Before we can properly make a decision to be baptized, we must fully understand baptism’s deep meaning and what this step requires of one. The first thing we must comprehend is that no one can make this decision to be baptized for someone else. This would require us to take a position that Yahshua said belongs to Yahweh the Father. The very first step in the salvation process must be taken by Yahweh. Note the following scripture;

       John 6:44, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.” One must be called by Yahweh to follow His Son Yahshua. This is a personal call from Yahweh to the individual. It is the very beginning of a one on one relationship. If one decides to answer this call, Yahweh will lead him or her to the next step.

Repentance  

         Acts 2:38, “And Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and be baptized every one of you into the name of Yahshua Messiah for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Repentance is not just being sorry for our sins. The word "REPENT" in Greek is; (metanoeo). It means; "to change one’s mind for the better, heartily to amend our ways with abhorrence of one’s past sins".  It implies a complete self examination and a conscious decision to turn from our old sinful ways and accept Yahweh's rule in our lives as supreme. This is a monumental, life altering decision. This is an eternal decision. It is a freewill choice to accept the terms of the covenant that was ratified by Yahshua’s shed blood on our behalf. Hebrews 13:20-21, “Now may the Elohim of peace who brought again from the dead our Sovereign Yahshua, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in you that which is pleasing in his sight, through Yahshua  Messiah; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amien.”

         Once this decision is made and we consider baptism into the name of Yahshua Messiah for the remission of our sins, there is something we must do before we take this step. Baptism is not a matter to be entered into lightly. It requires complete self examination and discernment of the life one is entering.

Counting the Cost

          We must prayerfully count the personal cost to us against the benefits we will receive. Are the benefits worth the cost? Can we afford the cost? Are we willing to pay it? Yahshua told us to count the cost. Luke 14:25-33, “Now great multitudes accompanied him; and he turned and said to them, "If any one comes to me and does not love less his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build, and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and take counsel whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends an embassy and asks terms of peace. So therefore, whoever of you does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.”

       Matthew 10:37, “He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38  and he who does not take his stake and follow me is not worthy of me.”

      We all had to count the cost of what we were entering at baptism. There can be nothing more important to us than Yahweh and Yahshua. We must be willing to sacrifice all that we have and all that we are if it is required of us. 

       If called upon to do so, would we be willing to give up our parents, wife, children, brothers and sisters? Would we be willing to give up our very lives, if necessary, to show our loyalty to Yahweh and Yahshua? Without a mature mind we could not even begin to count the cost that might be required of us. Yahshua's dealings with us are eternal. Everything else is transient and will one day pass from being. If we are asked to give up this temporary life He will give us eternal life which never ends. If we must give up our families etc., it will only be a temporary condition. We will one day be reunited with them in Yahweh's kingdom. Then we can have the joy of loving them through all eternity with the pure, untainted love with which Yahweh and Yahshua love us.

        There is a parable about some who were called and did not fully count the cost, and when called upon to pay it were not able, or willing to. It is in, Matthew 13:1-8. Yahshua explains it’s meaning in, Matthew 13: 18-23.

 Baptism

     Once we have counted the cost we can then move on to understand the true meaning of baptism. This is not a light step. It is not just getting wet. It is not a physical washing but a spiritual washing. The physical aspect of baptism that we can see and feel when our bodies are being immersed in the water is miniscule compared to what is going on behind the scenes in the spirit world that we cannot see. Consider these scriptures. 1 Corinthians 6: 9-11, “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of Elohim? Do not be deceived; neither the immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor sexual perverts, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of Elohim. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Sovereign Yahshua Messiah and in the Spirit of our Elohim.” 1 John 1:7 “but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Yahshua His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

      This washing is what Yahshua alluded to in; John 13:8 “Peter said to him, ‘You shall never wash my feet.’ Yahshua answered him, ‘If I do not wash you, you have no part in me’.” Our sins separated us from Yahweh. Isaiah 59:2, “but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your Elohim, and your sins have hid his face from you so that he does not hear.” King David understood the necessity of this spiritual washing. Psalms 51:2, “Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!” Psalms 51:7, “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” The water we are immersed in signifies the Blood of Yahshua. It is this blood that we are washed with. Hebrews 9:14, “How much more shall the blood of Messiah, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to Elohim, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living Elohim.” 1 John 1:7, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Yahshua his Son cleanses us from all sin.”

