148 What value do you place on Scripture

What value do you place on the Scriptures?

Most people in the western world, who call themselves Christians, have at least one copy of the Scriptures (Bible) somewhere in their homes. The copies or versions of the Scriptures in possession of these people contain in the most both the so-called ‘Old’ and ‘New Testaments.’ Even though some of these people place a certain amount of value on what their Bibles have to say and read from it at least once a week, the majority of people keep it with other books where it often gathers dust for long periods without them even touching it. In an age where we have become used to live from one crisis to another, the most damaging casualty that is occurring is in our relationships with each other, as well as the general estrangement from YHVH our Elohim. Trust has become a thing of the past and the values and ethics held by our forefathers are fast disappearing. The conditions we have been living in for the past decade have left most people in the world with a sense of uneasiness and some are beginning to search for solutions in either human leadership, whilst a small number is trying to find solace in religion and the Bible. Such people wonder if there could be workable answers in the Bible after all.

A peculiar thing about the Bible is that most Christians believe a large part of it has been rendered obsolete by Messiah, the one they refer to as J*e*s*u*s* C*h*r*i*s*t*. It is most unfortunate that they are ignoring much of what Elohim is teaching His people for their benefit, by rejecting what they refer to as the ‘Old Testament’. In fact they believe that the so-called ‘New Testament’ is all that matters for their salvation. But, this belief is clearly not correct, since YHVH the Elohim of Israel and indeed of all those who follow His way of life, did not give us two separate books. To begin with, let’s consider the phrases ‘Old’ and ‘New Testaments’. The problem with these phrases is illustrated in the following example: If I tell you that I have two computers; one is my ‘old’ computer and the second my ‘new’ computer. Most people immediately pictures the two computers in their mind’s eye; the one being used and less functional and the second one brand new, ready to replace the old one. This might be true about the two computers, but it is regrettably also the view people have about their Bibles. But, is this unfortunate view supported by the Scriptures? The New American Standard Bible speaks specifically about these two partitions and has the following to say about it in Hebrews 8: 7 – 10: ‘For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second. (8) For finding fault with them (meaning the Israelites to whom the Torah was given at Mount Sinai, not the Torah itself), He says, “BEHOLD, DAYS ARE COMING, SAYS YHVH, WHEN I WILL EFFECT A NEW COVENANT WITH THE HOUSE OF ISREAL AND WITH THE HOUSE OF JUDAH; (9) NOT LIKE THE COVENANT WHICH I MADE WITH THEIR FATHERS ON THE DAY WHEN I TOOK THEM BY THE HAND TO LEAD THEM OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT; FOR THEY DID NOT CONTINUE IN MY COVENANT, AND I DID NOT CARE FOR THEM, SAYS YHVH. (The first covenant was written on tablets of stone and sheep skin and the house of Israel did not make it part of the way they lived, as the house of Judah did, as can be understood from the next verse.) (10) FOR THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS YHVH: I WILL PUT MY LAWS (existing laws, not new ones) INTO THEIR MINDS, AND I WILL WRITE THEM UPON THEIR HEARTS. AND I WILL BE THEIR ELOHIM, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.”’ Rav Shaul was quoting Jeremiah 31: 31 – 33 here and we see that in both sections of the Scriptures, the misinterpreted phrase ‘testament’ was in fact referred to as covenant. Whereas the word ‘testament’ means something that comes into effect after the death of the one who bequeath it, the word ‘covenant’ means an agreement between two parties where the one who benefits from the agreement, qualifies upon fulfilling his/her part of the agreement.

Even though many falsely assume that the first five books of the Scriptures are obsolete, these books are quoted more than 240 times and referred to numerous times in the Renewed Covenant. In addition Rav Shaul tells us in 1 Corinthians 10 that the things that happened to ancient Israel happened that we should not crave evil things as they did (verses 8), saying in verse 11: ‘Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.’ Those who assert that Yahshua our Messiah abolished Torah, need to read what He had to say about it for themselves in John 5: 45 – 47, where He told the Jews amongst whom He lived, saying: ‘Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; the one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have set your hope. (46) For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote of Me. (47) But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?” Even though Yahshua said this to the Jews of His day, it also applies to those of us who claim to believe in what He taught and did whilst He was on earth. This is perhaps also why many who claim faith in Messiah do not accept the Oneness of Elohim. Even so, there are those who insist that the Torah became obsolete after Yahshua’s death and resurrection. To see if this was so, let us turn to Luke 24, where the events after Yahshua’s resurrection are described in detail. We read from verses 13 – 24 how Yahshua met two of His disciples and walked with them. They did not recognize Him at that time and started telling Him about the events leading up to their Master’s death, burial and finally how His body disappeared from His grave. We read Yahshua’s response to them in verses 25 & 26 of Luke 24, saying: “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! (26) Was it not necessary for the Messiah to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” Continuing in verse 27, we read: ‘And beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.’ Yahshua showed these two disciples that everything written about Him in the Tanach happened exactly as prophesied, thus validating the Torah (Law), the Prophets (Nevim) and the Writings (Kituvim). We also need to be mindful that the Scriptures did not include the Renewed Covenant at that time, since it was only written after Yahshua’s ascension to heaven.

