Now that another Christmas has come and gone, let's count the the number of the 10 Commandments which were broken in the frenzy to observe this annual rutual:
Here are the 10 Commandments for those, the vast majority, who are unfamiliar with them:
1. You shall have no other gods before Me.
2. You shall not make any graven images.
3. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.
4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
5. Honor your father and your mother.
6. You shall not murder/kill.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
10. You shall not covet (neighbor's servants, animals, or anything else).
So here we are each December, and the 1st, and #1, Commandment is "You shall have no other gods before Me".
Which "god" takes precedence over YHWH? "Santa Claus?"!
Tell me, when do children today learn of YHWH when they are ripping off
the wrapping of Christmas morning presents from "Santa"? Haven't you
relegated YHWH to at least 4th place, after Santa, Mom or Dad, Grandma
or Grandpa? Does anyone receive a Christmas present from YHWH? Well, of
course not! It's from "Santa"!
#2: You shall not make any graven images.
What is a "Manger Scene" with a doll representing the "baby Jesus" if not a graven image?
#3: You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.
How is equating the birth of "Jesus" at December 25th NOT
taking the name of the Lord in vain? Did "Jesus" come to be remembered
only once a year, and only when you received gifts under a tree loaded
with lights and decorations? Since Christianity equates "Jesus" with
"Lord", how is that NOT taking the Lord's name in vain? And when you do
remember that the purpose of Y'shua (the real name of "Jesus")
was to offer Himself on your behalf for your SINS, how does that relate
to celebrating His birth (at the wrong time of year) with gift giving - to each other? (The three Wise Men didn't give presents to each other; they brought them for the baby Yeshua.)
And how is it that receiving undeserved gifts solely out of obligation
has anything to do with "Jesus" laying down His life for you so that
you might gain eternal life, if only you would know YHWH and the Messiah
(John 17:3)?
#4: Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
What's
the busiest shopping day of the Christmas week if not the Sabbath day,
the 7th day, Saturday before Christmas when most are off work?
#5: Honor your father and your mother.
How
is this instilled in our children when on Christmas morning, upon
receipt of a present the ungrateful child did not desire, he or she
proceeds to throw a tantrum completely disrespecting the parents?
#6, 7, & 8: You shall not murder/kill, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal.
Okay,
here are 3 of the 10 commandments which are not typically broken at
"Christmas". Nevertheless, there have been cases of the willful breaking
of all 3 at Christmas! People have been murdered for their presents,
people have committed adultery upon drinking too much at "Christmas
parties", and Christmas presents have been stolen, so strong is the need
to fulfill this horrible annual ritual that some will resort to theft
to fulfill the obligation.
# 9: You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
Wow! This is a "biggie"! What can be more false than for us to LIE to our children that there is a "Santa Claus" who
will bring them presents, and that he "knows who's been naughty or
nice?" According to Scripture, only GOD knows these things….Not to
mention, "Santa" employs magic (something YHWH abhors!) to fly with his
reindeer around the world in 24 hours, to shimmy down billions of
chimneys and deliver his presents…. All LIES we tell our children.
Not lying is the essence of this commandment!
# 10: You shall not covet (neighbor's servants, animals, or anything else).
How is it that we comply with this commandment when the very reason we will purchase the
latest and greatest gizmo for our kids is because we know the neighbor
kids will get one or that it's the "in" thing this year? How is that
not 'coveting'?
So by my count, 7 out of the 10 Commandments are routinely broken at Christmas every year and, arguably, the remaining 3 (numbers 6-8) are broken by some families!
So, please think long and hard about how it's "fun for the kids" to do Christmas and that it is the "highest holy day of the year" in Christianity….
Tuesday, December 29, 2015
Rabid anti-missionary says: "Jesus either lied or he didn't know the Bible."
"JasonSpiritualBabies" (Jason Vincent)
who spends much of his time bashing "Jesus and the New Testament has a
video teaching wherein he quips: "Jesus either lied or he didn't know
the Bible." And the he quotes Luke 24:46-47 as a supposed "gotcha" that
nothing was written in the Tanach concerning Jesus....Well, nothing was
written in the Tanach that suggested we have to brush our teeth,
either...But YHWH was very clear in places like Isaiah 53 concerning His
Messiah!
The problem is, even when you show the anti-missionaries the pertinent scriptures, they will always insist, “No, that’s NOT what that says….” The things Jason asserts about “Jesus” are downright blasphemous! We can promise Jason that “Jesus” knew Scripture a million times better than he (Jason) ever will! Anti-missionaries can espouse all the venom they wish, but that will NEVER change the fact that Y’shua IS our long-awaited Messiah!
The problem is, even when you show the anti-missionaries the pertinent scriptures, they will always insist, “No, that’s NOT what that says….” The things Jason asserts about “Jesus” are downright blasphemous! We can promise Jason that “Jesus” knew Scripture a million times better than he (Jason) ever will! Anti-missionaries can espouse all the venom they wish, but that will NEVER change the fact that Y’shua IS our long-awaited Messiah!
Luke 24:44. And he said to
them, These are the words that I spoke with you while I
was with you, that it was necessary that all things that were written in the
Torah of Moshe and in the prophets and in the Psalms[1] concerning me be
fulfilled. 45. Then he opened their
mind to understand the Scriptures. 46.
And he said to them that, Thus it is written and thus
it was right that the Mashiyach suffer and rise from the dead on the third
day.
47. And that he preached repentance[2] for the forgiveness of sins[3] in his name in all nations. And that the beginning would be from Urishlim. 48. And you are a witness of these things. 49. And I will send upon you the promise of my Father. But you stay in Urishlim the city until you will be clothed with power from on high.
50. And he took them out up to Beth-Anya and raised his hands and blessed them. 51. And it happened that while he blessed them, he was separated from them and ascended into Heaven. 52. And they worshipped him and returned to Urishlim with great joy. 53. And at all times, they were in the temple[1] while praising and blessing Elohim. Amen. (AENT)
47. And that he preached repentance[2] for the forgiveness of sins[3] in his name in all nations. And that the beginning would be from Urishlim. 48. And you are a witness of these things. 49. And I will send upon you the promise of my Father. But you stay in Urishlim the city until you will be clothed with power from on high.
50. And he took them out up to Beth-Anya and raised his hands and blessed them. 51. And it happened that while he blessed them, he was separated from them and ascended into Heaven. 52. And they worshipped him and returned to Urishlim with great joy. 53. And at all times, they were in the temple[1] while praising and blessing Elohim. Amen. (AENT)
[1] Notice
that Y’shua is referencing the Hebrew order of the Tanakh: Torah, Prophets, and
Psalms/Writings. Alexandrian or
Hellenistic Jews had a different division of the books. He opens their minds to these “Scriptures”
that reveal and uphold Mashiyach.
[2] Y’shua teaches Teshuva (repentance)
which means to return to YHWH and observe His Torah. Repentance means
much more than to “change your mind,” although this may be a good first step;
however, it means to stop breaking Torah.
If you continue to break Torah, you haven’t “repented.”
[3] Forgiveness means there is a pardoning of
punishment for sin when confessed, and a person must refrain from further
transgression to maintain their forgiveness and atonement. The blood of Mashiyach does not provide
atonement for repeated willful sin against Torah. There are many examples in
Tanakh and the Ketuvim Netzarim where consequences always followed the
sin. There is no class of people, race
or religion that can offer exemption from punishment of willful sin. All of Creation will ultimately be held
accountable to YHWH by what we do with the life YHWH has given us.
