This issue of YAHSHUA'S
WITNESS MAGAZINE
was published for September-October 2004
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
How
Names Describe Scriptural Fulfillment
By Elder Jerry Healan
Why
We Should Observe the Feasts of Yahweh
By
Elder Jerry Healan
Atonement,
A Day of Covering
By
Elder Dave Ganton
Should
A New Testament Believer Be Circumcised?
By
Elder Jerry Healan
Messiah,
Torah, and Me
By
Matthew Armstrong
WHY ANOTHER MAGAZINE?
By Jerry Healan
I
know that this will be the first question
asked, and that is a good question. With the virtual explosion of knowledge in
these last days, as prophesied by the prophet Daniel, there is simply too much
to read, too much to learn. It simply isn’t possible for us to read everything
in print. Neither is it possible for us to absorb it all. The libraries are
chocked full of books and more and more books are being written each day. There
are newspapers, magazines, text books and then there is the internet. The
internet alone, has more than one can read in thousands of lifetimes. This, of
course, certainly isn’t necessarily new. Solomon stated, “...of making of
many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the
flesh,” Eccl. 12:12. Can you imagine that? Even in Solomon’s day, there were
too many books to read and too much studying and reading certainly does cause
one to become weary. So why don’t we take the hint and just forget about the
production of another magazine. Don’t the people have enough to read already?
We certainly know how that is here at
Yahweh’s Evangelical Assembly because we do have a tendency to receive
magazines that never get read and also to purchase books which are only
partially read at this point, but with all of the knowledge made available to us
today there still lacks a magazine or publication (other than the Bible, of
course) that focuses principally on the One Who should be most important to us
and that is Yahshua the Messiah, the Son of the Heavenly Father Yahweh. It seems
that we get to focusing on the importance of Yahweh’s Name, or the Torah
(which is important), or our own ability to fulfill the Torah, etc., but we
neglect something that is extremely important and that is Yahshua and His
fulfillment of the Scriptures.
Yahshua told the people of His day, “Search
the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they
which testify of Me. And ye will not come to Me, that ye might have life,” Jn.
5:39-40. Is it possible that we are making the same mistake? You know, history
does repeat itself, time and time and time again. Why? Because man has a
tendency to forget. Man has a tendency to forsake history. Yahshua gave the
parable of the 10 virgins in Mat. 25 who all slumbered and slept. Half of them
were foolish because they took no oil in their lamps and when the cry came to
awake from sleep and come meet the returning Messiah Who is also to be their
husband, the Bridegroom, they weren’t prepared for it.
Yahshua also told His disciples, “These are
the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be
fulfilled, which were written in the Law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in
the Psalms, concerning Me.’
Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures,
and said unto them, ‘Thus it is written, and thus it behoved the Messiah to suffer, and to rise
from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be
preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are
witnesses of these things,”
Lk. 24:44-48.
We find that so many are neglecting to teach
how Yahshua fulfilled the Scriptures. Rather, many are going about seeking how
to establish their own righteousness, a mistake that Israel made, according to
the Apostle Paul, and surely a mistake that the Pharisees, Scribes and Sadducees
made. Many have been led to question the New Testament Scriptures altogether,
but the New Testament is not only a witness of the New Covenant that Yahweh
promised to make, but it is a witness concerning how Yahshua fulfilled the Law
of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.
It is the purpose of this magazine to utilize
both Old and New Testament Scriptures in order to reveal how Yahshua is spoken
of and how He has fulfilled them. We also understand that He also has other
Scriptures to fulfill in the future. These also must be pointed out.
We certainly solicit your prayers on our
behalf as we embark on this journey, intent and goal to feed the flock of
Yahshua with the True Bread from heaven, remind you of Yahshua’s fulfillment
of the Scriptures and seek to aid the bride in preparing herself for the
wondrous marriage that will take place at His second appearing.
Elder/Evangelist Jerry Healan
At
the end of each Gregorian Calendar year, the world celebrates a holiday in honor
of the Savior’s birth. Pageants, programs and scenes depict three wise men at
a manger scene with a great shining star, a mother and father with a child in a
manger. Sadly, what the world has been led to do is to lump the accounts of
Matthew, chapters 1 and 2 with Luke chapters 1 through 3 which has a tendency to
mislead and confuse rather than portray the truth. The timing of this observance
also has a tendency to mislead and confuse because it can be proven that the
Savior was not born at this time of the year. Some who understand that Mat. 1-2
and Lk. 1-3 are not contemporary have been led to deny that Matthew chapters 1
and 2 are even a viable part of Scripture, but were added at a later date in
order to lead believers into the idolatry of Mithras worship.
It
is not the purpose of this article to address the Christmas scene nor to
specifically address the situation of those who deny Mat. 1-2. That will be done
in other articles. The purpose of this article is to show you that the very
names utilized in Luke and Matthew tell a story in and of themselves. Hopefully
it will be a tremendous eye-opener for the readers.
ANNOUNCING
JOHN’S BIRTH
Luke
is inspired to begin his evangel account with a priest named Zechariah (Lk.
1:5). He is of the course of Abia and the lot had fallen on him to burn incense,
“And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before Elohim
in the order of his course, according to the custom of the priest's office, his
lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of Yahweh. And the whole
multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense,” vv.
8-10.
The
angel Gabriel appeared to him announcing that his wife, who had been barren, was
to conceive and bear a son whom they were to name John (vv. 11-20). Zechariah
found this announcement rather hard to believe since both he and his wife were
well stricken in years (v. 18), so he was stricken with dumbness for his
unbelief until the day that his son would be born (v. 20).
When
Zechariah’s wife delivered their neighbors and relatives called him Zechariah
after his father, but the mother would have none of it, she said that his name
would be called John (vv. 57-69). They turned to Zechariah seeking his help in
solving the dispute. He asked for a writing table and wrote that his name would
be John (vv. 62-63).
Immediately
Zechariah’s mouth was opened and he began to speak praising Elohim (v. 64).
The
interesting thing concerning the name Zechariah is that it is a combination of
two Hebrew words zakar and Yah or Yahu. Zakar means to mark, remember or
mention. Yah or Yahu comes from the first two or three letters contained in
Yahweh’s name. Thus, Zechariah means “Yah’s remembrance”, “Yah’s
memorial”, “Yah has remembered”, etc.
What
did Zechariah say? “Blessed be
Yahweh Elohim of Israel;
for he hath visited and redeemed his people, and hath raised up an horn of
salvation for us in the house of his servant David; as He spake by the mouth of
His holy prophets, which have been since the world began: that we should be
saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; to perform the
mercy promised
to our fathers, and to
remember his holy covenant,”
Lk. 1:69-72.
Is
there a coincidence here or has Yahweh deliberately utilized a man whose name
means “Yah has remembered” in order to announce the beginning of the
fulfillment of the new covenant? Yahweh does things in an ordered way and at an
ordered time. The time had come for Yahweh to bring His covenant of remembrance
to fulfillment.
ELIZABETH
Zechariah’s
wife was named Elizabeth (Lk. 1:5). Elizabeth is a combination of two Hebrew
words “Eli” and “shebet.” “Eli” means “My El.” “Shebet” is
related to two Hebrew words that are very closely interrelated. Those words are
“shaba” and “sheba.” They are numbers 7650 and 7651 in Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance. #7650, “shaba” is defined as; a primitive root; properly to be
complete, but used only as a denominative from 7651; to seven
oneself, i.e. swear
(as if by repeating a declaration seven times)
#7651
“sheba” is defined as; from 7650; a primitive cardinal number; seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week;
by extension, an indefinite
number.
If
we hearken back to Genesis chapter 21, we find that Abimelech, and Phichol asked
Abraham to “swear” (shaba, #7650) that he wouldn’t deal falsely with them
because they knew that Elohim was with him (vv. 22-24). They entered into a
covenant agreement whereupon Abraham introduced seven (sheba, #7651) ewe lambs
as a testimony that he had dug the well. “Wherefore he called that place Beer-sheba;
because there they sware both of them.” Being named “Beer-sheba” meant
that the well would not only carry the distinction of the “well of seven”
but also the “well of oath.”
Isaac
had a similar confrontation with the people of the land as recorded in Gen. 26.
Abimelech and Phichol also came to him desiring to make a covenant between them
for they recognized that Yahweh was also with Isaac. After the ceremony of the
covenant and the departure of Abimelech’s entourage, Isaac’s servants dug a
well which Isaac called “Sheba.” The city that eventually was built around
this well was named “Beer-sheba” or “Well of the oath.”
Elizabeth’s
name corresponds with these principles. Her name has to do with the El of seven
or the Oath of El.
THE MEMORIALS
Another
interesting thing about the word “zakar” is that the word “memorial”
(zikrown) stems from it. There were three most important memorials given in the
Torah. They were (1) the Memorial Name Yahweh (Ex. 3:15), (2) the Passover
Memorial (Ex. 12) and (3) the Sabbath day (Ex. 16, 20:8-11).
Zechariah
means Yahweh’s Memorial or Yahweh’s Remembrance. Elizabeth means the oath of
El or the El of seven.
In
Ex. 2:24 we read, “And Elohim heard their groaning, and Elohim remembered
(zakar) His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.”