 Death of the Old Self

      The washing is only the beginning of the meaning  of Baptism. This step also pictures the death of our old sinful self. Romans 6: 6, “We know that our old self was impaled with him so that the sinful body might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin.” Romans 6:3-4, “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Messiah Yahshua were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Messiah was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” This immersion pictures our death with Messiah and being raised a new man, sinless and washed clean, wearing a pure, sparkling white spiritual robe. Revelation 7:14, “I said to him, ‘Sir, you know.’ And he said to me, ‘These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb’.” Before this time we were wearing filthy rags. Isaiah 64:6, “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”

 Resurrection

       It also pictures our future resurrection to eternal life with Him. Romans 6:5-6, “For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was impaled with him so that the sinful body might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin.” By Yahshua’s resurrection, He defeated death. He not only defeated it for Himself but for us as well. 1 Corinthians 15:54-57, “When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." "O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to Elohim, who gives us the victory through our sovereign Yahshua  Messiah.” Yahshua’s resurrection from the dead is crucial to our salvation. 1 Corinthians 15:17, “If Messiah has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.”

 Circumcision of the Heart

        The decision to answer Yahweh’s call to follow His Son Yahshua, willingly obey all that He commands us, and commit totally to Him, is circumcision of the heart. This circumcision of the heart is what Yahweh has always wished from His people. Deuteronomy 10:16, “Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no longer stubborn.” Deuteronomy 30:6, “And Yahweh your Elohim will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love Yahweh your Elohim  with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.” Romans 2:28-29, “For he is not a real Jew who is one outwardly, nor is true circumcision something external and physical. He is a Jew who is one inwardly, and real circumcision is a matter of the heart, spiritual and not literal. His praise is not from men but from Elohim.”

      This internal circumcision of the heart takes place at baptism into the name of Yahshua Messiah. Colossians 2:11-14, “In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of flesh in the circumcision of Messiah; and you were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of Elohim, who raised him from the dead. 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, having canceled the bond which stood against us with its legal demands; this he set aside, nailing it to the stake.”

 Reconciliation

       We are now also reconciled to Yahweh. We could not bring about this reconciliation. Yahweh did not separate from us, we separated from Him.

Isaiah 59:2, “but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your Elohim, and your sins have hid his face from you so that he does not hear.” Only Yahshua could bring about a reconciliation. Romans 5:10, “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to Elohim by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.”

      In this clean state we are now righteous, saved from our past sins, placed under the grace of Yahweh. We did not do this. Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of Elohim not because of works, lest any man should boast.” We are now ready to begin a close, intimate life walk with Yahweh and Yahshua. Hebrews 10:22, “let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts cleansed from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”

 The Heavenly Gift

       In this clean, pure condition we are now ready for Yahweh to give us the most valuable gift we will ever receive, His Holy Spirit. With this Spirit of Holiness within us we can now grasp more fully what Yahweh's deep love for us really means. We can also begin to understand His great plan for us.

    1 Corinthians 2:8-16, “None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not have impaled the Sovereign of glory. But, as it is written, ‘What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived, what Elohim has prepared for those who love him,’ Elohim has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of Elohim. For what person knows a man’s thoughts except the spirit of the man which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of Elohim except the Spirit of Elohim. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from Elohim, that we might understand the gifts bestowed on us by Elohim. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who possess the Spirit. The unspiritual man does not receive the gifts of the Spirit of Elohim, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.  The spiritual man judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. ‘For who has known the mind of the Sovereign so as to instruct him?’ But we have the mind of Messiah.”

