The Torah Reflects the Image of Yahweh…In Us
08/11/18 (05/28) Video Broadcast
All right, we are ready to
begin our study portion
for today's broadcast.
So many people today say
that the Torah of Yahweh,
the law of Yahweh is no
longer for us to observe,
it's no longer a reflection of Yahweh's will for us. And I'm just going to share a very positive message today that actually, very clearly, using a key New Testament verse, demonstrates it is his will for us. And we are just going to bring all scripture together as we like to do here, as we have discovered that not only the New Testament scriptures are valid and important and should be heeded, but equally so Yahweh's word in the Old Testament scriptures are also important for us and to be heeded and observed and obeyed. And we're gonna show this very beautiful concept here of how the Torah reflects the image of Yahweh in us. The Torah is the first 5 books of the Bible, not to be confused with the Talmud which is a set of Jewish writings that are not inspired. The Torah is the Hebrew word translated law, but it does not really mean law, it's much broader it means teaching and instruction. That's what the word Torah actually means and so we're going to cover this, with these matters in mind it's a whole lot easier to say, well the law has been abolished and say Yahweh's teaching has been abolished. How could Yahweh abolish his own teachings? It doesn't make any sense, does it? But that's what they're actually saying by those comments. Now we're gonna show here biblically speaking and based on the new testament scripture in Romans chapter 7, that Yahweh's Torah, his teaching reflects his image, what he wants us to do as his people is to reflect his righteous image. The first thing you need to know about Yahweh is that he is Kadosh, he is holy.
And so the first attribute I want to show here is his attributes of holiness.
Yahweh is holy, he is Kadosh as it says in Hebrew, meaning he will be set apart, he's different than the world and its worldliness. He is holy and he is full of holiness, in fact Yeshaayahu or Isaiah chapter 6 verse 1 it says; in the year that king Uzziah died I saw the Master Yahweh sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphims: each one had six wings; with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. Pretty impressive creature and one cried to another, and said, Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, (holy, holy, holy) is the Yahweh of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. Indeed, Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, that's what they're saying. He is holy and they're decrying this to one another, very clearly. Three times and you also see this in Revelation chapter 4, the four creatures each having six wings; they were full of eyes around: and within and they do not rest day or night, saying, Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, Yahweh Tsevaot, who was, and is, and is to come. So Yahweh Elohim Almighty, who was and is to come. So this is very clear and they're declaring his holiness saying, ashe howya wehawei weyaho, declaring Yahweh who was and is and is to come. So holy, he is holy separates from what? Anything that's wicked, anything that's common, unclean, anything that's evil from anything as impure, from anything that's not lovely, praiseworthy and of good reports. He is separate from the filth and scours of the world and there is no comparison to his holiness. Well did you know his Torah, the Torah, the teaching that he gives the law of Yahweh is also holy? It says in Romans chapter 7 verse 12 actually reading this last night; therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. So the law of Yahweh is holy, his teaching is holy; when we are hearing his teaching we are hearing a holy teaching, that's what we're hearing.
Coming from a holy Yahweh, a holy Elohim, 2 Timothy 3:14 talking to Timothy Paul say; you must continue in the things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them. And that from a childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures: which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Messiah Yahushua. Now Timothy grew up knowing the Holy Scriptures, what was the Holy Scriptures he was reading? The Torah: the prophets, the writings, the old testament. There was no new testament written in those days, all scripture he says, everything, all scripture this is what I preach. All scripture is given by inspiration of Elohim, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. Now what's commonly taught today is that not all scripture is given by, well all scripture is given by inspiration but it's not always profitable for reproof, correction or instruction, righteousness. People say today the law of Yahweh is done away with and therefore not all scripture is profitable for reproof or correction or instruction, righteousness, only certain parts of it. And I say no all scripture is profitable for reproof, because when I'm bringing a scripture that says for instance keep the feast of tabernacles, they say well that's not profitable for reproof that is only for that time. That's not what Paul said, it's all profitable for reproof or correction. That the man of Elohim may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. Now we were created in the image of Elohim, in the image of Elohim he created us. We are not Elohim but we are created to be a reflection of him, as it says in Genesis 1:26. Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness: let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, over the cattle, over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. So Elohim created man in his own image, in the image of Elohim he created him, male and female he created them. So our image, I think Yahweh is talking to Yahushua here saying hey, let's make man in our image and our likeness. So if we are going to be created in the image of Elohim, we are going to carry his attributes, Yahweh desires that we would share in this attribute of holiness, so that we would be an accurate reflection, an image of who he is and what we are called to be. And one of these attributes we should carry is holiness, in 1 Peter chapter 1 verse 13; therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is brought to you at the revelation of Yahushua the Messiah. As obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts as in your ignorance: But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct. Because it is written, be holy; for I am holy. He wants us to reflect that image of holiness, this, be holy as I'm holy is actually a quote from Leviticus chapter 11 verse 45: I am Yahweh who brings you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your Mighty One: you shall therefore be holy, for I am holy. That's what he's teaching us, now whenever you see scriptures like this and they're quoted in the New Testament, it's a good idea check context.
Many people want to think of holiness, they have this idea of sexual purity or becoming men and women of complete devotion and prayer or in some cases people walking around with long robes and living in some monastery or convent somewhere. Holiness involves purity and prayer and that's true but people living in the Catholic convents and monasteries are not holy by Yahweh's standards, not at all. 2 Corinthians chapter 6 in verse 14 says; so do not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? What communion has light with darkness? What accord has Messiah with Belial? For what part has a believer with a non-believer? And what agreement has the temple of Elohim with idols? For you are the temple of the living Elohim; as Elohim has said, I will dwell in them, and walk among them; I will be their Mighty One, and they shall be my people. I will dwell in them, continuing, therefore come out from among them, and be separate, says Yahweh, do not touch what is unclean; and I will receive you, I will be a Father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says Yahweh Almighty. Therefore having these promises beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit. Filthiness of the flesh, do not touch what is unclean right. Perfecting holiness, holiness and cleanness, biblical cleanness go hand in hand. And those who walk in the law of Yahweh are undefiled. Psalm 119 verse 1; blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of Yahweh. And so what does this say here's an example Leviticus chapter 11 verse 43; you shall not make yourselves abominable (you shall not make yourselves abominable, O my word. How can we make ourselves abominable?
Here's how you do it: with any creeping thing that creeps, nor shall you make yourselves unclean with them, lest you will be defiled by them. Talking about unclean beasts, that's what it's referring to. For I am Yahweh your Mighty One: you shall therefore consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall you defile yourselves with any creeping thing that creeps on the earth. He's talking about eating things, in this case like rabbits, and rodents, and squirrels and other things that he says are unclean.
So we have to have a proper understanding of what holiness really involves.
And once we understand that it all comes together and make sense, this is the law of the animals and the birds and every living creature that moves in the waters and every creature that creeps on the earth to distinguish between the unclean and the clean, between the animal that may be eaten and the animal that may not be eaten. And this is what Paul was referring to when he says cleanse yourselves of defilement of the flesh end spirit, two different things. We want to be clean in our thought life; we want to be clean in our flesh also. But we have lost what it means to be holy in our generation today.
We no longer keep these things. Her priests have violated my law, profaned my holy things: they have not distinguished between the holy and the unholy, nor have they made known the difference between the unclean and the clean, (as if the two were synonymous, holy and unholy, unclean and the clean) and they have hidden their eyes from my (what? ) Sabbaths (so a Sabbath is also holy), so I am profaned. Because he is supposed to be the one in them and therefore he is profaned when people do not make that distinction between the holy and the unholy, between the clean and the unclean because we're supposed to be created in his image and we're supposed to reflect his image. His image is an image of purity and cleanness and we do not eat abominable things.
And so our modern day situation is people have not made a distinction between the holy and the unholy, between the unclean and the clean, and that's a situation that we're in today, so that he is profaned when you fail to put that difference there. Now today is actually a holy day, this particular day that we are in right now is considered to be a holy day. It's a day that Yahweh says is holy. Sanctified at creation, Yahweh wants us to make a difference between a day that's holy and a day that's not holy. The first day of the week is not holy; there is no use in keeping it holy when it's not holy to begin with. There's no keeping holy something that's not holy. Okay. So he says to remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy; we're supposed to keep it holy, reflecting our holiness, reflecting his image he rested on the seventh day. If we walk in his image then we will rest on the seventh day also. Does it make sense in order for us to be holy; we need to not be the defiling things that Yahweh says is holy? Does it make sense in order for us to be holy we need to keep his days holy that he calls? Is it not ironic that the day he says remember is a day everybody forgets?
It's a day where people go shopping, they go to work, live their normal life, do the common things; Yahweh, his word was written there in stone, says that day is holy, keep it that way. You can't make your own day holy, Yahweh decides what's holy not you. Yahweh decides the Sabbath was holy in the 7th day of creation; that's when he made a decision, it says he blessed that day and sanctified it and we must be willing to do the same.
Genesis chapter 2 says; thus the heavens and the earth and all of them were finished. On the seventh day Elohim ended his work which he had done; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had done. Elohim blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it, that day is a holy day. And we can trace our current what's called Saturday back to the seventh day of the one Yahushua kept in the first century, very easy.
But no Sabbath occurred on the first day that after Adam was created was a day of rest; spent time with the heavenly father who created him.
And then he began his work week after that, that set in motion a pattern that he kept and we all should keep. Nehemiah chapter 9 verse 13 says; you came down Mount Sinai, spoke with them from heaven, and gave them just ordinances, true laws, good statutes and commandments. You made known to them the holy Sabbath (see they had forgotten, they've been in slavery for 400 years). So he made it known to them, it's already there; he just let them know it existed. So we observe on this day, we observe this day as a holy day and we don't neglect it, we remember it, we don't forget it, we remember and that's part of holiness. And we need to be willing to do that, Yahushua when he came to Nazareth where he had been brought up his custom was he went to synagogue on the Sabbath day, stood up to read, why? He's reflecting the holiness of Yahweh and reflecting the image of Elohim and therefore he is doing what his father did. Luke 23:55; and the women, who had come with him from Galilee, followed after, they observed the tomb, and how his body was laid. And they returned prepared spices and fragrant oils and they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment, why? They're doing what Yahushua did, how about you, how about me? Are we doing what Yahushua did? Important question. Acts 13:14; they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and they went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day; you think they were there doing a Sunday worship?
They were there on a Sabbath; the New Testament scriptures refer this day as the Sabbath day. It's still the Sabbath day in the New Testament. In Acts chapter 13, it's still called by the inspired Holy Spirit inspired scripture. This day is called the Sabbath day; no other day is ever called the Sabbath day in scripture.