Isaiah
is inspired to write, “Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the
earth: for I am El, and there is none else. I have sworn (shaba) by Myself, the
word is gone out of My mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, that unto
Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear (shaba). ‘Surely,’ shall
one say, ‘in Yahweh have I righteousness and strength:’ EVEN TO Him shall
men come: and all that are incensed against Him shall be ashamed. In Yahweh
shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory,” Isa. 45:22-25.
Who
is He speaking to? ALL ENDS OF THE EARTH as well as ISRAEL! This wasn’t
possible under the first covenant. Yahweh, in the book of Luke and other New
Testament Scriptures was declaring the beginning of the New Covenant that He had
promised to Jeremiah, “Behold, the days come, saith Yahweh, that I will make a
new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day
that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which My
covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith Yahweh: but this
shalt be the covenant that I will make with he house of Israel; after those
days, saith Yahweh, I will put My law in their inward parts, and write it in
their hearts; and will be their Elohim, and they shall be My people. And they
shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying,
‘Know Yahweh:’ for they shall all know Me, from the least of them unto the
greatest of them, saith Yahweh: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will
remember their sin no more,” Jer. 31:31-34.
The
mighty Elohim Yahweh had remembered (zakar) His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob to bring their descendants into the land of Canaan. He gave Moses His
Memorial (zakar) Name. He gave Israel the Passover Memorial (zakar) which
delivered them out of slavery. He then confirmed His oath (shaba) by giving them
manna, bread from heaven, in order to lead them to His seventh day Sabbath. Note
that the number seven (sheba) is involved here. Of course, they were to gather
the manna for six days and rest on the Sabbath. The Sabbath memorial (zakar) was
a day of rest wherein no man could work. In other words, the Sabbath belonged to
Yahweh. It was His signature and oath that meant that their ultimate deliverance
would rest on His shoulders not on their promises.
In
utilizing Zechariah (Yahweh’s Memorial) and Elizabeth (El of the oath), Yahweh
is beginning to announce that He has remembered His promise to Abraham, Isaac,
Jacob, Israel, Judah and the rest of the world in order to begin to lay the
foundation for their deliverance which He swore by Himself or His own great
name.
JOHN
THE BAPTIST
The
angel Gabriel announced to Zechariah that his wife was going to bear a son and
that he was to name him “John.” The original Hebrew name for John is “Yehowchanan.”
Yehowchanan is a combination of two Hebrew words, “Yehow” and “chanan.”
“Yehow” is another form for the name “Yahweh.” “Chanan” is defined
as; a primitive root (compare 2583); properly, to bend or stoop in
kindness to an inferior; to favor, bestow;
causatively to implore
(i.e. move to favor by petition).
“Chanan”
is the primitive root word from whence the Hebrew word for “grace” (chen) is
derived. Thus, the name John was an announcement that Yahweh, the Superior One,
was going to bend, or stoop in kindness to an inferior.
It
is interesting that when John the Baptist was told to begin his ministry that he
came into all the country about Jordan preaching the baptism of repentance for
the remission of sins. It is interesting because when Yahweh remembered His
promise under the first covenant, He called Moses to be instrumental in
delivering the children of Israel. Moses means “drawing out (of the water),
i.e. rescued.” John was drawing the people out in order to immerse them in
water because of their sins. This was in preparation for them to receive the
True Messiah Yahshua when He would begin His ministry.
Now
we can expand the meaning of the names Zechariah, Elizabeth and John for the
fullness of clarification. The El Yahweh has remembered the oath that He swore
by Himself to have mercy, grace, favor on His people.
MARY/MIRIAM
In
the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, the Angel Gabriel was sent to a
virgin Miriam in order to announce to her that she was to conceive in her womb
and bring forth a male child named Yahshua. “Miriam” is a combination of two
Hebrew words. The first is “meriy” which is defined as; from 4784;
bitterness, i.e. (figuratively) rebellion; concretely, bitter, or rebellious.
The last letter of Miriam’s name “m” comes from the Hebrew letter
“mem” and has to do with water or spirit.
Miriam’s
name has to do with the condition of the children of Israel at the time of
John’s and Yahshua’s entrance into the world. The people had rebelled
against Yahweh and His covenant and were suffering under the subjection,
harshness and oppression of the fourth world ruling kingdom prophesied by the
Prophet Daniel in chapter 2 which also was the fourth beast kingdom of Daniel 7.
Rome
was a city which had expanded into a city state, and then a conquering republic,
but under the hand of Julius Caesar, Rome had undergone a change in nature from
republic to dictatorship.
Julius
Caesar’s life was cut short, but His nephew Octavian took his place declaring
that a comet that appeared in the heavens at that time was the resurrected
Julius Caesar ascending into the heavens as a god. Octavian declared himself to
be the adopted son of Julius Caesar and therefore was the son of god. His name
was changed to Augustus which means to venerate, reverence or worship.
Augustus
had placed his cousin Herod the great as king over Judaea. Herod means
“heroic” or “a hero.” His descent was from a combination of Esau and
Ishmael. He was not a true king of Israel from the lineage of David.
While
Herod supposedly practiced the faith of the Jews, he built the city of Caesarea
wherein was a shrine dedicated to the worship of Caesar. Thus, his faith was
feigned.
While
he embarked on many great works and even restored the temple of Yahweh, the fact
of the matter is that he was a very harsh, oppressive ruler. This caused the
people to cry out in bitterness and oppression.
Miriam’s
name had to do with the situation of bitterness that the people found themselves
in because of their rebellion.
JOSEPH
Miriam
was espoused (engaged) to a carpenter named Joseph. The name Joseph means
“Yahweh shall add” (Gen. 30:24).
Joseph
was the namesake of a son of Jacob by his wife Rachel. He was sold into slavery
by his brothers, but ended up as a savior and deliverer of the family because of
his rise to power in Egypt. Jacob/Israel adopted or added Joseph’s two sons
Manasseh and Ephraim as his own making the number of sons thirteen. Thus, it was
through Joseph that salvation or deliverance was added to Israel as well as
additional sons or children.
Joseph,
the espoused of Miriam, was a carpenter. A carpenter is a builder. Yahshua
became known as the carpenter’s son (Mat. 13:55). Yahshua, as the
carpenter’s son, came to rebuild the temple (Jn. 2:19, Mk. 14:58, Acts 7:48, 2
Cor. 5:1, Heb. 9:11, 4).
The
name Joseph testifies to the fact that Yahweh was going to add salvation to the
children of Israel as He had promised in spite of their rebellion against Him.
He would also provide a new body which would no longer be subject to sin,
corruption and death.
YAHSHUA
The
name Yahshua means “The Salvation of Yahweh,” “Yahweh’s salvation,” or
“Yahweh the Savior.”
It
is through Yahshua that grace is able to be administered for the purpose of
salvation of the children of Israel, Judah and the Gentiles as John wrote,
“And of His fulness have all we received, and grace for grace (inexhaustible
grace). For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Yahshua the
Messiah,” Jn. 1:16-17.
This
grace was spoken of by the Prophet Zechariah (Yahweh’s Memorial/Yahweh’s
Remembrance), “Who art thou, O great mountain? Before Zerubabel thou shalt
become a plain: and he
shall bring forth the headstone
thereof with shoutings crying, ‘Grace, grace unto it,” Zech. 4:7.
Yahshua
is the stone spoken of here. Yahshua is the precious corner stone or head stone
that Yahweh was bringing forth in order to bring forth that wondrous grace,
“Wherefore also it is contained in the Scripture, ‘Behold, I lay in Zion a
chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on Him shall not be
confounded.’ Unto you therefore which believe He is precious: but unto then
which be disobedient, the Stone Which the builders disallowed, the same is made
the head of the corner. And a Stone of stumbling, and a Rock of offence, even to
them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were
appointed,” 1 Pet. 2:6-8.
Thus,
we find that through the names Miriam, Joseph and Yahshua, Yahweh was going to
add His salvation to the people who were in bitterness because of their
rebellion.
BETHLEHEM
Yahshua
was born in Bethlehem Judah. Bethlehem is a combination of two Hebrew words
“bayith” and “lechem.” “Bayith” simply means house or temple.
“Lechem” is the Hebrew word for bread. Therefore, Bethlehem means “house
or temple of bread.”
This
is a fitting name for the birthplace of Yahshua because He declared that He was
the true bread from heaven, “Then said they unto Him, ‘What shall we do that
we might work the works of Elohim?’ Yahshua answered and said unto them,
‘This is the work of Elohim, that ye believe on Him Whom He hath sent.’ They
said therefore unto Him, ‘What sign shewest Thou then, that we may see, and
believe Thee? What dost Thou work? Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; and
as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ Then Yahshua said
unto them, ‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from
heaven. For the
bread of Elohim is He Which cometh down from heaven and giveth life unto the world,” Jn. 6:26-33.
Remember
the meaning of the name John? Doesn’t it have to do with a Superior One who
stoops or bends down to an inferior? This is the point that Yahweh was making
through the name of John. It was the point that Yahshua is making here and it is
also the point that Paul was making in Phil. 2:5-8, “Let this mind be in you
which was also in the Messiah Yahshua: Who being in the form of Elohim, thought
it not robbery to be equal with Elohim: but made Himself of no reputation, and
took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and
being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto
death, even the death of the cross.”