Y’shua
was known to visit the Temple daily. In
the early mornings he taught those who came to learn of the Kingdom of Elohim;
see Luke 21:36-38. He NEVER, EVER veered
from His Father’s commands. As a matter
of fact, he even said he came NOT to abolish Torah or the Prophets but to
FULFILL! (See Matthew 5:17-20.) And here’s more:
Luke 4: 43 "But he (Yeshua/Jesus) said, "I must preach
the good news of the Kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is
why I was sent."
Luke 8: 1. And it happened after these things that Y'shua was going
around in the cities and in the villages and was preaching and declaring the
Kingdom of Elohim.
Acts 28: 23 "From morning till evening the Apostle Paul
explained and declared the Kingdom of God and tried to convince people about
Yeshua from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets."
Acts 24: 14. But this indeed I (Paul) acknowledge, that in that same
doctrine of which they speak, I do serve the Elohim of my fathers, believing
all the things written in Torah and in the prophets.
YHWH said HE would send
a prophet who was to do everything He ordered him to do:
Deuteronomy 18: 15 "ADONAI will raise up for you a prophet
like me from among yourselves, from your own kinsmen. You are to pay attention
to him, 16 just as when you were assembled at Horev and requested ADONAI your
God, 'Don't let me hear the voice of ADONAI my God any more, or let me see this
great fire ever again; if I do, I will die!' 17 On that occasion ADONAI said to
me, 'They are right in what they are saying. 18 I will raise up for them a
prophet like you from among their kinsmen. I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them
everything I order him.
Yeshua Himself said He
came to do HIS FATHER's will; not His own!
John 6: 35. Y'shua said to them, I am the Bread of Life.
Whoever comes to me will not hunger. And whoever believes in me will not ever
thirst. 36. But I have said to you that you have seen me, and you do not
believe. 37. All who my Father has given to me will come, and whoever comes not
to me I will cast outside! 38. For
I came down from heaven,[1] not to do my will, but to do the will of Him
who sent me. 39. And this is His
will, that of Him who sent me, that all that He has given to me I do not lose
even one. 40. For this is the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and
believe in Him, will have life that is eternal. And I will raise him up on the
last day. (Aramaic English New Testament)
[1] As in the context of Miltha (the Word) or the
"Manifestation" or the "Will of" YHWH coming down from
heaven to do the Will of YHWH upon earth; his Spirit is of YHWH but his nephesh
(soul) and body are human and temporal. This shows that Yeshua was NOT in
charge; HIS FATHER WAS!
But just try explaining
that to an anti-missionary!
Monday, December 28, 2015
“Did Rav Shaul call Torah rubbish in Philippians 3:3-8?”
Someone wrote to our
website this morning, asking the following question: “Did Rav shaul call Torah rubbish in Philippians 3:3-8?” It was a great
question and we found the answer in some footnotes of the Aramaic English New
Testament:
Philippians 3:3. For we are the (real) circumcision who worship Elohim in spirit and glory in Y’shua the Mashiyach, and place no reliance on the flesh,[1] 4. And though I might place reliance on the flesh. For, if any one thinks that his reliance should be on the flesh, I might (do so) more than he. 5. Circumcised when eight days old; of the stock of Israel; of the tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew, descendant of Hebrews; as to Torah, a Pharisee; 6. as to zeal, a persecutor of the assembly (of Messianic believers); and as to the righteousness of the (Oral) Torah,[2] I was without fault. 7. But these things which had been my mastery, I have accounted a detriment because of the Mashiyach. 8. And now also I account them all a detriment, because of the superiority of the knowledge of Y’shua the Mashiyach my Master; for the sake of whom I have parted with all things and have accounted (them) as dung that I might gain the Mashiyach[2] (AENT)
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Torah teaches that we must not rely on our flesh (for dust you are, and to dust shall you return), but that we obey our Father YHWH as His children. We are the real circumcision if we obey YHWH and do His will. Circumcision counts for nothing if we are unwilling to turn to YHWH’s instructions and follow in the steps of His Mashiyach (Jeremiah 9). Rav Shaul repeatedly teaches that circumcision of the heart must come first; circumcision of the flesh can never begin to substitute the perfect work of the Ruach haKodesh.
[2] By including Pharisaic tutelage, Rav Shaul is specifically referencing the “Oral Law” in which he was without fault. Y’shua rebuked the Pharisees (contrary to popular Christian opinion), for not keeping the Torah of Moshe, but for superseding Torah with their traditions (Matthew 15:1-20). Y’shua clearly advocates Torah observance (Matthew 5:17-20). Rav Shaul never referred to the Torah of YHWH as anything detrimental to Faith (Romans 3:31, 7:12). Rav Shaul quotes extensively from Torah – indeed, from all the Tanakh – to uphold every teaching he puts forth! There is nothing Paul upholds which is not based in the Torah of YHWH, so those who preach Paul must not be unbelievers, but also follow what Paul taught, which is the Torah of YHWH, not the traditions of men.
[3] Because Rav Shaul knew that the halacha (way to walk) of Y’shua was superior to that of the Pharisees. It was not that Y’shua abandoned Torah, Elohim forbid! But that Y’shua understood, clarified and revealed Torah far better than any other teacher that Rav Shaul knew, and Paul associated with the greatest souls within Judaism! (Luke 24:44-45). Sadly, many have never even been able to enter into the discussion as it pertains to Y’shua, Paul and Torah, as they’ve been led to believe by false religion that Paul was anti-Torah!
Philippians 3:3. For we are the (real) circumcision who worship Elohim in spirit and glory in Y’shua the Mashiyach, and place no reliance on the flesh,[1] 4. And though I might place reliance on the flesh. For, if any one thinks that his reliance should be on the flesh, I might (do so) more than he. 5. Circumcised when eight days old; of the stock of Israel; of the tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew, descendant of Hebrews; as to Torah, a Pharisee; 6. as to zeal, a persecutor of the assembly (of Messianic believers); and as to the righteousness of the (Oral) Torah,[2] I was without fault. 7. But these things which had been my mastery, I have accounted a detriment because of the Mashiyach. 8. And now also I account them all a detriment, because of the superiority of the knowledge of Y’shua the Mashiyach my Master; for the sake of whom I have parted with all things and have accounted (them) as dung that I might gain the Mashiyach[2] (AENT)
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Torah teaches that we must not rely on our flesh (for dust you are, and to dust shall you return), but that we obey our Father YHWH as His children. We are the real circumcision if we obey YHWH and do His will. Circumcision counts for nothing if we are unwilling to turn to YHWH’s instructions and follow in the steps of His Mashiyach (Jeremiah 9). Rav Shaul repeatedly teaches that circumcision of the heart must come first; circumcision of the flesh can never begin to substitute the perfect work of the Ruach haKodesh.
[2] By including Pharisaic tutelage, Rav Shaul is specifically referencing the “Oral Law” in which he was without fault. Y’shua rebuked the Pharisees (contrary to popular Christian opinion), for not keeping the Torah of Moshe, but for superseding Torah with their traditions (Matthew 15:1-20). Y’shua clearly advocates Torah observance (Matthew 5:17-20). Rav Shaul never referred to the Torah of YHWH as anything detrimental to Faith (Romans 3:31, 7:12). Rav Shaul quotes extensively from Torah – indeed, from all the Tanakh – to uphold every teaching he puts forth! There is nothing Paul upholds which is not based in the Torah of YHWH, so those who preach Paul must not be unbelievers, but also follow what Paul taught, which is the Torah of YHWH, not the traditions of men.
