Many believe that parts of His Word are abolished and no longer necessary or needful to follow, and we're going to examine a particular chapter of the scriptures, a particular portion of Paul's writings, which many use to suggest that. And that would be Ephesians 2.
And I would suggest that everyone, if you have a -- and I'm sure you do -- if you have a Bible nearby, make sure you open it to Ephesians 2, because we're going to examine that one in detail today. And this is really a very, very troubling scripture for those who actually read the New International Version.
And so I would encourage you to open your Bibles to Ephesians 2. We're going to go over this verse by verse, and we're actually going to cover a lot of scripture today, as we like to do often, and see if we can grab the context of what's being said here.
Now, in Ephesians 2:14-16, the NIV or New International Version, now the most popular translation among Christians, took great liberties in altering things to fit the mainline doctrines in Christianity.
And this, I realize, is a pretty strong accusation on my part to say this, but it's true. They took great liberties in altering the scriptures to fit the mainline doctrines of Christianity. So I'm going to read Ephesians 2:14-16 from the NIV, or New International Version.
And if you read it for what the NIV says, it is no surprise whatsoever that many Christians today believe that the law is abolished. And here's what it says:
14 For he himself is our peace...
Talking about Messiah.
...who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,
15 by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace,
16 and in this one body to reconcile both of them to Elohim through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.
Now, if we read this verse just as it was translated, it would be very, very hard to argue that the law has been anything other than abolished. I mean, it plainly says Yahushua abolished the law, with its commandments and regulations. Does it not? Okay.
And so for those of us who have already discovered, as I have, that this is not a good translation, think with me for a minute here. It's not too hard to see why they would think the law is abolished, when their own Bible that they read from every day plainly says so.
It's no wonder many Christians today would believe the law has been abolished. It's translations like this, we see here, that create that impression.
And so we need to not be so quick to outright condemn those who are persuaded that Yahweh's law has been abolished, because every day they have this Bible in their hand which plainly says it is, indeed, abolished.
Now, if you read the preface of the NIV, they will tell you it is not a literal translation. They will call it dynamic equivalence. In other words, they will take what they read in the Greek, and based on what they think the Greek says, they'll reword the whole thing to make it easy for you to understand.
It's almost a paraphrase, but not quite. It's sort of different. It's a little different than a paraphrase, but it, you know -- they're conveying thoughts -- thoughts-for-thoughts -- and not really word-for-word translations.
And when you have thoughts, obviously, our own thoughts can get in the middle there of what Yahweh is trying to say. And so please understand that the New International Version is not trying to be a literal translation. They are trying to be what they call dynamic equivalent. Okay?
So if you're looking for a more literal translation, you're going to have to look for maybe the King James, New King James, or New American Standard, or something like that. They are more literal in word-for-word. And sometimes the word-for-word translations are difficult to understand.
But what the NIV did was take all the passages that are difficult to understand, and they kind of smoothed them over, based on how they were able to figure them out.
And if they thought they weren't able to figure it out, then they would put little textual notes at the bottom, saying, "Well, the meaning is uncertain."
So, anyway, but here, they didn't feel that the meaning was uncertain at all. They felt pretty sure that the law was abolished.
So what is the true meaning of these verses here in Ephesians 2? What is the context? What is Paul trying to say? Would Paul, the same man who said that we should be subject to the law of Yahweh also say that the law of Yahweh has been abolished?
I mean, he would seem to be speaking doubletalk here, if that was the case. For instance, in Romans 8:6-7, it says:
Romans 8:6 - For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Romans 8:7 - Because the carnal mind is enmity against YAHWEH: for it is not subject to the law of YAHWEH, neither indeed can be.
And the word "subject" there in Romans 8:7 doesn't mean anything other than "obedient to." So on one hand, we have a scripture verse that clearly says that we need to be subordinate to, obedient to, to be willing to obey the law.
And on the other hand, we have a scripture verse, which, on the surface, and only in the NIV, would appear to be saying that the law has been abolished.
Well, if the law is abolished, why do you have to be obedient to it? And would Paul, the same man who said that the law of Yahweh has not been made void through faith, also say that the law is null and void? Romans 3:31 says:
Romans 3:31 - Do we then make void the law through faith? By no means! Yea, we establish the law.
Now, the Greek word translated "establish" in this particular verse means "to stand," if you look in the Strong's Lexicon. "To cause or make to stand." in the Thayer's Lexicon.
And so if the law is abolished, how is it that it still stands? How is it, if the law is abolished, that it's certainly not void? And how is it, if the law is abolished, that we are clearly called to still be subject or obedient to it?
And these are the questions that should naturally arise, because otherwise we have scripture contradicting itself. And so what is the true answer here?
Well, we're going to look at Ephesians 2 in full context, and we're also going to examine some of the Greek here and see what we can find regarding the different words that are used and the different meanings of the words, so that we can be sure that we are understanding something correctly.
So looking at the context of Ephesians 2 here, we're going to start with verse 8. You do We do want to look at context, because we don't want to take anything out of context, right? We don't want to allow anything to contradict anything else.
So we're going to look at Ephesians 2. We're going to start at verse 8 and 9, and there it says:
Ephesians 2:8 - For by favor you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of YAHWEH,
Ephesians 2:9 - not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Now, in context, Paul is speaking of our salvation and the importance of recognizing that it is not our own works that save us, but rather the blessed gift of Yahweh's grace. And that's so true.
Because if it was true that our works could save us, we could boast that we achieved salvation by our own power and by our own strength. And, in fact, we could say that we're able to save ourselves, and we don't even need Yahushua.
But the truth is we must humble ourselves in the eyes of Yahweh. We must admit that we are in a wretched condition and confess we have no choice but to trust in His grace, which He offers through Yahushua the Messiah.
Our salvation is not by our works. It is by His grace that we are saved. Now, today, many believe that if a person attempts to keep the Sabbath day, or if he refrains from eating pork, then they are automatically seeking to be saved by their own works, through our observance of those commandments.
But if you honor your parents, or if you refrain from idolatry, of if you keep yourself from adultery, you're not going to find too many people claiming that you're trying to earn your salvation.