Acts 17 verses 1-2; when they passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews. And Paul, as his custom was, went into them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the scriptures. Because it's a holy day, they are doing what Yahushua did, that in Yahushua was doing what his father did, reflecting his image they also were reflecting Yahweh's image. And what about you, what about me, are we willing to reflect Yahweh's image and rest on the day he says he is holy? If so we're reflecting his holiness, Acts 18:4; he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, there's a day called Sabbath, what day is it? There is zero indication, anyone in scripture was permitted to choose which day they will keep Sabbath, rather we see a consistent pattern all throughout scripture Genesis to Revelation there is one day in a 7 day week he established from the very beginning as a reflection of Yahweh's image and in memorial to his creation, Adam and every human being on the planet is expected to submit themselves to that cycle Yahweh established in the very beginning he was sent down man at 6 days; didn't send on the seventh day expecting everyone to follow that same pattern and that's how we reflect his image.
Another attribute, goodness, Yahweh is good
and we're called to reflect that image of goodness. 1 Corinthians chapter 16 verse 34; O give thanks to Yahweh; for he is good; for his mercy endures forever. He is good; he's Tov; Psalm 107:1; O give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good: for his mercy endures forever. There it is again Psalm 118; O give thanks to Yahweh; for he is good: for his mercy endures forever. There it is again verse 29 Psalm 118; O give thanks to Yahweh; for he is good: for his mercy endures forever. Psalm 136 verse 1; O give thanks to Yahweh; for he is good: for his mercy endures forever. For some reason Yahweh wants us to know this. Ezra chapter 3 verse 11; they sang responsively praising and giving thanks to Yahweh; for he is good, for his mercy endures forever toward Israel. All the people shouted with a great shout. You see this phrase is there a lot in scripture. It just so happens it rhymes, hodu la'Yahweh ki Tov, ki le'olam chasdo. And that's what it's saying; it's actually a rhyme, hodu la'Yahweh ki Tov, ki le'olam chasdo. Beautiful isn't it? Psalm 107 verse 1. And, do you know the plan of salvation is seen in this verse; think about this, we're being told to give thanks to Yahweh for he is good. Now his goodness was in the Messiah Yahushua, his righteousness, his goodness was in the Messiah Yahushua. Yahushua says why do you call me good? There's one that's good, Elohim, well that goodness of Elohim was flowing through him as Yahushua told the people, I don't do the things the father does the works in me. He gave acknowledgment to the one who was good and that righteousness that was in Yahushua enabled us through his death and resurrection to be transferred to us and our sin be transferred to him as we are joined with his body; we also take on his history and his identity. And therefore his righteousness is in us and our sin was laid on him. We were crucified with him so it's no longer we that live, Messiah living in us. So we if we're thankful for that goodness that he has and that was manifested in the Messiah Yahushua, if we're thankful then we are going to say all right well I am willing to be thankful for what Yahushua did for me and offering to allow the goodness of Yahweh to be imparted to me through this awesome, awesome act. So I'm going to choose to believe in the Messiah Yahushua and it's because of that goodness that's in the Messiah Yahushua, his mercy endures forever. So if you're thankful, you'll turn away from your sins because Messiah died for your sins and that goodness of Elohim will be flowing through you. You're not good enough yourself, hodu la'Yahweh ki Tov, ki le'olam chasdo. It's actually a song I know, "hodu la'Yahweh ki Tov, ki le'olam chasdo". Very beautiful song in Hebrew, so give thanks to Yahweh for he is good for his mercy endures forever. Scripture says halal is holy in the commandment holy also says just and good. The law is good, it is, it's a good thing,
absolutely in fact Yahweh said Deuteronomy 10:12; Now, Israel, what does Yahweh your Mighty One require of you, but to fear Yahweh your Mighty One, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, to serve Yahweh your Mighty One with all your heart and with all your soul. And to keep the commandments of Yahweh, and his statutes, which I command you today for your good? For your good, for your benefit, contrary to what you may have heard the law of Yahweh is good for you.
It is good for you; it's not bad the problem is we've been bad and it points out that we've been bad. Because it is good, therefore it points out that we're bad, it's a reflection of Yahweh's standards, he expects us as people that walk in his image to follow because he is good, he is righteous, he is holy. And so when we see the law, it's a good thing he says in 1 Timothy 1:8; we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully. If you misuse it in a way that's not lawful, then it will be presenting itself as something not good; if you use it in a manner that is not lawful then yeah people will have the impression it's not good.
So Nehemiah 9:13; you came down also on Mount Sinai, and spoke with them from heaven, and gave them just ordinances, and true laws, good statutes and commandments.
That's what he did for you, Hallelujah he gave good statutes and good laws, stands to reason then if we desire to walk in goodness which is a reflection of Yahweh's image. We should be willing to keep his commandments and his laws right. And then we will be considered a people who are walking in a way that is good. That is tov as the Hebrew says, it's kind of a saying around some parts you know, it's kind of a neat word tov. And someone says, how do you like that? You say O, tov. So yeah, Yahweh's law it's tov, it's really tov. Tov Meod, really tov, very tov, very good and so that leads us to another attribute of Yahweh. He is just, we've seen he is holy, he is good, he's also just. Deuteronomy 32 verse 4; he is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgments: a Mighty One of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. That's another song I know actually, "just and right is he, just and right is he, Elohim of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. He is a rock and his work is perfect, all his ways are judgment". So that's a good song, we know that, we sing it, just and right is Yahweh, he is just. He's not unjust. Yes, there is evil things, there are evil things going on in the world today, that does not mean he's unjust. It means that we're unjust; it shows that we have the problem not him. He gave us free will and gave us the ability or inability if we want to, to not be good, to not be just, and to not be holy. He gave us a choice. Whose image do we want to walk in? The image of Elohim: or the image of his enemy? Our choice and if we walk in we're willing to walk in the image of Elohim then we will be with him forever. If we want to walk in the image of his enemy then we will be with his enemy forever or until we burn up, whichever you believe to be true. I tend to think there will be limited time, but the point is this; who do you wanna be with? That's who you'll be with, it's up to you and the world is unjust, we love it when justice comes Yahweh created this with a sense of justice, a sense of what's right and what's wrong. And he desires us to be a just a just people because
the law is holy, the commandment holy and just and good. They reflect the attributes of Yahweh, every one of his commandments are just, holy and good, every single one. So if you're desiring to walk in goodness, to walk in holiness and to walk in justice then you will be willing to walk in those commandments, which are holy, just and good.
Revelation 15 verses 1-2; I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them the wrath of Elohim is complete. And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire: and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image, over his mark, over the number of his names, standing on the sea of glass, having the harps of Elohim.
They sing the song of Moshe the servant of Elohim, and the song of the Lamb. Lots of people singing the song of the Lamb today,
not many singing the song of Moshe but we need both songs, we need both ministries, we need the Torah to correct us and to demonstrate that we are sinners and we need a Savior. And we need the Messiah, to cleanse us of our sins and to set an example for us of how we ought to live and walk in the image of Elohim. And so we need both the song of Moshe and the song of the Lamb; saying, great and marvelous are your works, Yahweh Elohim Almighty; just and true are your ways, O King of saints. Who shall not fear you, O Yahweh, and glorify your name? What are the saints singing about? They are singing about the wonderful work of Yahweh, singing about how just and how true he is, and how just and true his ways are. What were his ways that were just and true, we just read? What is just? The Torah, the law of Yahweh is just and good.
So his ways are just and true, his ways are seen in his commandments in the Torah. So who shall not fear him? It is the Torah that brings you to a place where you ought to fear the holy one of Israel. You ought to fear him and glorify his name saying; for you alone are holy: for all nations shall come and worship before you; for your judgments have been manifested. You see, right now, people don't know the judgments of Elohim, why? Because they don't realize he is holy, he expects us to be holy, he expects us to walk away from the concept of eating unclean meats, from defiling the holy Sabbath, from defiling the holy feast days and ignoring his holy name. We're supposed to glorify his holy name, you can't do that until you use it, you got to use his holy name and then you can glorify it. So one day will come when not just the son of the Lamb will be song, but the song of Moshe too. And therefore the righteous statutes, judgments and commandments will be manifest to the world once again. And on what day will nations come and worship before Yahweh? What day will that be?
All you gotta do is read Isaiah 66, it tells you; all flesh will come and worship before him on the new moons and on the Sabbath. Read it, go look it up Isaiah 66 look it up, all flesh will come and worship him on the new moons and on the Sabbath, verse 23, I'll leave that to you to look it up. So what day is being spoken of here? When are nations going to come and worship before him? On the Sabbath and on the feast days, the feast days you see that in Zechariah chapter 14, read that whole chapter you'll see, all nations will come and keep the feast of tabernacles, that's what's going to happen. So that this world will no longer neglect holiness and injustice, because it's an unjust thing for us to defile his holy things. But the day will come when we will walk in justice and holiness. Now the great and marvelous work of Yahweh: El Shaddai, through Messiah Yahushua. No one is justified by the law, that's true, no one. When you face Yahweh on judgment day you will not be able to say look I kept your law, you will not be able to do that. So the law will not declare you to be just, it will declare you to be unjust but you can be made just and have justness in you as we're talking about the justice of Elohim. You can be made righteous and just by faith.
Behold the proud whose soul is not upright, the one he brags on himself how righteous he is, he's not upright. The one who says I'm going to live, meaning have eternal life by my faith, that one will be declared just. Make sense? Humble ourselves, recognize our own righteousness will not be enough to be granted permission to have eternal life with the heavenly father in the Messiah Yahushua we need to humble ourselves and say by faith I trust Yahweh is good, his mercy endures forever and I believe in the Messiah Yahushua through whom I receive grace and life, abundant life. That does not mean we're free now to purposely and willfully walk in such a way, it's no longer a reflection of Elohim, no we want to live the way Yahushua did, a life without sin, a perfect reflection of the image of Elohim. He is, Messiah is the image of the invisible Elohim, the firstborn over all creation. 1 John 2:4; he who says, I know him, and does not keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
But whoever keeps his word, truly the love of Elohim is perfected in him: by this we know that we are in him. He who says he abides in him ought himself also to walk, just as he walked. If there is ever any question, should I keep the Sabbath day? Walk as he walked, the image of Elohim, the image of the invisible, I am created in his image, just walk in his image. That's what I'm preaching, walk in the image of Elohim, traditional Christianity has marred the picture, confused the image by saying well this part you do, this part you don't, this part you do, this part you don't, I mean it's burger king religion have it your way. I mean you could do that if you go that way then you can just pick anything you want, and say that's for today, that's not for today and that's what's happening. Homosexual are saying well that's not for today, we can ignore those commands over there. Forget all that walk as Yahushua walked, if he kept Sabbath on a specific day within a predetermined 7 day week that Yahweh established in Genesis, let's do what he did, let's walk as he walked; reflect his image. Isn't that message much cleaner, much simpler, no mixing and matching and moving things around and making excuses for changing things, ignoring things? I say the simplicity that's in Messiah, is what we need to follow for if you're somehow as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity in this in Messiah. For if he who comes and preaches another Yahushua: whom we've not preached, or if you receive a different spirit, which you have not received, or a different gospel, which you've not accepted, you may put up with it. What is this? As the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, what kind of confusion is being taught today? That's similar to the serpent deceiving Eve by his craftiness, what happened? The very first lie in the bible is a lie about Yahweh's grace.