[3] Because Rav Shaul knew that the halacha (way to walk) of Y’shua was superior to that of the Pharisees. It was not that Y’shua abandoned Torah, Elohim forbid! But that Y’shua understood, clarified and revealed Torah far better than any other teacher that Rav Shaul knew, and Paul associated with the greatest souls within Judaism! (Luke 24:44-45). Sadly, many have never even been able to enter into the discussion as it pertains to Y’shua, Paul and Torah, as they’ve been led to believe by false religion that Paul was anti-Torah!
Sunday, December 27, 2015
Did you ever wish you could go back in time?
I have. I've wished I could go back in time because there are a number of events I'd like the opportunity to have changed.
I'd like to go back in time to the early 1960's when in grade school I was NOT selected to participate in the "Vespers". Vespers is from a Greek word meaning "evening", and this was a cherished annual event in my hometown when all the children from the city would converge in the Convention Center one evening of the year (at Christmas) and sing for all their families. I was not selected one year and never sang aloud again.
I'd like to go back in time to the early or mid 1960's when, with my parents at a big company holiday party at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, my parents made me get up and dance with my sister. I was so traumatized it remains to this day the source of a life-long phobia of dancing. Only now, in my 60's, am I trying to overcoming it.
I'd like to go back in time to the 1950s and find my Dad and tell him to stop smoking because in 1987 he'd die of lung cancer and I'd like to prevent that.
I'd like to go back to 1970 and not meet the girl who became my wife in 1976 because in 1998 she divorced me saying only "I did not meet her needs".
I'd like to go back to February, 1979 and actually MAKE the trip to Minot, ND from Dayton, OH to see the total solar eclipse. I had opted NOT to take the trip due to fear of the cold weather, but on eclipse day in Minot it was above freezing and crystal-clear! To this day I have not witnessed a total solar eclipse.
I'd like to go back to any year between 1969 and 1972 and go to Cape Canaveral, FL to witness a Saturn V launch. I missed them all and there is nothing comparable to a Saturn V launch and the last one was in 1972!
I'd like to go back to 1987 and arrange it so that I heard about my Dad's ill-health and eminent death in plenty of time to have gone to the hospital to say my goodbyes. As it happened, my Mom intentionally did not tell me my Dad was dying even though I lived only 60 miles away at the time. It was the usual behavior for my Mom to "protect me", as she did all my life, and as a result I did not get to say goodbye to my Dad.
I'd like to go back in time to 2007 and stop my sister from moving my aging Mom to Florida with her where she (my sister) arranged to prevent me from receiving my half of our only inheritance when my Mom died in 2012. Now my sister will never know that I planned, unbeknownst to her, to let her keep my half of our inheritance anyway as my gift to her. Instead, our relationship is ruined.
There are other dates I'd go back to if I could to change the events which led to an undesired result in my life. But I can't. None of us can. Indeed we should not be so concerned. Scripture tells us:
"Stop dwelling on past events and brooding over times gone by; I am doing something new; it's springing up — can't you see it?" (Isaiah 43:18-19)
"Whoever therefore is in the Mashiyach is a new creature: old things have passed away" (2 Corinthians 5:17)
We can't dwell upon our past for our past included many factors and decisions at a time when we did not know YHWH as we do now. YHWH, fortunately, does not hold that against us. The important thing is that once we do see the light and know YHWH, we can now make decisions to proceed from this point, using new eyes and new wisdom.
I can't change my past. I can't go back in time and make changes. But I can let go. Some of the things in my past were my fault as they were my decisions. Some only impacted me because of the decisions of others. In either case, I can't change it. But I can grow from it and proceed forward from here for the old things have passed away.
I'd like to go back in time to the early 1960's when in grade school I was NOT selected to participate in the "Vespers". Vespers is from a Greek word meaning "evening", and this was a cherished annual event in my hometown when all the children from the city would converge in the Convention Center one evening of the year (at Christmas) and sing for all their families. I was not selected one year and never sang aloud again.
I'd like to go back in time to the early or mid 1960's when, with my parents at a big company holiday party at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, my parents made me get up and dance with my sister. I was so traumatized it remains to this day the source of a life-long phobia of dancing. Only now, in my 60's, am I trying to overcoming it.
I'd like to go back in time to the 1950s and find my Dad and tell him to stop smoking because in 1987 he'd die of lung cancer and I'd like to prevent that.
I'd like to go back to 1970 and not meet the girl who became my wife in 1976 because in 1998 she divorced me saying only "I did not meet her needs".
I'd like to go back to February, 1979 and actually MAKE the trip to Minot, ND from Dayton, OH to see the total solar eclipse. I had opted NOT to take the trip due to fear of the cold weather, but on eclipse day in Minot it was above freezing and crystal-clear! To this day I have not witnessed a total solar eclipse.
I'd like to go back to any year between 1969 and 1972 and go to Cape Canaveral, FL to witness a Saturn V launch. I missed them all and there is nothing comparable to a Saturn V launch and the last one was in 1972!
I'd like to go back to 1987 and arrange it so that I heard about my Dad's ill-health and eminent death in plenty of time to have gone to the hospital to say my goodbyes. As it happened, my Mom intentionally did not tell me my Dad was dying even though I lived only 60 miles away at the time. It was the usual behavior for my Mom to "protect me", as she did all my life, and as a result I did not get to say goodbye to my Dad.
I'd like to go back in time to 2007 and stop my sister from moving my aging Mom to Florida with her where she (my sister) arranged to prevent me from receiving my half of our only inheritance when my Mom died in 2012. Now my sister will never know that I planned, unbeknownst to her, to let her keep my half of our inheritance anyway as my gift to her. Instead, our relationship is ruined.
There are other dates I'd go back to if I could to change the events which led to an undesired result in my life. But I can't. None of us can. Indeed we should not be so concerned. Scripture tells us:
"Stop dwelling on past events and brooding over times gone by; I am doing something new; it's springing up — can't you see it?" (Isaiah 43:18-19)
"Whoever therefore is in the Mashiyach is a new creature: old things have passed away" (2 Corinthians 5:17)
We can't dwell upon our past for our past included many factors and decisions at a time when we did not know YHWH as we do now. YHWH, fortunately, does not hold that against us. The important thing is that once we do see the light and know YHWH, we can now make decisions to proceed from this point, using new eyes and new wisdom.
I can't change my past. I can't go back in time and make changes. But I can let go. Some of the things in my past were my fault as they were my decisions. Some only impacted me because of the decisions of others. In either case, I can't change it. But I can grow from it and proceed forward from here for the old things have passed away.
Lord, thank You for the storm!
With all the horrific events happening in our world today, many are asking:
Why is God doing this to me” Good question, but for those who know
YHWH/Y’shua/Torah and read and study Scripture faithfully, we realize that
Scripture is literally unfolding before our eyes because we are in a fallen
world! The ONLY thing that’s guaranteed in this “fallen world” is eternal life
for those who have accepted YHWH as our ELOHIM and Y’shua as His Divine
Messiah.
We are actually are told of mankind’s hardship in Ecclesiastes 9 (please read the whole, amazingly powerful short chapter!):
Ecclesiastes 9:1 I applied myself to all of this, sifted through it and concluded that the righteous and the wise, along with their deeds, are in God's hands - a person cannot know whether these people and deeds will be rewarded with love or with hatred; all options are open. 2 Anything can happen to anyone; the same thing can happen to the righteous as to the wicked, to the good and clean and to the unclean, to someone who offers a sacrifice and to someone who doesn't offer a sacrifice; it is the same for a good person as for a sinner, for someone who takes an oath rashly as for someone who fears to take an oath. (CJB)
Sadly, many are quick to blame God whenever things go wrong, but here's a kicker: How many ever remember to THANK Him for the storms - the problems, stresses and strifes? The storm, after all, could be His way of teaching us a lesson of some kind, something we need to know that we could never learn any other way. It could be a test of our faith to remind us WHO is in charge. (HE already knows who we are, but sometimes we humans need a stark reminder!) Or, it could be a situation He wants us to personally experience so that we can use it to help someone else in the future. Who knows why YHWH allows bad things to happen to us? He's God; He can do whatever He wants!