But the minute you keep the Sabbath day holy, or if you keep other certain select commandments, then whamo, you are trying to earn your salvation and trying to be saved by your own works.
Why is this? Well, there is no scriptural support for such of you as taking certain Bible verses out of the scriptures and saying, "Well, if you keep those commandments, you're trying to earn your salvation, but if you keep these other commandments over here, then you're not."
You could try to earn your salvation through keeping any commandment, and it's not the keeping of a specific commandment that brings you to the point of trying to earn your salvation.
The truth is the more we believe in keeping the commandments, the more evidence there is of our repentance. Now, we do have to repent to be saved. We are not saved by our works.
But unless our repentance truly shows forth the good fruit, the works of the Spirit, then we haven't truly repented. It's just all a bunch of hot air. It's not true. It's not genuine.
But, you know, the fact that we believe in keeping additional commandments -- commandments that most nominal Christianity does not keep -- that doesn't mean that Yahweh's grace is somehow missing from our life.
Rather, we believe that this is a more scriptural response to Yahweh's grace. An unscriptural response to Yahweh's grace would be to break the commandments. After all, aren't we created in the Messiah Yahushua unto good works? And hasn't Yahweh ordained that we walk in the good works?
Absolutely. The very next verse here in Ephesians 2 says this:
Ephesians 2:10 - For we are His workmanship, created in the Master Yahushua for good works, which YAHWEH prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
So we are to walk in the workmanship of Yahushua, the creation of which He has created. And so I think that's a point that's often missed; yet, it's true that we're saved by grace through faith, because there's not any commandment we can keep that will ever make up for the sins that we've committed.
We need to remain humble. We can't achieve salvation by the keeping of any one commandment. We must have faith that Yahweh will place His righteousness in us through Yahushua the Messiah, so that we are able to be saved. And when He does that, we are indeed a new creation. 2 Corinthians 5:17, it says:
2Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore if any man is in the Messiah, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
And since we are a new creation, and we're not that Adam sinner man anymore, then we need to act like it, because we are His workmanship, created in Messiah Yahushua unto good works, and Elohim has before ordained that we should walk in those good works and maintain those good works until the time of Yahushua the Messiah.
After all, when we maintain good works, that's the scriptural response to salvation. There's nothing wrong with affirming constantly, constantly that we must maintain good works. Nothing wrong with that.
That is not trying to earn your salvation. In fact, Titus 3:8, Paul instructs Titus. He says:
Titus 3:8 - This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in YAHWEH might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
And so it's not a bad thing that emphasis is being placed on maintaining good works. In fact, it's expected. As long as we understand the context of this, that our good works are not able to save us.
And when we say "works," we mean the keeping of any commandment, not just certain commandments that people think are Jewish, but any commandment.
After all, since we're a new creation, it's no longer we who live, but it's Yahushua the Messiah who lives in us. We ought to walk just as He walked. 1 John 2:4-6:
1John 2:4 - He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
1John 2:5 - But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of YAHWEH is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.
1John 2:6 - He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
So we see that one of the results of us being a new creation is that we will not lie and claim that we know Him, while not keeping His commandments.
We see that the results of being a new creation is that we walk as Yahushua walked. And how did He walk? We know He kept every one of Yahweh's commands, and Yahweh desires that we maintain good works and walk in them, and that we affirm this constantly, that we be careful to maintain good works.
That's not a bad thing. That's a good thing, as long as we start with the Good News, and that is not by our righteousness, but by His righteousness dwelling in us, through Yahushua the Messiah, in whom is truth and righteousness. That's how we receive salvation.
Another implication of His workmanship is mentioned here in the next verses of Ephesians 2. I'm going to read it in context. It says:
Ephesians 2:10 - For we are His workmanship, created in the Master Yahushua for good works, which YAHWEH prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:11 - Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh--who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands--
Ephesians 2:12 - that at that time you were without the Messiah, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without Elohim in the world.
Now let's play close -- please pay close attention to what's being said here. It says that being a Gentile is something that occurred in time past. This can only mean that Gentiles who are in Messiah are no longer Gentiles in Yahweh's eyes. Do we catch that?
Many today are seeking to distance themselves from Israel, because they believe that they are a Gentile. But according to this scripture, there are several things that are no longer true for a Gentile believer in Messiah.
And that is, first of all, being a Gentile. That's not true anymore. You're not a Gentile anymore.
The second thing is that you're an alien from the commonwealth of Israel. That's not true anymore either.
And the third thing is that you're a stranger from the covenants of promise. See, that's not true. You're no longer a stranger. You're no longer an alien from the commonwealth of Israel, and you're no longer a Gentile.
And it used to be you had no hope, but now you do have hope.
It used to be that you were without Elohim, but now you have Elohim.
That, my brethren, is the work of Yahushua the Messiah dwelling in you. Do we catch this? Do we understand it?
And so let me tell you something. For any believer who still claims he's a Gentile, and still claims he's not a part of the commonwealth of Israel, and he still claims he's a stranger from the covenants given to Israel, anyone who says these things, do you know what they're doing?
They are rejecting the workmanship of the Messiah, and they are rejecting the Good News that it is no longer we who live, but it is Yahushua, an Israelite, that lives in us.
So it's not us who are rejecting the workmanship of the Messiah because we keep the Torah; it is those who reject the fact that they are Israel and, on that basis, don't keep commandments given to Israel, who are rejecting the workmanship of the Messiah.
So it's just the opposite. Gentiles are transformed into Israelites, through the blood of Messiah. Galatians 3:29 says:
Galatians 3:29 - And if you are the Messiah's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
There's no difference between saying that you're Abraham's seed and saying that you're an Israelite. There's no difference. It's one and the same. Gentiles are transformed into Israelites through the blood of Messiah.
That is His workmanship. That is what Yahushua has done for us, so that we can be partakers of all the promises given to Israel, including all the covenants.
Let's continue reading here, Ephesians 2:12-13. It says that:
Ephesians 2:12 - that at that time you were without the Messiah, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without Elohim in the world.