Did you know the serpent was preaching grace? He was, he was preaching grace to Hawwah, Hebrew
name Eve in English, it's really butchered. But he was preaching grace to Eve, you will not surely die, you can violate that commandment and you will not surely die.
That's a different gospel; one that does not include repentance, the simple thing is this turn away from your sins and receive the Messiah Yahushua for the forgiveness of sins. Now I'm not saying mainline Christianity is always teaching a different gospel, I'm saying some of them are, once saved always saved you know, you say a few words, you made a profession of faith and doesn't matter what you do after that. Or your attitude toward righteousness doesn't matter because now you've made that profession and you're in, or in the case of Catholicism you know say you know 7 Hail Marys for that sin, say 12 of them for those other sins, you know do the rosary, do the beads, those are all substitution for truth. Repent, turn away from your sin that means it bothers you when you sin. You don't like it you hate it, if you fall into temptation and you fail and you confess it and you're willing to confess and forsake it, okay. So in the case of a serpent deceived Eve by
craftiness, was preaching another Yahushua doesn't expect you to repent, that's a different spirit that's a different gospel. Conversely if anyone teaches the Torah only and neglects the fact that it's only through Yahushua that we are made righteous, that's another gospel, that's another message altogether, it needs to be both repentance and faith in Yahushua. So if you want to be holy, just and good do what the law tells you, simple as that and if you wanna be justified in areas that you have sinned and transgressed that law. Put your faith and trust in the Messiah Yahushua through the mercy offered through him that will grant you eternal life and dismiss the case against you. A simple message, nothing confusing about it, no complicated explanation needed even a child can understand, turn away from the wrong thing that you're doing son and forgiveness is available to you through Messiah Yahushua, it's that simple. Now Paul's letters are sometimes confusing you're speaking to a Greek audience that enjoyed and wanted those deep explanations of things and so Yahweh sent them a very intelligent man, very astute and very dedicated, so that he could combat those philosophers. So that they would be able to combat their friends and their family, they were saying well what about this, what about that, what about this, but the basic message is very simple, turn away from sin. Sin is defined as violating his law, any part of it and we receive the Messiah Yahushua to cleanse you of your sins, very simple. Another attribute of Yahweh here we go, truth,
Satan said you will not surely die, he spoke a lie, Yahweh says you will surely die. Yahweh is the truth, all about truth: he is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: Elohim of truth. Hallelujah, good to have something you can count on, nowadays that's a lot of lies put out there; social media, news outlets. You're looking for truth? Turn to the Elohim of truth. Elohim, determining to show more abundantly the heirs of his promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath. By two immutable things, in which it was impossible for Elohim to lie, we might have a strong consolation: who have fled for refuge to lay hold of that hope set before us. His word is truth, the scripture of truth. HalleluYah, Psalm 119 verse 160; the entirety of your word is truth including Old Testament: and every one of your righteous judgments (is temporary) no, it's forever, everyone. The fear of Yahweh is clean enduring forever; the judgments of Yahweh are true and righteous altogether. Yahushua says sanctify them by your truth, your word is truth, his word is truth, when you're looking for truth look no further than the scriptures; they are the scriptures of truth, the entirety of his word is the truth, the judgments of Yahweh are true, his word is truth.
That's the problem, we have a world where lies are so commonly told, it's hard to know what the truth is anymore. But, there's one place you can always go and find the truth and that is the word of Yahweh, that's something you can count on, take it to the bank.
So if you want truth look to the word, if you want truth Yahushua said, John 14:6; I am the way, the truth, and the life: no one comes to the father, except through me. Everything about Yahushua is truth, how about you and me? Are we lovers of truth?
Are we lovers of what's convenient for us? Are we lovers of our own flesh and the things that how it makes us feel inside? Truth is not always comfortable, truth is not always convenient, truth is not always easy, truth
you might think is actually something against you when really it's for you.
And we need to love truth in such a way that even when it's inconvenient, even when it seems to be against what we want to do, we have to love it, we have to embrace it, we have to be willing to do it. Are we willing to do it? That's the question, the all-important question, are we willing? There are so many lies out there today, what are you willing to do? We come to the father through his sacrifice and he restores us to the image of Elohim, we become a reflection of light, of truth, of justice, of goodness through him.
Yahushua HaMashiach is the truth, he is the way, he is the life, his life gives us life and for that reason no one can come to the father except through him. He is the word that became flesh and dwelt among us, John 1:14. And therefore he is the one who is the truth because Yahweh's word is truth. Teach me your way, O Yahweh, I will walk in your truth, I will walk in Messiah, I will live in Messiah, I will manifest Messiah, unite my heart to fear your name. The Torah causes us to fear judgment, the righteous judgment of Yahweh and therefore we come to the truth Messiah Yahushua and we walk in it. If we say we have fellowship with him and we walk in darkness we lie and do not practice the truth. We cannot walk in darkness, we must walk in light, we must be willing to obey his word. If we love Yahweh we will know the truth, if we love the truth we will love his Torah which tells us the truth. Yahushua is the truth because he is once again, the Word that became 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. Yahushua was full of Yahweh's favor, his grace, and full of truth, therefore we want to follow his example of walking in the truth, he is a living word. And there was no other word before the Old Testament when he appeared on the earth. We love him, we also love Yahweh's law, you can't love Messiah and hate the law at the same time because he is a reflection of what happens when a person walks out Yahweh's law in complete fullness, in complete totality. It's impossible to love Yahushua unless you also love the word; the two are reflections of one another, it is impossible to love Yahweh until we also love his law. Because we love the truth, we love the Messiah, we love the law, it's all one and the same except Messiah can redeem us from our transgressions, the law cannot. Some however will not receive that love for the truth; the coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all set power, signs, and lying wonders. And with all unrighteousness deception among those who perish; because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. We have to love the Messiah; we have to love the word in order to have salvation. I'm not suggesting everyone in mainstream traditional Christianity they love unrighteous deception, I'm saying that we have learned, there are more things to obey than what's commonly taught in Christianity today. And so if you love the truth that is presented to you, you see it as truth Yahweh opens your eyes to see the truth then hallelujah, love it, love it, and choose to walk out. Otherwise we are in danger of Elohim sending the strong delusion that we should believe the lie, the lie in the Garden of Eden, you shall not surely die, you can disobey Yahweh and you'll not surely die, you'll be okay, a lie about his grace. Let they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but two opposites, believing the truth or having pleasure in sin, in unrighteousness. And we don't want to have pleasure in unrighteousness and receive that delusion. Therefore you shall be perfect or complete just as your father in heaven is perfect, nothing wrong with desiring perfection, some people out there say well you can't be perfect why try.
How would you like your son or daughter say that to you? You're trying to get them to do something they ought to do and they say well Dad you know no one's perfect to so why try? Tell that to the judge in a court of law, we know, I mean who is perfect judge? Yeah I robbed that lady, but you know who's perfect? Try that one, we should pursue right living, we should pursue righteousness, and do our very best, give Yahweh our best, he deserves our best effort. All right, so Yahweh is perfect, right, we know that, that's another attribute, to be perfect, right. Angel of the assembly in Sardis says; these things says he who has the seven Spirits of Elohim, and the seven stars; I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found your works perfect before Elohim. Not happy with their works and how imperfect they are, think Yahushua is concerned about our works being perfect? I think he. He wants our work to be perfect because the law of Yahweh is perfect. He wants us to walk in the law of Yahweh and therefore if we are walking in the law of Yahweh then we will do what this assembly here is not doing, which is allowing our works to be perfect. The law of Yahweh is perfect, converting the soul, the testimony of Yahweh is sure, making wise the simple. Even in the book of James he says; he who looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. So we should walk in this perfect law of liberty, it's a law of liberty because it teaches us the way of righteousness, the way of truth, the way of life and therefore it is a perfect law of liberty. You see the law of Yahweh is already perfect, if there was any flaw in it then yeah Yahweh would have to come along later and fix it. But there was no mistake Yahweh didn't make a mistake and therefore he goes oh, I'm sorry, I messed up, let me give you a version 2. No it's already perfect, the only flaw really is
us, we're the problem, the law is not the problem; he doesn't make any adjustment with his law so that we will be made righteous. He cleanses us of our own righteousness and empowers us to walk in righteousness. The problem is us: the problem is not the law, the law was already perfect, no need to change it. I will put my spirit within you he says, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and you will keep my judgments, and you will do them, by his spirit. So the law is contrary to what you may have heard, spiritual. So if we're gonna walk in a way that's spiritual Elohim is spirit and those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth, it's all synonymous it's not a distinction. Yahweh is spirit; his Elohim is spirit, when his spirit dwells in us he empowers us to walk out his image, to keep his commandments, because the law itself is spiritual. And so when the spirit abides in us it causes us to walk in his statutes and keep his judgments and do them, beautiful, beautiful words. So we know the law is spiritual, Paul said in Romans 7, the law is spiritual, the problem is I, the problem is me, and you, what's wrong with the world? The problem is us, we're carnal, sold under sin,
now the law is not the problem, the law was not the issue, the issue was we were not spiritual, we're choosing not to be spiritual. Don't let anyone tell you that the law is a bunch of carnal stuff; no it's spiritual, very spiritual. The problem is we've been carnal, so if we're going to be a reflection of Yahweh's image which is spirit, then we will be spiritual and therefore we will keep that which is spiritual, which is the law of Yahweh and we will submit ourselves to it which is spiritual. And so we need to set our minds on that which is spiritual rather than the things that are of the flesh, were cardinality resides and that's why it says in Romans chapter 8 verse 5; those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh; but those who live according to the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded (to the law of spirit, spiritual right? Be spiritually minded, let the law of Yahweh dwell in your mind, be written in your heart, be written in your mind) is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity (that's hatred) against Elohim: for it is not subject to the law of Elohim, nor indeed can be. So if the carnal mind is not subject to or obedient to or subordinate to the law of Elohim, then the spiritual mind would be, right. Don't let anybody tell you the law has been done away with, Yahweh is spirit he gave us a Torah which is spiritual, Yahweh is holy. If we want to be holy, we will walk out holiness as he is defined in his Torah, if the Torah is spiritual and Yahweh is spiritual we want to be spiritual, we walk in the law of Yahweh, nothing complicated no hard, long theological explanation. The simplicity of Messiah: the good news of the gospel which we preach turn away from violating his laws, turn toward keeping his laws which are just, holy, spiritual, good, that simple.
