&
THE ABRAHAMIC COVENANT
In this study we will explore some
aspects of following Yahshua our Messiah that will be disturbing to some. We
will use the term common to the people of this worlds religions, Christian. The
vast majority of these people believe that they are gentiles. They also believe
that the promise of grace and forgiveness and the new covenant was made with
them.
In this world there are gentiles and
there are Israelites, or as they are commonly called, Jews. The Jews are from
the tribe of Judah which is only one of the tribes of Israel. Because of a
separation at the time of Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, ten tribes moved to the north
with Jeroboam as their king. Judah and Benjamin remained with Rehoboam as their
king. They were now two kingdoms that the bible calls, Judah and Israel. You
can read about this separation in 1 KINGS 11:43 To 1 KINGS 12:1-33. Keep
this separation in mind as it will be important to help us understand who the
new covenant was made with.
As stated previously, Christians believe
that they are gentiles and that the new covenant was made with them. They shy
away from anything Jewish in their worship. They believe that there is the
Jewish religion which began at the time of the exodus from Egypt and the giving
of the law at mount
Sinai, the old covenant. Then there is the Christian religion begun at the time
of the Messiah’s sojourn on earth, the cancelling of the law and the coming of
grace, the new covenant incorporating the promise of eternal life.
The common Christian belief is that for
one to come under the new covenant of grace, forgiveness and eternal life one
must give up everything Jewish and basically become a gentile.
This will offend some
but keep on reading and we will discover together that this is exactly the
opposite of what the bible says on the subject. The truth is far more exciting,
for Jews and Gentiles.
All will readily admit that the old
covenant was made with Israel at mount Sinai. A point that is seldom heard is
that gentiles could only become a part of that covenant by joining Israel. They
could only do this by accepting circumcision, accepting their Elohim, and by
obeying
the laws, statutes,
and commandments given to Israel. There were not two different sets of laws.
One for the Israelites and one for the gentiles. EXODUS 12:49,
LEVITICUS 24:22, NUMBERS
9:14, NUMBERS 15:15-16, NUMBERS 15:29 All who joined Israel were bound by the
same laws as were the Israelites. Take special note here; This has not
changed under the new covenant, or more correctly, the renewed covenant, which
actually predates the covenant made at the time of Moses.
Some scriptures will be repeated during
this study but I believe that this is necessary for emphasis. The covenant of
grace and eternal inheritance did not actually begin at the time of Yahshua’s
sojourn on earth. It began with Abraham. You can read about this beginning in GENESIS 17:1-14. This covenant was to be with Abraham and his descendants forever, V
7. PSALMS 105:8-10 This
covenant was reaffirmed with Isaac and with his son Jacob( Israel). This was a
covenant of eternal inheritance by a promise from Yahweh to Abraham because he
believed Yahweh and it was counted to him as righteousness. ROMANS 4:3-9. Notice what Paul says about this. GALATIANS
3:17-18 Paul tells us that this
covenant of eternal inheritance, eternal life, could not be annulled by the
written law that came hundreds of years later.
So the promise of eternal life was given
to Abraham and his descendants forever. This promise made, one thing remained
to make it all happen. The bible tells us that all have sinned and fall short
of he glory of Elohim. ROMANS 3:23,
ROMANS 5:12 Abraham, Isaac,
and Jacob were no exception. Because of the penalty of sin, eternal death, ROMANS
6:23 Yahweh knew already, when He made the promise, that Yahshua would come
to sojourn on this earth and pay the penalty in our stead by His holy blood
making the final fulfilment possible. Yahshua came to confirm this covenant of
promise. This will all become clearer as we study further. It will also become
clear that the promise of grace and eternal inheritance is still open only to
the descendants of Abraham by Sarah. These descendants would be through his son
Isaac and through his son Jacob,(Israel). The promise of eternal inheritance is
to Israel only. More on this shortly.