Returning
to John 6, Yahshua told the people that He was the true bread from heaven and
that He came down from heaven (vv. 35-38). He told them that He is the bread of
life (v. 48) and the living bread that came down from heaven (v. 51). He went on
to tell them that if anyone is to have eternal life he must eat His flesh and
drink His blood (vv. 53-58).
It
is important to point out that Yahshua, the true bread from heaven, having been
born in Bethlehem, the house or temple of bread, was placed in a manger (Lk.
2:7). A manger is a crib for fodder.
Yahweh’s
people understand that they are His sheep (Psa. 79:13). His people are called
His sheep in Ez. 34:6, 11, 12, etc. Yahshua calls those who hear and follow Him
His sheep (Jn. 10). Yahshua, the true bread from heaven, was born in Bethlehem,
the house or temple of bread, and was placed in a manger or crib which holds
fodder or food for sheep and other domesticated animals.
Isn’t
it amazing how Yahweh has utilized names in order to substantiate His word and
plan?
NAZARETH
Joseph
and Miriam dwelt in Nazareth and after Yahshua was born, that is where they went
to live. While they did have to flee to Egypt until the death of Herod, when
they were called back into the land, they returned to Nazareth (Mt. 2:22-23).
Nazareth was Yahshua’s abode when He was called to begin His ministry.
Nazareth
is a combination of two Hebrew words “na” and “zarach.” “Na” means
to entreat, ask, pray. When the priest Zechariah was burning the incense on the
altar, the people were outside praying. Of course, the prayers would have been
for many things, but one of the prayers had to have been for the salvation of
Israel.
“Zarach”
means to irradiate, shoot forth beams, to rise (as the sun), to appear (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance,
Hebrew Lexicon, #2224).
When
John was born, his father Zechariah declared, “Blessed be Yahweh Elohim of
Israel; for He hath visited and redeemed His People, and hath raised up an horn
of salvation for us in the house of His servant David; as He spake by the mouth
of His holy prophets, which have been since the world began: that we should be saved
from our enemies, and the hand of all that hate us; to perform the mercy promised
to our fathers, and to remember
His holy covenant; the oath
which He sware
to our father Abraham, that He would grant unto us, that we being delivered out
of the hand of our enemies might serve Him without fear, in holiness and
righteousness before Him, all the days of our life. And thou, child, shalt be
called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of Yahweh
to prepare His ways; and to give knowledge of salvation unto His
People by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy
of our Elohim; whereby the dayspring
from on high hath visited us, to
give light to them that
sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of
peace,” Lk. 1:68-79.
Notice
that most of the highlighted words are words associated with the names that we
have been discussing. Notice also that the word “dayspring” is employed.
“Dayspring” is translated from the Greek word “anatole” which means “a
rising of light.”
The
light is Yahshua. Yahshua is living in Nazareth which means to rise as the sun.
John’s ministry had to precede Yahshua’s by a time designated by Yahweh.
John’s ministry was established to prepare the way for Yahshua’s. The
earliest beams of the true dawn, the true light were beginning to irradiate
forth. Nazareth has to do with asking, praying, entreating for the rising of
that light.
When
Joseph and Miriam brought Yahshua to the temple to present Him to Yahweh, a man
named
GALILEE
Luke
2:39 records, “And when they had performed all things according to the law of
Yahweh, they returned into Galilee,
to their own city Nazareth.”
Also,
Matthew records that after the visit of the wise men from the east, Joseph and
Miriam had to flee into Egypt until the death of Herod. When they returned from
Egypt they returned to Nazareth of Galilee (Mat. Chapter
2).
“Galilee”
comes from the Hebrew word “Galiyl” which is defined as; a circle, a valve
of a folding door (as turning); also a ring (as round).
The
name Galilee speaks of several things. We usually say, What goes around, comes
around. Or we can speak of things coming back “full circle”
Yahweh’s
plan in Yahshua is to ransom or redeem His people Israel and Judah and also the
Gentiles. Therefore, we read such statements in Scriptures as, “And the ransomed of Yahweh shall return,
and come to Zion with songs, and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall
obtain joy and gladness and sorrow and sighing shall flee away,” Isa. 35:10.
“Remember
these O Jacob and Israel; for thou art My servant: I have formed thee; thou art
My servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of Me. I have blotted out, as
a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and as a cloud, thy sins: return unto Me; for I have redeemed thee,”
Isa. 44:21-22.
“Therefore
the
redeemed of Yahweh shall return,
and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head:
they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away,”
Isa. 51:11.
Time
and time again Scripture speaks of Israel’s and Judah’s dispersal because of
their evil works, their iniquitous and sinful ways, but Yahweh also promises
that He is their Redeemer and will ransom them from their ways of evil so that
they can return to Him and He will bring them back to the land. This is the
message of Galilee.
Another
SOLID PROMISE
from Yahweh is found in Isa. 55:11, “So shall My word be that goeth forth out
of My mouth: it
shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and
it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”
The
Apostle John reveals that Yahshua is Yahweh’s Word! “In the beginning was
the Word, and the Word was with Elohim and the Word was Elohim. The same was in
the beginning with Elohim. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not
any thing made that was made. In Him was life; and the life was the light of
men….And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory,
the glory as the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth,” Jn.
1:1-4, 14.
Yahshua,
came from heaven. He came from the Father. He was His Word. The Father sent the
Word forth to accomplish His task and to return. Yahshua performed the job that
He was given to do because He was the faithful Word of Yahweh. When He had
accomplished His task, He had made the way possible for Yahweh’s children to
be able to return to Him and He returned to the Father having accomplished as
prophesied! The circle (galyil) was in the process of being completed.
THE
DOOR
Another
meaning for the word Galilee is a valve of a folding door as turning. If the
valve is turning, then the door is moving which means that it is either opening
or closing. In this case, the door of eternal grace and salvation had been shut,
but in Yahshua, the door was opening.
Yahshua
proclaimed that He was the door of the sheep and entrance to the sheepfold was
only by and through Him, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not
by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a
thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the
sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth
his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own
sheep he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him, for they know not
the voice of strangers. (This parable spake Yahshua unto them: but they
understood not what things they were which He spake unto them.) Then said
Yahshua unto them again, ‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the
sheep,” Jn. 10:1-7.
The
question that should be on everyone’s mind is, Am I a sheep of Yahshua? Am I a
sheep of the true Shepherd, or have I been kidnapped by the thieves and rob
THE
DOORS OF HEAVEN
John
10 is a parable which can only be revealed in Yahshua. Psalm 78 is also a
similar parable, “Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the
words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings
of old,” vv. 1-2. It is a parable of Israel’s sins and disbelief even though
Yahweh performed great miracles to provide for and sustain them.
We
read, “Though He had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven, and had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had
given them of the grain of heaven. Man did eat the bread of the mighty: He sent
them meat to the full, (vv. 23-25).
Yahweh
opened the doors of heaven in order to rain manna down upon the people! The
manna was the grain of heaven, the bread of the Mighty!
But
that manna, that bread from heaven was only a type of Yahshua Who is the true
bread from heaven! We have already addressed this concept, but the fact of the
matter is that if the doors of heaven were opened (the valves turned/galiyl) to
rain down the manna, then the doors of heaven were opened in a much more
powerful manner when Yahshua came down from heaven! (As He said and the
Scriptures verify.)
This
is what the name and word “Galilee” is declaring to those who will listen,
to those who will hear and believe!
CAPERNAUM
When
Yahshua was baptized by John, the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in the form of
a dove. The interesting thing here is that Yahshua was conceived in Miriam’s
womb by the power of the Holy Spirit, therefore, He already had the Holy Spirit
as a possession, but now the Father was pouring an unlimited amount of the Holy
Spirit upon Him. It was given to Him without measure, “He That cometh from
above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the
earth: He That cometh from heaven is above all. And what He hath seen and heard,
that He testifieth; and no man receiveth His testimony. He that hath received
His testimony hath set to his seal that Elohim is true. For He Whom Elohim hath
sent speaketh the words of Elohim: for Elohim giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him,”
Jn. 3:31-34.
After
Yahshua had been given this immeasurable power of the Holy Spirit, He was led
into the wilderness in order to confront the great rebel, prince of the power of
the air and god of this world, Satan the devil. Having overcome him in the
greatest battle of all wars and also hearing of John’s death, Yahshua returned
to Nazareth (a rising of light), “And He came to Nazareth, where he had been
brought up: and, as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath
day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto Him the book of the
prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was
written, ‘The Spirit of Yahweh is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me to
preach the evangel to the poor; He hath sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to
preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set
a liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of Yahweh.’ And
He closed the book, and He gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the
eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on Him. And He began
to say unto them, ‘This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears’,”
Lk. 4:16-21.
Matthew
reveals, “And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying,
‘The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea,
beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; the people which sat in darkness say
great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is
sprung up.’ From that time Yahshua began to preach, and say, ‘Repent; for
the kingdom of heaven is at hand’,” Mat. 4:13-17.
“Capernaum”
is another combination of two Hebrew words “kaphar” and “nahum.”
