Some “New Testament” passages revealing that the keeping of the “Old Testament” commandments did NOT end with the coming of Yeshua (Jesus)...

The following are some “New Testament” passages revealing that the keeping of the “Old Testament” commandments did NOT end with the coming of Yeshua (Jesus)...

John 14: 15. If you love me, keep my Commandments. 16. And I will ask of my Father and He will give you another Redeemer[1] who will be with you forever. 17. The Spirit of Truth, He who the world is not able to receive because it has not seen Him, nor does know Him. But you know Him for He dwells with you and He is in you.

18. I will not leave you bereaved. For I will come to you in a little while. 19. And the world will not see me, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20. In that day you will know that I am in my Father and you are in me and I am in you. 21. He who has my Commandments with him and keeps them, he is who loves me and he who loves me will be loved by my Father. And I will love him and reveal myself to him. (AENT)

[1] "Redeemer" or "One who ends the curse." By the indwelling of the Ruach haKodesh, our fallen nature is redeemed from the curse of Adam. By ending the curse, Mashiyach as savior, more literally fulfills the office of Mashiyach as the "giver of lives."

John 15: 10. If you keep my Commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept the Commandments of my Father, and I abide in His love. 11. I have spoken these things with you that my joy may be in you and that your joy might be full in you. 12. This is my Commandment, that you love one another just as I have loved you. (AENT)

NOTE: The "Commandments of my Father" always refers to Torah; see also John 15:5. Y'shua and his Talmidim (disciples) keep his Father's Commandments, but mainstream Christianity is not only anti-Torah; they turned rebellion against Torah into a "fashionable" form of lawlessness. See Daniel 7:24; 2 Thessalonians 2:7; 2 Timothy 2:19; Titus 2:14; 2 Peter 2:21; 1 John 3:4; Hebrews 2:2-4; Romans 4:15; Matthew 7:23; 13:41.

Note in the above that Yeshua was Torah observant; He kept the commandments of Torah! He said, "If you keep my Commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept the Commandments of my Father, and I abide in His love." Note that Yeshua said “YOU”…Those two facts ("love" and "commandments") cannot be separated! To "love one another" is to share with each other the keeping of the commandments!

God LOVES us, and He WANTS to have a true relationship with Him. Our “traditions” and simply “going to church” are NOT a “relationship.” He demands that we obey His commands, so that all will go well with us.

In Deuteronomy 27:26 He said: “A curse on anyone who does not confirm the words of this Torah by putting them into practice.' All the people are to say, 'Amen!'" (Also, please read Deuteronomy 28:1-15.) These things didn’t then, and don’t now, pertain “only to the Jews.” …
If you’ve read the whole Bible, you can see from start to finish how adamant He was and is - all the way through to the end of the “New Testament”:

Jeremiah 17: 5 Here is what ADONAI says: "A curse on the person who trusts in humans, who relies on merely human strength, whose heart turns away from ADONAI. 6 He will be like a tamarisk in the 'Aravah - when relief comes, it is unaffected; for it lives in the sun-baked desert, in salty, uninhabited land.

7 Blessed is the man who trusts in ADONAI; ADONAI will be his security. 8 He will be like a tree planted near water; it spreads out its roots by the river; it does not notice when heat comes; and its foliage is luxuriant; it is not anxious in a year of drought but keeps on yielding fruit. 9 "The heart is more deceitful than anything else and mortally sick. Who can fathom it? 10 I, ADONAI, search the heart; I test inner motivations; in order to give to everyone what his actions and conduct deserve." (CJB)

Revelation 22: 14. Blessed are they who do His (Master YHWH's) Mitzvot (words/commands), that they may have a right to the tree of life and may enter through the gates into the city. 15. Without (will be) dogs (idiom for male prostitutes; those who are evil/pagan) and sorcerers, and whoremongers and manslayers and idolaters, and everyone that loves and does falsehood. 16. I Y'shua have sent my Messenger to testify to you these things before the assemblies. I am the root and offspring of Dawid: like the splendid star of the morning.

17. And the Spirit and the bride say, You come. And let him that hears, say, You come. And let him who thirsts, come; and he that is inclined, let him take the living water freely. 18. I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book, that if anyone will add to them, Elohim will add to him the plagues that are written in this book.

19. And if anyone will take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, Elohim will take away his portion from the tree of life and from the Set Apart city, which are described in this book. 20. He who testifies these things, says: Yes, I come quickly. Amen. Come, Lord Y'shua! 21. The grace of our Master (Y'shua) Y'shua the Mashiyach, (be) with all the Set Apart believers. Amen. (AENT)

Remember who was standing before Him on Sinai? It wasn’t just “the Jews”; it was the 12 tribes, AND the foreigners who had followed Moshe and the Hebrews out of Egypt. Those of them who wished to accept YHWH as their ELOHIM, were told to do exactly as HIS people did! (Exodus 12:38, Numbers 15:13-16)

YHWH was making His oath not only with those standing before Him, but with all future generations of those who have accepted Him as their Elohim! (Remember, as believers in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, YOU are part of Israel - Halleluyah! He made this oath with YOU as well as those standing before Him at Sinai: Obey Him and all will go well with you; disobey and you will be cursed....)

Deuteronomy 29: 19 If there is such a person, when he hears the words of this curse, he will bless himself secretly, saying to himself, ‘I will be all right, even though I will stubbornly keep doing whatever I feel like doing; so that I, although “dry,” [sinful,] will be added to the “watered” [righteous].’ 20 But ADONAI will not forgive him. Rather, the anger and jealousy of ADONAI will blaze up against that person. Every curse written in this book will be upon him. ADONAI will blot out his name from under heaven. (ESV)

A FINAL NOTE TO PONDER:

The death of Yeshua didn't remove our need to have a true and holy relationship with YHWH; he came to free us from our past sins. If things aren’t “going well” with us and we aren’t feeling blessed, it’s either because YHWH is loving us enough to chastise us for something, and He is trying to get us back on track; OR, because WE deliberately continue to ignore His commands – at which point we will receive His curses.

Can Scripture contradict itself?

To all those who believe that Paul negated the Torah by interpreting Colossians 2:14 thusly...

“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;” (KJV) to mean that the Law is nailed to the cross so there is no need for Christians to keep the Torah, and Galatians 2:21 “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” (KJV):

...then please answer one question:  Can Scripture contradict itself?

If it (or Paul) appears to contradict itself, then there is only two possible conclusions. 1) Your interpretation of at least one of the verses is incorrect and you should be open to alternate interpretations, or 2) This invalidates all the Scripture. Is Yahweh the one that is incorrect? Or is it much more likely that it is our interpretation that is incorrect and should be adjusted.

I offer the following verses: 2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is inspired by God, and useful for teaching, for reproof, for restoration, and for training in righteousness, so that the person belonging to God may be capable, fully equipped for every good deed.” (TLV)

Does your interpretation of these verses (Colossians and Galatians contradict 2 Timothy 3? It seems to me that if the Torah is done away with, does not apply to Christians, and therefore is not to be followed, then the inevitable conclusion is that Torah is not useful for teaching, reproof, restoration or for training in righteousness. If it is true that Torah is invalid for Gentiles, then what parts of the Tanach, (Old Testament) are valid for teaching, reproof, restoration and training in righteousness? Psalms? Then what about Psalms 119? Proverbs? What about Proverbs 7 “My son, keep my words and treasure my mitzvot within you. Keep my mitzvot and live, my teaching as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers, write them on the tablet of your heart.” Or do we just throw out the entire Old Testament? Just what is the “word” if we do that? If we do that then indeed, Paul contradicts himself and the Scriptures.

There are just so many places within the Tanach (Old Testament) and the New Testament that affirm Yahweh’s instructions first for the Hebrews, and then for all men to follow. In fact, the Torah is the foundation upon which all the New Testament is built.

Paul also said “So what room is left for boasting? None at all! What kind of Torah excludes it? One that has to do with legalistic observance of rules? No, rather, a Torah that has to do with trusting. Therefore, we hold the view that a person comes to be considered righteous by God on the ground of trusting, which has nothing to do with legalistic observance of Torah commands. Or is God the God of the Jews only? Isn’t he also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, he is indeed the God of the Gentiles; because, as you will admit, God is one. Therefore, he will consider righteous the circumcised on the ground of trusting and the uncircumcised through that same trusting. Does it follow that we abolish Torah by this trusting? Heaven forbid! On the contrary, we confirm Torah. (Romans 3:27-31). 

So by doing Torah we are not boasting, we are honoring and affirming Yahweh’s word and the living word, Yeshua.

And. “Therefore, what are we to say? That the Torah is sinful? Heaven forbid! Rather, the function of the Torah was that without it, I would not have known what sin is.” (Romans 7:7).

