The Restored Covenant

          Shalom, peace, unto you. I may say some things in this particular post that shock you. This is because Jesus is not only my Savior and Lord, but also my example and he liked shocking people (and frankly, he still does). Here is where I will show you how I am trying to get back to the faith which was once delivered to the saints, the church that Yeshua (that’s Jesus’ Hebrew name) built. And I hope you find something here that will edify you and help you obtain a closer walk with the Messiah as well.

          This all started with a sermon which my pastor preached a little while ago. It wasn’t an original message but it was the first time I heard it personally. It was about obedience unto righteousness, unto holiness, unto eternal life. It had to percolate for a while in my brain but I came to appreciate its significance.

          It starts with obedience, doing (or at least trying to do) what God wants and has commanded us to do. If you don’t have a spirit of obedience, then the rest of this will do you no good because that’s step one. That leads to righteousness.

          Righteousness is not about having the right spirit so much as it is about doing the right thing; righteousness really means doing that which is right. Of course, the writers of the New Testament do clarify that we need God’s righteousness, not our own righteousness. That means doing what is right according to God, not according to men. Even the apostle Paul (an excellent example of the Jews) spoke of his own righteousness, that it was like filthy rags (and not to gross anybody out, but the original terminology used there was ‘menstrual rags’… disgusting!).

          But how do we know what is right according to God? That requires an education, obviously. And we need to make sure we are being educated according to the Word of God, the Scriptures. The Bible itself needs to be understood as a whole, or in its entirety. What you read in the Old Testament will help you understand the New, and vise versa. My advice: never stop studying the Word of God, and never take the Word of God for granted. Also do not twist, or reinterpret, the Scriptures to make them fit your way that you want to do things or what you want to believe; you should always, always, ALWAYS change what you are doing and what you believe to line up with the Word of Yehovah (that’s the Heavenly Father’s name in Hebrew).  Anything else and you slip back into your own icky righteousness which will get you nowhere.

          At this point I think it’s appropriate to point out that neither of these two things, obedience and righteousness, can be accomplished without the help of Yehovah. The sacrifice that Jesus (or Yeshua) paid on the cross (the ultimate act of mercy) allowed us access to the same spirit that empowered him and helped him to be perfectly obedient to his Father. Yeshua also said that the spirit of truth would lead and guide us into all the truth; that same Holy Spirit which manifested at Pentecost, which is that same spirit of obedience (see the connection?). This is why we can say that by mercy and truth, iniquity is purged. Iniquity simply means lawlessness (in this case, being without the law of God). This brings us to holiness.

          Holiness simply means cleansed, sanctified, set apart, and even devoted. When we allow the Holy Spirit to work fully within us, this is what we become. The spirit of obedience is something you have, you use it to do righteousness, and (because we are defined not by our thoughts or feelings, but by what we do) we become Holiness unto the Lord. ‘Holiness unto the Lord’ is the title literally worn by the priests who serve God in the tabernacle or in the temple. We, as Christians, are called to be priests and even kings under Yeshua haMashiach, Jesus (the)Messiah.

And when this is what we are (when we have overcome the depraved elements of the world), God blesses us with eternal life.

          Simple, right? No? Well don’t worry; I’m not quite done here.

          I want to say more about God’s commandments vs. the commandments of men. God’s doctrine and the doctrines produced by the cerebral contusions of human beings.

          It is a recurring instruction in the Bible: after God gives people His commandments, His instructions (Torah), His truth, His knowledge, and His revelation, He then says do not add anything or subtract anything, do not alter one jot or one tittle, and just don’t touch it. And as such it is a recurring theme in the Bible, what happens to the people who break this simple instruction.

          The very first example of this is in the Garden of Eden. The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil is thought by many to be a bad tree, because the consequence of eating its fruit or even touching it is death. But Yehovah created this tree like all trees and other plants throughout the world, and He called them good. The reason this tree is good is not hard to grasp (if you’re willing to ditch your Traditions cap for a moment to put on a working Thinking cap) because paradise is, logically and practically speaking, utterly impossible without there being some sort of rule set, or guidelines, or knowledge, concerning what is good and what is not good, what is right and what is wrong, what you should do and what you should not do. It also makes sense that if you should mess, in any way, with such things, you no longer are enjoying the perfect paradise of God.