“Kaphar” means to cover (specifically with bitumen); figuratively, to expiate
or condone, to placate or cancel.
Kaphar
has to do with covering, or atoning, an atonement.
“Nahum”
is defined as, a primitive root; properly, to sigh, i.e. breathe strongly; by
implication, to be sorry, i.e. (in a favorable sense) to pity, console or
(reflexively) rue; or (unfavorably) to avenge (oneself).
In
one sense it has to do with repentance. In another sense it has to do with
comfort or comforting.
Yahshua
told His disciples, “If ye love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the
Father, and He shall give you another Comforter,
that He may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; Whom the world
cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him;
for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you….But the Comforter, Which is the Holy Spirit,
Whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring
all things to your remembrance,
whatsoever I have said unto you,” Jn. 14:15-18, 26.
Yahshua,
the LIGHT, had risen and begun His wondrous ministry. He had to leave Nazareth
(a rising of light) because His work would now consist of preparing His people
to receive the Holy Spirit, the Comforter
and also through His shed blood, have their sins atoned for, covered. Capernaum,
the city that carries the name of the Covering Spirit, the Atoning Spirit, is
the name of the city that became the base of His operation.
It
is the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, that brings Yahshua’s words back to
remembrance (zakar)!
DELIVERANCE
BEGUN
How
magnificent is the mighty and powerful Word of Yahweh! He is able to utilize so
many ways in which to declare His word, His truth, His plan, His purpose.
He
even utilizes the name of people and places in order to provide a hidden
message, which when discovered powerfully confirms His message! His message is
written in the Scriptures openly and it is also hidden in the Scriptures for us
to search out. It is written in the heavens and also in the earth if we have the
Spirit and wisdom to be able to search it out, which also comes from Him so that
no man can claim superiority.
When
Yahweh turned His hand to deliver His people from Egypt, He called a man named
Moses which means drawn from water. He began to utilize John the Baptist in
order to draw people to Yahshua and His ministry through the waters of baptism.
He
gave His Memorial name Yahweh to Moses so that the people would know Him.
Yahshua came in His father’s name and has that name as a possession. “I am
come in My Father’s name, and ye receive Me not: if another shall come in his
own name, him ye will receive,” Jn. 5:43.
He
delivered the people from Egypt through the memorial of the Passover sacrifice.
Yahshua is our Passover sacrificed for us, “Purge out therefore the old
leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even the Messiah
our Passover is sacrificed for us,” 1 Cor. 5:7.
It
was through the giving of the manna, bread from heaven, that the people were led
to know when the seventh day Sabbath occurred. Yahshua is the true bread from
heaven Who will lead us to the true rest which is the millennium. We know that
Yahweh did His work of restoring, recreating the earth in six days, setting
aside the seventh day of creation for rest. Peter declares that one day with
Yahweh is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day (2 Pet. 3:8). It
is Yahshua, the true bread from heaven, Who will bring that rest into reality.
Thus,
the three primary memorials (zakar/zkrown/Zekariah = Yahweh’s
memorial/remembrance) given to Israel were speaking of and directing us to
Yahshua.
Do
names have meaning? When Yahweh gives them and incorporates them into His word,
emphatically YES!!!
It
is the purpose of this work to declare the honor and majesty of our Savior
Yahshua. We truly hope that the truths found in this article have helped to open
your eyes to that honor and majesty. If you are able to read and understand it,
HalleluYah!!! If not, please continue to read and pray for more understanding of
His honor and majesty. May Yahweh bless you all as you behold the Father through
His Son.
WHY
WE SHOULD OBSERVE
THE FEASTS OF YAHWEH
Are Yahweh’s feast days important to be observed in this
day and age or were they simply Old Testament and done away?
By Jerry Healan
The
overall majority of the world observes the Roman calendar devised by Julius and
Augustus Caesar with some renovations by the Roman Catholic popes, especially
Pope Gregory.
The United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan recently wrote an article
stating that the Caesaro-Romano-Gregorian calendar was no longer considered to
be primarily the calendar of the Western Christian world, but that it is being
adopted by almost all nations of the world.
Of course, the Caesaro-Romano-Gregorian calendar focuses on Sunday, the
first day of the week, being the religious rest day. Its primary annual feasts
are Jan. 1 (New Year), a floating holiday called Easter Sunday (the supposed
resurrection of the Savior) and Dec. 25th (the supposed birth of the Savior).
Even though these holidays are considered to be religious observances,
there is no command in Yahweh’s word, the Holy Bible, to do such. Yahweh’s
word sanctifies the seventh day Sabbath as the true rest day (order our free
articles “Should A New Testament Believer Observe The Sabbath
Day?” and “Just
Who Was It That Sanctified Sunday Worship?”), and annual festivals predicated on observance of the new moon.
Yahweh’s new year’s day was to occur on the new moon day closest to the
vernal equinox.
Yahweh’s commands were to observe the weekly Sabbath and annual Holy
days which were called, singular, a moed and plural, moedim in Hebrew.
The Caesaro-Romano-Gregorian calendar is broken down into days, weeks,
months, etc. Yahweh’s calendar is also broken down into days, weeks, months,
etc.
The Caesaro-Romano-Gregorian calender has a seven day week. Yahweh’s
holy calendar has a seven day week. As stated, the Caesaro-Romano-Gregorian
calendar sets aside the first day of the week for rest and religious
congregating. Yahweh’s holy calendar sets aside the seventh day of the week
for rest and religious congregating.
The Caesaro-Romano-Gregorian calendar is also broken down into periods of
time called months. Yahweh’s calendar is also broken down into periods of time
called months. But where does this word month, English, Hebrew, or otherwise,
come from? A quick look at Webster’s
New World Dictionary reveals
that the word month is etymologically derived from the word moon!
One of the definitions given for month is: the period of a complete
revolution of the moon with reference to some fixed point (in full, lunar
month); esp. the period from one new moon to the next (in full, synodic month);
equivalent to 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes, and 2.7 + seconds.
A quick look at Strong’s
Exhaustive Concordance
reveals that the same Hebrew word for moon is also used for month.
Since Webster’s gives the definition of the word month as a period of
revolution for the moon, which is Yahweh’s commanded way of determining a
month, why is it that our months are not predicated on such? Shouldn’t this
alert us that something is drastically wrong with the Caesaro-Romano-Gregorian
calendar?
In the beginning, Yahweh created the sun, moon and stars to be for signs
(Heb. = Owth) and seasons (moedim) and for days and years (Gen. 1:14). Yahweh
gave the sun to rule the day (Psa. 136:8) and the moon and stars to rule the
night (Psa. 136:9).
Furthermore, Psa. 104:19 says, “He appointed the moon for seasons
(moedim): the sun knoweth his going down.”
It is the lunar revolutions and phases which determine the time to
observe Yahweh’s feasts days, but the Caesaro-Romano-Gregorian calendar
overthrows this knowledge.
The Psalmist cries out, “Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy
congregations; they set up their ensigns
for
signs.
A man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the
thick trees. But now they break down the carved work thereof at once with axes
and hammers. They have cast fire into thy sanctuary, they have defiled by
casting down the dwelling
place of thy name to the ground. They said in their hearts, ‘Let us destroy
them together:’ they have burned up all the synagogues of Elohim
in the land. We see not our signs: there
is no more any prophet:
neither is there among us any
that knoweth how long,” Psa. 74:4-9.
This Psalm is significant because it speaks of the enemy coming into the
land, overthrowing the temple where Yahweh’s great name dwelt and then setting
up their own signs. The final peoples to do such a thing were the Romans! They
cast down the dwelling place of Yahweh’s name to the earth. They then began to
introduce their own signs in place of Yahweh’s.
The interesting thing about the word signs is that it comes from the
Hebrew word owth (toAa). Remember that in Gen. 1:14 we read that Yahweh put the
sun, moon and stars to be for signs (owth/toAa) and seasons (moedim). In Ex. 31:13 Yahweh stated that we
are to keep His sabbaths because it is a sign (owth/toAa)
between Him and His people. His sabbaths, of course, not only refer to the
seventh day sabbath, but also the annual appointments (moedim) or feast days
which are determined by the very items that He put in the heavens, to wit, the
sun, moon and stars.
Thus, we can easily begin to see that the Romans with their Cesaro-Romano-Gregorian
calendar are the real enemies of Yahweh.
Again, when Psa. 74 states that they have burned up all the synagogues in the
land, the word “synagogue” is translated from the Hebrew word moedim
(appointments, feasts, meeting place, assembly, etc., etc.).
The Romans did more than destroy the synagogues. They destroyed the
meeting times (also called moedim) along with everything else. Here is the
psalmist lamenting that these things are no longer being observed because of the
introduction of the meeting places and times of the enemy. It is our purpose to
restore as much of that which has been overthrown as we possibly can. We are
seeking to return to the things that Yahweh commanded.
But there is even more reason to observe Yahweh’s sabbath and holy
days. In Lev. 23 Yahweh commands, “Speak unto the children of Israel, and say
unto them, Concerning the feasts (moedim) of Yahweh, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations
(miqra-qodesh), even
these are my feasts (moedim). Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is
the sabbath of rest, an holy
convocation (miqra-qodesh);
ye shall do no work therein:
it is the sabbath of Yahweh in all your dwellings. These are
the feasts (moedim) of Yahweh, even holy convocations
(miqra-qodesh), which ye
shall
proclaim in their seasons (the rest of the annual feast (moedim) days are given
in verses 5-38),” Lev. 23:2-4.