 Eternal Commitment

     With this great gift of Yahweh's Spirit comes a great responsibility. We walk with Yahweh and Yahshua on a road that has no "U" turns. There is no turning back. There are off ramps but they all lead to the lake of fire. The decision that we make is an eternal decision, an eternal commitment to Yahweh and Yahshua. We now carry within us, the most valuable, precious commodity, and we must take great care to never deliberately devalue or defame this Spirit of Grace. If we do, only death in the lake of fire awaits us. Hebrews 6:4-8, “For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of Yahweh and the powers of the age to come, if they then commit apostasy, since they crucify the Son of Yahweh on their own account and hold him up to contempt. For land which has drunk the rain that often falls upon it, and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from Elohim. But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed; its end is to be burned.”

      Note that those spoken of in this scripture have received the Heavenly gift of the Holy Spirit. These are people who were called, answered the call, repented, were baptized, and received the Holy Spirit. They have made this gift as nothing and have held Yahshua's great sacrifice on their behalf up to public contempt. Note verse 1, they can never again be brought to repentance. Why? Because they do not care. Yahweh will not be where He is not wanted. He removed His Spirit from these people and will not again offer it to them.  Notice their end is to be burnt up. These people have committed the unpardonable sin. Matthew 12: 31-32, “Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever says a word against the Son of man will be forgiven; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.”

      Also notice the following scriptures. Hebrews 10:26-30, “For if we sin deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful prospect of judgment, and a fury of fire which will consume the adversaries. A man who has violated the law of Moses dies without mercy at the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment do you think will be deserved by the man who has spurned the Son of Yahweh, and profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay.’ And again, ‘Yahweh will judge his people.’ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living Elohim.”

      Yahshua’s sacrifice, His shed blood, covers past sins committed in ignorance, upon repentance and immersion into His sacred name. When one receives the Holy Spirit, Yahshua’s sacrifice covers present sins committed in ignorance, or inadvertently by wrong reaction to temptation. 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Yahshua’s blood does not cover deliberate, premeditated sin once one has tasted of these Heavenly gifts. Even under the old covenant there was no sacrifice for deliberate, premeditated sin against Yahweh. Numbers 15:30-31, “But the person who does anything with a high hand, whether he is native or a sojourner, reviles Yahweh, and that person shall be cut off from among his people. Because he has despised the word of Yahweh, and has broken his commandment, that person shall be utterly cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him.”

 Judgment Begins

       From this point onward we will be totally accountable to Yahweh second by second of every day for the rest of their lives! This is what is required of all who enter and agree to the terms of the covenant Yahshua ratified. Are they ready to enter their time of judgment? All who accept the terms of the covenant made through Yahshua in this age are in their time of judgment. There is no future judgment day for us. This life we are now living is our judgment day. Note the following scripture; 1 Peter 4:17, “For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of Yahweh; and if it begins with us, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of Elohim?”

      Our time of judgment is now, in this life. We agreed to this and all of the above terms of the covenant when we took the step of being immersed into Yahshua’s name, and accepted the gift of Yahweh’s Holy Spirit. This Holy Spirit is the mind of Yahweh and Yahshua within us. 1 Corinthians 2:16, “For who has known the mind of the Sovereign so as to instruct him?’ But we have the mind of  Messiah.”  Romans 8:11, “If the Spirit of Him who raised Yahshua from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Messiah Yahshua from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit which dwells in you.” This mind of Messiah within us is a mature mind. This is the mind that connects with ours to reveal the deep spiritual truths of Yahweh. Consider this; 1 Corinthians 14:20, “Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; be babes in evil, but in thinking be mature.”

     All who accept the terms of the covenant have this same Messiah living within them through the Holy Spirit. Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Messiah; it is no longer I who live, but Messiah who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of Elohim, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

      We are not alone in this life walk to the Kingdom. It is not by our own strength that we will safely arrive at New Jerusalem. We will close with the following scripture. Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things in him who strengthens me.”