So, yes, bad things also happen to GOOD people! No one is exempt. We inherited our sinfulness from Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3) and since then, YHWH has constantly reached out to "fallen man" to show us how to become reconciled to Him via His Torah which tells us how to live holy and set apart lives - and He even sent us His Divine Son who martyred Himself on our behalf to make it easy on us to become reconciled to ELOHIM!
The next time you undergo a stressful situation, try to remember to "look on the bright side" (hard as that may be!), because YHWH does some of His best work in and through "broken vessels" - those who have suffered and grown stronger in their faith because of their suffering. Try to learn to recognize that "bad times" are part of our growing process. After all, where the sun always shines, there's a desert below....
Also remember, the key is how we react to both, the good and the bad times/situations. Do we immediately whine and cry and blame God whenever things are bad? Or do we act like mature believers who realize we are in a "fallen world" where "stuff happens" and that, no matter what, a better life awaits us in Eternity? Your reactions to life's situations will help YHWH separate the sheep from the goats on Judgment Day....(For more, please check out my article, Lord, thank You for the storm!)
We are actually are told of mankind’s hardship in Ecclesiastes 9 (please read the whole, amazingly powerful short chapter!):
Ecclesiastes 9:1 I applied myself to all of this, sifted through it and concluded that the righteous and the wise, along with their deeds, are in God's hands - a person cannot know whether these people and deeds will be rewarded with love or with hatred; all options are open. 2 Anything can happen to anyone; the same thing can happen to the righteous as to the wicked, to the good and clean and to the unclean, to someone who offers a sacrifice and to someone who doesn't offer a sacrifice; it is the same for a good person as for a sinner, for someone who takes an oath rashly as for someone who fears to take an oath. (CJB)
Sadly, many are quick to blame God whenever things go wrong, but here's a kicker: How many ever remember to THANK Him for the storms - the problems, stresses and strifes? The storm, after all, could be His way of teaching us a lesson of some kind, something we need to know that we could never learn any other way. It could be a test of our faith to remind us WHO is in charge. (HE already knows who we are, but sometimes we humans need a stark reminder!) Or, it could be a situation He wants us to personally experience so that we can use it to help someone else in the future. Who knows why YHWH allows bad things to happen to us? He's God; He can do whatever He wants!
So, yes, bad things also happen to GOOD people! No one is exempt. We inherited our sinfulness from Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3) and since then, YHWH has constantly reached out to "fallen man" to show us how to become reconciled to Him via His Torah which tells us how to live holy and set apart lives - and He even sent us His Divine Son who martyred Himself on our behalf to make it easy on us to become reconciled to ELOHIM!
The next time you undergo a stressful situation, try to remember to "look on the bright side" (hard as that may be!), because YHWH does some of His best work in and through "broken vessels" - those who have suffered and grown stronger in their faith because of their suffering. Try to learn to recognize that "bad times" are part of our growing process. After all, where the sun always shines, there's a desert below....
Also remember, the key is how we react to both, the good and the bad times/situations. Do we immediately whine and cry and blame God whenever things are bad? Or do we act like mature believers who realize we are in a "fallen world" where "stuff happens" and that, no matter what, a better life awaits us in Eternity? Your reactions to life's situations will help YHWH separate the sheep from the goats on Judgment Day....(For more, please check out my article, Lord, thank You for the storm!)
Wednesday, December 23, 2015
The scripture-twisting of anti-missionary Jews ....
We recently found the meme above on the wall of a rabid anti-missionary convert to Judaism. Following is our response to such nonsense:
If this is really a reason for Jews to not believe in the Messiah God has already sent us, then this is downright tragic! According to the meme, atonement was only by a female lamb and since Jesus was not female he cannot qualify? Seriously? Then why in Exodus 12, for the preparation for the one-and-only original "pass over", does it say:
Exodus 12:3 ...On the tenth day of this month, each man is to take a lamb or kid for his family, one per household - 4 except that if the household is too small for a whole lamb or kid, then he and his next-door neighbor should share one, dividing it in proportion to the number of people eating it. 5 Your animal must be without defect, a male in its first year, and you may choose it from either the sheep or the goats. "'You are to keep it until the fourteenth day of the month, and then the entire assembly of the community of Isra'el will slaughter it at dusk.
So here we have that the Passover offering was NOT a "female" and we read in verse 6 that the animal is not sacrificed, but killed. Additionally, it's not a correct statement, citing only Leviticus 4:32 that a sin offering must must be a female animal because we see throughout Torah that atonement for sin is not so much the sex of the animal, rather what animal is required for the person or group or sin being atoned. (Leviticus 4:23 - a bull for a Cohen; Leviticus 4:13 - a bull for the entire community; Leviticus 4:22 - a male goat for a "leader", etc.)
And in Leviticus 5:7, we learn that if a person can't afford a lamb, two doves or pigeons can be substituted! And, as we see in Leviticus 5:11, YHWH is even willing to accept from those who can't afford even a bird: "two quarts of fine flour for a sin offering"….
Leviticus 5:11 "'But if his means are insufficient even for two doves or two young pigeons, then he is to bring as his offering for the sin he committed two quarts of fine flour for a sin offering; he is not to put any olive oil or frankincense on it, because it is a sin offering.
And look at this:
Leviticus 12:8 If she can't afford a lamb, she is to take two doves or two young pigeons, the one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering; the cohen will make atonement for her, and she will be clean.'"
As is clearly evident when read in context, the "female lamb" is not the point! Yes, Leviticus 4:32 says a female lamb, for an individual's sin; but 4:28 says a female goat instead, for an individual's sin. When the Cohen sinned inadvertently, or the entire community sinned inadvertently, a male animal was used for atonement! (See Lev 4:1-4; 4:14; all the sin offerings for the clans in Numbers 7:12-87, the sin offerings of Numbers 28, to mention a few).
So the use of the word "lamb" for the Messiah is entirely metaphorical. His substitution was for all, so it is appropriate that he was male, as the lamb of the original passover was a male.
About the "without blemish" issue: Again, this is metaphorical. "Jesus" was "without blemish" in that He was sinless. Yes, He was beaten bloody, but even in the animal sacrifice, the "unblemished" animal is slaughtered, bloodied, and cut apart! So by this reasoning, doesn't that "disqualify" the animal as it is now no longer "without blemish"?
And, oh by the way, let's not forget there was a "ram" in the thicket at the binding of Isaac (Genesis 22). That ram was a "male" which was the foreshadowing of the redeemer! (Borrowed from The Refiner’s Fire: http://www.therefinersfire.org/jesus_passover_lamb.htm)
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
Discussing what happens to the "lukewarm"....
Have you ever noticed what
happens (albeit, gradually) to those who are “lukewarm” toward
YHWH/Y’shua/Torah, or who graze their way through “religions”; constantly
desiring to chat about God and the Bible but never really making any effort to
get to KNOW our ELOHIM? I’ve encountered many like that, and it seems they
ultimately end up becoming bitter and hateful in their aimless wanderings.
These people never seem to “settle” anywhere in their belief because they view themselves as being “open-minded” and ready to explore “something else” in their perpetual desire to find “Truth.” What’s more, they ALWAYS blame their pastors or their denomination or their upbringing where they were forced to “go to church.” They NEVER point the finger back at themselves or THEIR OWN failure to get into Scripture and research YHWH’s Truth for themselves!