There is a greater significance to the words feasts (moedim) and holy
convocation (miqra-qodesh) than is actually realized by most.
Yahweh’s feasts, which include the weekly Sabbath and the annual holy
days, are called holy convocations (miqra-qodesh). The Hebrew word “miqra”
is defined as something called out, i.e. a public meeting (the act, the persons, or the place); also a rehearsal.
(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)
Notice that the word has to do with the act, the persons,
or the place. In the New Testament, the assembly is called the “ekklesia.”
The word “ekklesia” is defined as from a comp. of 1537 and a der. Of 2564; a calling out, i.e. (concr.) a popular meeting, espec. A religious congregation (Jewish synagogue, or Chr.
Community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both). [IBID]
The words miqra and ekklesia are both speaking of the same thing. They
have to do with being called out specifically for a holy purpose. The Hebrew
word “qodesh” simply means “holy.”
The Apostle Paul writes, “Who hath saved us, and called
us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own
purpose and grace, which was given us in the Messiah Yahshua before the world
began,” 2 Tim. 1:9.
The Greek word for “called” is the Greek word “kaleo.” It is #2564 of Strong’s and is
defined as “to call.” Notice that ekklesia is a derivative of this word. The
word “calling” in the above Scripture is #2821
in the Greek Lexicon of Strong’s.
It is the Greek word “klesis” and is defined as from a shorter form of 2564;
an invitation
(fig.).
The Hebrew word “miqra” comes from the Hebrew word “qara” which
means to call. Thus Paul’s writing could be be interpreted as, “Who hath
saved us, and called (qara) us with an holy
calling (miqra qodesh).
With these definitions, we can determine that the Sabbaths and annual
feasts are holy callings (miqra-qodesh), but called to what? Let’s explore the
meaning of the word feasts (moed/moedim) just to see what they are for.
The Hebrew word for feast is moed. Moed is #4150 in Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance and is defined as from 3259; prop. an appointment, i.e. a fixed time or season; spec. a festival;
conventionally a year; by implication,
an assembly
(as convened for a definite purpose); technically the congregation; by
extension, the place of meeting; also
a signal (as appointed
beforehand).
We can already see how important this word is by its definition. By
putting this word with the previous words (miqra-qodesh), we can see that they
all are even more important and that the Sabbaths and annual holy days that they
apply to are certainly very important.
But now, let’s look at this root word #3259 from whence moed (#4150) is
derived. It is the Hebrew word “ya‘ad” which is defined as a prim. root;
to fix upon (by agreement or appointment); by impl. to meet
(at a stated time), to summon
(to trial), to direct
(in a certain quarter or position), to engage (for
marriage).
Notice it closely! To ENGAGE FOR MARRIAGE!!! Remember that one of the
meanings for “miqra” is A REHEARSAL! Therefore, the Sabbaths and annual holy
days are a calling out, or appointments made beforehand for us by Yahweh so that
we may rehearse for the wedding since we are engaged to Yahshua.
The Apostle Paul wrote, “Would to Elohim ye could bear with me a little
in my folly: and indeed bear with me. For I am jealous over you
with pious jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you
as a
chaste virgin to the Messiah,” 2 Cor. 11:1-2.
When we are called out of this world, repent, baptized and receive the
Holy Spirit of promise, we are then set aside as a chaste virgin to be married
to the Messiah. Yahweh has given us certain specific times to rehearse
for the wedding! Those times are revealed in the Scriptures to be the weekly
Sabbaths and annual holy days.
In Mat. 22 Yahshua gives a parable concerning a king who made a marriage
for his son and invited guests to the wedding. The King, of course, is the
heavenly Father Yahweh, the Son is Yahshua.
In the parable, the invited (called) guests were too busy to come to the
wedding and made light of the invitation. They also treated the servants that
were sent shamefully and slew some of them. Those who were invited (called)
revealed that they were not worthy. The parable reveals that the King sent his
armies and destroyed the invited guests.
In Mat. 25 there is the parable of the 10 virgins. Five were wise and
took oil in and with their lamps, but five were foolish and did not prepare by
taking oil in their lamps.
The Greek word for “foolish” is “moros.” Besides meaning
“foolish,” it also means to be “dull, stupid, HEEDLESS, blockhead and
absurd.
Notice it! It means to be “heedless.” To be heedless means to NOT pay
close attention to, to NOT take careful notice of, to be unmindful and even
FORGETFUL.
In Col. 2:16-17 we find that the Sabbath and Holy Days are
shadows of THINGS TO COME! They remind us of Yahweh’s coming kingdom. They
remind us of His plan in bringing that plan about. When we observe them, we are
not only reminded, but we are practicing, rehearsing for the ultimate
fulfillment of those things to come. We are, in effect, putting oil in our lamps
and also building reserves.
If we are unmindful of the Sabbaths and Holy Days, then we will have a
tendency to forget about Yahweh’s kingdom and His plan. We will not be putting
oil in our lamps, neither will we be practicing or rehearsing for the marriage
of the Lamb.
If we are not practicing or rehearsing for the marriage, then we will be
as the foolish virgins. They were shut out from the wedding and told that
Yahshua didn’t even know them.
We have an opportunity to accept the invitation and prepare for the
wedding. We are called out for this purpose. Therefore, let us not only observe
the weekly Sabbath days, but the annual festivals as well, and prepare for the
wedding!!!
When we turn to the Caesaro-Romano-Gregorian calendar to observe those
days, we have a tendency to neglect and forget Yahweh’s commanded days and
seasons. Actually, we must choose which we had rather observe.
Which will it be for you? Do you still desire to revel in the days and
ways of this world and its pagan Roman calendar which have replaced Yahweh’s
commanded days in most people’s lives? Or will you prepare for the opportunity
to attend the wedding of the Lamb of Elohim?
SHOULD A NEW TESTAMENT BELIEVER BE
CIRCUMCISED?
A
controversy is raging in and out of the assemblies. It is an age old controversy
that was dealt with among the early believers. However, there are still many who
seek to trouble the believers
bringing them in bondage to the law of Moses. That controversy is the question
of circumcision. What is the truth concerning circumcision? We must search the
Scriptures in order to come to the true understanding.
By Jerry Healan
Should
a New Testament believer be circumcised? This question plagued the assembly
fairly early on with the entrance of Gentile (non-Jewish) converts into the
ranks of the assembly.
At first, the newly founded congregation consisted only of Jewish
(circumcised) converts. These early believers had the concept that the promise
of the kingdom and salvation belonged only to the descendants of Israel. This
concept is evidenced by the situation between Peter and Cornelius.
Cornelius was a centurion of the Italians (Acts 10). He was a devout man,
fearing Yahweh with all of His house, giving many alms to the people and praying
to Elohim always (v. 2).
He witnessed a vision while he was praying at about the ninth hour of the
day when an angel of Yahweh appeared to him (v. 3). The angel told him that his
prayers had been heard and that he should send to Joppa for Simon Peter who was
lodging with one Simon a Tanner by the seaside (vv. 4-6).
Cornelius obediently did as commanded sending two of his household
servants and a devout soldier to fetch Peter (v. 7-8).
The next day, Peter went up on the housetop to pray and while there
became very hungry and would have gone to eat, but before he could do so, he
fell into a trance (v. 9-10).
Heaven was opened to him and he saw what looked like a great sheet knit
at the four corners which was being let down to the earth. The sheet contained
all kinds of beasts, wild beasts and creeping things. Then a voice came which
said, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” Peter refused saying that he had never
eaten any thing common or unclean. However, the vision was persistent. It was
done three times and then received back into heaven (vv. 11-16).
While Peter was wondering what was going on concerning this vision, the three
men arrived from
Cornelius. The vision had occurred three times, one time for each man that had
been sent. The Spirit informed Peter of their arrival and he was told to go down
and to go with them doubting nothing for they had been sent by Yahweh (vv.
17-20).
The men informed Peter concerning Cornelius and the visit by the angel
who had told him to send for Peter. Peter and six other brethren accompanied the
men back to Joppa (vv. 23-24).
Peter reminded them that it was unlawful for a Jew to keep company or
come unto one of another nation, but Yahweh had shown him that he should no
longer call any man common or unclean (v. 28).
Peter asked why Cornelius had sent for him and Cornelius recounted the
visit by the angel (vv. 29-33).
Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, ‘Of a truth I perceive that
Yahweh is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth Him, and
worketh righteousness, is accepted with Him. The word which Yahweh sent unto the
children of Israel, preaching peace by Yahshua the Messiah: (He is Sovereign of
all:) that word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judæa,
began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; how Yahweh anointed
Yahshua of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power: Who went about doing
good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for Yahweh was with Him.
And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews,
and in Jerusalem; Whom they slew and hanged on a tree: Him Yahweh raised up the
third day, and shewed Him openly; not to all the People, but unto witnesses
chosen before of Yahweh, even to us, who did eat and drink with Him after He
rose from the dead. And He commanded us to preach unto the People, and to
testify that it is He Which was ordained of Yahweh to be the Judge of quick and
dead. To Him give all the prophets witness that through His name whosoever
believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins,” (vv. 34-43).