      HalleluYah. May Yahweh bless your studies. Elder Dave Ganton

Articles INDEX

Many people in today’s world look more to the physical than they do to the spiritual. Who or what do you trust in to accomplish the task not only set before the assembly, but for your own life’s accomplishments?

By Jerry Healan

  My chief occupation in the physical realm has been paint contracting, remodeling and building repairs. Not long ago I was asked to look at a Baptist Church in order to do some painting and repairs. The minister was a new addition to the church. He told me that he just couldn’t handle the miserable state that he had found the buildings in. His statement was, “This is God’s house. People ought to respect it, take care of it and keep it in good condition. After all, many of the members are very particular concerning their own homes. They should want God’s house to look even better than their own”

  Many great and beautiful edifices have been built to glorify and honor men’s deities. I personally was a member of a congregation that built and dedicated a house to God. Great care was taken for every detail. Some things were even gold plated. Everything was exquisite. It was dedicated to the glory and honor of the Great God. The group was the Worldwide Church of God. The founder of that organization had been enamored with riches, fine homes and the best of everything. He looked at David’s example who found himself blessed and living in paneled houses while Yahweh was still living in a temporary moveable tent.

  What about these great edifices and great works made by the hands of man? Are they acceptable to the Great Creator? Is He pleased with great buildings erected with great care for every detail and the great expense required? Who is really impressed with the great buildings, the great edifices supposedly erected to the glory of the Creator? Really and truly, its man himself who is the one impressed with these things.

  Yahweh says, “The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? And where is the place of my rest? For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith Yahweh: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word,” Isa. 66:1-2.

  Stephen was also inspired by the Holy Spirit to proclaim, “Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen. Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Yahshua into the possession of the Gentiles, whom Yahweh drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David; Who found favour before Yahweh, and desired to find a tabernacle for the Elohim of Jacob. But Solomon built him an house. Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? Saith Yahweh: or what is the place of my rest? Hath not my hand made all these things?” Acts 7:44-50.

 PAUL’S WITNESS

   The Apostle Paul declared to the Athenians, “Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him. Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange Elohim: because he preached unto them Yahshua, and the resurrection. And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is? For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean. (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.) Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN Elohim. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. Yahweh that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Sovereign of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek Yahweh, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.,” Acts 17:16-28.

  Do you get that? Paul had to have disputes with almost everyone! He disputed with the Jews in the synagogues and with the Gentiles without. Furthermore, he confirmed Isaiah and Stephen in declaring that Yahweh does not dwell in temples made with hands, nor is worshipped with men’s hands. We are His creation; we are made by His hands, therefore it is IN HIM that we live, and move, and have our being, our existence.

  Too many misunderstand and thus, dispute with Paul today! Isn’t it amazing! Paul was utilized by Yahweh to write the greatest part of the Scriptures we call the New Testament, yet there are so many, many so-called believers who still dispute with him to this day, or twist his writings to make them say things that he never meant to say.

  Paul heard Stephen’s witness. Even though he was pricked in his heart, he was a Pharisee and went along with their ways until Yahshua appeared to him and changed the scope of His understanding. Paul witnessed that we live, and move, have our being in Yahweh. Surely, he wrote the book of Hebrews, which declares that all things are not only made by Yahshua, but are upheld by the word of His power (Heb. 1:2-3).

  Paul understood that the present heavens and earth are a temporary dwelling place made by the hands of Yahweh, “Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? Have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in,” Isa. 40:21-22.

  A tent is a temporary, moveable dwelling place. The tabernacle of old, which was made under the direction of Moses, was a type of that temporary heavenly dwelling place. The temple made by Solomon was another type. It was a type of the more permanent dwelling place that Yahweh is in the process of making, to wit, the new heavens and the new earth. (Rev. 21)

  Yahshua came to bring to an end the old types, the tabernacle and temple, which are made by the hands of man. He came to begin building a NEW DWELLING PLACE FOR YAHWEH! Yahshua prayed to the Father, “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me,” Jn. 17:20-23.

