder why I ask this. Let’s look at a few portions of scripture (Galatians 4:12, 1 Corinthians 9:19-23). Are these saying that Paul possibly used false pretenses to win people to the gospel, pretending he was something he was not? Some say these passages prove that Paul was only “appearing” to be Torah-observant, in the cases where we see him doing so, to win those “under the Torah.” But Paul himself asserts in 1 Thessalonians 2:3-4 that, “our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of deceit; but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts.” Paul was bold in condemning Peter for behaving differently when different people were present, so we can hardly expect him to behave this way as well.

What’s really going on here? Let’s break down 1 Corinthians 9 to help us understand Paul’s unique way of becoming “all things to all people.” To help us, we need to remember the three types of people that would have been found in a first century synagogue, which we learned earlier: Jews, proselytes, and God-fearers. When Paul says, “to the Jew, I became like a Jew,” he was obviously talking about native born Jews. So when he reached out to his fellow Jews he used that common heritage in presenting the gospel. When he says, “to those under the Torah,” he adds, “though I myself not being under the Torah.” Being “under the Torah” does not equate to obeying God’s commandments. It is a state where one has not yet accepted the sacrifice of Yeshua for atonement, thus being under the curse of the Torah, the penalty for disobeying it. When Paul preaches to those who don’t have Yeshua, he presents himself in a way that will be accessible to them without compromising his own beliefs. Paul goes on to the next group of people: “To those outside the Torah I became as one outside the Torah (not being outside the Torah of God, but under the Torah of Messiah) that I might win those outside the Torah” (1 Corinthians 9:21). He is referring to Gentiles who have no true knowledge of the Torah, though they are not free from the consequences of disobeying it (Romans 3:23). Paul made certain social sacrifices to associate with the God-fearing Gentiles, sacrifices which cost him much. This is what Galatians 4:12 is about. Paul was asking the Gentile Galatians to also bear the weight of social ostracization for the sake of the gospel. By not becoming circumcised, these Gentiles would be in a sort of no-man’s land. Their Roman neighbors would not accept them because of their refusal to partake in idolatry, and the Jewish believers may be hesitant to accept them because they were not circumcised. In all of Paul’s becoming all things to all men, he never compromised in the area of his Torah observance. 

Based on what we have discussed thus far, we have seen that the “other gospel that is no gospel” that was being presented by these influencers was that the God-fearing Gentiles could not remain a part of the Kingdom unless they became legally Jewish. This was Paul’s concern that he addresses through the entire letter to the Galatians. So he, being their spiritual father, was deeply concerned for them until “Messiah is formed” in them (Galatians 4:19). What does it mean that “Messiah is formed” in us? Let’s look at Luke 6:40. What does it mean to be a disciple of Yeshua? In first-century Judaism, a disciple would emulate every area of his teacher’s life. This is our job as disciples of Yeshua, and this is what Paul meant when he said “until Messiah is formed in you.” So what we should think about is that Paul’s harsh words were not because he was worried that the God-fearing Gentiles would be observing God’s calendar and obeying His commands, but that they would take their reliance off of Yeshua by becoming legally Jewish.

So one of Paul’s biggest concerns was discipleship, and it should concern us too. In Paul’s day, being a disciple of Yeshua required a radical all-or-nothing commitment. Today, especially in this country where we live in relative ease, many follow a lukewarm, casual, taken-for-granted religious experience that requires no social discomfort. The average believer has no idea what it truly means to become like our Master. Think about what Paul says: he feels like a woman in birth pains for a child that has already been born (Galatians 4:19). This bears some resemblance to Hosea 13:13 which says, “The pangs of childbirth come for him, but he is an unwise son, for at the right time he does not present himself at the opening of the womb.” It’s like the opposite of John 3:3, “I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the Kingdom.”

So this was Paul’s concern, that all would become like our Master, as it says in Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Messiah. It is no longer I that live, but Messiah who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Galatians 5:1 says, “It is for freedom that Messiah has set you free; stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” The question is, how can a Gentile who was never under the full weight of the Torah be set free from that which he was never yoked to in the first place? Paul urged Gentiles not to undergo circumcision and become legally Jewish because this would be taking on another yoke. This would be taking their faith off of Yeshua and putting it in the flesh. They were already grafted in by faith, so they did not need to be circumcised and become “physical” sons of Abraham. Paul’s understanding was that Gentile believers were grafted in by faith and were already “sons of Abraham,” and therefore already justified (Romans 3:28-31, 4:11).

In Galatians 5:4, Paul says, “You have been severed from Messiah, you who are seeking to be justified by Torah; you have fallen from grace.” How so? Because of what it says in Ephesians 2:8-9: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not of yourself, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” Through the atoning work of the Messiah Yeshua, we have all been justified by grace, through faith, no work needed. Remember that this has to do only with justification. However, we must not assume this means there is no work required at all, for Paul also says in Philippians 2:12, “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” 1 Corinthians 7:19 also says, “Neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commands of God.” This sounds very similar to Galatians 5:6. So we see that there is a place for obedience—not for salvation, but as a part of our loving relationship with God.

Now let’s read Galatians 5:13-14. Paul starts to drive the point home here. He wants to make sure that we don’t use our freedom in the wrong way. We must not indulge the flesh, but rather serve out of love. And how do we do this? By living the truly Spirit led life. Remember, earlier we discussed the evil inclination, which is the fleshly desires. Paul goes back to this idea here in verses 16-17. Our old sinful nature, the flesh, does not desire to do the things of God. Paul explains this in Romans 8:7-8, saying, “The mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the Torah of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” We also see this idea in Ephesians 5:3-7 and James 4:4. But if we are led by the Spirit of God, we are not under the condemnation of the Torah (Romans 8:1), and therefore, by the power of the Spirit, we will no longer be hostile toward God. Whereas before, because of the sinful nature, we could not submit to God’s Torah, now by the spirit we will be able to. 

In verses 19-21, Paul gives a list of the acts of the sinful nature. This should not be looked at as an exhaustive list. Paul ends the list with the words, “and the like.” He uses very harsh words, as he says at the end of verse 21, “I warn you, as I did before, those who live like this will not inherit the Kingdom of God.” Where did Paul get this list from? Did he make it up? The fact is that Paul takes them from the prohibitions in the Torah. Leviticus 18 deals with unlawful sexual relations; chapter 19, things like idolatry and how to treat our fellow man; and chapter 20, various laws. This should not surprise us, because at the time Paul was writing there was no New Testament canon. Paul wrote, in 2 Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.” At the time he wrote this, the Scriptures we call the “Old Testament” were the only Scripture they had.

Now Paul moves on to the fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-26). Maybe we could call it the evidence of the Spirit of God in a person’s life. He says there is no law against these, or better yet, maybe he is saying that when we walk in these, we will not come under the condemnation of the Torah (verse 18). Since we have crucified the sinful nature, we are now able to walk in the way which is pleasing to God. Ephesians 4:1-2 says, “Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love.” If we have truly crucified the flesh with all its passions and desires, it will be the natural outflow of that process that we walk according to the morality spelled out in God’s Torah. This is how we “walk” by the spirit, walking being an action (Colossians 1:10).

A major theme here is love for our brother. Paul continues in chapter 6 by telling us how to deal with fellow believers. Let’s read verses 1-5. Who is the one who is “spiritual?” Since there were no chapter divisions in Paul’s original letter, we should look at what he was previously talking about. Those who are leading Godly lives with the evidence of the fruit of the spirit are to correct those who stumble, doing so with love. This command of Paul is also directly from the Torah (Leviticus 19:17). We should not assume that Paul means this in regard to issues of personality or personal shortcomings, but rather, serious transgressions, as he goes on to say, “Bear each other’s burdens.” Paul says that when we do this, we are “fulfilling the Torah of the Messiah” (verse 2). 

Many assume that the Torah of Messiah replaces the “Torah of Moses.” First, we must remember that they are God’s commands, not Moses’. Second, we must remember that Yeshua did not come to do away with the Torah (Matthew 5:17-20). What Yeshua did was re-prioritize the Torah under the two greatest commands (Matthew 22:34-40). And just so we don’t think these are new commandments, these are also taken directly from the Torah. Deuteronomy 6:5 says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” And Leviticus 19:18 says, “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I Am the Lord.” So love is the defining principle of Yeshua’s approach to Torah. James was the brother of Yeshua, and he refers to this commandment as the “Royal Torah” (James 2:8).

Paul says in Galatians 6:3-5 that instead of judging others, we should look at ourselves first. This works together with what he was saying in verse 1, and also echoes what Yeshua said in Matthew 7:5. It is good for us believers to correct each other when the Spirit leads us to do so, but this should be done in love, with the recognition that we have our own flaws and faults that others could come to us about as well. We shouldn’t let a fear of being perceived as judgmental hinder us from bringing sin to light, so long as it is done through the right motives and in a Godly manner (1 Timothy 5:1-2, Hebrews 3:13, 10:24, James 4:11-12).

Paul now starts to wrap up his letter. He must have known that some would twist his words, that they would take his declarations of “not under the Torah” as a license to sin. So he says in Galatians 6:7, “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” This reaping is what is spoken of in 2 Corinthians 5:9-10. If we do not crucify the sinful nature, we will continue in the ways that are contrary to God’s ways. The sinful nature is hostile to God’s ways, and it is impossible for such a person to please God. They will only reap destruction. They are the same people written about in James 4:4-10. But those who crucify the sinful nature and plant the fruit of the spirit in their lives will reap eternal life. 

Paul knew that life is hard. We don’t always see the rewards for our faithfulness right away. So in verse 9 he encouraged the faithful believers saying, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” We see similar messages of encouragement throughout Scripture (1 Corinthians 15:58, James 1:12, Matthew 25:21). 

Paul closes his letter to the Galatians with his autograph, his way of letting them know the letter is actually from him (Galatians 6:11). This was the way he ended all his letters (Colossians 4:18, Philemon 1:19). As the letter draws to a close, we see he summarizes the main point of his letter. Was it to do away with God’s Torah? Were God’s holy commands now null and void? He says:

Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Messiah. For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Torah themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh. (verses 12-13)

He sums up the issue by again exhorting the Galatian Gentiles to not allow themselves to be circumcised. Those who were bringing pressure on the Gentiles were not actually concerned with their spiritual growth, but were seeking to avoid being persecuted by the larger Jewish community by conforming to their idea of salvation. He presents their failure to live according to the Torah as hypocritical and a negative. So what Paul was really teaching against was a “once-saved-always-saved” type of cheap grace. When religious systems form, eventually people tend to replace actual obedience to God with institutional status. The Christian may say, “I’m a Christian, I’m saved. I have nothing to worry about.” Maybe in Paul’s day, it would have been called “once-circumcised-always-saved.” This is what he was teaching against. Paul’s gospel was that the Gentiles were justified by faith, just like the Israelites who had remained faithful, and were heirs to the promise by faith. This was the offense of the cross. In Acts 22 Paul gives a lengthy account of his experience on the road to Damascus and his revelation of the risen Messiah. There are no complaints until he mentions the inclusion of the Gentiles (Acts 22:21-22). This is the case for Paul throughout his life as he preaches that the message of Yeshua the Messiah is received by Jew and Gentile alike.

Paul states this succinctly in Galatians 6:15: “For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.” This is his whole point. Gentile believers are sons of Abraham by faith and not excluded because of their uncircumcised status, just as the Jewish believer is also a son of Abraham by faith. Remember in Romans 11:17-24 Paul refers to the Gentile believers as grafted into Israel and fellow heirs of the covenant. Never in any of his letters does Paul ever mention that Israel is no longer God’s chosen people or that they have been replaced with the Gentiles. In fact, Romans 11 tells us that those branches of Israel that were removed can be grafted back in and that the Gentile branches that were grafted in can also be cut off. 

Paul continues in verse 16: “And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.” As we mentioned earlier, in Hebrew the word for “walk” is halakhah. This word refers to God’s commands and how we practically apply them in our lives. An example of this would be Matthew 5:21-22. Yeshua discusses the command not to murder, then gives the halakhah, the practical application, on how to live it out. Another example is Ephesians 4:28. Here Paul tells the thief how to walk out his new life and leave that former way behind. So what is Paul’s ruling to the God-fearing Gentile and Jewish believers? That all are justified through faith in the atoning work of Yeshua the Messiah. But we must remember that being justified and how we then live out that new life are two separate things (James 2:14-26, 1 John 2:6, 1 Corinthians 11:1).

In this verse, Paul refers to God-fearing Gentile believers as spiritually part of the “Israel of God” along with Jewish believers (Galatians 6:16), which belongs to the realm of faith. Some have used this verse as a proof text for replacement theology. According to this line of thinking, the Jews are no longer the Israel of God; now the church is. This is not what Paul is saying. This “Israel of God” includes both Jewish and God-fearing Gentile believers in Yeshua who have crucified the sinful nature and are walking out their salvation with the evidence of God’s fruit in their lives.

In conclusion, we have seen that the letter to the Galatians was primarily concerned with addressing the false teachings of a group of people who had come to the Gentile believers there and compelled them to be circumcised. This group was of the opinion that the Gentiles could only receive salvation and access to the promises of Israel through legal conversion. Paul’s argument throughout is that the Gentiles as well as the Jews are saved through faith in Yeshua and the obedience to His commandments which this faith inevitably leads to. By becoming circumcised, the Gentiles would be in a sense asserting that faith alone is not sufficient to be grafted into the promises of Israel, including that of entrance into eternal life. These promises were never achieved through obedience to the commandments, but were always through faith and the grace of God. 

The last thing we are going to look at in this study is the trials of Paul. As Paul spread the good news around the known world, he experienced the joy of fellowship as well as the bitterness of persecution. We can learn a lot about Paul by examining the stories surrounding his trials and testimonies before the religious and secular ruling bodies, from Jerusalem to Rome. 

We will start in Acts 21, where Paul is going to Jerusalem. His plan was to get there in time for Pentecost (Acts 20:16), which is the Greek name for the Biblical Appointed Time of Shavuot. This was one of the “pilgrimage feasts,” that is, one of the appointed times which God said every male from Israel needed to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem on (Deuteronomy 16:16). It was not a coincidence that Paul wanted to be in Jerusalem on Shavuot. First of all, as an observant Jew he would have felt an obligation to observe the commandment to make pilgrimage. Second of all, it would provide an opportunity to spread the message of Yeshua and the in-grafting of the Gentiles to people who would be gathered to Jerusalem from all over the world. Foreshadowed in the verses leading up to his arrival at Jerusalem is the fact that Paul will be undergoing some type of persecution, such as he has not yet endured (Acts 20:22-24, 21:4, 10-13).

Upon arrival in Jerusalem, Paul meets with the believing community there, sharing that his missions have brought many Gentiles to belief: “The next day Paul and the rest of us went to see James, and all the elders were present. Paul greeted them and reported in detail what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry” (Acts 21:18-19). Responding to Paul’s testimony about the Gentiles, the elders in Jerusalem share how God has granted them success among the Jewish people: “Then they said to Paul: ‘You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the Torah’” (verse 20). The word “zeal” implies a fiery desire for a particular cause or object (Psalm 119:139, Isaiah 37:32, Ezekiel 38:19). One can have improper zeal when it is directed on a cause or object which is displeasing to God, but being zealous for the Torah is not presented here in Acts, or anywhere else in Scripture, as a negative. On the contrary, zeal for the things of God is something that we are all called to be driven by (John 2:17, Titus 2:14). 

Combined with the zeal of the Jewish believers, however, are rumors which have followed Paul as he spreads the gospel to the Gentiles: “They have been told about you, that you are teaching all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs” (verse 21). These would be very serious claims if it was true that Paul was preaching these things. As he went around preaching to the Gentiles, evidently some people had twisted his message to mean that circumcision, the Torah, and the oral customs had all been canceled and done away with. As we have seen, and will continue to discover, this was never Paul’s message or his goal. According to Paul, Gentiles were not required to be circumcised or keep certain oral traditions, and by nature some Torah commandments did not apply to the Gentiles. But this did not change the relationship between the Jewish people and the Torah (Galatians 5:3). It is easy to see how some could deliberately or unintentionally confuse Paul’s words. 

In order to prove to everyone that these are just lies and rumors, the elders come up with a plan: “Therefore do this that we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow; take them and purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads; and all will know that there is nothing to the things which they have been told about you, but that you yourself also walk orderly, keeping the Torah” (Acts 21:23-24). The first thing we should notice is the purpose for this plan. It is not a deceptive plot to trick the Jews into thinking Paul is something he is not. If Paul was indeed preaching to his fellow Jews that “they should not circumcise their children or walk according to the customs,” then this would have been a wonderful opportunity for him to hold fast in his convictions and boldly preach that to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. But on the contrary, we see that this plan is a way to prove that there is no merit to these claims that Paul is teaching Jewish people not to keep Torah, for by going through with the plan they will see that he himself is a Torah-keeping Jew. The elders did not question Paul’s Torah-observance, because they knew him personally and they knew his message. They did not believe the rumors, and neither should we. 

What exactly was this purification ritual, and how would it prove the false rumors as incorrect? The phrase “so that they may shave their heads” gives it away. There is only one vow in the Torah which requires the shaving of the head to complete it, and that is the Nazirite vow. Note that there is a difference between Nazirite (type of vow) and Nazarene (name for the followers of Yeshua). The Nazirite vow is detailed in Numbers 6. According to tradition, a typical vow lasted thirty days, but some were longer, even up to a lifetime (Judges 13:2-5). 

From the passage in Acts, it is obvious that believers were accustomed to taking this type of vow at the time. Paul himself had taken a Nazirite vow at one point (Acts 18:18), and some have suggested that he was completing another one here with these four men. Another possibility is that after having his head shaved outside of Jerusalem in chapter 18, he was now going up with the others to go through with the rest of the requirements of completing the vow, which included the sacrifices. So according to the plan, Paul would pay for these men’s sacrifices, which could be quite expensive, in addition to purifying himself (Acts 21:26). All of this would show that Paul did not believe that the Torah was done away with, but that he himself was living according to it, even going so far as to take on voluntary vows that required heightened levels of obedience. One could even say that he was zealous for the Torah. 

Not everyone realized this, however, and when they see him, they begin to stir up trouble: 

When the seven days were almost over, the Jews from Asia, upon seeing him in the temple, began to stir up all the crowd and laid hands on him, crying out, “Men of Israel, come to our aid! This is the man who preaches to all men everywhere against our people and the Torah and this place; and besides he has even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. (Acts 21:27-29)

Recognizing Paul from his travels abroad, some men who had been opposed to him start a ruckus. The time of Shavuot was now at hand, and Jews from all different countries had gathered, some who had likely heard of Paul, others perhaps not. When they hear the fervent plea of the false accusers, they act in one accord, laying hold of Paul and dragging him away (verse 30). The plan to show that Paul did not “preach to all men everywhere against our people (the Jews) and the Torah and this place (the Temple),” had backfired. In fact, a new accusation is added: the false accusers had seen Paul with a Gentile earlier, and assumed that he was one of the men who Paul had accompanied to the Temple. Whether they actually thought this or it was just an excuse is immaterial. 

Because of the commotion, the Roman guards come down on the crowds as they are beating Paul (verses 31-36). The Romans were especially watchful around the pilgrimage festivals because of the large amounts of people, many of whom were strongly opposed to the heavy-handed Roman governance and military presence in Israel. Paul’s arrest here is partially for his own safety and partially to prevent chaos from breaking out. The Romans didn’t even know if he had done anything wrong at this point. Many in the crowd were not aware whether Paul had done anything wrong either, but had joined in due to a mob mentality. 

Paul doesn’t want this uproar to continue, and I’m sure he recognized that the Romans only wanted to end the commotion as soon as possible as well. The commander permits him to speak to the crowd, and he begins to defend himself. He addresses them in his and their own native tongue, Hebrew or Aramaic, at which the people quiet down (Acts 21:40-22:2). Perhaps the crowds had assumed that Paul was only some foreign troublemaker, but when they heard him speaking in their language, it gives them pause so that he may speak. 

Beginning to address his accusers, he first asserts his credentials: “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated under Gamaliel, strictly according to the law of our fathers, being zealous for God just as you all are today” (Acts 22:3). The original goal of Paul was to show that he was not acting blasphemously, and so the first words he speaks to the crowd are meant to prove that in no uncertain terms. He then goes on to speak of how he persecuted the Way, and begins to speak of his experience on the road to Damascus. He mainly keeps to the facts, except for his brief description of Ananias as “a man who was devout by the standard of the Torah, and well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there” (Acts 22:12). The reason he included this was again to show that neither he nor the Way were teaching against “our people and the Torah.” He also addressed the accusations that he was speaking against the Temple: “It happened when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I fell into a trance” (verse 17). Just like our Master Yeshua, the apostles were zealous for their Father’s house (Luke 24:52-53, John 2:14-17).

Through all of this, the people are listening attentively. His defenses had successfully addressed the false claims levelled against him. All is well until this point, but things would not stay that way for long, as he continues to share what God told him as he prayed in the Temple:

And He said to me, “Go! For I will send you far away to the Gentiles.” They listened to him up to this statement, and then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth, for he should not be allowed to live!” (verses 21-22)

So we see that the message that Yeshua was the Messiah was not enough to trigger their anger, but the fact that He had sent Paul to the Gentiles was enough to send them into a rage. 

Through all of this, the Roman commander was standing by, unable to understand what Paul was saying, since Paul was speaking in Hebrew. As soon as the crowd starts getting riled back up again, the guards haul Paul inside and plan to scourge him in order to get some answers (verses 23-24). Here is where Paul’s citizenship comes in handy: “But when they stretched him out with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, ‘Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman and uncondemned?’” We learned earlier that a Roman citizen could not be scourged, and so they release him immediately (verses 26-29). The commander still wants answers, however, and so he arranges for Paul to appear before the Sanhedrin (verse 30). 

Before the Sanhedrin, Paul now needs to defend himself again. His opening words again tell us about what he believed: “Paul, looking intently at the Council, said, ‘Brethren, I have lived my life with a perfectly good conscience before God up to this day’” (Acts 23:1). The literal Greek of Paul’s words says, “I in all good conscience have lived as a citizen to God.” The word translated as “to live as a citizen” is politeuomai, which in Jewish contexts has been used to imply obedience to a set of laws (as a citizen would do), namely the Torah. Paul is asserting that this trial is unjust on the basis that the purpose of the Sanhedrin was to litigate on matters of Torah, and Paul is letting them know that he is innocent, for he has not transgressed the Torah in any way worthy of a legal trial.

The high priest, Ananias, orders Paul to be struck on the mouth for this comment (verse 2). It is hard to say exactly why he ordered this, but we know that this high priest was not a righteous man. Ananias was a member of the Sadducees, and had been appointed to his position by Rome. He was greedy and corrupt, and generally despised by the common Jewish people and the Pharisees. After war broke out in Israel preceding the destruction of Jerusalem, a group of Jewish assassins killed him, although he was no longer the high priest at that time. 

Paul knew that this punishment was against the rules which the court had bound itself by, and he chides the one who struck him: “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit to try me according to the Torah, and in violation of the Torah order me to be struck?” (verse 3). His language is severe, and Paul has to put his foot in his mouth: “But the bystanders said, ‘Do you revile God’s high priest?’ And Paul said, ‘I was not aware, brethren, that he was high priest; for it is written, “You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people”’” (verses 4-5). 

A question arises: why didn’t Paul recognize the high priest? The most widely accepted response is that the priesthood had changed since Paul was last made aware. The high priest did not wear any distinguishing clothes while seated in the Council, so it is likely that he truly didn’t know that he was the high priest. Another claim is that Paul had vision problems and thus couldn’t see who was speaking to him. People back up this claim with verses like Galatians 4:13-15 and 6:11. Regardless, we can be sure that Paul would not intentionally curse the high priest, for his goal was to prove that he himself was not walking in opposition to the Torah or his brothers the Jewish people. 

Realizing that he has not made a good impression, Paul needs to change the focus of the proceedings: “But perceiving that one group were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, Paul began crying out in the Council, ‘Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; I am on trial for the hope and resurrection of the dead!’” (Acts 23:6). Some have said that this was Paul just playing the crowd to his advantage. And that is partially true, but it is not a deceptive act. The Sanhedrin was composed of both Pharisees and Sadducees. Some of the Pharisees had likely been old peers of Paul, and he relies on them here to get out of a difficult situation. Notice that he says, “I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees.” We discussed earlier the importance of this quote. If he was simply trying to stir up the Sanhedrin, he would not need to preface the fact that he was on trial for his belief in the resurrection with this bold claim of identity. It was the truth: Paul still considered himself a Pharisee who was on trial because of his belief in the resurrection of Yeshua and the implications it brought for the Gentiles. 

While a fuller testimony is not recorded here, some have asserted that this claim about the resurrection was part of a longer testimony that is not recorded. They point to verse 9: “And there occurred a great uproar; and some of the scribes of the Pharisaic party stood up and began to argue heatedly, saying, ‘We find nothing wrong with this man; suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?’” The only way they would know that an angel or spirit had spoken to him was if they had heard Paul speaking about his experience on the road to Damascus or his calling in the Temple, similar to what he had spoken of in the previous chapter. These Pharisees, after hearing Paul’s testimony, realize that he is not acting in disobedience to the Torah, but that the main issue is whether his experience with Yeshua was genuine, which had no bearing on Paul’s relationship with Torah and was therefore beyond the arm of the Sanhedrin. Another verse which points to the idea that Paul had made a more drawn-out testimony during this council hearing is verse 11.

These events were not what Paul’s enemies were hoping would happen. Since they discovered that Paul was innocent in regard to the Torah, they realize they will have to kill him outside of the legal arena. Verses 12-15 detail the actors and the plot. Forty of the Jews had bound themselves to the idea, and they came to the chief priests and elders with their plan. It is likely that the priests and elders mentioned here were the Sadducees, who Paul had most angered during his trial. The allegiance of the forty men is not stated, but some have ascertained that they were a political group called the Zealots, that is, Jews who were strongly opposed to Rome. Since Paul was a Roman citizen in the custody of the Roman army, they perhaps wanted to send a message. 

Paul’s nephew somehow discovers the plot and informs the Roman commander (verses 16-22). The commander wisely decides to send Paul away to avoid any more disorder. He sends him to the governor of the region, Antonius Felix, who was living in Caesarea (verses 25-30). The governor houses Paul for five days until his accusers arrive. The entourage of his accusers includes Ananias, some of his trusted elders, and a Roman lawyer named Tertullus, who was likely hired by Ananias to bring the case before the governor (Acts 24:1). They did not want to bother the governor with what seemed like only a matter of the Torah, which he would not likely be interested in, so they needed to make the case something Felix would have to involve himself with, something political (verses 2-9). They accuse Paul before Felix of stirring up trouble all over the world, being the ringleader of the Nazarenes, and of desecrating the Temple, all of which were very serious crimes. 

Felix gives Paul an opportunity to speak in order to defend himself. Paul’s goal in his defense is to prove that he was not stirring up trouble, that being of the Nazarenes was not a danger, and that he had not desecrated the Temple. He begins refuting their claims by saying, “No more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. Neither in the temple, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city itself did they find me carrying on a discussion with anyone or causing a riot. Nor can they prove to you the charges of which they now accuse me” (verses 10-13). Here he addresses the first and last point brought against him, in regard to stirring up trouble and desecrating the temple. Next he tackles his opponents’ claims about the Nazarenes: 

“But this I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Torah and that is written in the Prophets; having a hope in God, which these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. In view of this, I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men.” (Acts 24:14-16)

Paul’s point to Felix is that the Jewish sect known as the Way or the Nazarenes is not a subversive group, but one that is not very different from mainstream Judaism in practice. Saying that his opponents also cherish a hope in the resurrection may be a jab, because as we have mentioned, Ananias was a Sadducee, and it is likely that his close companions he brought with him were Sadducees as well. It may have also been an attempt to prod them into arguing with Paul about the resurrection, delegitimizing their case in the eyes of Felix as merely a religious quarrel. 

The remainder of his defense before Felix consists of how he got to this point, and why the case had been brought here, reiterating that he regarded the temple and the customs of his people with reverence and obedience (verses 17-21). 

Upon hearing both sides of the story, Felix can tell that Paul is not in the wrong. Verse 22 tells us that he had “a more exact knowledge about the Way.” Since he was governor of the region, it was his responsibility to know what was going on among the civilians, and so he was familiar with this sect. He would have known that they were peaceful and law-abiding and that they had been unjustly persecuted by some of the religious rulers. Instead of releasing Paul, possibly back into another trap, he decides to keep him in custody, although with a certain measure of freedom (verses 22-23).

While in custody, Paul is summoned before Felix on many occasions to discuss his faith in the Way (verses 24-26). When the touchy topic of “righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come” is brought up, Felix is less interested. In this regard, not much has changed from then until today. For two years Paul is kept in custody under Felix in Caesarea. Then he loses his position as governor due to claims that he used a certain conflict for personal gain. About twenty years later, his wife Drusilla, mentioned in Acts 23:24, along with their son Marcus Antonius Agrippa, died in the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius.

Felix is succeeded by Porcius Festus. Immediately the religious leaders who had been opposed to Paul want to know what he is going to do with him. They request a hearing in Jerusalem, but plan to kill Paul as he is on the way there (Acts 25:1-3). Festus decides to hear a preliminary trial at Caesarea in order to determine what the best course of action will be. The tactics of Paul’s enemies have not changed: “After Paul arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges against him which they could not prove” (Acts 25:7). It is likely that the charges remained the same as they had been previously, as we can tell by Paul’s response: “Paul said in his own defense, ‘I have committed no offense either against the Torah of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar’” (verse 8). His message was clear and straightforward, declaring that he had not transgressed the Torah nor any civil laws worthy of punishment, and his accusers had no proof saying otherwise. 

Since Festus was very new to his position, however, he wanted to solidify good relationships with the influential religious leaders, so he encourages Paul to go back to Jerusalem to stand trial before his accusers (verse 9). It is likely that Paul remembered what happened the last time he was supposed to be sent back for trial in Jerusalem, so he is not quick to go along with them. He again proclaims that he has done nothing wrong according to the Torah, but he adds that if he has done something wrong against Roman law, he is willing to be tried. In closing, he appeals to Caesar (verses 10-11). 

The appeal to Caesar was a right of a Roman citizen. Just as in our own justice system a person can appeal to a higher court if they feel they are being treated unjustly, it was a similar case in Rome at that time. Perhaps Paul saw it as the only way to keep from being on the wrong end of an injustice, or perhaps he recognized that this was his opportunity to fulfill the words that Yeshua had spoken to him in Acts 23:11. 

He did not get his request right away, however. Festus is visited by King Agrippa and his sister Bernice, most likely coming to congratulate him on his new position and to discuss some of the political and diplomatic issues that Festus may face as governor (Acts 25:13). Festus takes advantage of this opportunity and brings up the case with Paul (verses 14-22). Agrippa is intrigued, and so Festus arranges for Paul to give testimony before him amid much celebration and grandeur (verse 23). This would not be a legal trial, but was simply a way for Agrippa to hear Paul and give his opinion on the case. Since Paul had already appealed to Caesar, that was where he was going to go. But for now, he had the audience of a high-ranking Roman leader.

His testimony begins, 

In regard to all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, I consider myself fortunate, King Agrippa, that I am about to make my defense before you today; especially because you are an expert in all customs and questions among the Jews; therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently. (Acts 26:2-3)

As part of his duties, Agrippa was in charge of the temple in Jerusalem. He was the one who chose who the high priest would be, as well as handling any managerial issues regarding the temple. Because of this and his other leadership roles in the region, he would have been familiar with many of the intricacies of the Torah. 

Paul continues on to explain that he has a history of following the Torah and being a prominent figure within Judaism, “according to the strictest sect of our religion” (verse 5). He again reiterates that the reason he is on trial is because of his hope in the resurrection from the dead, the same hope which he says all of Israel maintain: “The promise to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly serve God night and day. And for this hope, O King, I am being accused by Jews” (verses 6-7). Paul is pointing out the irony of his situation, in that the very hope all of faithful Israel professes is the reason Paul is now being accused by his own countrymen. He wants Agrippa to see that any claims saying he was walking contrary to the Torah or the people of Israel were false. Since Agrippa was familiar with the sectarian conflicts within Judaism, he would have understood where Paul was coming from. 

He continues to describe his earlier ways of persecuting the believers: 

Not only did I lock up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests, but also when they were being put to death I cast my vote against them. And as I punished them often in all the synagogues, I tried to force them to blaspheme. (verses 10-11)

Paul painfully recounts how he used to go through the synagogues rooting out the believers, casting his vote to put some to the death, torturing others until they blasphemed the name of Yeshua. He goes on to tell of his vision on the road to Damascus and how afterward, he began preaching all throughout the world that Jews and Gentiles alike should “repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance” (verses 19-20). These words are reminiscent of John’s words in Matthew 3:8: “Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance,” as well as the good news that Yeshua and his disciples brought (Matthew 4:17, Mark 1:15, Luke 8:1). 

“For this reason some Jews seized me in the temple and tried to put me to death” (Acts 26:21). This reason is twofold: first, that he was preaching repentance (John 3:20), and second, that he was preaching repentance even to Gentiles (Acts 22:21-22). But Paul knows the truth as revealed to him through the Scriptures, “that the Messiah was to suffer, and that by reason of His resurrection from the dead He would be the first to proclaim light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles” (Acts 26:22-23). 

Festus ridicules Paul and all his talk about resurrection from the dead. But Paul was primarily directing his testimony toward Agrippa, who had more knowledge of the Scriptures. Paul’s words through the Holy Spirit are so convincing that Agrippa has to balk at his questioning (verses 24-30). Because of his knowledge on these types of matters, he knows that Paul was not teaching anything contrary to the Torah, let alone the government of Rome, and declares that if Paul had not appealed to Caesar he would be a free man (verses 31-32). It was all part of God’s plan, however, so that the message of the Kingdom might spread even further. 

Because of his appeal, the Romans need to send Paul to Rome so that he can stand trial before Caesar. On the way there, he experiences many problems and life-threatening situations, but God brings him through it all, saying, “‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar” (Acts 27:24). Paul finally arrives in Rome and is confined by himself. 

Three days go by, and Paul is evidently tired of waiting for things to happen. The journey to Rome had taken much longer than Paul had anticipated, and who knows when he would get a chance to testify before Caesar. He takes this opportunity to bring his case before the Jewish community in Rome (Acts 28:17-20). If he can get them on his side, his case may go easier. It turns out that they haven’t heard of him or about the case the religious leaders in Jerusalem had brought against him (verse 21), giving Paul the opportunity to make his own first impression. The only thing they know is that he is a member of the sect known as the Way, and so they are curious what he actually believes (verse 22). 