It's where the light dwells, Yahweh is my light
and my salvation; whom shall I fear (this is the characteristic of Yahweh, he is light)? He is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? Yahweh is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1. 1 John 1:5 says; this is the message which we have heard from the beginning, declare to you, that Elohim is light, in him is no darkness at all. He is light, that's what he is all about, light.
Proverbs 6:23 says; the commandment is a light; as a lamp and the law is light; reproofs instruction is the way of life. Psalm 119:105; your word is a lamp unto my feet, right, and a light unto my path. That's true, what word is he talking about here? He is talking about the Torah, there was no other word in those days, if you're going to sing the song you're gonna sing along and do what it tells you, simple as that. If you keep it you're walking in the light, Psalm 89 verse 15; blessed are the people that know the joyful sound: they walk, O Yahweh, in the light of your countenance. The light of his countenance, interesting thought, Yahushua spoke to them again, saying, I am the light of the world. Why was he the light of the world? Because he walked in the light, he kept every commandment in the Torah to perfection, both in his heart and externally. He who follows me (he says) shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life. Well if you kept the Torah and you follow him guess what you're going to have the light of life also,
doesn't it all makes sense, is it a whole lot easier now? When you go to the scriptures, O okay, it all lines up together. There's no one, you know it's not this old testament in one corner and the new test in the other, it's just duking it out like there are two opposites, they're not. Same teaching, same doctrine, same word, same Elohim it's not Doctor Jekyll or Mr Hyde, he's bad, and mean, and judgmental and all this stuff in the Old Testament. And then you know they kind of present him sometimes, try to make light of the impression sometimes you get is now he's this grandfatherly figure you know, he's kind of calmed down now, that Messiah died for you. And he's you know not so uptight about sin, well tell that to Ananias and Sapphira who tried to lie to the Holy Spirit and drop like that. Tell that to the Jezebel woman in Revelation chapter 3; Yahushua says I will kill your children with death and put you on a sick bed because of the sin that you're doing. Serious matters, Yahweh never reduced his concerns about sin just because Messiah died for us as a fact, all the more so since he died for us, since he had to go through all these things as a result of our transgressions, why would we ever want to go back to doing it again? Yahushua come and you know we sin against him and that was the most awful thing, so Yahushua had to come and die for us and go through torture, and pain, and blood, and sweat, and tears because we sinned. And then say go ahead, go on carry on do what you were doing before, I got it covered.
We're supposed to repent Romans chapter 2 verse 4 says; the goodness of Elohim leads you to repentance. Yahushua says I am the light of the world, if we walk in the light as he's in a light we will have fellowship with one another in the blood of Yahushua, his son cleanses us from all sin. Are you willing to walk in the light? The light is a Torah, the light is the example of the Messiah Yahushua and if we choose to walk in the light as he's in the light we will have fellowship, not division, not hatred, not opposition, but fellowship. And the blood of Yahushua will cleanse us from all sin, recognizing that we have sinned, we've done wrong things, and he will take care of all that stuff from our past and cleanse us from all of it. We confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse of all unrighteousness, just say hey I want to walk in the light. As I share with you, light is the example of Messiah and the walking out the Torah. Matthew 5:14 says; you are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp, and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand; and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father in heaven. You know there too many people out there today,
they are home buddies, yeah I can relate, I've been a home buddy at times. But you know, greatly working out there in the mission field even Missouri and interacting with people and letting the light of Yahushua shine. We've seen people get saved coming in the coffee shop, we've seen people turn our lives around, and some people say they've been born again. People, who have, you know, were formerly not walking uprightly. And so we can't just go hide out in our little homes and let's go out and be a light, a city set on the hill that can't be hidden. And if you're too weak, spiritually weak to handle or being out there and being a light then you do a little check on your relationship with the father. Draw near to him, study the word, let the word strengthen you, let prayer strengthen you, its amazing good things that will happen. So that brings us to another attribute we have to understand, love. Yahweh is love, 1 John 4:16; if we have known and believed the love Elohim has for us. Elohim is love; and he who abides in love abides in Elohim and Elohim in him.
Since Yahweh is love his commandments are expressions of how to walk out his image, how to walk out his character, how to carry ourselves in his attributes in us.
The purpose of the commandment is love, that's the purpose of all the Torah commands, not a single command in the Torah fails to have love as its aim and its intention. Every single command has to do with love, everyone,
from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from a sincere faith. Our faith in the Messiah Yahushua cleanses us of a bad conscience and gives us a pure conscience, and gives us a pure heart, so that we can understand what love truly is. Every single command, you ever wonder Hebrew roots, Hebrew roots, whatever, the root is love, everything is love. Every single commandment is about love, love does no harm to a neighbor therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Contrary to what you may have heard, the law is not replaced with love. Keeping the commandments and walking in love are synonymous; keeping the commandments are expressions of love and that's true.
That's why it says you think you know Yahushua, you don't if you don't keep his commandments because you're not walking in love, you're lying, and the truth is not in you because the Torah is not in you. If you've embraced the new covenant then in the law you say is in your heart, well, out of the heart the mouth speaks, out of the heart fill the issues of life. So our heart should reflect obedience to the law, it all makes sense so simple, so easy.
Yahushua said when he was asked the question; what is the great commandment in the law? Yahushua said to him, you shall love Yahweh your Elohim with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. The second is like it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. On these two commandments, you cannot take a set of bolt cutters, and cut the law on prophets off the two commandments from which they hang.
Contrary to what you may think or have been taught, people say the law is a burden; the law is too hard, you can't do it, we hear try walking in love of Elohim. This is the love of Elohim that we keep his commandments and his commandments are not burdensome, they're not burdensome. The law of commandments is not burdensome when you love Elohim, when you realize how much he loves you. The only thing burdensome is the flesh when we don't recognize the flesh died, only thing burdensome is when we choose to not walk in faith of who we are.
It is not we who live it's Messiah living in us, gotta give up your own life. You think you can earn your way through your own power and strength and ability to love? That's a burden, allowing Yahweh's spirit to flow through you, his burden is easy, and his burden is light, if you're willing to walk out love. When someone loves you so much and they serve you so much. Let's take an example, a human example here; suppose somebody, every day they came over and brought you your meals, he blessed you with something every single day, would it be easy to love someone like that? Always there for you, you call them up they're always there to listen. Would it be easy to love someone like that? Would it be easy to love somebody who's always blessing you and serving you? Of course, so it should be easy to love Yahweh, every single..., he created you from dust; he gave you every good thing you have ever had. It should be easy to love him; He is easy to love. It's the world that makes it, trying to lay burdens on us. And so I'm calling all of us to walk in love, keep the commandments of Elohim which are not burdensome. Turn your heart, if your heart is not turned toward keeping his commandments I invite you, personal invitation to bow before your maker, humble yourself and say I have not kept your commandments, I have misunderstood your will for me or I have turned my ear away from hearing your will for me, and I repent and I confess my sins and
I receive the Messiah Yahushua, I want to walk in love; I want to walk in the perfect law of liberty and continue in it. Not being a forgetful heir, but a doer of the work, I know there are blessings promised to those who do that; for you are great and do wondrous things you are alone Elohim, Psalm 86 verse 10,
Psalm 119 verse 18; open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from your law. And instead of seeing the law as something that's null and void, we don't make void the law through our faith, no, instead on the contrary we establish
the law through our faith. And as the Psalmist said, It is time for you to act, O Yahweh: for they have regarded your law as void.
This doctrine of the law being done away with has damaged generation after generation. We will be so in tune with the will of Elohim and see people not walking in the will of Elohim. Rivers of waters run down our eyes, because men don't keep your Torah. That's what the Psalmist wrote in Psalm 119, it's done more damage than we will ever know. It's caused the followers to reject the very example, the Messiah himself, it was a very poor lie to untold billions of Jewish people who otherwise may have accepted him if they saw that followers of Messiah live like Messiah and kept Torah. But, instead, rivers of water flow down our eyes, knowing how many souls did not see the light of Yahushua. So brothers and sisters and everyone within the hearing of my voice I say let's walk in the image of Elohim, let's live the way Yahushua lived, let's turn away from the wrong-headed thinking of traditional theology and embrace the beautiful and wonderful truth. If there's some part of Yahweh's law you don't love, realize that's only coming from flash the carnal part, that's resisting the ordinances of love. It's coming from the enemy, he wants to reject the Messiah and his example, it's not from the father it's from the enemy, flee from it, it's not holiness, it's not goodness, it's not just, it's not of the truth, it's not spiritual, and it's not light and it's certainly not Yahweh's love. We look at Yahweh's law and we choose to love it, because we want to be holy, we want to be good and just and of the truth and to be spiritual, filled with light, with the love of Elohim flowing through us. So say it with me, I choose to love Yahweh,
therefore I choose to love holiness, therefore I choose to love his holy law, therefore I choose goodness, therefore I choose light, therefore I choose truth, therefore I choose love, therefore I
choose perfection. The law of Yahweh is perfect, converting the soul, the testimony of Yahweh Yahushua making wise the simple, the statutes of Yahweh are right rejoicing the heart, the commandment of Yahweh is pure in lightning the eyes, the fear of Yahweh is clean enduring forever. The judgments of Yahweh are true and righteous altogether, more to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them your servant is warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. See Yahweh says in keeping of them there is great reward, Yahweh says there is a reward I believe him, do you? Do you hunger and thirst for righteousness? Do you desire to be a reflection of his character? You know what to do, O, Father Yahweh we pray,
Father Yahweh, Fill us with a greater hunger and a greater thirst for the things of holiness, righteousness, of justice, of truth, of light, spirituality of love. Strengthen us in our weaknesses, deliver us from deception and lies, lies about your grace,
lies about your will for us, lies about your Torah, lies about you. We believe the Torah represents the exact way in which we ought to walk out your image.
We pray father that you forgive us where we have failed to walk in your image and live the way that Yahushua lived, deliver us from every plan and power of the enemy who seeks to steal, kill and destroy. Deliver us from deception, enlighten us with your truth, your word is truth.