Ephesians 2:13 - But now in the Master Yahushua you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah.
See, the life is in the blood, and it is Yahushua's life that is now in us. Gentiles have taken on a new heritage and new identity. No longer are Gentiles aliens and strangers from the commonwealth of Israel. No longer are Gentiles strangers from the covenants of promise.
Rather, Gentiles are brought near by the blood of Messiah, because it is no longer the Gentile who lives. It is Yahushua the Israelite who is living in a Gentile. Galatians 2:20 says:
Galatians 2:20 - "I have been impaled with the Messiah; it is no longer I who live, but the Messiah lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of YAHWEH, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Now, since it is Yahushua who lives in all of us, we will walk as He walked. We will be a new creature, a new creation. We will now be a part of the commonwealth of Israel, because Yahushua is Israel, and it is He that lives in us; therefore, we are Abraham's seed, because Yahushua now lives in us.
And that is why we are called the body of Messiah to begin with. Yahushua has brought the Gentiles into the house of Israel, so that the Gentiles can partake of the promises given to Israel, including the New Covenant. Jeremiah 31:31-34:
Jeremiah 31:31 - Behold, the days come, saith YAHWEH, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
Jeremiah 31:32 - Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith YAHWEH:
Jeremiah 31:33 - But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith YAHWEH, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their Elohim, and they shall be my people.
Now, he's talking to Jeremiah here. What law is He talking about? Yahweh's law.
Jeremiah 31:33 - But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith YAHWEH, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their Elohim, and they shall be my people.
What is His law? Did He say He was going to put a brand new law that had never been heard before in their minds? No.
And the reason why the law is in the hearts is because Yahushua is in the hearts, and He is the living Torah, the living Word, which was made flesh and dwelt among us, that's dwelling in us.
And so we will walk as He walked. He will do the things in us He did when He was on the earth.
You see here, though, according to this scripture, the new covenant is with Israel and Judah. Now, in order for a Gentile to be partakers of the new covenant, they have to join themselves to Israel, through receiving Yahushua, who will dwell in them.
And by this, the living Word, which was made flesh and dwelt among us, will dwell in our minds, and that Word will be written on our hearts. And by this, Gentiles will become the seed of Abraham.
Let's go back to Ephesians 2:13-14:
Ephesians 2:13 - But now in the Master Yahushua you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah.
Ephesians 2:14 - For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,
So Yahushua has made peace between Jew and Gentile. Do you see that? Yahushua is our peace. Formerly, the Jews and Gentiles were not at peace with one another, but Yahushua is our peace, who made both Jew and Gentile into one body, and He is the one that broke down the wall of partition separating Jew from Gentile.
Now what is this wall of partition? It's kind of interesting, because during that time period, the temple was still standing, obviously.
And during this time period, they actually had a physical wall of partition set up on the temple grounds.
A wall of partition was set up on the temple grounds, and this wall of partition had a sign on it.
I'm going to read you a quotation from the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, where it talks about in the temple area, the Gentiles were forbidden to go any closer to the altar in the holy areas than an area called the court of the Gentiles.
And according to this encyclopedia, it says this:
"In the year 1871, while excavations were being made on the site of the temple by the Palestine Exploration Fund, M. Clermont-Ganneau discovered one of the pillars which Josephus describes as having been erected upon the very barrier or middle wall of partition, to which Paul refers.
This pillar is now preserved in the Museum at Constantinople and is inscribed with a Greek inscription in capital or uncial letters, which is translated as follows..."
This is the sign they found:
"NO MAN OF ANOTHER NATION TO ENTER WITHIN THE FENCE AND ENCLOSURE ROUND THE TEMPLE, AND WHOEVER IS CAUGHT WILL HAVE HIMSELF TO BLAME THAT HIS DEATH ENSUES".
And that is the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia under "Partition, the Middle Wall of Partition."
Now, this barrier was set up in the court of the Gentiles, so that they would not enter through the gates and into the holy areas of the temple.
And this court of the Gentiles is where the oxen, and the sheep, and the doves were sold, and Yahushua overturned the tables of the money changes.
And when He did this in Mark 11:15-18, look at what He says. It's very interesting. It says:
Mark 11:15 - And they come to Jerusalem: and Yahushua went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;
Mark 11:16 - And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.
Mark 11:17 - And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.
Mark 11:18 - And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.
Now, notice Yahushua's statement of Yahweh's intent for His house. His intent for His house was that it was to be a house of prayer for all nations, not just for Jews, for all nations. And this was Yahweh's will for the temple.
It was never Yahweh's will for this wall of partition to automatically exclude all Gentiles.
Now, I understand that there did need to be an area that was set apart for those who were not unclean, but were clean, but the Jews would not even let a clean Gentile enter the temple until they became converted, became Jewish through the rite and ritual of circumcision, and that was unscriptural and wrong.
When Yahushua said that the temple was to be a house of prayer for all nations, He was actually quoting from the prophet Isaiah. In Isaiah 56:6-7, it says -- I'm going to read from the New King James here. It says:
6 Also the sons of the foreigner who join themselves to Yahweh, to serve Him, and to love the name of Yahweh, to be His servants -- Everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath...
Gentile and Jew alike.
6 ...and holds fast My covenant --
7 Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices Will be accepted on My altar; For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.
Now, notice it was Yahweh's will for Gentiles to keep the Sabbath, to love His name, and to hold fast to His covenant. And the Gentiles who would do this would be brought near to His holy mountain and to His house of prayer, and He would accept their burnt offerings and their sacrifices on His altar.
So they could enter into the holier place of the temple and bring a burnt offering and a sacrifice. But the Jews of that day said no, no, no. They weren't going to do that. No. You have to first become a Jew, then you can come near here.
See, the Gentiles were not allowed to come to the altar. The Jews had set up manmade laws to forbid them from doing this. They were so strong against the idea of Gentiles entering the temple area, they would kill anyone who would even try it.