And, “For it is not merely the hearers of Torah whom God considers righteous; rather, it is the doers of what Torah says who will be made righteous in God’s sight.” (Romans 2:13)

Why wouldn’t all Christians wish to be righteous in God’s sight? Why wouldn’t all Christians desire to DO the Torah, eat Kosher, keep the 10 commandments, keep the 7th day Sabbath (Saturday), and celebrate the feasts of Yahweh, especially since they claim that Yeshua (Jesus) is their example, and He kept all the Torah. Is it logical that Yahweh sent His only Son into the world to do His Torah just so His followers would have no reason to honor His Father likewise?

Search for another interpretation whenever there appears to be a contradiction in Scripture. The whole book, Old Testament and New Testament are one book, with one message of repentance and restoration, with multiple examples for our edification. It is all true. “Be holy as I am holy.”

Remember Yahweh’s character of compassion, graciousness, slow to anger, abundant in lovingkindness and truth, showing mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, yet by no means leaving the guilty unpunished. (Exodus 34:6-7). We must adopt attitudes that are consistent with His character. Is it possible that He does not desire that all His people, including Gentile believers in His Mashiach, follow His guidance? Heaven forbid!!!

The bottom line is: if you are a Christian were you grafted into Israel? If yes, then the Torah applies to you. See Romans 11:17-24…. If no, then Yeshua did not come for you. See Matthew 10:24 where He said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Isra’el.” He came for His children (Isra’el), whether or not they are adopted (believers in Yeshua that are grafted in). 

I am sorry, but Yeshua said: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, only those who do what my Father in heaven wants. On that Day, many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord! Didn’t we prophesy in your name? Didn’t we expel demons in your name? Didn’t we perform many miracles in your name?’ Then I will tell them to their faces, ‘I never knew you! Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness” Matthew 7:21-23.

His Father, Yahweh, gave all His children His instructions for righteousness (holiness), to both His Hebrew children, and His adopted children, and He expects all of us to obey and trust in Him to the best of our abilities, by doing all of His commandments (mitzvot) that apply to us. Do not exclude the Father and His instructions just because you accept the restoration with the Father that Yeshua offers! 

We serve both Father and Son in Spirit and Truth. It’s only logical. 

- Thomas R. Leannah

A word about our “weekly date with God”

I was just thinking of the Weekly Torah portions which we read during our “weekly date” with God.

The lessons are always VERY POWERFUL - and here are their basic messages: The Book of Leviticus is not a "book of laws" as so many insist. It is our Creator asking us to be holy through obedience to HIS rules!

Throughout the Torah we not only see Divine Rules to follow, but we are told via many examples exactly HOW we can be "set apart" for Him - by not following the abominable ways of the other nations. He gives us a choice to follow Him, or not. Those who follow Him are blessed; those who don't are cut off. Simple as that. There is no gray area.

Over and over again we see YHWH saying in various ways: "Be holy because I am holy." How many times have we read His comments: "I am ADONAI (God)"....We are to "do" or "not do" because He said so! Paraphrased: "I am ADONAI! I am holy. If you want to belong to Me and be in MY holy Presence, then you will have to be holy."

And how does one know how to "be holy"? It was revealed to us in Leviticus 18:

Leviticus 18: 1 ADONAI said to Moshe, 2 "Speak to the people of Isra'el; tell them, 'I am ADONAI your God. 3 You are not to engage in the activities found in the land of Egypt, where you used to live; and you are not to engage in the activities found in the land of Kena'an, where I am bringing you; nor are you to live by their laws. 4 You are to obey my rulings and laws and live accordingly; I am ADONAI your God. 5 You are to observe my laws and rulings; if a person does them, he will have life through them; I am ADONAI. (CJB)

Many Christians insist “those old rules were just for the Jews.” Unfortunately that is a huge misconception as we are “one in Messiah” (Galatians 3:23-29; Ephesians 4:1-6; and John 17:20-23), which means, same God, same rules for holy, set apart living.

(Don’t forget: There were 12 Tribes standing before YHWH at Mt. Sinai, INCLUDING all the pagans who followed Moshe out of Egypt, who were told that, if they accepted YHWH as their God, they were told – FOUR TIMES IN A ROW! - to do "exactly" as His people did…)

What are a few of the rules we must keep today? (See our article.)

(1) Eat only “clean” foods (i.e., no pork or shellfish). (See our article)

(2) Keep God’s commanded Seventh Day Sabbath “rest” (which are our “weekly dates” with Him). (See our article.)

(3) Keep His seven High Holy Days, which are our “yearly dates” with Him, spread throughout the year, with each one having great significance.  (See our article.)
DOING these things will bring you closer to God than you’ve ever been!

It’s truly not that hard to do – and DOING these things will bring you closer to God than you’ve ever been!

ARE YOU HEAVILY BURDENED WITH LIFE’S PROBLEMS?

Here are three reasons bad things happen to us:

1. You are off God's path; not doing His Will or keeping His commandments.

2. A family curse. Look at your family history.  Does your family history include physical or mental abuse, alcoholism, drugs, sex, tobacco or food addiction, or other situations that hold you captive today? 

If so, it could be due to a family curse of some kind.  To get rid of that curse, you must turn to YHWH Elohim and ask for forgiveness for yourself and your family/relatives/ancestors, and return to Him. Once you've repented and given your life to God wholeheartedly, you might want to try a mikvah:

A "mikvah" is an immersion in water that can drain away (shower, bath, river, creek, ocean) which symbolically allows your "baggage" to wash away. It is consciously and intentionally "doing something" with your hands that will help your mind to recognize and remember your goal of getting rid of past hurts.

During your mikvah, repent for any and all sins you've committed, and tell YHWH you are His now, and you want to do whatever His will is. Yeshua's death covered all your past sins, but as humans, we are prone to continue to sin at some point, and so we have the option of going to our gracious and merciful God and asking for forgiveness and help in overcoming our frailties.

YHWH knows we're prone to sinning and being stupid and carnal, and yet He STILL loves us. All He asks is that we love Him back - to obey His commands so that we can be truly "set apart" for Him. He will take care of the rest.

3. God may be testing you. He might be testing your commitment to Him, especially during the most stressful of times when your faith is tested the most. Ask yourself these questions:

• Am I always blaming someone else for things that happen to me?
• Do I tend to blame God for my circumstances, or do I recognize that “I” might be the problem? 
• Do I look inward and become humble enough to admit that I caused (or at least helped to cause) my problems, and then humbly ask Him to put me back on His Path?
• Have I taken good care of my body – my “temple” – or have I committed sexual sins against my body, ruined it with tobacco, drugs, food or alcohol, and am now blaming Him for not “fixing” me on demand?

1 Corinthians 6:15 Don’t you know that your bodies are parts of the Messiah? So, am I to take parts of the Messiah and make them parts of a prostitute? Heaven forbid! 16 Don’t you know that a man who joins himself to a prostitute becomes physically one with her? For the Tanakh says, “The two will become one flesh”; 17 but the person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit. 18 Run from sexual immorality! Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the fornicator sins against his own body. 19 Or don’t you know that your body is a temple for the Ruach HaKodesh who lives inside you, whom you received from God? The fact is, you don’t belong to yourselves; 20 for you were bought at a price. So use your bodies to glorify God. (CJB)

BEWARE THE “COUNTER-MISSIONARIES!"

BEWARE THE “COUNTER-MISSIONARIES” (THOSE WHO ACTIVELY ATTEMPT TO GET PEOPLE TO REJECT MESSIAH YESHUA. Check out a sampling of their blaspheming memes, below!)

As many of you know, I used to spend a lot of time challenging the Jewish “counter-missionary” rabbis and their converts – all for the purpose of intercepting their interminable efforts to take people away from Yeshua and the New Testament. Basically, it’s their retaliation tool to fight back against Christian or Hebrew Roots missionaries who are trying to lead Jews to Messiah Yeshua (Jesus)…

Headed by counter-missionary rabbis (such as Tovia Singer, Stuart Federow, Michael Skobac, Moshe Shulman, Pinchas Levin and Eli Cohen, etc.), the main goal is to not only to “reintegrate” Jews who have accepted Yeshua as their Messiah; but also, to reach out to the Christian/Messianic/Hebrew Roots population for “conversation to Judaism” and ultimately turn them into “counter-missionary” disciples who will then reach out to YOU by showing you the “error of your ways.”