 A TEMPORARY DWELLING

   The Heavenly Father Yahweh was dwelling in Yahshua the Messiah, the Anointed, “I and my Father are one. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. Yahshua answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself Elohim. Yahshua answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are elohim? If he called them elohim, unto whom the word of Elohim came, and the scripture cannot be broken; Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of Elohim? If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him,” Jn. 10:30-38.

  “Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake,” Jn. 14:10-11.

  Yahshua came as flesh and blood so that He could taste death for everyman, “But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. But we see Yahshua, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of Yahweh should taste death for every man. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the assembly will I sing praise unto thee. And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which Yahweh hath given me. Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage,” Heb. 2:6-15.

  The truth of the matter is that man is composed of flesh and blood. Flesh and blood is physical, carnal and temporary. Yahshua, Who was and is the Word Yahweh (Dabar-Yahweh; Jn. 1:1-4, 14), had the inheritance of eternal life as an eternal spirit being before His birth. Yet, He emptied Himself of that glory and honor in order to become a man, dwell among His people, suffer the penalty for sins (not for His own sins for He sinned not; 1 Pet. 2:21-22), in order to raise up a new dwelling place for Yahweh, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in the Messiah Yahshua: Who, being in the form of Elohim, thought it not robbery to be equal with Elohim: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore Yahweh also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Yahshua every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Yahshua the Messiah is Sovereign, to the glory of Yahweh the Father,” Phil. 2:5-11.

  The temple had been built in Jerusalem to the glory and honor of the name Yahweh. It was to be His dwelling place on the earth. But now Yahweh was no longer going to live in edifices made by the hands of man. Yahshua came to provide a new dwelling place for the name Yahweh on the earth. That dwelling place was to be in man, in flesh and blood, “And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the assembly: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the evangel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of the Messiah in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the assembly: Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of Yahweh which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of Yahweh; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom Yahweh would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is the Messiah in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in the Messiah Yahshua: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily,” Col. 1:17-29.

  “Know ye not that ye are the temple of Yahweh, and that the Spirit of Yahweh dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of Yahweh, him shall Yahweh destroy; for the temple of Yahweh is holy, which temple ye are,” 1 Cor. 3:16-17.

  “And Yahweh hath both raised up the Sovereign, and will also raise up us by his own power. Know ye not that your bodies are the members of the Messiah? Shall I then take the members of the Messiah, and make them the members of an harlot? Yahweh forbid. What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? For two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Sovereign is one spirit. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have of Yahweh, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify Yahweh in your body, and in your spirit, which are Yahweh's,” 1 Cor. 6:14-20.

  “O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged. Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels. Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged. Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath the Messiah with Belial? Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of Yahweh with idols? For ye are the temple of the living Elohim; as Yahweh hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their Elohim, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith Yahweh, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith Almighty Yahweh,” 2 Cor. 6:11-18.

 THE CORNERSTONE

   Yahshua is the chief cornerstone of a new dwelling place not made by the hands of man. The Prophet Isaiah was inspired to declare, “Therefore thus saith the Sovereign 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,” Isa. 28:16.

  The Apostle Peter is inspired to declare, “Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that Yahweh is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of Yahweh, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to Yahweh by Yahshua the Messiah. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of Yahweh: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy,” 1 Pet. 2:1-10.

  Do you get that? We are living stones, which are built up into a SPIRITUAL HOUSE OR TEMPLE! We are a different temple and priesthood from the Aaronic Levitical priesthood of old with its temporary tabernacle and then the more permanent temple at Jerusalem both made by the hands of men. Our sacrifices are not the physical animal sacrifices, the drink offerings and grain offerings of old. Our sacrifices are SPIRITUAL SACRIFICES!

  The book of Hebrews proclaims, “We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. Wherefore Yahshua also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to Yahweh continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name,” Heb. 13:10-15.