So the Jewish leaders in Rome set a date for people to come hear what Paul has to say. Large crowds come to hear him speak, and Paul boldly proclaims his belief that Yeshua is the Messiah, backing it up with Scripture. This wasn’t just a meet and greet: Paul speaks “from morning until evening” (verse 23). How many of us could debate for Yeshua’s Messiahship for twelve hours straight against a crowd of learned scholars using only the Old Testament as proof, which was the only canonized Scripture during Paul’s time? All of his time spent locked away had not been squandered, but he spent it diving deep into the Torah and the Prophets, finding Yeshua in every verse. This is what is meant when it is said that Yeshua fulfilled the Torah (Matthew 5:17). The Torah is the very word of God, his will and desire, and Yeshua not only perfectly obeyed the legal requirements of the Torah, but He was the Word made flesh (John 1:14).

As with in any case, some of the people believe him, but others do not. They begin to discuss among one another and debate whether the things Paul was saying were true. Could it truly be that the Messiah has already come? Due to their disagreement, they begin to file out of Paul’s presence (verses 24-25). It was getting late, and Paul’s arguments had given them much to think about. The exit flow increases after Paul quotes Isaiah 6:9-10, applying it to them for not believing after all of his arguments. 

In the other places Paul went to, he began preaching to the Jewish people, and then when he was rejected by the majority, he announced that he was now going to the Gentiles (Acts 13:46). He does the same thing here (Acts 28:28). Now, this is not to say that none of the Jews believed, and it does not indicate that the Jewish people as a whole were now rejected in favor of the Gentiles. But Paul could tell that all who were willing to believe in that place had believed, and anyone who hadn’t was too hardened to accept his message regardless of how convincing his arguments were. One can only believe in Yeshua whose heart is soft and open. Reason alone will not convince anyone, but the Holy Spirit is the one who convicts (John 20:29, 1 Peter 1:8). 

The Jews in Rome do not respond quite so harshly to Paul going to the Gentiles as those in Jerusalem did: “When he had spoken these words, the Jews departed, having a great dispute among themselves” (Acts 28:29). The corrupt religious leaders in Jerusalem were not willing to hear anything of what Paul was saying, but the Jews in Rome were more split on the issue. Those who believed were likely reasoning from where Paul left off, but others were having none of it. Even those who disagree with him evidently don’t believe he is saying anything heretical or opposed to their own expression of Judaism, since they don’t try to make it difficult for him to spread his message: “And he stayed two full years in his own rented quarters and was welcoming all who came to him, preaching the Kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Yeshua the Messiah with all openness, unhindered” (verse 30-31). 

It is likely that some of those from among the crowds who had come to hear Paul speak returned to hear more about this Yeshua and the mystery of the Gentiles. The book of Acts ends with Paul preaching the message of the Kingdom, urging Jew and Gentile alike to repent from wickedness and put their faith in Yeshua the Messiah.

But what about Caesar? Even though Paul’s reason for going to Rome was to testify before Caesar, nothing of that trial is spoken of here in Acts. It is clear that he did testify before Caesar, as Acts 27:24 tells us. If his mission was only to go to Rome and testify before the Jewish community there, the angel would not have specifically said that Paul must stand trial before Caesar. Regardless of when or how that took place, it was all spoken of beforehand (Matthew 10:18). 

In conclusion, we have seen Paul’s trials tell us a lot about him and his beliefs. We have seen that those who were spreading lies about Paul tried to paint a picture of him as one who broke Torah, abhorred the Temple, and encouraged Jews to forsake these things as well. Paul is clear that this is not who he was, but asserted that he prayed and offered sacrifices in the Temple, lived according to the Torah according to the Pharisaic beliefs, and encouraged both Jews and Gentiles to repent and trust in Yeshua the Messiah. That last point is the reason many of the Jews were opposed to Paul: not because he was actually preaching against Torah-observance, but because he condemned their lawlessness and was teaching that Gentiles could join themselves to Israel without becoming Jewish. 

Conclusion

In this study, we have tried to realign who Paul was with our perception of him today. Because of how Paul has been interpreted over the years, his words have also been shifted to mean something he never meant. By examining the most frequently misunderstood passages in their correct context, we feel that a much closer image to the true Paul has been clarified. The Paul so often portrayed in Christianity is one who fought hard against Torah observance and the Jewish people, but as we have seen he was actually a proud observant Jew himself, yearning for the day his countrymen would know the truth. In the meantime, he brought his message to the Gentiles just as God had instructed him. 

The message he brought to the Gentiles was a different message than the one he brought to the Jews in regard to things like circumcision, the reason being that Paul wanted to make sure they didn’t place their faith in their race. This didn’t mean that he wanted Gentiles to be Torah illiterate, but he expected that they would learn their role as grafted into Israel alongside the Jewish believers in Yeshua as they studied Torah and worshiped together. Today in Christianity, too often Jews who recognize that Yeshua is the Messiah are forced to give up their beliefs about the Torah in order to be accepted. It would do us well to remember that we as Gentiles are grafted into Israel through the Messiah Yeshua, not the other way around. 

While it is true that Gentiles and Jews have different roles in the body of Messiah, we are one body of believers, all saved by faith in Yeshua when we put our trust in Him. The same message applies to each person, regardless of time, location, or ethnicity: “The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15). While Paul’s words are often misapplied in order to proclaim a cheap, easy form of following Yeshua, we see that instead he spread this same message of self-sacrificing repentance (Acts 17:30-31, 26:19-20, Philippians 2:12, 2 Timothy 2:19). 

Just as in our time, during Paul’s day some people misunderstood him to mean that Jewish people should forsake circumcision and that the Torah was done away with. Paul proved himself time and again through his testimonies in Jerusalem and Rome that he himself was a Torah-observant Jew, zealous for God and His Torah. Some have claimed that this was just Paul being “all things to all men,” but if this was the case then we would also expect to see Paul engaging in pagan rituals when he went to the Gentiles. We see throughout the New Testament that Paul is not afraid to speak his mind, and we would hardly expect him to compromise on such a key issue as Torah or worshiping at the Temple if he was as adamant against them as some claim. 

This study is by no means exhaustive, and the variety of controversies and various beliefs arising from Paul’s teachings would take many volumes to fully address. In these few brief pages, our goal is to bring to light not just a few misapplied verses, but a dangerous worldview that undermines the election and calling of God’s chosen people Israel and the place we as Gentiles share with them in the Messiah. As you further dive into the Scriptures, may your eyes be opened as the Spirit leads and guides you in all truth. 

Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Yeshua the Messiah. Grace be with all those who love our Lord Yeshua the Messiah with incorruptible love. (Ephesians 6:23-24)

Hello Lord

(1.)   Hello Lord. It’s me again.

Hello Lord, see, I need a friend.

Hello Lord. I’m lonely.

Hello Lord, won’t You be my friend?

Have I told You how much I love you?

Have I told You how much I care?

Won’t You stay at my side?

Hello Lord, it’s me again.

Hello Lord, how I need You.

Hello Lord, I’m hurting.

Hello Lord, time seems to have no end.

Hello Lord, it’s me again.

Have I told You my heart yearns for You?

Have I told You I adore You?

Won’t you come and live in my heart?

Hello Lord, it’s me again.

Sandiegram/ Never Alone Copyright 2010

Father, it’s me again. I am blessed that I am really never alone, because You are always with me. You are as close to me as the whisper of Your name.

Father….Here I am…hello again!

(2.)    “I lift up my eyes to the hills.  From where does my help come?

My help comes from the Lord,  who made heaven and earth.

 He will not let your foot be moved;  He who keeps you will not slumber.

 Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper;  the Lord is your shade on your right hand.

 The sun shall not strike you by day,  nor the moon by night.

 The Lord will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life.

 The Lord will keep  your going out and your coming in 

 from this time forth and forevermore.”

-Psalm 121-

Father, I thank You that You are my help in the time of need.  You are a constant watch over me, day and night, never slumbering or sleeping.  Thank You Lord for Your keeping power and Your faithfulness to me.

His Eyes Upon Me

(3.)  The joy of the Lord is upon me this day.

Praise and thanksgiving I shall say. His love for me is forever. 

His hand is in mine, and I have been blessed before the beginning of time. He guards me from my foes, and keeps me safe, this shepherd of mine.

His eyes are upon me watching over me from above.

My enemies He overthrows because of His love.

His understanding is beyond measure, and I want Him above all treasure.

-Sandigram/The Lord is knocking Copyright 2010-

Father, I thank you and praise You that You guard me and keep me safe.

I am blessed and I am loved because of You. You are my shepherd and my treasure and because of You I am filled with Joy.

I have Called You By Name

(1.) I have called you by name and you are mine.

I am drawing you nearer to My heart.

You will be with Me throughout eternity.

As you walk on rough waters, keep your eyes on Me.

I will hold your hand and comfort you.

I will take care of you, for I have called you by name

and you are Mine.

Sandiegram/ The Lord is Knocking Copyright 2010

Father, I hold Your hand as you take me through life.  I am Yours and You are mine. Draw me closer to Your heart and lead me to You for all eternity.

(2.) The Lord will also be a stronghold for the oppressed, A stronghold in times of trouble; and those who know Your name will put their trust in You, for You, Lord, have not abandoned those who seek You.

Psalm 9:9-10

Father, I can run to You in the time of trouble, for You are my stronghold, for you will not abandon me. Father, I put my trust in You, for You O Lord are faithful and true.

(3.) O God my Rock,” I cry, “why have you forsaken me? Why must I suffer these attacks from my enemies?”  Their taunts pierce me like a fatal wound; again and again they scoff, “Where is that God of yours?”  But, O my soul, don’t be discouraged. Don’t be upset. Expect God to act! For I know that I shall again have plenty of reason to praise him for all that he will do. He is my help! He is my God!

Psalm 42:9-11

Father, You are my Rock. Though the enemy of my soul attacks me, I know that You will bring me through. I will praise You, for You are my help in the time of need.

This is a Biblical story with a modern twist

taken from the Book of Esther.

(This story is for teens 13+ years old.)

I want to tell you a story about a young girl who lived with her cousin Mort.

This girl’s mother and father had died. If not for her cousin , she would have been an orphan, but Mort adopted her. Her name was Hadassah, but her friends called her Haddie.  Haddie and Mort were taken as exiles years ago when their village was overtaken by an invading army. Years later Mort got a job working for the government, in fact, he worked in the king’s palace. Haddie grew up to be a beautiful young lady.

One day as she was walking down the street, she was grabbed by two men. Haddie cried out, but no one could hear her. She found herself in a room with other girls who had been taken. She asked, “Why am I here?” And the man in charge said, “Because my master has brought all you girls here for him to look you over.” The girls were put in the custody of a man named Hegai. Years ago they would have called him a eunuch, but today we would call a man like this a woman. Haddie found favor with Hegai. She gave her the finest cosmetics and plenty of food to eat, fine clothing and even gave her a maid to wait on her. When Mort found out that Haddie had been abducted, he searched for her until he found out that she was being prepared for the king. Mort who worked in the  palace sought her out and found her with the other girls who had been taken. He convinced Hegai to let him speak to her. Mort said to Haddie , “Do not tell the king or anyone else anything about yourself, ”as he put his arm around her. He told her that he would keep an eye on her the best he could to see to it that she would be all right. 

A year had come and gone and the day came that Haddie was called in to the king’s chambers. She spent the night with the king and in the morning she found herself being taken to another place that girls were being kept. This place was supervised by another eunuch called Shaas. Now Haddie found herself on call to the king. Even though she could ask for anything when in the king’s presence, she asked for nothing. The king grew to love Haddie and he took her for his wife and changed her name to Esther. Esther  became the queen and the king gave a great banquet in her honor.

 While in the courtyard of the palace Mort heard two men talking about assassinating the king. Mort immediately sought an audience with the queen.  Mort told Esther  about the plot to assassinate the king. Esther knew that this would be a break for her cousin to be promoted, so she quickly ran off to tell the king what Mort had told her. When the plot was investigated it was found to be true and the king was so thankful that he said that he would remember Mort and had his name written down for further consideration. 

The king’s right hand man was named Herman and he hated Mort. Herman would walk through the courtyard of the palace and he would demand that people would bow to him and praise him with great applause,  for the Scripture tells us in John 12:43,  “ For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” But Mort would have none of it. The more Herman saw Mort the more he would get enraged, till one day Herman went to the king to see if the king liked his new idea. Herman said to the king, “There are certain people scattered and dispersed among the peoples in all of your kingdom; their laws and ways, their thinking is different from those of all other  people, and they do not agree with the king. If it is pleasing to the king, let us make a law that will not only cancel out these people, but actually destroy them. I will pay ten thousand dollars to anyone who will carry out the king’s business.” Micah 2:1 tells us this,  “Woe to those who devise wrongdoing, who practice evil on their beds! When morning comes, they do it, because it is in the power of their hands.”   And Psalm 36:4 also says, “ He plans wickedness on his bed; he sets himself on a path that is not good; he does not reject evil.” The king said, “What a splendid  idea.  Do to them as you please,” and he wrote an Executive Order so that the plan would be carried out.  

Once again, Mort heard about Herman’s plans and he once again got word to the queen through her attendant. You see Mort and Esther were Jewish and Herman’s plot would not only cancel out the Jewish people, but exterminate them. Mort told Esther that she had to go to the king.  Esther texted back to Mort, “You just don’t go to the king. You have to be summoned first or else he can command that you be put to death, unless he puts out his scepter to you.” Mort forcefully replied back to Esther, “Do not think that just because you are in the king’s palace that you will escape any more than any other Jew. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish.”  He went on to say to Esther, “And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?” 

Esther could not respond to Mort’s words except to say, “Go assemble all the Jews who are in the city, and fast and pray for me for three days and I and my maidens will also fast, and then I will go and see the king, and if I perish, I perish.” As Esther was praying all she could think about was Mort’s words, “Maybe you are the queen at this time for a reason such as this.” And she continued to think that maybe her abduction and the whole terrible experience has been for a reason and that reason has been turned around for good. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us that we should, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” The more she prayed the stronger she got, and the stronger she got, the more courageous she became. 

After the third day Esther put on her royal garments and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace, right outside of the throne room . The king was sitting on his royal throne and he happened to see the queen standing just outside of the doorway. When their eyes met Esther instantly thought, “ Well, If I perish, I perish!” All of the king’s attendants looked with anxiety wondering what the king would do about this breach of law. The king reached out to her with his scepter and Esther took a sigh of relief.  Psalm 21:1 tells us,  “The king’s heart in the Lord’s hand is like streams of water,  He directs it wherever He pleases.”

The king said to her with concern, “What is troubling you, Esther? And what is your request? Even to half of the kingdom it will be given to you.”

To Esther’s surprise, the king was very gracious to her and it caught her off guard. She said, “If it pleases the king, may the king and Herman come this day to the banquet that I have prepared for you.” The king was glad that Esther went through the trouble of having this gathering for him and Herman. That evening after everyone ate and drank and had a great time, the king turned to Esther and said, “Now what is your petition, for it shall be granted to you. I will give you your request even to half of the kingdom.” The time had come that Esther was dreading. How does she tell him that his friend Herman wants to annihilate her people. She just could not bring herself to say it, so she said, “This was so much fun, let’s do it again tomorrow.” Well, the king was for it, and Herman was for it, so they both said, “All right, it’s a date!” 

That night the king could not sleep and he requested that the Book of Records be brought in and read to him. As it was being read it was reported that Mort had saved his life. The king immediately said, “I had forgotten this.”  The king asked, “Who is still up that I can plan something to show my gratitude?”  His aid said, “Herman, my king.” “Well, go get him and tell him I want to speak with him.” When Herman came into the king, immediately the king asked him, “What do you think I should do for a man whom the king desires to honor?”  Herman, as usual, thinking that the king was speaking about him, and because Herman was so prideful, and he thought that the kingdom could not exist if it were not for him, tells the king just how he would like to be honored. He says, “Let them bring this man the finest of clothing, fit for a king. And let him ride in the best of the king’s cars, like a parade, with a top official driving him around the streets of the city crying out, “This is a man worthy of the king.” The king said, “Herman, what an excellent idea, this will certainly show the people that I love them.” The king told Herman, “Quick and do as you have just said, for Mort and you can be that top official who drives him around telling the people how much I think about him.” Herman drops his jaw and says “What?”  I find it ironic, I guess Herman didn’t know anything about the Golden Rule, “Do for others what you want them to do for you. This is the teaching of the laws of Moses in a nutshell.”  (Matthew 7:12)

So Herman finds himself bowing down to Mort, instead of Mort bowing down to him.  The Bible says,  “Pride goes before a fall.”  In this case it should say, Pride goes before a bow. 

By the time Herman was done driving Mort around the city it was time to meet the king and Esther. After the meal, the king said to Esther again, “Ok, now tell me what’s on your mind.” Esther said to him, “If you love me then  allow me and my people to live.” The king said, “What!  “What are you talking about?” “My people are to be annihilated and that is for me also,” said Esther as she was crying. The king said, “ Who is trying to kill my queen?”  Esther quickly pointed to Herman and said,  “He is!” Herman became terrified by the queen’s revelation and before he could explain, the king ordered the guards to arrest him. The king ordered Herman and his family to be executed by hanging. We see here the Biblical law of measure for measure. The king promoted Mort to Herman’s position and the Jewish people were saved. 

We see clearly here that what man meant for evil God turned it around for good.

So the question is,  “How about you?” 

“Is God calling you to do something?”

Maybe you are afraid like Esther was.

God tells Jeremiah, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”. 

Today you may not see what those plans are, but one day you too may say, “Maybe I am here for such a time as this.”

Maybe He is calling you into the ministry.

Maybe He wants you to speak to a friend about their lifestyle.

Let’s pray….Father, we ask you today to show those whom you are calling, that they have no need to fear. Father we know that you give strength to those who need strength, and that you equip everyone you have called. We also know Father, that You are always with us, no matter  what, and because of that, we can have peace. Father, today we pray that You show us clearly what Your will is in our lives. Fill us with Your peace and Your love, so when the day comes, when we may say, “It is for a time as this that I have been called,” we will be able to be like Esther and say, “If I perish, I perish” and if I do, I know that I will be with You Father for eternity.

JUDEOCHRISTIANCLARION. Com/Torchbearers

This is a story with a modern twist,

taken from the Book of Ruth

One day a man named Elim and his wife Naomi  and their two sons Lon and Leon left their hometown and traveled to a foriegn land, because there was such a great famine. Coming as refugees, they did not know anyone. Soon tragedy struck and Elim died, leaving behind Naomi and her two sons. As strangers in a strange land it was hard for them to go on, but they managed and Lon and Leon each met a girl who they eventually married. Orpah and Ruth were their names.  After about ten years, tragedy struck again and both of Naomi’s sons died. Naomi was not only a widow, but now her two sons were gone and she was left alone in a country that was not her home. Naomi’s daughters-in-law did care for her, but Naomi was homesick and wanted to go back to her land. One day she heard that the famine had come to an end in her country and she said to her daughters–in- law that she was going back home. So they packed up and began to leave,but Naomi, looking at the girl’s faces said to them, “Go, return back to your homes and God bless you for wanting to leave your land now to come to mine.  I pray that you will find new husbands.” Naomi kissed her daughters and they all began to weep. Then she said once again, “ Go return to your homes.  I am old and you are young and you need to find husbands.” Orpah kissed Naomi and left crying, but Ruth grabbed Naomi and would not let her go. Ruth knew that Naomi was like her own mother, and that she could not let her leave by herself, and in this way she was honoring her like a mother. She said, “Don’t tell me that I have to go back, because where you go I will go, and where you live I will live. Your people will now be my people and your God will now be my God. Where you die , I will die, and there, I will be buried, and only death, will separate us.”  Naomi was so taken back by the loyalty of Ruth and they both cried all the more. After a long journey back home, they finally arrived. This time Ruth is the foreigner and when all the people around the town said, “Is that Naomi?”  They were all curious to find her with Ruth. But Naomi was saddened by the fact that her whole family once left their hometown, but now only she has returned. These two women were not only all alone, but they had no means to provide for themselves. Naomi remembered a relative name Bo. Ruth said, “Let me go and I will work in his field.” Naomi said, “That is an excellent idea Ruth”, for Naomi had plans of her own.  Well, Ruth caught the eye of Bo and he asked his head man, “Who is that young woman? She is not from here.” The head man knew what was the right thing to do when he saw Ruth,as it says in Leviticus 19:9-10,

“  When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap up to the edge of your field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest.  You shall not glean bare your vineyard, nor shall you gather every fallen grape of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the Lord your God.”

The head man told Bo that she was a foreigner who had returned with Naomi and that she had asked if she could work the field for a little food. Bo knew Naomi was a relative through her husband Elim and quickly went to see Ruth. Bo also knew what to do when he found out who Ruth was as we see in

 1 Timothy 5:8, “But if any do not care for their own, and especially for those of their own house, they have denied the faith and are worse than unbelievers.”

 He told Ruth that she was welcomed anytime and that she should work alongside the other women and not only that, but she should help herself to the water and  anything  else that she may need. Ruth, could not believe that Bo was so kind to her being that she was a foreigner. Bo said to her, “Ruth, you have been so kind to Naomi, your mother-in-law after the death of her husband and you left your people and your country  and everything that you were accustomed to, to take care of her. May God Bless you and He has, by my hand.” When it was time to eat Bo told Ruth to come and sit down by him and she ate till she was full. When it was time to go home that evening she took with her food for Naomi.  Naomi was impatiently waiting for Ruth to come home so that she could hear what happened with her working in Bo’s field. When Ruth began to tell her, she was so excited  and began to tell Ruth about her plan.  Naomi once again begins to tell Ruth that Bo is one of their closest relatives and in their country they have a custom that if a woman is a widow without children then the closest relative can marry her and carry on the family name. “Now go back and work for him until the end of the barley harvest and then we shall see what we shall see.” So Ruth did, and the time came when it was close to the end of the harvest, when Naomi tells Ruth her total plan.  She tells her that Bo will be working tonight, so get yourself all dressed in your finest, and wait for him. When he is finished eating and drinking, this is what you do. She tells her to wait till he goes to sleep, then go to him and uncover his feet and lie down there. Ruth, a little surprised by what Naomi was telling her to do, but she still did exactly what her mother-in-law told her to do. That night she looked upon Bo as he ate and drank and was having a good time with the other guys. Then when he fell asleep, she quietly came up to him and laid down at his feet and covered herself with his blanket.  In the middle of the night Bo was so startled that he jumped up when he felt something at his feet. He said, “Who are you and what are you doing here?” Ruth was also startled when he jumped up and she said in a very scared voice, “I am Ruth.” So Bo covered her with the blanket and said, “Don’t be afraid Ruth, you have shown great kindness once again for the sake of your mother-in-law.” Bo knew what it was all about  and he knew that Ruth was a foreigner and still he agreed to marry Ruth for the sake of Naomi. In the morning Bo sent Ruth home with food for her and Naomi and when Naomi saw Ruth coming down the road, Naomi ran to greet her. She asked, “How did it go my daughter?” Ruth told her and showed her all of the food that Bo sent home with her. That day Bo made all the arrangements to marry Ruth. So the day came for the wedding and everyone gave them their blessings and not only to the happy couple, but to Naomi, for she no longer had to worry about how she would live and take care of herself. God was faithful, to Naomi and to Ruth. Well, the blessings just kept coming and one day a child was born and Naomi who had lost both sons, now was blessed with a grandson and they named him Obed. Obed became the father of Jesse, who became the father of David, who became king and one day the King of Kings will sit on David’s throne.

No one knows where life will take them, but we do know that when we do the right thing in life,God blesses it. Ruth did not abandon her mother-in-law,  even though she had to leave her country and her people, and embrace Naomi’s way of life. Naomi was a woman of faith, and she set the example for Ruth to follow.  Ruth could see that Naomi’s God was the one true God  and that Naomi was a righteous person. 

So the question is, are you setting an example for people to see, that you believe in the one true God?

Are you living a life that glorifies God?

Are you loyal like Ruth to the ones that care about you?

When you are with your friends do  you act differently than you do at home?

God blesses faithfulness and he rewards those who are not afraid to be an example of righteousness and godliness.

Let’s pray,  Father, teach us to be people of integrity and loyal to those who are older than us. Let us show honor to those who deserve honor. Let us give to those in need. Father God we ask You today to give us the courage to stand for You. Let us be that example to others, so that we may reflect You.  Let our light shine, so that people will be drawn to the Light of Life, which is in You.

JudeoChristianClarion.Com/Torchbearers

We want to take a closer look at the tabernacle, (tent of meeting) to understand more about who Yeshua (Jesus) is. Yes, the tabernacle will give us much insight, because everything in the tabernacle  speaks about Yeshua and it will show us how to pray.  So why did God want Moses to build the tabernacle? 

Exodus 25:8 tells us, “Have them construct a sanctuary for Me, so that I may dwell among them.”  The Hebrew word for Tabernacle is Mishkan which means to dwell. 

We want to start off by saying that the tabernacle was built according to a vision that was  given to Moses when he was on Mount Sinai. The earthly tabernacle represents the tabernacle in heaven as Exodus 26:30 tells us,  “Then you shall erect the tabernacle according to its plan which you have been shown on the mountain.”And again in

 Hebrews 8:5,  “ They (the priests) serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.” Today, Yeshua our Great High Priest is in the heavenly tabernacle making intercession on our behalf as Romans 8:33-34 tells us, “Who will bring charges against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies;  who is the one who condemns? Messiah Yeshua is He who died, but rather, was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.”

  The tabernacle in the wilderness was a huge tent. It had to be a tent because as the people moved from place to place, the tabernacle also had to be moved. The Tabernacle was 150 feet by 75 feet, that is about half the size of a football field.

When the people settled in their own land then there came a king named David that had a heart for building a permanent dwelling for God. God told David that he would not be the one to build it, but his son Solomon. 

 The tabernacle was divided into three areas, the outer court, the holy place and the holy of holies.

The Outer Court

The outer court was a big area and many of the priests worked there. This is where the altar was placed for the sacrifices. The word in Hebrew for this altar is mizbech (miz-bake) which means slaughter and so it is often referred to as the altar of slaughter.  It was  made of  acacia wood and covered with bronze. It was 7 ½ feet long and 7 ½ feet wide and it had 4 horns , one on each corner. 

 People today do not understand why God had the people bring bulls and lambs for offerings. You see when man sinned, it separated him from God. So the people had to have a way in which they could approach God. Hebrews 9:22 tells us, “And almost all things are cleansed with blood, according to the Law, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” They need their sins forgiven so that they could be right with God. So how does this point to our Messiah?

First, we want to look at another story. God asks Abraham to sacrifice his son Issac to see whether Abraham would be faithful to God if he offered his son whom he loved. Now God really didn’t want Abraham to kill his son, He only wanted to see if he would be faithful to Him. Genesis 22:9-14 gives us the end of the story, “When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.  Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son.  But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”  He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.”  And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son.  So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.” Well, it was at this very spot that God our Father did provide the sacrifice of His Son for us, so that now we can draw near to God by the shed blood of Yeshua. On the day of Atonement the High Priest lays his hands on the animal and symbolically, put as it were, all the sins of the people on his head and then the animal was then sacrificed. 

This represented our Messiah when He took all of our sins upon Himself. So now when we not only confess our sins, but actually repent of them, which means we no longer freely commit that sin, we have been forgiven and cleansed by the blood of Yeshua our sacrifice, as Hebrews 9: 13-14 tells us, “For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh,  how much more will the blood of Messiah, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.” 

The Laver

The next item that was in the outer court was the laver.

The laver was a huge basin of water also made of bronze.

 Exodus 38:8 tells us, “Moreover, he made the basin of bronze with its base of bronze, from the mirrors of the serving women who served at the doorway of the tent of meeting.”

It was used by the priests who would bathe themselves in the laver when they were ordained. Afterwards this ceremonial basin was used by the priests  before coming to God, but now, they would just wash their hands and feet. The word laver comes from the Latin word lavatorium and in English we know it to be lavatory. As we draw near to God we too, must be washed clean. That means we must examine ourselves Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 13:5,  “Test yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Examine yourselves! Or don’t you know yourselves—that Messiah Yeshua is in you? Unless of course you failed the test.”

 We must come before God in prayer  humbly, that is repentant. Remember, sin separates us from God. So you see, when we come in the Name of Yeshua, after examining ourselves and repenting of our sins, then  we can draw near by His sacrifice, washed in His blood, that makes us righteous before God. Then we are robed in His righteousness, referring to the priestly garments, as we too, are priests before the Lord as 1 Peter 2:9 tells us,  “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” And now we are ready to enter into the inner court.

The Inner Court

As we enter into the inner court, the first thing we see on our right is the table of showbread.

This table was 3 feet long and 1 ½ feet wide. The table was made of wood and covered with gold.It had rings on its corners to insert the carrying poles. On this table sat 12 loaves of bread which were placed there at the beginning of the week, till the end of the week on the sabbath. It is said, God would  perform a miracle, week after week. When the priests ate the bread on the sabbath it was still as fresh and warm as when it was placed on the table at the beginning of the week.  In Hebrew Bethlehem means “house of bread.” We know that Yeshua was the Bread of Life as John 6:35 tells us, “Then Yeshua declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” We also know that He was born in the house of bread…Bethlehem, Luke 2:4.

When Yeshua taught His disciples to pray, He said, “Give us this day our daily bread.” Matthew 6:11

This table of bread was also called the Table of Presence. So when we come in prayer we must come in the name of Yeshua, and draw near by His sacrifice, washed in the blood and robed in His righteousness and the first thing we do is come to feast at His table. For Yeshua is our food and drink. He is the bread of life and the well of salvation. We are to eat of Him as He tells us in John 6:56, “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them.”

Of  course, He meant figuratively, because when we eat at the Table of Presence, we eat in the light of His Word, which we will see next. As we look to the left of the inner court we see the Menorah.

The menorah is a 7 branch candelabra . It was made of 125 pounds of pure gold. Remember all of this is what Moses saw in his vision on the mountain. As we see in Exodus 25:31-36 that the menorah was very detailed and must have been very beautiful. “ Make a lampstand of pure gold. Hammer out its base and shaft, and make its flowerlike cups, buds and blossoms of one piece with them.  Six branches are to extend from the sides of the lampstand—three on one side and three on the other.  Three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms are to be on one branch, three on the next branch, and the same for all six branches extending from the lampstand.  And on the lampstand there are to be four cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms.  One bud shall be under the first pair of branches extending from the lampstand, a second bud under the second pair, and a third bud under the third pair—six branches in all.  The buds and branches shall all be of one piece with the lampstand, hammered out of pure gold.” The menorah was the only light in the tabernacle and that light was never to go out as Exodus 27:20-21 tells us.  Only pure olive oil was to be used to light the lamps. To get pure olive oil you needed to crush the olives. This was a picture of the Messiah as we read in Isaiah 53:5. The Messiah was also crushed. The  word Messiah means the anointed one. Those who were anointed were anointed with olive oil. The menorah represents God, for God is light. Yeshua said in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”  Psalm 119:105 tells us, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” You begin to see a picture of the inner court or sometimes referred to as the sanctuary, the Bread of life, the Word of God, the Light of life, the Word of God. Yeshua is the Word made flesh and He is the Light of the World. When we feast at the table of God, we feast in the light of His Word. When we reach the inner court in our prayers we come to feast in God, we eat of His Word which gives us light. When we pray we should always pray using Scripture. We need to quote it and pray using it in our prayers. Next we go on to the Altar of Incense.

This is our last stop in the inner court or the Holy Place.  This altar sat in front of the veil that led to the Holy of Holies. The priest would come to this altar twice a day. There was a special incense that they used and this could not be replicated and used for anything else. It was sweet smelling and the smoke went straight up to heaven.   The coals from the morning and evening sacrifice which also had to burn continually on the altar of sacrifice was taken to burn the incense. This represents the prayers of the saints.   We see in Revelation 8:3-4,  “Another angel came and stood at the altar with a gold incense-bowl, and he was given a large quantity of incense to add to the prayers of all God’s people on the gold altar in front of the throne. The smoke of the incense went up with the prayers of God’s people from the hand of the angel before God. “ 

2 Corinthians 2:15 says,  “ For we are to God the sweet aroma of Messiah among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.” 

You see Messiah, the anointed one of God, is the sweetness of the incense and we, when we come in prayer in His name and draw near by His sacrifice, washed clean in His blood and robed in His righteousness, feasting at His table in the light of His Word, then our prayers become a sweet aroma of Messiah going up to Him.

Now that we have gone through the tabernacle in prayer, we come to the last part of the tabernacle and that is the holiest place, it is where the Ark of the Covenant sits, the presence of God. In front of  the Ark of the Covenant was a veil. It was this veil that tore when Yeshua died on the cross as Matthew 27:50-51 says,  “And Yeshua cried out again with a loud voice, and gave up His spirit.  And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split.” This now allowed man to enter into the presence of God. Before Yeshua’s death only the High Priest could enter into the Holy of Holies once a year on the Day of Atonement.

Let’s look at what the writer of  Hebrews  9:1-7,says about the tabernacle and especially about the Most Holy Place. “Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary.  A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand and the table with its consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place.  Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place,  which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant.  Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover.  When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry.  But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.”

So what was this Ark Of the Covenant and what made it so holy? In Hebrew the word would be “Shekhinah” The divine dwelling presence of God. It represented the throne room of God. Revelation  4:8 gives us some insight into the throne room of God. “Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.”

Isaiah 6 tells us what he saw when he got a glimpse of the throne room of God.

“ I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple.  Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying.  And they were calling to one another:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;    the whole earth is full of his glory.”

Yes, the God of us all, the Creator of all things, is Holy, Holy, Holy, and He tells us that we too must be holy as Peter tells us in 1 Peter 1:15-16, “ But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;  for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.””

Isaiah when seeing the angels cry holy said this, verses 4-7, “ At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”  Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar.  With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”

We can not come before God with unclean lips, or hearts, or conscience, because God is holy. So when we enter into His presence through prayer we must take those steps leading up to this point. That is why the tabernacle was constructed in this manner. Today we do not need to sacrifice an animal to draw near to God and yet, we just can not barge into His presence as many people think they can. We must enter in with devout respect yes, but also with a humble and contrite heart, full of repentance and washed in the blood of Yeshua. Then we can come with that confidence that He will hear our prayers. 

God has not changed, He is still holy and today, this very moment the angels are still crying, “Holy, Holy, Holy. The tabernacle was the sanctuary and our churches and synagogues represent the sanctuary of God. We can not enter in casually or commonly, but holy. Today’s churches allow people to come in with their coffee, their phones  and other things that distract us from true worship of the One Holy God. If we want God in our midst then we must create a holy environment for God to dwell amongst us. The death of Messiah did not change that, for God is the same yesterday, today and forever. Even when we pray over our meals, we are asking God to be amongst us. How do you think we should act?  How should our conversation be? Today, we are the tabernacle of God as 

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 tells us,  “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;  you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”

How about you? Can you say that you are honoring God with your body?

Today, we have a drug problem, an alcohol problem, and even a pornagraphy problem.  People live together  like a married couple, but are not married. Our eyes and ears are seeing things we should not see and hear.  Instead of praising God with the fruit of our lips, we curse God using His name in vain. Our incense before God is not sweet.  This study is to open our eyes and see that there is a way to pray, and our Messiah made that way so we can approach God in holiness and godliness, so God will hear and answer us, in our time of need.