I know there are people out there who say they take the Scriptures ‘literally’ and so they think Adam and Eve ate an actual piece of fruit like an apple or a quince, but such people are really taking the Scriptures ‘moronically’ because the Bible literally says ‘Tree of Knowledge.’ Since when does knowledge grow on fruit trees? This is obviously a poetic device, probably used because it doesn’t matter what they literally or technically did with that Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. What matters is that they disobeyed Yehovah! And as such, could no longer enjoy the paradise God had made for them.

There have been many instances throughout history wherein humankind does not only break the rules or commandments of God but also invents new laws in their place. The most horrendous example of this is God’s own chosen people, the Jews. The Jews may say that, historically, God’s gotten a kick out of punishing them, and they’ll often conveniently forget to mention that they broke many of his most important laws, the punishment for which He made very clear.

In the Law of Moses (which didn’t really come from Moses, it came through Moses from God) Yehovah tells his people explicitly that they are not to add or subtract anything from the Torah (which literally means instruction). And the Jewish elders and Rabbis have taken out a lot. They’ve also added a great deal, so much in fact that it became quite burdensome for the people who followed them. God also told Moses that one day He would send another prophet, the Messiah, which we must shemah (a Hebrew word which means both to hear and to obey). Jesus gave his disciples many instructions in regards to the law and righteous living, never adding to or subtracting from the Torah. One thing he is especially noted for in the Gospel accounts is breaking the asinine religious rules and customs of the scribes and Pharisees who did not follow the Torah or Law of Moses, but who followed laws of their own invention.

Before I go further regarding the New Testament which Yeshua brought us, I should explain what happened at the very beginning, before the Israelites even became a true nation, and before God had them wander through the wilderness for four decades. At Mount Sinai, Yehovah made a blood covenant with the Hebrews, which they agreed to even before they knew what the commandments were and before they had the Ten Commandments engraved on the stone tablets. God spoke unto the Hebrews and gave them his law (at least, some of it), and afterwards Moses went up to receive the Ten Commandments. While he was still on the mountain, Israel broke the covenant they had made with the Almighty. They had made a golden calf and worshipped it, ruining the covenant which Yehovah made with them; they could no longer be the example to the world God wanted them to be.

This is why Yeshua had to die; the only way to restore a blood covenant (which this was and still is) was for either the offending party (all of Israel except for Moses’ family) to die or for one who had never transgressed the Torah, never broke that covenant, to die in their place. Jesus fulfilled this function. He also counteracted the original sin in the Garden; where by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so then by one man’s obedience many were made (and are still being made) righteous. Jesus said, of his blood that would be shed for many, this is the renewing of the covenant.

‘What are you talking about?’ is what you might be thinking right now. In truth, the words ‘new testament’ never appear in the New Testament except for one place where it’s an inaccurate translation, in the gospel of Matthew.

I’ve recently come into possession of the better translation of the gospel of Matthew, which is the basis for the Corrected King James Version of the Bible. An older more credible Hebrew manuscript for this gospel was recently found and translated directly into English and is what’s used to ‘correct’ the KJV.

Don’t get me wrong though; I don’t mind calling it the New Testament, because it is a new testament. Just don’t get confused; many people hear or read the words ‘New Testament’ and think ‘New Covenant,’ but there’s an important difference. ‘Covenant’ refers to an agreement that’s been made, similar to the word ‘pact.’ ‘Testament’ comes from the same root as ‘testimony,’ a Latin word, which I won’t try to pronounce or transliterate, that means ‘to bear witness.’ In this case the Scriptures bear witness of a renewed or restored covenant, an operation and fulfillment of God’s perfect will in the New Testament, while the Old Testament bears witness to the wretched life one has living under the broken covenant.

So now you might be wondering about the Law of Moses (at least I hope you are) since we, God’s people, are under the same covenant we read about in the Torah.

Remember what Jesus said: ‘Do not think that I have come to destroy the Torah, or the prophets. I did not come to destroy, but to fulfill. Truth I say to you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the Torah till all be fulfilled. Whoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments in the Torah, and shall teach men to do so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven! But, whoever shall do and teach them, the same will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.’

If you read this scripture with the spirit to be obedient, there is little doubt what Yeshua is saying. But if you need more clarification I suggest that you read the verses which come immediately before and after because context is a beautiful thing: ‘Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven… (Mat. 5:17-19)… For I say to you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.’

I know, some people read the words of Jesus, ‘Do not think,’ and stop there, but there is no period there; you need to read the rest of it.

Remember that Jesus also said, ‘Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Learn from me. I am gentle and undemanding. You will find rest for your soul because my yoke is easy and my burden is light.’