I’ve discerned also that these types tend to be excruciatingly argumentative about what YOU believe, constantly trying to “one-up” you on your knowledge. They will give you “biblical concussions” consisting of endless Scripture twisting designed to force you to relent and agree that THEIR viewpoint is obviously the “right one.” And this actually works on the gullible!
But this is not just how “the lukewarm” operate; it’s also how Jewish anti-missionary rabbis and their converts operate; it’s how many Christian pastors operate; and it’s how the smart alecks in the Christian world and in the Hebrew Roots and Messianic “movements” operate in their desire to win you over to God’s Truth as THEY see it. And this is exactly how satan wins, in the end…because that is his goal: to deceive and confuse and take as many as possible to hell with him! (Remember, he even tried to entice Y’shua! But notice that Y’shua didn’t fight or argue with him; He simply quoted Torah and Psalms in response to all of satan’s nonsense! See What Yeshua did when tempted.)
So, what do we learn from all this? To get into Scripture for ourselves, and allow the Ruach haKodesh/Holy Spirit to teach us! Yes, by all means, read and/or watch videos of the various teachers and preachers “out there” – but do NOT blindly follow ANYONE! If they’re ON the mark, FINE! But if their teachings do not line up with Scripture, RUN! Don’t sit there and pretend you are always able to “chew the meat and spit out the bones” as so many like to insist. (Most don’t have the skills or the proper Bible knowledge to do that, and that is how they end up following some kook down Loony-Tune Lane….)
Ephesians 6: 13. Therefore put on the whole armor of Elohim that you may be able to meet the evil (one); and, being in all respects prepared, may stand firm. 14. Stand up therefore, and gird your loins with truth; and put on the breastplate of righteousness; 15. And defend your feet with the preparation of the Good News of peace. 16. And now take to you the confidence of faith by which you will have power to quench all the fiery darts of the evil (one). 17. And put on the helmet of salvation; and take hold of the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of Elohim. (AENT)
In view of the above, it's no surprise that we have so many “religions” and “denominations” and “cults” today. The enemy is very busy … because he KNOWS how The Book ends! He’s already managed to deceive billions:
2 Timothy 3: 1. But know this: That in the latter days hard times will come: 2. and men will be lovers of themselves and lovers of money, boasters, proud, revilers, unyielding towards their own people, deniers of grace, wicked, 3. unloving, addicted to irreconcilable malicious gossips, ferocious, haters of the good, 4. treacherous, rash, inflated, attached to pleasure more than to the love of Elohim, 5. having a form of respect for Elohim but wide from the power of Elohim. Them who are such, repel from you. 6. For of them are they who creep into this and that house and captivate the women who are plunged in sins and led away by divers lusts, 7. who are always learning, and can never come to the knowledge of the truth. (AENT)
So, what can we do? STAY STRONG! KNOW what the Bible says and don’t ever let some loud-mouthed rubber-necked know-it-all lead you astray:
1 Peter 3:14. But if it should occur that you suffer on account of righteousness, happy are you. And be not terrified by those who would terrify you, nor be in uproar: 15. but sanctify Master YHWH the Mashiyach, in your hearts. And be you ready for a vindication before everyone who demands of you an account of the hope of your faith, 16. in meekness and respect, as having a good conscience; so that they who speak against you as bad men may be ashamed for having maligned your good conduct in the Mashiyach. 17. For it is profitable to you that you suffer evil while you do good deeds, if this should be the pleasure of Elohim; and not, while you do evil deeds.
18. For the Mashiyach also once died for our sins, the righteous for sinners; that he might bring you to Elohim. And he died in body but lived in spirit. 19. And he preached to those souls which were detained in Sheol (Hades) 20. which were formerly disobedient in the days of Noah when the long suffering of Elohim commanded an ark to be made, in hope of their repentance; and eight souls only entered into it and were kept alive in the waters.* 21. And you also, by a like figure, are made alive by immersion (not when you wash your bodies from filth, but when you confess Elohim with a pure conscience) and by the resurrection of Y’shua the Mashiyach 22. who is taken up to heaven and is on the right hand of Elohim and Messengers and authorities, and powers are subject to him. (AENT)
* “Alive in the waters” points to the waters of the Mikveh, the complete immersion (baptism) into living waters after a soul has repented of their sin and agreed to walk in the newness of life (the Kingdom) as offered through Mashiyach. It is also worth noting that the words “in hope of their repentance” do not appear in the Greek traditions.
In the end, she was consumed with so much hatred and loathing for her pastors, parents, husband, and all preachers or rabbis who, in her eyes, had ever “led her astray” that she decided to pursue her own “truth”….And her own truth caused her to sound like a raving lunatic, casting suspicion on everyone and anything - especially doctors, government leaders, scientists, church or synagogue leaders, the Internet, etc., all the while making crazy assertions like "the earth is really flat” and that NASA and “the government” and everyone else in the entire world are liars out to deceive people….
This woman is a perfect example of what happens to people who reject YHWH and HIS Truth! It is clear He has allowed her to fall so far away from Him, that her posts sound as if they came from the mind of a total lunatic, spewing vitriol at anyone who attempts to guide her back from the brink of insanity. There is nothing left to do for people like her, because they have chosen their path.
Hebrews 6: 4. But they who have once descended to immersion and have tasted the gift from heaven and have received the Ruach haKodesh 5. and have tasted the good Word of Elohim and the power of the world to come, 6. cannot again sin and a second time be renewed to repentance; or a second time execute him on a stake and insult the Son of Elohim. 7. For the earth that drinks the rain which comes often upon it and produces the herb that is of use to those for whom it is cultivated, receives a blessing from Elohim. 8. But if it should put forth thorns and briers, it would be discarded and be approaching closely to a curse, and its end would be a conflagration. (AENT)
Hebrews 10: 26 For if we deliberately continue to sin after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but only the terrifying prospect of Judgment, or raging fire that will consume the enemies.
(By the way, the above Scripture is not referring to those unclean bondages that dwell in our flesh but to the CONSCIOUS choices believers make. It refers not to our unintentional sins but to those we pursue knowingly and willingly!)
2 Peter 2: 19 They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption; for a person is slave to whatever has defeated him. 20 Indeed, if they have once escaped the pollutions of the world through knowing our Lord and Deliverer, Yeshua the Messiah, and then have again become entangled and defeated by them, their latter condition has become worse than their former. 21 It would have been better for them not to have known the Way of righteousness than, fully knowing, to turn from the holy command delivered to them.
The thing is, we ALL must choose whom we will serve – because when it comes to the Kingdom, there is NO “gray area”:
Joshua 24:15 ...As for me and my household, we will serve YHWH! (CJB)
These people never seem to “settle” anywhere in their belief because they view themselves as being “open-minded” and ready to explore “something else” in their perpetual desire to find “Truth.” What’s more, they ALWAYS blame their pastors or their denomination or their upbringing where they were forced to “go to church.” They NEVER point the finger back at themselves or THEIR OWN failure to get into Scripture and research YHWH’s Truth for themselves!
I’ve discerned also that these types tend to be excruciatingly argumentative about what YOU believe, constantly trying to “one-up” you on your knowledge. They will give you “biblical concussions” consisting of endless Scripture twisting designed to force you to relent and agree that THEIR viewpoint is obviously the “right one.” And this actually works on the gullible!