THE
HOLY SPIRIT GIVEN
“While Peter yet spake these words the Holy Spirit fell on all them
which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were
astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was
poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (vv. 34-45).
Notice it again. They of the
circumcision were astonished because the Holy Spirit was poured out on the Gentiles
(uncircumcised non-Jews).
Then Peter said, “Can any man forbid water, that these should not be
baptized, which have received the Holy Spirit as well as we?” And He commanded
them to be baptized in the name of the Sovereign. Then prayed they him to tarry
certain days,” vv. 47-48.
Peter commanded that they be baptized in the name of the Savior. He said
nothing about them being circumcised!
“And the apostles and brethren that were in Judæa heard that the
Gentiles had also received the word of Yahweh. And when Peter was come up to
Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, saying, “Thou
wentest in to men uncircumcised,
and didst eat with them.’ But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning,
and expounded it by order unto them, saying, ‘I was in the city of Joppa
praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had
been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to
me: upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw
fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls
of the air. And I heard a voice saying unto me, ‘Rise, Peter; slay and eat.’
But I said, ‘Not so, Master: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time
entered into my mouth.’ But the voice answered me again from heaven, ‘What
Yahweh hath cleansed, that call not thou common.’ And this was done three times:
and all were drawn up again into heaven. And, behold, immediately there were
three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me.
And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six
brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house: and he shewed us
how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, ‘Send
men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter; who shall tell thee
words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.’ And as I began to
speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered
I the word of the Master, how that he said, ‘John indeed baptized with water;
but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ Forasmuch then as Yahweh gave
them the like gift as he did unto us, who
believed on the Master Yahshua the Messiah; what was I, that I could withstand Yahweh?’”
Acts. 11:1-17.
Notice it again, very carefully. The brethren at Jerusalem contended with
Peter because he ate with the uncircumcised. Cornelius and his band were
uncircumcised when Peter received the vision. Yahweh had already considered them
clean even in their uncircumcision in the flesh. He also poured His Holy Spirit
upon them even in their uncircumcision. Peter did not command that they then be
circumcised, but he commanded that they be baptized.
Notice what the brethren in Jerusalem did when they heard these things,
“When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified Yahweh,
saying, ‘Then hath Yahweh also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto
life,” Acts 11:18.
ENTER
THE PHARISEES
Sometime later, after Paul and Barnabas had been called and set aside as
apostles, certain men of Judæa came to Antioch teaching that except they were
circumcised after the manner of Moses, they could not be saved.” Paul and
Barnabas had no small disputation with these men insomuch that it was determined
that they should go up to Jerusalem and present the matter to the apostles and
elders there (Acts 15:1-2).
On the way to Jerusalem, they were declaring the conversion of the
Gentiles with great joy, but upon their arrival there rose up certain ones of
the sect of the Pharisees which believed, who were saying that they needed to be
circumcised and to keep the law of Moses (vv. 3-5).
When the apostles and elders came together to discuss the matter there
was a great deal of disputing (vv. 6-7). But Peter rose up and said unto them,
“Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago Yahweh
made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the
evangel, and believe. And Yahweh, Which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness,
giving them the Holy Spirit, even as He did unto us; and put no difference between us and them,
purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore why tempt ye Yahweh, to put a yoke upon the neck of the
disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
But we believe that through the grace of the Sovereign Yahshua the Messiah we
shall be saved, even as then,” Acts 15:7-11.
Here is the apostle Peter telling the truth of the matter. It is not
through physical fleshly circumcision that we shall be saved, but it is through
the faith in Yahshua the Messiah.
After Paul and Barnabas told everyone about the wonders and miracles that
were being worked by them among the Gentiles, everyone kept silence (v. 12).
Then James declared, “Men and brethren, hearken unto me: Simeon hath
declared how Yahweh at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a
people for His name. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is
written, ‘After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of
David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I
will set it up: that the residue of men might seek after Yahweh, and all the
Gentiles, upon whom My name is called,’ saith Yahweh, ‘Who doeth all these
things.’ Known unto Yahweh are all His works from the beginning of the world. Wherefore
my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are
turned to Yahweh: but that
we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from
fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. For Moses of old time hath in every city
them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.’
Then pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole assembly, to send chosen
men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas
surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren; and they wrote
letters by them after this manner; ‘The apostles and elders and brethren send
greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and
Cilicia: forasmuch
as we have heard that certain which went out from us have troubled you with
words, subverting your souls, saying, ‘Ye must be circumcised, and keep the
law:’ to whom we gave no such commandment: it seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen
men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men that have hazarded their
lives for the name of our Sovereign Yahshua the Messiah. We have sent therefore
Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth. For it seemed
good to the Holy Spirit and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these
necessary things; that ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood,
and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep
yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.” Acts 15:13-29.
Herein is the ruling of the apostles and elders at Jerusalem. Why is it
that many of those who call themselves believers today, and also call upon the
true names of the Father and Son cannot accept this judgment?
Notice
also that Moses had been read from old time on every Sabbath day! Since Moses
demanded physical, fleshly circumcision, then why the controversy?
CIRCUMCISION
CAN BE UNCIRCUMCISION
The apostle Paul writes, “For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou
keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made
uncircumcision. Therefore
if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his
uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? And shall not uncircumcision which
is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circum
cision
dost transgress the law? For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is
that circumcision, which outward in the flesh: but he is a Jew, which is one
inwardly; and circumcision
is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter;
whose praise is not of men, but of Yahweh,” Ro. 2:25-29.
Truly, if men could keep the law then circumcision would be profitable
according to Paul in verse 25. However, in chapter 3 of this same book Paul
writes that Jews and Gentiles are both under sin (v. 9) and that all have sinned
(transgressed the law) and come short of the glory of Yahweh (v. 23). Therefore,
what good will circumcision of the flesh do in achieving salvation? The only One
Who was able to be circumcised and keep the law perfectly in
all points was Yahshua the
Messiah.
Paul continues to point out in Ro. 4 that Abraham became the father of
the faithful even while he was yet uncircumcised. He received circumcision as a
seal of his righteousness of faith (v. 10-11), but he says that Abraham is the
father of all them that believe even though they are not circumcised in order
that righteousness might also be imputed to them (v. 11).
Paul also writes, “Is any man called being circumcised? Let him not
become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? Let him not be
circumcised. Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of
the commandments of Yahweh,” 1 Cor. 7:18-19.
THE
COMMANDMENTS
Notice again what Paul is saying here, “...circumcision is nothing, and
uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of Yahweh.”
Yahshua was asked, “Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may
have eternal life?’ And He said unto him, Why callest thou Me good? There is
none good but One, that is, Elohim: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the
commandments.’ He saith unto Him, ‘Which?’” Mt. 19:16-18.
This young man was a Jew. He knew that there were commandments, statutes,
judgments and ordinances. As a matter of fact, the Jews proclaim that there are
613 commandments in the Torah and that they should all be kept. The Pharisees
had also laden the people with heavy burdens to bear. So the young man wanted to
know which of these to observe.
Yahshua answered, “Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit
adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy
father and thy mother: and Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.’ The
Young man saith unto Him, ‘All these things have I kept from my youth up: what
lack I yet?’ Yahshua said unto him, ‘If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell
that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven:
and come and follow Me.’ But when the young man heard that saying, he went
away sorrowful: for he had great possessions,” vv. 18-22.
What had Yahshua focused on? A portion of the 10 commandments. What
portion did He leave off? Thou shalt not covet was one of them. The rich young
man coveted the great wealth that he had. But Yahshua also left off (1) Thou
shalt have no other elohim before Me. (2) Thou shalt not make unto thee any
graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is
in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not
bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I Yahweh thy Elohim am a jealous
El, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and
fourth generation of them that hate Me; and shewing mercy unto thousands of them
that love Me, and keep My commandments. (3) Thou shalt not take the name of
Yahweh thy Elohim in vain; for Yahweh will not hold him guiltless that taketh
His name in vain. (4) Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. And Thou shalt
love Yahweh thy Elohim with all your heart, mind and soul.
Here was a young man who certainly was Jewish and circumcised in the
flesh. Yet he went away sorrowful because he wasn’t willing to give up his
riches in order to apprehend the Messiah. Yahshua understood that he was
breaking the commandment of covetousness, including the commandments which have
to do with loving Yahweh (commandments 1-3 specifically). The young man was
making an elohim and idol out of his riches. Thus, what good did his
circumcision do him? As the Apostle Paul states, his circumcision had become
uncircumcision.
Another thing to point out is that Yahshua never proclaimed the 613
commandments, which the Jews admit that over half of them are impossible to
keep!
THE
PROBLEM AT GALATIA
It is obvious that the Apostle Paul wrote the book of Galatians because
the same situation was occurring there which occurred at Antioch. Some (probably
Pharisees) were coming in and teaching the people that they should be
circumcised. Again, Paul deals with the problem in a powerful way. He proclaims
that the evangel of uncircumcision was committed to him as was the evangel of
circumcision was to Peter (Gal. 2:7).