Like the Psalmist writes in Psalm 18:18-20, “They confronted me in the day of my disaster,    but the Lord was my support .He brought me out into a spacious place;    He rescued me because He delighted in me. The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness;   according to the cleanness of my hands He has rewarded me.”

JudeoChristianClarion.Com/Torchbearers

Hello, My name is El Shaddai, 

some know Me as Elohim and some as God the Father.

Many people do not believe that I exist.

Many people do not believe that I am the Creator of all things, seen and unseen.

Many people curse My Name.

Hello, My name is the Word of God.

Many people think that I am a lie.

Many people think that those who believe in what I say are deceived. 

Many people believe that men wrote my words, and they were not inspired by the Holy Spirit.

Hello, My name is Commandment.

Many people do not believe that they need to keep me.

Many people feel that I was done away with.

Many people feel that I am the Law and today we are not under the Law.

Many people walk contrary to me, because they feel they do not need a guardian.

Hello, My name is the Holy Spirit.

People think that I am like those who practice witchcraft, because of the gifts I give to those who are born of Me.

Many people think that they are born of Me, yet they live like the world and talk like the world and they are not set apart in holiness. I am the Holy Spirit and those who walk by My ways and live by Me, I make  holy and set apart, when they are truly born of Me. I convict people of their sins, and bring them to repentance. I am also truth and truth sets you free.

Hello, My name is Yeshua.

Many people do not know Me by My real name.

They do not know that My real name means Salvation.

Many people think they know Me, but they do not know Me in truth.

I want to tell you the truth.

I am the Word of God. I am God.  Because the world was created by speaking it into existence, I am the Creator.  I was the same yesterday, as I will be tomorrow, as I am today. I came to this earth as a Jew, from the tribe of Judah.  I worshiped as a Jew. I dressed as a Jew. I ate kosher and I kept all of the Father’s Appointed Times. I, even I, am the Lord of the 7th day Sabbath.

I did not begin a new religion, nor did I nullify, not even one jot or tittle of the Word of God. In fact, I expanded the commandments. I am the fulfillment of the Word of God, because I am the Word of God. I am the Alpha and the Omega, that means that I am the beginning and the end, which means that I am the first word that was written to the last word that was written. That means that even the space between each letter is all about Me. 

I died and shed My blood  for the forgiveness of sin.

I rose from the grave victoriously, so that those who believe may have eternal salvation in Me.

I am the Good Shepherd and those who are My sheep hear My voice and follow Me. How do they follow you ask? They keep My Commandments. They live by My ways. I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Me and yet, many people believe that there are many ways to go about salvation. 

Hello, My name is Eternal Life.

Many people do not believe that there is life after death.

Many people believe that all people will have eternal life.

Many people believe that if they belong to one form of Chrisitanity or go to one church versus another that they will have eternal life.

Hello, my name is Sin.

Many people do not believe in me.

Many people do not know that they need to repent of me, to actually change their lives to not even include me.

Many people do not know that I separate them from the light of God, and I cause them to be turned over to the futility of their mind.

Many people do not know that if they die in me they will not have eternal life and many people do not even care.

Hello, my name is Hell.

Many people do not believe that I exist.

Many people hope that they come to stay.

Many people do not realize what I am.

They do not believe that I am the darkest of darkness. 

They do not believe that I go beyond all pain and suffering.

They do not believe that I am something they have never felt, total separation from their Creator.

Hello, I am the Devil.

Many people do not believe that I exist.

Many people do not know that I am the father of lies.

I am the master deceiver.

I am the hater of all things good.

I am he who people struggle with when they want to do good, those who want to accept truth. I am real and I want you forever.

Hello, my name is Wisdom.

Today,  do not harden your hearts but follow me. I will lead you in all truth.

I will not forsake you, or leave you, or abandon you. I tell you hold on to me and  never let me go. I will show you the way . I will show you the truth from the lie.

I am the Word of God. I am the Commandments, I am Eternal Life, I am God and I am Yeshua. I am here to save you because I am Love.

Hello, I am Salvation.

I am a free gift from God.

Many people do not accept this free gift.

Many people die without me.

Many people do not know how to receive me as a free gift.

I will tell you, if you want to know. 

Repent of your sins. Make a complete turn around in your life. Let go of the world and it’s ways.

Accept the sacrifice of Yeshua and let Him wash you clean with His life saving blood. 

Come to God in the name of Yeshua and draw near to Him washed in the blood of Yeshua. Not only begin to read the Word of God, but begin to live it out. Now that you have a relationship with the Father, come often in prayer, with thanksgiving, praising His name.

JudeoChristianClarion.com/Torchbearers

Ephesians 6:10-18  “Last of all I want to remind you that your strength must come from the Lord’s mighty power within you.  Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand safe against all strategies and tricks of Satan.  For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against persons without bodies—the evil rulers of the unseen world, those mighty satanic beings and great evil princes of darkness who rule this world; and against huge numbers of wicked spirits in the spirit world.  So use every piece of God’s armor to resist the enemy whenever he attacks, and when it is all over, you will still be standing up.  But to do this, you will need the strong belt of truth and the breastplate of God’s approval.  Wear shoes that are able to speed you on as you preach the Good News of peace with God.  In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan.  And you will need the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit—which is the Word of God.  Pray all the time. Ask God for anything in line with the Holy Spirit’s wishes. Plead with him, reminding him of your needs, and keep praying earnestly for all Christians everywhere.”

Can you draw every piece of God’s Armor?

JudeoChristianClarion.Com/Torchbearers

Matthew 5, which we call the Sermon on the Mount, is a very well known portion of Scripture, especially the Beatitudes, but is probably the least portion that is lived out in our walk with God.

Matthew 5:3 tells us this, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” The question is do we know what poor in spirit is? How can we live it, if we don’t even know what it means? To be poor is to be depleted of the world’s goods, to be afflicted and in need, to have to rely on others or other means to be sustained. Now apply that to your spirit. 

Yeshua taught His disciples that the rich will struggle to enter into the kingdom as it says in  Matthew 19:24, “And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”  But is this the same as being poor in spirit? In some ways yes and in other ways no. A person with money has many opportunities afforded him because of his money. This can make a person rely on himself or should I say his money. But a poor person must rely on the generosity of others.  This brings us to the next Beatitude.

Matthew 5:4 continues, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” This is inner grieving, when your soul is in anguish. A poor person grieves his inability to care for himself and his family. He does not have the comforts like a rich person has. Which brings us to the next Beatitude.

Matthew 5:5 says,  “Blessed are the gentle, for they will inherit the earth.” Many translations use the word humble or meek instead of gentle.  Yeshua tells His disciples this story in Luke 14:7-11, “ Now He began telling a parable to the invited guests when He noticed how they had been picking out the places of honor at the table, saying to them, “Whenever you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for someone more distinguished than you may have been invited by him,  and the one who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then in disgrace you will proceed to occupy the last place.  But whenever you are invited, go and take the last place, so that when the one who has invited you comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher’; then you will have honor in the sight of all who are dining at the table with you.  For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

As we see from this story that God does not favor the proud, but the humble. The one who recognizes within himself that he no matter what his circumstances are is in need. For we all lack, because we all need the Lord. We all grieve inwardly because we can never get as close to the Lord as we should. We all should realize that we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. In fact all creation mourns as Romans 8:22-24 tells us,  We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.  Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.  For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?” 

So we begin to see what the Beatitudes are all about.  Yeshua was teaching His disciples about how they should go about in this world. Romans 12:3 tells us this, “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.”

Once we understand this then we can see why Yeshua concluded His story by saying this in Luke 14:12-15,  “Now He also went on to say to the one who had invited Him, “Whenever you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor wealthy neighbors, otherwise they may also invite you to a meal in return, and that will be your repayment.  But whenever you give a banquet, invite people who are poor, who have disabilities, who are limping, and people who are blind;  and you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” Now when one of those who were reclining at the table with Him heard this, he said to Him, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the Kingdom of God!”

When we have the right perspective on life then we can go about doing the Master’s work, for then we shall be like Him.

That brings us to Matthew 5:6, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.” By now you should be hungry and thirsty to do righteousness, because you have prepared your soul and your spirit to do the right thing in life, to have the right attitude and to no longer see the world through your eyes but through the eyes of the Master Yeshua. Matthew 5:7 goes on to say, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.  To show mercy and to offer grace should come easy now. Godliness has grown within you and finally you are now able to have a pure heart as Matthew 5:8 tells us, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” As you should have seen by now that as you go you are reaping what you are sowing. The Laws of reciprocity are in play. Those who mourn will be comforted, those who hunger and thirst will be satisfied, those who show mercy, will receive mercy. When you grow in the beatitudes you see that you too, will receive the kingdom, and inherit the earth and you will see God. As we have walked through the beatitudes, we started with letting go of this world and depending on God, spiritually, as well as physically. He is our source. We mourn and long for the day of our adoption, the fulfilment of our salvation.  Matthew 5:9 tells us, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.” Yeshua told His disciples, If they hated me they will hate you also“ as John 15:18-25 tells us, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first.  If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.  Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed My teaching, they will obey yours also.  They will treat you this way because of My name, for they do not know the one who sent Me.  If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.  Whoever hates Me hates my Father as well.  If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both Me and my Father.  But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated Me without reason.”   The world  will know that we are the sons of God by our love. Matthew 5: 10-11 tells us,

“Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (This is where we started)  “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in this same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

So now you know  how it all comes together. Like each piece of the Armor of God is a lifestyle, so too, is the Beatitudes, and you too, can begin to live them out.  

Be blessed with the Beatitudes when you have the right attitude. 

This is a

 “Clarion Call”

“Blow the trumpet in Zion;

    sound the alarm on my holy mountain.”(Joel 2:1)

It’s time for all people to awaken from their slumber. 

This is a time to see clearly the signs of the times.

No.1   JudeoChristianClarion.Com   “The Great Falling Away”

Paul saw it in his day and tells us in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3,

“Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, regarding the coming of our Lord  Messiah Yeshua and our gathering together to Him,  that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit, or a message, or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.  No one is to deceive you in any way! For it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction..”

So has the apostasy begun? Have people been deceived?

Paul tells us this in Romans 16:17-18,  “Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them.  For such people are slaves, not of our Lord Messiah, but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.” 

According to a Washington Post article from March 29th, 2021 it says,

(quote) “The proportion of Americans who consider themselves members of a church, synagogue or mosque has dropped below 50 percent, according to a poll from Gallup released Monday. It is the first time that has happened since Gallup first asked the question in 1937, when church membership was 73 percent.”(unquote)

Another survey shows that only 9% of Christians read their Bibles only  once a week.

According to a Newsweek article dated August 30, 2020 

 A slight majority of American adults say Jesus was a great teacher and nothing more during his lifetime, which several Christian leaders say is evidence today’s faithful are “drifting away” from traditional evangelist teachings.

As earlier reported by The Christian Post, the 2020 survey conducted by Ligonier Ministries, a Florida-based Reform Church nonprofit, found 52 percent of U.S. adults say they believe Jesus Christ is not God — a belief that contradicts traditional teachings of the Bible through the Christian church, which state Jesus was both man and God.

Nearly one-third of evangelicals in the survey agreed that Jesus isn’t God, compared to 65 percent who said “Jesus is the first and greatest being created by God.” The findings of the survey were collected from 3,000 Americans, including 630 self-described evangelicals, and has prompted a call for more arduous modern study of Scripture. “Statistics like these  from the State of Theology survey can give us quite a shock, but they also shed light on the concerns that many American Christians and churches have expressed for decades. As the culture around us increasingly abandons its moral compass, professing evangelicals are sadly drifting away from God’s absolute standard in Scripture,” Stephen Nichols, chief academic officer of Ligonier Ministries and president of Reformation Bible College, said in a statement.” 

Hebrew 6:4-8 says, “For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit,  and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,  and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.  For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and produces vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God;  but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned.”

Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 13:5, “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Messiah Yeshua is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!”

Peter tells us in 2 Peter 1:5-11,  “Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.  For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Yeshua the Messiah”

It’s time now that you hear the sound of the Clarion Call and  hear what the Spirit has to say to the church. 

2 Peter 1: 5-11 tells us this, “For this very reason, make  every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge,  and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness,  and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.  For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Messiah Yeshua.  For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.  Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.  For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Messiah Yeshua.”

“Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it” (Hebrew 2:1).

This is a

 “Clarion Call”

“Blow the trumpet in Zion;

    sound the alarm on my holy mountain.”(Joel 2:1)

It’s time for all people to awaken from their slumber. 

This is a time to see clearly the signs of the times.

No.2             JudeoChristianClarion.Com   “ End Times”

When asked by the Pharisees and Sadducees about signs, Yeshua replied in Matthew 16:2-3 this,

“When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’  And in the morning, ‘There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but are you unable to discern the signs of the times?”

Today as we go about our everyday lives,we have forgotten Yeshua’s words.

Yeshua saw the signs in His day and warned us in Matthew 24:4-14,

 Yeshua answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you.  For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many.  You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.  Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.  All these are the beginning of birth pains.  Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.  At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other,  and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.  Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,  but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.  And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”

The Horses of Revelation 6 are riding and have been riding.  We have seen the birth pangs of Messiah’s second coming increase quicker and quicker in these later years. Wickedness has increased so that we now call good evil and evil good.

 2 Timothy 3: 1-5 tells us this, “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.  For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,  unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,  treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,  holding to a form of godliness although they have denied its power; avoid such people as these.” 

Today we see a great falling away of believers. The uniting of the religions which has been done under this pope, all for the sake of unity and this  will bring about the false prophet.  All things are global today, which will lead to the one world government and that will bring about the antichrist.

2 Thessalonians 2: 7-12,  “For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is removed.  Then that lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will eliminate with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming;  that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and false signs and wonders,  and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not accept the love of the truth so as to be saved.  For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false,  in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.”

 Today we also see great persecution and martyrdom which is taking place daily  around the world. We also see prophecies like Israel returning to its land being fulfilled, and now the embassy is in Jerusalem, the ancient capital.

This is the time for the virgins to light their lamps, for the bridegroom is coming. Matthew 25:13 ends the parable by saying this,  “Be on the alert then, because you do not know the day nor the hour.”

This is the time to bring in the harvest as Matthew 9:36-38 says  ‘Seeing the crowds, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and downcast, like sheep without a shepherd.  Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.  Therefore, plead with the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”

This is the time to seek the Lord as Isaiah 55:6-7 tells us..“Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near.  Let the wicked abandon his way, and the unrighteous person his thoughts; and let him return to the Lord, and He will have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon”.

This is the time for us to not only open our eyes and see, but to open our ears to hear what the Holy Spirit is saying to the believers. The birth pangs of the Messiah’s second coming are crying out louder and louder every day. 

2 Peter 3:3-9 leaves us with this thought. “Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts,  and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue just as they were from the beginning of creation.”  For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, through which the world at that time was destroyed by being flooded with water.  But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly people. But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.  The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.”

This is a

 “Clarion Call”

“Blow the trumpet in Zion;

    sound the alarm on my holy mountain.”(Joel 2:1)

It’s time for all people to awaken from their slumber. 

This is a time to see clearly the signs of the times.

No.3   JudeoChristianClarion.Com   “Forsaking the World”

Yeshua told the crowd this in His day.

Luke 14:25-27  “Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said:  “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.  And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”

Yeshua knew that it was going to take forsaking the world to be His disciple. He knew the power the world had over people.  He knew unless you make a complete forsaking of the world  that you would not pick up the yoke of the kingdom to follow Him.  He knew that you would not walk in His footsteps and  that is what it was going to take to be His disciple.

The Apostle John saw it in his day when he wrote in 

1 John 2:15-17, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.  For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.  The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

James saw in his day the importance of forsaking the world and the effect that the world had on people. He writes in 

James 4:1-10,  “ What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is the source not your pleasures that wage war in your body’s parts?  You lust and do not have, so you commit murder. And you are envious and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask.  You ask and do not receive, because you ask with the wrong motives, so that you may spend what you request on your pleasures.  You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.  Or do you think that the Scripture says to no purpose, “He jealously desires the Spirit whom He has made to dwell in us”?  But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”  Submit therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Come close to God and He will come close to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.  Be miserable, and mourn, and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy into gloom.  Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.”

Paul knew it and he did something about it as

Philippians 3 :7-11 tells us,  “But whatever things were gain to me, these things I have counted as loss because of Messiah.  More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Messiah Yeshua my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them mere rubbish, so that I may gain Messiah  and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Messiah , the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,  that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;  if somehow I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.”

Today I ask you, where are your thoughts? Are they on God? Do you meditate on His Word day and night? Is His Word your daily bread? Or are you only thinking about how you can get ahead or what you want to buy to satisfy your wants?  Do you have a godly worldview of life, or do you have a worldly world view of life? These things are an indication of where your heart is.

 Yeshua tells us in Matthew 6: 19-24, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy,  your whole body will be full of light.  But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!”

 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

Today, are you trying to serve two masters?  Today is the day of salvation. Today is the day that you need to forsake the world, before you can no longer let go. The  longer you have a foot in the world, the harder it is for you to forsake it. 

Yeshua knew it, and Paul knew it, and an endless number of believers have known it over the centuries.

Yeshua tells a couple of parables about the kingdom in Matthew 13:44-46, 

 “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells everything that he has, and buys that field. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls,  and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold everything that he had and bought it.”

Our treasure must be in heaven, our citizenship is not of this world but in heaven. If Yeshua is our king, then we must be citizens of His kingdom. If we find ourselves advancing our little kingdom, then we are not citizens of Yeshua’s kingdom, but our own. We can not serve two masters, nor can we be citizens of two kingdoms.

Today is the day that we must decide who it is that we live for, ourselves or our King Yeshua. When the King returns what will He find?  Will He find you a faithful servant working His fields or will He find you off attending some other field?  Now is the time to forsake the world and to live for the Kingdom of God.

This is a

 “Clarion Call”

“Blow the trumpet in Zion;

    sound the alarm on my holy mountain.”(Joel 2:1)

It’s time for all people to awaken from their slumber. 

This is a time to see clearly the signs of the times.

No.4   JudeoChristianClarion.Com   “Fleeing Babylon”

This is a warning to flee Babylon. You may ask who is  Babylon? Or  what is  Babylon? And why should I flee this Babylon? Babylon is the religion of Humanism. Humanism says, “ I,” “We are all gods”.

Humanism goes back to Satan himself, who wanted to be like God.

Isaiah 14:12  tells us,  “How you have fallen from heaven morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth,   you who once laid low the nations!

You said in your heart,  “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne   above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly,   on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.”

Yeshua saw and He said, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven, Luke 10:18.

After Satan fell he went and caused Eve to fall by questioning her if she really heard from God, as we read in Genesis 3:1, “Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”

The Tower of Babel was the same, for they wanted to make a name for themselves as they reached toward heaven, Genesis 11:3-4.

Humanism was alive then and it is still alive today. 

The angel of the Lord saw the signs and it was recorded in Revelation 17:3-6, “Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns.   The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries.  The name written on her forehead was a mystery: Babylon the great the mother of prostitutes and of the abominations of the earth.  I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people, the blood of those who bore testimony of Messiah Yeshua.”

And again in Revelation 18:4-8 it warns us,  “I heard another voice from heaven, saying, “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive any of her plagues;  for her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her offenses.  Pay her back even as she has paid, and give back to her double according to her deeds; in the cup which she has mixed, mix twice as much for her.  To the extent that she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, to the same extent give her torment and mourning; for she says in her heart, ‘I sit as a queen and I am not a widow, and will never see mourning.’  For this reason in one day her plagues will come, plague and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for the Lord God who judges her is strong.”

Babylon is the powerful one world order. It is the globalization of the world. It is the kingdom of the antichrist, the antichrist who says that he is God. Today people are walking away from the one true God.  They are believing in the ancient religion of humanism. If it feels good…do it. You deserve a break…You owe it to yourself.  These are all sayings from the humanistic religion. It is totally against God. It has raised itself up above God. It denies Him as Creator and Savior and has denied that He is even in control. When we do not live for God or even consider God in what we do with our lives, it is humanism . We deny God as the center and source of our lives. The devil is cunning and so is humanism.  It sneaks up on you and grabs hold of you and makes you doubt and be confused.

 1 Corinthians 10:12 tells us if we think that we are standing , beware lest you fall. This is what humanism does to a person. A man’s way may seem right to him, but lead to destruction, Proverbs 14:12. This is what humanism does, it lies and deceives us. Before long we are questioning our faith. We are doubting our foundation and then like Eve we fall into temptation and that temptation takes us down.

It is an ounce of truth to lure us, but a pound of lies to bind us. Slowly it brainwashes us and we believe that what we are hearing is true. We are to flee Babylon. We must run from it and never look back . 

Today, if you think that your faith is not as strong as it used to be, then I say, “Run!” Run toward God the Father.  As James 4:7 tells us,  “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Read His Word and do what He has asked us to do. Keep His commandments. Go back to meeting with the assembly of believers. Pray and let go of this world’s ways. The devil will take you down. He wants  all of God’s people to turn from Him, forsake Him and deny Him. But I tell you, do not fall victim, God is able to save you , if you want to be saved.

This is a

 “Clarion Call”

“Blow the trumpet in Zion;

    sound the alarm on my holy mountain.”(Joel 2:1)

It’s time for all people to awaken from their slumber. 

This is a time to see clearly the signs of the times.

No.5    JudeoChristianClarion.Com   “Repentance”

The Prophet Joel saw it in his day and we too, must see it in ours.

Joel 2:12-14 says, “Yet even now,” declares the Lord,

    “Return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;    and rend your hearts and not your garments.”

Return to the Lord your God,   for He is gracious and merciful,

slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love;    and He relents over disaster.

 Who knows whether He will not turn and relent,   and leave a blessing behind Him, a grain offering and a drink offering    for the Lord your God?”

The people in Nineveh, in the day of Jonah when he came preaching, saw and understood as Jonah 3:1-10 tells us,

“When the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time:  “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.” Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it.  Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.”  The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust.  This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh: “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink.  But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence.  Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.” When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, He relented and did not bring on them the destruction He had threatened.”

The Apostle John saw it in his day, as Yeshua, the Alpha and the Omega, spoke to him. Revelation 2:4-5, “ But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.  Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.”

From a May 15, 2020 article in Forbes Magazine it says, “More than two-thirds of religious Americans believe God is using the coronavirus to tell humanity to change its ways, according to a survey released Friday, while one in 10 blame the pandemic on “human sinfulness.”” (unquote)

According to an Associated Press article dated May 15, 2020 it says, A new poll finds the coronavirus has prompted almost two-thirds of American believers of all faiths to feel that God is telling humanity to change how it lives.

Yeshua warned many times and here are just two.

Luke 13:1-5, “Now on that very occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.  And Yeshua responded and said to them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans just because they have suffered this fate?  No, I tell you, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.  Or do you think that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse offenders than all the other people who live in Jerusalem?  No, I tell you, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

And again in John 8:21-24, “Then He said again to them, “I am going away, and you will look for Me, and will die in your sin; where I am going, you cannot come.”  So the Jews were saying, “Surely He will not kill Himself, will He, since He says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?”  And He was saying to them, “You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world.  Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am, you will die in your sins.”

Bad things happen to people and that does not always mean that the wrath of God has come down upon them, but the point Yeshua was making is that no one knows when death may occur.  Like Revelation 9: 20-21  tells us, “The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands so as not to worship demons and the idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk;  and they did not repent of their murders, nor of their witchcraft, nor of their sexual immorality, nor of their thefts.”    People die in their sins all the time.

How about you? Do you think that Yeshua is coming back sooner than we think?

Are you ready if He does?

For no one knows the day or the hour, not even the angels, ( Matthew 24:36). 

Are you working out your salvation with fear and trembling? (Phillipians 2:12).

Do you need to return to your first love?  We are to love the Lord with all of our strength, (Matthew 22:37).

Yeshua said if you love Me then keep My commands, (John 14:15).

To sum up the whole of the commandments is to love God and love your neighbor as yourself, (Luke 10:27).

Maybe if you love your life more than anything, then maybe it’s time you lose it, as John 12:25 tells us,

“Truly, truly I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.  The one who loves his life loses it, and the one who hates his life in this world will keep it to eternal life.  If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.”

Revelation 3:2-3 says,

“Be constantly alert, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Then if you are not alert, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you. “

This is a

 “Clarion Call”

“Blow the trumpet in Zion;

    sound the alarm on my holy mountain.”(Joel 2:1)

It’s time for all people to awaken from their slumber. 

This is a time to see clearly the signs of the times.

No.6   JudeoChristianClarion.Com   “Fasting and Praying”

The Prophet Joel saw it in his days and we too, must see it in ours.

Joel 2:15-17 says, “Blow a trumpet in Zion, consecrate a fast, proclaim a solemn assembly, gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders,

gather the children and the nursing infants.

Have the groom come out of his room and the bride out of her bridal chamber.

 Let the priests, the Lord’s ministers, weep between the porch and the altar,

And let them say, “Spare Your people, Lord, and do not make Your inheritance a disgrace, with the nations jeering at them. Why should those among the peoples say, ‘Where is their God?’”

Joel says blow the trumpet. Blowing the trumpet was used for several reasons, but always to alert the people. 

Yeshua says this to His disciples in Matthew 2: 1-4, “Yeshua left the temple area and was going on His way when His disciples came up to point out the temple buildings to Him.  But He responded and said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down.”  And as He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”

Today, I ask you, “Do you not see all these things?” This is a time, and has been a time, when we who have ears, can hear what the Spirit is saying. 

Prayer and fasting has been the bedrock of our faith going as far back as Genesis. 

Yeshua Himself, fasted and prayed as we see in Matthew 4:2, “And after He had fasted for forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry.”

Yeshua saw the day when His disciples would need to fast, as He says in Matthew 9:14-15, “Then the disciples of John came to Him, asking, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?”  And Yeshua said to them, “The attendants of the groom cannot mourn as long as the groom is with them, can they? But the days will come when the groom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.”

He even told His disciples how to fast in Matthew 6: 16-18,   “Now whenever you fast, do not make a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they distort their faces so that they will be noticed by people when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.  But as for you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,  so that your fasting will not be noticed by people but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.” 

Prayer is a powerful weapon. We see this as a part of our armor as Ephesians 6:  10-18 tells us how to fight the battle. “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.  Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.  Stand firm therefore, having belted your waist with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,  and having strapped on your feet the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be alert with all perseverance and every request for all the saints.” 

This is the time for all believers to get on our knees and seek the Lord. In our churches and synagogues, our Pastors and Rabbis need to lead the charge. Families and newlyweds, children of all ages, we must blow the trumpet and call for a time of fasting and praying. We must heed the words of the Prophet Joel which is a harbinger of things to come or else we will not have prepared our hearts as the days of the Lord draw near.

Philippians 3:17-21 says, “Brothers and sisters, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.  For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even as I weep, that they are the enemies of the cross of Messiah whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who have their minds on earthly things.  For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Messiah Yeshua  who will transform the body of our lowly condition into conformity with His glorious body, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.”

Today we must see the times that we are living in. We must see the need to fast and pray. We must prepare our hearts for we are truly in a  spiritual battle and we need to fight the good fight  and contend for the faith and the only way to fight this battle is on our knees, fasting and praying and speaking truth to lies.

Today we must have the right priorities. We must put down the things of the world. We must let go of our lives for the kingdom. We have a job to do and we need to pick up the yoke of the kingdom  and put on the armor of God and fall to our knees and fight. We are lovers of the cross and we must even fight our own desires, including our appetite and fast and pray and contend and yes, we will even win the battle, because Messiah is a mighty warrior fighting alongside of us.

This is a

 “Clarion Call”

“Blow the trumpet in Zion;

    sound the alarm on my holy mountain.”(Joel 2:1)

It’s time for all people to awaken from their slumber. 

This is a time to see clearly the signs of the times.

No.7  JudeoChristianClarion.Com   “Loving the Lord”

Deuteronomy 6:4-7 tells us this about loving the Lord, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!  You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.  “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.  You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up”.

Yeshua went on to say this in Matthew 22 :37-40,  “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’  On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

As we have heard throughout these Clarion Calls is that people are falling away from the One True God. They no longer believe His Word. They no longer keep His commandments. Yeshua tells us in Revelation 2:4,  to “Return to our first love.” We must come back to the truth. We must teach our children the truth. We must live out that truth as an example to our children and we will be a witness to the world. And  if we do, then we must  train up our children in the way they must go, so that they will not depart from what they have learned, Proverbs 22:6.  Also we will be godly neighbors, loving one another.

The Word tells us that we are to love the Lord with all of our heart.  What does that mean? It means this, you shall have no other god before the One True God, this means the world and all that goes with the world, like  it says in 1 John 2:16,  The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.  The world is full of temptation and people fall into its grip time and time again. The world is like quicksand, once you step into it, you just keep sinking deeper and deeper until you are buried in it, because  you cannot pull yourself out, it is too consuming.

Some people  may repent from their lust, if they have built a strong foundation on the Lord, but for many it ends up being on a downward spiral that leads to walking away from God.

Is it not time that we return to our first love?  Do we not see the signs of the times?  Maybe not,  because we may not read our Bibles. The world has a way of closing our eyes.  The world as they say, is going to hell. Today we can see just how things have gotten. We call good evil and evil good. The love of many has grown cold. Our children have been taught to disregard their parents’ thinking, because now in this new world we have been enlightened, or as they say, we have become woke!   We are blowing the trumpet and sounding the alarm. This is a time to rise up and return to our roots, and our roots are in the One True God who created the heavens and the earth. We must draw close to God, so that He will draw close to us.  Jeremiah 6:19 tells us what the Lord has to say, “Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find a resting place for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ And I set watchmen over you, saying, ‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’ But they said, ‘We will not listen.’ Therefore hear, you nations, and know, you congregation, what is among them. Hear, earth: behold, I am bringing disaster on this people, The fruit of their plans, because they have not listened to My words, and as for My Law, they have rejected it also.”

We must return to His ways and walk on His paths.  This is the  time to shake off our slumber and return to the Lord. We must examine ourselves and repent of our sins and draw near to God with prayer and fasting.  Today if you hear His voice do not harden your hearts, for this is a time for humility and the baring of one’s soul.

Welcome

May is a beautiful month.  The spring flowers and trees are all in bloom. The birds are chirping and the sounds of life are upon us. This May 16th at sunset begins the feast known as Shavuot or better known to us as Pentecost. Pentecost was the day that the tongues of fire fell upon the disciples and 120 people, all received the Holy Spirit. But the original Pentecost or Shavuot in Hebrew was also the day that fire and clouds of smoke appeared at the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai. We know that the Word of God and the Holy Spirit go together because the Bible tells us this in Ephesians 6:17, which mentions the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. So as believers how important it is for us to celebrate this feast day, because Yeshua kept His promise to His disciples when He told them this, as recorded in John 15:26-27,  “I will send you the Helper from the Father. The Helper is the Spirit of truth  who comes from the Father. When He comes, He will tell about Me. And you will tell people about Me too, because you have been with Me from the beginning.”

Today  let us be as fresh in our faith as the blooms that are in our gardens and on 

 our trees. 

Let’s Go For A Walk

When  Yeshua heard that His friend Lazarus had taken ill, He told His disciples that He was going to stay for two more days before going to him. When the two days were over Yeshua told His disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” Upon hearing this His disciples told Him, “ Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone You, and yet You are going there again?” Yeshua, who often spoke cripticly to His disciples replies by saying this in John 11:9-10, “Are there not twelve hours in the day?  If anyone walks during the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.  But if anyone walks during the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”  What is He talking about?  Let’s take a walk ourselves and see if we may unravel what Yeshua is saying. First we see in John 8:12 this, “Then Yeshua again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; the one who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” So Yeshua Himself is the Light and that Light is life, not just any old light but the Light that gives us life. Right from the beginning of time we see this Light. Genesis 1:5 tells us that there is a difference between light and darkness and day and night.

“God called the light day, and the darkness He called night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day.” 

If we walk by the Light, then we are children of light and as children of light then we must live a certain way or else we are not of the light.

 1 Thessalonians 5:4-8  speaks about us being children of the light. “But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief.  You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.  So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.  For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.  But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.”

So we begin to see that as children of light we must walk in that light. There is no time to sleep, (figuratively) but we must at all times stay awake and alert and we must be sober, also putting on the armor of God with faith and love which is our righteousness and salvation. It sounds like Yeshua was speaking about a battle. So let us first remember that Yeshua is not only the Light but He is the Word.  

Psalm 119:105 tells us, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”  So God’s Word keeps us from stumbling. Yeshua tells His disciples that He was sending the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth.  John 16:13, “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth;  for He will not speak on His own, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.” The Holy Spirit will guide you, and lead you. For this to happen we have to walk with the Holy Spirit. We know that by the armor of God that the Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God.  They are one in the same. So let’s look again at our beginning Scripture. 

John 11:9, “If anyone walks during the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.” We just saw that the Holy Spirit was sent to guide us and we know that the Spirit and the Word are one. Now let’s look at what Paul tells us in Galatians 5:16-17,  “ But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.  For the desire of the flesh is against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, in order to keep you from doing whatever you want.”  John 11 told us that if we are of the day, we will not stumble, because we will see the light of this world. This means if we do not walk by the day we will stumble because we will not have the light to see 

what the desires of the flesh are.  1 John 2:16 tells us, “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” Galaltians 5: 20-21 goes on to tell us what the lust and the pride of this world are. “Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, indecent behavior,  idolatry, witchcraft, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions,  envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Yeshua knew that His people would need to see the danger that lies ahead of them and He did not want His sheep to get caught in the trap of the evil one. The Holy Spirit forewarns us and convicts us of our sin, so that we can turn around and walk in the right direction.What is the right direction? Paul continues on in Galatians 5: 22-25,  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.  Now those who belong to Messiah Yeshua crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let’s follow the Spirit as well.” 

The Holy Spirit gives us gifts so that we can serve the Lord. He lets us bear fruit as John 15:7-8 tells us,   “If you remain in Me, and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples”. 

As we celebrate the giving of the Holy Spirit shouldn’t we ask for the gifts and the fruit He has to offer us? Like a friend, shouldn’t we walk with Him as He sheds light on our path?  So was Yeshua speaking about a battle? “Yes” and to fight the battle let us pick up the Sword of the Spirit and speak the Word of the Lord as we follow the Light into the darkness. We will not stumble, we will not fail, for the Light will lead us and give us the victory over the enemy of our souls

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“Strolling down the Path of Godliness”. And you may also want to read all our brochures on Godliness and Holiness.