But this is not just how “the lukewarm” operate; it’s also how Jewish anti-missionary rabbis and their converts operate; it’s how many Christian pastors operate; and it’s how the smart alecks in the Christian world and in the Hebrew Roots and Messianic “movements” operate in their desire to win you over to God’s Truth as THEY see it. And this is exactly how satan wins, in the end…because that is his goal: to deceive and confuse and take as many as possible to hell with him! (Remember, he even tried to entice Y’shua! But notice that Y’shua didn’t fight or argue with him; He simply quoted Torah and Psalms in response to all of satan’s nonsense! See What Yeshua did when tempted.)
So, what do we learn from all this? To get into Scripture for ourselves, and allow the Ruach haKodesh/Holy Spirit to teach us! Yes, by all means, read and/or watch videos of the various teachers and preachers “out there” – but do NOT blindly follow ANYONE! If they’re ON the mark, FINE! But if their teachings do not line up with Scripture, RUN! Don’t sit there and pretend you are always able to “chew the meat and spit out the bones” as so many like to insist. (Most don’t have the skills or the proper Bible knowledge to do that, and that is how they end up following some kook down Loony-Tune Lane….)
Ephesians 6: 13. Therefore put on the whole armor of Elohim that you may be able to meet the evil (one); and, being in all respects prepared, may stand firm. 14. Stand up therefore, and gird your loins with truth; and put on the breastplate of righteousness; 15. And defend your feet with the preparation of the Good News of peace. 16. And now take to you the confidence of faith by which you will have power to quench all the fiery darts of the evil (one). 17. And put on the helmet of salvation; and take hold of the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of Elohim. (AENT)
In view of the above, it's no surprise that we have so many “religions” and “denominations” and “cults” today. The enemy is very busy … because he KNOWS how The Book ends! He’s already managed to deceive billions:
2 Timothy 3: 1. But know this: That in the latter days hard times will come: 2. and men will be lovers of themselves and lovers of money, boasters, proud, revilers, unyielding towards their own people, deniers of grace, wicked, 3. unloving, addicted to irreconcilable malicious gossips, ferocious, haters of the good, 4. treacherous, rash, inflated, attached to pleasure more than to the love of Elohim, 5. having a form of respect for Elohim but wide from the power of Elohim. Them who are such, repel from you. 6. For of them are they who creep into this and that house and captivate the women who are plunged in sins and led away by divers lusts, 7. who are always learning, and can never come to the knowledge of the truth. (AENT)
So, what can we do? STAY STRONG! KNOW what the Bible says and don’t ever let some loud-mouthed rubber-necked know-it-all lead you astray:
1 Peter 3:14. But if it should occur that you suffer on account of righteousness, happy are you. And be not terrified by those who would terrify you, nor be in uproar: 15. but sanctify Master YHWH the Mashiyach, in your hearts. And be you ready for a vindication before everyone who demands of you an account of the hope of your faith, 16. in meekness and respect, as having a good conscience; so that they who speak against you as bad men may be ashamed for having maligned your good conduct in the Mashiyach. 17. For it is profitable to you that you suffer evil while you do good deeds, if this should be the pleasure of Elohim; and not, while you do evil deeds.
18. For the Mashiyach also once died for our sins, the righteous for sinners; that he might bring you to Elohim. And he died in body but lived in spirit. 19. And he preached to those souls which were detained in Sheol (Hades) 20. which were formerly disobedient in the days of Noah when the long suffering of Elohim commanded an ark to be made, in hope of their repentance; and eight souls only entered into it and were kept alive in the waters.* 21. And you also, by a like figure, are made alive by immersion (not when you wash your bodies from filth, but when you confess Elohim with a pure conscience) and by the resurrection of Y’shua the Mashiyach 22. who is taken up to heaven and is on the right hand of Elohim and Messengers and authorities, and powers are subject to him. (AENT)
* “Alive in the waters” points to the waters of the Mikveh, the complete immersion (baptism) into living waters after a soul has repented of their sin and agreed to walk in the newness of life (the Kingdom) as offered through Mashiyach. It is also worth noting that the words “in hope of their repentance” do not appear in the Greek traditions.
NOTE: I wrote
the above because I happed upon some posts of a former Facebook friend
who I helped lead to Torah several years ago. Two or three years later,
she decided just being a Torah observant believer in Y’shua wasn’t enough, and
so she decided to pursue the REAL Truth by “rejecting Jesus” altogether and
following the rabid anti-Christian, anti-Messianic rhetoric spewed by people
like Rabbis Tovia Singer and Michael Skobac and others.
In the end, she was consumed with so much hatred and loathing for her pastors, parents, husband, and all preachers or rabbis who, in her eyes, had ever “led her astray” that she decided to pursue her own “truth”….And her own truth caused her to sound like a raving lunatic, casting suspicion on everyone and anything - especially doctors, government leaders, scientists, church or synagogue leaders, the Internet, etc., all the while making crazy assertions like "the earth is really flat” and that NASA and “the government” and everyone else in the entire world are liars out to deceive people….
This woman is a perfect example of what happens to people who reject YHWH and HIS Truth! It is clear He has allowed her to fall so far away from Him, that her posts sound as if they came from the mind of a total lunatic, spewing vitriol at anyone who attempts to guide her back from the brink of insanity. There is nothing left to do for people like her, because they have chosen their path.
Hebrews 6: 4. But they who have once descended to immersion and have tasted the gift from heaven and have received the Ruach haKodesh 5. and have tasted the good Word of Elohim and the power of the world to come, 6. cannot again sin and a second time be renewed to repentance; or a second time execute him on a stake and insult the Son of Elohim. 7. For the earth that drinks the rain which comes often upon it and produces the herb that is of use to those for whom it is cultivated, receives a blessing from Elohim. 8. But if it should put forth thorns and briers, it would be discarded and be approaching closely to a curse, and its end would be a conflagration. (AENT)
Hebrews 10: 26 For if we deliberately continue to sin after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but only the terrifying prospect of Judgment, or raging fire that will consume the enemies.
(By the way, the above Scripture is not referring to those unclean bondages that dwell in our flesh but to the CONSCIOUS choices believers make. It refers not to our unintentional sins but to those we pursue knowingly and willingly!)
2 Peter 2: 19 They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption; for a person is slave to whatever has defeated him. 20 Indeed, if they have once escaped the pollutions of the world through knowing our Lord and Deliverer, Yeshua the Messiah, and then have again become entangled and defeated by them, their latter condition has become worse than their former. 21 It would have been better for them not to have known the Way of righteousness than, fully knowing, to turn from the holy command delivered to them.
The thing is, we ALL must choose whom we will serve – because when it comes to the Kingdom, there is NO “gray area”:
Joshua 24:15 ...As for me and my household, we will serve YHWH! (CJB)
Friday, December 18, 2015
A short explanation of the YHWH/Yeshua relationship
Many
seem to be confused about the YHWH/Y'shua relationship, blindly insisting "Jesus
is God," and "Jesus is the one true Name of God" - without
really knowing what Scripture says concerning the actual relationship between
YHWH and Y'shua.
Exodus 3: 13 And Mosheh said to Elohim, “See, when I come to the children of Yisra’ĕl and say to them, ‘The Elohim of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His Name?’ what shall I say to them?” 14 And Elohim said to Mosheh, “I am that which I am.”1 And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Yisra’ĕl, ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ” 15 And Elohim said further to Mosheh, “Thus you are to say to the children of Yisra’ĕl, ‘יהוה Elohim of your fathers, the Elohim of Aḇraham, the Elohim of Yitsḥaq, and the Elohim of Yaʽaqoḇ, has sent me to you. This is My Name forever, and this is My remembrance to all generations.’ (ISR)
FOOTNOTE: The Heḇrew text reads: ’eyeh ’asher ’eyeh, the word ’eyeh being derived from hayah which means to be, to exist, but the Aramaic text here in v. 14 reads: ayah ashar ayah. This is not His Name, but it is an explanation that leads up to the revelation of His Name in v. 15, namely: יהוה.