Unfortunately, many ARE falling for their fast-talking, “ear tickling” verbiage which is peppered with plenty of Hebrew words and concepts designed to impress and deceive “even the elect” (Mark 13:22)…

While I can certainly see why Christians are easily deceived by the amazing “Jewish knowledge” of Scripture, I’m still having a hard time understanding why a Torah observant person, who supposedly knows the Truth of the “echad” of YHWH/Yeshua/Torah (the “whole Bible” concept), would be gullible enough to fall for their wiles!
Regardless, the Bible warns us that this would happen in the end times. (For example: Matthew 24:3-14; Luke 21:10-27; 2 Timothy 3:1-2; Zephaniah 1:18.)

HOW TO RECOGNIZE A COUNTER-MISSIONARY:

To hook you into their beliefs, counter-missionaries will usually approach you with the supposedly “false” teachings of the supposedly “anti-Torah” Paul - which is an absolute LIE, because Paul NEVER spoke against Torah. All he was guilty of was trying hard to explain difficult Hebrew concepts to a pagan populace! Remember, Paul was the one who wrote:

Romans 3:31 Do we then nullify the Law (Torah) through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we ESTABLISH the Law....

Still, once they get you to believe that Paul was a fake, they’ll start attacking “Jesus” who is supposedly either a "myth" or "just some man" or an “idol” you are guilty of worshiping (which, of course, is a SIN). They’ll tell you “God doesn’t have a son, nor did He ever demand human sacrifice.” (Never mind that Yeshua wasn’t “sacrificed” – because nobody “sacrificed” this DIVINE Messiah of God, who chose to martyr himself - against which there is NO Torah law!)

As I explain on my website:

Offerings "qurbana" and sacrifices "dabekha" are two different entities. Although there are certain aspects to Mashiyach's death that are utterly unique to him (Zechariah 12:10, etc.), his death nevertheless echoes aspects of offerings and sacrifices that came before. The qurbana is the human life (nefesh) that Y'shua voluntarily offers up on the stake. The result of that offering is his blood put out on the "altar"; hence dabekha.

However, this is certainly not, as some critics suggest, "human sacrifice." Rather, this indicates Y'shua's status as Mashiyach ben Yoseph. Per strict accordance with Isaiah 53 and Genesis 22:8, Mashiyach ben Yoseph was required to suffer and die. After his death, the offering of himself became a sacrifice that was taken up, and he was resurrected three days later. Many of YHWH's prophets also suffered and were martyred at the hands of those who fought against the Kingdom of Elohim. In the case of Mashiyach, his shed blood is counted as the acceptable offering, the Lamb of YHWH, which is most Set Apart unto YHWH.

Another of the favorite teachings of the “counter-missionaries” is that “Yeshua has failed to fulfill ALL the prophecies.” Well, first of all, nothing says he HAD to fulfill ALL of them during his first time on earth. However, he DID fulfill at least 300 prophecies, and there are just a few more to go (including the last three of the seven mo'edim/High Holy Days/Appointed Times), which will be fulfilled after his Second Coming, when EVERY knee will bow! (See Isaiah 45:23-24; Philippians 2:10-11; Romans 14:11 and my article on The Refiner’s Fire: https://therefinersfire.org/prophecies.htm )

THE WARNING: (COUNTER-MISSIONARY RHETORIC IS LIKE THE SERPENT SPEAKING TO EVE IN GENESIS 3: “DID GOD REALLY SAY….?”)

I know from past experiences with counter-missionaries, once people make up their mind to swallow the Jewish Rabbis’ ear-tickling, anti-Yeshua rhetoric, they don’t ever come back; and all attempts to try to get them to see YHWH’s Truth (as outlined, not just in the Torah, but in the “whole” of the Bible), are futile.

The thing is, we ARE commanded to warn our brethren when they are about to walk off a proverbial cliff, or else their blood will be on our hands (Ezekiel 3:18 and 33:8). Public rejection of Yeshua is the biggest mistake of one's life!

John 14:6 Yeshua said to him, "I am the way and the truth and the life! No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 Because you have known me, you will also know my Father. From now on, you do know Him. In fact, you have seen Him. (CJB)

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. (AENT)

Hebrews 10:26. For if a man sin voluntarily after he has received a knowledge of the truth, there is no longer a sacrifice which may be offered for sins: 27. but the fearful judgment impends, and the zeal of fire that consumes the adversaries. 28. For if he who transgressed the Torah of Moshe, died without mercies at the mouth of two or three witnesses; 29. how much more, do you think, will he receive capital punishment who has trodden upon the Son of Elohim and has accounted the blood of his covenant by which he is sanctified, as the blood of all men and has treated the Spirit of grace in an insulting manner?[1] 30. For we know him who has said, Retribution is mine and I will repay: and again, Master YHWH will judge his people. 31. It is very terrible to fall into the hands of the living Elohim. (AENT)

NOTE: [1] This admonition is perhaps a midrash about “blaspheming against the Ruach haKodesh” as mentioned by Y’shua in Matthew 12:32.

HaSatan is very busy deceiving everyone he can, because he knows how “the Book” ends! (Job:1:7; Revelation 12:9; 1 Peter5:8; Ephesians 6:10-11.)

Don’t let him deceive YOU! Yeshua is your determining factor as to whether you will spend eternity in the “smoking” or “non-smoking” section! (https://blog.therefinersfire.org/2023/02/what-does-yeshua-mean-when-he-said-i-am.html)

(The memes below are just a few examples of the kind of blasphemy that goes on, on the "counter-missionary" walls and in their groups. I pray that everyone who has read the above, will think twice before allowing themselves to be deceived by those who have rejected Yeshua and are devoted to spending their lives getting the gullible to do the same.)

Simple explanation of “Torah”for any newcomers to the Netzarim/Messianic faith…

Here’s a really quick and simple explanation of Torah (first five Books of the Bible containing all of God’s original, Divine Instructions) which I wrote several years ago, using as an example my little doggie, Dallas, who passed from this world in 2018:

Our little fur-person, Dallas, has a tiny, postage stamp, fenced-in yard consisting of just a few wires Bill fastened to some rebar posts. He could get out if he wanted to by simply jumping the short fence, but luckily for us, he’s a coward. He also won’t even go near the heat vents in the house, because they’re apparently too scary and weird.

Anyway, that little fence is kind of like our dog’s “Torah.” As long as he stays within its boundaries, he’ll be safe. In that little yard, he’s close to the house and we can keep an eye on him through the French door.

But if he were to ever escape and run up the hill into the woods, he would run the risk of becoming a meal for any number of predators, including a bear, lynx, or coyote. If he decided to run down the hill and across the properties of two of our neighbors, he would end up on a fairly busy highway. He would face possible danger even if he were to simply trot down our driveway toward the mail box, because he would end up on the road that snakes through our neighborhood where many don’t bother to follow the speed limit.

I shudder to think what would happen if he were to make it all the way to the freeway which is approximately a mile away….

What I’m getting at is that YHWH gave us His Torah - which consists of the ONLY Divine Instructions on how to live our lives according to His Will. Torah serves to keep us safe in a fallen world that is riddled with evil; yet most reject it, insisting it was “only for the Jews.” They claim we are “one in Christ,” yet, refuse to acknowledge that God does NOT have different rules for His “natural” and “adopted” children. (Why would He? How else can we know how to be “holy” or “set apart” in this world if we have no rules to follow?)

Remember, Adam and Eve were safe in the Garden until they decided to break just one little rule. Suddenly, they found themselves outside of their safe haven, in a “fallen world” where hard work, pain, sickness and death ruled … where jealousy, greed, drunkenness, lewdness, arrogance, fornication and adultery and all manner of vileness lay in wait as the world’s population began to grow.

In our “fallen world,” we aren’t guaranteed anything - not health, wealth or riches or anything else our carnal nature desires. But when we belong to YHWH, we have shalom in knowing that, no matter what else happens, He is with us … His Ruach haKodesh (Holy Spirit) guiding and teaching us through His Word, which allows us the privilege to grow in knowledge of Him; we have His Divine Rules for holy living which serve to make our earthbound existence smoother … and, of course, we have the assurance of eternal life. (After all, if we refuse to accept YHWH/Yeshua/Torah, whom are we really worshiping?)_

The moral of the story? If Dallas dares to jump over his “Torah” fence that keeps him safe, he will mostly likely lose his life. If YHWH’s people jump their Torah “fence,” the world is ready to close in and cause them to lose not only their “way” but, possibly, their eternal life…. (See Romans 1:18-32; Numbers 15: 30; Hebrews 6:4-8 and 10:26-27; 2 Peter 2: 19-21; 1 Corinthians 6: 9-10; Deuteronomy 7: 9-10, Revelation 3:16, etc.)

To discover which Divine Instructions we can still follow today, please click on this link on our website.

Looking forward to Shavuot 2023? Here's some info!