A while later Yahshua appeared to His 11 remaining disciples as recorded in verse 36 – 49 of Luke 24, in this way: ‘And while they were telling these things, He himself stood in their midst. (37) But they were startled and frightened and though that they were seeing a spirit (or more correctly a ghost as the NIV puts it). (38) And He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? (39) See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit (or ghost) does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” (40) And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. (41) And while they still could not believe it for joy and were marveling, He said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” (42) And they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish; (43) and He took it and ate it before them. (44) Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” (45) Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, (46) and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah should suffer and rise again from the dead the third day; (47) and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. (48) You are witnesses of these things. (49) And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” Yahshua opened the disciple’s minds to understand the Scriptures only after His resurrection. Throughout His life on earth Yahshua treated the Tanach as the true record of Elohim’s teachings and dealings with mankind, and consequently His teachings always contained quotes and or allusions to it. Rav Shaul similarly wrote about the Scriptures in 2 Timothy 3: 16, saying: ‘All Scripture is inspired by Elohim and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.’ We read further from Hebrews 1: 1 & 2: ‘Elohim, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, (2) in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.’ It is clear from this that Elohim made known His divine message to mankind through the prophets as well as through Messiah’s apostles in the Renewed Covenant. We see further that Rav Kepha also referred to Rav Shaul’s letters as part of the Scriptures, in 2 Peter 3: 14 - 16, saying: ‘Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, (15) and regard the patience of our Master to be salvation; just as also our beloved brother Shaul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, (16) as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.’ Rav Shaul refers to two quotations as Scripture in first Timothy 5: 18; the first one from the Tanach (Deuteronomy 25: 4) and the second from the Renewed Covenant (Luke 10: 7), in this way: ‘For the Scripture says, “YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE OX WHILE HE IS THRESHING,” and “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”’ It is clear therefore that when Rav Shaul wrote his letters to Timothy between 62 – 64 CE, some of the writings of the apostles were already seen as part of the Scriptures.

The Scriptures is consistently pictured as coming directly from the mouth of YHVH Himself (Deuteronomy 8: 3). There are almost 4,000 passages in the Tanach introduced by such expressions as: ‘YHVH spoke’; ‘Thus says YHVH’; and ‘the Word of YHVH came to’. Nevertheless, the authorship of the Scriptures is dual in that both Elohim and man were involved. It is for this reason that Rav Kepha wrote in 2 Peter 1: 20 & 21, saying: ‘But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, (21) for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Set-apart Spirit spoke from Elohim.’ Since all Scripture comes from Elohim, Rav Yaa’cov wrote to those of us called out of the world at this time in James 1: 18 – 21, saying: ‘In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we might be, as it were, the first fruits among His creatures. (19) This you know, my beloved brethren. But let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; (20) for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of Elohim. (21) ‘Therefore putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls (lives).’ As we seek YHVH our Elohim, His word will enable us to produce lasting fruit as recorded in Isaiah 55: 6 – 11, in this way: ‘Seek YHVH while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near. (7) Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to YHVH, and He will have compassion on him; and to our Elohim, for He will abundantly pardon. (8) For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares YHVH. (9) “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. (10) For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth, and making it bear and sprout, and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; (11) So shall My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.”’