Now, check out what the New Testament reveals about the Son:
John 1: 1. In the beginning[1] was the Miltha[2]. And that Miltha was with Elohim. And Elohim was that Miltha. 2. This was with Elohim in the beginning. 3. Everything existed through His hands,[3] and without Him, not even one thing existed of the things which have existed. 4. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5. And that light shines in the darkness,[4] and the darkness did not overtake it. (AENT)
FOOTNOTES:
[2] Miltha has no direct English equivalent. It can mean ‘Word’, ‘Manifestation’, ‘Instance’ or ‘Substance’ among other things. In this context, it may best be left untranslated.
[3] Literal Aramaic reading; “through his hands” indicates the Word as a creative force, like a sculptor working under the orders of a king. See Psalm 33:6; Isaiah 44:24; 66:1, 2.
[4] Aramaic wordplay. Nohra b’nshokha menhar (light in the darkness that shines) is a deliberate mirror-reversal of menhar-nohra (menorah), which marks the conception of the light of the world at Hanukkah. This puts the birth of Mashiyach nine months from Hanukkah, during the fall feasts; many point to the first day of Feast of Tabernacles for the date of Y’shua’s birth.
John 1:14 14. And the Miltha[1] (Word) became flesh and dwelt among us and we saw His glory,[2] the glory as the Only-Begotten[3] who is from the Father who is full of grace and truth. (AENT)
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Miltha refers to the “Manifestation” of the Ruach haKodesh within Mashiyach. The physical body of Mashiyach is not the Word of YHWH, but his words and actions demonstrate the Will and Word of YHWH, which upholds observance of Torah. However, Christo-Pagans like Marcion and Constantine taught that Y’shua’s body and spirit manifest a different “word” that did away with Torah. The Word of YHWH was substituted with dispensational and replacement “theologies,” which is very popular in Christianity.
[2] Isaiah 42:8; 48:11
[3] Ekhadaya is a beautiful term used among Eastern theologians and poets; it literally means “THE ONE.”
Ephesians 2: 13. But now, by Y’shua the Mashiyach, you who before were afar off, have been brought near by the blood of the Mashiyach. 14. He is himself our peace, who has made the two (become) one, and has demolished the wall[1] which stood in the midst, and the enmity, by his flesh; 15. And in his flesh (the) enmity and regulations of commands (contained) in his commandments are abolished[2] (so) that in himself (an occurrence of the divine nature, or qnoma),[3] he might make the two into one, establishing peace. 16. And has reconciled both with Elohim in one body and has slain the enmity by his stake (of execution).
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Aramaic for wall is syaga. Ironically, this exact term was picked up by the Talmudic rabbis in Pirkei Avot (Sayings of the Fathers) 1:1 that commanded, “make a fence around the Torah.” Y’shua specifically warned against this activity in Matthew 15, rebuking the Pharisees in the process. Later on, Y’shua said he was the “door/gate” using a synonym for syaga, known as taarea, which is a homonym “torah” and “teachers,” meaning the Pharisees. So while the Pharisees are busy erecting their fence, Y’shua is pulling it down, allowing everyone access!
[2] The grammatical structure here fully guarantees that namusa is referring to “customs” as in the traditions of the Pharisees, not Torah itself. Mashiyach abolishes the “enmity” (hatred or animosity) that has been brought against YHWH by religious tradition and false interpretations of Torah, which was a heavy burden that people could not bear. Christian theologians, however, twist this verse and teach that it was YHWH’s Torah that brought the hatred and that Mashiyach did away with Torah, which is a very reckless and evil theology. Mashiyach sent the Ruach haKodesh to write YHWH’s Torah upon the hearts of his people, not abolish it. .
[3] Qnoma can mean “core substance” or “occurrence.” Although Greek reads “self” Aramaic does not; “self” leads to assumptions of “personhood” which breeds idolatry.
We must always remember that while YHWH and Y'shua are ONE, Y'shua - as a human being with a divine qnoma/nature, sent by YHWH - never replaced YHWH as ELOHIM. YHWH Himself was never a human being! No one can look upon YHWH and live - He told Moshe this just before putting Moshe in a rock cleft to protect him (Exodus 33:19-22). Even the Seraphim in Isaiah 6 “covered their faces.”
Exodus 33:19 And He said, “I shall cause all My goodness to pass before you, and I shall proclaim the Name of יהוה before you. And I shall favour him whom I favour, and shall have compassion on him whom I have compassion.” 20 But He said, “You are unable to see My face, for no man does see Me and live.” 21 And יהוה said, “See, there is a place with Me! And you shall stand on the rock. 22 “And it shall be, while My esteem passes by, that I shall put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand while I pass by. 23 “Then I shall take away My hand and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen.” (ISR)
We see something in Philippians 2:5-11 that makes us realize YHWH and Y'shua ARE "One" but we must remember that their "one-ness" is something the human mind cannot thoroughly comprehend:
Philippians 2:5 And think you so in yourselves, as Y'shua the Mashiyach also thought; 6. who, as he was in the likeness of Elohim, did not regard it sinful to be the coequal of Elohim; 7. yet disinherited himself and assumed the likeness of a servant, and was in the likeness of men and was found in fashion as a man; 8. and he humbled himself and became obedient to death, even the death of the stake. (NOTE: Remember, GOD cannot be born or die!) 9. Wherefore, also, Elohim has highly exalted him and given him a name which is more excellent than all names; 10. that at the name of Y'shua every knee should bow, of (beings) in heaven and on earth and under the earth; 11. and that every tongue should confess that Y'shua the Mashiyach is YHWH, to the glory of Elohim his Father. (AENT)
FOOTNOTE: "Name" in verse 9 is more than his literal birth name Y'shua (which was and is a common Hebrew name), and more than the perfect reputation that his name represents. Y'shua bears (reveals) the Name of YHWH, the "name above all names!" Y'shua has the Name and reputation of the Father YHWH in him (John 17:11) and the name means "YHWH is Salvation" (Matthew 1:21).
We must be very careful to make a distinction between YHWH "the Father" and Y'shua the "Son." Mankind HAS seen Y'shua because he came as a human being. However, mankind has never and will not see YHWH Himself until we are out of our earthly bodies to stand before Him to see the actual face of ELOHIM."
Revelation 22:4 And they shall see His face, and His Name shall be upon their foreheads. (ISR)
First,
according to Scripture, the one true Name of our ELOHIM is YHWH, not
"Jesu" - and not even his actually Hebrew Name, "Y'shua"! Y'shua is the "arm" of YHWH (Isaiah
53:1), the Son (John 20:30-31), the Word (John 1:1, 14; John 14:9), His Divine
MESSIAH! Let's look at what the Torah says:
Exodus 3: 13 And Mosheh said to Elohim, “See, when I come to the children of Yisra’ĕl and say to them, ‘The Elohim of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His Name?’ what shall I say to them?” 14 And Elohim said to Mosheh, “I am that which I am.”1 And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Yisra’ĕl, ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ” 15 And Elohim said further to Mosheh, “Thus you are to say to the children of Yisra’ĕl, ‘יהוה Elohim of your fathers, the Elohim of Aḇraham, the Elohim of Yitsḥaq, and the Elohim of Yaʽaqoḇ, has sent me to you. This is My Name forever, and this is My remembrance to all generations.’ (ISR)
FOOTNOTE: The Heḇrew text reads: ’eyeh ’asher ’eyeh, the word ’eyeh being derived from hayah which means to be, to exist, but the Aramaic text here in v. 14 reads: ayah ashar ayah. This is not His Name, but it is an explanation that leads up to the revelation of His Name in v. 15, namely: יהוה.