THE REJECTED STONE

   Too many reject the spiritual applications and want to return to the old physical hand-made, man-made things. Some have even taken to sacrificing a lamb or goat for Passover. Too many are looking to physical man-made, hand-made things like tassels, tallits, kippas, head coverings, etc.

  This cornerstone was rejected by the builders of the temple as the Scriptures reveal. Yahshua told the people of His day, “Yahshua saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is Yahweh's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of Elohim shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them,” Mt. 21:42-45.

  The Hebrew word for “builders” is banah. It has to do with builders or even children. The Hebrew word for “son” (ben) is a derivative of this word. Ben means “a son” as a builder of the family name. The Israelites, both the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah, had forsaken Yahweh, His commandments and ways and gone the way of the nations around them. In Yahshua’s day the leaders of the people were the priests, scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians, etc. They forsook Yahshua, the true stone chosen by Yahweh to be the cornerstone of His spiritual temple. They were fulfilling Psa. 118:22-23 which says, “The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is Yahweh's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.”

  This same situation applies in today’s world. Of course, many of the descendants of Judah and Israel are still in the process of rejecting the stone, but the ones who are the leaders and builders of the faith that supposedly follows the Messiah have also fallen short and are now in denial and rejection of the stone. They have been deceived to follow another stone who is more of a rebel against Yahweh, His commandments, and ways rather than an obedient son.

 WITHOUT HANDS

 Nebuchadnezzar was given a prophetic dream during his reign. The Prophet Daniel was given the interpretation of that dream. Nebuchadnezzar had dreamed of a great image whose head was of gold, his breast and arms of silver, belly and thighs of brass/bronze, legs of iron, feet of iron and clay, and toes of iron and miry clay. This image that Nebuchadnezzar saw was an idolatrous figure. It was given to present a thumbnail sketch of the history of the kingdoms of this world under Gentile (non-Hebrew) leadership as well as their idolatrous religions. During the time of the fourth kingdom a stone appears, “Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces….And in the days of these kings shall the Elohim of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great Elohim hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure,” Dan. 2:34, 44-45.

  Yahweh had also revealed this stone to the Prophet Zechariah, “Hear now, O Yahshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH. For behold the stone that I have laid before Yahshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith Yahweh of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day,” Zech. 3:8-9.

  Yahshua is the Stone spoken of by Daniel. He appeared shortly after the Roman Empire was established under the authority of the Caesars. That empire continues to greatly influence today’s world. It is still in existence, it simply has changed its nature to make it look like it is holy and good. Yahshua, the Stone will appear a second time striking the kingdom on its toes and then establish the kingdom of heaven upon the earth.

  The Apostle Paul understood all of these principles and wrote of them continually. He wrote, “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of Elohim, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens,” 2 Cor. 5:1.

  The book of Hebrews says, “But the Messiah being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us…For the Messiah is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of Yahweh for us,” Heb. 9:11-12, 24.

 THE NEW CIRCUMCISION

   That’s why Paul withstood physical circumcision made by the hands of man, “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after the Messiah. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Deity bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of the Messiah,” Col. 2:9-11.

    “Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye 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: But now in the Messiah Yahshua ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of the Messiah. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto Elohim in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of Elohim; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Yahshua the Messiah himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in Yahweh: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of Yahweh through the Spirit,” Eph. 2:22-11.

  “For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of Yahweh,” Ro. 2:28-29.

  “For we are the circumcision, which worship Yahweh in the spirit, and rejoice in the Messiah Yahshua, and have no confidence in the flesh,” Phil. 3:3.

  Too many think that they are righteous and exhibiting that righteousness by wearing physical man-made, hand-made things. They even think that physical man-made, hand-made circumcision is a necessity. But what did Paul warn about the circumcision made by the hands of man? “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith the Messiah hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, the Messiah shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. The Messiah is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace,” Ga. 5:1-5.