He states that when he, Barnabas and Titus journeyed to Jerusalem that
Titus, being a Greek, was not compelled to be circumcised (Gal. 2:1-3).
In chapter 6 he writes, “As many as desire to make a fair shew in the
flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer
persecution for the cross of the Messiah. For neither they themselves who are
circumcised keep the law;
but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. But
Yahweh forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Sovereign Yahshua
the Messiah, by Whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. For in
the Messiah neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a
new creature,” (vv.
12-15).
Again, Paul warns the Galatians, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty
wherewith the Messiah hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the
yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if
ye be circumcised, The Messiah shall profit you nothing. For
I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a
debtor
to do the whole law. The Messiah is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of
you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of
righteousness by faith. For in Yahshua the Messiah neither circumcision availeth any
thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. Ye did run well; who did hinder you that
ye should not obey the truth? This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. A little leaven leaveneth
the whole lump. I have confidence in you through the Sovereign, that ye will be
none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment,
whosoever he be. And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet
suffer persecution? then
is the offence of the cross ceased. I would they were even cut off which trouble
you. For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use
not liberty for an
occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is
fulfilled in one word, even
in this; Thou shalt love
thy neighbour as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that
ye be not consumed one of another,” Gal. 5:1-15.
Again, Paul says a mouthful. He warns that if a man consents to
circumcision (for religious purposes) then he is indebted to do the whole law.
The Messiah and His grace is no longer in effect for that person.
What Paul is saying here is that if a man is circumcised according to the
command in the Torah, then he has taken it upon himself to fulfill the whole law
under his own strength. He has brought himself under the same covenant that
Israel made with Yahweh when they promised, “All the words which Yahweh hath
said will we do...All that Yahweh hath said will we do, and be obedient,” Ex.
24:3, 7.
When confronted with the “circumcision controversy,” the Apostle
Peter put the whole thing in perspective with his statement, “Now therefore
why tempt ye Elohim, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which
neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?” Act. 15:10-11.
Israel couldn’t bear the yoke of obedience to the Torah! That is why
they eventually had to be removed from the land of promise! The Prophet Hosea
proclaimed, “They like Adam have transgressed the covenant: there have they
dealt treacherously against Me,” 6:7. (NOTE: The KJV says, “They like men…”,
but the Hebrew Scriptures reveal that the name Adam should be utilized here
rather than the word men. It was Adam who transgressed the original covenant
with Yahweh and had to be cast out of the garden of Eden. Israel, like Adam,
transgressed Yahweh’s covenant and had to be cast out of the land.)
TRUE
CIRCUMCISION
The Apostle Paul reveals that there is a circumcision which is so much
better than the physical fleshly circumcision made by the hands of man. He
writes, “Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Sovereign. To write the same
things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. Beware of
dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. For we
are the circumcision which worship Yahweh in
spirit,
and rejoice in the Messiah Yahshua,
and have no confidence in the flesh,”
Phil. 3:1-3.
We worship Yahweh in spirit through Yahshua the Messiah and not through
the physical fleshly things that we can do with our own hands! In His
conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well, Yahshua told her, “Woman,
believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at
Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we
worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the
true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. Yahweh is
Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth,”
Jn. 4:21-24.
The Spirit is the Holy Spirit which was poured out on the apostles on the
day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4) raising up the New Testament Assembly. Yahshua is
the truth, “I am the way, the truth, and the
life: no
man cometh unto the Father, but by Me,” Jn. 14:6.
It is through baptism in Yahshua’s name that we receive the Holy Spirit
and the true circumcision which is now a spiritual circumcision as Paul writes,
“For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for
them at Laodicea, and for
as many as have not seen
my face in the flesh; that their hearts might be comforted, being knit together
in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the
acknowledgement of the mystery of Elohim, and of the Father, and of the Messiah;
in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. And this I say, lest
any man should beguile you with enticing words. For though I be absent in the
flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the
stedfastness of your faith in the Messiah. As ye have therefore received the
Messiah Yahshua the Sovereign, so walk ye in him: rooted and built up in him, and stablished
in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the
tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after the Messiah.
For in him dwelleth all the fulness of Elohim physically. And ye are complete in
him, which is the head of all principality and power: In
whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in
putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of the Messiah:
buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of Elohim, who hath raised him from the
dead. And
you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh,
hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was
contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; and having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly,
triumphing over them in it,” Col. 2:1-15.
Herein is the true circumcision of the New Covenant. It is the
circumcision made without the hands of man. Our faith in the Messiah Yahshua is
what circumcises away the foreskin of the heart. Therefore, we must warn all to
beware those who proclaim that you must be circumcised in the flesh. They are
seeking to rejoice in an outward show in the flesh and not in the spirit.
ISRAEL’S
COVENANT
When Yahweh delivered Israel out of the land of Egypt, He brought them
into the wilderness of Sinai where He proposed a covenant to them, “In the
third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of
Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai. For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come
to the
desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped
before the mount. And Moses went up unto Elohim, and Yahweh called unto him out
of the mountain, saying, ‘Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell
the children of Israel; Ye have seen what I did unto the
Egyptians,
and how I
bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. Now therefore, if ye
will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar
treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.
These are
the words which thou shalt
speak unto the children of Israel’,” Ex. 19:1-6.
The first one to hear of the proposal were the elders of Israel, “And
Moses came and called for the elders of the People, and laid before their faces
all these words which Yahweh commanded him. And all the People answered
together, and said, ‘All that Yahweh hath spoken we will do.’
And Moses returned the words of the People unto Yahweh,” vv. 7-8.
Yahweh told Moses to prepare to meet Him on the third day giving them
bounds through which they were not to pass. Moses prepared the people and on the
third day Yahweh descended upon Mount Hor proclaiming His commandments,
statutes, judgments and ordinances. When Yahweh finished speaking, “...Moses
came and told the People all the words of Yahweh, and all the judgments: and all
the People answered with one voice, and said, ‘All
the words which Yahweh hath said will we do.’ And Moses wrote all the words of Yahweh, and rose up early in the
morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to
the twelve tribes of Israel. And he sent young men of the children of Israel,
which offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen unto
Yahweh. And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basons; and half of the
blood he sprinkled on the altar. And he took the book of the covenant, and read
in the audience of the People: and they said, ‘All that Yahweh hath said will we do, and
be obedient.’ And Moses
took the blood, and sprinkled it on the People, and said, ‘Behold the blood of
the covenant, which Yahweh hath made with you concerning all these words’,”
Ex. 24:3-8.
Notice it carefully. The children of Israel promised three times that
they would do and be obedient to Yahweh’s words. This is the covenant that
Yahweh made with Israel. It was a covenant based on promises made between Yahweh
and Israel. Yahweh promised that if they would obey His laws, statutes,
judgments and ordinances then they would be a very happy, prosperous and blessed
people. However, there were consequences and curses if the people did not obey.
The problem is that the people DID NOT OBEY! I will refer again to Acts 15:10
wherein it was declared, “Now therefore why tempt ye Yahweh, to put a yoke
upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to
bear?” Also, look at the
statement made in Heb. 8:7-8, “For if that first covenant had been faultless,
then should no place have been sought for the second. For
finding fault with them,
He saith, ‘Behold, the days come, saith Yahweh, when I will make a new
covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah’.”
Israel came under the curse of the law because they trusted in themselves
that they could fulfill the covenant, but they failed miserably and had to bear
the judgment and curse of Yahweh by being destroyed and cast out of the land of
promise.
THE
NEW COVENANT
When Yahweh made His covenant with Israel He already knew that the first
covenant would end in disaster for it is admitted, “O
that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear Me, and keep all My
commandments always, that
it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!” Dt. 5:29.
Moses told Israel, “These are the words of the covenant, which Yahweh
commanded Moses to make with the children of Israel in the land of Moab, beside
the covenant which He made with them in Horeb. And Moses called unto all Israel,
and said unto them, ‘Ye have seen all that Yahweh did before your eyes in the
land of Egypt unto Pharaoh, and unto all his servants, and unto all his land;
the great temptations which thine eyes have seen, the signs, and those great
miracles: yet Yahweh hath not given you an heart to perceive,
and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day,” Dt. 29:1-4.
Yahweh looks on the heart, on the inside and not on the exterior. The
apostle Peter admits, “And the apostles and elders came together for to
consider of this matter. And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up,
and said unto them, ‘Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago
Yahweh made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word
of the evangel, and believe. And Yahweh, WHICH KNOWETH THE HEARTS, bare them
witness, giving them the Holy Spirit, even as He did unto us; and put no
difference between us and them, PURIFYING THEIR HEARTS BY FAITH,” Acts.
15:6-9.
In Dt. 32 we find a prophecy given by Moses under the inspiration of the
Holy Spirit. Moses was inspired to proclaim that Israel would fall away to other
elohim, practice abominations, sacrifice to devils, etc. Furthermore, he said,
“Of the Rock That begat thee thou are unmindful, and hast forgotten El That
formed thee. And when Yahweh saw it, He abhorred them, because of the provoking
of His son, and His daughters. And He said, ‘I will hide My face from them, I
will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation,
children IN WHOM IS NO FAITH’,” Dt. 32:18-20.