For truly yours is the kingdom and power and glory and majesty, and all praise, honor, worship
belongs to you. Yahweh Eloheinu, Yahweh our Mighty One, forever and ever, in Yahushua's great name we pray, Amein.
it's no longer a reflection of Yahweh's will for us. And I'm just going to share a very positive message today that actually, very clearly, using a key New Testament verse, demonstrates it is his will for us. And we are just going to bring all scripture together as we like to do here, as we have discovered that not only the New Testament scriptures are valid and important and should be heeded, but equally so Yahweh's word in the Old Testament scriptures are also important for us and to be heeded and observed and obeyed. And we're gonna show this very beautiful concept here of how the Torah reflects the image of Yahweh in us. The Torah is the first 5 books of the Bible, not to be confused with the Talmud which is a set of Jewish writings that are not inspired. The Torah is the Hebrew word translated law, but it does not really mean law, it's much broader it means teaching and instruction. That's what the word Torah actually means and so we're going to cover this, with these matters in mind it's a whole lot easier to say, well the law has been abolished and say Yahweh's teaching has been abolished. How could Yahweh abolish his own teachings? It doesn't make any sense, does it? But that's what they're actually saying by those comments. Now we're gonna show here biblically speaking and based on the new testament scripture in Romans chapter 7, that Yahweh's Torah, his teaching reflects his image, what he wants us to do as his people is to reflect his righteous image. The first thing you need to know about Yahweh is that he is Kadosh, he is holy.
And so the first attribute I want to show here is his attributes of holiness.
Yahweh is holy, he is Kadosh as it says in Hebrew, meaning he will be set apart, he's different than the world and its worldliness. He is holy and he is full of holiness, in fact Yeshaayahu or Isaiah chapter 6 verse 1 it says; in the year that king Uzziah died I saw the Master Yahweh sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphims: each one had six wings; with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. Pretty impressive creature and one cried to another, and said, Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, (holy, holy, holy) is the Yahweh of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. Indeed, Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, that's what they're saying. He is holy and they're decrying this to one another, very clearly. Three times and you also see this in Revelation chapter 4, the four creatures each having six wings; they were full of eyes around: and within and they do not rest day or night, saying, Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, Yahweh Tsevaot, who was, and is, and is to come. So Yahweh Elohim Almighty, who was and is to come. So this is very clear and they're declaring his holiness saying, ashe howya wehawei weyaho, declaring Yahweh who was and is and is to come. So holy, he is holy separates from what? Anything that's wicked, anything that's common, unclean, anything that's evil from anything as impure, from anything that's not lovely, praiseworthy and of good reports. He is separate from the filth and scours of the world and there is no comparison to his holiness. Well did you know his Torah, the Torah, the teaching that he gives the law of Yahweh is also holy? It says in Romans chapter 7 verse 12 actually reading this last night; therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. So the law of Yahweh is holy, his teaching is holy; when we are hearing his teaching we are hearing a holy teaching, that's what we're hearing.
Coming from a holy Yahweh, a holy Elohim, 2 Timothy 3:14 talking to Timothy Paul say; you must continue in the things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them. And that from a childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures: which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Messiah Yahushua. Now Timothy grew up knowing the Holy Scriptures, what was the Holy Scriptures he was reading? The Torah: the prophets, the writings, the old testament. There was no new testament written in those days, all scripture he says, everything, all scripture this is what I preach. All scripture is given by inspiration of Elohim, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. Now what's commonly taught today is that not all scripture is given by, well all scripture is given by inspiration but it's not always profitable for reproof, correction or instruction, righteousness. People say today the law of Yahweh is done away with and therefore not all scripture is profitable for reproof or correction or instruction, righteousness, only certain parts of it. And I say no all scripture is profitable for reproof, because when I'm bringing a scripture that says for instance keep the feast of tabernacles, they say well that's not profitable for reproof that is only for that time. That's not what Paul said, it's all profitable for reproof or correction. That the man of Elohim may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. Now we were created in the image of Elohim, in the image of Elohim he created us. We are not Elohim but we are created to be a reflection of him, as it says in Genesis 1:26. Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness: let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, over the cattle, over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. So Elohim created man in his own image, in the image of Elohim he created him, male and female he created them. So our image, I think Yahweh is talking to Yahushua here saying hey, let's make man in our image and our likeness. So if we are going to be created in the image of Elohim, we are going to carry his attributes, Yahweh desires that we would share in this attribute of holiness, so that we would be an accurate reflection, an image of who he is and what we are called to be. And one of these attributes we should carry is holiness, in 1 Peter chapter 1 verse 13; therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is brought to you at the revelation of Yahushua the Messiah. As obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts as in your ignorance: But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct. Because it is written, be holy; for I am holy. He wants us to reflect that image of holiness, this, be holy as I'm holy is actually a quote from Leviticus chapter 11 verse 45: I am Yahweh who brings you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your Mighty One: you shall therefore be holy, for I am holy. That's what he's teaching us, now whenever you see scriptures like this and they're quoted in the New Testament, it's a good idea check context.
Many people want to think of holiness, they have this idea of sexual purity or becoming men and women of complete devotion and prayer or in some cases people walking around with long robes and living in some monastery or convent somewhere. Holiness involves purity and prayer and that's true but people living in the Catholic convents and monasteries are not holy by Yahweh's standards, not at all. 2 Corinthians chapter 6 in verse 14 says; so do not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? What communion has light with darkness? What accord has Messiah with Belial? For what part has a believer with a non-believer? And what agreement has the temple of Elohim with idols? For you are the temple of the living Elohim; as Elohim has said, I will dwell in them, and walk among them; I will be their Mighty One, and they shall be my people. I will dwell in them, continuing, therefore come out from among them, and be separate, says Yahweh, do not touch what is unclean; and I will receive you, I will be a Father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says Yahweh Almighty. Therefore having these promises beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit. Filthiness of the flesh, do not touch what is unclean right. Perfecting holiness, holiness and cleanness, biblical cleanness go hand in hand. And those who walk in the law of Yahweh are undefiled. Psalm 119 verse 1; blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of Yahweh. And so what does this say here's an example Leviticus chapter 11 verse 43; you shall not make yourselves abominable (you shall not make yourselves abominable, O my word. How can we make ourselves abominable?
Here's how you do it: with any creeping thing that creeps, nor shall you make yourselves unclean with them, lest you will be defiled by them. Talking about unclean beasts, that's what it's referring to. For I am Yahweh your Mighty One: you shall therefore consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall you defile yourselves with any creeping thing that creeps on the earth. He's talking about eating things, in this case like rabbits, and rodents, and squirrels and other things that he says are unclean.
So we have to have a proper understanding of what holiness really involves.
And once we understand that it all comes together and make sense, this is the law of the animals and the birds and every living creature that moves in the waters and every creature that creeps on the earth to distinguish between the unclean and the clean, between the animal that may be eaten and the animal that may not be eaten. And this is what Paul was referring to when he says cleanse yourselves of defilement of the flesh end spirit, two different things. We want to be clean in our thought life; we want to be clean in our flesh also. But we have lost what it means to be holy in our generation today.
We no longer keep these things. Her priests have violated my law, profaned my holy things: they have not distinguished between the holy and the unholy, nor have they made known the difference between the unclean and the clean, (as if the two were synonymous, holy and unholy, unclean and the clean) and they have hidden their eyes from my (what? ) Sabbaths (so a Sabbath is also holy), so I am profaned. Because he is supposed to be the one in them and therefore he is profaned when people do not make that distinction between the holy and the unholy, between the clean and the unclean because we're supposed to be created in his image and we're supposed to reflect his image. His image is an image of purity and cleanness and we do not eat abominable things.
And so our modern day situation is people have not made a distinction between the holy and the unholy, between the unclean and the clean, and that's a situation that we're in today, so that he is profaned when you fail to put that difference there. Now today is actually a holy day, this particular day that we are in right now is considered to be a holy day. It's a day that Yahweh says is holy. Sanctified at creation, Yahweh wants us to make a difference between a day that's holy and a day that's not holy. The first day of the week is not holy; there is no use in keeping it holy when it's not holy to begin with. There's no keeping holy something that's not holy. Okay. So he says to remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy; we're supposed to keep it holy, reflecting our holiness, reflecting his image he rested on the seventh day. If we walk in his image then we will rest on the seventh day also. Does it make sense in order for us to be holy; we need to not be the defiling things that Yahweh says is holy? Does it make sense in order for us to be holy we need to keep his days holy that he calls? Is it not ironic that the day he says remember is a day everybody forgets?
It's a day where people go shopping, they go to work, live their normal life, do the common things; Yahweh, his word was written there in stone, says that day is holy, keep it that way. You can't make your own day holy, Yahweh decides what's holy not you. Yahweh decides the Sabbath was holy in the 7th day of creation; that's when he made a decision, it says he blessed that day and sanctified it and we must be willing to do the same.
Genesis chapter 2 says; thus the heavens and the earth and all of them were finished. On the seventh day Elohim ended his work which he had done; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had done. Elohim blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it, that day is a holy day. And we can trace our current what's called Saturday back to the seventh day of the one Yahushua kept in the first century, very easy.
But no Sabbath occurred on the first day that after Adam was created was a day of rest; spent time with the heavenly father who created him.
And then he began his work week after that, that set in motion a pattern that he kept and we all should keep. Nehemiah chapter 9 verse 13 says; you came down Mount Sinai, spoke with them from heaven, and gave them just ordinances, true laws, good statutes and commandments. You made known to them the holy Sabbath (see they had forgotten, they've been in slavery for 400 years). So he made it known to them, it's already there; he just let them know it existed. So we observe on this day, we observe this day as a holy day and we don't neglect it, we remember it, we don't forget it, we remember and that's part of holiness. And we need to be willing to do that, Yahushua when he came to Nazareth where he had been brought up his custom was he went to synagogue on the Sabbath day, stood up to read, why? He's reflecting the holiness of Yahweh and reflecting the image of Elohim and therefore he is doing what his father did. Luke 23:55; and the women, who had come with him from Galilee, followed after, they observed the tomb, and how his body was laid. And they returned prepared spices and fragrant oils and they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment, why? They're doing what Yahushua did, how about you, how about me? Are we doing what Yahushua did? Important question. Acts 13:14; they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and they went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day; you think they were there doing a Sunday worship?
They were there on a Sabbath; the New Testament scriptures refer this day as the Sabbath day. It's still the Sabbath day in the New Testament. In Acts chapter 13, it's still called by the inspired Holy Spirit inspired scripture. This day is called the Sabbath day; no other day is ever called the Sabbath day in scripture.