  What does he mean, “…he is a debtor to do the whole law?” It can mean only one thing. If you circumcise the flesh in accordance with the law of Moses, then you are indebted to keep the whole law by the power of your own strength made by your own promise. In other words, you are placing yourself under the same oath that Israel took at Mount Horeb in Sinai. You must circumcise not only your own flesh, but your own heart. You have engendered yourself to Mount Sinai, which is Hagar, the bondwoman, not to Mount Zion who is the FREEWOMAN!

  Remember that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven (1 Cor. 15:50). The evidence of the Scriptures and of history is that the house of Israel could not and did not fulfill the law. They took an oath of blessing and cursing. If they fulfilled the perfect law of liberty, then they would be blessed, but if they failed they would be cursed. Their history reveals that they came under the curse to destruction.

 THE OUTWARD APPEARANCE

  The Pharisees were a case in point. They looked (and still do) so righteous outwardly, but they were so deficient inwardly, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity,” Mat. 23:27-28.

  How many of our own people, supposedly true believers, believers in the true Sacred Names, go about making themselves look like the Pharisees of old and also the Pharisees of today?

  Paul wrote, “For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law? For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of Yahweh,” Ro. 2:25-29.

  Do you understand what Paul has written here? Yahshua said that our righteousness must exceed the righteousness of the Pharisees (Mt. 5:20). Wait a minute! In Mat. 23, Yahshua condemned the righteousness of the Pharisees. What does He mean then, that our righteousness must exceed theirs? The answer is very simple indeed. The Pharisees were as righteous as a man could be outwardly. But their righteousness was by the power of the spirit of man, not the Spirit of Yahweh. Our righteousness must exceed theirs by the power of the Spirit of Yahweh. Even though the Pharisees were as careful as they could be, their righteous looks were by the hands of man. They wore the kippas, the tallits, the tassels, the beards, and they were circumcised outwardly in the flesh by the hands of men. They looked beautiful outwardly. They looked righteous outwardly. But they lacked one most important ingredient. They weren’t circumcised in the heart by the Spirit of Yahweh. Therefore all of their righteousnesses were as filthy rags (Isa. 64:6).

  Paul set the record straight! But not many understand him. He did say that circumcision truly profits much if one keeps the law. But the problem is that he reveals elsewhere that there is a law of sin in the flesh, which causes us to fail in fulfilling the righteousness of the law. (Ro. 7). Therefore, if one is uncircumcised in the flesh, but has the Spirit of Yahweh and through the Spirit of Yahweh is fulfilling the law inwardly from the heart, then he is counted righteous. Our praise then is not of men, but of Yahweh, because it is the Spirit of Yahweh that is directing our steps, not the spirit of man.

  If we have received the Spirit of Yahweh in the state of physical un-circumcision, then why be circumcised by the hand of man? Our faith is in Yahweh and His Spirit, not in the flesh. As Paul reveals, if after we receive the Spirit of Yahweh through Yahshua, we circumcise the flesh, then we have been deceived to turn to the flesh, trusting in the power of the flesh rather than the Spirit of Yahweh; we are no longer under the grace extended to us by Yahweh through Yahshua.

  “But if our evangel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious evangel of the Messiah, who is the image of Yahweh, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but the Messiah Yahshua the Sovereign; and ourselves your servants for Yahshua's sake. For Yahweh, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of Yahweh in the face of Yahshua the Messiah. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of Yahweh, and not of us,” 2Co 4:3-7.

 THE TWO PRIESTHOODS

   There are two priesthoods, the Levitical and the Melchizedek. The Levitical priesthood served a physical man-made tabernacle and later a physical man-made temple. Their sacrifices offered were by the hands of man. They sacrificed oxen, sheep, goats, doves, pigeons, grains and wine. All of their righteousness was the righteousness made by the spirit and hands of man. It was an outward righteousness, but the righteousness that comes by and through the Spirit of Yahweh was lacking. They eventually failed.

  There was also a kingly line established in the kingdom of Israel through David and his lineage. The priests were not kings, neither were the kings priests. But both served the purpose of typifying the true priestly and kingly line to be brought in by Yahshua the Messiah. The Scriptures reveal that the kingly line also failed.