Evidence of this is also found in Acts 21:27, where Paul is going to the holy places of the temple to bring offerings. Acts 21:27-28, here he is ready to make sacrifices, if you look at the context. He says:
Acts 21:27 - And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him,
Acts 21:28 - Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place.
See, they were concerned that he had defiled the temple by bringing Gentiles past the wall of partition. And so, understandably, they were ready to kill him.
But, you see, these manmade laws had kept Yahweh's house from truly being a house of prayer for all nations. The Jewish manmade laws were keeping and blocking the Gentiles from being able to draw near to their Creator.
Now, it's not even true that Paul brought Greeks into the temple. They thought he did, but he didn't. But the thing that the people of that time period had forgotten was this: when Yahweh chose Abraham's children to be the bearer of His will, to be committed the oracles of Elohim, it was to be for all mankind.
His desire was that Israel would be a light through which all the nations of the earth would be drawn to Him.
But Yahweh didn't just create sons of Israel. He created every man, woman, and child on this planet, and He didn't choose Israel just because He was some kind of a racist or a respecter of person.
He chose Israel because Abraham was a faithful man in all his house, and Yahweh wanted to use his family to draw all men to Himself.
Now, remember the promise He made to Abraham -- Genesis 22:16-18:
Genesis 22:16 - And said, By myself have I sworn, saith YAHWEH, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:
Genesis 22:17 - That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;
Genesis 22:18 - And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
So because Abraham was faithful and obedient, all nations would be blessed through Abraham's seed because of his family. Sarah his wife and him were obedient. And because of his family, every child that came after them will be blessed, and everyone who is influenced by their children will be blessed.
It all starts a family, doesn't it? Yahushua the Messiah is that seed of Abraham, through whom all nations are truly blessed, my brethren.
Every one of us are imperfect. We fail. We are nothing. He is everything.
But Yahweh chose a land for Abraham's descendants to dwell, to be a light for all nations. If you look on a map, you'll notice Israel is very uniquely situated geographically.
Because in order for the Gentiles of Africa to trade with the Gentiles of Asia, they had to pass through Israel. In order for the Gentiles of Europe to trade with the Gentiles of Africa, they had to travel through Israel.
And those traveling from Europe to southern Asia would also pass through northern Israel. And so Israel was a key place through which many Gentiles would pass through and hear about Yahweh.
And if Israel had been consistently obedient, they could have been that light that would draw all men to Him. But instead, in the first century, they set up walls and laws of exclusion.
Now, to truly understand Ephesians 2, we also need to understand the extent of all the enmity and hatred between Jews and Gentiles, because its effects can be felt even to this day.
We're going to look at some scriptures demonstrating this. In Luke 4:16-23, he says:
Luke 4:16 - And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
Luke 4:17 - And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
Luke 4:18 - The Spirit of YAHWEH is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
Luke 4:19 - To preach the acceptable year of YAHWEH.
Luke 4:20 - And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
Luke 4:21 - And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
Luke 4:22 - And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son?
Luke 4:23 - And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country.
So Yahushua openly declared He was the Messiah here in the synagogue: "The Spirit of Yahweh has anointed me."
Luke 16:18 - Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.
"I'm the Messiah." The word "Messiah" means "anointed." He openly declared He was the Messiah in this synagogue in Nazareth. He said this scripture was fulfilled in their hearing.
And at first, the people seemed impressed, but then they seemed like, "Well, this is just Joseph's son."
And so they seemed to be uncertain, but then Yahushua said something to them that infuriated them, that got them so, so angry, they wanted to throw Him off a cliff.
Now, remember, these are the people Yahushua grew up with. They knew Him very well. They were very well acquainted with Him.
So for them to kill their own friend, something had to really upset them. Continue to read verse 24-27, Luke 4, He said:
Luke 4:24 - And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.
Luke 4:25 - But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of EliYah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land;
Luke 4:26 - But unto none of them was EliYah sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.
Luke 4:27 - And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.
Now, notice Yahushua is pointing out that starving and leprous Israelites were not helped by the prophets, but a starving Sidonian, a Gentile, was fed, and a leprous Syrian, a Gentile, was healed.
Now, they did not like that at all. In fact, that was the thing He said that really infuriated them. Verse 28:
Luke 4:28 - And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,
You talk about a spirit of murder? It entered every single one of them when He suggested any superiority of Gentiles over Jews, that Yahweh would possibly even remotely consider favoring them over the Jews.
And so it's evident that the tensions and hatred between Jew and Gentile at this time period was very high. A few comments like this, and they're ready to kill you. And all you're doing is quoting scripture.
No matter how well they know you, and no matter the fact that you grew up in the area, you say something like this, and you are in deep trouble, because the Jews were taught not to keep company with Gentiles.
The tensions were that high. So Kepha/Peter, we even see here in Acts 10, he needed to be corrected more than once on this. In Acts 10, Yahweh sent Kepha a vision, which was intended to show him that he needed to reach out to the Gentiles.
Now, why does Yahweh want to reach to Gentiles? Well, He loves them just as much as anyone else. He's not a respecter of persons.
And the truth is that those -- no matter who you are, no matter what human being you are, no matter what your heritage is, Yahweh has more respect for a man who don't know any better and sins, than someone who does know better and sins.
And that's what was going on during the times of Elisha the prophet and so on. These were rebellious men who knew the will of Yahweh, versus disobedient men who didn't know any better.
Acts 10:28, and he said to them in this vision here, Kepha had said something he never knew before:
Acts 10:28 - And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but YAHWEH hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
And so the enmity and hatred between Jew and Gentile was so strong that it was considered to be unlawful for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation.
They considered the Gentiles to be unclean. That's why they didn't let them go to the temple. Even if they were clean, they weren't allowed to go to the temple.
Gentiles are unclean, can't have anything to do with them. And you might wonder, well, why does it say unlawful there? Doesn't that mean it's against the law, against the law of Yahweh for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation?
No. The Greek word translated "unlawful" here does not refer to Yahweh's law, but a violation of traditions.
In the Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, the Third Edition, it says that:
"This term refers primarily not to what is forbidden by ordinance but to violation of tradition or common recognition of what is seemly or proper."