 

Shalom and blessings, to all our Facebook friends! I know everyone is looking forward to the final High Holy Day of Passover - which this year, on our Gregorian calendars, starts at sunset on April 10 and ends at sunset on April 11, when we can once again begin to eat leavened products! (For those who aren't yet familiar with YHWH's Festivals/High Holy Days, they are our "yearly dates" with Him. Please check out our simple explanation on our website: https://therefinersfire.org/feasts3.htm )

But let's now discuss the NEXT Festival after Passover week, called Shavuot (Pentecost) - which is another of YHWH's seven commanded (and VERY important!) High Holy Days.

Because of Shavuot’s importance, YHWH commanded His people to “count the Omer” (days) toward Shavuot, as we seek to commemorate both the giving of the Torah and ultimately, the giving of the Holy Spirit (Exodus 34:22). Simply put, Passover, the Israelites were freed from their lives of slavery in Egypt; and 50 days later on Shavuot, they accepted YHWH's Torah which made them a nation set-apart and committed to serving God.

Shavuot was fulfilled by the coming of the promised Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) on the disciples of Yeshua when they were gathered. It represents the beginning of the body of Messiah on Earth, in which ALL believers, redeemed through the blood of Messiah, are lifted up before YHWH and set apart as holy (Acts 2, John 14:15-18, Ephesians 2:11-22 and the Book of Ruth).

By the way, "Shavuot" this year, starts at sunset, May 24 and ends at sunset, May 25. See our in-depth articles: https://therefinersfire.org/counting_the_omer.htm and https://www.therefinersfire.org/shavuot.htm .

As with all the rest of the Biblical Festivals/Feasts, there is a lot of dissension here on Facebook about the "Counting of the Omer," as some insist it begins on the WEEKLY Shabbat (Saturday) during Passover, but here at the Leannah house, we use the sun, moon and stars for our "calendar days" - https://therefinersfire.org/calendar_basics.htm - and began "Counting the Omer" after the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread - which this year was on April 6. That makes the High Holy Day of Shavuot (the 50th Day of Omer) on May 25th.

Which days you wish to start counting the Omer, of course, is up to you. Just remember, the way you count the Omer will determine when you celebrate the Feast of Shavuot. Our refrain is:

JUST DO IT!

Some facts about the amazing Hebrew letter, "SHIN"

 HERE IS SOMETHING INTERESTING ABOUT THE AMAZING HEBREW LETTER “SHIN" – ש. (Please refer to the drawing and photo below to help you understand the significance of this letter!)

Getting into the heart of the matter – do you remember, that the Almighty said that He would write His name on our hearts? Well - He did! (Check out the photo of the electrocardiogram of the human heart, below.)

Ezekiel 11:19 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you. And I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, 20 that they may walk in My statutes, and keep My ordinances, and do them. And they will be My people, and I shall be their Elohim. (CJB)

Shin also stands for the word Shaddai, one of the titles for YHWH. Cohens (priests) form the letter Shin with their hands when they recite the Priestly Blessing - as depicted by the last picture which shows two raised hands in a gesture designed to resemble the letter Shin.

(Tom and I do this “holy raising of the hands” gesture during our morning ritual where we recite the Lord’s Prayer after thanking God for our breakfast food, and then use the “holy raising of hands” gesture while reciting the “Shema.")

Next, please take a moment to study the hand drawing, which will remind you of Star Trek's "Spok" (actor Leonard Nimoy, who was Jewish). Nimoy devised a single-handed version of this holy gesture to create the Vulcan hand salute for his character...

NOW, study the photo of the echocardiogram of the human heart.

For those with “eyes to see,” we are able to recognize that the Hebrew letter "shin" appears in the tissues surrounding the chamber. The shape of the letter Shin seems to mimic the structure of the human heart - specifically, as the lower, larger left ventricle (which supplies the full body) and the smaller right ventricle (which supplies the lungs) are positioned like the lines of the letter Shin.

And so there you have it: A perfect picture of Ezekiel 11:19-20!

AS AN ASIDE, the letter Shin is often inscribed on the case containing a mezuza (see the last photo below), which is a scroll of parchment with Biblical text written upon it, which is affixed upon the door frames of a Believer's home or establishment).

The text contained in the mezuzah is the Shema Yisrael prayer, which calls YHWH's people to love their God with all their heart, soul and strength. The Shema Yisrael prayer also commands the Israelites to write God's commandments on their hearts (Deuteronomy 6:6).

YHWH provided us with so many AMAZING ways to get to have a relationship with Him!

Ready to do an in-depth study of John 1:1 – 14 in context?

Most English Bibles, in John 1:1, read: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God", and most people who read that, know nothing more than what the English words convey. Below, via scriptures and footnotes from his Aramaic English New Testament, Andrew Gabriel Roth reveals that when John 1:1-5 is read with an understanding that the original Aramaic conveyed, it carries a much deeper meaning!

He writes:
While reading this, be sure to keep in mind that the “Word” (Aramaic: Miltha) was a PART of YHWH/ELOHIM – “one” with ELOHIM (Hebrew: Echad)…

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]  3. Everything existed through his hands,[4] 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]  5. And that light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it.[6] (AENT)

[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]   Fulfilling Messianic prophecy: Mashiyach (ruler of Israel) is to have origins of the ancient past Micah 5:2; Isaiah 48:16. Bear in mind that Micah is referring to the spiritual “Israel of Elohim,” those of the Kingdom of Heaven according to the circumcision of heart.

[4]  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.

[5] Another possibility is that “life” refers to eternal life after death. Aramaic uses the word paroqa for “Savior” in this very sense, of a Life-Giver of “living waters” as Y’shua describes elsewhere in John 4.

[6]  Aramaic wordplay.  Nohra b’chashokha 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.

In the verse 1, according to Aramaic and Hebrew scholars, 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!

Continuing with our study:

John 1:6. There was a man who was sent from Elohim whose name was Yochanan. 7. This man came for a witness that he might testify concerning the light that all might believe through his hand. 8. He was not the light; rather that he might bear witness concerning the light. 9. For the light was of truth, that which shines on all who come into the world.

10. He was in the world, and the world existed by his hand and the world did not know him. 11. He came to his own, and his own did not receive him. 12. But those who did receive him he gave to them authority that they might be the sons of Elohim, those who have believed in his name.

13. Those who neither by blood nor by the will of the flesh nor by the will of a man, rather were begotten by Elohim. 14. And the Miltha[7] became flesh and dwelt among us and we saw his glory,[8] the glory as the Only-Begotten[9] who is from the Father who is full of grace and truth. (AENT)

FOOTNOTES:

[7] 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 are very popular among Christians.

[8] Isaiah 42:8; 48:11

[9] Ekhadaya is a beautiful term used among Eastern theologians and poets; it literally means “THE ONE”

A picture of the kind of relationship YAHWEH wants with His people…

 

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL PHOTO THIS IS! It's a picture of unconditional love going both ways. This is exactly the kind of love ADONAI expects from us in our relationship with Him!  We live in a world filled with problems, sorrow and uncertainty and He is always with His people, through good times and bad (even during those times when we might feel like He has abandoned us.  Truth is, He is the ONLY ONE who will NEVER leave nor forsake those who belong to Him! (Hebrews 13:5) The Bible tells us that those who don’t, are basically on their own.
 
Below are some pertinent scriptures to help you decide whether to choose Eternal Life with YHWH and His Divine Messiah, Yeshua – or to be eternally separated, as if you never existed:

John 17: 3 And eternal life is this: to know you, the one true God, and him whom you sent, Yeshua the Messiah. (CJB)

Psalm 146:4 When they breathe their last, they return to dust; on that very day all their plans are gone.

Ecclesiastes 9:5 For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing; there is no longer any reward for them, because all memory of them is lost. 6 What they loved, what they hated and what they envied all disappeared long ago, and they no longer have a share in anything done under the sun. (CJB)

Ecclesiastes 12: 13 Here is the final conclusion, now that you have heard everything: fear God, and keep his mitzvot; this is what being human is all about. 14 For God will bring to judgment everything we do, including every secret, whether good or bad.

Matthew 7:13   "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.  14   "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. (CJB)

Romans 10: 11. For the Scripture says: Everyone that believes in him will not be ashamed. 12. And in this, it discriminates neither Jews nor Gentiles. For there is one, Master YHWH, over them all, who is abundantly generous towards every one that calls on him. 13. For everyone that will call on the name of Master YHWH, will have life. (AENT)

Revelation 22: 14 How blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they have the right to eat from the Tree of Life and go through the gates into the city! 15 Outside are the homosexuals, those involved with the occult and with drugs, the sexually immoral, murderers, idol-worshippers, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. 16 “I, Yeshua, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the Messianic communities. I am the Root and Offspring of David, the bright Morning Star. 17 The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come!’ Let anyone who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let anyone who is thirsty come — let anyone who wishes, take the water of life free of charge.” (CJB)

IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT OUR CREATOR LOVES US AND HAS GIVEN US THE CHOICE to accept Him and His Messiah, or not.  Those who choose Him will be rewarded in ways they never dreamed of, CONSISTING OF Eternal Life filled with joy and shalom – a peace that surpasses all understanding…

Deuteronomy 30: 15 “Look! I am presenting you today with, on the one hand, life and good; and on the other, death and evil … (CJB)

CHOOSE LIFE!  It's what you were created for!