  Yahshua is made a High Priest after the order of Melchizedek, “So also the Messiah glorified not Himself to be made an High Priest; but He That said unto Him, ‘Thou art My Son, to day have I begotten Thee.’ As He saith also in another place, ‘Thou are a Priest forever after the order of Melchisedec’,” Heb. 5:5-6.

  In ancient Israel as well as in our world today, there was/is a condition called “separation of church and state.” The lineage of the priests and kings were to be kept separately. Today, politicians (professional liars) run the government, while ministers (more professional liars) run the churches.

  Examining the name Melchizedek is interesting because it comes from two Hebrew words melek (king) and tzadak (righteous). Thus Melchizedek means “King of righteousness”, “For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high Elohim, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of Elohim; abideth a priest continually,” Heb. 7:1-3.

  It is Yahshua the Messiah, in the capacity of High Priest after the order of Melchizedek, Who has the power to bring both church and state together in one. He will reign as both High Priest and King of Kings forever, HalleluYah!!!

  Hebrews 7 continues, “Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham: But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him,” vv. 4-10.

  The evangel of John records an incident that occurred between Yahshua and the people of His day, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Yahshua said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM. Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Yahshua hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by,” 8:56-59.

  The Jews understood that Yahshua was telling them that He had seen Abraham face to face. One reason that Yahshua told them this is because He appeared to Abraham in the office of the High Priest Melchizedek and Abraham gave Him tithes of all. The record reveals that the Levitical priesthood paid tithes to the Melchizedek Priesthood while they were still in the loins of Abraham.

  Yahshua had told them, “I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come. Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? Because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come. And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I AM, ye shall die in your sins,” Jn. 8:21-24.

  This is another powerful point of faith that comes through the Melchizedek Priesthood! The Melchizedek Priesthood believes and teaches, yes, knows assuredly that Yahshua is the very One Who revealed Himself to Moses as the I AM! The Scriptures and the Spirit witness and testify to this fact!

 THE LAW

   The book of Hebrews chapter 7 continues, “If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law,” vv. 11-12.

  The priesthood has been changed from the Levitical to the Melchizedek! The Greek word for change is metatithemi, which is defined as; to transfer, i.e. (literally) transport, (by implication) exchange, (reflexively) change sides. Thus, we find that there was a need to transfer the priesthood from Levi to Melchizedek because the Levitical priesthood was unfaithful in teaching the law (Mal. 3).

  When it says, “…there is made of necessity a change also of the law,” the Greek word for “change” in this instance is metathesis, which is defined as; transposition, i.e. transferral (to heaven).

  It is the Priesthood of Melchizedek that has power over the law now. The power of the law has been transferred to the Melchizedek priesthood in heaven because there was no man’s lineage that was perfectly faithful in teaching and observing it. That is why there has to be a New Covenant, based upon better and more faithful promises, that is, the promises of the word and Spirit of Yahweh.

  If we belong to Yahshua then we are of the Melchizedek Priesthood. The book of Hebrews continues, “For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. For it is evident that our Sovereign sprang out of Judah; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto Yahweh. And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest: (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, Yahweh sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:) By so much was Yahshua made a surety of a better testament (covenant). And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto Yahweh by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore,” Heb. 7:13-28.

  “We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. Wherefore Yahshua also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to Yahweh continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices Yahweh is well pleased,” Heb. 13:10-16.

  We have a covenant which is far better than the covenant made with Israel, because our covenant is administered by a High Priest and King Who is eternal. The covenant made through Moses was made for temporary, physical, carnal flesh. The covenant made through Yahshua is for eternal, immortal, incorruptible spirit beings. There have to be differences in them even as there are great differences between that which is flesh and that which is spirit.

  Which ministry, which priesthood, which kingship are you a part of? Are you of the one that is without hands or are you one that trusts in the works of the hands of man? We encourage you to walk in the light and faith of Yahweh’s word.

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