So Yahweh used the vision to teach Kepha/Peter, that He wanted to reach the Gentiles, as well.
He had already told them back in Matthew 28:18-19, go to all nations, when He gave them the Great Commission:
Matthew 28:18 - And Yahushua came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Matthew 28:19 - Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit:
He told them to go to all nations. Yahweh had taught them that they were to do that, but they were neglecting this duty to go to all nations, and they were only hanging around the temple area and focusing on ministry toward Jews, their fellow countrymen.
Now, I understand to the Jew first and then to the Greek. That's okay. But it was man, not Yahweh, who created laws and traditions which would forbid any Jewish man from keeping company with or going to one of another nation.
And this Jewish doctrine of men had infected the disciples of Yahushua, and they even needed to be corrected. And when the Spirit of Yahweh fell upon the Gentiles here in Acts 11:10, it was the final proof that Yahweh could accept a Gentile, even before he was circumcised and kept the law.
And Peter said this is something he learned. Acts 10:34-35:
Acts 10:34 - Then Kepha opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that YAHWEH is no respecter of persons:
Acts 10:35 - But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
That's something He didn't know before. Or maybe he knew it or wasn't really living it yet. And then when he got accused in Acts 11, he responded like this, Acts 11:17-18, he says:
Acts 11:17 - Forasmuch then as YAHWEH gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on Yahushua the Messiah; what was I, that I could withstand YAHWEH?
Acts 11:18 - When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified YAHWEH, saying, Then hath YAHWEH also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
That was a new thing to them. Wow, the Gentiles could be granted repentance? See, the mainstream teachers of Judaism were so obsessed with ceremonial cleanness, and they added hundreds of laws to the Torah, which Yahweh never intended or inspired.
And Yahushua criticized them for that in Mark 7:3-9. It says:
Mark 7:3 - For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.
Mark 7:4 - And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.
Mark 7:5 - Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?
See, they were concerned. The disciples aren't following these traditions regarding cleanness. His answer was classic:
Mark 7:6 - He answered and said unto them, Well hath Isaiah prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
Mark 7:7 - Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctines the commandments of men.
Mark 7:8 - For laying aside the commandment of YAHWEH, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
Mark 7:9 - And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of YAHWEH, that ye may keep your own tradition.
And so they were using manmade traditions to keep themselves separated, which was not Yahweh's will, from the Gentiles, to the extent that they would, "Oh, well, we might become unclean or common."
And they would have nothing to do with them. But Yahweh's law actually said not to mistreat the Gentiles, but to treat him the same as you would anybody else.
In Exodus 22:21, it says -- now, pay close attention here, because this is very important:
Exodus 22:21 - Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
And Leviticus 19:34 is another one. It says:
Leviticus 19:34 - But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am YAHWEH your Elohim.
Did you catch this? The law of Yahweh told them, "You treat him just the same as you do anybody else. You don't mistreat him. You don't oppress him. You act like he's one who is born among you, because at one time, you were strangers."
And so it was never the will of Yahweh anywhere in the Torah, this extreme separation that we see going on in first century Judaism. And I hope that we've established here a very clear context of what's going on in the first century.
I hope it exposes some of the myths and common misconceptions that are out there, especially regarding Yahweh's law. Yahweh's law did not command this kind of enmity and hatred between men.
And it's very important to understand this, that this is the thing that's going on at that time. We don't have to break out a history book and see how much hatred that there was between Jew and Gentile. We can see it in the scriptures themselves.
And understanding this will help us to understand the separation that existed between Jew and Gentile, as described in Ephesians, and the reconciliation through Yahushua the Messiah.
Now, understanding the tremendous amount of hatred between Jew and Gentile, and the ordinances and laws that came out of it, as a result -- you know, you can't go to one of another nation. You have to be separate.
You know, they're unclean. They're disgusting, dirty dogs over there. Understanding that will help us understand Ephesians 2. Let's continue to read here. I'm going to read it in full context. Ephesians 2:11-16:
11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh...
I'm going to read from the New King James here, just so we get a little variance here in our translations:
11 ... once Gentiles, or in time past, Gentiles in the flesh -- who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands --
12 that at that time you were without Messiah, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without Elohim in the world.
13 But now in Messiah Yahushua you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Messiah.
14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,
15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace,
16 and that He might reconcile them both to Elohim in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.
Putting to death the enmity. Now, according to this scripture, the thing that was abolished in Yahushua's flesh was the enmity. You know, a lot of people don't know what that word means, but the word "enmity" basically means hatred.
And it says here that the enmity was slain. It was abolished. He put to death the enmity. Now, as a result of the enmity being slain, Yahweh has made both one and has broken down the middle wall of separation.
Both Jew and Gentile are made one, because the hatred was abolished. Now, this hatred was a part of the law of commandments contained in ordinances, and so pay attention close here. It doesn't say the whole law is abolished.
It's not just any and all law of commandments, but it's specifically the law of commandments contained in ordinances.
Now, that brings to an extremely important matter, is understanding what are the ordinances?
The Greek word translated "ordinances" here in this particular verse is Strong's 1378. Look in your Strong's Lexicon. And it says, "dogma" is the Greek word.
Now, some believe that dogma refers to ceremonial portions of Yahweh's law, and the Christian man who wrote the Strong's Lexicon would seem to agree with that.
And it says in the Strong's Lexicon:
Dogma, from the base of 1380; a law (civil, ceremonial or ecclesiastical): -- decree, ordinance.
And the way that the word is translated is "decree, ordinance."
Now, other Lexicons, not the Strong's, but other Lexicons would not list "ceremonial law" as one of the definitions.
The Friberg Lexicon has:
Dogma, (1) as a fixed and authoritative decision or requirement decree, command (2) as a fixed rule or set of rules law, ordinance.
The LS Greek Lexicon has:
Dogma, that which seems to one, an opinion, a dogma, 2. a public decree, an ordinance.
So those are the different Lexicons that are out there and what they had to say about this word "dogma."
But, you know, the best way to find the true definition of a word is to examine how it's used in various contexts throughout the scriptures.