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Excerpts from the Book The Seven Festivals of the Messiah by Edward Chumney

The Historical Understanding of Pentecost (Shavuot)

In the third month after the Jews left Egypt, they arrived in the Sinai desert and camped opposite Mount Sinai. Moses was then told by G_d to gather the Israelites together to receive the Torah (Exodus 19:1-8) The Israelites answered, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do!” In Hebrew, it is Na’aseh V’Nishmah, which means, “We agree to do even before we have listened.” Moses then gave the Jews two days to cleanse themselves, wash their clothes, and prepare to receive the Torah on the third day. At the same time, Moses told them not to come near Mount Sinai. From early morning, dense clouds covered the peak of the mountain. Thunder and lightning were frequently seen and heard. The sound of the shofar (ram’s horn) came very strong, and the top of the mountain was enveloped in fire and smoke. The Israelites at the foot of Mount Sinai stood in great awe (Exodus 19:9-19). Moses then went up alone on the mountain, and as he neared the top, a mighty voice announced the Ten commandments

 (Exodus 19:20-25,20:1-21)  

Spiritual Application (Halacha)

 Shavuot (Pentecost) culminates with the counting of the omer for 50 days (which should be done the day following the weekly sabbath during Passover , Shavuot (Pentecost) is called the Atzeret or conclusion to Passover. Spiritually speaking, the believers in the Messiah Yeshua are on a journey out of Egypt ( a type of world’s system and it’s evil ways) in the wilderness (of life), awaiting out the time to meet G_d face to face on Mount Sinai (Exodus 3:12).  There at Mount Sinai (spiritually), G-d will forever reveal Himself to us in a new and greater way. For all believers in the Messiah Yeshua, the Torah that was given at Mount Sinai represents the Word of G-d, the entire Bible. The believer in Yeshua spiritually experiences Shavuot (Pentecost) when the Holy Spirit of G_d reveals the Word of G_d to him in a deeper and more powerful way, and his understanding and desire for the Bible increases accordingly. 

The Pouring out of G-d’s Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh)

In the Midrash, which is a rabbinical commentary on the Scriptures, in Exodus Rabbah 5:9, it says: When G-d gave the Torah on Mount Sinai He displayed untold marvels to Israel with his voice. What happened?  G-d spoke and the voice reverberated throughout the whole world… It says, And all the people witnessed the thunderings(Exodus 20:18). Note that it does not say “the thunder” but “the thunderings”, wherefore, R.Johanan said that G-d’s voice, as it was uttered, split up into seventy voices, in seventy languages, so that all the nations should understand.  

Messianic Fulfillment 

 This same experience we just discussed that happened at Mount Sinai also occurred 50 days after the resurrection of Yeshua on the day of Shavuot (Pentecost) almost 2,000 years ago. This experience is also described in Acts 2:1-11 and Hebrews 12:18-19.In describing what happened in Exodus 20:18, Hebrews 12:18-19 it says, “And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words…” The word, words in Hebrews 12:19 is the Greek word rhema, which means “an individual word.” In this passage in Hebrews, we can see the same thing that Rabbi Moshe Weissman understood happened at Mount Sinai  in the first Shavuot (Pentecost) in his commentary, is exactly what happened as seen in Hebrews 12:19. It is also what happened during the first Shavuot (Pentecost) following the resurrection of Yeshua. At this Shavuot (Pentecost),  the people also were as one (Acts 2:1-2, Exodus 19:2). When G-d poured out His Holy Spirit  at this time, once again people began to speak in the different languages of the world (Acts 2:1-11). Therefore, we can see that the Shavuot (Pentecost) at Mount Sinai was a rehearsal  of the Shavuot (Pentecost) that would occur immediately after the resurrection of Yeshua.

Pentecost Fruit Salad

There is nothing better to celebrate a May Pentecost than with a fruit salad to remind us of the Fruit of the Spirit.  Galatians 5:22-23a, “But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness, self-control.” 

TAKE: 1 pound (500 g) strawberries washed, hulled and sliced

• 3 kiwi fruits peeled and sliced into half moons
• 2 mangoes peeled and diced
• 10 ounces (300 g) blueberries washed
• 1 cup green grapes halved
• 9 ounce (250 g) can pineapple chunks or pieces (or 1/2 of a fresh pineapple, peeled and diced)
• 3 tablespoons honey
• 1 tablespoon fresh squeezed lime juice
• 1 tablespoon pineapple juice (from the canned pineapple, if using)

Place prepared, washed and sliced or diced fruits in a large salad bowl. Combine the honey, lime juice and pineapple juice in a separate bowl and pour the syrup through the fruit and mix well. Stir before serving.

Hebrew Corner

This month’s letter is ל lamed

The letter lamed is the twelfth letter of the Hebrew alphabet with the numeric value of 30. It has the sound of a L.  Lamed looks like a shepherd’s staff. Lamed is the tallest letter in the Hebrew alphabet and as the 12th letter it is considered the central or heart of the alphabet. Being the tallest and central of all the letters, it is considered to represent melekh, hamelakhim , “The King of Kings”. The previous letter stands for kisei hakavod, “The Throne of Glory” and the following letter stands for malkhut, “The Kingdom.” Because lamed is raised above all the other letters it represents YHVH. The number value being 30 is the same value as Judah as in Genesis 49:10, “The scepter will not depart from Judah,  nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come  and the obedience of the nations shall be his.”

The original meaning of lamed was to prick, sting, incite, goad, as a shepherd might prod cattle. The staff represents authority. The root of lamad  (lamed) means to teach. So lamed is at the heart of knowledge. As Yeshua Himself said, “You search the Scriptures (Torah) because you think that in them you have eternal life; but it is they that bear witness of Me,” John 5:39. Reading God’s Word is a revelation of the Messiah Yeshua.

Sandigram/Holy Spirit copyright 2010

Holy Spirit

Come, Holy Spirit, fill my heart with Your love. Let Your Spirit flow through me  so that I may show love and compassion to all people. Let me be Your guiding light  to bring my brothers and sisters to kneel before You. Let me be Your shepherd in search of lost sheep. Let me bring peace into troubled hearts. Holy Spirit, let me be Your finger to point to the road to Your eternal glory. Let me be Your hands to embrace the sick and the dying so that they can come to You without fear. Holy Spirit, let me be Your instrument to help the poor of spirit find nourishment in the Bread of Life. Holy Spirit, let those who are lost find the path once again to You. Let Your love shine upon us all.

This is a story about Joseph with a modern twist,

based on Genesis 37-47

Joey came from a large family. He had 11 brothers, and sisters too. Joey’s father Jake had several wives, so Joey only had one full brother and the rest were half-brothers. Jake, Joey’s, father, loved his mother more than his other wives. But she died when Joey was a little boy. All of his brothers were jealous of him, and even hated him, because He was Jake’s favorite son. Joey walked with God and God would give him dreams. So they called Joey a dreamer, and one of his dreams had all of his brothers and his father bowing down to him.  When he told them about his dream, you can just imagine how outraged they were, even his father was upset at that thought.  For him to think that now they were going to bow down to him, well, that was the final straw that broke the camel’s back.

One day when his brothers were out in the fields, Joey’s father sent him to see how they were getting along in their work. Now Jake had bought Joey this expensive coat with all these colors. It made him look like royalty. Sure enough this is what Joey wore to check up on his brothers. When they saw Joey coming at a distance they all gathered and began to plot how they were going to get rid of him. Many of the brothers wanted to kill him, but his brother, Reuben was against this idea of taking his life. He just wanted to scare the boy a little by throwing him into a pit. So they all agreed. When Joey finally reached them, they grabbed hold of him and threw him into the pit, but not before they took off his fancy coat. The brothers then ate lunch, but while they were eating they saw some men coming toward them. These men were human slave traders. The brothers except Reuben, for he  was not with them at the time when these men came, thought what a good way to rid themselves of their brother and not having to kill him.  So the brothers sold Joey into slavery. Before Reuben went back to where the brothers were gathered, he looked in on Joey, but found that he was not in the pit. Quickly he ran back to the brothers yelling, “ Joey is gone,  we must find him”, but they reassured him that Joey was on his way to another land.  Now the brothers had to tell their father the sad news that Joey was dead. So they took his coat and poured blood from an animal on it, and took it to him saying, “Do you recognize this coat?”  Jake said, “Yes, this is Joey’s coat.”  The brothers said, “A wild beast must have attacked him, and killed him, and dragged his body off somewhere.” Jake had lost his favorite son, and so he mourned for many days and no one could comfort him. The brothers’ hatred towards their brother not only caused them to lie, but they dishonored their father. Joey ended up in Egypt, but he was not alone, for God was with him.   Joey became the slave for a man whose name was Potiphar. 

Potiphar was an officer, a captain of the bodyguard for the king of Egypt. So the Lord gave success to Joey in the house of his master. In fact Joey became Potiphar’s  personal servant and overseer. Joey was over his master’s house along with all of what he owned. Now the master had a wife and she found Joey to be very handsome. She would make advances toward him day after day, but Joey always got away from her. He knew that, that spelled trouble for him. One day Potiphar’s wife managed to get Joey alone when no one was in the house and she grabbed him and he said to her, “ I will not sin against God and my master.” And with that he fled, leaving his coat in her hands. Twice now Joey had his coat taken from him. Potiphar’s wife was not going to be made a fool of, so she called out for someone to hear her and when they came running she showed them Joey’s coat and told her version of the story. When Potiphar came home and heard all that his wife told him, he had Joey thrown in prison. But once again God was with Joey.  The chief jailor liked Joey, because he could see that he was no trouble maker. So he put Joey in charge of all the prisoners and made him responsible for their conduct. The Lord kept prospering Joey and one day one inmate told him about his dream and that same day, another inmate told Joey about his dream. Both of these men worked in the king’s palace. Joey told them that God would interpret their dreams  and God did give Joey the interpretations. He told the one that he would be returned to his job, and the other he told  that he was going to get the death sentence and sure enough it happened just as he said it would.

When the man returned to his job, he never told anyone about Joey interpreting his dream. Years went by and one night the king had a dream, but his closest advisers could not tell him what it all meant. Finally the former inmate told the king about Joey and how he interpreted his dream correctly. The king immediately called for Joey.  So Joey put on his good clothes and groomed himself and came before the king. The king told Joey his dreams and Joey told him exactly what they meant. Famine was coming and it was staying for seven years, but they had seven years to prepare. The faithfulness of God never ceases.  The king made Joey second in command over all of Egypt. The king stood before his subject and declared “ This is Joseph the prince of Egypt.” No one had more authority, other than the king over all of Egypt. Joey went from a slave to second in command, all because God was with him.  So Joseph had all the people prepare for the famine. Now the time came and the famine was long and hard, but the people of Egypt had food. But back in Joey’s hometown it was a different story.  Jake, Joey’s father, had his sons travel to Egypt and buy some food.  Little did they know that they would have to deal with their brother. Now, you have to realize that Joey had changed after all those years living in Egypt. He dressed like the people, and basically looked like them, and talked like them, and of course, he was much older now than when his brothers last saw him. Joey was married and had children and all around he was quite different, or was he?

The day came and so did his brothers. Joey recognized them  immediately, but they did not recognize him.Why should they? They sold him into slavery, they weren’t expecting him to be the second most powerful man in Egypt.  Joey began accusing them of being spies, speaking through an interpreter.  The brothers bowing to him said, “No, my lord, we have only come to buy food.” Joey never forgot his dreams and how he dreamt that his family would bow down to him.

They continued to tell Joey that there were twelve  brothers, but one died and they had an older father at home with the youngest brother.  Now it was Joey’s turn to torment them, and he said to them, “No! You are spies and unless you bring your youngest brother here I will not let you go,” and he threw them all in prison for three days. You see Joey and the youngest brother Ben from the same mother, so naturally Joey was concerned about his brother. He also wanted to test his brothers to see if they truly ever repented of their sins committed against him. After three days Joey said to his brothers, through an interpreter, “One of you shall be left behind while the other take back the food to your people and bring back your youngest brother and then I will know that you are not spies.”  They began to say to one another, “We are surely guilty  concerning our brother, because we saw him in distress when he pleaded with us, yet we would not listen to him. So now we are in distress.” Joey understood every word that they were saying, but of course he would, but they did not know this. Joey told the steward who filled their bags to put their money back in each of their pouches, without them knowing. The brothers headed back home without their brother Simeon. When they came to a rest stop, the one brother opened his pounch and lo and behold, there was the money. They all, one after another opened their pouches and found their money. “Oh no!” They thought, what is going to happen now?

When they got home they told Jake their father all that had happened and they also told him that they had to take his son Ben back with them. Now Ben, being Joey’s true brother and the fact that Jake loved their mother the most said immediately, “NO!”  I lost Joey and I am not going to lose Ben also. You see the brothers had great resentment toward their father that he had favorites. Jake loved Joey and Ben’s mother more than theirs. This had caused a great rift in the family all of these years and now it is once again staring them in the face.  The brothers wanted to see Simeon returned and Jake did not care if he returned or not. Reuben spoke up and told his father that he would take responsibility for Ben and if he did not come back with him that Jake could kill his two sons. You see how this has gotten so out of hand that these brothers didn’t know what they were saying. This is what sin does. These brothers were feeling so guilty over what they did years ago to their brother Joey because they were not only jealous of him, but that jealousy turned into hatred and hatred is a murderous spirit. The famine was so severe and the time came when they had to go back and get food or they would all perish. Now it was Jude’s turn to talk to his father. He told him again how important it was to bring Ben back with them. But this time he said, “If you are not going to send Ben with us then we are not going to get food.” Jake was filled with pain. In his mind he had to once again remember the day he lost Joey and he could not find it in himself to lose Ben also. But Jude told the father that he would be responsible for the boy. Jake agreed and told them to bring the man a gift of nuts and honey. Jake blessed his son Ben and they left once again for Egypt.

When the brothers all arrived in Egypt they headed straight to the Prince of Egypt AKA Joey, which they still did not realize was their brother . When Joey saw his brother Ben, he told his steward to bring them to his  house and prepare a meal. Now these brothers were so stressed as it was and now they wondered why they were being taken to the prince’s house. “It’s all because of the money,” they frantically said one to another.  So they told the story to the steward on how they found their money in their pouches and they knew that they had paid for the food. He reassured them that he had received their money, and perhaps the God of their father had blessed them. Simeon was released from prison and they all met at Joey’s house. When Joey arrived the brothers gave him the gifts of nuts and honey, which started turning the heart of Joey. He had all the brothers sitting at the table from the oldest to the youngest, with Ben sitting next to him. Then he asked about their father, and if Ben was their youngest brother.  None of this even began to open the eyes of the brothers, like how did he know who was the oldest and so on. And why is he concerned about our father? And what is his interest in Ben.  Joey was so overtaken by the sight of his brother Ben that he left the room and began to cry. Soon he regained his composure and went back in to have the meal served. After the meal Joey had the seward fill their sacks with food, but he also told him to place his silver cup in Ben’s pouch.  Joey was not yet finished with his brothers. The brothers had just left the city when Prince Joseph said,  “Quick go and stop those men, for they have stolen my silver cup. Go and search them and bring  back the one where you find the cup.” When the brothers were stopped and told of what had happened they could not believe it. They said, “Why would we steal a silver cup?” “Let the one who stole it be put to death and we will all become his slaves” Of course, they did not think that they would find this cup with them, so to make such remarks would have no value. But how ironic that they said that they would become slaves, when this is exactly what they did to Joey. Well, they found the cup with Ben. The brothers’ torment and stress had reached it peak. They fell on their faces before Joey and Judah cried out to the Prince of Egypt saying, “What can we say?”  “How can we justify ourselves?”  “God has found out the iniquity of your servants; behold, we are my lord’s slaves. But Joey said “No!”  “Only the one who had the cup shall be my slave.” Then Judah drew closer and begged Joey to let him speak once again.

Judah went through the whole story again about their father and how he reacted when he heard the news about their brother Joey and what their father will do if he hears now about Ben. By this time Joey could no longer play this game.  He said, “Have everyone leave this room.”   Once everyone had left, Joey said to his brothers. “I am your brother Joey whom you sold into slavery.”   “You meant evil, but God has turned it around for good. God sent me here to prepare for a severe famine. so that people could be saved. So you could be saved.” His brothers were in shock. They could not believe what they were hearing. Joey told them to go back and bring their father and their families to live with him in Egypt. Then he took his brother Ben and the two of them hugged and cried on each other. And then all of them cried and hugged their brother.  So they went back and told their father and he could not wait to see his son. They packed up and moved and lived in the finest land of Egypt. What was once hatred and anger turned to love and the jealousy no longer was there, for if their father loved Joey and Ben more than them, it no longer mattered. 

How about you? Do you hate your brother or sister? 

1 John 3:15 says, “Everyone who hates his brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him.” 

You may say, “I do not hate anyone”, and yet, if you do not love them, then there’s only hate. Hate is a murderous spirit. Yeshua tells us in Matthew 5:21-24 this, 

“You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not murder,’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be answerable to the court.’  But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be answerable to the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be answerable to the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.  Therefore, if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you,  leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.” 

Yeshua took the commandments very seriously and so that no one could misunderstand, He clarified many of them. 1 John 4:20, also says this, 

“If someone says, “I love God,” and yet he hates his brother or sister, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother and sister whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.” 

Hatred caused these brothers to do something very awful that not only brought pain and suffering to their brother, but it also brought sorrow and pain to their father. The commandments also tell us to honor our father and mother. These boys lied to their father and brought great sorrow to his soul, dishonoring him, let alone they lied, which was another sin. It is true that parents should not have favorites, but when it does happen two wrongs never make a right. These boys should have told their father how much his lack of love for them caused them great hurt. But turning your hurt to jealousy and anger and hatred only leads you down a road of destruction for yourself. Solomon wrote that Jealousy is as cruel as the grave.

Galatians 5:20 says, “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.…”

 The brothers brought debauchery, hatred, discord, jealousy, division, factions,  and envy. 

How about you? Maybe you need to see the bigger picture, that God is in control of your life and He has a plan for you , as He has a plan for each one of us. Don’t let the flesh bring you down. Look to God who loves us all and let Him tell you how much He loves you and let go of anger and unforgiveness and hatred and the like and turn it around to forgive and love and unite.

To close, Romans 12:18 tells us, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all people.”

People want power, and so they must put themselves above others, to make themselves feel  powerful. But in reality they are really weak and one way they do this is by bullying. Over the years we have seen a culture of bullying. Kids being harassed for many different reasons and that is just it, because we think someone is different, then something must be wrong with that person. We all come from different family situations, lifestyles, religious beliefs, and all of that is good, because how dull life would be if we were all the same. But because someone is different than me does not mean that that person is strange, or odd, nor does it give me the right to make fun of them or shame me.  And making fun of them is mild, sometimes kids beat up those who are different. Did they ever stop to think which one of them is really the different one? We are all different in many ways. Who gets to decide what is different and who is different? Bullying has caused many to be injured and many to suffer from depression and even suicide. I ask again, who gets to decide who is different? We have made it a sport to laugh at people, and to mock them, and shame them and cause such harm. What kind of a society have we become?  Unfortunately we find this not only in our schools and places of work, but also in our churches. We have seen very little from parents to correct their child’s thinking, let alone their behavior. No, because many adults suffer from this same thing, they too like to laugh at people and mock them and humiliate them, so how can they tell their children something different. We have a culture today that says, because I am what I am, that makes you lesser than I am. I know that this is not a new problem in our society. No, it has been with us for many generations. And yet, you do not hear about it being preached in churches today. How about love thy neighbor as thyself. We have removed God from our schools and our workplaces and the marketplace and in our places of worship. Yes, even in our churches. We are to be the image of God, and yet we do not look like our Master Yeshua. We do not talk like Him or act like Him nor do we do the work of the kingdom like Him. We even have seen parents beating up other parents at sports events,  because they want their child to be the best, and to do that they have to tear down another child, and to do that it might take taking down the parents. So today society is in a downward spiral. Now we have gone from bullying to cancelling. If you do not like someone today, you just cancel them like they do not even exist.  And out of fear everyone else will do the same. They won’t laugh at you or mock you, they will act as if you were not even in the room. Talk about the cold shoulder routine. And if anyone gives you the time of day, they too, will be canceled, so out of fear they control a whole classroom or workplace or even a church body.  You saw very few stand up against the bully and even less now against those who cancel. You know they laughed at Yeshua, and they mocked Him. We even saw Peter deny Him three times, but we have to ask ourselves, if they hated Yeshua, then they will hate me, so do I want that?  If this is what you think, then you can not be a believer. You can not be a disciple. We must bring back love for one another. We must bring back not just tolerance, because we can not tolerate sin, but we must have a  spirit of kindness, and gentleness and humility, yes, we must be godly, not mean spirited. We must be light and not darkness. We must bear one another’s burdens and we must realize that we are all creations of God. Today it is going to take our teens and young adults to correct this problem.  This is not social justice. This is godliness and holiness and living peacefully with one another. Yes, we must speak out against sin and darkness, and cruelty and inhumanity, but we must also speak out the Word of God and we must choose to live by God’s ways and not man’s ways. We must be strong and courageous. standing on truth and righteousness. This is a call to the next generation. Bullying and cancelling and shaming  is not God’s way, nor is any kind of sin God’s way. We must love each other and if we differ, than in a humane way, we must speak to each other. But if we cancel speech then where does that leave us? We must have a vehicle to reach out to each other, speak to each other and learn from each other with love and kindness and gentleness and self-control. If we do not come back to God’s ways then we will be left to our own destruction. And then there will be no one to bully or cancel because God will cancel us all. Will you rise up today and make a difference? It’s now in your hands. Teens, young adults, this will soon be your generation to carry on the torch.  Will you let the problem continue or will you put a stop to this injustice,  before it takes us all down. Let’s cancel bullying and a society that cancels, and let’s all live in unity, each one different in his or her own way.

This is a

 “Clarion Call”

“Blow the trumpet in Zion;

    sound the alarm on my holy mountain.”(Joel 2:1)

It’s time for all people to awaken from their slumber. 

This is a time to see clearly the signs of the times.

No.8  JudeoChristianClarion.Com   “Birth Pangs of the Messiah”

This is the time for all of those who have ears to hear what the Holy Spirit is saying to the churches.

Yeshua saw in His days the “Birth Pangs of Messiah” and so He told His disciples this in Matthew 24:6-8, “And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.  For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.  But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pains.”

The word for nations can also mean people. People will rise up against people, like in riots and protests and even in a civil war, people against their own countrymen and father against his son or daughter against her mother.

 (Matthew 10:21)

The Apostle John saw these same Birth Pangs as we see in Revelation 6,  “Then I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, “Come!”  I looked, and behold, a white horse, and the one who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.”

We saw this in Hitler’s day when he set out to conquer Europe and he also had his eyes set on America. We see this also in the Middle East, and even with Communist China, as they work their way into Africa and other parts of the world.  When one sets out to conquer then you know that the second seal has to follow.

“When He broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come!”  And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that people would kill one another; and a large sword was given to him.”

Yes, war seems to be a constant thorn in the side of mankind and these horses will continue to ride.

“When He broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, “Come!” I looked, and behold, a black horse, and the one who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand.  And I heard something like a voice in the center of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not damage the oil and the wine.”

We have recently seen all sorts of shortages. We have seen food prices going up and up. We have seen more and more recalls on our foods. This will only continue. Famines have always occurred throughout history and with famines usually draught is the cause. Today, we see in  America  more and more area’s of severe drought.  We saw how God warned Pharaoh of a seven year famine, and by Josephes’ own words, he tells his brothers that God brought him to Egypt to save a people. (Genesis 45:7)

Today, as you are listening to this podcast we ask you to think about preparing.

Grow a garden, can your harvest, but there is no way to save enough food to out last a famine. Hoarding will not save you, only faith in God. This is the time to grow your faith. This is the time to begin using your faith. This is the time to seek God out and He will direct your paths, just like He did for Joseph. 

“When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come!”  I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and the one who sat on it had the name Death, and Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, and famine, and plague, and by the wild animals of the earth.”

As we see here, wars and famine will only increase. But we also see plagues. We have just seen a worldwide plague that killed millions of people.  About one hundred years ago, we also saw a devastating plague that killed so many.  They tell us that this is going to be a recurring event and that it will happen more often and that this will be a way of life. We also see here that many people will die by wild beasts. We have seen an increase of wild animals killing people all over the world, and many more animals are carrying different diseases. 

“When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been killed because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained;  and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who live on the earth?”  And a white robe was given to each of them; and they were told that they were to rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers and sisters who were to be killed even as they had been, was completed also.”

Today, we have seen persecution like we have never seen since World War II. 

The Center for the Study of Global Christianity of Gordon–Conwell Theological Seminary, an evangelical seminary based in Hamilton, Massachusetts, has estimated that 100,000 Christians die annually for their faith. You have to ask yourself, “Am I ready to die for my beliefs in the Messiah Yeshua?” For years we have heard pastors tell us that we would be raptured before this would happen and yet, believers all over the world are being martyred for their faith. Are we to assume that only Americans are going to escape martyrdom? That does not seem quite right. We have seen an increase of persecution to Jews and Christans in this country. Today is the day to settle it in your heart, that one day soon you may have to contend for the faith and even give your life for what you believe.

“And I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became as black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood;  and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind.  The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.  Then the kings of the earth and the eminent people, and the commanders and the wealthy and the strong, and every slave and free person hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains;  and they said to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the sight of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb;  for the great day of  their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

People debate if we are in the end times. Yeshua told us to look at the signs, and all signs point to the fact that yes, we are in the end times and the Day of the Lord draws closer and closer every day. 

Today, we must prepare for tomorrow and to do that we must draw closer and closer to the Lord. We must prioritize our lives and that may mean letting go of the world’s ways.  We must cling to God and listen to His voice, for His sheep hear His voice. Today, are you hearing God’s voice? His voice will always line up with His Word.  

2 Peter 3:1-4 tells us this, “Beloved, this is now the second letter I am writing to you in which I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of a reminder,  to remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles. Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue just as they were from the beginning of creation.”

If you are one of those mockers, the Scriptures tell you to look at the signs and discern for yourself. Israel is back in their own land. Everything is now global. What else is there to do? Just wait upon the antichrist to appear. 

This is a

 “Clarion Call”

“Blow the trumpet in Zion;

    sound the alarm on my holy mountain.”(Joel 2:1)

It’s time for all people to awaken from their slumber. 

This is a time to see clearly the signs of the times.

No.9  JudeoChristianClarion.Com   “It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane,  No!  It’s a UFO”

Lately all we have heard is that the UFO’s are going to land.

If they do, is this a good thing?

This Clarion Call is a warning to all.  Since the beginning of time, it is believed that people traveled to other planets.  It has been said that the Pyramids and Stonehenge were navigational points for landing. Even the Tower of Babel is believed to be related to space travel.  They have found in caves drawings of spaceships and alien people dating back to ancient times. Today, our government has a file filled with pictures and other physical  proof that it all exists. Today, we use Aliens in our commercials and in our movies, but what do they really look like? Well, I’m sure they do not look like Michael Rennie in the 1951 movie, “The Day the Earth Stood Still.” And I’m sure that they are not coming to tell us to live in peace or else be destroyed. Though we could use that advice. We want to take a Biblical look at all of this. We are going to look into the paranormal and see that what is happening is quite normal.  This is what took place in Iraq many years ago.

“As I looked, behold, a high wind was coming from the north, a great cloud with fire flashing intermittently and a bright light around it, and in its midst something like gleaming metal in the midst of the fire.  And within it there were figures resembling four living beings. And this was their appearance: they had human form.  Each of them had four faces and four wings.  Their legs were straight and their feet were like a calf’s hoof, and they sparkled like polished bronze.  Under their wings on their four sides were human hands. As for the faces and wings of the four of them,  their wings touched one another; their faces did not turn when they moved, each went straight forward.  As for the form of their faces, each had a human face; all four had the face of a lion on the right and the face of a bull on the left, and all four had the face of an eagle.  Such were their faces. Their wings were spread out above; each had two touching another being, and two covering their bodies.  And each went straight forward; wherever the spirit was about to go, they would go, without turning as they went. In the midst of the living beings there was something that looked like burning coals of fire, like torches moving among the living beings. The fire was bright, and lightning was flashing from the fire. And the living beings ran back and forth like bolts of lightning. Now as I looked at the living beings, behold, there was one wheel on the ground beside the living beings, for each of the four of them.  The appearance of the wheels and their workmanship was like sparkling topaz, and all four of them had the same form, their appearance and workmanship being as if one wheel were within another.  Whenever they moved, they moved in any of their four directions without turning as they moved.  As for their rims, they were high and awesome, and the rims of all four of them were covered with eyes all around.  Whenever the living beings moved, the wheels moved with them. And whenever the living beings rose from the earth, the wheels rose also. Wherever the spirit was about to go, they would go in that direction. And the wheels rose just as they did; for the spirit of the living beings was in the wheels.  Whenever those went, they went; and whenever those stopped, they stopped. And whenever those rose from the earth, the wheels rose just as they did; for the spirit of the living beings was in the wheels.” (Ezekiel 1:4-21)

Did Ezekiel see what we are seeing today?

Yeshua tells us in Luke 10:18 this, “And He said to them, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like lightning.”

We see here that the angel can move as fast as lighting and we see that today with these UFO’s. 

Eiekiel later had this encounter

“Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me a loud rumbling sound as the glory of the Lord rose from the place where it was standing. It was the sound of the wings of the living creatures brushing against each other and the sound of the wheels beside them, a loud rumbling sound.” (Ezekiel 3:12-13)

And Again :

“I looked, and I saw beside the cherubim four wheels, one beside each of the cherubim; the wheels sparkled like topaz.  As for their appearance, the four of them looked alike; each was like a wheel intersecting a wheel.  As they moved, they would go in any one of the four directions the cherubim faced; the wheels did not turn about as the cherubim went. The cherubim went in whatever direction the head faced, without turning as they went.  Their entire bodies, including their backs, their hands and their wings, were completely full of eyes, as were their four wheels.  I heard the wheels being called “the whirling wheels.”  Each of the cherubim had four faces: One face was that of a cherub, the second the face of a human being, the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.  Then the cherubim rose upward. These were the living creatures I had seen by the Kebar River.  When the cherubim moved, the wheels beside them moved; and when the cherubim spread their wings to rise from the ground, the wheels did not leave their side.  When the cherubim stood still, they also stood still; and when the cherubim rose, they rose with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in them.” (Ezekiel 10:9-17)

Ezekiel confirms that all three times were the same as what he saw the first time and what he saw were angels, heavenly beings, but they were not in heaven. They were right here on earth. This is not our customary idea of what we think angels look like, a man in white garb with wings.

The Bible tells us more about angels in Psalm 104

“He makes the clouds His chariot; He walks on the wings of the wind;

 He makes the winds His messengers, flaming fire His ministers.”

We see the angels referred to as the wind and flaming fire. So you ask then, Is this  a good thing if these aliens land and appear? Let’s look at the other side of the coin. Genesis 6:1-2 says this, “Now it came about, when mankind began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them,  that the sons of God saw that the daughters of mankind were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose.” In our Bible Study, “In the Beginning,” we speak about the fallen angels and how they bore earthly  children which resulted in what the Bible calls giants as we see in Genesis 6:4, “This was back in the days (and also later) when there were giants (Nephilim) in the land. The giants came from the union of the sons of God and the daughters of men. These were the mighty men of ancient lore, the famous ones.” These ancient ones of famous folklore are none other than what we call mythological superheroes, Hercules and Nike and Zeus. Mythology tells their story and our planets are named after them and many corporate logos come from them.

But God called them wicked and later they will be known as demons and so much more. 

But are they just myths and legends? We know that stories about myths and legends, are more times than not, embellished. But there is an element of truth, and the truth is what God calls evil.  Genesis 6  continues,  “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of mankind was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually.”

After the flood we see that these giants were still alive and around, like Goliath who David fought ( 1 Samuel 17 )and in Deuteronomy 2:20-22 it says,

“…It is also regarded as the land of the Rephaim, because the Rephaim previously lived in it, but the Ammonites call them Zamzummin,  a people as great, numerous, and tall as the Anakim; but the Lord destroyed them before them. And they dispossessed them and settled in their place,  just as He did for the sons of Esau, who live in Seir, when He destroyed the Horites from before them; they dispossessed them and settled in their place, where they remain even to this day.”

Deuteronomy 3:11 also says,

(Og king of Bashan was the last of the Rephaites. His bed was decorated with iron and was more than nine cubits long and four cubits wide. It is still in Rabbah of the Ammonites.) Nine cubits is like 13 feet long.

We see here that these giants were in the land after the flood. So how did they escape the flood?  Maybe, because in their natural state they were like the wind and they moved so quickly to another planet temporarily, and once the flood was over they again came and  bore earthly children. Will we see these giants again? Yes! And we have seen them all throughout history. 1 John 2:18 tells us this,

“Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour.” We have had the spirit of antichrist in the days of the apostles, and that spirit of antichrist also is in the spirit of those fallen angels, those Rephaim, the giants who lived in the land long ago. The wicked who live among us today have the spirit of antichrist, the spirit of Rephaim, and they’re ruled by spiritual force in the heavenlies.

Daniel writes in Daniel 7:1-8 this,“In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel saw a dream and visions in his mind as he lay on his bed; then he wrote the dream down and told the following summary of it.  Daniel said, “I was looking in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea.  And four great beasts were coming up from the sea, different from one another.  The first was like a lion but had the wings of an eagle. I kept looking until its wings were plucked, and it was lifted up from the ground and set up on two feet like a man; a human mind also was given to it.  And behold, another beast, a second one, resembling a bear. And it was raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth; and they said this to it: ‘Arise, devour much meat!’  After this I kept looking, and behold, another one, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird; the beast also had four heads, and dominion was given to it.  After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and extremely strong; and it had large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed, and trampled down the remainder with its feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.  While I was thinking about the horns, behold, another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the previous horns were plucked out before it; and behold, this horn possessed eyes like human eyes, and a mouth uttering great boasts.”

So what is it that we are seeing here? We are seeing Daniel dreaming about future nations, or what could be called empires.  If you look at the wording of all of this you see that it was talking about four winds stirring up the great sea. These winds that will stir up these four nations are called principalities. They could be compared to a king who rules over an empire, except they are in the spiritual realm. Ephesians 6:12 speaks about the spiritual warfare that is fought against the wicked forces. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” 

This is speaking of  the different levels of authority in the kingdom of darkness and how the different levels are over continents, nations and even cities.

 Daniel 10:1-13 tells us,“Now on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, while I was beside the bank of the great river, the Tigris,  I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a man dressed in linen with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist.  His body was like yellow jasper, his face like a flash of lightning, his eyes like fiery torches, his arms and his feet like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the roar of a multitude. Only I, Daniel, saw the vision; the men that were with me did not see the vision. Nevertheless, such a great terror fell upon them that they fled and hid themselves.  So I was left alone to see this great vision. My strength drained from me and my vigor was destroyed; I could not summon any strength.  Yet I heard the sound of his words. When I heard him speaking, I fell on my face in a deep sleep with my face to the ground. Then behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees.  He said to me, ‘Daniel,  highly valued man, carefully consider the words I am speaking to you. Stand up! For now I have been sent to you.’ When he spoke this word to me, I stood up trembling. Then he said to me, ‘Don’t be afraid, Daniel! For from the first day that you set your heart to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard. I have come because of your words.  However, the prince of the kingdom of Persia resisted me for 21 days, but behold Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me because I had been detained there with the kings of Persia.”