DID YOU KNOW AN UNBORN BABY WAS THE FIRST TO RECOGNIZE OUR MESSIAH?

Luke 1: 41. And it happened that when Elishwa heard the greeting of Maryam, the infant in her womb leaped and Elishwa was filled with the Ruach haKodesh. 42. And she cried out with a loud voice and said to Maryam, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!”

43. “How did this happen to me that the mother of my Master[1] comes to me?” 44. “For behold when the sound of your greeting fell upon my ears, the infant in my womb leaped with a great joy.” 45. “And blessings to she who believed, because there will be fulfillment to those things that were spoken to her in the presence of Master YHWH.”

46. And Maryam said, “My soul magnifies Master YHWH. 47. And my spirit has rejoiced in Elohim my Savior. 48. Because He has looked at the meekness of his handmaid,[2] for behold from now on will give me blessings to all generations. 49. Because He has done great things for me, He who is mighty and Set Apart is his Name. 50. And His mercy is upon generations for ages of those who fear Him.[3] 51. And He has accomplished victory with his arm and has scattered the proud hearted.

52. He has cast down the mighty from the seats and exalted the meek. 53. He has satisfied the hungry with good things, and the wealthy he has dismissed empty-handed. 54. He has helped his servant Israel and he has remembered his mercy. 55. As he spoke with our fathers Awraham and with his seed forever.” 56. And Maryam remained with Elishwa about three months, and then she returned to her home. (AENT)

FOONOTES:

[1] The Aramaic word Mari, "my Master," refers to Mashiyach/Messiah who is Miriyam’s womb, not YHWH. YHWH does not have a mother; His son does...

[2] 1 Samuel 1:11; 2:1

[3] Psalm 103:17; 111:9

By the way, Elizabeth’s unborn baby was to become known as John the Baptist!

Galatians 3:19 … one of the most misunderstood passages in the Bible!

Galatians 3:19 is one of the most misunderstood passages in the Bible. I can’t tell you how often I’ve seen people use it to show that “the law was abolished because Christ fulfilled it.” That’s very disappointing because they seem to have no clue that, by taking verse 19 and butchering it into oblivion with their “hyper-grace” ideas, they render useless everything YHWH ever commanded!

They simply don’t get that “fulfill” doesn’t necessarily mean that something was abolished. They don’t get that if YHWH’s holy rules for His set-apart people were “abolished at the cross,” we would have NO blueprint for moral, holy living!

This fiasco could be totally avoided IF people would only study the rest of that passage through the lens of the Hebrew mindset. Take a look:

Galatians 3: 18. For if the inheritance is by Torah, then it would not be as the fulfillment of promise, but Elohim gave it to Awraham by a promise. 19. Why then Torah? It was added because of apostasy, until the coming of the heir[1] to whom the promise was made, and Torah was given by Messengers, by the hand of a mediator. 20. Now a mediator does not represent one alone, but Elohim is one.

21. Is the Torah we received against the promises of Elohim? Elohim forbid! For if Torah had been given, which was able to give life, then truly righteousness would have come as a result of Torah.[2] 22. But the Scripture has encircled all things and put them under sin, that the promise in the faith of Y’shua the Mashiyach might be given to those who believe. 23. But before faith came, Torah[3] was guarding[4] us while we were confined from the faith about to be revealed.

24. Torah was therefore a tutor for us, going towards the Mashiyach that we, by faith, might be made righteous. 25. But since faith came, we are no longer under tutors.[5] 26. For you are all the children of Elohim by faith in Y’shua the Mashiyach. 27. For those who have been immersed in Mashiyach have been clothed[6] with Mashiyach. 28. For there is neither Jew nor Aramean, nor slave nor free, nor male nor female, but you are all one in Y’shua the Mashiyach. 29. And if you are of the Mashiyach then you are seeds of Awraham and inheritors by the promise. (AENT)

FOOTNOTES:

[1] More literally, “seed” since a man’s seed (his descendants) are his heirs.

[2] Torah is a very big deal in the Rabbinical Jewish world from which Rav Shaul (Paul) came. The point that Rav Shaul makes over and over is that while Torah is a very big deal, the giver of Torah is even bigger! YHWH gave Torah as a Faith component of Covenant (terms and conditions) between Him and His people, so don’t disregard YHWH and put Him on the shelf because you think yourself a Torah scholar.

Worse yet, don’t put up fences and traditions that become more important to yourselves than YHWH and His Mashiyach. Most people tend to go to a pastor or anyone they think is more knowledgeable than themselves to ask extremely important questions about YHWH and His Mashiyach, long before they even consider going to YHWH Himself!

Faith demands a person enter into an active relationship with YHWH and His Mashiyach, regardless if a person is Christian or Jewish.

[3] In this regard “Torah” can be compared with any righteous values a soul voluntarily imposes upon himself. However, as a spiritual relationship is established with YHWH and His Mashiyach, a soul is elevated to much higher levels of spiritual awareness and accountability. Therefore, it is a complete farce when someone claims to follow Mashiyach, but willfully violates Torah according to their denominational authorities. See Matthew 7:23.

[4] Most Greek translations have “kept in (ward) under the law” which is indicative of popular anti-Torah theology. However, many fail to understand that without the Torah of YHWH, there would be no Standard with which to prove Mashiyach; therefore, NO Mashiyach!

[5] In the most ancient manuscripts in the Peshitta, taraa is ‘tutors’; however, it was translated as the singular ‘tutor’ in Greek. Although the word taraa has the same spelling for both singular and plural, there are times such as here, when the grammar of the sentence does not directly reveal whether it is singular or plural. To correct this problem, the earliest scribes of the Peshitta inserted two dot plural markers called a syame above such words, as in this case.

A Greek redactor could easily miss these and mistake a singular word for a plural, or vice versa. Aramaic texts are unanimous for when the syames appear, making these readings highly reliable. That being so, what we have here is the true tutor, Torah, being contrasted against false tutors, the Pharisees, who put their oral tradition above the written code of Moses and the Prophets.

Such is a common refrain of Y’shua as well in places such as Matthew 15. Unfortunately, this passage was twisted into a “proof text” by anti-Torah types who wanted to distance themselves from the Faith of Avraham, Yitzak and Ya’akov.

[6] That is, as a garment wraps a person inside, which is a very common idiom in both Hebrew and Aramaic. Rav Shaul uses it elsewhere in Ephesians when talking about putting on the armor of Elohim and the breastplate of righteousness. A very similar idiomatic usage, “clothed with zeal like a cloak”, is found in Isaiah 59:17.

A mini-study on why YHWH expects us to turn our backs on those who choose to live a lifestyle of deliberate sin…

Have you ever noticed that YHWH expects His people to turn their backs on ANYONE who chooses to live in sin? This means, if even your own close relatives insist on sinning, you will incur their guilt if you keep making excuses for them, and hanging with them – because, as you know, Scripture is clear that continued, deliberate sin will keep you out of Eternity.

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. (CJB)

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.

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)

The bottom line is:  There will be no “lukewarm” in His Presence (Revelation 3:16).  The reason YHWH doesn’t kill people on the spot for their ongoing, intentional sins today is because, once we have accepted Yeshua as our Final Sin Sacrifice/Offering, his blood covers our "past sins” (and, of course, because of YHWH’s Grace and Mercy, which, by the way, has always been around).  He expects His people to not only repent of their sins, but to then TURN from them and change our ways to reflect holy living according to His Torah!

Let's do a quick  mini-study outlining what happened to YHWH’s people after they built the “golden calf” while Moshe was up on the mountain, receiving the Ten Commandments. I’ve inserted some personal comments along the way:

Exodus 32: 1 When the people saw that Moshe was taking a long time to come down from the mountain, they gathered around Aharon and said to him, "Get busy; and make us gods to go ahead of us; because this Moshe, the man that brought us up from the land of Egypt - we don't know what has become of him."

COMMENT: Now, of course, we ask ourselves, how can a people who just witnessed the 10 plagues and crossed the Sea of Reeds on "dry land" POSSIBLY decide build a "golden calf" to worship and attempt to present this abomination as “the God of Israel?”  Read on, and you'll see...