And, in fact, this is the main method that Lexicon writers themselves use to come up with their definitions to begin with.
So if you want to know how and what a word means, you need to look at how it's used in different contexts, and then you'll understand what it means.
Now, the word "dogma" is used throughout the New Testament in reference to the rulings of men. In Luke 2:1, it talks about Caesar's decrees. It says:
Luke 2:1 - And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
That word translated "decree" is "dogma."
Acts 17:7 says:
Acts 17:7 - Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Yahushua.
That word translated "decrees," once again, a "ruling of men." It also speaks of the apostolic ruling in Acts 15.
If you look at Acts 16:4, they're talking about the ruling that they gave, which we talked about here a couple of weeks ago. Acts 16:4, and it says:
Acts 16:4 - And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.
And so these were the decrees, referring to the decrees the apostles had given in Acts 15.
And some might say, "Ah, right there, that's proof, because the only things they had to keep were those four ceremonial laws, and so that proves that dogma is talking about ceremonial laws right there."
Nope. Because the question in Acts 15, number one, was talking about whether or not the Gentiles need to be circumcised and keep the law of Moses, in order to be saved.
The apostles did give them decrees to keep. But were there decrees to keep, actually, ceremonial laws, to begin with?
If you look at it, Acts 15:19-21:
Acts 15:19 - Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to YAHWEH:
Acts 15:20 - But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
Acts 15:21 - For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
And so there were four things they were commanded to keep by the apostles in Jerusalem, with the understanding that they would go to the synagogue every Sabbath and listen to the rest of Yahweh's law.
And they were -- here's the four things:
1) Abstain from things polluted by idols
2) Abstain from sexual immorality
3) Abstain from things strangled
4) Abstain from blood
Now, the prohibitions here are things that were not only forbidden in the law given at Sinai, but they were always forbidden.
Yahweh commanded Noah and all mankind not to drink blood in Genesis 9:4. Sexual immorality was condemned at Sodom and Gomorrah. And, obviously, Yahweh never wanted man to worship idols.
And so why do Christians identify these four dogmas or decrees as ceremonial laws?
The truth is, brethren, there is no such thing as a ceremonial law anywhere in the Bible. Did you catch that? There is no such thing as a ceremonial law.]
This is a title, a concept invented by certain people who were trying to think of a way to avoid doing things that looked Jewish to them. That's what that is.
And so they put the law in little boxes, and they create little civil, ceremonial laws, these different laws.
And where do you find a Bible verse anywhere that says this is a ceremonial law? It doesn't exist.
So we read here in Ephesians 2 that the Messiah is the one who causes all Gentiles to be brought near to the commonwealth of Israel. Right?
He's the one that causes Gentiles to be brought near to the covenants of promise, having broken down the wall of partition between Jew and Gentile.
And so there's certainly no good reason why Gentiles would want to do any avoidance of things that appear to be Jewish. Because aren't they supposed to be brought near to Israel through Messiah?
Remember, they forgot that it's Gentiles who needed to be brought near to Israel, not the other way around.
And so let me read this again, Ephesians 2:11-16:
Ephesians 2:11 - Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh--who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands--
Ephesians 2:12 - that at that time you were without the Messiah, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without Elohim in the world.
Ephesians 2:13 - But now in the Master Yahushua you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah.
Ephesians 2:14 - For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,
Ephesians 2:15 - having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace,
Ephesians 2:16 - and that He might reconcile them both to YAHWEH in one body through the stake, thereby putting to death the enmity.
Now, so what are the dogmas? What are the dogmas of Ephesians, chapter 2?
Now, in order to fit the qualifications listed here, these dogmas must, first of all, be a ruling, or commandment, or decree of men.
Now, it can be -- like the apostles here in Acts 15 -- yes, they did create a ruling of men, but it was scriptural.
So it can be a correct ruling, but nevertheless a ruling of men. Okay, so that's the first qualification.
The second qualification is that these dogmas must create enmity and hatred between Jew and Gentile, because that's the thing that was abolished, was the hatred; therefore, these ordinances, these dogmas are abolished also.
So these dogmas of Ephesians 2:15 must create enmity and hatred between Jew and Gentile. Very important to remember that.
And number three, these laws, these dogmas, these ordinances, they have to erect a wall of separation between Jew and Gentile and prevent Gentiles from being able to draw near to Elohim.
So these dogmas have to create a wall of partition. There's no way around this, because that's what it's saying, that these dogmas had to be abolished, which were hatred, to reconcile men to Elohim, all men.
Now, as we discussed earlier, the law of Yahweh does not create enmity and hatred; however, the decrees of exclusion established by men, which were rooted in hatred between Jew and Gentile, does create exclusion.
The ordinances and decrees of men does bring about a lack of reconciliation, a lack of being at peace, and a lot of hatred being spread around.
The ordinances and doctrines of men in first century Judaism fits the qualifications here perfectly, because Yahweh's law is about love, not hate. The dogmas of men, they were about hate, not love.
Do we understand the difference? And so if we have a proper definition of terms, with everything in its historical and scriptural context, we can understand Ephesians 2, that ordinances of men, my brethren, doctrines of men that are rooted in hatred are among the things that Yahweh calls sin.
It's a sin to create laws that separate men from Yahweh. It's a sin. And sin, my brethren, was abolished and actually nailed to the tree, because Yahushua became sin for us, and He was nailed to the tree.
It wasn't Yahweh's law that was the problem; it was man's law and sin that was the problem.
And so if we have a proper definition of terms, everything in its historical context -- I want to go through each verse here, point-by-point, verse-by-verse, Ephesians 2:11-16 one more time, just to make sure we all understand this completely. Ephesians 2:11:
Ephesians 2:11 - Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh--who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands--
See, the Ephesians were at one time Gentiles, but not anymore. King James has, "in time past Gentiles." Gentiles are called uncircumcision or the uncircumcised by those who are already circumcised in the flesh, the Jewish people.
They like to call the Gentiles the uncircumcision. They like to call themselves the circumcision.