 This clearly shows us that the spiritual warfare is real, and that the angel sent by God to deliver a message to Daniel had to resist these spiritual  rulers of darkness which were over Persia to the point that he had to get help in fighting them for 21 days. Today with the world getting darker and darker and evil  increasing upon this planet, the spiritual battle is intense.

If aliens in UFOs would land, you have to wonder would they be God’s angels or would they be wicked angels? 

Even if they were  God’s angels, look how only one angel  took the strength out of Daniel.

These powerful angels of darkness also can cause men to be frightened. They can cause men to choose to be wicked, to be stirred up like the winds that stirred up the nations in Daniel’s vision in chapter 7. We must be sure that we want to pursue or encourage these UFO’s to communicate with us. We may be asking for something that we may regret. The spiritual forces are already influencing this world as we see the chaos that is everywhere today. God is peaceful and loving, not chaotic and hateful. This alone tells us what may be lurking inside these UFO’s .

Daniel 7:9-11 goes on to say, “I kept looking until thrones were set up, and the Ancient of Days took His seat; His garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head like pure wool. His throne was ablaze with flames, Its wheels were a burning fire. A river of fire was flowing and coming out from before Him; Thousands upon thousands were serving Him, and myriads upon myriads were standing before Him; The court convened, and the books were opened.  Then I kept looking because of the sound of the boastful words which the horn was speaking; I kept looking until the beast was killed, and its body was destroyed and given to the burning fire.  As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but an extension of life was granted to them for an appointed period of time.”

Yeshua will return one day and He will defeat Satan and all of his evil wicked forces that rule in the heavenlies over the earth. Satan will no longer be able to influence people to do wicked things.  But for now, Yeshua tells us that we have authority over all evilness as Luke 10 :19 tells us,  “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.”

 Jude 6-7 tells us this about their demise.“And angels who did not keep their own domain but abandoned their proper dwelling place, these He has kept in eternal restraints under darkness for the judgment of the great day,  just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these angels indulged in sexual perversion and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.”  

The fallen angels who bore earthly children will be punished and God will punish every evil act and wickedness caused by these wicked people. But for today this Clarion Call says those who have eyes to see and ears to hear, there is a spiritual battle that needs to be fought in the spiritual realm and only God’s people who are paying attention to what is happening on the earth can fight this battle. Wickedness has exploded on this planet and those rulers and principalities and evil forces are stirring up the tide of the sea, and they will cause a  great spiritual tsunami that will overflow this entire  planet, it is called the One World Order. Now is the time to fight the good fight and to contend for the faith. Now is the time to fight the spiritual battle. Once these UFOs land it may be too late.  We want to close by looking at the prophet Joel.  Joel 2:1-12, tells us,

“Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill. Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming .It is close at hand— a day of darkness and gloom,  a day of clouds and blackness. Like dawn spreading across the mountains  a large and mighty army comes, such as never was in ancient times  nor ever will be in ages to come. Before them fire devours,  behind them a flame blazes. Before them the land is like the Garden of Eden,  behind them, a desert waste—   nothing escapes them. They have the appearance of horses; they gallop along like cavalry. With a noise like that of chariots they leap over the mountaintops like a crackling fire consuming stubble, like a mighty army drawn up for battle. At the sight of them, nations are in anguish; every face turns pale. They charge like warriors; they scale walls like soldiers. They all march in line,  not swerving from their course. They do not jostle each other;  each marches straight ahead. They plunge through defenses  without breaking ranks. They rush upon the city;  they run along the wall .They climb into the houses; like thieves they enter through the windows. Before them the earth shakes, the heavens tremble, the sun and moon are darkened, and the stars no longer shine. The Lord thunders at the head of his army; his forces are beyond number,  and mighty is the army that obeys his command. The day of the Lord is great; it is dreadful. Who can endure it? Rend your heart “Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.””

Revelation 9:1-11 tells it this way: “Then the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from heaven which had fallen to the earth; and the key to the shaft of the abyss was given to him.  He opened the shaft of the abyss, and smoke ascended out of the shaft like the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened from the smoke of the shaft.  Then out of the smoke came locusts upon the earth, and power was given them, as the scorpions of the earth have power.  They were told not to hurt the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree, but only the people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.  And they were not permitted to kill anyone, but to torment for five months; and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings a person.  And in those days people will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, and death will flee from them! The appearance of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle; and on their heads appeared to be crowns like gold, and their faces were like human faces.  They had hair like the hair of women, and their teeth were like the teeth of lions.  They had breastplates like breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots, of many horses rushing to battle.  They have tails like scorpions, and stings; and in their tails is their power to hurt people for five months.  They have as king over them, the angel of the abyss; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in the Greek he has the name Apollyon.”

Remember what Daniel 7:9-11 said that God took away their dominion, but an extension of life was given to them for an appointed time. Well, this is that appointed time. 

This is a Clarion Call for all to hear. Now is the time to return to God. Now is the time for spiritual renewal and revival.

In Matthew 24, Yeshua speaks to us about the last days. Like the book of  Revelation, it is very cryptic at times. We see here in Matthew 24:21-22, Yeshua tells us this, “For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will again.  And if those days had not been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.”

We want to take a close look at this to see what Yeshua meant by there has never been a time like this since the beginning of the world.

Let’s look at the Scriptures that come before this to see if there is any clue. Matthew 24:15-20 says this “Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place let the reader understand—  then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains.  Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get things out of his house.  And whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak.  But woe to those women who are with child, and to those who are nursing babies in those days!  Moreover, pray that when you flee, it will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath.” 

Yeshua references Daniel, so let’s look at His reference.

Daniel 12:10-12 says this, “Many will be purged, cleansed, and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand.  And from the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days.  Blessed is the one who is patient and attains to the 1,335 days!”

So what was Daniel talking about? Well, this we know,  that this was fulfilled in the days of the Maccabees.  We read in the book of Maccabees that the wicked King Antiochus set out to profane the Temple of God. He set up an idol, an idol of a pagan god in the Temple of the LORD. He sacrificed swine to Zeus on the altar of the LORD. The writer of Maccabees called this idol “the abomination of desolation.”  Also in the book of Maccabees, when the Abomination of Desolation was set up and the priests were told to sacrifice to it, they left their possessions and fled to the mountains. “So he and his sons fled into the mountains, and left all that ever they had in the city.” So they fled to the mountains and Yeshua was telling His people on that day to do the same.

(1 Maccabees 2:28)

So what was that day? Yeshua tells us this  in Matthew 24:2, “But He responded and said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down.”

Yeshua was referring to the Temple. So was there going to be a repeat of the days of the Maccabees? “Yes, and it was called the Jewish Roman wars.

What we do not see is an idol being put into the Temple, but almost. It is recorded by the historian Josephus. He writes, Now Gaius (Caligula) bore a grudge for being ignored only by the Jews in this respect [i.e., honoring him as divine]. So he sent his legate, Petronius, to Syria to take the rule over from Vitellius and ordered him to lead a large force into Judea. If they received him willingly, he was to place a statue of (Caligula) in the Temple of God. But if they treated him with arrogance, he still was to do this after mastering them in battle — Josephus, Antiquities 18.261

Under Tiberius there was quiet. Then at the command of Gaius Caesar to place a statue of himself in the temple, (the Jews) took up arms instead. But Caesar’s death put an end to the commotion. — Tacitus, Histories 5.9

Indeed, the Jews had given the appearance of rising up in revolt; (but) after the news of (Caligula’s) murder there was no need for compliance (with his order). (Yet) fear remained that some emperor would command the same thing. — Tacitus, Annals 12.343

 Caligula and his proposed statue in the 40’s AD seems to fit this description, even though Titus wanted to place Roman standards in the Temple in 70 AD. But this is for certain, the Jewish Roman wars  point to the time of the Maccabees, because trouble and destruction and famine and even the extermination of the Jews along with the destruction of the Temple all happened at this time.

 Matthew 24:4-5  says this,  “And Yeshua answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you.  For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and they will mislead many people.” 

And sure enough, during the second Jewish Roman Revolt there was a man named Bar Kokhba who did come claiming to be Messiah and the Jewish people believed he was and followed him into another war with the Romans. But this time the believers in Yeshua knew that he was not the Messiah and did not join in the revolt with them. They were all spared, while the others were all killed. This is what put the final nail in the coffin, as they say. This divided the Jewish people from those who believed in Yeshua. Messianic Judaism was once a sect of Judaism and is no longer. So Yeshua did warn His people many times about what was going to happen. But what about Paul?

In 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4, Paul seems to imply that, after a rebellion, the “man of lawlessness” will have himself worshiped as a god in the Temple.

“Concerning the coming of our Lord Messiah Yeshua, and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters,  not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter—asserting that the day of the Lord has already come.  Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.  He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.

In Paul’s day the people thought that the day of the Lord already came. I guess you can’t blame them when you understand about the Roman wars that were happening in that day and of course, the Caesar’s certainly could have qualified as men of lawlessness, not only because of their wickedness but because they totally disregarded the Torah, like in the days of the Maccabees. 

Paul says that the man of lawlessness will not come until the rebellion. The rebellion is the apostasy, the great falling away from truth. We see today that there has been a great apostasy, rebellion, which has been taking place for many years now. People have become complacent with religion. The truth has been watered down. You no longer hear about the shed blood of Yeshua. You don’t hear much about sin or repentance. We do hear things like tolerance and equality, and  other things associated with social justice, but not about holiness and godliness and even the Ten Commandments. With the covid people were not allowed to go to church and when the service was live streamed, even at that people found other things to do. If the apostasy is taking place now, then the lawless one must be close to coming on the scene. We also know that the world is already set up for the Antichrist (lawless one) who would be head over a global world economy. We see the fulfilment of Yeshua’s message in Matthew 24 being carried out even to today.

 We have ruled out different scenarios, but we still have the question about this great tribulation. Let’s look at it once again in Matthew 24 21-22.

“For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will again.  And if those days had not been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.”

There was only one great tribulation and that would have been the great flood. 

Genesis 6:5-6,13, must be the saddest Scriptures in the Bible. “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of mankind was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually.  So the Lord was sorry that He had made mankind on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.”  ‘Then God said to Noah’, “The end of humanity has come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence because of people; and behold, I am about to destroy them with the earth.”’ 

 Paul tells Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:1-5, “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.  People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,  without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,  treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—  having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.”

Yeshua, Himself in Matthew 24:12 says that most people’s hearts will grow cold.

Because of God’s promise to Noah that He would not destroy the world again by flood, we are still here, but we know that wickedness has increased and truth no longer prevails and we do have a global world and the apostasy is taking place, so this must be the times that Yeshua was referring to. In Matthew 24:37-41, Yeshua goes on to say this, “For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah.  For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,  and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be.  At that time there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left.  Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left.”

Revelation 12:12 -17, speaks this about a flood,  “Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.  And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.  And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Messiah Yeshua.”

Revelation speaks about a great flood, but not of water but of wickedness, a time of great persecution, like never before. A time of not God’s wrath but the devil’s and if we are not prepared we will all perish. God, Himself tells us that for the sake of the elect, He has to shorten the time. As Romans 9:27-28 tells us,  “Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, “Though the number of the sons of Israel may be like the sand of the sea, only the remnant will be saved;  for the Lord will execute His word on the earth, thoroughly and quickly.” God destroyed the world except for 8 people, but now the devil is going to destroy the world unless God shortens the time. God does know how to save the righteous as 2 Peter 2:7-10 tells us, “ He rescued righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the perverted conduct of unscrupulous people  (for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds),  then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from a trial, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment,  and especially those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt passion, and despise authority.”

Yeshua goes on to say in Matthew 24:42-44,  “Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.  But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.  For this reason you must be ready as well; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.”

We may not know the day or hour but Yeshua did tell us this in Luke 12:54-56, “He also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming.’ And so it happens.  And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens.You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?”

We can see the world we live in and we should know what the Scriptures tell us and warn us about the end time. So let us be wise and discerning people and be ready and prepared, like Noah, so that when it begins to rain we are safely in the ark of God’s shelter, so that we can stand in these difficult days. To Him who overcomes: “I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” Revelation 2:7.

“….shall not be hurt by the second death.” Revelation 2:11.

“I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written, which no one knows except him who receives it.” Revelation 2:17.

“The one who overcomes, and the one who keeps My deeds until the end, I will give him authority over the nations;  and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are shattered, as I also have received authority from My Father;  and I will give him the morning star.” Revelation 2:26-28

“…shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.” Revelation 3:5.

“I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.” Revelation 3:12.

“I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” Revelation 3:21.

Today, I tell you this, draw close to God like never before. Let go of this world and cling to Him. Repent and come humbly before Him, for a flood is coming, a flood of persecution to those who keep the Commandments and the Testimony of Messiah Yeshua.  All the signs are pointing to it.

There was a saying years ago, “Don’t cry over spilt milk,” or some said, “There is no use in crying over spilt milk.”  No matter how you say it, you have to ask 

yourself why did they say it?  Well, I think that milk is something that we feel we will never run out of  because cows keep producing it. So if we have an abundance of milk, it isn’t worth crying over if we spill a little. 

Let’s take a closer look at this saying because I think that we can learn a spiritual lesson from it. 

When we think of milk we think of babies. All babies need to drink their milk.So in many ways we can associate milk with life. Paul addresses the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 like this, “So, brothers and sisters, I could not speak to you as spiritual people, but instead as people of the flesh, as infants in Messiah. I fed you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready. In fact, you are still not ready,  for you are still influenced by the flesh.For since there is still jealousy and dissension among you, are you not influenced by the flesh and behaving like unregenerate people?”

And again in Hebrews 5:13-14, “Anyone who has to drink milk is still a baby, without experience in applying the Word about righteousness.  But solid food is for the mature, for those whose faculties have been trained by continuous exercise to distinguish good from evil.” 

We all start as babies in Messiah, but just like in real life, we have to grow up and mature. When I look at this saying about spilt milk, I think this is how we feel about life, especially when we are young. When we are young, if we have a few setbacks, well, it is not worth crying over because there is always tomorrow. But is there any wisdom in that thinking? To the young they will say “Yes”  Solomon said this in Ecclesiastes 5:19, “For they will hardly dwell on the shortness of life, because God lets them busy themselves with the joy of their heart.”

But what does God have to say about that thinking?

 Psalm 90:10-12 says,  “As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years, or if due to strength, eighty years, yet their pride is only trouble and tragedy; for it quickly passes, and we disappear. Who understands the power of Your anger

and Your fury, according to the fear that is due You? So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom.” 

Well I see their point, seventy or eighty seems a long way away if you’re in your twenties or thirties and maybe even fifty. 

But what about Psalm 103:15-16,

“The days of man are like grass. He grows like a flower of the field.  When the wind blows over it, it is gone. Its place will remember it no more.”

Or  James 4:13-14

“Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”;  whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.”

Psalm 25:7 says, “Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O LORD!”

Young we may be, but young we will not stay, for we will all grow old, if it is the will of God and one day we will meet our Maker. If we never repented of our sins, we will be crying over spilt milk, because the abundance of life will run out. But God has His ways to bring us to repentance and that way is by spilling the milk.

When God spills the milk in our lives that causes us to cry. Crying brings about sorrow and sorrow brings about repentance. Paul tells the Corinthians in 

2 Corinthians 7:9-10,   “I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us.  For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death”.

Through our trials and tribulations God causes godly sorrow to bring us to repentance and to produce in us a maturity. As James 1:2-4 tells us,  “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,  for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

Again in Romans 5:3-5, “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;  perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”

 Hebrews 12:7, “It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?”

If the milk spills in your life, no matter if you are young or old, cry over it because the abundance of life is short. God wants us to have a humble and contrite heart, and for this, He will never turn away.

Welcome

June is a great month because of Summer. Years ago everyone wanted to be a June bride. All the flowers are in bloom and peoples’ gardens are growing and of course, June is Father’s Day month.  Fathers represent God. Fathers are our protectors and our providers and they are our teachers. Yeshua says this in Matthew 7:9-11 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?  If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”

And in Luke 12:32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, because your Father has chosen to give you the kingdom.”

This Sandigram says a lot about the love of our Heavenly Father.

My Father’s Love

One day I left my Father. I don’t know why or how I could.

I thought, “My Father, He is the Great I Am, the Creator of all things.

My Father has always loved me.” So I turned back because I was His child.

As I turned, I looked. I was amazed. See how He runs towards me? See His tears?

Look! Look! Look on the hill!  See my Father?

Look! Look! Look on the hill!  See, He runs towards me.

See my Father?  See how He loves me?

 Copyright 2010 Sandigram/I Am

         Father My Teacher

Proverbs 22:6 tells us, “Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he grows older he will not abandon it.” 

Proverbs 4:1-2 also tells  this, “Listen, my sons, to the instruction of a father, And pay attention so that you may gain understanding, for I give you good teaching; do not abandon my  instruction.”

God chose Abraham because He knew that he would teach his children as Genesis 18:19 tells us,  “For I have chosen him, so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him.”

How important it is for fathers to teach their children and to be an example to them. The scriptures even tell us what happens if a child is not brought up being trained and disciplined as Ephesians 6:4 tells us,  “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

You can not expect a child to behave or even grow up to be a person of faith if he was never taught or trained or even disciplined by truth.

Fathers represent God in this world. He is the head of the home, and so with that, comes many responsibilities in how he raises up his family. The Bible tells us that we are to honor our fathers and our mothers. That is one of the Ten Commandments, in fact, it is the commandment that follows after how we are to respect and revere God, our Heavenly Father. 

So let’s take a closer look at our Heavenly Father, so that our earthly fathers can follow His example. Let’s start by looking at the definition to teach. We see that this verb (action word) has many different aspects to teaching like “to impart”, “to guide”, “to cause” just to name a few. As you can see, to teach someone requires the teacher to do many things, like to impart knowledge, or guide someone in the truth of that knowledge which may require the teacher to go beyond just imparting the knowledge and to cause one to walk in that knowledge. 

As you can see a  teacher  has an important role in one’s life. Let’s look at our Heavenly Father to see how He does all these things in our lives. We see that from the start God teaches Moses how to be a leader in Exodus 4:12.  “Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” 

In Exodus 18:20 we see Moses now teaching the people not only God’s Words, but how they should live them out. “And you shall teach them the statutes and laws and shall show them the way in which they must walk and the work that they must do.”

In Psalm 25:4 the psalmist doesn’t only ask God to teach him His ways , but to make them known to him.  “ Make me to know Your ways, O Lord;  teach me Your paths.” In other words the psalmist wanted God to go a step further to make sure that he would follow on God’s paths. How does God do that?  Well, God takes us that next step. When we have been taught God’s Word, like right from wrong and we know the way to go, but we wander off the path, a good teacher will need to take his teaching one step further. 

Hebrews 12:5-11 tells us this,  “And you have forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as sons: “My son, do not despise the discipline from the Lord,   nor grow weary when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the Lord loves He disciplines,  and scourges every son whom He receives.”  Endure discipline; God is dealing with you as with sons. For what son is there whom a father does not discipline?  If you are without discipline, of which everyone has partaken, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.  Furthermore, we have had human fathers, and they corrected us, and we gave them reverence. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?  For they indeed disciplined us for a short time according to their own judgment, but He does so for our profit,that we may partake of His holiness.  Now no discipline seems to be joyful at the time, but grievous. Yet afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness in those who have been trained by it.”

Yes, discipline is a big part of learning. It is the correcting process that teaches us the boundaries of what we have learned. It keeps us in the truth of knowledge and you reap the benefits of your training. When you have been taught from your father, he gives you a pat on the back or tells you congratulations, but let’s see what God does to reward us in James 1:12, “Blessed is the man who endures temptation, for when he is tried, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”

All of that training and discipline helps us to have the victory in the times of temptation, and God rewards us not only with the victory, but one day we will receive the crown of life. Happy Father’s Day to all you Fathers,Grandfathers,and even Great-Grandfathers, never stop teaching.

Excerpt From Love and the Messianic Age 

by Paul Philip Levertoff

Knowledge and Love

We must try our best to become vessels for God’s love,guard our hearts wherein dwells the “divine spark” and preserve it undimmed and entire,and flee from “Egypt” in order to experience God’s revelation on “Sinai.” We must first try to clear away the thorns and weeds-hatred, jealousy, and lust-from the vineyard of the soul, so that that which is good in us may be  separated from that which is evil. Then only  can He fill us with His love. When God is sanctified by Israel, then He fulfills His promise: I the Lord will sanctify you.” The following parable describes the divine love which is revealed in the mystery of the human personality, in the descent of the soul, in order to inhabit a material tabernacle; 

A king had an only son who was pure, wise and good, having never known evil. The father delighted in these qualities of his son, and the son glorified in the wisdom of his father, and the harmony between them was perfect. One day, the wise king called his son to him and commanded him to prepare himself for a long journey into a far country. The son was loath to leave his father, but never doubting the wisdom of the command, he obeyed it. Often, as he wandered from his father’s home, he was sad and lonely. Horrible sights and sounds made him shudder. Temptations assailed him on all sides. What a struggle was his to keep himself unspotted. In this way, every day, unconsciously, he grew in strength of character. Meanwhile, the father longed unceasingly for the return of his son. His heart ached for the wanderer and suffered silently with him in each suffering. But how he rejoiced, even more than the son, at the latter’s victory over temptation.

Recipe Corner:

Because so many people want to be June brides, our recipe is a famous wedding cookie. 

The Mexican Wedding Cookie. 

So many other nationalities have the same cookie, but call it by different names, like the Italian Wedding Cookies, the Russian Tea Cookies, and even Butterballs.

  Wedding or not, this is a good cookie to eat on a warm day because it is so light.

Ingredients; 1 ½ cups of unsalted butter

¾ cup confectioners sugar

¾ teaspoon of salt

1 1/2 cups of finely ground almonds (optional)

4 ½ teaspoons of vanilla extract

3 cups sifted all purpose flour

⅓ cup confectioner sugar for rolling

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
2. Cream butter or margarine in a bowl, gradually add confectioners’ sugar and salt. Beat until light and fluffy. Add almonds and vanilla. Blend in flour gradually and mix well.
3. Shape into balls (or crescents) using about 1 teaspoon for each cookie. Place on ungreased cookie sheets, and bake for 15-20 min. Do not brown. Cool slightly, then roll in the extra confectioners’ sugar.       ENJOY!

…… If you have a family favorite recipe you would like to share, send it to our contact page on our website and give us the name of the recipe and maybe a little history behind it…

The Hebrew Corner

Our next letter in the Hebrew alphabet is,

 מ  Mem 

Mem is the thirteenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet.  The number value is 40. Forty is significant because it rained for 40 days in the day of Noah. The people were in the wilderness for forty years. Moses was on the mountain receiving the Torah for forty days. Yeshua fasted for forty days. After forty days in the womb a child begins to take form. 

Mem has two forms, open and closed. The open form is said to represent the revealed truth of God, whereas the closed form is said to represent the concealed truth of God. When the disciples of Yeshua asked why He speaks in parables, He answered saying, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven, but to them it has not been given.” Matthew 13:10-11

Mem is said to represent water (mayim), symbolizing the “spring” of the Torah.

Isaiah 12:3 tells us, “Therefore you will joyously draw water from the springs of salvation.”

 John 4: 13-14 tells us this about Yeshua, “ Yeshua answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”

 The Mem represents the omnipresence of God and also God’s rule and the closed mem represents the era of  Messiah (Mashiach), when He shall reign upon the earth and there shall be no end to His healing peace. As Isaiah 9:7 says, “There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of armies will accomplish this.

Don’t forget to follow us on our Podcast Bible Studies. 

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This is a

 “Clarion Call”

“Blow the trumpet in Zion;

    sound the alarm on my holy mountain.”(Joel 2:1)

It’s time for all people to awaken from their slumber. 

This is a time to see clearly the signs of the times.

No.10  JudeoChristianClarion.Com   “Have We Lost our children”

Have we lost our children as casualties of war? 

Not war with another country, but with our own country.

Over the years we have seen our children under attack.

It starts with the fact that the family as the nucleus of life for children has unraveled. Marriages today only have a 50/50 chance of staying together. Divorce is as common as yesterday’s news. Couples live together and have children and never marry or second marriages and you have stepmothers and step fathers and step brothers and step sisters and  four different sets of grandparents. You have mothers living with their boyfriends or vice versa. Children feel alienated. They even feel as though they do not belong and that they are only causing a problem. Many feel that they caused their parents to get a divorce.

Our schools, television, even commercials, have taken it upon themselves to train up our children in the way they want them to go. They have been taught that parents are outdated in their thinking. They have been taught that they have their rights, and they can make their own decisions, for every area of their lives. They have been taught that if they are white and male they need to apologize. Boys are taught that they need to grow up being weak and feminine. Our children are taught that they should not refer to the sexes as boy or girl, male or female.  They are teaching our children at early ages things that they are too young to be taught about life. Our children also go through being rejected, bullied, shamed and even canceled if they should think differently or look differently or even act differently. 

This of course leads to suicides. We have seen an increase in suicide among our children. Yes, we have had a pandemic over the last sixteen months which did hinder many children, because there was no in person schooling, and after school activities were cancelled, and many parents were home, which gave way to many arguments and stress in the home. Many children were isolated from their friends. But children today do not know how to cope. We have in our colleges today saferooms, where students can go if they are distressed by someone’s words or actions. Our schools have left our children weak. Suicide rates have been going up for years now,  even before the pandemic our children were committing suicide. 

According to “American Health Ratings.org”

In 2017, there were more than 6,200 suicide deaths among adolescents and young adults ages 15-24, making it the second-leading cause of death for that age group.

Divorce, bullying, feelings of social isolation, sexual abuse and even a death of a parent are some leading factors to suicde among children and young adults.

One big factor that was not included in the list was no religion in the home. We have seen a drastic drop of children, especially teens and young adults in our pews at church. We have seen attendance drop dramatically among adults over the years which alone would attribute to children not coming to church.  In young adults, college age especially, we have seen a drop over the years, because 

According to “Faithful Mother,” Voddie Baucham reports research that shows that between 70%-88% of youth active in the church will walk away from the faith in college. We are not rooting and grounding our children in the faith. 

Dawson McAlister, a national youth ministry specialist, argues that “ninety percent of kids active in high school youth groups do not go to church by the time they are sophomores in college.  One third will never return.” 

We are not winning the battle over our children’s hearts. We must have conversations with our children. We must understand what they believe and how they view their lives, and God in their lives. What is their worldview? It’s important because we base everything on what we call our moral compass. So what is the problem?  We think that when our children grow older that we do not have the right to pry in their lives. This is a lie of the devil. As parents we will always be parents, and it is our obligation to keep our children safe, especially if they are still in our home or financially tied to us. But this respect for parents begins when they are young. We need to know who their friends are and who they communicate with on social media. Do not believe the lies  that say, you have no right,  that your children should have their privacy. You have a responsibility before God to raise your children as Proverbs 22: 6 tells us,

“Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he grows older he will not abandon it.”  You will give an account to God one day. 

Many children are hooked on pornography. Here are some signs that may point to your child using pornography or even sexual abuse. Check your children’s browsing history. Limit your children’s time on the internet. Do you see them taking their devices into the bathroom? When you enter their room do they quickly change what they are looking at? Is there behavior changing? They may begin to be rude or use language that is not appropriate, also they may become combative. Are they losing interest in the things that used to interest them? 

Do you see your child becoming depressed? 

There are many people on the web who would love to get their hands on your children. We must protect our children and that means we must stay alert.

We are also losing our children to drugs. According to “National Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependence Inc.”

“An estimated 20 million Americans aged 12 or older (8% of the population) have used an illegal drug in the past 30 days.  Illicit drugs include marijuana/hashish, cocaine (including crack), heroin, hallucinogens, inhalants, or prescription drugs used without a prescription.

 Marijuana has now surpassed traditional cigarettes in middle school smoking rates. According to the CDC, 6.8% of students say they tried marijuana before they turned 13 years old. With the rise of vaping, 2.6% of 8th graders now vape marijuana as well. Like alcohol, underage marijuana use can disrupt brain development in children and has a serious negative impact on their academic performance. With the legalization of marijuana in several states, and possibly more in the future, marijuana use among youth is likely to increase.

Inhalants are household fixtures like gasoline, keyboard cleaner, paint thinner, markers and glue that give off noxious fumes that can get people high. These drugs are extremely dangerous, but readily available to younger children. This ease of access is perhaps why 5% of 8th graders say that they have used inhalants in their lifetimes. Fewer teens believe that occasional inhalant use is harmful, a belief that puts them at great risk for suffering from unintended consequences of inhalant abuse.

One of the dangers of inhalant use is sudden sniffing death syndrome. One of the most commonly misused solvents, butane, becomes very cold when sprayed directly into the throat. This can cause muscles in the throat to spasm for a long time and prevent breathing, and eventually can cause suffocation. Other inhalants can cause cardiac arrest or fatal cardiac arrhythmia (an abnormal heartbeat which can be deadly).

Drugs are entering our country at alarming rates and we must fight whoever and whenever we can by going to meetings and voting and also by knowing your children’s activities.

And with drug abuse often goes alcohol abuse.

Alcohol is the most commonly used addictive substance in the United States. Approximately 17.6 million people, or one in every 12 adults, suffer from alcohol abuse or dependence. 

In the U.S, 7 million children live in a household where at least one parent is dependent on or has abused alcohol. Alcoholism is the 3rd leading lifestyle-related cause of death in the nation – 8,000 deaths are annually attributed to excessive alcohol use.  The NCADD has found through research that parents play a key role in their child’s decision to use alcohol or drugs. Kids who learn a lot about the risks of alcohol and drugs from their parents are up to 50% less likely to use it. However, use of alcohol and drugs by older siblings can also influence the alcohol and drug use of younger siblings. 

A study done by “The Recovery Village” found this

Research shows that people who drink before the age of 15 are four times more likely to become addicted to alcohol later in life. Among those surveyed:

10.1% had their first alcoholic drink at 11 years old or younger

37.5% had their first alcoholic drink between 12–17 years old

39.7% had their first alcoholic drink between 18–25 years old

12.6% had their first alcoholic drink at 26 years old or older.

We are also losing our children to gun violence. In many large cities it is a war zone, and our children are getting caught up in it. We have glorified violence in movies and TV shows and made these people our heroes, and we can not forget video games. The companies who produce these video games have gotten rich on our children and most glorify violence. So much time is spent on playing video games that our children forget that it is not reality.

According to a Times article on crime  

In 2020 many Americans had experienced significantly higher levels of violence both wrought on and within their communities. Gun violence and gun crime has, in particular, risen drastically, with over 19,000 people killed in shootings and firearm-related incidents in 2020. That’s the highest death toll in over 20 years, according to data from the Gun Violence Archive (GVA), an online site that collects gun violence data, and the Britannia Group’s non-partisan site procon.org.

We see in our streets a war being played out before our eyes almost nightly. Gangs have become like mini armies. A progression has taken place in our country and in many countries and we have seen it start in our schools and in our homes and not much if any is spoken of in our churches. 

According to “Everytown Research and Policy,”

Firearms are the leading cause of death for American children and teens. More than 1,800 children and teens die by gun homicide every year. For children under the age of 13, these gun homicides most frequently occur in the home and are often connected to domestic or family violence. Black children and teens are 14 times more likely than white children and teens of the same age to die by gun homicide.

According to “Gun Violence Archive 2021”

125 killed (ages 0-11) 296 injured

501 teens killed (ages 12-17) 1,237 Injured

And this is not even half of the year.

Of course the greatest cause of death amongs children is abortion.

 62.5 million children  have been aborted since Roe vs Wade

A life of crime and drugs and alcohol  and pornagraphy is a recipe for sex trafficking.

“National Human Trafficking Hotline” statistics show a 25 percent jump in human trafficking cases from 2017 to 2018. This includes sex and labor trafficking. Of the more than 23,500 runaways reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in 2018, 1 in 7 were likely victims of child sex trafficking.

According to “Children’s Right Group,”

Sex traffickers target children in foster care and group homes. These children are more vulnerable to exploitation because of the trauma they have experienced and the lack of a permanent, stable home.

• It is estimated that up to 40.3 million people around the world are being trafficked.
• Sex trafficking is one of the world’s fastest growing criminal industries. Trafficking generates an estimated $150 billion a year.
• Children are particularly vulnerable to exploitation, especially children connected to the child welfare system. In the U.S., 60 percent of domestic child trafficking victims have a history in the child welfare system.
• Traffickers target youth in foster care because of their increased vulnerability due to a lack of family and emotional relationships and support.
• 74% of child trafficking cases involved sex trafficking, and the majority of those involved pimp-controlled prostitution.
• The average age of child sex trafficking victims is 15, according to numbers of children reported missing to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
• Many sex trafficking victims are runaway girls who were sexually abused as children. 1 in 7 runaways reported missing were likely sex trafficking victims, and of those, 88% were in the care of social services or foster care when they ran. 
• This list does not even include how many children who have come to this country this year without parents.

This country must come back to God. We must repent of our sins and we must begin to put God first in our lives. The Scriptures tell us that we can not serve two masters…God and money and many children go unattended because they live in a single parent home, for whatever reason. When we see a single parent we must befriend that parent and help them in whatever way we can. We must be good neighbors, life is not about your politics, or your religion. It is about loving God and loving your neighbor. If you see your neighbor and he needs help, then help.  No father, then ask to do fatherly things with the boys. No mother, then ask to do motherly things with the girls. Start new programs at your church to reach out to kids.  Let’s save our children. As it is, it may be too late, but we must try and as always, prayer is the way to go. We can fight the spiritual battle that is taking place in our world. Let’s take back one soul at a time and we will see that those souls will begin to add up, and we will see that, “NO”, we have not lost our children if we fight for them. Today, begin to pray for our government, from the President to Congress, to school board leaders and teachers, for Hollywood,  big corporations, and those in charge of social media. Let’s pray and fight for the family, for our children, for ourselves, and let’s put God back in the home and school and government and in the marketplace and in the public square.  We can bring our children back and the family and we can bring revival to this land, but it has to start with you and me and together we will see God return to make this country a light to the nations as it once was.

The Declaration of Independence states this, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. —”

We want to take a closer look into this statement, because this was our declaration for freedom. It starts by saying  this, “ We hold these truths to be self-evident.” What does this mean?  Well, it means that these truths are obvious. There’s no question about it. It’s a fact. What’s the fact ? All men are created equal. People are created equal, but that does not make their lives equal. Every person is unique, and different in many ways. We are born in different areas of the world, to different parents , with different siblings, with different gifts, and abilities, but we are all members of the human race created by the same God. This is what Paul says about the Body of Messiah, which is much like the human race.  1 Corinthians 12:12-14,  “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with the Messiah.  For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.  Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many”. Paul goes on to say this which proves that there is equality and importance to every person’s life, just like it is in the Body of Messiah.

1 Corinthians 12:15-20,  “Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.  And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.  If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?  But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.  If they were all one part, where would the body be?  As it is, there are many parts, but one body.”

We must treat each person according to this truth that we have been created all equal. Paul goes on to tell us how we are to treat one another as 1Corinthians 12:21-26 says,  “The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!”  On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,  and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty,  while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it,  so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.”