The purpose of studying Elohim’s Word is to obtain understanding of His will and to learn to live by His Word. In addition YHVH expects those who diligently study His Word to take action as recorded in Hebrews 4: 11 – 13, as follows: ‘Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall through following the same example of disobedience. (12) For the word of Elohim is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (13) And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.’ The Scriptures also tells us in Hebrews 11: 6, ‘And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to Elohim must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.’ Our fathers in the faith Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, as well as the prophets and apostles all experienced the reality of Elohim in a personal way. In ancient times Elohim established personal contact with His chosen people, as we read from Exodus 3: 2 – 4, ‘And the angel of YHVH appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed. (3) So Moses said, “I must turn aside now, and see this marvelous sight, why the bush is not burned up.” (4) When YHVH saw that he turned aside to look, Elohim called to him from the midst of the bush, and said, “Moses, Moses! And he said, “Here I am.” Elohim appeared to Moses and later revealed His divine words, which Moses carefully recorded for future generations, as we read from the first part of Exodus 24: 4, in this way: ‘And Moses wrote down all the words of YHVH.’ Elohim who Moses encountered was the Elohim Abraham had a personal conversation with in Genesis 18. Initially Moses was fearful in the presence of Elohim, but later he overcame his fear and asked to see Elohim personally as is recorded in Exodus 33: 18. There are many today who do not know who or what Elohim is. The prophet Hosea expressed sorrow because the house of Israel had willingly lost knowledge about Elohim with tragic consequences for them in Hosea 4: 1 – 6, saying: “Listen to the word of YHVH, O sons of Israel, for YHVH has a case against the inhabitants of the land, because there is no faithfulness or kindness or knowledge of Elohim in the land. (2) There is swearing, deception, murder, stealing, and adultery. They employ violence, so that bloodshed follows bloodshed. (3) Therefore the land mourns, and everyone who lives in it languishes along with the beasts of the field and the birds of the sky; and also the fish of the sea disappear. (4) Yet let no one find fault, and let none offer reproof; for your people are like those who contend with the priest. (5) So you will stumble by day, and the prophet also will stumble with you by night; and I will destroy your mother (the one who is supposed to teach her small children Torah – something which is totally forgotten by the house of Israel.) (6) My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your Elohim, I also will forget your children.’

The Scriptures clearly tells us who the Creator is. Other than in Genesis 1, we also read from Isaiah 42: 5, ‘Thus says Elohim YHVH, Who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread out the earth and its offspring, Who gives breath to the people on it, and spirit to those who walk in it.’ It is possible for us to understand more about Elohim through His creation and the fact that He created us in His image gives us a hint of the ultimate potential He has planned for us. We also read fittingly from Romans 1: 19 & 20, ‘Because that which is known about Elohim is evident within them (meaning mankind); for Elohim made it evident to them (us). (20) For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes (Hebrews 11: 27 tells us that YHVH our Elohim is invisible), His eternal power (Yahshua is according to first Corinthians 1: 24 the power and wisdom of Elohim – this is also confirmed in Jeremiah 32: 17[1]) and divine nature (the Set-apart Spirit is the divine nature of Elohim of which we might become partakers according to 2 Peter 1: 4), have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.’ 1 Thessalonians 5: 23 confirms that the spirits (mind power and memory), souls (lives) and bodies of those who were called by Elohim, who were immersed into Yahshua’s saving Name, had hands laid upon them by the elders of Elohim’s congregation; and who accordingly received a portion of the Set-apart Spirit will if they remain faithful to the end, be preserved complete at Messiah’s return. So even though each one of us as an individual person is only one, we consist of three component parts, namely body, soul and spirit. It is therefore evident that YHVH our Elohim being only One YHVH (according to Deuteronomy 6: 4), consist of Yahshua the image of the invisible Elohim (as per Colossians 1: 15), the Set-apart Spirit or Spirit of Elohim, and YHVH who alone possesses (an) immortal (soul) life, as witnessed in 1 Timothy 6: 16, in this way: ‘Who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light; whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amein.’

Although Elohim is Spirit and therefore eternal, the prophet Isaiah wrote about Him in Isaiah 57: 15, saying: ‘For thus says the high and exalted One Who lives forever, whose name is Holy, “I dwell on a high and holy place, and also with the contrite and lowly of spirit in order to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite (remorseful).”’ So as we’ve read earlier in Isaiah 55: 5 & 6, even though YHVH inhabits eternity and is not constraint by time and space, He is quick to forgive those who return to Him and His Torah teachings with a repentant attitude. YHVH specifically sent Yahshua the visible image of Elohim to the house of Israel to reconcile them to Him, but also to Brother Judah, as Yahshua confirmed when He spoke to the Canaanite women who asked Him to heal her demon-possessed daughter in Matthew 15: 23, saying in verse 24: “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Because YHVH knew the end from the beginning, He knew (the house of) Israel will eventually forsake Him and that He will scatter them throughout the nations of the world. This is why He said through Jacob that his offspring Israel will become a multitude of nations in Genesis 48: 19, but this is also why He said in Deuteronomy 4: 25 – 31, ‘When you become the father of children and children’s children and have remained long in the land, and act corruptly, and make an idol in the form of anything, and do that which is evil in the sight of YHVH your Elohim so as to provoke Him to anger, (26) I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that you shall surely perish quickly from the land where you are going over the Jordan to possess it. You shall not live long on it, but shall be utterly destroyed. (27) And YHVH will scatter you among the peoples, and you shall be left few in number among the nations, where YHVH shall drive you. (28) And there you will serve gods, the work of man’s hands, wood and stone, which neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell. (29) But from there you will seek YHVH your Elohim, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul. (30) When you are in distress and all these things have come upon you, in the latter days, you will return to YHVH your Elohim and listen to His voice. (31) For YHVH your Elohim is a compassionate Elohim; He will not fail you nor destroy you nor forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them.’ So we see that Isaiah also prophesied in Isaiah 10: 22, saying: ‘For though your people, O Israel, may be like the sand of the sea, only a remnant within them will return; a destruction is determined, overflowing with righteousness.’