Acts 17 verses 1-2; when they passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews. And Paul, as his custom was, went into them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the scriptures. Because it's a holy day, they are doing what Yahushua did, that in Yahushua was doing what his father did, reflecting his image they also were reflecting Yahweh's image. And what about you, what about me, are we willing to reflect Yahweh's image and rest on the day he says he is holy? If so we're reflecting his holiness, Acts 18:4; he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, there's a day called Sabbath, what day is it? There is zero indication, anyone in scripture was permitted to choose which day they will keep Sabbath, rather we see a consistent pattern all throughout scripture Genesis to Revelation there is one day in a 7 day week he established from the very beginning as a reflection of Yahweh's image and in memorial to his creation, Adam and every human being on the planet is expected to submit themselves to that cycle Yahweh established in the very beginning he was sent down man at 6 days; didn't send on the seventh day expecting everyone to follow that same pattern and that's how we reflect his image.
Another attribute, goodness, Yahweh is good
and we're called to reflect that image of goodness. 1 Corinthians chapter 16 verse 34; O give thanks to Yahweh; for he is good; for his mercy endures forever. He is good; he's Tov; Psalm 107:1; O give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good: for his mercy endures forever. There it is again Psalm 118; O give thanks to Yahweh; for he is good: for his mercy endures forever. There it is again verse 29 Psalm 118; O give thanks to Yahweh; for he is good: for his mercy endures forever. Psalm 136 verse 1; O give thanks to Yahweh; for he is good: for his mercy endures forever. For some reason Yahweh wants us to know this. Ezra chapter 3 verse 11; they sang responsively praising and giving thanks to Yahweh; for he is good, for his mercy endures forever toward Israel. All the people shouted with a great shout. You see this phrase is there a lot in scripture. It just so happens it rhymes, hodu la'Yahweh ki Tov, ki le'olam chasdo. And that's what it's saying; it's actually a rhyme, hodu la'Yahweh ki Tov, ki le'olam chasdo. Beautiful isn't it? Psalm 107 verse 1. And, do you know the plan of salvation is seen in this verse; think about this, we're being told to give thanks to Yahweh for he is good. Now his goodness was in the Messiah Yahushua, his righteousness, his goodness was in the Messiah Yahushua. Yahushua says why do you call me good? There's one that's good, Elohim, well that goodness of Elohim was flowing through him as Yahushua told the people, I don't do the things the father does the works in me. He gave acknowledgment to the one who was good and that righteousness that was in Yahushua enabled us through his death and resurrection to be transferred to us and our sin be transferred to him as we are joined with his body; we also take on his history and his identity. And therefore his righteousness is in us and our sin was laid on him. We were crucified with him so it's no longer we that live, Messiah living in us. So we if we're thankful for that goodness that he has and that was manifested in the Messiah Yahushua, if we're thankful then we are going to say all right well I am willing to be thankful for what Yahushua did for me and offering to allow the goodness of Yahweh to be imparted to me through this awesome, awesome act. So I'm going to choose to believe in the Messiah Yahushua and it's because of that goodness that's in the Messiah Yahushua, his mercy endures forever. So if you're thankful, you'll turn away from your sins because Messiah died for your sins and that goodness of Elohim will be flowing through you. You're not good enough yourself, hodu la'Yahweh ki Tov, ki le'olam chasdo. It's actually a song I know, "hodu la'Yahweh ki Tov, ki le'olam chasdo". Very beautiful song in Hebrew, so give thanks to Yahweh for he is good for his mercy endures forever. Scripture says halal is holy in the commandment holy also says just and good. The law is good, it is, it's a good thing,
absolutely in fact Yahweh said Deuteronomy 10:12; Now, Israel, what does Yahweh your Mighty One require of you, but to fear Yahweh your Mighty One, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, to serve Yahweh your Mighty One with all your heart and with all your soul. And to keep the commandments of Yahweh, and his statutes, which I command you today for your good? For your good, for your benefit, contrary to what you may have heard the law of Yahweh is good for you.
It is good for you; it's not bad the problem is we've been bad and it points out that we've been bad. Because it is good, therefore it points out that we're bad, it's a reflection of Yahweh's standards, he expects us as people that walk in his image to follow because he is good, he is righteous, he is holy. And so when we see the law, it's a good thing he says in 1 Timothy 1:8; we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully. If you misuse it in a way that's not lawful, then it will be presenting itself as something not good; if you use it in a manner that is not lawful then yeah people will have the impression it's not good.
So Nehemiah 9:13; you came down also on Mount Sinai, and spoke with them from heaven, and gave them just ordinances, and true laws, good statutes and commandments.
That's what he did for you, Hallelujah he gave good statutes and good laws, stands to reason then if we desire to walk in goodness which is a reflection of Yahweh's image. We should be willing to keep his commandments and his laws right. And then we will be considered a people who are walking in a way that is good. That is tov as the Hebrew says, it's kind of a saying around some parts you know, it's kind of a neat word tov. And someone says, how do you like that? You say O, tov. So yeah, Yahweh's law it's tov, it's really tov. Tov Meod, really tov, very tov, very good and so that leads us to another attribute of Yahweh. He is just, we've seen he is holy, he is good, he's also just. Deuteronomy 32 verse 4; he is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgments: a Mighty One of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. That's another song I know actually, "just and right is he, just and right is he, Elohim of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. He is a rock and his work is perfect, all his ways are judgment". So that's a good song, we know that, we sing it, just and right is Yahweh, he is just. He's not unjust. Yes, there is evil things, there are evil things going on in the world today, that does not mean he's unjust. It means that we're unjust; it shows that we have the problem not him. He gave us free will and gave us the ability or inability if we want to, to not be good, to not be just, and to not be holy. He gave us a choice. Whose image do we want to walk in? The image of Elohim: or the image of his enemy? Our choice and if we walk in we're willing to walk in the image of Elohim then we will be with him forever. If we want to walk in the image of his enemy then we will be with his enemy forever or until we burn up, whichever you believe to be true. I tend to think there will be limited time, but the point is this; who do you wanna be with? That's who you'll be with, it's up to you and the world is unjust, we love it when justice comes Yahweh created this with a sense of justice, a sense of what's right and what's wrong. And he desires us to be a just a just people because
the law is holy, the commandment holy and just and good. They reflect the attributes of Yahweh, every one of his commandments are just, holy and good, every single one. So if you're desiring to walk in goodness, to walk in holiness and to walk in justice then you will be willing to walk in those commandments, which are holy, just and good.
Revelation 15 verses 1-2; I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them the wrath of Elohim is complete. And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire: and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image, over his mark, over the number of his names, standing on the sea of glass, having the harps of Elohim.
They sing the song of Moshe the servant of Elohim, and the song of the Lamb. Lots of people singing the song of the Lamb today,
not many singing the song of Moshe but we need both songs, we need both ministries, we need the Torah to correct us and to demonstrate that we are sinners and we need a Savior. And we need the Messiah, to cleanse us of our sins and to set an example for us of how we ought to live and walk in the image of Elohim. And so we need both the song of Moshe and the song of the Lamb; saying, great and marvelous are your works, Yahweh Elohim Almighty; just and true are your ways, O King of saints. Who shall not fear you, O Yahweh, and glorify your name? What are the saints singing about? They are singing about the wonderful work of Yahweh, singing about how just and how true he is, and how just and true his ways are. What were his ways that were just and true, we just read? What is just? The Torah, the law of Yahweh is just and good.
So his ways are just and true, his ways are seen in his commandments in the Torah. So who shall not fear him? It is the Torah that brings you to a place where you ought to fear the holy one of Israel. You ought to fear him and glorify his name saying; for you alone are holy: for all nations shall come and worship before you; for your judgments have been manifested. You see, right now, people don't know the judgments of Elohim, why? Because they don't realize he is holy, he expects us to be holy, he expects us to walk away from the concept of eating unclean meats, from defiling the holy Sabbath, from defiling the holy feast days and ignoring his holy name. We're supposed to glorify his holy name, you can't do that until you use it, you got to use his holy name and then you can glorify it. So one day will come when not just the son of the Lamb will be song, but the song of Moshe too. And therefore the righteous statutes, judgments and commandments will be manifest to the world once again. And on what day will nations come and worship before Yahweh? What day will that be?
All you gotta do is read Isaiah 66, it tells you; all flesh will come and worship before him on the new moons and on the Sabbath. Read it, go look it up Isaiah 66 look it up, all flesh will come and worship him on the new moons and on the Sabbath, verse 23, I'll leave that to you to look it up. So what day is being spoken of here? When are nations going to come and worship before him? On the Sabbath and on the feast days, the feast days you see that in Zechariah chapter 14, read that whole chapter you'll see, all nations will come and keep the feast of tabernacles, that's what's going to happen. So that this world will no longer neglect holiness and injustice, because it's an unjust thing for us to defile his holy things. But the day will come when we will walk in justice and holiness. Now the great and marvelous work of Yahweh: El Shaddai, through Messiah Yahushua. No one is justified by the law, that's true, no one. When you face Yahweh on judgment day you will not be able to say look I kept your law, you will not be able to do that. So the law will not declare you to be just, it will declare you to be unjust but you can be made just and have justness in you as we're talking about the justice of Elohim. You can be made righteous and just by faith.
Behold the proud whose soul is not upright, the one he brags on himself how righteous he is, he's not upright. The one who says I'm going to live, meaning have eternal life by my faith, that one will be declared just. Make sense? Humble ourselves, recognize our own righteousness will not be enough to be granted permission to have eternal life with the heavenly father in the Messiah Yahushua we need to humble ourselves and say by faith I trust Yahweh is good, his mercy endures forever and I believe in the Messiah Yahushua through whom I receive grace and life, abundant life. That does not mean we're free now to purposely and willfully walk in such a way, it's no longer a reflection of Elohim, no we want to live the way Yahushua did, a life without sin, a perfect reflection of the image of Elohim. He is, Messiah is the image of the invisible Elohim, the firstborn over all creation. 1 John 2:4; he who says, I know him, and does not keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
But whoever keeps his word, truly the love of Elohim is perfected in him: by this we know that we are in him. He who says he abides in him ought himself also to walk, just as he walked. If there is ever any question, should I keep the Sabbath day? Walk as he walked, the image of Elohim, the image of the invisible, I am created in his image, just walk in his image. That's what I'm preaching, walk in the image of Elohim, traditional Christianity has marred the picture, confused the image by saying well this part you do, this part you don't, this part you do, this part you don't, I mean it's burger king religion have it your way. I mean you could do that if you go that way then you can just pick anything you want, and say that's for today, that's not for today and that's what's happening. Homosexual are saying well that's not for today, we can ignore those commands over there. Forget all that walk as Yahushua walked, if he kept Sabbath on a specific day within a predetermined 7 day week that Yahweh established in Genesis, let's do what he did, let's walk as he walked; reflect his image. Isn't that message much cleaner, much simpler, no mixing and matching and moving things around and making excuses for changing things, ignoring things? I say the simplicity that's in Messiah, is what we need to follow for if you're somehow as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity in this in Messiah. For if he who comes and preaches another Yahushua: whom we've not preached, or if you receive a different spirit, which you have not received, or a different gospel, which you've not accepted, you may put up with it. What is this? As the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, what kind of confusion is being taught today? That's similar to the serpent deceiving Eve by his craftiness, what happened? The very first lie in the bible is a lie about Yahweh's grace.