So because we are all different in many ways, the fact is that we all have the same rights, as we just read.  As the human race, when one suffers, we all need to suffer with each other,  that is empathy, compassion and love for one another. Paul tells us about love. We are all brothers and sisters, because we all have the same Father. A family must love each other and help each other and build up each other and this is what our declaration goes on to tell us, we all have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Unfortunately, only here in America do we have such a concept of this ideal thinking, because we have placed our truths in God’s ways. We all have the right to life, and yet, in America we have made laws contrary to that belief. When the founders said life,  this is not speaking of how one lives his life, but only in life itself.  When the writers of the Declaration of Independence wrote this document, they only knew that life was in God, the Creator of heaven and earth. Yeshua said, “I am the way , the truth and the life”, John 14:16.  Today we seem to forget this. There are so many people here in America that believe in so many different religions, that the forefathers did not consider the fact that one day people may have a different belief than in the one true God. But nonetheless, it is still true that in creation we are all equal, and we are all entitled to life. The next right is liberty.  God wants us to be free, but yet the Bible speaks of slavery. But even in slavery, the slave owner was to treat his slave with respect and not harsh treatment. We are not going to go into all that God’s Word says about slavery, but know this, that God created all men, and all men are made in the image of God, and no man is to be treated less than human.  Yet here in America, we do hardly anything regarding human trafficking and modern day slavery.  We have to ask ourselves, were our founders looking into God’s Word when they wrote this declaration, for they themselves were slave owners?  So, if life is in God, then for man to be free, he must be free from sin. Paul tells us in Galatians 5:1,5 , this, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Messiah  hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.   For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection,  knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;  for the one who has died is freed from sin.”

How else can we be free, unless we are free from the bondage of sin, then we will truly  have life and that life abundantly? (John 10:10.)

Next we have the right to pursue happiness. What did the founders consider pursuing happiness? Happiness is different for each person.  The simple life can bring some people great joy and happiness, while other people want the better things in life. So if we are created equals and we all have the same rights, then we see that the outcome will not be the same for everyone, because nothing is really the same for each person. Whatever that happiness is, here in America, you are free to pursue it. But once again, were the founders thinking more about God’s Word than thinking about this world?  As Psalm 144:15b tells us, “Happy are the people whose God is the Lord!”   When we pursue God, we find happiness.

 If our happiness is in God, like our life, and liberty, is, then we find true happiness in contentment. Could they have meant contentment, knowing that  when you pursue happiness it can only be in God?  Solomon said it in 

Ecclesiastes 1:14, “I have seen all the things that are done under the sun, and have found them all to be futile, a pursuit of the wind.”

   As we see Paul speaking about this in 1 Timothy 6:6-8,  “But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.  For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it, either.  If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.” 

And again in Phillipians 4:12, “But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked an opportunity to act.  Not that I speak from need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.  I know how to get along with little, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.  I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”

During this month that we celebrate these truths to be self-evident, let’s look to God our Creator, to find these unalienable rights in Him, and then celebrate your life, liberty and happiness.

Welcome!

Irving Berlin wrote “God Bless America” in 1918 when he was in service, but the song did not become popular till 1938. To me this song should have been our National Anthem, because we needed a prayer more than a song. 

  Let’s pray the words of this song.

 “God bless America, land that I love

Stand beside her and guide her

Through the night with the light from above

From the mountains to the prairies

To the oceans white with foam

God bless America, my home sweet home.”

Liberty

 Paul tells us in Galatians 5:1 this, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Messiah has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.”

Paul goes on to say in verse 13-15

“For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.  For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!”

Love and liberty go together. Can you really have one without the other?

We see in 1 Corinthians 13:6, this about love. “Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.”

Love does not delight in evil. Love makes us free because it does not delight in evil, because the opposite of love is hate and hate is evil.   Paul goes on to say in Galatians 5: 19-21, “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,  idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,  envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” 

As Paul said from the start, do not use your liberty as an opportunity for the flesh. And again Paul tells us in Galatians 5:1, “ and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.”

Those who are in bondage to sin are not free, they have lost their liberty.

Paul tells the Romans, in Romans 6: 5-6,  “For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;  for the one who has died is freed from sin.”

To have true love one must be free from sin. 1 Peter 2:16 says,

“ Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.”

Liberty is to be free to love. This is what God wants for us.  If we do not love then we are abusing our liberty. Yeshua said, “Love one another.” (John 13:34)  “And there is no greater love than to lay down our lives for one another”. (John 15:13)

‘If someone says, “I love God,” and yet he hates his brother or sister, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother and sister whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.” (1 John 4:20)

What the world needs now is love, sweet love. Yeshua died to set us free from sin, so let us not be yoked any longer to sin. We have been given liberty and with that liberty, let us do good in loving one another.  Love does not see the color of your skin. It does not see your political party. Love does not ask what is your religion, nor what are your beliefs?  Love only says, I have been given liberty to  love. Yeshua tells us in Matthew 7:12,  “In everything, treat others as you would want them to treat you, for this fulfills the law and the prophets.”

Once again Paul tells the Romans this in Romans 12:9-21,

“Love must be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil, cling to what is good.  Be devoted to one another with mutual love, showing eagerness in honoring one another.  Do not lag in zeal, be enthusiastic in spirit, serve the Lord.  Rejoice in hope, endure in suffering, persist in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints, pursue hospitality.  Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse.  Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.  Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly. Do not be conceited.  Do not repay anyone evil for evil; consider what is good before all people.  If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all people. Do not avenge yourselves, dear friends, but give place to God’s wrath,  for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.  Rather, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing this you will be heaping burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Happy Month of Liberty!

Excerpt from The Elementary Teachings of Messiah

By Judeo Christian Clarion

Repentance from Dead Works

The first principle in the list contained in Hebrews 6:1-2 is repentance, and this should be no surprise. Repentance is one of the constants in Scripture, one of the foundational elements of our faith. But what exactly is repentance? How are we to understand it and apply it in our lives?

In the Hebrew Scriptures, the word translated “repentance” comes from the root word shuv, which literally means to turn around or return. When used in the context of sin and forgiveness, repentance thus means to return to God. This involves an acknowledgment that we have sinned and strayed from Him by going the wrong way, followed by a real commitment to turn back to the right path which God wants us to walk on. 

Anyone familiar with the Hebrew Scriptures will recognize that the call to repentance is constant and urgent. Sin forms a barrier between God and His people, leading them down a path to destruction. God continually issues warnings to His people in order to draw their attention away from false gods and back to Him. When it becomes evident that their hearts have become exceedingly hardened, God sends the people away into exile. From this place of despair, the people finally are forced to look at their situation and realize that they are in exile due to their failure to heed God’s words and return to Him with all of their heart.

But what about the New Testament? Sometimes we hear preachers point out the fact that in the New Testament the Greek word which is used for repent, metanoeo, literally means, “to change one’s mind.” They take this to mean that no longer does repentance have anything to do with behavior, but rather means only to change your mind and accept the work of Yeshua. Some also then take this to mean that repentance only happens once upon the initial decision to accept Yeshua’s work on the cross. Any further sins after this mental event do not indicate a need for repentance, but nevertheless many teach that one ought to confess and be washed of this sin. The implication of this, however, is that so long as one has “changed their mind” (a phrase too ambiguous to do much good) they have done all they need to do regardless of whether their behavior is being sanctified. Has God’s will for repentance been altered so drastically from the Old to the New Testament? Whereas before it required a change of behavior, now does the change solely take place in the mind? 

Let’s look at a few examples of repentance in the New Testament. In Acts 3:19, Peter charges the crowd of people gathered in Jerusalem, “Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” In this verse, repentance is intrinsically linked with returning, just as we see in the Old Testament. Change of mind void of action is not truly repentance. Only when the attitude of our heart is reflected by the physical act of returning to God have we truly changed our mind. Because repentance is thus contingent on behavior, repentance is an ongoing process, not just a one-time event (Matthew 3:8, Acts 26:20;  2 Timothy 2:24-26, Revelation 2:5,20-22).

Now I Live

Lord, I was dead, but now I live.

 Sin kept me away from You,

but now You have forgiven me 

and You have given me life.

 I am a new creation and my soul rejoices. 

Your everlasting love touches the depths of my inner being.

I give glory and praise to You for now I live.

Sandiegram/The Path of My Life         Copyright2010

Recipe Corner:             Nothing says July like a pie.

This month’s  recipe is  a gluten -free, red, white, and blue ice cream pie with a granola crust from Yummy Mummy Kitchen.

Ingredients:  2cups natural granola (gluten free if you wish)

½ cup walnut pieces (optional)

4 Tbsps melted coconut oil

1 Tbsp agave syrup

1 quart ice cream or frozen yogurt, soften to spread

6oz. Fresh raspberries (about 1 1/4 cups)

6oz. Fresh blueberries (about 1 ¼ cups)

2 Tbsps agave syrup

2 Tbsps water

1 lemon   and  1 tsp cornstarch

Instructions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

1. In a food processor, pulse crust ingredients until combined and granola is ground to crumbs. Lightly coat a 9-inch pie dish with cooking spray and press the crust into the bottom of the dish and up the sides. Bake for 10 minutes. Cool completely.
2. In a small saucepan over medium high heat, stir together raspberries, 1 tablespoon agave syrup, 1 tablespoon water, juice of 1/2 the lemon, and 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch.
3. In another small saucepan over medium heat, stir together blueberries, 1 tablespoon agave syrup, 1 tablespoon water, juice of the other 1/2 of the lemon, and the other 1/2 teaspoon of cornstarch. Simmer both saucepans of berries until berries have broken down and sauce has thickened, stirring occasionally with a whisk, about 10 minutes. Cool and pour each sauce separately through a fine mesh sieve into small separate bowls. Let the sauces cool completely.
4. Pour sauces into resealable sandwich bags. Snip a tiny amount off one of the corners of the bags. Alternating bags, pipe circles about 2-inches apart over the pie starting in the center and working outward. Drag a toothpick from the center of pie outward to the crust so that the berry sauces are pulled upward. Drag toothpick back in the other direction (from crust to center) about 2-inches away from the first line. Continue around the pie. Freeze uncovered at least 3 hours. Cover with plastic wrap until ready to serve. Serve with additional berries and any remaining sauces.
5. Note: If you want this to be a vegan pie besides a gluten-free pie, check the granola and the ice cream.    Serves 8

Hebrew Corner:             This months letter is Nun        נ

Nun is the fourteenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet. It’s numerical value is 50, and it has the sound of an “n”. Nun as the fourteenth letter equals the number of  King David. The heir to David is Mashiach ben David or Messiah the son of David. As we have seen that God’s Word points to Yeshua the Messiah so does every letter in the Hebrew alphabet.   In the Messianic Age, Yeshua will teach us the meaning not only from the depths of the Torah, but He will teach us what every jot and tittle, and even what every space that is between each letter means, Micah 4:2, Isaiah 2:3. 

 In Exodus 33:11 the word refers to Joshua, the son of Nun. Nun looks like a bent Vav (suggesting a humbled man).  James 4:10 says, “Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” Nun is one of those letters that you c an place three dots above it, which represents the crowned glory as in  Revelation 14:14, “ I looked, and there before me was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one like a son of man  with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand.”

The word Nun means fish, a symbol of activity and life. Nun, “the fish,” is also the sign of the early believers in Yeshua. The word for fish in Greek is “Ixthus,”and may have been an acronym for the phrase, “Yesous Christos Theo Ulos Soter”, which in English means, “Jesus Christ the Son of God Savior”. 

 In both, the Hebrew and the Greek the letter Nun represents our Righteous King of Glory Yeshua.

People think that the Armor of God is for a Sunday School lesson taught to children, or something that you put on with your imagination. The Armor of God is real, and it is for your protection. It is a lifestyle, and it is for fighting a real war, a war against the evil forces in the heavenlies.

This series on the armor is to show believers that along with the Armor of God, the Biblical Appointed Times of God, and the Articles of the Temple are all part of that spiritual fight.

 Paul says this in 2 Corinthians 6 :3-10, “Behold, now is “a favorable time,” behold, now is “a day of salvation”—  giving no reason for taking offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited,  but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in difficulties, in beatings, in imprisonments, in mob attacks, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger,  in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love,  in the word of truth, and in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left,  by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; regarded as deceivers and yet true;  as unknown and yet well known, as dying and yet behold, we are alive; as punished and yet not put to death,  as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing and yet possessing all things.” 

Paul knew all about the attacks of the devil. He knew how the devil used people to discourage him and to try to stop him and even discredit his words, but he also knew that God gave him weapons of righteousness to fight the battle. We are going to be looking at these weapons as we go through the Armor of God and His Appointed Times and the Articles of the Temple.

 Ephesians 6:10 begins by telling us to be strong in the Lord. You cannot fight a battle unless you are prepared, and being prepared means being strong. But it also means that you know your enemy. 

 Ephesians 6: 11-13 does just that, it tells us who the enemy is. “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Therefore put on the full Armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand, stand firm.” 

 Because people do not see the spiritual battle, they do not think about the spiritual battle. And the fact is, that it never ceases. Our fight is a daily fight. Like the air around us, so is the spiritual battle.  We must put on the Armor of God and we must never take it off.

1 Peter 5: 8 tells us this,  “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” The devil hates God’s people and he never stops looking for us.

James 4:7 says “ Submit yourselves, then to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

1 Corinthians 10: 6-12 gives us good advice, “Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they indeed craved them. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.”  Nor are we to commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day.  Nor are we to put the Lord to the test, as some of them did, and were killed by the snakes.  Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroyer.  Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.  Therefore let the one who thinks he stands watch out that he does not fall.”

The evil forces in the heavenlies are throwing their fiery darts at us constantly. Temptation is all around us, like a minefield, and when we think that we are safe, that is when we fall. We can not take our eyes off the enemy of our soul.

So let’s begin to see just how we fight the spiritual battle that is all around us, for now is the time to begin living the lifestyle of a  mighty warrior dressed for battle.

There are three elements to fight the battle, and we want to closely look at all three. As I said at the start, we will be looking at God’s Appointed Times, and the Articles of the Temple, along with the Armor of God for all three will give us insight into how we should fight this constant battle. We hope that you will follow along with us in this series on the spiritual battle and gain insight into our “Weapons of Righteousness.”

We are going to begin our series where Paul started in Ephesians 6:14a, “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist.” 

Did you ever wonder why Paul starts with the Belt of Truth, instead of starting at the top with the Helmet of Salvation? In Matthew 7:24-27  Yeshua gives us some solid advice. “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine, and acts on them, will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  And the rain fell and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.  And everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.  And the rain fell and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and its collapse was great.”

No matter what you do in life, you have to have a firm foundation. How else can you stand firm? The only foundation that will not be moved is upon the Rock, Yeshua. Let’s go back to 1 Corinthians 10:1-4, from the beginning, it tell us this, “For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our fathers were all under the cloud and they all passed through the sea;  and they all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea;  and they all ate the same spiritual food,  and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was the Lord. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased; for their dead bodies were spread out in the wilderness.”  Even though they all drank from the Rock, Yeshua, and they all ate from the same spiritual food, Yeshua, they still fell. Why? Because they gave way to the temptations of the evil forces that attacked them, even though they had God all around them. The first thing we are to put on is the 

BELT OF TRUTH.

Today believers believe things that just are not true. There are so many teachings out there and many of them do not have a solid foundation in God’s Word. God’s Word is one as He is one, and everything in God’s Word is in agreement. Yeshua said, “ I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)

Today many people teach that there are many ways to get to heaven. Yeshua tells us that there is only one way,  and that is through Him. But it is not enough to just say, I believe in Yeshua and so now I am saved. How about being born again? (John 3:5-6) To be born again means that you must die and how do you die?  By crucifying your flesh as Galatians 5:24 tells us, “And those who belong to Messiah Yeshua have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

Yeshua tells His disciples this in Matthew 16:24, “Then Yeshua told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” If you have not let go of the world, and all of it’s lust and passions, and picked up your cross, the yoke of the kingdom, to follow Messiah in His footsteps, then you are not born again because to be born again you must die first. Yeshua tells us in John 14:15, “ If you love Me then keep My commandments.” The commandments are to be looked upon as the “Laws of the Kingdom.” 

There are 613 commandments in the Hebrew Scriptures and 1,050 in the Apostolic Scriptures, both do’s and don’ts. These laws are so that we can fight the evil forces. They are what separates us from the world. To be set apart is the meaning of holiness. By keeping them, we know that we will win against the evil forces, but it all  must start with truth. As believers we have authority over the devil. Yeshua tells us in Luke 10:19, “Behold, I have given you authority to walk on snakes and scorpions, and authority over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you.” To begin you must understand that you can win. You have the authority over the devil and not the other way around. You can resist him and he will flee. The armor of God is for the believer to fight and to win, but you must have truth and how you use that truth will determine if you will win. A belt is worn around the middle of a person, their center of gravity. The belt of truth must be worn to keep you in balance, so you do not wander off to the right or to the left. Remember, the road to life is narrow and few only find it. (Matthew 17:13-14)

Now let’s see how the Appointed Times of God work into this spiritual battle. Do not fool yourselves into thinking that just because God gives these Appointed Times to the Israelites in the wilderness, that these times are not for believers. You have to consider the fact that at that time they were the only people who believed in the One True God. Romans 3:1-2  tells us, “What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? Much in every way! First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God.” 

It makes sense if they were the only people to believe in God, the Creator of heaven  and earth, but since they were entrusted with the Word of God then we should be thankful that when the day came for you and I to believe, that the words were kept and made available to us. But no, we call them obsolete. Nothing about God is obsolete. We have been trying for centuries to make our foundation obsolete. You can not stand firm on shifting sand, as the parable by Yeshua told us in Matthew 7:24-27.

Again these times which God designated are His holy days, and these times are all part of the kingdom, even when God rested on the seventh day. It was for all of mankind to follow suit in the manner of our King Yeshua, who is the Lord of the Sabbath. (Matthew 12:8) So let’s start with  looking at the high priest in Leviticus, and then we will look at Yeshua, our High Priest.

Yom Kippur and the Holy of Holies

 Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement is the holiest day of the year. It is a solemn day of prayer and fasting, a day to humble oneself.  It was on this day, the only day of the year, that the high priest could enter into the Holy of Holies. The Holy of Holies is the place where the presence of God resided. After the Tent of Meetings was set up Exodus 40:34-38 says this, “Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.  Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out;  but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out—until the day it lifted.  So the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the Israelites during all their travels.”

Leviticus 16:6-10 “Aaron shall offer the bull as a sin offering for himself and shall make atonement for himself and for his house.  Then he shall take the two goats and set them before the Lord at the entrance of the tent of meeting.  And Aaron shall cast lots over the two goats, one lot for the Lord and the other lot for Azazel. And Aaron shall present the goat on which the lot fell for the Lord and use it as a sin offering,  but the goat on which the lot fell for Azazel shall be presented alive before the Lord to make atonement over it, that it may be sent away into the wilderness to Azazel.”

We see two goats, one will be a sacrifice to the Lord, and the other will be sent away to Azazel.  So who was Azazel? It is believed that Azazel was a fallen angel, a demon from the time of Noah, who taught men the art of warfare and taught women the art of deception, a lying, murderous spirit.

Let’s continue. Leviticus 16:11-14 says,

“Aaron shall present the bull as a sin offering for himself, and shall make atonement for himself and for his house. He shall kill the bull as a sin offering for himself.  And he shall take a censer full of coals of fire from the altar before the Lord, and two handfuls of sweet incense beaten small, and he shall bring it inside the veil  and put the incense on the fire before the Lord, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is over the testimony, so that he does not die.  And he shall take some of the blood of the bull and sprinkle it with his finger on the front of the atonement cover; then he shall sprinkle some of it with his finger seven times before the atonement cover.”

Leviticus 16:29 goes on to say, “This shall be a permanent statute for you: in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall humble yourselves and not do any work, whether the native, or the stranger who resides among you; for it is on this day that atonement shall be made for you to cleanse you; you will be clean from all your sins before the Lord.” 

Let’s analyze this. Once a year the high priest entered into the Holy of Holies with the blood of the goat chosen as the sin offering, and he brought coals from the sacrifice of the goat and mixed it with incense, so that a cloud of smoke covered the mercy seat or else he would die. This shows just how holy this place was. The high priest could only enter once a year on Yom Kippur with the blood of the sin offering, and at that, he had to have a covering between him and the presence of God, which we will explain as we go on.

Hebrews 9:11-12 says this , “But when the Messiah came as High Priest of the good things that are now already here, He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation.  He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.”

So what this tells us is that Yeshua, our High Priest is our sin offering, as Romans 8:3-4 tells us, “For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

We see here that Messiah Yeshua was the goat that was selected as the sin offering in the Yom Kippur service. He entered into the inner sanctuary, but it was with His blood, because He was the sin offering. What about the other goat that was sent away?  Levitcus 16:20-22 tells us, “When he finishes atoning for the Holy Place and the tent of meeting and the altar, he shall offer the live goat. Then Aaron shall lay both of his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the wrongdoings of the sons of Israel and all their unlawful acts regarding all their sins; and he shall place them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who stands ready.  Then the goat shall carry on itself all their wrongdoings to an isolated territory; he shall release the goat in the wilderness.”

Yeshua was also the goat sent away for He too, carried all of our sins upon Himself as 1 Peter 2:21-24 tells us, “ For you have been called for this purpose, because Messiah also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you would follow in His steps,  He who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; and while being abusively insulted, He did not insult in return; while suffering, He did not threaten, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;  and He Himself brought our sins in His body up on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness; by His wounds you were healed.”

Remember Azazel, he was the evil spirit who taught man war. Yeshua took the fight to Azazel as Ephesians 4:9 tells us, “(When it says, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth?” And as we see in Colossians 2:15, “And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”  And again in 1Peter 4:6, “For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as people, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God.”

If the spiritual fight was important for Yeshua to fight, then we should see that it is important for us.  We started by looking at the Belt of Truth  and now we are looking at the Yom Kippur service. As believers when we keep God’s Appointed Times we walk in truth. You have to walk in truth if you are fighting the spiritual battle. Satan is the accuser of the brethren. (Revelation 12:10) To fight him one needs to speak and live in truth. As we saw in the Yom Kippur service it takes place in the Most Holiest Place on the Most Holiest day. You have to take that into consideration along with the fact that God is truth. Paul started here when telling us about the spiritual battle because it is the most important place to start when fighting the evil forces that want to take us down. In the Holy of Holies sits the ark of the covenant that contained the Ten Commandments, which is and should be our moral compass. The mercy seat sits above the ark. It is here that God dwells as Exodus 25:20-22, “And the cherubim shall have their wings spread upward, covering the atoning cover with their wings and facing one another; the faces of the cherubim are to be turned toward the atoning cover.  Then you shall put the atoning cover on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the testimony which I will give to you.  There I will meet with you; and from above the atoning cover, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, I will speak to you about every commandment that I will give you for the sons of Israel.”

After Adam and Eve were told to leave the Garden of Eden, angels stood with drawn swords to protect the Tree of Life. But because of Yeshua’s death, we can now approach God for the wings of the cherubim are held open to receive all who come and we now can once again approach God and eat from the Tree of Life. Yeshua tore down the veil between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place and now, not only can we come into the presence of God, but remember what sits in the Ark of the Covenant?   The Tree of Life. Proverbs 3:13-18 says this,  “ Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver  and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed.” 

Also, remember the smoke that was between the high priest and the ark? Now instead of smoke, we are covered with the blood of Yeshua which stands between us and the Presence of God. When God sees us, He sees the blood of the Lamb of God who took away our sins. But we must live by God’s commands, it is the Tree of Life, it is our wisdom, understanding and knowledge.  If we love our Savior, then  we do not want to be separated from Him because sin separates us from God. It is not good enough that Yeshua died for our sins if we are going to keep walking in sin. 

Hebrews 10:26-29 tells us, “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left,  but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.  Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?” 

Truth is the beginning of our fight with Satan, who accuses us day and night before the Lord. Consider Job who refused to curse God during his time of testing and Zechariah 3:1-4,  “Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right to accuse him.  And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! Indeed, the Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebukes you! Is this not a log snatched from the fire?”  Now Joshua was clothed in filthy garments and was standing before the angel.  And he responded and said to those who were standing before him, saying, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” Again he said to him, “See, I have taken your guilt away from you and will clothe you with festive robes.” 

We must be clean to come before the Lord. Yes, Yeshua died for our sins, and He is our atonement, (1 John 2:2), but we cannot come to Him any old way, we must be clean, and we must walk in truth. When we enter into a holy place and come into the presence of God, we too, must be holy as He is holy (1 Peter 1:16). This is how we begin fighting the spiritual battle, with the Belt of Truth around us to stabilize us and keep us steady, walking in Truth as our foundation, knowing that Yeshua is our Atonement, walking in His ways, keeping His Commands, standing on Holy Ground in the presence of God, then we can say to our accuser, “I rebuke you Satan in the name of Yeshua my Messiah.”

In this series on spiritual warfare, we are looking at each item in the Armor of God and how it relates to God’s Appointed Times and the Articles in the Temple.

After putting on the Belt of Truth which we spoke of in the last episode, we see that Paul tells us next to put on the Breastplate of Righteousness (Ephesians 6 :14). 

The breastplate protected the soldier’s heart and vital organs from a fatal wound. So too, the Breastplate of Righteousness guards our heart. Let’s first look at what God’s Word tells us about our heart. Proverbs 4:23 tells us this, “Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flows the springs of life.” In our physical body the heart pumps our life giving blood. So too, with our spiritual heart, springs of life flow. If our physical heart stops it brings death and so too, if our spiritual heart stops, we die spiritually.

Paul tells us what guards our heart, peace. Phillipians 4:7 says, “And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Messiah Yeshua.” We know what guards our hearts but how do we go about doing it? Philippians 4:8-9 tells us “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”                        We see that the heart and mind go together. 

We also see this in Matthew 15:18-19   “But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and those things defile the person.  For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, acts of adultery, other immoral sexual acts, thefts, false testimonies, and slanderous statements.”   Our hearts cause us to sin with our mouths and with our thoughts.

Jeremiah 17:9 tells us this about the heart, “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it? ”Our mouths will speak what’s in our hearts, good or evil and our hearts are the center for all things in our lives. 

Proverbs 10:11  says this,  “The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.”

 Psalm 119:11 also tells us how we can guard our hearts and our mouths . “I have treasured Your word in my heart, so that I may not sin against You.”

Now that we have seen that our spiritual hearts play a key role in our spiritual lives, we want to take a look at righteousness and our hearts. Psalm 11:7 says this about God. “For the LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness; the upright will see His face.” God is righteous and He wants us also to be righteous. So righteousness is simply put, being right with God. Sin separates us from God and when we sin we need a way to come back to God. 

Isaiah 55:6-7 says, “Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked abandon his way, and the unrighteous person his thoughts; and let him return to the Lord, and He will have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.”

Romans 6:12-14 says this, “Therefore sin is not to reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts,  and do not go on presenting the parts of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those who are alive from the dead, and your body’s parts as instruments of righteousness for God.”

Also Romans 6:17-19 says, “But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were entrusted,  and after being freed from sin, you became slaves to righteousness.  I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented the parts of your body as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your body’s parts as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification.” If the Breastplate of Righteousness is worn to protect our hearts then we must be able to walk in righteousness in our hearts. Romans 10:10 tells us, “For with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”

Genesis  15:6 tells us this about Abraham, “Then he believed in the LORD; and He credited it to him as righteousness.” We have seen that the heart is the central place for good or bad, righteousness and wickedness.  But what brings about righteousness is when we believe in our hearts. It’s our convictions. It’s what we would die for. 

Psalm15:2 gives us some insight into righteousness, “One who walks with integrity, practices righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart” Righteousness takes believing in the truth. But we just cannot say it with words, but we must believe it and walk in it and that is integrity. We are who we say we are, and we believe in what we say we believe, no matter if we are alone or with other people. The Belt of Truth was the first item we put on in the Armor of God and we know that God is truth and His Word and Him are one. 1 Corinthians 1:26-31  “For consider your calling, brothers and sisters, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble;  but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong,  and the insignificant things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are,  so that no human may boast before God.  But it is due to Him that you are in Messiah Yeshua, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that just as it is written, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

The breastplate worn by a soldier usually had a crest on it which was of the  country he fought for. On our breastplate we wear the crest of whom we fight for, and that would be the kingdom of our Messiah Yeshua. We know that that would be the cross, which is the yoke of the kingdom. But there are times when we fall out of righteousness. We sin in our hearts and we become separated from God.  

Rosh Hashanah

The message of Rosh Hashanah, the Appointed Time of God, is  just that.  Rosh Hashanah is ten days before Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year.  Rosh Hashanah actually is a time to reflect on one’s heart. It is a time to search our soul, to consider our deeds and to repent. You actually begin thirty days before the appointed time of Rosh Hashanah. It is the time to prepare ourselves as we see here in Revelation 19:7-8, “Let’s rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has prepared herself.”  It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.”

So what are the righteous acts of the saints? Yeshua tells this story in Matthew 25:31-40,“But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne.  All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world.  For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home.  I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink?  Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing?  When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’  “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’ This is the message of Rosh Hashanah.

So to prepare ourselves, we must examine ourselves as Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 13:5, “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Messiah Yeshua is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?” 2 Peter 1:10-11 says “Therefore, brothers and sisters, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choice of you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;  for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior  Messiah Yeshua will be abundantly supplied to you.” When we are righteous before God then we have Weapons of Righteousness. This was Yeshua’s message from Matthew 3:2, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” This is the message of Rosh Hashanah.  The message to the church in Ephesus was quite clear in Revelation 2:4-5   “But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.  Therefore, remember from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and I will remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.”

This is the message of Rosh Hashanah.

1 Samuel 4:1-11 tells us about a battle that Israel fought with their enemy, and because of their sins they were defeated. “Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines. They encamped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines encamped at Aphek.  The Philistines drew up in line against Israel, and when the battle spread, Israel was defeated before the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men on the field of battle.  And when the people came to the camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why has the Lord defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord here from Shiloh, that it may come among us and save us from the power of our enemies.”  So the people sent to Shiloh and brought from there the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts, who is enthroned on the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.  As soon as the ark of the covenant of the Lord came into the camp, all Israel gave a mighty shout, so that the earth resounded.  And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shouting, they said, “What does this great shouting in the camp of the Hebrews mean?” And when they learned that the ark of the Lord had come to the camp,  the Philistines were afraid, for they said, “A god has come into the camp.” And they said, “Woe to us! For nothing like this has happened before.  Woe to us! Who can deliver us from the power of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with every sort of plague in the wilderness.  Take courage, and be men, O Philistines, lest you become slaves to the Hebrews as they have been to you; be men and fight.” So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and they fled, every man to his home. And there was a very great slaughter, for thirty thousand foot soldiers of Israel fell.  And the ark of God was captured, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.”

The moral of the story is this: You may think that because you call yourself a believer that God is with you, but if you have sin in your life it separates you from Him. Their enemy at first was afraid, but they kept up the fight and won. This is how it is with the devil. He may see you doing good. He may see you reading your Bible. He may see you going to church, but he also knows that you have unrepented sin. Remember, he is the accuser of the brethren. To fight the spiritual battle we must come humbly before God and repent.

This is the message of Rosh Hashanah.

The prophet Hosea speaks in his time to the people in Hosea 14:1-3, “O Israel, return to the Lord, your God, for you have been crushed by your sins.  Bring your petition. Come to the Lord and say, “O Lord, take away our sins; be gracious to us and receive us, and we will offer you the sacrifice of praise.  Assyria cannot save us, nor can our strength in battle; never again will we call the idols we have made ‘our gods’; for in you alone, O Lord, the fatherless find mercy.”

This is the message of Rosh Hashanah.

Rosh Hashanah or the Day of Trumpets is that time to draw close to God by humbling yourself and repenting of your sins. Of course this is something that should be done daily, but the season of repentance draws our attention by the sounding of the shofar or trumpet that the day of the Lord draws near. The Fall Feasts are a picture of the second coming of Yeshua. The sounding of the trumpet alerted the people that the king was coming. It also was sounded when the enemy was coming.

 Revelation 12:12 tells us,  “For this reason, rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you with great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time.” With our spiritual adversary,  he is always looking to whom he may devour, (1Peter 5:8). 

The devil today is winning the hearts of many people. The spiritual battle has become intense. Deception, lies and every temptation under the sun has increased.  People have fallen away from the one true God, and secular humanism has become the religion of the day.   If we are separated from God because of sin, we are left open for the enemy of our soul to devour us.  Peter tells us that we must be vigilant when it comes to our spiritual enemy.  The battle never ceases between us and him and we must be prepared to fight for the faith. Jude writes, “Beloved, while I was making every effort to write to you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all time handed down to the saints.”

  In 1 Timothy 6:12, Paul tells Timothy this,  “Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” Yeshua is a mighty warrior as Psalm 4:3-4 tells us, “Strap Your sword on Your thigh, Mighty One, In Your splendor and majesty! And in Your majesty ride on victoriously, For the cause of truth, humility, and righteousness; let Your right hand teach You awesome things.” And Revelation 19:11-16 tells us, “And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war.  His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many crowns; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself.  He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.  And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses.  From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the winepress of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty.  And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written: “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.””

This is the message of Rosh Hashanah.

The Altar of Incense

In the Yom Kippur service we saw the high priest would take incense from the Altar of Incense and add it to the coals of the sin offering to create a cloud that stood between Him and the Altar of Presence.  The Altar of Incense represents the prayers of the saints.  Revelation 5:8 -10 gives us insight into this important article of the Temple. “When He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.  And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the scroll and to break its seals; for You were slaughtered, and You purchased people for God with Your blood from every tribe, language, people, and nation and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” This Scripture opens up a window into the Throne room of God and we see the praises that went up for Yeshua for His victory over death and the grave. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:55-57,  “Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O Death, is your sting?”  The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the Law;  but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Messiah Yeshua.” Revelation 5 shows us that before they fell down before the Lamb they had a bowl of incense, for the Lamb would be sitting on His throne in the same place as the Ark of Presence in the Temple. Remember, Moses was to construct the Tabernacle from what he saw in heaven, (Hebrews 8:5).  We see here the importance of this altar standing right before the Ark. But also the incense was the prayers of the saint. Our prayers come before the Lord night and day. The incense was burned on the altar not only once a year at Yom Kippur, but twice a day at the morning and evening sacrifices, which today relates to the morning and evening times of prayer.

The Altar of Incense  was most holy for it sat in front of the Holy of Holies, the Ark of Presence. It shows us how important our prayers are to God. Now as Revelation 5 tells us we are a kingdom of priests and we enter into the most holiest place when we come before God with our prayers. 1Peter 2:9 tells us “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:18  that the battle must be fought with prayer, not just with our Weapons of Righteousness, which is the Armor of God,  but also with prayer. “With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be alert with all perseverance and every request for all the saints.”