Yahshua the word of Elohim through whom YHVH made the heavens as per Psalm 33: 6 came specifically to bring back the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Right from the start when the children of the Israelites who died in the wilderness was about to enter the Land of Israel, YHVH told them to listen to His prophet, the word of Elohim (Deuteronomy 18: 18). YHVH again told Kepha, Yaa’cov and Yochanan to listen to Yahshua when He was transfigured before them in Matthew 17. Even though the message contained in John 3: 16 is not the true gospel, it has a great deal to do with it. Even so, it contains the same message, in this way: ‘For Elohim so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.’ The most important part of this verse is also the most misconstrued section in the Scriptures, since most people do not fully understand what it means to believe in Yahshua. Firstly belief in Yahshua means that we believe in His name; Yahshua meaning the Salvation of Yah, and secondly that we believe what He did and taught whilst He was on earth, or His testimony. In addition the word believe also means more than what most people think and is defined a lot better in John 3: 36 (which should always be read together with verse 16), as follows: “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of Elohim abides on him.” Yes, we need to become fully obedient to Yahshua the Word of Elohim. YHVH specifically prepared a body for the Word of Elohim who became flesh as Yahshua – the Son of Man, born of a human mother. This is why Rav Shaul wrote about Yahshua in Hebrews 10: 1 – 5, ‘For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never by the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect those who draw near. (2) Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sins? (3) But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year. (4) For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. (5) Therefore, when He comes into the world, He says, “SACRIFICE AND OFFERING THOU HAST NOT DESIRED, BUT A BODY THOU HAST PREPARED FOR ME.”’

We read further about the fact that Yahshua replaced the Sacrificial Law instituted after the sin of the golden calf in Hebrews 10: 14 – 20, in this way: ‘For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. (15) And the Set-apart Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, (16) “THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THEM AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS YHVH: I WILL PUT MY LAWS UPON THEIR HEART, AND UPON THEIR MIND I WILL WRITE THEM,” (brethren, YHVH is busy doing this for us whom He has called out of the world right now, but we need to become fully obedient to His word. He will also do so for those of our children who survive and live on into the millennium) He then says, (17) “AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE.” (18) Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin. (19) Since therefore, brethren, we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Yahshua, (20) by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh (or body).’ We understand from this section, that it is talking about Messiah’s body of flesh, which YHVH prepared for Him in Miriam His human mother. But we also see that it was through His body of flesh, which was broken on the stake to give us access to Elohim’s throne and ultimately His Kingdom. He became the Son of Elohim after His resurrection (Romans 1: 4), to show us how we will one day when we are resurrected at His return be born-again as the children of Elohim.