Did you know the serpent was preaching grace? He was, he was preaching grace to Hawwah, Hebrew
name Eve in English, it's really butchered. But he was preaching grace to Eve, you will not surely die, you can violate that commandment and you will not surely die.
That's a different gospel; one that does not include repentance, the simple thing is this turn away from your sins and receive the Messiah Yahushua for the forgiveness of sins. Now I'm not saying mainline Christianity is always teaching a different gospel, I'm saying some of them are, once saved always saved you know, you say a few words, you made a profession of faith and doesn't matter what you do after that. Or your attitude toward righteousness doesn't matter because now you've made that profession and you're in, or in the case of Catholicism you know say you know 7 Hail Marys for that sin, say 12 of them for those other sins, you know do the rosary, do the beads, those are all substitution for truth. Repent, turn away from your sin that means it bothers you when you sin. You don't like it you hate it, if you fall into temptation and you fail and you confess it and you're willing to confess and forsake it, okay. So in the case of a serpent deceived Eve by
craftiness, was preaching another Yahushua doesn't expect you to repent, that's a different spirit that's a different gospel. Conversely if anyone teaches the Torah only and neglects the fact that it's only through Yahushua that we are made righteous, that's another gospel, that's another message altogether, it needs to be both repentance and faith in Yahushua. So if you want to be holy, just and good do what the law tells you, simple as that and if you wanna be justified in areas that you have sinned and transgressed that law. Put your faith and trust in the Messiah Yahushua through the mercy offered through him that will grant you eternal life and dismiss the case against you. A simple message, nothing confusing about it, no complicated explanation needed even a child can understand, turn away from the wrong thing that you're doing son and forgiveness is available to you through Messiah Yahushua, it's that simple. Now Paul's letters are sometimes confusing you're speaking to a Greek audience that enjoyed and wanted those deep explanations of things and so Yahweh sent them a very intelligent man, very astute and very dedicated, so that he could combat those philosophers. So that they would be able to combat their friends and their family, they were saying well what about this, what about that, what about this, but the basic message is very simple, turn away from sin. Sin is defined as violating his law, any part of it and we receive the Messiah Yahushua to cleanse you of your sins, very simple. Another attribute of Yahweh here we go, truth,
Satan said you will not surely die, he spoke a lie, Yahweh says you will surely die. Yahweh is the truth, all about truth: he is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: Elohim of truth. Hallelujah, good to have something you can count on, nowadays that's a lot of lies put out there; social media, news outlets. You're looking for truth? Turn to the Elohim of truth. Elohim, determining to show more abundantly the heirs of his promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath. By two immutable things, in which it was impossible for Elohim to lie, we might have a strong consolation: who have fled for refuge to lay hold of that hope set before us. His word is truth, the scripture of truth. HalleluYah, Psalm 119 verse 160; the entirety of your word is truth including Old Testament: and every one of your righteous judgments (is temporary) no, it's forever, everyone. The fear of Yahweh is clean enduring forever; the judgments of Yahweh are true and righteous altogether. Yahushua says sanctify them by your truth, your word is truth, his word is truth, when you're looking for truth look no further than the scriptures; they are the scriptures of truth, the entirety of his word is the truth, the judgments of Yahweh are true, his word is truth.
That's the problem, we have a world where lies are so commonly told, it's hard to know what the truth is anymore. But, there's one place you can always go and find the truth and that is the word of Yahweh, that's something you can count on, take it to the bank.
So if you want truth look to the word, if you want truth Yahushua said, John 14:6; I am the way, the truth, and the life: no one comes to the father, except through me. Everything about Yahushua is truth, how about you and me? Are we lovers of truth?
Are we lovers of what's convenient for us? Are we lovers of our own flesh and the things that how it makes us feel inside? Truth is not always comfortable, truth is not always convenient, truth is not always easy, truth
you might think is actually something against you when really it's for you.
And we need to love truth in such a way that even when it's inconvenient, even when it seems to be against what we want to do, we have to love it, we have to embrace it, we have to be willing to do it. Are we willing to do it? That's the question, the all-important question, are we willing? There are so many lies out there today, what are you willing to do? We come to the father through his sacrifice and he restores us to the image of Elohim, we become a reflection of light, of truth, of justice, of goodness through him.
Yahushua HaMashiach is the truth, he is the way, he is the life, his life gives us life and for that reason no one can come to the father except through him. He is the word that became flesh and dwelt among us, John 1:14. And therefore he is the one who is the truth because Yahweh's word is truth. Teach me your way, O Yahweh, I will walk in your truth, I will walk in Messiah, I will live in Messiah, I will manifest Messiah, unite my heart to fear your name. The Torah causes us to fear judgment, the righteous judgment of Yahweh and therefore we come to the truth Messiah Yahushua and we walk in it. If we say we have fellowship with him and we walk in darkness we lie and do not practice the truth. We cannot walk in darkness, we must walk in light, we must be willing to obey his word. If we love Yahweh we will know the truth, if we love the truth we will love his Torah which tells us the truth. Yahushua is the truth because he is once again, the Word that became 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. Yahushua was full of Yahweh's favor, his grace, and full of truth, therefore we want to follow his example of walking in the truth, he is a living word. And there was no other word before the Old Testament when he appeared on the earth. We love him, we also love Yahweh's law, you can't love Messiah and hate the law at the same time because he is a reflection of what happens when a person walks out Yahweh's law in complete fullness, in complete totality. It's impossible to love Yahushua unless you also love the word; the two are reflections of one another, it is impossible to love Yahweh until we also love his law. Because we love the truth, we love the Messiah, we love the law, it's all one and the same except Messiah can redeem us from our transgressions, the law cannot. Some however will not receive that love for the truth; the coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all set power, signs, and lying wonders. And with all unrighteousness deception among those who perish; because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. We have to love the Messiah; we have to love the word in order to have salvation. I'm not suggesting everyone in mainstream traditional Christianity they love unrighteous deception, I'm saying that we have learned, there are more things to obey than what's commonly taught in Christianity today. And so if you love the truth that is presented to you, you see it as truth Yahweh opens your eyes to see the truth then hallelujah, love it, love it, and choose to walk out. Otherwise we are in danger of Elohim sending the strong delusion that we should believe the lie, the lie in the Garden of Eden, you shall not surely die, you can disobey Yahweh and you'll not surely die, you'll be okay, a lie about his grace. Let they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but two opposites, believing the truth or having pleasure in sin, in unrighteousness. And we don't want to have pleasure in unrighteousness and receive that delusion. Therefore you shall be perfect or complete just as your father in heaven is perfect, nothing wrong with desiring perfection, some people out there say well you can't be perfect why try.
How would you like your son or daughter say that to you? You're trying to get them to do something they ought to do and they say well Dad you know no one's perfect to so why try? Tell that to the judge in a court of law, we know, I mean who is perfect judge? Yeah I robbed that lady, but you know who's perfect? Try that one, we should pursue right living, we should pursue righteousness, and do our very best, give Yahweh our best, he deserves our best effort. All right, so Yahweh is perfect, right, we know that, that's another attribute, to be perfect, right. Angel of the assembly in Sardis says; these things says he who has the seven Spirits of Elohim, and the seven stars; I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found your works perfect before Elohim. Not happy with their works and how imperfect they are, think Yahushua is concerned about our works being perfect? I think he. He wants our work to be perfect because the law of Yahweh is perfect. He wants us to walk in the law of Yahweh and therefore if we are walking in the law of Yahweh then we will do what this assembly here is not doing, which is allowing our works to be perfect. The law of Yahweh is perfect, converting the soul, the testimony of Yahweh is sure, making wise the simple. Even in the book of James he says; he who looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. So we should walk in this perfect law of liberty, it's a law of liberty because it teaches us the way of righteousness, the way of truth, the way of life and therefore it is a perfect law of liberty. You see the law of Yahweh is already perfect, if there was any flaw in it then yeah Yahweh would have to come along later and fix it. But there was no mistake Yahweh didn't make a mistake and therefore he goes oh, I'm sorry, I messed up, let me give you a version 2. No it's already perfect, the only flaw really is
us, we're the problem, the law is not the problem; he doesn't make any adjustment with his law so that we will be made righteous. He cleanses us of our own righteousness and empowers us to walk in righteousness. The problem is us: the problem is not the law, the law was already perfect, no need to change it. I will put my spirit within you he says, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and you will keep my judgments, and you will do them, by his spirit. So the law is contrary to what you may have heard, spiritual. So if we're gonna walk in a way that's spiritual Elohim is spirit and those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth, it's all synonymous it's not a distinction. Yahweh is spirit; his Elohim is spirit, when his spirit dwells in us he empowers us to walk out his image, to keep his commandments, because the law itself is spiritual. And so when the spirit abides in us it causes us to walk in his statutes and keep his judgments and do them, beautiful, beautiful words. So we know the law is spiritual, Paul said in Romans 7, the law is spiritual, the problem is I, the problem is me, and you, what's wrong with the world? The problem is us, we're carnal, sold under sin,
now the law is not the problem, the law was not the issue, the issue was we were not spiritual, we're choosing not to be spiritual. Don't let anyone tell you that the law is a bunch of carnal stuff; no it's spiritual, very spiritual. The problem is we've been carnal, so if we're going to be a reflection of Yahweh's image which is spirit, then we will be spiritual and therefore we will keep that which is spiritual, which is the law of Yahweh and we will submit ourselves to it which is spiritual. And so we need to set our minds on that which is spiritual rather than the things that are of the flesh, were cardinality resides and that's why it says in Romans chapter 8 verse 5; those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh; but those who live according to the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded (to the law of spirit, spiritual right? Be spiritually minded, let the law of Yahweh dwell in your mind, be written in your heart, be written in your mind) is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity (that's hatred) against Elohim: for it is not subject to the law of Elohim, nor indeed can be. So if the carnal mind is not subject to or obedient to or subordinate to the law of Elohim, then the spiritual mind would be, right. Don't let anybody tell you the law has been done away with, Yahweh is spirit he gave us a Torah which is spiritual, Yahweh is holy. If we want to be holy, we will walk out holiness as he is defined in his Torah, if the Torah is spiritual and Yahweh is spiritual we want to be spiritual, we walk in the law of Yahweh, nothing complicated no hard, long theological explanation. The simplicity of Messiah: the good news of the gospel which we preach turn away from violating his laws, turn toward keeping his laws which are just, holy, spiritual, good, that simple.