NO
COVENANT MADE WITH GENTILES
Search the scriptures and you will
discover that Yahweh made no covenant with the gentile nations. EPHESIANS
2:11-12 Paul confirms this when he
says they, the gentiles were strangers to the covenants and without Elohim in
the world. Paul also tells us that the sonship, the glory, the covenants, the
giving of the law, the worship, and the promises belong to the Israelites. He
says the Messiah also belongs to them. ROMANS 9:4-5 Don’t become
discouraged, there is great news for gentiles. JOHN 10:16 Gentiles are
the other sheep that are not of this fold that Yahshua shall bring to Himself
so that all shall have one Elohim. More on this gathering soon. (We will
discover later that Abraham is also the father of the gentiles)
NEW
COVENANT DISPENSATION
Modern Christianity claims to be under
the new covenant while also claiming to be gentiles. Thinking this, they shun
away from anything that resembles Judaism. This includes the Sabbath and the
Holy days as commanded by Yahweh in the old testament books of the law which
they say is done
away, nailed to the stake with Yahshua. (Colossians 2: 14) Some even claim that
the ten commandments are done away and replaced by two new ones. Love Elohim
and love your neighbour. (MARK 12:30-31) They do not realize that these two
commandments were first written in the books of the law (which they say is done away)of the old
testament and aren’t new at all. DEUTERONOMY 6:5 LEVITICUS 19:18.
NEW COVENANT
NOT MADE WITH GENTILES
Modern churchianity fail to realize that
the new covenant was to be made with the house of Israel and the house of
Judah. JERIMIAH 31:31-34, JERIMIAH 32:40,
HEBREWS 8:6-13 Notice who is the mediator of the new covenant. It is
Yahshua. HEBREWS 9: 15 He was a Jew from the tribe of Judah. He came to
His own people, the Jews. Some did not accept Him but those that did, He gave
the power to become sons of Elohim. JOHN 1:11-12
Note this carefully. The new testament
assembly was a Jewish assembly. Yahshua was a Jew. The apostles were Jews. When
Yahshua sent out the apostles to preach, He sent them to the people of Israel
and told them not to go to the gentiles. MATTHEW 10:5-6.
At this point lets take a few minutes to
understand the old covenant given at mount Sinai and why it was only temporary,
until the time of Messiah. Remember this covenant did not annul the covenant of
promise made to Abraham GALATIANS 3:17 The people of Israel, after being
in Egypt for so long were sinning and did not realize it. The law was written
down to rectify this situation. This was a temporary thing to remind people of
their sins until the time when the true and perfect sacrifice would be offered
by Yahshua in His own blood. HEBREWS 9:8-10 In this old covenant, Yahweh
did not initially require sacrifices. JERIMIAH 7:21-24 GALATIANS 3:19 These were added because
of the unfaithfulness of the people. HEBREWS.10:1-4 They were a constant
reminder of their sins. GALATIANS 3: 23
Now before faith came, we were confined under the law, kept under
restraint until faith should be revealed. 24 So that the law was our custodian until Messiah came, that we
might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a custodian; 26
for in Messiah Yahshua you are all
sons of Elohim, through faith. 27
For as many of you as were baptized into Messiah have put on Messiah. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is
neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one
in Yahshua Messiah. 29 And if you
are Messiah’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise. (
Note verse 29) Yahweh asked for only obedience and love. HOSEA 6:6 For I desire steadfast love and not
sacrifice, the knowledge of Elohim, rather than burnt offerings. Is this not
what He also asks of us?
The old covenant in it original form was
a good covenant. It was the people who were the problem. HEBREWS 8:7-8
They were unfaithful to the agreement they had made. This was not the fault in
the old covenant. The people were the fault. Yahweh asked them to be obedient
as their father Abraham had been. If they had been they would have been under
the Abrahamic covenant of eternal inheritance and grace.
They were called to be a nation of kings
and priests. EXODUS 19:6 They were to be a royal priesthood. They would
evangelize the world. Instead of this they adopted the gods of the nations
around them and were unfaithful to their calling. We now have that same
calling. REVELATION 1:6, REVELATION 5:10, 1 PETER 2:9. Will we be
faithful to our calling?
There was something lacking in the people
of Israel, not in the covenant. Yahweh makes no mistakes. He did not make a bad
covenant with Israel. He did not make bad laws. His commandments are righteous.
Deuteronomy 4:5-8, ROMANS 7:12
The Israelites lacked faith. HEBREWS 4:2 They lacked natural love
for Yahweh. That is why they did not obey the terms of the covenant, which they
had promised to do three times. Mankind can not naturally do what is right. ROMANS
8:7 Because the carnal mind is
enmity against Elohim: for it is not subject to the law of Elohim, neither
indeed can be. What seems logical and right to mankind is usually harmful and
sinful. PROVERBS 14:12, JEREMIAH
10:23 They could not obey the terms of the covenant because they depended
on their own logic and reasoning. They lacked the faith of their father
Abraham.