Now, check out what the New Testament reveals about the Son:
John 1: 1. In the beginning[1] was the Miltha[2]. And that Miltha was with Elohim. And Elohim was that Miltha. 2. This was with Elohim in the beginning. 3. Everything existed through His hands,[3] and without Him, not even one thing existed of the things which have existed. 4. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5. And that light shines in the darkness,[4] and the darkness did not overtake it. (AENT)
FOOTNOTES:
[1]
The phrase B’resheet aytohi hwa miltha breaks a most basic rule of Aramaic
grammar by combining a feminine noun (miltha) with two masculine verbs for “to
be” (aytohi, hwa). This is unheard of in Aramaic literature other than right
here in this passage and in 1 John. This shows YHWH has male and female
“images/spirits” even though YHWH remains a He. It may also be a midrash on
Isaiah 11:1-2, which describes the Spirit of YHWH descending on Mashiyach using
both masculine and feminine suffixes. This is not something easily translated,
let alone when it occurs within the first four words.
[2] Miltha has no direct English equivalent. It can mean ‘Word’, ‘Manifestation’, ‘Instance’ or ‘Substance’ among other things. In this context, it may best be left untranslated.
[3] Literal Aramaic reading; “through his hands” indicates the Word as a creative force, like a sculptor working under the orders of a king. See Psalm 33:6; Isaiah 44:24; 66:1, 2.
[4] Aramaic wordplay. Nohra b’nshokha menhar (light in the darkness that shines) is a deliberate mirror-reversal of menhar-nohra (menorah), which marks the conception of the light of the world at Hanukkah. This puts the birth of Mashiyach nine months from Hanukkah, during the fall feasts; many point to the first day of Feast of Tabernacles for the date of Y’shua’s birth.
John 1:14 14. And the Miltha[1] (Word) became flesh and dwelt among us and we saw His glory,[2] the glory as the Only-Begotten[3] who is from the Father who is full of grace and truth. (AENT)
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Miltha refers to the “Manifestation” of the Ruach haKodesh within Mashiyach. The physical body of Mashiyach is not the Word of YHWH, but his words and actions demonstrate the Will and Word of YHWH, which upholds observance of Torah. However, Christo-Pagans like Marcion and Constantine taught that Y’shua’s body and spirit manifest a different “word” that did away with Torah. The Word of YHWH was substituted with dispensational and replacement “theologies,” which is very popular in Christianity.
[2] Isaiah 42:8; 48:11
[3] Ekhadaya is a beautiful term used among Eastern theologians and poets; it literally means “THE ONE.”
Ephesians 2: 13. But now, by Y’shua the Mashiyach, you who before were afar off, have been brought near by the blood of the Mashiyach. 14. He is himself our peace, who has made the two (become) one, and has demolished the wall[1] which stood in the midst, and the enmity, by his flesh; 15. And in his flesh (the) enmity and regulations of commands (contained) in his commandments are abolished[2] (so) that in himself (an occurrence of the divine nature, or qnoma),[3] he might make the two into one, establishing peace. 16. And has reconciled both with Elohim in one body and has slain the enmity by his stake (of execution).
17.
And he came and proclaimed peace to you afar off, and to those near: 18.
Because by him there is access for us both, by one Spirit, to the Father. 19.
Wherefore you are not strangers nor sojourners, but you are fellow-citizens
with the Set Apart believers and of the household of Elohim. 20. And you are
built upon the foundations of the Shlichim and the prophets; and Y’shua the
Mashiyach has become the head of the corner in the edifice. 21. And in him all
the edifice is framed together and grows into a Set Apart temple in Master YHWH;
22. While you also are built in him for a habitation of Elohim through the
Spirit. (AENT)
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Aramaic for wall is syaga. Ironically, this exact term was picked up by the Talmudic rabbis in Pirkei Avot (Sayings of the Fathers) 1:1 that commanded, “make a fence around the Torah.” Y’shua specifically warned against this activity in Matthew 15, rebuking the Pharisees in the process. Later on, Y’shua said he was the “door/gate” using a synonym for syaga, known as taarea, which is a homonym “torah” and “teachers,” meaning the Pharisees. So while the Pharisees are busy erecting their fence, Y’shua is pulling it down, allowing everyone access!
[2] The grammatical structure here fully guarantees that namusa is referring to “customs” as in the traditions of the Pharisees, not Torah itself. Mashiyach abolishes the “enmity” (hatred or animosity) that has been brought against YHWH by religious tradition and false interpretations of Torah, which was a heavy burden that people could not bear. Christian theologians, however, twist this verse and teach that it was YHWH’s Torah that brought the hatred and that Mashiyach did away with Torah, which is a very reckless and evil theology. Mashiyach sent the Ruach haKodesh to write YHWH’s Torah upon the hearts of his people, not abolish it. .
[3] Qnoma can mean “core substance” or “occurrence.” Although Greek reads “self” Aramaic does not; “self” leads to assumptions of “personhood” which breeds idolatry.
We must always remember that while YHWH and Y'shua are ONE, Y'shua - as a human being with a divine qnoma/nature, sent by YHWH - never replaced YHWH as ELOHIM. YHWH Himself was never a human being! No one can look upon YHWH and live - He told Moshe this just before putting Moshe in a rock cleft to protect him (Exodus 33:19-22). Even the Seraphim in Isaiah 6 “covered their faces.”
Exodus 33:19 And He said, “I shall cause all My goodness to pass before you, and I shall proclaim the Name of יהוה before you. And I shall favour him whom I favour, and shall have compassion on him whom I have compassion.” 20 But He said, “You are unable to see My face, for no man does see Me and live.” 21 And יהוה said, “See, there is a place with Me! And you shall stand on the rock. 22 “And it shall be, while My esteem passes by, that I shall put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand while I pass by. 23 “Then I shall take away My hand and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen.” (ISR)
We see something in Philippians 2:5-11 that makes us realize YHWH and Y'shua ARE "One" but we must remember that their "one-ness" is something the human mind cannot thoroughly comprehend:
Philippians 2:5 And think you so in yourselves, as Y'shua the Mashiyach also thought; 6. who, as he was in the likeness of Elohim, did not regard it sinful to be the coequal of Elohim; 7. yet disinherited himself and assumed the likeness of a servant, and was in the likeness of men and was found in fashion as a man; 8. and he humbled himself and became obedient to death, even the death of the stake. (NOTE: Remember, GOD cannot be born or die!) 9. Wherefore, also, Elohim has highly exalted him and given him a name which is more excellent than all names; 10. that at the name of Y'shua every knee should bow, of (beings) in heaven and on earth and under the earth; 11. and that every tongue should confess that Y'shua the Mashiyach is YHWH, to the glory of Elohim his Father. (AENT)
FOOTNOTE: "Name" in verse 9 is more than his literal birth name Y'shua (which was and is a common Hebrew name), and more than the perfect reputation that his name represents. Y'shua bears (reveals) the Name of YHWH, the "name above all names!" Y'shua has the Name and reputation of the Father YHWH in him (John 17:11) and the name means "YHWH is Salvation" (Matthew 1:21).
We must be very careful to make a distinction between YHWH "the Father" and Y'shua the "Son." Mankind HAS seen Y'shua because he came as a human being. However, mankind has never and will not see YHWH Himself until we are out of our earthly bodies to stand before Him to see the actual face of ELOHIM."
Revelation 22:4 And they shall see His face, and His Name shall be upon their foreheads. (ISR)