It's where the light dwells, Yahweh is my light
and my salvation; whom shall I fear (this is the characteristic of Yahweh, he is light)? He is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? Yahweh is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1. 1 John 1:5 says; this is the message which we have heard from the beginning, declare to you, that Elohim is light, in him is no darkness at all. He is light, that's what he is all about, light.
Proverbs 6:23 says; the commandment is a light; as a lamp and the law is light; reproofs instruction is the way of life. Psalm 119:105; your word is a lamp unto my feet, right, and a light unto my path. That's true, what word is he talking about here? He is talking about the Torah, there was no other word in those days, if you're going to sing the song you're gonna sing along and do what it tells you, simple as that. If you keep it you're walking in the light, Psalm 89 verse 15; blessed are the people that know the joyful sound: they walk, O Yahweh, in the light of your countenance. The light of his countenance, interesting thought, Yahushua spoke to them again, saying, I am the light of the world. Why was he the light of the world? Because he walked in the light, he kept every commandment in the Torah to perfection, both in his heart and externally. He who follows me (he says) shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life. Well if you kept the Torah and you follow him guess what you're going to have the light of life also,
doesn't it all makes sense, is it a whole lot easier now? When you go to the scriptures, O okay, it all lines up together. There's no one, you know it's not this old testament in one corner and the new test in the other, it's just duking it out like there are two opposites, they're not. Same teaching, same doctrine, same word, same Elohim it's not Doctor Jekyll or Mr Hyde, he's bad, and mean, and judgmental and all this stuff in the Old Testament. And then you know they kind of present him sometimes, try to make light of the impression sometimes you get is now he's this grandfatherly figure you know, he's kind of calmed down now, that Messiah died for you. And he's you know not so uptight about sin, well tell that to Ananias and Sapphira who tried to lie to the Holy Spirit and drop like that. Tell that to the Jezebel woman in Revelation chapter 3; Yahushua says I will kill your children with death and put you on a sick bed because of the sin that you're doing. Serious matters, Yahweh never reduced his concerns about sin just because Messiah died for us as a fact, all the more so since he died for us, since he had to go through all these things as a result of our transgressions, why would we ever want to go back to doing it again? Yahushua come and you know we sin against him and that was the most awful thing, so Yahushua had to come and die for us and go through torture, and pain, and blood, and sweat, and tears because we sinned. And then say go ahead, go on carry on do what you were doing before, I got it covered.
We're supposed to repent Romans chapter 2 verse 4 says; the goodness of Elohim leads you to repentance. Yahushua says I am the light of the world, if we walk in the light as he's in a light we will have fellowship with one another in the blood of Yahushua, his son cleanses us from all sin. Are you willing to walk in the light? The light is a Torah, the light is the example of the Messiah Yahushua and if we choose to walk in the light as he's in the light we will have fellowship, not division, not hatred, not opposition, but fellowship. And the blood of Yahushua will cleanse us from all sin, recognizing that we have sinned, we've done wrong things, and he will take care of all that stuff from our past and cleanse us from all of it. We confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse of all unrighteousness, just say hey I want to walk in the light. As I share with you, light is the example of Messiah and the walking out the Torah. Matthew 5:14 says; you are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp, and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand; and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father in heaven. You know there too many people out there today,
they are home buddies, yeah I can relate, I've been a home buddy at times. But you know, greatly working out there in the mission field even Missouri and interacting with people and letting the light of Yahushua shine. We've seen people get saved coming in the coffee shop, we've seen people turn our lives around, and some people say they've been born again. People, who have, you know, were formerly not walking uprightly. And so we can't just go hide out in our little homes and let's go out and be a light, a city set on the hill that can't be hidden. And if you're too weak, spiritually weak to handle or being out there and being a light then you do a little check on your relationship with the father. Draw near to him, study the word, let the word strengthen you, let prayer strengthen you, its amazing good things that will happen. So that brings us to another attribute we have to understand, love. Yahweh is love, 1 John 4:16; if we have known and believed the love Elohim has for us. Elohim is love; and he who abides in love abides in Elohim and Elohim in him.
Since Yahweh is love his commandments are expressions of how to walk out his image, how to walk out his character, how to carry ourselves in his attributes in us.
The purpose of the commandment is love, that's the purpose of all the Torah commands, not a single command in the Torah fails to have love as its aim and its intention. Every single command has to do with love, everyone,
from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from a sincere faith. Our faith in the Messiah Yahushua cleanses us of a bad conscience and gives us a pure conscience, and gives us a pure heart, so that we can understand what love truly is. Every single command, you ever wonder Hebrew roots, Hebrew roots, whatever, the root is love, everything is love. Every single commandment is about love, love does no harm to a neighbor therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Contrary to what you may have heard, the law is not replaced with love. Keeping the commandments and walking in love are synonymous; keeping the commandments are expressions of love and that's true.
That's why it says you think you know Yahushua, you don't if you don't keep his commandments because you're not walking in love, you're lying, and the truth is not in you because the Torah is not in you. If you've embraced the new covenant then in the law you say is in your heart, well, out of the heart the mouth speaks, out of the heart fill the issues of life. So our heart should reflect obedience to the law, it all makes sense so simple, so easy.
Yahushua said when he was asked the question; what is the great commandment in the law? Yahushua said to him, you shall love Yahweh your Elohim with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. The second is like it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. On these two commandments, you cannot take a set of bolt cutters, and cut the law on prophets off the two commandments from which they hang.
Contrary to what you may think or have been taught, people say the law is a burden; the law is too hard, you can't do it, we hear try walking in love of Elohim. This is the love of Elohim that we keep his commandments and his commandments are not burdensome, they're not burdensome. The law of commandments is not burdensome when you love Elohim, when you realize how much he loves you. The only thing burdensome is the flesh when we don't recognize the flesh died, only thing burdensome is when we choose to not walk in faith of who we are.
It is not we who live it's Messiah living in us, gotta give up your own life. You think you can earn your way through your own power and strength and ability to love? That's a burden, allowing Yahweh's spirit to flow through you, his burden is easy, and his burden is light, if you're willing to walk out love. When someone loves you so much and they serve you so much. Let's take an example, a human example here; suppose somebody, every day they came over and brought you your meals, he blessed you with something every single day, would it be easy to love someone like that? Always there for you, you call them up they're always there to listen. Would it be easy to love someone like that? Would it be easy to love somebody who's always blessing you and serving you? Of course, so it should be easy to love Yahweh, every single..., he created you from dust; he gave you every good thing you have ever had. It should be easy to love him; He is easy to love. It's the world that makes it, trying to lay burdens on us. And so I'm calling all of us to walk in love, keep the commandments of Elohim which are not burdensome. Turn your heart, if your heart is not turned toward keeping his commandments I invite you, personal invitation to bow before your maker, humble yourself and say I have not kept your commandments, I have misunderstood your will for me or I have turned my ear away from hearing your will for me, and I repent and I confess my sins and
I receive the Messiah Yahushua, I want to walk in love; I want to walk in the perfect law of liberty and continue in it. Not being a forgetful heir, but a doer of the work, I know there are blessings promised to those who do that; for you are great and do wondrous things you are alone Elohim, Psalm 86 verse 10,
Psalm 119 verse 18; open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from your law. And instead of seeing the law as something that's null and void, we don't make void the law through our faith, no, instead on the contrary we establish
the law through our faith. And as the Psalmist said, It is time for you to act, O Yahweh: for they have regarded your law as void.
This doctrine of the law being done away with has damaged generation after generation. We will be so in tune with the will of Elohim and see people not walking in the will of Elohim. Rivers of waters run down our eyes, because men don't keep your Torah. That's what the Psalmist wrote in Psalm 119, it's done more damage than we will ever know. It's caused the followers to reject the very example, the Messiah himself, it was a very poor lie to untold billions of Jewish people who otherwise may have accepted him if they saw that followers of Messiah live like Messiah and kept Torah. But, instead, rivers of water flow down our eyes, knowing how many souls did not see the light of Yahushua. So brothers and sisters and everyone within the hearing of my voice I say let's walk in the image of Elohim, let's live the way Yahushua lived, let's turn away from the wrong-headed thinking of traditional theology and embrace the beautiful and wonderful truth. If there's some part of Yahweh's law you don't love, realize that's only coming from flash the carnal part, that's resisting the ordinances of love. It's coming from the enemy, he wants to reject the Messiah and his example, it's not from the father it's from the enemy, flee from it, it's not holiness, it's not goodness, it's not just, it's not of the truth, it's not spiritual, and it's not light and it's certainly not Yahweh's love. We look at Yahweh's law and we choose to love it, because we want to be holy, we want to be good and just and of the truth and to be spiritual, filled with light, with the love of Elohim flowing through us. So say it with me, I choose to love Yahweh,
therefore I choose to love holiness, therefore I choose to love his holy law, therefore I choose goodness, therefore I choose light, therefore I choose truth, therefore I choose love, therefore I
choose perfection. The law of Yahweh is perfect, converting the soul, the testimony of Yahweh Yahushua making wise the simple, the statutes of Yahweh are right rejoicing the heart, the commandment of Yahweh is pure in lightning the eyes, the fear of Yahweh is clean enduring forever. The judgments of Yahweh are true and righteous altogether, more to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them your servant is warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. See Yahweh says in keeping of them there is great reward, Yahweh says there is a reward I believe him, do you? Do you hunger and thirst for righteousness? Do you desire to be a reflection of his character? You know what to do, O, Father Yahweh we pray,
Father Yahweh, Fill us with a greater hunger and a greater thirst for the things of holiness, righteousness, of justice, of truth, of light, spirituality of love. Strengthen us in our weaknesses, deliver us from deception and lies, lies about your grace,
lies about your will for us, lies about your Torah, lies about you. We believe the Torah represents the exact way in which we ought to walk out your image.
We pray father that you forgive us where we have failed to walk in your image and live the way that Yahushua lived, deliver us from every plan and power of the enemy who seeks to steal, kill and destroy. Deliver us from deception, enlighten us with your truth, your word is truth.
For truly yours is the kingdom and power and glory and majesty, and all praise, honor, worship
belongs to you. Yahweh Eloheinu, Yahweh our Mighty One, forever and ever, in Yahushua's great name we pray, Amein.