NEW COVENANT
WRITTEN ON HEARTS AND MINDS
There is something to take note of here.
The old covenant was written on tablets of stone by the finger of Yahweh. EXODUS
31:18 They were clearly visible. The new covenant is written in our minds
and hearts by the Holy Spirit of Yahweh. JEREMIAH 31:31-34 (I quote this
scripture because it is the same way in which the Abrahamic covenant, which we
are actually under, was written. We will discuss this later in this study.) As
an aside here, My wife mentioned one time that the first two broken tablets
could symbolize the breaking of the covenant by the Israelites and the second
pair that were unbroken could symbolize the covenant of forgiveness and grace
that has not been broken. I thought this was a very deep observation. These
laws will be within Yahweh’s people as they were within Abraham. We no longer
need physical things to remind us to be obedient. We respond to the urging of
the Holy Spirit. ROMANS 8:3-5 Yahweh’s true followers will be constantly
meditating on and studying His word. We have the very mind of Yahweh and
Yahshua to help us. ROMANS 8:26-27, 1 CORINTHIANS 2:7-16 Note verse 16. He has also given us the
love that we need to serve Him. ROMANS 5:1-5 That is the difference
between the old and the new covenant.
Now back to who the new covenant is
made with. JERIMIAH 31:31-34 Notice that the new covenant is to be made
with the house of Judah and the house of Israel. There is no mention of
gentiles here. (Some scriptures will be repeated here but read them again to
fully understand
the subject) Yahshua
was a Jew from the line of king David. He was born to a Jewish maiden named
Miriam( Mary ). He lived in perfect obedience to the Jewish (actually Yahweh’s)
law. Most of churchianity believe that Yahshua did away with that law as part
of the new covenant. We have His own words to tell us this is not true. MATTHEW
5:17 He said, “Think not that I
have come to destroy
the law or the prophets.” Yet this is exactly what the world’s religions think.
He came to magnify the law as was prophesied by ISAIAH 42:21.
Yahshua came to the Jews with a new
covenant, or the Abrahamic covenant of forgiveness, grace and eternal life
reaffirmed and sealed in His blood. The word “new” in the promise concerning
the covenant to be made with Israel and Judah means; to rebuild, repair or
refresh.
Where this scripture
is repeated in the Greek HEBREWS 8:8 the word used means basically the
same thing. This covenant of forgiveness and grace was not a new thing made up
by Yahweh at the time of Yahshua. It was the same covenant that was made with
Abraham who knew that it would take the blood of Yahshua to finalize it. JOHN
8: 56 “Your father Abraham rejoiced
that he was to see my day; he saw it and was glad.”
The main part of the Jews did not accept
Yahshua as the Messiah and the mediator of this new covenant. Did Yahweh then
annul the covenant with Israel and make a different one with the gentiles?
Absolutely not !! The promises and the covenant was first made with Abraham,
the forefather of the Israelites.
Because he was faithful, the covenant was ratified for all time to come,
and to be administered at the time appointed, by Abraham’s seed or descendant,
Yahshua. GALATIANS 3:15-16 Paul tells us that the Jews have not been
rejected so as to be lost. ROMANS 11:11 Their condition is temporary.
They are and always will be Yahweh’s chosen people. We will explore this further
soon. Because of this unfaithfulness, salvation has come to the gentiles. Not
by a different covenant without the law but the very same covenant
incorporating all that it did at the time it was made with Abraham, including
the laws, statutes and commands which Abraham obeyed. GENESIS 26: 5 because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my
charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws."
This temporary fall does not mean that
Yahweh has rejected His people totally.
ROMANS 11:1-5 Notice
that the day is coming when they will be fully included again. ROMANS 11:12
Why then this temporary exclusion of the main body of Israelites? This is so
the gentiles could be included. JOHN 10:16 And I have other sheep, that
are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice. So
there shall be one flock, one shepherd. EPHESIANS 2: 13 But now in Messiah Yahshua you who once were
far off have been brought near in the blood of
Messiah.14 For he is our
peace, who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of
hostility, 15 by abolishing in
his flesh the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in
himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to Elohim in one
body through the stake, thereby bringing the hostility to an end. Does this
mean that the assembly is suddenly a gentile assembly? Has everything now
changed? Not one thing has changed. Yahshua is still the Messiah of Israel. The
apostles are still Israelites. This being the case, what then has happened?
