Friday, February 24, 2023

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.

Monday, February 20, 2023

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.

Sunday, February 19, 2023

WHAT DOES YESHUA MEAN WHEN HE SAID: "I am the Way and the Truth and the Life"?

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, author 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!

Roth 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 14:"6. Y’shua said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No man comes to the Father except by me. 7. If only you would have known me, you would have also have known my Father. And from now on you know Him and you have seen Him. * (AENT)

FOONOTE:

Y’shua is the Way; the Hebrew Derek (way) is first mentioned in Genesis 3:24, as the “way to the Tree of Life.” Throughout Torah and the Prophets “Ha Derek YHWH,” the Way of YHWH, is presented as keeping the Commandments of YHWH, living a righteous Set Apart life, walking in humility and service to YHWH and His Creation.

Y’shua exemplifies “Ha Derek YHWH” by demonstrating solidarity and obedience to Torah, through his extravagant love and obedience to his Father, and by serving YHWH’s people according to the ministry of the Ruach haKodesh.

Y’shua is the Truth; the Hebrew Emet (Truth) is first mentioned in Scripture when Abraham’s servant Eliezer worships YHWH because of His Mercy and Truth. Through walking in “the way” (of YHWH) he was divinely led to his master’s brethren where he found Rebecca, Genesis 24:27. Truth leads us to the Master of the Universe and to live among and be part of His called out people.

Truth reveals the cause and effect of our choices each day; as we walk in Truth we see the beauty and importance of the Way of Life. Y’shua said, “He who desires to do His will (walk in Truth) can comprehend my teaching, if it is from Elohim,” Yochanan 7:17. Y’shua is the Life. The Hebrew Chai (life) is first mentioned in Genesis 1:20, when Elohim first created living creatures.

Hebrew reveals many elements of “life,” however Y’shua’s teaching is more focused on spiritual life according to the Spirit of YHWH, the Ruach HaKodesh. This Spiritual life is described as the Spirit of YHWH, the Spirit of Wisdom, the Spirit of Understanding, the Spirit of Counsel, the Spirit of Might, the Spirit of Knowledge, and the Spirit of the Fear of YHWH (Isaiah 11:2). This Spiritual Life-Force demonstrates fruits of the Spirit of YHWH as love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

Sunday, February 5, 2023

Exposing the "laminin" lie...

 


LET’S TALK ABOUT THIS THING CALLED “LAMININ” that continues to be passed off as “truth” in congregations and on Facebook.

THE RUMOR SAYS:

“The molecule, Laminin is the protein that holds human beings together. Do you notice its shape? Isn't it amazing that God would think so far in the future, and make the very thing that makes us think of Jesus, make up and play a crucial role in how we are formed? God formed you to not only live as an image of Christ, but to never escape the fact that you are HIS! We are branded by the Cross! He is before all things, and in him all things hold together... Colossians 1:17”

THE RESPONSE: It’s false!

Although it might be very interesting, comparing the shape of the molecule laminin to the death device on which Yeshua died, is a bit of a stretch - for several reasons:


(1) The only symbol YHWH Himself ever designed and told us to make according to HIS instruction was the menorah (Exodus 25:31-40). The shape of laminin would be a whole lot more impressive and plausible IF the laminin was in the shape of a MENORAH!)

(2) The cross has sadly been turned by Catholicism and Christianity into a “symbol of God” which certain other religions are using to ridicule us (i.e., “how can you worship a dead God?”) Many churches today have statues of “Jesus hanging on a cross” – which totally negates that fact that Yeshua overcame Death … he was only on the cross for six hours; not for the last 2,000 years! (By the way, GOD (YHWH/ELOHIM) cannot be born or die; but His Messiah’s human body did. One needs to read the Bible to find out the whole story.)

(3) Fact is, “the cross “was merely a death device used by the Romans, upon which YHWH’s Divine Messiah was crucified. We don't know for sure that Yeshua died on a "cross" per se (some Bible versions translate it as "stake"), and if you Google "cross" you'll see that the shape of the modern Christian cross is from the Latin which looks like a lower case “t” while other "crosses" look like a capital T, a capital X and also a plus sign...

(4) Something to ponder: If Yeshua had been put to death by hanging (or had he been beheaded or died in some other horrible way), would we be willing to wear nooses or swords around our necks or hang them on our walls? Would God really then have made “laminin” into the shape of a noose or sword?

BOTTOM LINE:

“How” Yeshua died is not indicative of the "stuff of life" that holds us together. Believers get to have eternal life because Yeshua was our Redemption; but the hideous death device upon which he suffered and died, has nothing whatsoever to do with a molecule in our bodies that is coincidentally shaped like the latin "cross"....

The pastors who push this "laminin" idea like to suggest that Colossians 1:17 says, "all things holding together." However, the Aramaic reads:

Colossians 1: 15. who is the likeness of the invisible Elohim and the first-born of all creatures: 16. and by him was created everything that is in heaven and on earth, all that is visible and all that is invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; everything was through him and was created by [1] him: 17. and he was prior to all, and by him everything exists. (AENT)

FOOTNOTE: The literal Aramaic reading is “by him”; whereas Greek and English texts have “for him.” Mashiach Yeshua is the creative Word through which everything was made (Psalm 33:6, John 1:1-5, Hebrews 1:1-5). The common Aramaic idiom here, and in John, is "through his hands" meaning as the Word, Mashiach crafted all things according to YHWH's blueprints. Yeshua emerges as the Word from YHWH's breath and command and, as such, was with Him in the beginning (John 17:1-11)