Exodus 32: 2 Aharon said to them, "Have your wives, sons and daughters strip off their gold earrings; and bring them to me." 3 The people stripped off their gold earrings and brought them to Aharon. 4 He received what they gave him, melted it down, and made it into the shape of a calf. They said, "Isra'el! Here is your god, who brought you up from the land of Egypt!" 5 On seeing this, Aharon built an altar in front of it and proclaimed, "Tomorrow is to be a feast for ADONAI." 6 Early the next morning they got up and offered burnt offerings and presented peace offerings. Afterwards, the people sat down to eat and drink; then they got up to indulge in revelry.

COMMENT:  WOW!  This is almost too much to bear!  WHY did Aharon, the High Cohen/Priest  decide to join them in this? (You'll later see in another passage (Exodus 32:21;24) that, when confronted by his brother Moshe about this situation, Aharon tried to downplay his part by telling a "half truth" in hopes of appearing blameless).

Still, as modern readers of the Bible, we tend to ask ourselves: Instead of putting a lid on the people's ridiculous demands, why didn't Aharon remind them of the miracles they had been witnessing both IN Egypt and after their escape FROM Egypt? Why didn't he simply tell them to sit down, shut up and wait on ELOHIM, who had proven, beyond a shadow of a doubt that YHWH was the ONLY GOD, the LIVING God! After all, as Moshe’s mouthpiece during Pharaoh’s plagues, Aharon KNEW YHWH, and what YHWH could and would do to those who dared disobey!

Truth be told, as unbelievable as these things might seem, we MUST try to put ourselves in the place of the Hebrews who were dealing with this "new life" YHWH had unexpectedly forced on them, and honestly ask ourselves if WE would have behaved any differently under those particular circumstances.

Let's read on to see how YHWH ultimately handles this situation:

Exodus 32:7 ADONAI said to Moshe, "Go down! Hurry! Your people, whom you brought up from the land of Egypt, have become corrupt! 8 So quickly they have turned aside from the way I ordered them to follow! They have cast a metal statue of a calf, worshipped it, sacrificed to it and said, 'Isra'el! Here is your god, who brought you up from the land of Egypt!'" 9 ADONAI continued speaking to Moshe: "I have been watching these people; and you can see how stiffnecked they are. 10 Now leave me alone, so that my anger can blaze against them, and I can put an end to them! I will make a great nation out of you instead."

11 Moshe pleaded with ADONAI his God. He said, "ADONAI, why must your anger blaze against your own people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and a strong hand? 12 Why let the Egyptians say, 'It was with evil intentions that he led them out, to slaughter them in the hills and wipe them off the face of the earth'? Turn from your fierce anger! Relent! Don't bring such disaster on your people! 13 Remember Avraham, Yitz'chak and Isra'el, your servants, to whom you swore by your very self. You promised them, 'I will make your descendants as many as the stars in the sky; and I will give all this land I have spoken about to your descendants; and they will possess it forever.'"

14 ADONAI then changed his mind about the disaster he had planned for his people. 15 Moshe turned and went down from the mountain with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand, tablets inscribed on both sides, on the front and on the back. 16 The tablets were the work of God; and the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets.

COMMENT: Yes, ADONAI “changed his mind” – BUT! – hang onto your hats, because Israel can’t and won’t get away with it! DELIBERATE sin requires punishment; that has never changed.  Take a look:

Exodus 32: 17 When Y'hoshua heard the noise of the people shouting he said to Moshe, "It sounds like war in the camp!" 18 He answered, "That is neither the clamor of victory nor the wailings of defeat; what I hear is the sound of people singing." 19 But the moment Moshe got near the camp, when he saw the calf and the dancing, his own anger blazed up. He threw down the tablets he had been holding and shattered them at the base of the mountain. 20 Seizing the calf they had made, he melted it in the fire and ground it to powder, which he scattered on the water. Then he made the people of Isra'el drink it.

21 Moshe said to Aharon, "What did these people do to you to make you lead them into such a terrible sin?" 22 Aharon replied, "My lord shouldn't be so angry. You know what these people are like, that they are determined to do evil. 23 So they said to me, 'Make us gods to go ahead of us; because this Moshe, the man that brought us up from the land of Egypt - we don't know what has become of him.' 24 I answered them, 'Anyone with gold, strip it off!' So they gave it to me. I threw it in the fire, and out came this calf!"

COMMENT:  What a ridiculous thing to say! …The people MADE Aharon do this; and then - voila! - “out came this calf”?  WOW!  This is so reminiscent of the “blame game” Adam and Eve tried to play with YHWH in Genesis 3:8-13; and also how Cain feigned ignorance after he killed Abel in Genesis 4.  How very "human!"

But now, watch what happens to all those who perpetrated this sin … all except for Aharon whom God allowed to live (for reasons known only to God Himself!), even though he had committed that blatant violation:

Exodus 32: 25 When Moshe saw that the people had gotten out of control - because Aharon had allowed them to get out of control, to the derision of their enemies - 26 Moshe stood at the entrance to the camp and shouted, "Whoever is for ADONAI, come to me!"All the descendants of Levi rallied around him. 27 He told them, "Here is what ADONAI, the God of Isra'el, says: 'Each of you, put his sword on his side; and go up and down the camp, from gate to gate; and every man is to kill his own kinsman, his own friend and his own neighbor!"

28 The sons of Levi did what Moshe said, and that day three thousand of the people died. 29 Moshe said, "You have consecrated yourselves today to ADONAI, because every one of you has been against his own son and against his own kinsman, in order to bring a blessing on yourselves today." 30 The next day Moshe said to the people, "You have committed a terrible sin. Now I will go up to ADONAI ; maybe I will be able to atone for your sin."

COMMENT: Notice that the sons of Levi – as horrified as they must have been – obeyed YHWH’s command to kill EVERYONE including their own relatives who had participated in this heinous sin of building the “golden calf” idol. They knew that if they refused, they too, would have to be put to death. This is proof that deliberate sin against YHWH – no matter how great or small – is NOT taken lightly, and those who participate willingly or even “from afar” WILL be held accountable!

Exodus 32: 31 Moshe went back to ADONAI and said, "Please! These people have committed a terrible sin: they have made themselves a god out of gold. 32 Now, if you will just forgive their sin! But if you won't, then, I beg you, blot me out of your book which you have written!" 33 ADONAI answered Moshe, "Those who have sinned against me are the ones I will blot out of my book. 34 Now go and lead the people to the place I told you about; my angel will go ahead of you. Nevertheless, the time for punishment will come; and then I will punish them for their sin." 35 ADONAI struck the people with a plague because they had made the calf, the one Aharon made. (CJB)

SO HERE ARE MY FINAL THOUGHTS – and please feel free to challenge me on this:

Sin of ANY kind is bad! But, through Yeshua, YHWH made it easy for us to receive eternal life. None of us today is forced to kill an innocent animal to atone for our sins. Yeshua was the Ultimate Sacrifice (even though he was NOT “sacrificed” per se; rather, he martyred himself).

However, we must remember that the blood of Messiah only covers our PAST sins. Once we accept YHWH as our Elohim and Y’shua as His Messiah, we MUST obey His Divine Instructions to mankind (Torah). If we don’t, WHOM are we worshiping, and why bother?

The act of “obedience” alone is not what “saves” us; belief in YHWH/Yeshua does. But that “belief” and acceptance means we start to do things HIS way so we can become holy/set apart; thus, leaving “the world” behind. THAT is what it means to be Torah observant.

YHWH had His people in the wilderness for 40 years to learn the simple concept of being “holy/set apart” by obeying His commands and behaving according to His Holy Rules. That has never changed because, if we dare veer from His Path, we end up being erased from His Presence. GOD HIMSELF said so, and it is our personal choice to either BE COMPLETELY HIS, or not…

Numbers 15: 30 "'But an individual who does something wrong intentionally, whether a citizen or a foreigner, is blaspheming ADONAI. That person will be cut off from his people. (CJB)

 So, I reiterate: 

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. (CJB)

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. (CJB)

How many of today's believers behave in a way they know is sinful and yet they go ahead and do what they feel like doing, anyway? That's because they mistakenly think Divine grace covers intentional sin, which is a huge misconception! 

Divine grace has made wonderful provision for unintentional sin, but  there is no provision for ongoing, willful and intentional sin. The Bible tells us so. (As mentioned earlier in Hebrews 6, Yeshua would have to be executed on the stake again, for that to happen.  He died to remove our PAST sins and give us a clean slate to "start all over again."  He did NOT die to give anyone carte blanche to continue their sinful lifestyles and pretend to be forgiven.)

Deliberate, premeditated sin is willful disobedience and rebellion against ELOHIM; and it results in severe punishment or even loss of our salvation.

Passover is once again on the horizon–Halleluyah!