GENTILES
GRAFTED INTO ISRAEL
Paul explains what has happened by using
an olive tree as an example. ROMANS 11:1-36 Yahweh is the root. Yahshua
is the trunk. Israel are the branches. Israel are Yahweh’s beloved because of
the faithfulness of their forefathers. Paul says the gifts and the call of
Elohim are irrevocable. Verse 28-29 So the promise to Abraham and his
descendants concerning
forgiveness, grace,
and eternal inheritance(eternal life) can not be changed.
The branches of the olive tree are
Israel. Some were broken off because of
unfaithfulness. These branches have not been thrown away or burnt. Verse 23
If they repent they will be grafted in again. ISAIAH 59:20 They were broken off so that others could be
grafted in their place. This was prophesied to take place. ISAIAH 49: 5-7 The wild branches grafted in are gentiles.
Paul tells us that these branches do not support the tree. They are supported
by the trunk Yahshua who in turn is supported by the root, Yahweh. The tree is
Israel. The gentiles are grafted into Israel. This grafting remains permanent
only through obedience and faith. Verse 20 There is no room for
boasting. The gentiles must not become proud Verses 18-20 This is what
has happened to most of them. They believe that Yahweh has rejected His people
in favour of them. They have discarded everything that is Jewish even down to
the Messiahs true Hebrew name, Yahshua.(Yahweh is salvation) They have
forgotten a very important fact. If they are followers of the true Messiah,
Yahshua, they are Jews. ROMANS 2:28-29
Being a Jew is not a matter of nationality, it is a matter of the heart.
ROMANS 9:6-8 It is the seed of Abraham who are considered as Israel. It
is those who accept and live by the covenant made with Abraham and reaffirmed
in Yahshua that are true Israel.
Take special note of this; Yahweh called Abraham(the father of the Israelites) to walk with Him and a blessing would come to all of the people of the earth through him. GENESIS 12:1-3
THE ABRAHAMIC COVENANT
Let us take a few minutes here to understand the covenant that Yahweh made with Abraham.
First of all, the new covenant that Jeremiah prophesied is to be made with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. JERIMIAH 31: 31 “Behold, the days are coming, says Yahweh, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah,”
JERIMIAH 32: 36 "Now therefore thus says Yahweh, the Elohim of Israel, concerning this city of which you say, ‘It is given into the hand of the king of Babylon by sword, by famine, and by pestilence’: 37 Behold, I will gather them from all the countries to which I drove them in my anger and my wrath and in great indignation; I will bring them back to this place, and I will make them dwell in safety. 38 And they shall be my people, and I will be their Elohim. 39 I will give them one heart and one way, that they may reverence me for ever, for their own good and the good of their children after them. 40 I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them; and I will put the reverence of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me. 41 I will rejoice in doing them good, and I will plant them in this land in faithfulness, with all my heart and all my soul. 42 "For thus says Yahweh: Just as I have brought all this great evil upon this people, so I will bring upon them all the good that I promise them.
There is no mention of gentiles in this prophesy in the old or the new testament. From Exodus onward I find no place where Yahweh ever made a covenant with the gentiles. The new covenant promised by Yahweh is made only to THE HOUSE OF JUDAH AND THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL. The writer of the book of Hebrews was writing not to gentiles but to Israelites as can be affirmed by the opening verses referring to Yahweh “speaking to our fathers by the prophets.” This covenant will be implemented after the return of Yahshua at which time the whole house of Israel will be resurrected and restored. EZEKIEL 37 ( The valley of dry bones) Those who claim that the complete restoration of the house of Israel will happen in this age prior to Yahshua's return have their time order of events incorrect.
There was a time however, before Moses, and before there were any Israelites, when Yahweh did make a covenant with the gentiles. This covenant was made through one man, Abraham. This was a covenant of promise not like the one to come later through Moses but like the covenant of promise that we are now under. This covenant with Abraham did not depend on circumcision to bring one into the covenant as did the one at Mt. Sinai with the Israelites.