We are told to pray without ceasing, (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). Prayer is another one of our weapons in the fight against the enemy of our soul. Philippians 4:6.says this, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” The spiritual battle is fought on our knees as we come before the cross of Yeshua. The cross was the place that Yeshua won the victory, and that is the place that we too, will win the victory. Repentance, prayer and righteousness are all the messages of Rosh Hashanah. James 5:16 says, “ Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. A prayer of a righteous person, when it is brought about, can accomplish much.” Blow the trumpet and sound the alarm on My holy Mountain. (Joel 2:1)

Today if you have fallen from righteousness, repent, and be restored, and put on righteousness as your armor. Guard your heart and pray; and re enter  the spiritual battle Psalm 60:12 tells us of our victory,   “Through our God we will do valiantly, and it is He who will trample down our enemies.”

We have looked at the Belt of Truth and the Breastplate of Righteousness and now Paul goes on to tell us this in Ephesians 6:15, “and having strapped on your feet the preparation of the gospel of peace.” 

Feet, how interesting that Paul makes feet part of the armor. He goes on to say that we must strap the preparation of the gospel of peace on our feet. The definition of preparation is, the action or process of making ready, or being made ready. The definition tells us that it is all about being ready, but it is a process. So let’s look at the process.

The process started by putting on the Belt of Truth. We must walk in truth as John writes in 3 John 1:3-4, “I was overjoyed when some of the friends arrived and testified to your faithfulness to the truth, namely how you walk in the truth.  I have no greater joy than this, to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”

And we know that Yeshua is the way and the truth and the life. (John 14:6)

So to be ready we must walk in the way that leads to life and that life is in Messiah Yeshua who is also the truth. Next we saw that we need to put on the Breastplate of Righteousness. Yeshua is our righteousness, He makes us righteous in Him when we repent of our sins and guard our hearts with truth. (1 John 1:9)

The next step of gospel readiness is given to us in  1 Peter 3:14-17, “ But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated,  but in your hearts sanctify Messiah as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence. Keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Messiah may be put to shame. For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.”

You must be ready to be persecuted for your beliefs.

Yeshua said this in John 15:18-21, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.  If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.  Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.  They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me.” 

Matthew 10: 16-18 says, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be as wary as serpents, and as innocent as doves. But be on guard against people, for they will hand you over to the courts and flog you in their synagogues;  and you will even be brought before governors and kings on My account, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.”

We will have to endure hardships and persecutions for the sake of the Gospel.

Ephesians 6:13, begins by saying:  “Therefore put on the full Armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”                 This is what Paul was saying when he told us to prepare our feet. When we do, then we can stand on our own two feet, and there is no better place to stand than on the Rock Yeshua. (Psalm 18:46)

Our feet can take us to many places, some good and some bad.

Isaiah 59:7 says this, “Their feet run to evil, and they hurry to shed innocent blood; their thoughts are thoughts of wrongdoing, devastation and destruction are in their paths.”

Romans 10:14-15 says this, “ How then are they to call on Him in whom they have not believed? How are they to believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher?  But how are they to preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!”

Where are your feet taking you?

Matthew 9:35-38 says this, “Yeshua went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness.  When He saw the crowds, He had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.  Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;  therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

Titus 2:11-14 tells us, “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.  It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,  while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Messiah Yeshua,  who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.”

Yeshua went about doing good. He always put the kingdom first in His life. He is our example and we need to walk in His footsteps.

Romans 1:16-17 says this, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.  

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, “The one who is righteous will live by faith.”

Paul knew the power of the gospel and he was not ashamed of it. We can not fight the good fight of faith without the gospel message. 

Let’s look at the Appointed Time called First Fruits and see how it coincides with the gospel.

It begins in Genesis and it began with fruit. After Adam and Eve ate from the Tree of Good and Evil, God said this to the serpent, in Genesis 3:14-15, “ Then the Lord God said to the serpent,“ Because you have done this, cursed are you more than all the livestock, and more than any animal of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life; and I will make enemies of you and the woman, and of your offspring and her descendant; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise Him on the heel.”

We see here that the battle began between the devil and God’s people. But we also see that one day one would come and that there would be a great battle, where He (Yeshua) would bruise the head of Satan, which He did when He took back the crown that Adam lost, and Satan would bruise his heel. Is this not interesting that God said that Satan would bruise the heel of the Messiah? God is referring to His foot.  Remember, Yeshua went about doing good and preaching the kingdom. Now Satan was going to strike His foot, so that He no longer went about doing good or preaching the kingdom. He had Yeshua killed. He thought that he had won the battle, he was the king, until Yeshua descended into hell and took the crown off of his head and rose from the dead. Yeshua had the victory not only over Satan but also over death and the grave. He was the first fruit.

Paul says this in 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 about Yeshua’s victory , “Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O Death, is your sting?”  The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the Law;  but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Messiah Yeshua.”

Feast of First Fruits

So what is the Feast of First Fruits? Leviticus 23:9 speaks of the first fruits, “And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,  “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you come into the land that I give you and reap its harvest, you shall bring the sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest,  and he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord, so that you may be accepted. On the day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it.” 

This took place two days after the Passover and it was the waving of the Omer or the first fruit of the harvest, and it was also the beginning  countdown to Pentecost.

Paul tells us this in 1 Corinthians 15:20,  “But the fact is, the Messiah has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep.”

 Why did Paul say this? Because it was on the Feast of First Fruits that Yeshua rose from the dead, and just like the priest, who brought the first of the harvest into the temple, so too, Yeshua was the first offering of all who would follow Him, for they too, would have the victory over the grave.

For now we are at the feet of Yeshua bringing the good news to all. We are the harvesters harvesting the fruit. Yeshua won the battle and now we continue the fight till the end, but Yeshua will come back for the final victory and His feet will move mountains as we see in Zachariah 14:3-4, 

“Then the Lord will go forth and fight against those nations, as when He fights on a day of battle.  On that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in its middle from east to west forming a very large valley. Half of the mountain will move toward the north, and the other half toward the south.”

And guess who will be with Him as Zachariah 14:5b tells us, “Then the Lord, my God, will come, and all the holy ones with Him! 

Now how does all of this fit in with the Articles of the Temple?

In the Holy Place we see that the Menorah and the Table of Showbread are across from each other. These are the two feet of the Temple and these two feet have a lot to do with the spiritual battle, as you will see.

The Table of Showbread

In the Holy Place sits a table and it represents the table of the Lord. God wants us to come and feast at his table as  Isaiah 55:1-3 tells us  “You there! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and delight yourself in abundance. Incline your ear and come to Me. Listen, that you may live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, According to the faithful mercies shown to David”.

On the Table of Showbread sat 12 loaves of bread that were baked every week and placed on the table and  it sat there all week. On the Sabbath the priests would eat the bread, which was then replaced for the coming week. The miracle of the bread was that it remained fresh and warm the whole week. Bread is called the staff of life. Yeshua was called the Bread of  Life, (John 6:35). In the prayer we call “Our Father,” Yeshua prays , “Give us our bread, our daily bread,” (Matthew 6:11) Yeshua, at the last supper , took bread and said, “This is My body.” (1 Corinthians 11:24). Yeshua was the true manna from heaven.(John 6:58).

What was our daily bread? Our daily bread is the Word of God. Yeshua is our bread. John 6 records  a powerful dialogue between Yeshua and the crowd.  When speaking about the Bread of Life, they asked Him, “Sir,” they said, “Always give us this bread.” Then Yeshua declared, “I am the Bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in Me will never be thirsty.  But as I told you, you have seen Me and still you do not believe. All those the Father gives Me will come to Me, and whoever comes to Me I will never drive away.  For I have come down from heaven not to do My will but to do the will of Him who sent me.  And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that I shall lose none of all those He has given Me, but raise them up at the last day.  For My Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day,” (John 6:34-40).

We are to come to the table of the Lord and eat His body and drink His blood. 

Yeshua said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.  Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.  For My flesh is real food and My blood is real drink.  Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood remains in Me, and I in them.  Just as the living Father sent Me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on Me will live because of Me.  This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever,” (John 5;53-58).

When we come to the table of the Lord and eat His body and drink His blood , we are actually partaking in the Word of God. Yeshua, the Bread of Life and the Well of Salvation. 

Isaiah 12:2-4 says this, “Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; For the Lord God is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation.” Therefore you will joyously draw water from the springs of salvation. And on that day you will say, “Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name. Make known His deeds among the peoples; Make them remember that His name is exalted.” Yes, Isaiah was recording a time of victory.   

Psalm 16:5 tells us, “The Lord Himself is my inheritance, my prize. He is my food and drink, my highest joy! He guards all that is mine.”

Luke 14:15-24 records this story. “When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Yesua, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.” Yeshua replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests.  At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’  “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’ “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’ “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’ “The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’ “‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’“ Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.  I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’”

How about you ? Still not sure if you want to come? This is the spiritual battle  that you have to fight  and win.

When beginning his message on the Armor of God in Ephesians 6:10, Paul starts out by saying, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.”

We must have our daily bread to give us the strength for the battle. Yeshua is the True Manna that sustained Israel for 40 years. He was also the Rock that gave them the water to drink as 1 Corinthians 10:1-4 tells us, “For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our fathers were all under the cloud and they all passed through the sea; and they all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea;  and they all ate the same spiritual food,  and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Messiah.”

Yeshua, our food and our drink is able to keep us strong and keep us in the fight. 

This is the first leg we must stand on to go out and preach the Gospel.

Now let’s look at the second leg that we stand on in bringing the gospel.

The Menorah 

The Menorah was the seven branched  lampstand in the Temple. It was its only source of light. The Menorah was called the “Light to the Nations.” Yeshua said in John 8:12,  “I am the Light of the world; the one who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” 

In John 6:68,  Simon Peter answered Yeshua, “Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have words of eternal life.”

The Gospel is life. Yeshua said I am the way, the truth and the life. (John 14:6)

Everything about the gospel is life, because everything about the gospel is about Yeshua, who is life.  Just like everything about the Temple points to Yeshua and everything about God’s Appointed Times points to Yeshua. 

Yeshua goes on to say in John 8:12, that the one who follows Him will not walk in darkness. Now Yeshua was  not talking about physical darkness, but spiritual darkness. The gospel is all about light and life. 1 Thessalonians 5:4-5 tells us,“ But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness, so that the day would overtake you like a thief;  for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then, let’s not sleep as others do, but let’s be alert and sober.”

 Matthew 5:14-16 shows us that we have a  responsibility as children of light, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;  nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  Your light must shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

The Menorah was always to be lit,  the light could never go out. 

Same with us, we must shine our light day and night, not only by doing good, but by bringing the good news to all we meet. That is why our feet are beautiful as Paul tells us in Romans 10. 

Colossians 4:5 tells us, “ Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.”

So to be light we must have the oil to keep our light burning. The oil for the Menorah  was from olives and was to be pure, and from the first press of the olive. The crushing of the olives was a picture of Yeshua. Isaiah 53: 5 tells us, “But He was pierced for our offenses, He was crushed for our wrongdoings; the punishment for our well-being was laid upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.”

Olive oil was used to anoint kings, prophets, and the high priest, all of which Yeshua is. The word Messiah means, “The Anointed One.”

In Matthew 25: 1-13, Yeshua tells a parable about ten  virgins who were waiting for the bridegroom.  Five had enough oil to wait out his coming , while five did not have enough to wait out his coming. When they heard that the bridegroom was coming.  “All the girls jumped up and trimmed their lamps. Then the five who hadn’t any oil begged the others to share with them, for their lamps were going out.  “But the others replied, ‘We haven’t enough. Go instead to the shops and buy some for yourselves.’ “But while they were gone, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. “Later, when the other five returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Sir, open the door for us!’  “But he called back, ‘Go away! It is too late!’ “So stay awake and be prepared, for you do not know the date or moment of my return.”

  Our feet take us to bring the Good News, and we must always be prepared. Five of those virgins thought they were prepared and found out the hard way that they were not.  They had faith, but it was not in the Truth.

The devil lies and deceives us and that is why we must have every piece of the armour on. Belt of Truth, Breastplate of Righteousness and our feet shod with the gospel. A lifestyle that has to be lived out daily. There is a spiritual battle that has to be fought and so you must keep an abundant supply of oil to keep your lamp from going out. 

Ephesians  5:1-21, gives us good advice on how we can continue to walk in the Light and not have our oil run out. “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;  and walk in love, just as Messiah also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. But sexual immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among saints;  and there must be no filthiness or foolish talk, or vulgar joking, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.  For this you know with certainty, that no sexually immoral or impure or greedy person, which amounts to an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Messiah and God. See that no one deceives you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.  Therefore do not become partners with them;  for you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light  (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), as you try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.  Do not participate in the useless deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them;  for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.  But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.  For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Messiah will shine on you.”  So then, be careful how you walk, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.  And do not get drunk with wine, in which there is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,  speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your hearts to the Lord;  always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Messiah Yeshua to our God and Father; ]and subject yourselves to one another in the fear of  Messiah.”

We see that when we prepare our feet for the battle, the Gospel of Light gives us the food that we need to go about bringing the Good News to all we meet. And that spiritual food and drink strengthens us so that even the gates of hell will not hinder us, (Matthew 16:18). 

As disciples of Yeshua we have been called to go out and advance the kingdom as Matthew 28:18-20 tells us,  “Then Yeshua came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

1 Thessalonians 1:2-5 says, “We always give thanks to God for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers;  constantly keeping in mind your work of faith and labor of love and perseverance of hope in our Lord Messiah Yeshua in the presence of our God and Father,  knowing, brothers and sisters, beloved by God, His choice of you;  for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sakes.”

 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 tells us. “The Holy Spirit is given to each of us in a special way. That is for the good of all.  To some people the Spirit gives a message of wisdom. To others the same Spirit gives a message of knowledge.  To others the same Spirit gives faith. To others that one Spirit gives gifts of healing.  To others he gives the power to do miracles. To others he gives the ability to prophesy. To others he gives the ability to tell the spirits apart. To others he gives the ability to speak in different kinds of languages they had not known before. And to still others he gives the ability to explain what was said in those languages.  All the gifts are produced by one and the same Spirit. He gives gifts to each person, just as he decides.”

We must use the gifts that God has given us and we must advance the kingdom by preaching the Good News, even if it takes us to the gates of hell.

Let’s close by looking at Jude 20-23, “But you, dear friends, must build up your lives ever more strongly upon the foundation of our holy faith, learning to pray in the power and strength of the Holy Spirit. Stay always within the boundaries where God’s love can reach and bless you. Wait patiently for the eternal life that our Lord Messiah Yeshua in His mercy is going to give you.  Try to help those who argue against you. Be merciful to those who doubt.  Save some by snatching them as from the very flames of hell itself. And as for others, help them to find the Lord by being kind to them, but be careful that you yourselves aren’t pulled along into their sins. Hate every trace of their sin while being merciful to them as sinners.”

The next part of the armor that we are going to look at is faith. Paul had his reasons  why he listed the parts of the armor in the order that he did and we will see why.

Ephesian 6:16 tells us,  “In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.”

We  left the last episode fighting at the gates of Hell. Spiritually snatching them from the fire. But now Paul tells us that we too, must protect ourselves from the fire.

As we are doing the work of the kingdom, we will find ourselves fighting the fire that comes from the dragon’s own mouth. All of the Armor of God is for our protection in fighting the spiritual  battle, but the Shield of Faith helps keep us in the battle. Let’s look at faith.

Hebrews 11:1 says this, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

We see that many things make up faith, like hope and conviction. Not seeing, but believing. Let’s look at hope.

Romans 8:24-25 says, “For this is the hope of our salvation. But hope means that we must trust and wait for what is still unseen. For why would we need to hope for something we already have? So because our hope is set on what is yet to be seen, we patiently keep on waiting for its fulfillment.”

Psalm 39:7 tells us who and only who, we should put our hope in, “But now, Lord, what do I look for?  My hope is in You.”

Again in Psalm 130: 5, “I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his Word I put my hope.”

Paul writes to Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:10, “ That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.”

Hebrews 6:19 also speaks of this hope, “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and reliable and one which enters within the veil,  where Yeshua has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”

Hebrews 6:11-12 tells us, “But, beloved, we are convinced of better things regarding you, and things that accompany salvation, even though we are speaking in this way.  For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, by having served and by still serving the saints.  And we desire that each one of you demonstrates the same diligence, so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end,  so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and endurance inherit the promises.”

We begin to see that faith has a lot to do with our “Weapons of Righteousness.’

As if they all hang on by faith. The Belt of Truth is only effective if we have faith in that Truth and our Righteousness, only if we believe in the work of Yeshua on the cross, will we repent of our sins, and by faith are we saved. (Ephesians 2:8-9), Romans 10:10 tells us,  “For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified (made righteous), and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”

Faith is important in the spiritual battle. By our faith we can move mountains. Many of those mountains are part of the spiritual battle, as we see in 

Matthew 17:18-20, “Afterwards the disciples asked Yeshua privately, “Why couldn’t we cast that demon out?” “Because of your little faith,” Yeshua told them. “For if you had faith even as small as a tiny mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move!’ and it would go far away. Nothing would be impossible.”

Everyone has some faith in them or else they could not live in this world. Paul says this in Romans 12:3, “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”

One key opponent to faith is resting in that faith as Psalm 62:1-2 tells us, “I stand silently before the Lord, waiting for him to rescue me. For salvation comes from him alone.  Yes, he alone is my Rock, my rescuer, defense and fortress. Why then should I be tense with fear when troubles come?”

Our faith leads us to trust God, and it is in that trust that we rest upon Him.

Proverbs 3:5-6 says this, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.

We are to trust God like little children as Psalm 131:1-4, “Lord, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes arrogant; nor do I involve myself in great matters, or in things too difficult for me. I have certainly soothed and quieted my soul; Like a weaned child resting against his mother, my soul within me is like a weaned child. Israel, wait for the Lord from this time on and forever.”

Faith is important when fighting the spiritual battle. We know that We have the authority over the powers of hell as Mark 6:7 tells us, “And He summoned the twelve and began to send them out in pairs, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.”

But faith without works is dead as James 2:14-17 tells us, “What use is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him?  If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food,  and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?  In the same way, faith also, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.”

The Shield of Faith protects us from the arrows of the evil one. The devil wants us to live in fear and doubt, not trusting in the power of God, not trusting in the work of the Holy Spirit. But he wants us to live in fear, fear that says God is not with us, God does not know me. God is not able.

We have seen that when the Tent of Meetings was set up before the people in the wilderness, that a cloud of smoke rose upward above the Ark of the Covenant during the day and at night there was a pillar of fire, (Exodus 40:38). Also this same pillar of smoke and fire went before them as they traveled, (Exodus 13:21).

This was so that the people knew that God was always with them.

Philippians 4: 6-7 says,  “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Messiah Yeshua.”

We also say that the Altar of Incense sat before the Ark of the Covenant and this represented the prayers of the saints, (Revelations 5:8). Again showing that our prayers are always before the Lord.

Luke 12:22-32 tells us, “And He said to His disciples, “For this reason I tell you, do not worry about your life, as to what you are to eat; nor for your body, as to what you are to wear.  For life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.  Consider the ravens, that they neither sow nor reap; they have no storeroom nor barn, and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds!  And which of you by worrying can add a day to his life’s span?  Therefore if you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about the other things?  Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither labor nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.  Now if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You of little faith!  And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying.  For all these things are what the nations of the world eagerly seek; and your Father knows that you need these things.  But seek His kingdom, and these things will be provided to you. Do not be afraid, little flock, because your Father has chosen to give you the kingdom.”

Did not God provide for the people in the wilderness for forty years as they ate the manna? But let us consider Deuteronomy 29:5, “And I have led you in the wilderness for forty years; your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandal has not worn out on your foot.” 

 Psalm 139:1-18 is what you can use  as your Shield of Faith, it is nothing less than the love of God.  “Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I get up; You understand my thought from far away. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, Lord, You know it all. You have encircled me behind and in front, And placed Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high, I cannot comprehend it. Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. If I take up the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will take hold of me. If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, And the light around me will be night,” Even darkness is not dark to You, And the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You, For You created my innermost parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, because I am awesomely and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You When I was made in secret, And skillfully formed in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my formless substance; And in Your book were written All the days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them. How precious also are Your thoughts for me, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I awake, I am still with You.”

The Veil

The veil is what separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. We briefly looked at the veil when we discussed Yom Kippur.

What does the veil have to do with faith?  Let’s take a closer look.

First, we have to ask, “Why was there a veil between the two sections of the Tabernacle?” Remember Moses when He asked to see God’s glory?

Exodus 33: 18-23 says this, “Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”  And the Lord said, “I will cause all My goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim My name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.  But,” He said, “you cannot see My face, for no one may see Me and live.”  Then the Lord said, “There is a place near Me where you may stand on a rock.  When My glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by.  Then I will remove My hand and you will see My back; but My face must not be seen.”

The Holy of Holies was so holy that only the high priest could enter once a year. And at that only with the blood of the sin offering and coals from that offering  to add to the incense from the Altar of Incense to create a cloud of smoke between the Ark of the Covenant and the high priest. Much like God placing Moses in the cleft of the rock. We know that the rock represented Yeshua that covered Moses and Yeshua was the sin offering whose blood was sprinkled on the Ark. But how interesting it is that the coals from that offering was mixed with the incense which represented the prayers of the saint, (Revelation 5:8-10). And the Altar of Incense sat before the very presence of God, but God is so holy that the Ark of His Presence sat behind the veil. But we know that Yeshua when He died, the veil was torn in two,(Matthew 27:51).

Hebrews 10: 19-22 tells us, “Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence (assurance)  to enter the holy place by the blood of Yeshua by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, through His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let’s approach God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”

Also Hebrews 4:16 says this, “So let us come boldly (conviction) to the very throne of God and stay there to receive his mercy and to find grace to help us in our times of need.”

So let’s look at the definition of faith as Hebrews 11:1 tells us, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” So we can look at Hebrews 10 and Hebrews 4 and replace confidence with assurance and boldness with conviction. This is how we are to enter into God’s presence, with faith. The high Priest entered beyond the veil, by faith. He rested in the assurance that the blood of the sin sacrifice would protect Him. His faith in God gave him His conviction to believe and so it became a shield in protecting him.

When it comes to the spiritual battle our faith is crucial. When we know that we know that God is for us, then we know that no one can separate us from Him. Romans 8:31-39 tells us,  “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?  Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.  Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Messiah Yeshua who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?  As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long;     we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,  neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Messiah Yeshua our Lord.”

 Again Ephesians 3:8-12 says,  “To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Messiah, and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Yeshua the Messiah, to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Messiah Yeshua our Lord,  in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.”

There is a veil, for no man may see God, but one day as 1 John 3: 2 tells us, “Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.”

So let us have faith, and let us use that faith to fight the spiritual battle, trusting God and resting in His faithfulness as Romans 8: 28 tells us, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” 

One thing God does not keep behind the veil and that is His love and His faithfulness to His people.

Faith tells us to rest in God’s love for us and His ability to care for us.  This is the message of the sabbath rest.

The Sabbath

The Sabbath is one of God’s Appointed Times. It was created at the time of creation as Genesis 2:1-3 tells us,  “And so the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their heavenly lights.  By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.  Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because on it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.”

Hebrews 11:3 tells us, “By faith we understand that the world has been created by the word of God so that what is seen has not been made out of things that are visible.”

Even God had faith and when He rested on the seventh day He was exercising that faith, for He trusted in His own ability when He saw that all was good.

Believers today say that the Sabbath was for the Jews only and yet Yeshua tells us that He is the Lord of the Sabbath, (Matthew 12:8). Believers kept the seventh day Sabbath and they have found that they kept it all the way to the 5th Century. Over the last 50 years, people are returning to the seventh day sabbath because if we are to be the true light then we must follow in Yeshua’s footsteps for He is the Lord of the Sabbath, and we give witness that our Heavenly Father is the Creator of all things. For this the devil would love for us to give a false witness.

When we keep the sabbath and we rest from our works, we show not only God but man that we trust in God’s ability to care for us.

Hebrews 4:1-11says this , “ Therefore, we must fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it.  For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also did; but the word they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united with those who listened with faith.  For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said, “As I swore in My anger, they certainly shall not enter My rest,” although His works were finished from the foundation of the world.  For He has said somewhere concerning the seventh day: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”;  and again in this passage, “They certainly shall not enter My rest.”  Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who previously had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience,  He again sets a certain day, “Today,” saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before, “Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that.  Consequently, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.  For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.  Therefore let’s make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same example of disobedience.”

How important it is for us to rest in the Lord. The devil will do everything in his power to get us to not trust in God, not to put our trust in Him, but in the things of this world. When we lift up our Shield of Faith we block those lies of the devil, those fiery darts, and we are protected in God’s love . He is our Father, and He is our Creator and He is the lover of our souls. No man, no object of this world, can love us more than the one who created us. Today, if you are a child of the One True God, the Creator of all things, then we must testify to that fact by resting also in Him, not only in our everyday lives, not only in all of our trials, but we must give witness to the God whom we serve. He rested on the seventh day. Did He have to?  Was He so tired that he had to rest? No! He rested because one, He is our example, and two, he has faith in all he did. So, we too, must rest, not on the first day, or the sixth day, as many other religions do, but on the seventh day. For the number seven is the number of completion and we are complete when we rest on the seventh day. This is a spiritual battle that the believers have lost for many years, and we need to return, for even the commandment tells us to keep the Sabbath.

We have seen that the spiritual battle consists of the Armor of God, the Appointed Times of God and the Articles in the Temple. In this recording we have seen The Shield of Faith, the Veil and now the Sabbath. All three speak to us about the spiritual battle and what we need to win the war.

After the Shield of Faith, Paul goes on to tell us in Ephesians 6:17, to take the Helmet of Salvation.

Before Paul wrote about the armor, Isaiah tells us this in  Isaiah 59:15-17 which speaks about our Messiah, dressed for the battle. “Truth is lacking, and one who turns aside from evil makes himself a prey. Now the Lord saw, and it was displeasing in His sight that there was no justice. And He saw that there was no one, and was amazed that there was not one to intercede; then His own arm brought salvation to Him, and His righteousness upheld Him. He put on righteousness like a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on His head; and He put on garments of vengeance for clothing and wrapped Himself with zeal as a cloak.”

We see here that truth was lacking and this caused the Lord to fight the battle.  Maybe this is why Paul started with the Belt of Truth. 

1 Thessalonians 5:8 tells us, “But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.”

So salvation is not only our hope, but it is our goal.  This is why Paul tells us to put on the armor, starting with truth and then righteousness, having our feet prepared to give the good news and then having faith to do all of this, as we fight the enemy of our souls.

Romans 8:24-25 says, “For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?  But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”

Salvation, what is it really?  Well. it’s definition  says, “ It is preservation or deliverance from harm, ruin or loss.” 

Psalm 25:5 tells us, “ Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You I wait all the day.”

We know that God is our salvation. We know because Scripture tells us, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life,” (John 3:16). We also know because Yeshua’s name means God’s Salvation. (note: only the Hebrew name of Yeshua means salvation, not Jesus)

This is what Psalm 62:1-2,5-7 tells us about Yeshua, our salvation. Take note how the Psalmist waits and rests in God. This is the Shield of Faith. This is the spiritual battle being fought. “My soul waits in silence for God alone; from Him comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I will not be greatly shaken. My soul, wait in silence for God alone, for my hope is from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my refuge; I will not be shaken. My salvation and my glory rest on God; the rock of my strength, my refuge is in God.”

As believers we know that Yeshua delivered us from sin and we also know that the consequence of that sin was death.

 Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Messiah Yeshua our Lord.”

But we also know that we sin, and at times we do not repent of that sin and at times it even causes us to fall.

Hebrews 10:26-27, “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.”

 Many people think that the Helmet of Salvation has to do with our thoughts, but James 1:13-16 tells us this, “When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone;  but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.  Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”

In Matthew 3:8 we see John the Baptist addressing the Pharisees and Sadducees, with this statement, “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.”

We must have evidence of the repenting of our sins, or else, we ourselves can not be sure that we have truly repented. So we see that the Helmet of Salvation has to do with  hope, and the devil wants us to lose that battle. We must put on the helmet to remind us of the goal. To do that we need to examine ourselves as Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 13:5, “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Messiah Yeshua is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!”

And Peter tells us in 2 Peter 1:10-11,  “Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.  For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Messiah Yeshua.”

Salvation is like that helmet, and that helmet is like a tent that we wear over our heads, as if to say that it is our shelter, to protect us from our enemy.

Psalm 17:8 says, “Keep me as the apple of the eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings.”

Again Psalm 27:5 says, “For on the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; He will hide me in the secret place of His tent; He will lift me up on a rock.” 

 Paul writes in 2 Timothy 4:6-8, “ For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;  in the future there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.” 

Paul fought the spiritual battle, he contended for the faith, he finished the race and now he was confident in his hope of salvation.

Revelation 2:10 tells us, “Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”

Revelation reminds us that we can have the victory in the mists of our trials, because we wear the helmet of Salvation. 

We have the hope of salvation, when we have God as our source, when we have God at the center of our lives. 

The Tent of Meeting

So the Helmet of Salvation is the Tabernacle, and more precisely, the tent that held the Tabernacle, also called the Tent of Meeting. In Hebrew it is called the  Mishkan. Because the people traveled in the wilderness for forty years, the Tabernacle had to be portable. It also had to be separated from the people, for it was holy. To do that, they had to make it like a tent. They divide the tent in sections, the outer court, the holy place and the most holy place called the holy of holies. It was here that God met with Moses and Aaron. The tent had one entrance or door. The Tent of Meeting  gave the people a place to come to seek  and worship the Lord, and Moses would gather the people at the entrance or door of the Tent of Meeting to speak with them about the will of God. (Exodus 33)

Yeshua is the door as John 10:9-10 tells us, “ I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.  The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

The Tent of Meeting, or often called the Tabernacle  is a picture of God’s protection against the enemy.

Psalm 118:5-15 tells us, “From my distress I called upon the Lord; the Lord answered me and put me in an open space. The Lord is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me? The Lord is for me among those who help me; therefore I will look with satisfaction on those who hate me. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in people. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in noblemen. All nations surrounded me; in the name of the Lord I will certainly fend them off. They surrounded me, yes, they surrounded me; in the name of the Lord I will certainly fend them off. They surrounded me like bees; they were extinguished like a fire of thorn bushes; in the name of the Lord I will certainly fend them off. You pushed me violently so that I was falling, but the Lord helped me. The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation. The sound of joyful shouting and salvation is in the tents of the righteous; the right hand of the Lord performs valiantly.”

The spiritual battle comes out in the physical realm, because the devil uses people to attack us. But we do not wrestle with flesh and blood, but with the rulers and evil forces in the heavenlies. Either way, God is still our protector and He gives us our victory. This is the Helmet of Salvation, this was the Tabernacle. It sat as a sign of God’s presence with the people. The pillar of smoke by day and the pillar of fire by night, God was there to protect his people, for He was their salvation. He was there to keep them from suffering harm, ruin, or loss. Yes, He was their preservation, their salvation, but all throughout the generations God has done this for His people. We have our trials and tribulations, we have our battles and even though at times it may seem that we have lost the battle, with God we will still win the war. And our victory is our salvation. Our God, the King, who wears the crown of glory, tells us now, to put on the Helmet of Salvation, as Isaiah said, He Himself  put on the Helmet of Salvation, and we shall wear it  like a crown.

This is how Job answered his accusers. Job 31:35-37, “If only I had someone to hear my case! Here is my signature; let the Almighty answer me. Let my opponent compose his indictment. I would surely carry on my shoulder and wear it like a crown. I would give him an account of all my steps; I would approach him like a prince.”

Numbers 2:1-2 says this, “The Lord said to Moses and Aaron:  “The Israelites are to camp around the Tent of Meeting some distance from it, each of them under their standard and holding the banners of their family.”

This picture of Israel camped around the Tent of Meeting tells us that God must be the center of our lives and He must be our source. It also shows us a picture of the Helmet of Salvation, which is worn around the head. God is our head, and we must wrap ourselves around Him.

When Balak wanted Baalam to curse Israel, this is what Numbers 24:2-5 records. “When Balaam looked out and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came on him  and he spoke his message: “The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor,  the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,the prophecy of one who hears the words of God,  who sees a vision from the Almighty,    who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened: “How beautiful are your tents, Jacob,    your dwelling places, Israel!” Balaam could not curse but only bless Israel, for the sight he saw was that of a people mighty before their God. This is what the devil sees when we wear the Helmet of Salvation as a crown.

Sukkot/The Feast of Tabernacles

All of this only points to the appointed time of Sukkot. Sukkot which means booths or tents. Leviticus 23:41 tells us, “So you shall celebrate it as a feast to the Lord for seven days in the year. It shall be a permanent statute throughout your generations; you shall celebrate it in the seventh month.”

Sukkot is a beautiful celebration of God’s faithfulness to His people. But Sukkot is a picture of those righteous who will live for eternity with the Lord, 

Sukkot is not like the other two feasts, which are solemn. No, Sukkot is a celebration. It is called the “Season of Rejoicing.” We have just come out of forty days of repentance, with Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur  and now is the time to celebrate our future with our Lord for eternity. The people would make pilgrimage to Jerusalem singing the “Songs of Ascents’, which were Psalms 120-134. 

The last day of Sukkot is called the Hoshana Rabbah, “The Great Salvation.” The priests would circle the altar seven times reciting prayers and singing from the Psalms, all the while swaying  palm branches. They would carry these huge palm branches and lay them to form a tent or a sukkah.

We also see this story recorded in  Mark 11:4-10, “They went away and found a colt tied at the door, outside in the street; and they untied it.  And some of the bystanders were saying to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?”  And they told them just as Yeshua had said, and they gave them permission. They brought the colt to Yeshua  and put their cloaks on it; and He sat on it.  And many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches which they had cut from the fields.  And those who went in front and those who followed were shouting: “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David; Hosanna in the highest!””

Now this was not during the feast of Sukkot, but the people knew the Scriptures, and the images of Sukkot, for it says in Zechariah 9:9, “ Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is righteous and endowed with salvation, humble, and mounted on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” 

Even though they were expecting their Messiah to come during the feast of Sukkot, all they knew to do was wave palm branches and and shout out 

Psalm 118:25, “Save us, we pray, O Lord!    O Lord, we pray, give us success!”

There was another beautiful ceremony called the “Water Drawing Ceremony.” John 7:37-38 tells us this about Yeshua, “On the last day, that great day of the feast, Yeshua stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.  He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”

Yeshua was referring to the coming of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

Sukkot also reminds us, as we too, are living  in our  Sukkah, or tent, that once there was a people who lived in tents, who surrounded themselves around  another tent, a tent that housed the presence of God. He provided food and water for forty years and He kept their shoes and clothes from wearing out as 

Psalm 121 says, “I will raise my eyes to the mountains; from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip; He who watches over you will not slumber. Behold, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your protector; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun will not beat down on you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul. The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in from this time and forever.”

This is Sukkot! How could these people live in the wilderness and not be burnt from the sun or at night when the sun went down and the temperature dropped and they did not freeze. Day or night God was in their midst. God was their source. The center of their lives and this is what Sukkot reminds us of, and this is why it is a celebration. One day we will live with our Salvation, Yeshua, for eternity.