Isn’t it amazing! Yahweh already knew that Israel would be unfaithful!
When the New Covenant was instituted and sealed with the Holy Spirit, Yahweh
began to look on the heart of non-Israelite, non-Jewish, non-Hebrew people. He
didn’t look at the flesh, but on the heart. Circumcision of the flesh didn’t
matter, it was what was on the heart!
Yahweh knew Israel’s condition even when He called them out of Egypt.
Yahweh gave Israel a tabernacle and its appurtenances made by the hands of man.
He gave them an earthly priesthood. He gave them animal sacrifices to be
performed by the hands of man. He gave them physical fleshly circumcision
performed by the hands of man. He gave them phylacteries and fringes to remind
them to keep His covenant. These all failed because they were administered by
the hands of men who had circumcised flesh, but uncircumcised hearts!
The New Covenant is a covenant which is based on a tabernacle made by the
hands of Yahweh and not the hands of
man.
It is based on a heavenly spiritual priesthood and not an earthly priesthood
exercised by men with uncircumcised hearts. It is based on a better sacrifice
than that of animals, for it is based on the sacrifice of the Son of Elohim,
Yahshua the Messiah. It is based on a better promise for it is based on
Yahweh’s promise and not the promise of men. It is based on a better
circumcision for it is based on the circumcision of the foreskin of the heart
made without hands. It is based on a better faith, for it is based on faith in
Yahweh, Who never fails, and not faith in man, who always fails.
The covenant of old was based on judgment. If they obeyed, they would be
blessed. If they disobeyed, they would suffer the curses. They disobeyed and
came under the curses.
The New Covenant is based on the favor/grace and promises of Yahweh. He
promises to open the graves of Israel, restore them to life (Ez. 37:1-13), put
His Spirit in them (v. 14), cleanse them of their sins (v. 23) and make an
everlasting covenant with them (v. 26-28).
The promise of the New Covenant is not only found here in Ezekiel, it is
found in Jeremiah 31:31-34, “Behold, the days come, saith Yahweh, that I will
make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: not
according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that
I took them by the hand to
bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I
was an husband unto them, saith Yahweh: but this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel;
after those days, saith Yahweh, I will put my law in their inward parts, and
write it in their hearts; and will be their Elohim, and they shall be my people.
And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother,
saying, ‘Know Yahweh:’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them
unto the greatest of them, saith Yahweh: for I will forgive their iniquity, and
I will remember their sin no more.”
It is also found in Heb. 8:7-13. “For if that first covenant
had been faultless, then
should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them, he
saith, Behold, the days come, saith Yahweh, when I will make a new covenant with
the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: not according to the covenant
that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead
them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I
regarded them not, saith Yahweh. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel
after those days, saith Yahweh; I will put my laws into their mind, and write
them in their hearts: and I will be to them a Elohim, and they shall be to me a
people: and they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his
brother, saying, Know Yahweh: for all shall know me, from the least to the
greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and
their iniquities will I remember no more. In that he saith, A new covenant,
he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is
ready to
vanish away.”
YAHWEH’S
CIRCUMCISION
Yahweh encouraged Israel to circumcise their hearts in Dt. 10:16, but
Israel continued with a stiff neck and uncircumcised heart. Yahweh allowed these
things to happen for many purposes, but the final analysis is that Yahweh will
circumcise Israel’s hearts, “And it shall come to pass, when all these
things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before
thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither Yahweh thy Elohim hath driven thee,
and shalt return unto Yahweh thy Elohim, and shalt obey his voice according to
all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart,
and with all thy soul; that then Yahweh thy Elohim will turn thy captivity, and
have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations,
whither Yahweh thy Elohim hath scattered thee. If any
of thine be driven out
unto the outmost parts of heaven, from
thence will Yahweh thy Elohim gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee:
And Yahweh thy Elohim will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed,
and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy
fathers. And Yahweh thy Elohim will circumcise thine heart, and the
heart of thy seed, to love Yahweh thy Elohim with all thine heart,
and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live. And Yahweh thy Elohim will put all
these curses upon thine enemies, and on them that hate thee, which persecuted
thee. And thou shalt return and obey the voice of Yahweh, and do all his
commandments which I command thee this day. And Yahweh thy Elohim will make thee
plenteous in every work of thine hand, in the fruit of thy body, and in the
fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy land, for good: for Yahweh will
again rejoice over thee for good, as he rejoiced over thy fathers: if thou shalt
hearken unto the voice of Yahweh thy Elohim, to keep his commandments and his
statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if thou turn unto Yahweh thy Elohim with all thine heart,
and with all thy soul. For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is
not hidden from thee,
neither is
it far off,” Dt.
30:1-11.
The clincher is found in verse 12, “It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, ‘Who shall go up
for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?’.”
“Who shall go up for us to heaven” appears in the Hebrew as: hm'y>m;V'h; WnL'-hl,[]y y:mi
. The first letter of each
word combines to make the Hebrew word hlym.
According to the Encyclopedia
of Freemasonry and A
Dictionary Of The Targumim, The Talmud Babli And Yerushalmi, And The Midrashic
Literature by Marcus
Jastrov, this Hebrew word means “circumcise” and or “circumcision.”
Taking the last Hebrew letter of each word in this statement we get hwhy (Yahweh)! Again, in this instance, the question is “Who shall go up for
us to heaven?” The answer is, first and foremost, Yahweh, and secondly, those
circumcised by Him.
FOREVER
One other thing that many have stumbled on is the use of the term
“forever” in the English version of Scripture. This term is translated from
the Hebrew word “olam” which is defined in Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance as;
from 5956; prop. concealed,
i.e. the vanishing
point; gen. time out
of mind (past or fut.)
i.e. (practically) eternity;
freq. adv. (espec. with prep. pref.) always
and is variously translated as; always (-s), ancient (time), any more,
continuance, eternal, (for, [n-] ever (-lasting, -more, of old), lasting, long
(time), (of) old (time), perpetual, at any time, (beginning of the ) world (+
withoutend).
Since Strong’s says that it is from 5956, let’s also take a look at
that word. It is the Hebrew word “alam” which is defined as; a prim. root;
to veil from sight, i.e. conceal (lit. or fig.).
Now let’s take a look at 2 Sam. 7:12-16 which utilizes this word olam,
“And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep
with
thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy
bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name,
and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever (ad-olam). 14 I will be
his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him
with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: 15 But my
mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. 16 And thine house and thy kingdom
shall be established for ever (ad-olam) before thee: thy throne shall be
established for ever (ad-olam).”
Solomon was of David’s seed. He built an house for Yahweh’s name and
Yahweh established the kingdom through His dynasty. But how long did it last?
The kingdom of Judah, ruled by the descendants, the dynasty of David and Solomon
ended in 585 BCE when King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon overthrew the dynasty and
destroyed Jerusalem and the house that was built for Yahweh’s name. Olam had
come.
Thus, in this instance, when dealing with the flesh, olam has to do with
an age, not for ever. Olam can seem like for ever to the physical fleshly person
because the promise is made to a generation who perishes or dies without having
seen the end of the matter. Other subsequent generations can also come and go
before the end of a thing comes to pass. But there will be a generation that
will come when the end of the age, olam occurs.
Of course, what Yahweh was talking about was the institution of the
kingdom under the power of Yahshua which will continue for ever. However, he had
to deal with the flesh first. Flesh is physical and temporary.
The principal pattern established by Scripture is that first there must
be flesh, the physical, the natural and then comes the spirit. The flesh is
temporary. It doesn’t continue for eternity because of the law of sin,
corruption and death contained therein, which was introduced by our forefather
Adam (Ro. 5:12-19; 7:13-25).
The end of the terms of the original covenant made between Yahweh and
Israel came with the destruction of both Israel and Judah and their removal from
the land of promise. However, Yahweh promised that since they failed, He,
through His enduring mercy of all ages, would make a New Covenant with the house
of Israel and with the house of Judah. This New Covenant would also include the
non-Israelite, non-Jew. It is this New Covenant that will continue forever,
until all eternity, because it is a covenant made by the power of the eternal
Spirit. It is a covenant made by the Word of Yahweh, based on His promises and
not man’s HALLELUYAH!!!!! Praise Yahweh for all eternity all His creation!
CONCLUSION
Should a New Testament believer be circumcised? The answer is a
resounding YES!!! However, not by his own hands nor by the hands of man in the
flesh. We must be circumcised by Yahweh, through Yahshua the Messiah, a
circumcision of the foreskin of the heart not made with hands. Remember that
Paul said, “Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of Elohim” (1 Cor.
15:50). A person must be called, chosen, repent of his sins, be baptized in the
name of Yahshua the Messiah for the remission of his sins and Yahweh, Himself,
will circumcise his heart and give him the Holy Spirit by the laying on of the
hands of the ministry. (Please request our booklet entitled The
Seven Steps to the Kingdom.)
This is the circumcision of the New Covenant. It is an everlasting circumcision
made by Yahweh whose Word NEVER FAILS! HALLELUYAH!!!
NEXT
ISSUE!
Who
is The Idol Shepherd?
COMING
SOON!
Who
Is EliYah the Prophet?