Taking the yoke of Jesus upon ourselves means learning to live as he did, fulfilling the Torah. But the good news is that it’s not a heavy burden, though there are some men who teach otherwise. I’ve recently taken to rereading the Torah myself to learn it in greater depth and so far have found it to be pretty easy (in my opinion, ‘Thou shall not eat bacon,’ is the least of God’s commandments that I have to obey, but I’m still alive).

Another scripture, a very important one, from the gospel of Matthew properly translated is Mat.23:1-3 which reads, ‘After inspecting the treasury, Yeshua addressed the multitude and all of his disciples (who were present in the temple court) for the last time saying, “the scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat (they purport to have Moses’ authority). Therefore, whatsoever he (Moses) commands you to observe, that observe and do – but do not follow the laws and works of the Pharisees – for they say (they follow Moses) but do not do (what Moses says to do).’

This illustrates quite plainly I think, that Jesus does not want us to follow man-made religious systems and that he does want us to follow all of God’s commandments which he gave through Moses.

One final argument I can see semi-intelligent people make against this is the debate which occurred in the early church regarding what they called ‘the circumcision,’ a debate which concluded with the decision that states Gentiles don’t have to become Jews before they become Christians, and ergo do not have to go through all the Jewish rigamarole such as getting circumcised. But many foolishly extend that to mean that all the laws of Moses except those that Yeshua taught his disciples were done away with.

What many don’t realize when they say such things is that the covenant of circumcision and the blood covenant made at Mt. Sinai are not the same thing. They are in fact barely related to each other – they wouldn’t be at all related if they involved different people or a different land.

Fortunately, the covenant of circumcision is ridiculously easy to understand. Yehovah promised Abraham that his family would inherit the ‘promised land’ and the sign of that covenant would be one borne in the bodies of the males of Abraham’s family. Others outside of Abraham’s family who wished to join in this covenant were allowed to do so. In fact, during the Exodus out of Egypt, there were some Egyptians who went with the Hebrews and they all had to get circumcised to get a share in that promised land. Gentiles today even, can get a share of the land of Israel, if they enter into that covenant with circumcision, because God’s promises are everlasting; the Bible even goes so far as to say He honors His Word above His name. That’s cool, if you’re interested in a piece of prime real estate, but it’s optional.

The apostle Paul states clearly, ‘He is not a (true) Jew, who is one outwardly… But he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter (or in the word), whose praise is not of men, but of God.’

This spiritual circumcision is not optional for the true people of God who will be given a spiritual inheritance, the ‘promised land’ of the kingdom of heaven.

Lastly, I want to share with you the last words and final witness of one who was a great biblical example of being a true Jew and Christian: Stephen, the first martyr.

Acts 6:7-7:60

6:7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. 8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. 9 Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. 10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. 11 Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God. 12 And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council, 13 And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law: 14 For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us. 15 And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

7:1 Then said the high priest, Are these things so? 2 And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran, 3 And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee. 4 Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell. 5 And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child. 6 And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years. 7 And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place. 8 And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs. 9 And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him, 10 And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.

11 Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance. 12 But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first. 13 And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph’s kindred was made known unto Pharaoh. 14 Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls. 15 So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers, 16 And were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor the father of Sychem. 17 But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt, 18 Till another king arose, which knew not Joseph. 19 The same dealt subtilly with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live.

20 In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father’s house three months: 21 And when he was cast out, Pharaoh’s daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son. 22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds. 23 And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel. 24 And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian: 25 For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not. 26 And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another? 27 But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us? 28 Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday? 29 Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons.

30 And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush. 31 When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold it, the voice of the Lord came unto him, 32 Saying, I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold. 33 Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground. 34 I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt. 35 This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush. 36 He brought them out, after that he had shewed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years. 37 This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear. 38 This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us: 39 To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt,

40 Saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us: for as for this Moses, which brought us out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. 41 And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. 42 Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness? 43 Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon. 44 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. 45 Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David; 46 Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob. 47 But Solomon built him an house. 48 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, 49 Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?

50 Hath not my hand made all these things? 51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. 52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: 53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. 54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. 55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. 57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, 58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul. 59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

          That’s a little long, I know, but the reason Stephen was brought before this ‘Jewish’ council, as well as what the false witnesses said about him and his response are all very important.

          I think that is enough for now. I hope you found something good amidst all my words. Yehovah bless you.