PASSOVER IS ON THE HORIZON AGAIN! This year (2023), it starts late afternoon on April 4. (Some suggest it begins on the evening of April 5. See explanation at the end of this article.)

FOR THOSE WHO ARE NEW TO THE IDEA OF PASSOVER:  First of all, we must understand that, like ALL of ADONAI's Moedim/Appointed Times/Commanded Festivals, Passover applies to ALL believers in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and His Divine Messiah, Yeshua - who, by the way, has so far fulfilled the first FOUR of the SEVEN - Halleluyah! Please click here to check out our article of explanation about God's Festivals.

Passover/Unleavened Bread/Hag HaMatzot celebrates the deliverance of the slaves from Egypt. It is the story of redemption by the killing of the Passover Lamb, the blood of which was applied to the doorposts while the Israelites were still in Egypt, shortly before their Exodus.

Obedience to the command to take a lamb into their homes for a few days and then kill it for the purpose of spreading its blood on the doorposts ensured that their firstborn would be spared the Tenth Curse against Pharoah who refused to let God's enslaved Chosen People leave Egypt.

When the Angel of Death passed through the land and saw the blood, he "passed over" those houses and spared the first born within (Exodus 12:1-13).

Passover not only serves as a reminder of the events leading up to the Exodus from Egypt; but it is also the story of redemption through Messiah Yeshua, whose shed blood on the cross freed Believers from the slavery of earthly bondage to “the world!”

Yeshua fulfilled the festival of Passover when he was crucified. Like the lambs at the first Passover in Egypt, he was our substitute, our redemption. We have the chance for eternal life through our belief in Yeshua's divine blood shed on our behalf ... and always following YHWH's Torah to help us to lower our tendency to sin and do our best to NOT sin anymore!

It is important to remember that Passover marks the beginning of a seven-day period during which the eating of leavened Bread is forbidden, as LEAVEN is a symbol of sin during Passover. (I Corinthians 5:6-8; see also Exodus 23:14-16; Romans 6:4 and II Corinthians 5:21). That is why we must follow the command to "rid our homes of leaven":

Exodus 13: 3 "...Remember this day, on which you left Egypt, the abode of slavery; because YHWH, by the strength of his hand, has brought you out of this place. Do not eat hametz." (CJB)

Exodus 12: 18 From the evening of the fourteenth day of the first month until the evening of the twenty-first day, you are to eat matzah. 19 During those seven days, no leaven is to be found in your houses. Whoever eats food with hametz in it is to be cut off from the community of Isra'el - it doesn't matter whether he is a foreigner or a citizen of the land. 20 Eat nothing with hametz in it. Wherever you live, eat matzah." (CJB)

(NOTE: Some people insist you are to clean out your “yeast” before Passover, but this is not true. There is no way to get rid of all yeast, because yeast spores are everywhere, including in every breath we take. For an indepth explanation, check out our article entitled, Yeast or Leaven.)

EXPLANATION OF "OUR" CALENDAR:

Please note we use the calendar based on the actual sun, moon, and stars; not the traditional Jewish calendar which is based on an "average moon", and rabbinical additions and changes. Click here for a basic explanation as to why.

By the way, in case anyone is interested, we offer a free downloadable haggadah (liturgy) for Pesach/Passover on our website. Just click on our Articles and Studies page, and scroll down until you see "Free calendars, Siddurs & Pesach Seder", and choose one of the final two link.

READY TO HEAR ABOUT A TRUE MIRACLE FROM OUR AMAZING CREATOR?

It was déjà vu for me on the morning of February 26, 2023 while my new husband of only 5 months, Tom Leannah, and I were having our usual fellowship breakfast with some friends from our congregation – when, suddenly, while placing his breakfast order, Tom displayed symptoms of a stroke (which I instantly recognized, since I lost my late husband, Bill Welker, to a stroke in May 2021).

Within seconds, our friend Jay, and a couple of other men picked Tom up and carried him out of the restaurant to place him in Jay’s truck, and off we went to the hospital which was only approximately five minutes away. (Tom was in such bad shape, he couldn’t speak or walk.)

Two of the men stayed behind to pray, and within 15 minutes, our whole congregation (via our prayer list) became involved in praying for Tom’s recovery.

At the hospital (where Tom already seemed perfectly “normal” upon our arrival), a CT scan and MRI revealed that he had definitely suffered a stroke, due to a completely blocked right carotid artery filled with plaque, along with a blood clot in his brain – both, or either of which SHOULD have caused him to have some signs of a stroke (i.e, slurred speech or drooping of the left side of his face, etc).

HOWEVER, the only reason Tom seemed to have zero effects was because his brain had “rewired” itself and been sending blood to the right side of his brain all along! (We believers know that only GOD is responsible for that kind of thing! HE is the one who created us and knew us before we were born… –Jeremiah 1:5.)

Psalm 139:13 For you fashioned my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother's womb. 14 I thank you because I am awesomely made, wonderfully; your works are wonders - I know this very well. 15 My bones were not hidden from you when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes could see me as an embryo, but in your book all my days were already written; my days had been shaped before any of them existed. (E-Sword)

Tom remained in the hospital for four and a half days before they finally released him on a Thursday. He seemed fine until Friday morning when, upon rising, he had yet ANOTHER STROKE, and was rushed to the hospital once again. (Luckily for me, one of his daughters and her husband happened to ring the doorbell while I was freaking out, and loaded him into my car for me.)

So – there was another CT scan and MRI; and this time, a brain scan, because I had related to the doctors that Tom had been doing some strange “seizure-like” things with his left hand on the way to the hospital. To everyone’s utter surprise, nothing had changed, and the brain scan showed no evidence of seizure dangers.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Tom is just fine now; a little tired but recuperating nicely.  Baruch haShem YHWH!

True believers in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and His Divine Messiah KNOW, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Tom’s situation was a miracle from YAHWEH, freely offered to a man mature in the faith, who obeys His divine Instructions, and clings to His Promises, including the miraculous power of prayer…

The reality of all this is, we live in a fallen world where “bad things happen to good people” – and the bottom line is, sometimes YHWH chooses to allow someone to continue to remain on this earth; while others are taken, for reasons known only to Him. (Please see my article: God, thank You for the storm! - https://www.therefinersfire.org/storm.htm)

It’s YAHWEH’s call and, although our “carnal nature” doesn’t want to lose any loved ones, mature believers (while terrified over possibly losing a loved one) realize and accept the fact that it CAN and DOES happen - even when modern medicine attempts to get into God’s way.

No one knows when their last day on earth might be, and so the BEST thing we could possibly do is to “get ourselves right with God,” so that we may live in Eternity with Him! Why live that holy, set apart life for Him? Because it’s the ONLY way to retain “eternal life!”

Our life here on earth is simply the prelude – an introduction, an overture – on what’s to come, once we are out of these “earth suits.” That is why it is so very important to learn all we can about the Holy One who created us and even saw fit to provide us with a blueprint for moral, holy living!

There is only one alternative, and that is to perish and be eternally separated from Him. (See Matthew 7:23 and 10:27-29; Ezekiel 18:4; 2 Thessalonians 1:9; Revelation 20:11-15; etc.)

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.

3 This is another evil among all those done under the sun, that the same events can occur to anyone. Truly, the human mind is full of evil; and as long as people live, folly is in their hearts; after which they go to be with the dead. 4 For as long as a person is linked with the living, there is hope - better to be a living dog than a dead lion! 5 For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing; there is no longer any reward for them, because all memory of them is lost. 6 What they loved, what they hated and what they envied all disappeared long ago, and they no longer have a share in anything done under the sun. 7 So go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a happy heart, for God has already accepted your deeds.

8 Let your clothing always be white, and never fail to perfume your head. 9 Enjoy life with the wife you have loved throughout your meaningless life that he has given you under the sun, all the days of your futility; for that is your allotted portion in life and in your labor that you work at under the sun. 10 Whatever task comes your way to do, do it with all your strength; because in Sh'ol, where you will go, there is neither working nor planning, neither knowledge nor wisdom. 11 Yet another thing I observed under the sun is that races aren't won by the swift or battles by the strong, and that food doesn't go to the wise or wealth to the intelligent or favor to the experts; rather, time and chance rule them all.

12 For people don't know when their time will come any more than fish taken in the fatal net or birds caught in a snare; similarly, people are snared at an unfortunate time, when suddenly it falls on them. 13 Here is something else I have seen as wisdom under the sun, and it seemed important to me: 14 there was a small town with few people in it; and a great king came to attack it; he surrounded it and built massive siege-works against it.