So the Ephesians are no longer Gentiles. That's something that was in time past. Verse 12, at that time, when they were Gentiles:
Ephesians 2:12 - that at that time you were without the Messiah, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without Elohim in the world.
At that time, meaning when they used to be Gentiles, they were without Messiah in their life. They were also aliens and strangers from the commonwealth of Israel, outsiders.
Because at that time, they did not join themselves to Yahweh. Isaiah 56:6 says you can join yourself to Yahweh. Even back then, you could do it.
They did not join themselves to Yahweh, Isaiah 56:6, they were strangers from the covenants of promise and had no hope, since they were without Elohim.
That's verse 12. Verse 13:
Ephesians 2:13 - But now in the Master Yahushua you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah.
The Gentiles are brought into the commonwealth of Israel through the blood of Messiah, because it's no longer the Gentile who lives. It's Yahushua who lives in the Gentile.
No longer are the Gentiles considered to be aliens or strangers who are far off from the commonwealth of Israel. No more. HalleluYah.
Verse 14:
Ephesians 2:14 - For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,
See, Yahushua is our peace, whereas at one time there was not peace between Jew and Gentile. Both are made one in the body of Messiah, because He broke down that wall of partition which prevented Jews and Gentiles from being one people.
This was not a wall of partition erected by Yahweh, but a wall of partition erected by men.
It was never Yahweh's will for hatred to exist between any two human beings, including Gentile and Jew.
The Jews had erected a wall of separation in the temple, and they established ordinances which prevented Jews from choosing to keep company or go to one of another nation. Acts 10:28. Ephesians 2:15:
Ephesians 2:15 - having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace,
These ordinances and doctrines and dogmas of men were sin. They were sin. It is a sin to create a law to separate man from his Creator.
No part of Yahweh's law is abolished, but the word translated "abolished" here is actually -- which He abolished in His flesh, the sin.
The word translated "abolished" here is actually the same Greek word translated "void." Follow this?
Romans 3:31 says:
Romans 3:31 - Do we then make void the law through faith? By no means! Yea, we establish the law.
We cause it to stand. Now, the word translated "void" -- "Do we make void the law through faith?" -- is the same word translated "abolished" in Ephesians 2:15, the same exact word.
So if we believe Ephesians 2:15 is talking about abolishing the law, that's a direct contradiction with Romans 3:31. It says:
Romans 3:31 - Do we then make void the law through faith? By no means! Yea, we establish the law.
So only if we believe that Ephesians 2:15 is talking about the law of Yahweh could we possibly find ourselves in a scenario where two scriptures contradict each other.
But if we understand that the law is not abolished, Romans 3:31 makes perfect sense.
And Ephesians 2:15, if we understand it's the ordinances and dogmas of men that are abolished, the enmity which was created, as a result, that's abolished, then we have two scriptures that do not contradict each other.
So we do know that sin and death are abolished in Yahushua's flesh. The same Greek word translated "abolished" and "void" is actually translated "destroyed" and "abolished" in these two verses I'm going to read to you.
Now, notice carefully Romans 6:6.
Romans 6:6 - Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
So it's the body of sin that's abolished. It is this sinful body that is abolished. And when Yahushua was crucified or put on the stake, that body of sin was destroyed with Him, because we were crucified with Messiah, according to Galatians 2:20.
Galatians 2:20 - "I have been impaled with the Messiah; it is no longer I who live, but the Messiah lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of YAHWEH, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
So I know there's a lot here, and it does take some concentration, but that is what happened, and that's why Paul is saying this in Ephesians 2:15.
These sins -- these laws were sin, because they separated man from his Creator, and those sins were abolished in His flesh. That hatred was abolished in His flesh.
The law is about love; the carnal man is about hatred. Do we see the difference here?
I hope we understand this. 2 Timothy 1:10, the other thing that was abolished:
2Timothy 1:10 - But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Yahushua ha Mashiach, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the glad tidings:
And so it was sin and death that was destroyed when Yahushua died for us, not Yahweh's law. No! It was hatred, enmity that was destroyed, along with all the ordinances inspired by them, when Yahushua died for us -- not Yahweh's law of love.
The entire law and the prophets hang off the two great commandments to love Yahweh and love our neighbor. There was no need to destroy Yahweh's love here.
There's no need to destroy something that is supposed to inspire us to love, but there is a great need to destroy things which inspire us to hate, to commit sin, and the ultimate result of both: death.
And that's what Yahushua did for us, brethren. He didn't have to take the law out of the way to reconcile Jew and Gentile. He had to take hatred out of the way. He had to take sin out of the way to reconcile Jew and Gentile.
Verse 16:
Ephesians 2:16 - and that He might reconcile them both to YAHWEH in one body through the stake, thereby putting to death the enmity.
Both Jews and Gentiles, my brethren, are in need of reconciliation to Elohim because of hatred, which is the underlying cause of all sin.
The Jews who inspired the ordinances of hatred in the first century obviously need a Savior just as much as any Gentile.
An so both are reconciled to Elohim, through Yahushua, and both are made one new man from the two. This one new man from the two is Yahushua the Messiah who lives in us. That's the new man.
We are His body. Galatians 2:20:
Galatians 2:20 - "I have been impaled with the Messiah; it is no longer I who live, but the Messiah lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of YAHWEH, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
And in Him, the body of sin is destroyed, along with the ordinances inspired by them, and death is abolished. It is no longer we who live; it is Yahushua the Israelite, the seed of Abraham, who dwells in us.
Let's continue reading here, Ephesians 2:17:
Ephesians 2:17 - And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near.
He came to preach to you who are afar off and to those who are near.
Ephesians 2:18 - For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.
Yahushua preached peace to both Jew and Gentile, peace between man and Yahweh.
And through Him we both, Jew and Gentile, have access to Yahweh, our heavenly Father, and all forms of hatred which created the division between man and man, between man and his neighbor, and between man and Yahweh, all that hatred is abolished. Verse 19, get this one:
Ephesians 2:19 - Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of YAHWEH,
Do the Gentile Christians today believe this? Because this is His workmanship.