However, we read further about Yahshua from Colossians 1: 18, ‘He is also head of the body, the congregation; and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything.’ This gives us two important facts: firstly that Elohim’s called out congregation, consisting of those who were suitably immersed into Yahshua’s saving name and our Jewish Brothers who remain Torah observant are in essence also the body of Messiah (as per Ephesians 2: 13 – 16); and secondly that He is the first to ever be born-again from the dead. Rav Shaul also mentions true knowledge of Elohim’s mystery in Colossians 2, saying in verses 1 – 3: ‘For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf, and for those who are at Laodicea (a congregation also mentioned in Revelation 3: 14, as being lukewarm in their faith in Messiah), and for all those who have not personally seen my face (meaning he never personally taught them), (2) that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of Elohim’s mystery, that is, Messiah Himself, (3) in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (as mentioned earlier in first Corinthians 1: 24).’ Here we get to the point about judging the body of Messiah rightly, when partaking of Messiah’s annual Passover. We turn to first Corinthians 11, where we are given the reason for Messiah’s memorial Passover as well as part of the ceremony in verses 23 – 25, in this way: ‘For I received from the Master that which I also delivered to you, that the Master Yahshua in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; (without knowing about the Passover mentioned in Exodus 23: 18, some mistakenly believe they may use normal bread here, but we are told in this scripture that ‘you shall not offer the blood of My sacrifice with leavened bread’) (24) and when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” (25) In the same way He took the cup also, after supper (some also keep the Passover without a small meal, as Yahshua obviously did at that time), saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood (which YHVH said He would write in our hearts – beginning at this time already in a small way with the first fruits, but will only complete doing so during the Millennium and beyond); do this, as often as you drink it in remembrance of Me.” In other words: we should keep Messiah’s memorial Passover once a year as per His example. Continuing on in verse 26 & 27 we read: ‘For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Master’s death until He comes. (27) Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Master in an unworthy (not spiritually prepared or in a flippant) manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Master.’ We read further from verses 29 – 34, ‘For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself, if he does not judge the body rightly.’ (This is talking about both Messiah’s physical body as well as the congregation of called out believers being trained by their teacher as per Messiah’s commission in Matthew 28: 18 – 20.) (30) For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep (have died). (31) But if we judged ourselves (as the body of Messiah) rightly, we should not be judged. (32) But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Master in order that we may not be condemned along with the world. (33) So then, my brethren, when you come together to eat (yes we as the body of Messiah should partake of His memorial Passover together), wait for one another. (We need to be concerned for one another.) (34) If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, so that you may not come together for judgment.’ Verse 34 actually confirms what is written in verse 20 of first Corinthians 11, i.e. that Messiah’s memorial Passover is not the Master’s Supper, where we consume a lot of food and drink a number of glasses of wine and get drunk, it is a solemn occasion during which we remember Messiah’s death until He comes.

Even so there is more about judgment recorded in Colossians 2: 16 - 19, in this way: ‘Therefore let no one act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day – (17) things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Messiah. (18) Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, (19) and not holding fast to the head (Yahshua), from whom the entire body (members of the congregation), being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from Elohim.’ This is telling us that outsiders should not sit in judgment of what we eat and about the Sabbath days which we keep according to Elohim’s teachings; since these Sabbath days are firstly shadows of the part of Elohim’s plan for the salvation for all mankind, to occur in the near future when Messiah returns; and secondly that outsiders have no say about what we do as Elohim’s called out congregation, but that the body of Messiah should judge it in accordance with the way shown us by Yahshua whilst He was on earth. New believers only become part of the body of Messiah if they were immersed correctly as described in the word of Elohim – they need to be immersed in the name of Yahshua the Messiah by a teaching elder (Torah teacher) or a Deacon ordained by the Torah teacher, after which they will only receive the Set-apart Spirit after a teaching elder has laid hands upon them as per Acts 8: 12 – 17; first Timothy 4: 14; and 2 Timothy 1: 6. The Passover is celebrated annually by the Torah teacher and his disciples, until the disciples have been fully trained and start keeping the Passover with their own disciples. This is essentially what is spoken about in verse 19 of Colossians 2 above.

Reading, hearing and doing what Elohim’s Word requires are key characteristics of Elohim’s congregation of called out people, as Yahshua also taught in Luke 8: 21 when they told Him that His mother and brothers are waiting for Him outside, saying: “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of Elohim and do it.” The Word of Elohim builds faith in a believer’s life, as witnessed in Romans 10: 17, in this way: ‘So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Messiah.’ In fact Elohim expects His people to diligently and regularly study His word with understanding, for personal edification and for guarding themselves against Satan and his agents, as we read from Ephesians 6: 17, as follows: ‘And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of Elohim.’ It is vitally important for each one of us to study the Word of Elohim on a regular basis, but specifically what Yahshua Messiah as the embodiment of Torah and Helmet of salvation taught and did whilst He was on earth. As stated in 2 Timothy 3: 16 Elohim’s inspired Word is to be used to establish doctrine, correct errors and to give instruction. We read Messiah’s own words in John 17: 17, where He asked the Father, saying: “Sanctify them in the truth; Thy word is truth.” Yes brethren, the Scriptures are used to clean up believers in Messiah, as His bride to make herself ready for His return, as is confirmed in Ephesians 5: 26 & 27 in this way: ‘That He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, (27) that He might present to Himself the congregation in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she should be set-apart and blameless.’ Think about it!

[1] Jeremiah 32:17, ‘Ah YHVH Elohim! Behold, Thou hast made the heavens and the earth by Thy great power and by Thine outstretched arm! (another name for Yahshua as per Isaiah 53: 1 and John 12: 37 – 40) Nothing is too difficult for Thee.’