15 Now there was found in it a man who was poor but wise, and by his wisdom he saved the city; yet afterwards, nobody remembered that poor man. 16 So, although I say that wisdom is better than strength, nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised; nobody pays attention to what he says. 17 A wise man speaking quietly is more worth heeding than the shouts of a ruler commanding fools. 18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but a person who makes a mistake can destroy much good. (CJB)

The meaning behind “I and the Father are one”

Have you ever wondered why Yeshua uttered the words, “I and the Father are one”? (John 10:30)  Here is a great explanation from an Appendix in the Aramaic English New Testament:

The intimate relationship between Father and Son unfolds in Matthew 6:9-13 with the Slotha d'Maran, or Prayer of our Master, and progressive revelation continuing in Matthew 26:39, 42 and so on.  Put simply, if Y'shua is YHWH, then is he talking to himself?  The answer, of course, is NO! But, in order to understand we must go deep into the Tanakh to the following milestone passages: 

(1) In Exodus 23:20-22 we find mention of the only Messenger that YHWH sent to Israel who “has My Name in him.” This is key because every other messenger has YHWH's title – EL (MichaEL, RaphaEL, GavriEL, etc.) in their names.  But Y'shua's name means, “YHWH is salvation” which is tied to prophecy about him in places like Jeremiah 23:5-6, and fulfilled in John 17:11.

Mashiyach has a superior name to the other messengers (Hebrews 1:1-5) and a Name in him that is above all other names (Colossians 1:16-19, Philippians 2:9-10). This means that Y'shua and this Messenger, who are one and the same, have the Name Yah rather than El/Eloah/Elohim.

(2) The other aspect of Exodus 23:20-22 is that YHWH warns that this Messenger will not forgive Israel if they sin; implying that he had the independent power to do so, but would not on this occasion.  Such ability was not ever afforded any other heavenly messenger. To see how this might manifest with Mashiyach’s power and office, please see Matthew 9:5-8.

(3) Isaiah 9:6 tells us that one of the names of Mashiyach is “the Everlasting Father,” who is obviously YHWH Himself.  Then Isaiah 11:1-2 tells us that Mashiyach as the Root of Jesse will have the Spirit of YHWH rest inside him! Incidentally, the Spirit of YHWH and the Ruach haKodesh/Holy Spirit are also one and the same, as evidenced by Psalm 51:1-11 and Isaiah 63:1-11.

(4) Perhaps the most essential passage is in Zechariah 12:10, where the only begotten Son is killed but YHWH is “pierced.”  The Hebrew here, in spite of rabbinic argumentation to the contrary, could not be clearer.  The phrase in question is et asher dakaru. The et serves as a direct object pointer; it shows what part of a Hebrew sentence is receiving the action. 

So in Genesis 1:1 we are told et hashamayim v'et ha'aretz, with the et meaning that the heavens and the Earth are receiving the action of being created.  On this everyone agrees, but the same rabbis who agree with this usage everywhere else in Tanakh turn a blind eye here.  In this passage, it can only read as “to whom pierced they,” and since YHWH is speaking, He is being pierced! 

And yet the rest of the passage talks of people mourning for the man as “an only begotten son”! How can this be?  The Son whose flesh is pierced contains an occurrence (qnoma in Aramaic) of YHWH's Spirit, so while it is the flesh that is literally pierced and dies, the Spirit of YHWH is pierced too, but of course, cannot die.

(5) Finally Isaiah 53:1: “to whom has the arm of YHWH been revealed?”  This is the only acceptable form of “Godhead” in Scripture.  Clearly not a Trinity of three separate beings (or persons), because the arm is not a separate entity from the rest of the body and has no independent will.  The “arm” moves only with the power and control from the mind. 

In the same way YHWH’s nature is manifest as an occurrence within the Son that is separate but side-by-side with his human nature.  These two natures then communicate with one another; thus explaining why Y'shua is not talking to himself when he prays to his Father. 

This fact is also why sometimes Y'shua says things like, “My teaching is not my own” and “I can do nothing without my Father” on the one hand but on the other he says, “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father” and “I and my Father are one of the same.” 

This indicates a 100 percent divine nature that exists in a 100 percent human soul and flesh, where one or the other talks through Y'shua.  But the human is subject to the divine (again, “Not my will...”) which is the only way the Scripture cannot be broken.  It is not Trinity but neither does this deny the divine aspects in Y'shua himself.  It is also the real meaning behind, “No one comes to the Father but by me.”  See also John 5:26.

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS "TRINITY"....

Many Christian denominations attempt to explain the concept of “one God” as a “trinity” - three separate "persons" - the "Father, Son and Holy Spirit. But, truth be told, nothing could be further from the Truth!

First of all, many Bible verses reveal that YHWH is “Spirit”; and that the Ruach/Holy Spirit, is the Spirit and power of Elohim, the "breath of God" and Comforter and Counselor…and much, much more! (See Genesis 1:1; Numbers 23:19; Colossians 1:15; 1 Timothy 1:17; Matthew 1:23; John 1:1, John 4:24, John 14:17 and 14:26; and John 15:26.)

The ONLY part of YHWH that can be viewed as an actual "person" is His “Son” – Mashyiach/Messiah Yeshua – who is explained in Isaiah 53:1 as the "arm" of YHWH and also as "The Word" (John 1:1-5 and John 1:14); and as the “branch”.

So, from where does Christianity get the “trinity” idea? From the King James Bible! Take a look at this passage from the KJV:

1 John 5: 7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. (KJV)

KJV worded it to make it seem as though John was defining the Father, Son and Spirit as three separate beings in one. But a more careful look reveals something strange. All the other versions completely omit everything after the word "heaven" in verse 7.

For instance check out the NIV, which says: “7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.”

This is TOTALLY different from the KJV!

So, what happened? King James ADDED the line!

These words in verse 7 - "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one" - do NOT exist in the Peshitta nor the oldest Greek manuscripts of Aleph, A, B and the Vulgate!

Christo-Paganism, which originated before Constantine, taught that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are numerically three separate beings, but yet somehow "all the same" – which is a blatant violation of the First and Second Commandments. Check it out:

Exodus 20:1-6: 1 Then God said all these words: 2 I am Adonai your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the abode of slavery. 3 You are to have no other gods before me. 4 You are not to make for yourselves a carved image or any kind of representation of anything in heaven above, on the earth beneath or in the water below the shoreline. 5 You are not to bow down to them or serve them; for I, Adonai your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sins of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but displaying grace to the thousandth generation of those who love me and obey my mitzvot. (CJB)

Here is the passage of 1 John 5 as seen in the Aramaic English New Testament:

1 John 5: 6. This is he who came by the water and the blood. Y'shua the Mashiyach; not by the water only, but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit testifies; because the Spirit is truth. 7. (Verse 7 is nonexistent in the Eastern Peshitta!) 8. And there are three witnesses, the Spirit and the water, and the blood: and these three are in union. (AENT)

AS YOU CAN SEE FOR YOURSELF: Trinity is wrong on many levels, as the concept actually limits YHWH, who is THE Creator whose Word and Ruach haKodesh/Holy Spirit reside within Believers.

Examples:

Exodus 31:1 ADONAI said to Moshe, 2 "I have singled out B'tzal'el the son of Uri the son of Hur, of the tribe of Y'hudah. 3 I have filled him with the Spirit of God - with wisdom, understanding and knowledge concerning every kind of artisanry. (CJB)

John 14:17 The Spirit of Truth, He who the world is not able to receive because it has not seen Him, nor does know Him. But you know Him for He dwells with you and He is in you. (AENT)

John 14:26 But the Redeemer, the Ruach haKodesh, the One whom my Father will send in my name will teach you everything. And He will remind you of everything that I said to you. (AENT)

John 15:26 But when the Redeemer comes, He Whom I will send to you from the presence of my Father, the Spirit of Truth, He Who proceeds from the presence of my Father will witness concerning me. (AENT)

John 3:5 And Y'shua answered and said to him, Amen, amen I say to you, that if a man is not born from water and spirit, he is not able to enter into the Kingdom of Elohim. 6. The thing, which is born from flesh, is flesh, and the thing, which is born from spirit, is spirit. 7. Do not marvel that I have said to you that it is necessary for you to be born from the beginning. (AENT)

John 14:17 The Spirit of Truth, He who the world is not able to receive because it has not seen Him, nor does know Him. But you know Him for He dwells with you and He is in you. 18. I will not leave you bereaved. For I will come to you in a little while. 19. And the world will not see me, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20. In that day you will know that I am in my Father and you are in me and I am in you. 21. He who has my Commandments with him and keeps them, he is who loves me and he who loves me will be loved by my Father. And I will love him and reveal myself to him. (AENT)

SO, THERE YOU HAVE IT: The passages above reveal that YHWH is NOT "three 'persons' in one!" The ONLY "person" in that supposed "trinity" would be the fully human Yeshua, who was YHWH's Divine Messiah - divine because of who he was and how he came to be.