When Yahweh made the promise of eternal inheritance to Abraham he was not circumcised. He was a gentile by fleshly standards. He fathered Ishmael, a gentile, while he was yet uncircumcised. This makes Abraham the father of the uncircumcised which Paul covers. ROMANS 4: 1 What then shall we say about Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before Elohim.3 For what does the scripture say? "Abraham believed Elohim, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness." 4 Now to one who works, his wages are not reckoned as a gift but as his due. 5 And to one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the unrighteous, his faith is reckoned as righteousness. 6 So also David pronounces a blessing upon the man to whom Elohim reckons righteousness apart from works: 7 "Blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; 8 blessed is the man against whom Yahweh will not reckon his sin." 9 Is this blessing pronounced only upon the circumcised, or also upon the uncircumcised? We say that faith was reckoned to Abraham as righteousness. 10 How then was it reckoned to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. 11 He received circumcision as a sign or seal of the righteousness which he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised and who thus have righteousness reckoned to them, 12 and likewise the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but also follow the example of the faith which our father Abraham had before he was circumcised. 13 The promise to Abraham and his descendants, that they should inherit the world, did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. ¶
Paul tells us that he was circumcised as
a sign of the righteousness that he had before he was circumcised. GENESIS
15: 1 After these things the word
of Yahweh came to Abram in a vision, "Fear not, Abram, I am your shield;
your reward shall be very great." 2 But Abram said, "O Adonai ELOHIM, what wilt thou give me,
for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of
Damascus?" 3 And Abram
said, "Behold, thou hast given me no offspring; and a slave born in my
house will be my heir." 4
And behold, the word of Yahweh came to him, "This man shall not be
your heir; your own son shall be your heir." 5 And he brought him outside and said,
"Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number
them." Then he said to him, "So shall your descendants be." 6 And he believed Yahweh; and He reckoned it
to him as righteousness. ¶
This was before Abraham was circumcised.
Ishmael was not yet born. It would be another 13 years before Abraham was
circumcised. Righteousness was reckoned to him in this state.
This
makes him the father of all who believe without receiving circumcision.
Gentiles. Abraham was circumcised as a sign of his righteousness and in this
state he fathered Isaac who was his natural son by promise. Yahweh confirmed his promise and covenant
with Isaac who fathered Israel. Abraham is the father of the circumcised as
well. GENESIS 17: 1 When Abram
was ninety-nine years old Yahweh appeared to Abram, and said to him, "I am
EL SHADAII ; walk before me, and be blameless. 2 And I will make my covenant between me and
you, and will multiply you exceedingly." 3 Then Abram fell on his face; and Elohim said
to him,
4
"Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a
multitude of nations.
5 No longer
shall your name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you
the father of a multitude of nations. 6
I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you,
and kings shall come forth from you. 7
And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your descendants
after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be
Elohim to you and to your descendants after you. 8 And I will give to you, and to your
descendants after you, the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan,
for an everlasting possession; and I will be their Elohim." 9 And Elohim said to Abraham, "As for
you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout
their generations. ¶
Continuing on in this chapter we will see what Paul is talking about concerning Abraham also being the father of the circumcised. As he said Abraham was circumcised in the flesh as the sign of the righteousness he had before he was circumcised. (One could say, according to the writings of Paul that Abraham was circumcised of the heart before he was circumcised in the flesh. It is circumcision of the heart that endears us to Yahweh. It is only through circumcision of the heart that one can be accounted righteous) GENESIS 17:10 This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your descendants after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. 12 He that is eight days old among you shall be circumcised; every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house, or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring, 13 both he that is born in your house and he that is bought with your money, shall be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant.14 Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant." ¶
When people read these verses they usually do it in a cursory way without meditation or deep thought as to what they mean. They are, on the surface, land and birth promises, but under scrutiny they are much more than that. These are eternal promises. These promises were made to Abraham and his descendants. For one to be the recipient of eternal inheritance one must, of necessity live, eternally. Most don't understand this but Abraham knew what we know today and perhaps even more. He saw Yahshua's day and rejoiced. JOHN 8:56 Why would he rejoice if he did not know and understand the wondrous things that Yahshua would do on behalf of the whole world. He could rejoice because he knew that he was, along with all of mankind, under and eternal death penalty. ROMANS 5:12 Therefore as sin came into the world through one man and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all men sinned. ¶
ROMANS 3:23 since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of Elohim. ¶ ROMANS 6:23 The wages of sin is death---¶
He could rejoice as we do because he knew Yahshua would pay his penalty and ours and Yahweh would set aside the death penalty. COLOSSIANS 2: 13 And you, who were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, Elohim made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,14 having canceled the bond which stood against us with its legal demands; this he set aside, nailing it to the stake. ¶ (RSV) This legal bond which was against us was the record of our sins that demanded payment. This payment Yahshua made on our behalf.