And because those things have been abolished in Messiah, the Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners from the commonwealth of Israel, but now are fellow citizens with the saints and the members of Yahweh's household. HalleluYah.
Thank you, Yahweh! HalleluYah!
Ephesians 2:20-22:
Ephesians 2:20 - having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Yahushua the Messiah Himself being the chief corner[stone],
Ephesians 2:21 - in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in YAHWEH,
Ephesians 2:22 - in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of Elohim in the Spirit.
Now, since Yahushua is the chief cornerstone -- and that's predicted in the prophets -- Isaiah 28:16:
Isaiah 28:16 - Therefore thus saith the Master YAHWEH, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
He is the chief cornerstone, right? Well, His apostles laid the foundation upon which the body of Messiah stands to this day. Revelation 21:14, we find a beautiful picture of that. It says:
Revelation 21:14 - Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
There it is. There's the foundation, as being spoken of in Ephesians 2, right there in the scriptures.
Now, some might have asked, "Why is our foundation the apostles and the prophets? It's almost like it says it used to be the law and the prophets, and now it's the apostles and the prophets. What happened to the law?"
Well, I once met a man who actually rejected Paul's writings, because he believed that our foundation should be on the law and the prophets. He apparently did not know about this verse in Revelation, where it says that the foundation is the apostles.
But, otherwise, he might have rejected that book, too. But the truth is, brethren, we have to understand this. We have to understand this, and that is the law can only show us our sin.
We cannot build our foundation on the law, which is something that only shows us how sinful we've been. We can't build our foundation on something that shows us how awful we've been, but we can build our foundation on the law, through Yahushua the Messiah.
We can build our foundation on the Word which became flesh through Him, because He is the living Torah, according to the scriptures, John 1:14:
John 1:14 - And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Also, Revelation 19:13 says He's the Word. Well, He's not just the Word in the New Testament. He's the Word of the Torah, also, the law of Yahweh in Leviticus. And only through Him can the assembly of Yahweh today be built on Yahweh's law, because we have placed our faith in His righteousness and not our own.
And so since we have placed our faith in Him, the reason why we place our faith on Him is because of the testimony that we have received through the apostles, who speak about Messiah, and through the prophets, which also speak about Messiah.
They are both a part of our foundation. Because without them, we wouldn't even know about Yahushua, would we? We wouldn't even know about the chief cornerstone.
And so through their testimony of Yahushua, we have a sure foundation which will never be broken. But if we put our foundation on the law, it's going to disappoint us on judgment day, I'm afraid, because very one of us have broken it.
Not our righteousness, but His righteousness dwelling in us are we anything at all.
And together, as one body, my brethren, Yahweh is building a dwelling place for His Spirit, because we are His temple. And when His Spirit dwells in us, we will keep His law, as is predicted in Ezekiel 36:27:
Ezekiel 36:27 - And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
The temple of Yahweh is supposed to be a holy place, not an unholy place. If we are to be holy, we will keep the Sabbath day holy. If we are to be holy, we will keep His name holy. If we are to be holy, we'll keep His holy feast days.
If our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, we will walk in His statutes and keep His judgments and do them, and we will not allow it to be defiled by abominable meats, because our bodies are the temple, not to be smeared with pork and other abominable things like Antiochus Epiphany did on December 25th.
If we are to be holy, we will not participate in unholy days that have their roots in idol worship. 2 Corinthians 6:16 through 7:1:
2Corinthians 6:16 - Or what agreement has the temple of YAHWEH with idols? For we are the temple of the living Elohim; just as YAHWEH said, "I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their Elohim, and they shall be My people.
Paul, here, he's quoting from one of the prophets. He's quoting from one of the prophets. And even though Paul is writing to the Gentile Corinthians, he's applying this verse to them.
This is because all believers, including Gentile Corinthians he's writing here, are Israel and are the seed of Abraham through Him.
And so he next quotes from Isaiah. He says, verse 17:
2Corinthians 6:17 - "Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate," says YAHWEH. "And do not touch what is unclean; and I will welcome you.
2Corinthians 6:18 - "And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me," says YAHWEH Almighty.
Continuing into chapter 7 -- I have it when they put that chapter division there.
2Corinthians 7:1 - Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of YAHWEH.
What promises? "Come out from among them and be separate. Don't touch what's unclean. I will receive you. I will be a Father to you. You will be my sons and daughters, says Yahweh."
2Corinthians 7:1 - Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of YAHWEH.
Holiness, a holy temple. Having these promises, yes, Gentiles, Gentiles can cleave to and receive the promises given to Israel. Remember, he's writing to Corinthians. Having these promises -- these are promises given to Israel.
Having these promises, Gentiles, start living like Israel. If you are Israel, start living like Israel is called to live. And if you're Israel, you will cleanse yourself not only spiritually, you will also refrain from touching what is unclean and cleanse yourselves from all filthiness of the flesh, as well.
And only then can we perfect holiness in the fear of Elohim. And since Gentiles are now fellow citizens and are no longer strangers from the commonwealth of Israel, Gentiles need to be sure they're not still identifying themselves as Gentiles, but identify themselves as Israel.
That's the work of Yahushua. And so if we are Israel, brethren, let's live like Israel. Yahweh help us.
And since it is Yahushua the Israelite who dwells in us, let's see how He lived. He lived by every word that proceeded out of Yahweh's mouth, and we need to do the same.
If He lives in us, then we will do what He did. His life needs to be manifest in our life. The commandments He kept on the earth, He wants to keep in us. Why would He change that? Why would He change that?
Didn't Paul say, "Imitate me, as I imitate Messiah." He's talking to Gentiles there.
Why would He change that? He will not change Himself. Hebrews 13:8, He will not change Himself. And He wants to dwell in you, doing what He always did, keeping our Father's commandments. Why? Hebrews 13:8:
Hebrews 13:8 - Yahushua the Messiah is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
And that same Yahushua who was on the earth wants to live out His Father's commands in you today.
May Yahweh give us the strength to allow Him to flow through us completely. And may Yahweh bless you, and may He have mercy on us all.
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