Let’s take a closer look at the Fall Feasts. We looked at Rosh Hashanah, which we spoke of when we looked at the Breastplate of Righteousness and repentance, also the Altar of Incense, which represented the prayers of the saints. Rosh Hashanah is a picture of the gates of heaven being opened for the righteous to enter. We saw that it was a time of fasting and prayer and humbling of oneself  in repentance.

We looked at the Belt of Truth and saw just how important it was to walk in truth. Yom Kippur is a picture of the day that the books are opened and the names are read from the Book of Life and the Ark of the Covenant with the mercy seat, or  could be called the seat of judgement sat upon it. At the end of Yom Kippur there is a service called the closing of the gates, for only the righteous souls whose names are written in the Book of Life may remain. This is certainly an illustration of Noah who enters the ark and God then closes the door.(Genesis 7:13-16)

And so many of Yeshua’s parables where the door is shut and no longer can anyone enter, (Matthew 25:1-13). 

Yeshua in Sukkot

The theme of Sukkot is “God with us.” John 1:14 says this about Yeshua our salvation, “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Because the theme of Sukkot is the same as what Scripture tells us about the birth of the Messiah, it is widely believed that Yeshua was born on the first day of Sukkot. Remember the Tabernacle that dwelt with the people, so too, Yeshua dwells with us. It only makes sense that our salvation should come at a time like this. The people of His day believed their Messiah was coming during  the feast of Sukkot and we today know that Yeshua laid  in a Sukkah, because we see that imagery every year, as the world celebrates His birthday every December 25th,  which was chosen by the Emperor Constantine to coincide with the birth of the sun god.  It is also believed that Yeshua was circumcised on the eighth day of Sukkot, which is a celebration of the Word. The Fall Feasts are a great reminder that Yeshua is coming again and we need to be prepared by having the armor as our lifestyle. 

Today when you take on the enemy of your soul, remember Yeshua, and the hope of a Great Salvation. Put that helmet on and let it wrap around your head like the tent, to remind you of God’s ever presence, and celebrate before the Lord for He is our eternal home. This will give you confidence and this will give you the strength to continue the spiritual battle.

Soon we’ll be looking at the Spring Feasts, but one more piece of the armor to go.

Ephesians 6:17b, gives us our last piece of the Armor of God , “and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

While we have seen that the armor has been for protection, the sword seems to be the only combat weapon. It is designed to give the enemy a fatal blow. We see that there are two parts to the sword, the Spirit and the Word,  just like there are two feet to the gospel, the Light of Life and the Bread of Life.

Hebrews 4:12 tells us, “For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” 

A two edged sword brings a double blow, one going in and one coming out. Why so severe?  And if we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, why does it seem that this is for man and not the devil? Let’s take a closer look to answer the questions.

First let us look at the first edge of this sword. It is called the Sword of the Spirit.

The Holy Spirit

So we see here that this has to do with the work of the Holy Spirit.  Yeshua told His disciples before He rose to heaven to wait for the Holy Spirit and they would receive power. (Acts 1:8).

John 14:16-17 says, “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, so that He may be with you forever;  the Helper is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him; but you know Him because He remains with you and will be in you.”

John 14:26 continues to say, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and remind you of all that I said to you.”

We see that the Holy Spirit is one who walks with us and helps us on life’s journey. He also is a teacher to us and as we so often do, forget those things that we need to do to fight the spiritual battle, He is there to remind us.

John 16:8-11 also tells us, “And He, when He comes, will convict the world regarding sin, and righteousness, and judgment: regarding sin, because they do not believe in Me ; and regarding righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you no longer are going to see Me;  and regarding judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.”

Again we see that the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sins, so that we can walk in righteousness. We can not fight the accuser of the brethren if we have unrepented sin.

1 Peter 1: 10-12, “As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Messiah within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Messiah and the glories to follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look.”

We can see that the Holy Spirit helps us in our lives regarding every part of the Armor of God.

2 Timothy 1: 13-14  also tells us,  “Hold on to the example of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Messiah Yeshua.  Protect, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you.”

The Holy Spirit is our Helper and Counselor and Teacher. He is there to help us grow and mature. He also is there to draw us closer to God and He has called those to help us along the way as Ephesians 4:11-16 tells us, “And He gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, some as pastors and teachers,  for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Messiah;  until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Messiah. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of people, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;  but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, that is, Messiah,  from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.”

Romans 8: 26-27 says, “Now in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;  and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” Friendship with the world makes us an enemy to God, (James 4:4).

Romans 12:2 says, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Galatians 5:16-21 says, “ What I am saying is this: run your lives by the Spirit. Then you will not do what your old nature wants.  For the old nature wants what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit wants what is contrary to the old nature. These oppose each other, so that you find yourselves unable to carry out your good intentions.  But if you are led by the Spirit, then you are not in subjection to the system that results from perverting the Torah into legalism.  And it is perfectly evident what the old nature does. It expresses itself in sexual immorality, impurity and indecency;  involvement with the occult and with drugs; in feuding, fighting, becoming jealous and getting angry; in selfish ambition, factionalism, intrigue  and envy; in drunkenness, orgies and things like these. I warn you now as I have warned you before: those who do such things will have no share in the Kingdom of God!”

Titus 3:1-7 tells us how that is done. “Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work,  to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.  For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.  But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared,  not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,  whom He poured out on us abundantly through Messiah Yeshua our Savior,  that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

The Holy Spirit not only  helps us in our weakness, but to live a godly life. If we are going to win the battle against the enemy of our soul, then we must be godly.

2 Peter 1:1-11 says, “To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Messiah Yeshua : Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Yeshua our Lord,  for His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.  Through these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world on account of lust.  Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge,  and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness,  and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.  For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they do not make you useless nor unproductive in the true knowledge of our Lord Messiah Yeshua.  For the one who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. Therefore, brothers and sisters, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choice of you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;  for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Messiah Yeshua will be abundantly supplied to you.”

We can now see what the Sword of the Spirit has to do with us. We need to walk in truth and righteousness before we can fight the spiritual battle. Maybe this is why Paul started where he spoke about the armor and started with the Belt of Truth

The Holy Spirit also causes us to bear fruit in our lives as Galatians 5:22-25 “ But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.  Now those who belong to Messiah Yeshua crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let’s follow the Spirit as well.”  

Now that we have looked at the Holy Spirit, let’s look at the second edge of the sword, The Word of God.

The Word of God

The Word of God or Sophia in Greek, is the wisdom of God. It is by God’s wisdom that He created the heavens and the earth. Here is an awesome insight into God’s Word, as it  speaks about His wisdom in Proverbs 8:22-31,  shows the relationship between God and His Word.  “The Lord possessed me (wisdom) in the beginning of His way, before His works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: while as yet He had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. When He prepared the heavens, I was there: when He set a compass upon the face of the depth: when He established the clouds above: when He strengthened the fountains of the deep: when He gave to the sea His decree, that the waters should not pass His commandment: when He appointed the foundations of the earth: then I was by Him, as one brought up with Him: and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him; rejoicing in the habitable part of His earth; and My delights were with the sons of men.”

Wisdom, God’s Word was with God from before the foundation of the earth.

God’s wisdom, His Word, is Yeshua, for He is the Word made flesh, (John 1:14).

God is One and yet, we see at creation that God spoke  in  the plural,  

Genesis 1:26 says, “ Let us make man.” It is a mystery and yet it is not, for God is a Spirit, and His Word is who He is. There are many parts to the body and yet it is one, so too, with God.”

1 Corinthians 12:12-13 says, “ For just as the body is one and yet has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Messiah .  For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.”

There is power in the spoken Word of God, as we know, that God spoke His creation into being. So we  know that we too, when we fight the spiritual battle that we can follow in our Messiah’s footsteps. Yeshua, when fighting the battle with Satan in the wilderness for forty days, used the spoken Word to fight the devil.

 Matthew 4:1-10 tells us this, “Then Yeshua was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.  And after He had fasted for forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”  But He answered and said, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes out of the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took Him along into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and he said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written: ‘He will give His angels orders concerning You’; and ‘On their hands they will lift You up, So that You do not strike Your foot against a stone.’” Yeshua said to him, “On the other hand, it is written: ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”  Again, the devil took Him along to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory;  and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.”  Then Yeshua said to him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’”

When the devil tempts us we must fight back with the Word of God. Yeshua tells us in Mark 11:23, “Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted to him.”

Nothing can stand in our way. The devil can place any road block or hindrance in front of us, but we can have the victory if we believe, and we stand on the Word of God.  But we can hinder ourselves because we do not work out our salvation with fear and trembling, (Philippians 2:12).

Yeshua gives us the parable of the sower of the seed. In Matthew 13:20-21 we read this, “The one sown with seed on the rocky places, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy;  yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution occurs because of the word, immediately he falls away.”

We can receive the Word with joy, but if we do not live the Word, and practice the Word, and follow in the footsteps of our Messiah, when the trials and tribulations of life  come, we will walk away. This is why we need to have a lifestyle of the armour. We must put it on, and live it out, and fight the spiritual battle. We must teach our children, and we must teach our new babes in Messiah, because the wolves will come and  destroy the sheep, (Mathew 7:15).

The Ten Commandments

When we look at the Tabernacle in the wilderness, the Ark of the Covenant contained none other than God’s covenant. And you ask what was His covenant? It was His Torah. In the Ark was placed the Ten Commandments, which is also called the Ten Words. From these Ten Words, the whole of the Torah exists. We want to look at this closer, because as we saw, the Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God.

Hebrews 9:4 tells us, “Behind the second veil there was a tabernacle which is called the Most Holy Place,  having a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden jar holding the manna, Aaron’s staff which budded, and the tablets of the covenant;  and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the atoning cover; but about these things we cannot now speak in detail.”

Exodus 4;13-14 says, “ So He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, that is, the Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on two tablets of stone.  The Lord commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, so that you would perform them in the land where you are going over to take possession of it.”

Many people think that God’s commandments are obsolete. They think that if they keep them then they are keeping the “Law” and if they break just one of them then  they have broken them all, (James 2:10). But I ask you, should we have other gods before the One True God?  Should we take the name of the Lord in cursing or use His name lightly? Should we steal or kill? Should we take what is not ours? If we were not to keep God’s commands then why did Yeshua expound on them?

Matthew 5:21-30 tells us, “You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not murder,’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be answerable to the court.’  But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be answerable to the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be answerable to the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.  Therefore, if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you,  leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering. Come to good terms with your accuser quickly, while you are with him on the way to court, so that your accuser will not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you will not be thrown into prison.  Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last quadrans. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’;  but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.  Now if your right eye is causing you to sin, tear it out and throw it away from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.  And if your right hand is causing you to sin, cut it off and throw it away from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.”

Yeshua also tells us that He did not come to do away with the Torah, but to teach it correctly, (Matthew 5:17). That is what the Hebrew word means, but we translate it “complete”. It is a Hebrew idiom that is not translated correctly.

Yeshua said in Matthew 5:18-20, “For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke of a letter shall pass from the Law, until all is accomplished!  Therefore, whoever nullifies one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. “For I say to you that unless your righteousness far surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Yeshua warned us against false teachers, wolves in sheep’s clothing, people who subtract from the Word, so that you do not have a leg to stand on, so you do not have your sword to defend you. Yeshua is the Word and He is the same yesterday,  today and forever, ( Hebrews 13:8). He was before the foundation of the world and He will be for eternity. Do not let the devil deceive you. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us clearly,  “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

If the most Holiest Place, the place where the presence of God was, that no one could enter but once a year, and at that, only with the blood of the sin offering, and the smoke from the incense, this place, which housed the Ark of the Covenant, and the Mercy Seat, could only have the most holiest items to God.

Yeshua said, “ If you love me then keep My commands”, (John 14:15). 

This is why the Commandments are part of the Sword of the Spirit. The devil does not want you holy, righteous, or godly. He does not want you to be obedient to God. He does not want you to be a God fearer.  He does not want you close to God at all, because he wants to deceive you, corrupt you, and bring you down. He is the accuser of the brethren, (Revelations 12:10). Fight the good fight, put on the lifestyle of the armor. Be a true witness of the One True God, speak the Word of God in season and out of season, (2 Timothy 4:2) and take your God given authority over the devil. Use your sword and every other “Weapon of Righteousness” and contend for the faith, stand firm and keep standing, praying with your most holy faith, and take God’s word and hide it in your heart and fight the spiritual battle unto victory. So this brings us to our last point.

The Sword of the Spirit is in the Feast of Pentecost.

Pentecost

We see the old and new covenant come together at Pentecost. The Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God unites the two, along with this Appointed Time of God.  Let’s look at the old first. Fifty days after the Israelites fled Egypt, they were at Mt Sinai. It was here that God spoke to Moses the Torah as Exodus 19:16-23 records. “On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled.  Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.  Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the Lord descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain trembled violently.  As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him. The Lord descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up  and the Lord said to him, “Go down and warn the people so they do not force their way through to see the Lord and many of them perish.  Even the priests, who approach the Lord, must consecrate themselves, or the Lord will break out against them.” Moses said to the Lord,  “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, because You Yourself warned us, ‘Put limits around the mountain and set it apart as holy.’”

The next several chapters record the Ten Commandments and all the commands that make up those  10 Commandments.

Leviticus 23 gives the instructions about God’s Appointed Times. This is what it says about Pentecost, Shavuot in Hebrew. “‘From the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, count off seven full weeks.  Count off fifty days up to the day after the seventh Sabbath, and then present an offering of new grain to the Lord.  From wherever you live, bring two loaves made of two-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour, baked with yeast, as a wave offering of firstfruits to the Lord.  Present with this bread seven male lambs, each a year old and without defect, one young bull and two rams. They will be a burnt offering to the Lord, together with their grain offerings and drink offerings—a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.  Then sacrifice one male goat for a sin offering and two lambs, each a year old, for a fellowship offering.  The priest is to wave the two lambs before the Lord as a wave offering, together with the bread of the first fruits. They are a sacred offering to the Lord for the priest. On that same day you are to proclaim a sacred assembly and do no regular work. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live. “‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and for the foreigner residing among you. I am the Lord your God.’”

So at Pentecost the Word of God was given to His people. This is the same Word, the Torah that dwelt with God before the foundation of the world.  Paul says this in  Romans 9:4b-5, “Who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons and daughters, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the Law, the temple service, and the promises;  whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Messiah according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.”

There were no other people who believed in the One True God, except the Jewish people, and so naturally they became the keepers of everything that pertained to God. But when God sent forth His Word at Mt. Sinai, He sent it out to accomplish what He intended to accomplish as Isaiah 55:10-11 says,“As the rain and the snow    come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is My Word that goes out from my mouth:  it will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

On that first Pentecost Day God gave His Word to the world. It is said that God spoke His Torah, His Commandments, in the seventy known languages. Forty days after Yeshua rose from the dead, He ascended back to heaven, ( Acts 1:1-11). 

Ten days after the  Ascension, what  would have been the fiftieth day after the Resurrection, this is what took place. Acts 2:1-12 says, “When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.  And suddenly a noise like a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.  And tongues that looked like fire appeared to them, distributing themselves, and a tongue rested on each one of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with different tongues, as the Spirit was giving them the ability to speak out. Now there were Jews residing in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven.  And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together and they were bewildered, because each one of them was hearing them speak in their own language.  They were amazed and astonished, saying, “Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans?  And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born?  Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,  Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,  Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty deeds of God.”  And they all continued in amazement and great perplexity, saying to one another, “What does this mean?””

We see the similarities between the first Pentecost in Exodus, and the Pentecost in Acts. The fire, the noise, the wind and God’s presence. We see here also all the languages spoken, but this time it was because they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit, the Word of God, the Sword, the Commandments, all of this and more. Peter addresses the crowd in  Acts 2: 17-18 and he tells them that this is the fulfilment of the prophet Joel (2:28-29).“In the last days, God says,    I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy,    your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women,   I will pour out My Spirit in those days,   and they will prophesy.”

When you wield the Sword of the Spirit you are standing on truth, righteousness, salvation and faith and all the Articles of the Tabernacle and all of God’s Appointed Times. God’s Word will accomplish what it needs to accomplish. Victory!

We find in the Outer Court the Altar of Slaughter and the Laver, where

the sacrifices were offered to the Lord daily. There was the sin offering (Leviticus 4), the burnt offering (Leviticus 1), the meal offering (Leviticus 2), the peace offering (Leviticus 3), and the trespass offering (Leviticus 5). We are only interested in the peace offering at this time…more information about offerings are on our website, (www.judeochristianclarion.com).

We know that Yeshua was our sin offering (Romans 8:3), but most people do not know that He is our peace offering. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 5:6-8, 

 “Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough?  Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Messiah our Passover also has been sacrificed.  Therefore let’s celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”

So we have seen that Yeshua is our Passover Lamb, which is one of the peace offerings.  The peace offering was a voluntary offering. Yeshua said that He gave up His life; no one took it from Him (John 10:11, 15, 17-18). The peace offering also was a shared meal.  

The Seder Meal

Luke 21:19-20 tells us this, Yeshua, when celebrating the Passover Seder, which is a meal commemorating the redemption of Israel out of Egypt, said to His disciples, “When you partake of this Seder Meal,  Remember Me.”  Why must we remember Him? Because it was on this day, the Passover, that Yeshua died for us. The matzah eaten at the Seder is a reminder of Yeshua, because it is striped and it is pierced. This is what Isaiah 53: 3-7 says about our Savior,  “He was despised and abandoned by men, a man of great pain and familiar with sickness; and like one from whom people hide their faces, He was despised, and we had no regard for Him. However, it was our sicknesses that He Himself bore, and our pains that He carried; yet we ourselves assumed that He had been afflicted, struck down by God, and humiliated. But He was pierced for our offenses, He was crushed for our wrongdoings; the punishment for our well-being was laid upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed. All of us, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the Lord has caused the wrongdoing of us all to fall on Him. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, so He did not open His mouth.”

During the Seder the middle piece of matzah is pulled out from a stack of three. It is called the Afikoman and it is hidden for a time and then brought back.  This represents Yeshua who was buried and then rose from the dead. The third cup that is drunk at the Seder is called the cup of Redemption. When the Afikoman is retrieved then the Cup of Redemption is drunk, it was at this point that Yeshua says, “This is My body and this is My blood, do this in remembrance of Me.” Yeshua knew that all the previous years the Jewish people only recognized the departure from Egypt, but going forward that those who believed in Him would remember that this referenced His crucifixion and resurrection.

 He was the Passover Lamb, the peace offering, and we are to eat of Him and drink of His blood, symbolically representing the shared meal at the table of the Lord, the Passover Seder, (John 6:48-58).

The peace offering is also a thanksgiving offering in response to God’s favor.  So then what did that have to do with the Passover Lamb and Yeshua, who is our Passover lamb? During the first Passover, the people were to place the blood of the Passover Lamb on the lintels of the door frame for protection, so that the death angel would pass over them during the last plague of Egypt, the plague of the death of the first born, thus reconciling them to God, redeeming them from Pharaoh. This is what Colossians 1:19-20 tells us about Yeshua, “For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him,  and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.”

Colossians  1:13 says this, “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

This is what Ephesians 2: 11-18 tells us how Yeshua brought peace from His death on the cross.

“Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands—  remember that you were at that time separated from Messiah, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.  But now in Messiah Yeshua you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Messiah. For He Himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in His flesh the dividing wall of hostility  by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that He might create in Himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace,  and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.  And He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.  For through Him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.”

In the Temple there was a divide between the court of the Gentiles and the court for the Jewish people. Remember only a few Gentiles (the God fearers) had come to the knowledge of the One True God, most were pagans. But when Yeshua died for us, and rose, but especially at the time of Pentecost, then Gentiles began to believe. Yeshua made the way for all those who believed to now enter beyond the divided wall, thus making one new man. Now the Gentiles were grafted into Israel.

 Romans 11:17-18 tells us this, “But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree,  do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.”

Today this is not taught, we disregard this passage of Scripture, but it is true. We have been grafted into Israel and they support us. This is why we say that we are Judeo-Christians. We share the same beliefs and the same Scriptures. Yes, many Jewish people still do not have the Messiah, but they will for Romans 11:25-26 tells us,  “ Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.  And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion,     He will banish ungodliness from Jacob”; and this will be My covenant with them when I take away their sins.”  As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers.”

So Yeshua is our peace and He is our Passover Lamb, who has taken us from darkness into the light. Paul tells us that we too should keep the Feast of Passover, and why not? This is the day that Yeshua died for our sins. You see, how can you fight the spiritual battle if you are not remembering the crucifixion on the right day? You are standing on shifting sand unless you remember Yeshua at Passover, eating the Seder Meal. How can you give the proper salvation message unless you tell people the Lamb of God died at Passover at the same time the lambs were slaughtered for the Passover Seder. We have to stop listening to Satan’s lies and put on the Belt of Truth and take the Sword of the Spirit and combat him with the Word of God.

What would we have done if God did not love us, and did not send us our Deliverer? Yeshua’s death is very much a picture of  the Passover, and for that, we too must give the Father a Thanksgiving offering.  As 1 Corinthians 15:56-57 says,  “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the Law;  but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Messiah Yeshua.”

The Lacerna

Up to now we have been looking at the Armor of God and the Appointed Times of God and the Tabernacle. We have looked at the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place and we have looked at the Fall  Feasts.  Now we want to look at two Spring Feasts and the outer court. There are no more parts of the armor to look at except one that belongs only to Yeshua. We are going to look at the Lacerna, which is Latin for what we call the cloak or the mantle. The lacerna was fastened on the right shoulder with a brooch, and then wrapped around and held with the left arm. They were generally red or purple. The larcerna or mantle was worn by high ranking officers or officials, and even kings. It was a sign of power and position and authority and respect. Yeshua has all of this. There are many references to this. Revelation 19:11-13 speaks of Yeshua the Mighty Warrior, “And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war.  His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many crowns; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself.  He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.”

Isaiah 59:16-17 tells us  about our mighty warrior Yeshua, and how He dressed for the battle. “And He saw that there was no one, and was amazed that there was not one to intercede; then His own arm brought salvation to Him, and His righteousness upheld Him. He put on righteousness like a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on His head; and He put on garments of vengeance for clothing and wrapped Himself with zeal as a cloak.” 

Even though the Roman soldiers mocked Yeshua’s royalty, it was a prelude to things to come as  Mark 15:17-18 tells us, “They dressed Him up in a ranking Roman officer’s robe of purple, and after twisting together a crown of thorns, they placed it on Him;  and they began saluting and mocking Him: “Hail, King of the Jews!””

Little did they know that soon Yeshua was going to descend into the depths, and take the crown from Satan and conquer death. The cross was the altar of slaughter and it was here that Yeshua won the victory and was given the honor to wear the mantle, the cloak, the lacerna as a sign of the victor.

1 Corinthians 1:18 says this, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

And again in Romans 1:16,  “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”

Revelation 17:14 tells us that Yeshua, the Mighty Lamb of God will win over the enemy and be the victor forever. “These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them because He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.”

And we too, will win and will wear the robe of the victory as Isaiah 61:10 tells us,  “I will rejoice greatly in the Lord, My soul will be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, As a groom puts on a turban, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”

The Laver

In the Outer Court is also the Laver. The laver was a large basin. Exodus 38:8 says this  “They made the bronze basin and its bronze stand from the mirrors of the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting.” These women let go of their vanity, when they donated their mirrors for the construction of the laver. Solomon writes in Ecclesiastes 1:14, “I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind.” This may be true in many circumstances, but the people took making the Tabernacle very seriously, and yet they all died in the wilderness because of  their lack of faith (Hebrews 3:7-19).

James 1:23-24 says, “For if anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror;  for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.”

The purpose of the laver was so that the priest could wash. When they were first ordained they bathed their entire body, (Exodus 29:4). Once the priest was ordained then all he did was wash his hands and feet in the laver. We see this with Yeshua and His disciples.

John 13:1-10, “Yeshua knew on the evening of Passover Day that it would be His last night on earth before returning to His Father. During supper the devil had already suggested to Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, that this was the night to carry out his plan to betray Yeshua. Yeshua  knew that the Father had given Him everything and that He had come from God and would return to God. And how He loved His disciples!  So He got up from the supper table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around His loins, poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel He had around Him. When He came to Simon Peter, Peter said to Him, “Master, you shouldn’t be washing our feet like this!” Yeshua replied, “You don’t understand now why I am doing it; some day you will.” “No,” Peter protested, “You shall never wash my feet!”“But if I don’t, you can’t be My disciple,” Yeshua replied. Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well—not just my feet!” Yeshua replied, “One who has bathed all over needs only to have his feet washed to be entirely clean. Now you are clean—but that isn’t true of everyone here.”

Yeshua told His disciples that they were clean because of the Word, (John 15:3). So we, too, must be washed clean before we come into God’s presence. When Yeshua wanted to wash the disciples’ feet to show them that they too, must go out and do the same, Yeshua was not talking about literally washing peoples feet, but washing them clean with the Word of God.  Psalm 24:3-4 says, “Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in His holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart,  who does not trust in an idol  or swear by a false god.”

We sin all the time and we need to repent of our sins. This is why you see the Laver with the Altar of Sacrifice. They are the only two things in the Outer Court. Today we must be clean also before we come before God, because you  can not  enter into the Holy Place unless you have been washed. Yes we are washed in the blood, but remember, we still have to clean our hands and feet. And it is those hands and feet that commit the sins. 

Isaiah 59:6-7 tells us, “Their webs will not become clothing, nor will they cover themselves with their works; their works are works of wrongdoing, and an act of violence is in their hands. Their feet run to evil, and they hurry to shed innocent blood; their thoughts are thoughts of wrongdoing, devastation and destruction are in their paths.”

The purpose of God’s Word is to show us how we are to live in right standing with God, because sin alienates us from Him. This is what Psalm 19:7-14 says, “The Law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much pure gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, Your servant is warned by them; in keeping them there is great reward. Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults. Also keep Your servant back from presumptuous sins; let them not rule over me; then I will be innocent, and I will be blameless of great wrongdoing. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.”

1 John 1:5-10 tells us this, “ This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.  If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth;  but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Yeshua His Son cleanses us from all sin.  If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His Word is not in us.”

Water is a sign of sanctification. We see this with the mikvah. Mikvah is the Hebrew word for a body of water.  The mikvah was used for ceremonial purification. It indicated a separation from a former way to a new way.   Baptism is a form of submerging  in a mikvah. You give witness that you now are a child of God. Immersing in the mikvah is considered a spiritual rebirth.  John 3:3-8 tells us this, “Yeshua replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”  “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”  Yeshua answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.  Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.  You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’  The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.””

We even see Yeshua entering into the water under John the Baptist before starting His ministry, (John 3:13-17).

In Genesis 1:1-2 it says,  “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  And the earth was a formless and desolate emptiness, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.”

We see that the Holy Spirit and water seem to go together. Titus 3:3-7 says ,  “For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.  But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared,“ He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we did in righteousness, but in accordance with His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He richly poured out upon us through Messiah Yeshua our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

We know that the Holy Spirit was poured out on the day of Pentecost. Passover is only one day. 

Feast of Unleavened Bread

We are  not only to remember Yeshua at the Passover  but also in the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Unleavened Bread is a feast that goes for seven days. When the people left Egypt they fled before their bread could rise, so they had to eat unleavened bread, but this was all part of God’s plan. Egypt, full of it’s paganism  and sin, had an influence on the Jewish peoples’ lives. It was something that the first generation in the wilderness had a problem letting go of. Today we must let go of the world’s ways. James 4:4 tells us, “You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” 

The world is full of pagan ideas, Humanism which says that we are all gods and that there are no rights or wrongs. So God led the people to Sinai to give them His Word, so that they would live by His ways. He gave them the Tabernacle so that He would be in their presence and dwell amongst them. Unleavened is that reminder that we must rid ourselves of sin, for sin alienates us from God.

It does not take much sin so make us sinful as Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 5:6-7, “Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough?  Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened.” 

God is so holy that the Tabernacle was all about holiness, and we too, are now the Temple of the Lord.  

1 Corinthians 3:16 says,  “Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?  If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy that person; for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.”

Again 1 Corinthians 6:17-20 says, “But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.  Flee sexual immorality. Every other sin that a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?  For you have been bought for a price: therefore glorify God in your body.”

1 Peter 2:1-5 tells us, “Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander,  and like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.  And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by people, but is choice and precious in the sight of God,  you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Messiah Yeshua.”

We are told to put on the armor of God to fight the spiritual battle, but there is more to put on than the armor.

Getting Dressed for the Battle.

Let us look at all that we need to put on. Romans 13:13-14 says this, “ Let’s behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and debauchery, not in strife and jealousy.  But put on the Lord Yeshua Messiah, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.”

We must start by putting on Messiah 1 Corinthians 2:15-16, “But the one who is spiritual discerns all things, yet he himself is discerned by no one.  For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind o f Messiah.”

Next we must put on the mind of the Messiah.

Ephesians 4:17-24,  “So I say this, and affirm in the Lord, that you are to no longer walk just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their minds,  being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart;  and they, having become callous, have given themselves up to indecent behavior for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.  But you did not learn Messiah in this way,  if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Yeshua ,  that, in reference to your former way of life, you are to rid yourselves of the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,  and that you are to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,  and to put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.”

We must take off the old and put on the new.

Colossians 3:12-17, “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,  bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.  And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.  And let the peace of Messiah rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.  Let the word of Messiah dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.  And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Yeshua, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Above all we need to put on love.

Do all these things and you will be ready for the battle and you will win the war.

As we have looked at the Armor of God and how it relates to God’s Appointed Times and the Articles of the Tabernacle, we have seen that all are important to fighting the spiritual battle. We started where Paul started and that was to put on the Belt of Truth, and to humble ourselves on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year, and the Ark of the Covenant, which sat in the Holiest Place in the Tabernacle, and we ended with the Altar of Slaughter, and the Laver, Passover and Unleavened Bread and the Lacerna and putting on the Messiah. 

Now we want to look at it as one would go through the Tabernacle with prayer, for this is how one should pray. We would start at the Outer Court, coming in the name of Yeshua. This is where a person would start as a believer, and draw near with the shed blood of Messiah, the precious Lamb of God. We would repent of our sins and be washed clean by His blood, and once clean then we would enter into the Holy Place, with the Table of Show Bread, also called the Table of Presence, to feast at the Table of the Lord, in the Light of His Word, the Menorah. We would offer up our prayers, and supplications, and meditations before God, with psalm and hymns and thanksgiving. Then we would enter into the Most Holy Place with silence, for we too, are now priests.

Habakkuk 2:20 tells us, “The LORD is in His holy temple; let all the earth be silent before Him.”

This is when you allow God to speak to you. God is holy and we must be holy too. The high priest entered into the Most Holy Place with caution, and yes, we can now enter also, but we must remember that God is still holy. Even with the sacrifice of Messiah we still must respect God for who He is. There still is a proper protocol that one must follow.

1 Peter 2:9, says, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.”

Rev 1:5-6. “To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood—  and He made us into a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

Now let’s look at the Appointed Times of God. At the time of Creation the seventh month was the first month, and the feasts would have begun with Rosh Hashanah which to this day is celebrated as the Birthday of Creation and the change of  the civil year. But at the time of the Passover in Egypt, God told Moses this,

Exodus 12:2,  “This month shall be the beginning of months for you; it is to be the first month of the year for you.”

So, the seventh month became the first month and the first month became the seventh, and Passover became the first feast day and then  Unleavened Bread, the First- Fruits and then Pentecost, all became the Spring Feasts and all have been fulfilled. This is what we also  see as we walk forward through the Tabernacle. The Fall Feasts of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot are still to happen with the second coming of  Messiah.

But let’s look at this, Passover and Yom Kippur are about atonement. Unleavened Bread and Rosh Hashanah are about repentance. Sukkot and the Sabbath are about God dwelling with man, and man’s eternal dwelling with God.

We had the Tabernacle in the wilderness, and now we are the Tabernacle of God. We see that all of God’s Word is as one, as He is One. It is important to understand that we must fight the spiritual battle in truth, for God is Truth. The devil is the father of lies and he can defeat us right from the start with his lies, but God is Truth and He has given us “Weapons of Righteousness.”  He has given us everything we need to fight the enemy of our soul as 2 Peter 1:2-3 tells us. “ Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Yeshua our Lord, for His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”

He has given us not only the weaponry, but He has given us authority over the devil, (Luke 10:19).

He has not only given us the weaponry and the authority, but He has given us His Holy Spirit. Now we are able to stand firm and fight the good fight. We hope that you have the insight to take what belongs to you and use it to win the battle as you walk in the true light of God’s Word.

The Bible talks a lot about being ready. We want to look at these Scriptures to see if we are truly ready to do what God is asking us to do.

Matthew 3:3, “For this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet when he said,

“THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS,

‘MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT!’”

So how do we make ready the way of the Lord? By making the church ready? Or by making ourselves ready? 

First, we need to know, ready by when? Then we need to know how to get ourselves ready.

Matthew 24:43-44, “ But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.  For this reason you must be ready as well; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.” 

Matthew 25:1-13 says, “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.  Five of them were foolish and five were wise.  The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them.  The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.  The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.  The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’ “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.”

We begin to see that Yeshua is telling us that we need to be prepared at any time because like the thief he could come and break into our homes if we do not perceive that he might or he could. The virgins were waiting a long time for the bridegroom , they even fell asleep, but five of them had prepared for his coming , while five of them put it off.  Paul tells Timothy in, 2 Timothy 4:1-2, “I solemnly exhort you in the presence of God and of  Messiah Yeshua, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom:  preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and exhort, with great patience and instruction.”

 Paul is also speaking to us, that we need  to be ready, we need to be preaching and teaching the Word of God. Yeshua tells us again about a wedding feast in Matthew 22:4-10,  “Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’ “But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business.  The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them.  The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.  “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come.  So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’  So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.  “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes.  He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless. “Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’  “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”

Once again we see what will happen if we do not prepare ourselves for the coming of the Lord. Yes! We need to have oil in our lamps but we also need to be dressed for the occasion. So how do we do that? So what helps us to be dressed?

  Acts 21:12-13 tells us this, “ When we had heard this, we as well as the local residents began begging him not to go up to Jerusalem.  Then Paul replied, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Yeshua.”

Paul was ready to die for Yeshua. Paul had laid his life on the altar as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1) and he had picked up his cross to follow Yeshua (Matthew 16:24-26). He was ready, for he knew that if he had all the worlds good, without Yeshua, his life would be lost. 

We see Peter coming to the same conclusion as Paul in 1 Peter 3:14-15 “But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be in dread, but sanctify Messiah as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, but with gentleness and respect;and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who disparage your good behavior in Messiah  will be put to shame.”

So the question is, “Are you ready to come to the wedding feast?” 

Let’s check. You’ve got your oil …the Holy Spirit.

You’ve got your proper clothing…Holiness and godliness.

You have been working for the kingdom….preaching and teaching and doing good in season and out of season.

You have been persecuted for doing righteousness without fear and intimidation.

You are alert and ready and working and waiting. I think you are ready. 

Revelation 19:7, “Let us rejoice and be glad    and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come,   and His bride has made herself ready.”