Where we look back and say, through
faith, Yahshua has made my eternal life possible, Abraham looked forward
and said, through faith, Yahshua will make my eternal life possible.
This is why he was accounted righteous. That is why we are accounted righteous.
Not on account of works but by faith in Yahweh's word. Not because of circumcision
of the flesh but because of circumcision of the heart.
If we must name the covenant we are under then it is the Abrahamic covenant. Yahshua is our Melchizedek high priest. HEBREWS 5:6 as he says also in another place, "Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek." ¶ HEBREWS 5:10 being designated by Elohim a high priest after the order of Melchizedek. ¶
This is the same high priest that Abraham tithed to. HEBREWS 7:1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High Elohim, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him; ¶ GENESIS 14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was priest of Elohim Most High. 19 And he blessed him and said, "Blessed be Abram by Elohim Most High, maker of heaven and earth; 20 and blessed be Elohim Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!" And Abram gave him a tenth of everything. ¶
I believe that the encounter mentioned in the scriptures was only one of many that Abraham had with Melchizedek. This Melchizedek was king of Shalem or king of peace. This was the beginnings of the city of Jerusalem the city of peace on this earth. This is the same city where our Melchizedek priest resides now except that it is a new Jerusalem in Heaven, which will one day again be on this earth with the same Melchizedek high Priest. REVELATION 21: 1-2
This covenant preceded the Mosaic covenant, which was temporary. HEBREWS 9:
8 By this the Holy Spirit
indicates that the way into the sanctuary is not yet opened as long as the
outer tent is still standing 9
(which is symbolic for the present age). According to this arrangement,
gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot perfect the conscience of the
worshiper,
10 but deal only with food
and drink and various ablutions, regulations for the body imposed until the
time of reformation. ¶ HEBREWS 7:12 for when there is a change in
the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. ¶
The Melchizedek priesthood preceded the Levitical priesthood and is once again the priesthood that we are subject to and a part of, as Abraham is, if we persevere to the end.
The Abrahamic covenant was and is eternal. The new covenant that Yahweh will make with Israel and Judah will be an eternal covenant. It will also be a covenant of promise. The Blood of our Messiah Yahshua ratified both of these covenants. These are identical covenants.
Let us now continue with the study. Yahweh reaffirmed
this call to the Israelites (Abraham’s descendants) to be a special people to
Him as a nation of kings and priests. EXODUS 19:6 Yahweh sent Yahshua,
an Israelite to His people Israel as the Messiah to deal with sin and reaffirm
the covenant and the call. When He returns, He will be returning to Israel ZECHARIAH.14:
4-9 to begin Yahweh’s kingdom, which will be headquartered in Israel’s
capital, Jerusalem. ISAIAH 9:6-7, ISAIAH 2:3
There is something also that I would
like you to notice in the book of revelation. It is concerning New Jerusalem
and it shows that Yahweh has not changed His mind about Israel. REVELATION
21:9-14 Notice there are twelve gates. Each gate has the name of one of the
twelve tribes of Israel. One must enter the city through one of these gates.
You enter the New Jerusalem, the city of Yahweh through Israel. There is no
other way. Notice also that the city has twelve foundations and on each the
name of the twelve apostles. These are also Israelites. The way to Yahweh is
through Israel, Abraham’s seed. There is no alternate route.
Make no mistake, our Messiah was a Jew. The Jews have preserved the word of salvation sent from Yahweh in the holy scriptures. Yahshua is returning to the homeland of Israel to set up a world ruling government and kingdom in Jerusalem. In the very end Yahweh the Father
is coming with the
new Jerusalem. REVELATION 21:1-4 If we wish to be a part of all of these
beautiful things, we must be Abraham’s seed or descendant, nationally or
spiritually. Either way, we must be as our Saviour was, an Israelite. DEUTERONOMY
32: 9 For Yahweh’s portion is his
people, Jacob his allotted heritage. 10
"He found him in a desert land, and in the howling waste of the
wilderness; he encircled him, he cared for him, he kept him as the apple of his
eye. ¶
May Yahweh bless your studies. HalleluYah
Elder Dave Ganton.