Nazarene Israelite Two House Congregation of Port Elizabeth

On the verge of eternity.

We live in very interesting times – a time immediately before the return of Yahshua the Messiah, to come and rule the world from Jerusalem. Most people alive today are totally unaware of the fact that we are on the verge of eternity. We live in a technologically advanced age where there is a need for the logical, plausible and intellectually satisfying explanation of life. But, such an explanation need also be motivating and uplifting and should above all make sense at this time.    

We are the only species who are aware of ourselves and has ambition to be more than what we are at present. We have explored every corner of the earth we live in, and have even poked our noses into space. Most thinking individuals have dreamed about building colonies in space, and wondered about trips beyond our solar system. Obviously movies helped color in our day dreams and speculation about such journeys into outer space.  The space programs of the United States and Russia have been brilliant accomplishments of technology, but have also been a somber reminder of mankind’s mortality. People are not made to withstand the enormous temperatures and other conditions required to propel spacecraft at very high speeds through space. We are confined by our mortality and accept it logically, but emotionally we have a problem with mere mortality. We are not satisfied with being confined to our current earthly domain; it is almost as if we know inherently that there is more to existence than this mortal life, as also witnessed by Solomon in the second part of Ecclesiastes 3: 11, in this way: ‘He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which Elohim has done from the beginning even to the end.’  This agrees with the words of Moses in Deuteronomy 29: 29, where he wrote: “The secret things belong to YHVH our Elohim, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law.”

Similar to our fathers in the faith we also speculate about our ultimate destiny. This is perhaps why King David wrote in Psalm 8: 3 & 4, ‘When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained; (4) what is man, that Thou dost take thought of him? And the son of man, that Thou dost care for him?’  The book of Genesis informs us in verses 26 & 27 of chapter 1, stating: ‘Then Elohim said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” (27) And Elohim created man in His own image, in the image of Elohim He created him, male and female He created them.’  What is interesting is that all other creatures were made ‘after its kind’, but humans were made in the image and likeness of Elohim, with the exception that they are made from physical matter. This shows clearly, from the pages of the Scriptures that we have a relationship with YHVH our Elohim.

The point is that like animals and plants, mankind was made from the dust of the ground. The difference between plant and animal life is that animals have souls (‘nephesh’). Their souls give them the instinct to survive, i.e. to propagate their species, to find food, and to build shelters (nest). The difference between human beings and animals is that in addition to being created beings with souls, humans are blessed with  human spirits within them, as recorded in the second part Zechariah 12: 1 as follows: “Thus declares YHVH who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him.” Job wrote about the spirit in man in Job 32: 8, stating: “But it is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding.” This informs us that the spirit in man gives us the ability to learn to talk, to evaluate various options open to us, and to make decisions as to which option to choose.

Even though man has a human spirit within him, he does not have an immortal soul and if he sins, he is destined to die as witnessed in Ezekiel 18: 4 as follows: “Behold all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine. The soul who sins will die.” A second witness to this is found in Ecclesiastes 9: 5, like this: ‘For the living know they will die; but the dead do not know anything, nor have they any longer a reward, for their memory is forgotten.’ The Tanach teaches in Job 14: 12 that when we die our souls or lives come to an end, as follows: “So man lies down and does not rise. Until the heavens be no more, he will not awake nor be aroused out of his sleep.” In the Renewed Covenant the Greek word ‘psuche’ which has the same meaning as the transliterated Hebrew word for soul or life, namely ‘nephesh’ is used. One example being in Matthew 16: 25 – 26, where Yahshua said: “For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it. (26) For what will a man be profited, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul (life).”

Mankind is therefore composed of three component parts, namely body, soul and spirit, as is also confirmed in 1 Thessalonians 5: 23, where Rav Shaul speaks specifically to believers in Thessalonica, saying:  ‘Now may the Elohim of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Master Yahshua Messiah.’  Because we were originally created in the likeness and the image of Elohim, Adam and Eve looked like the exact representation of Elohim’s nature (Hebrews 1: 3), namely Yahshua the visible image of the invisible Elohim (Colossians 1: 15). It is for this reason that Rav Shaul wrote in Romans 1: 19 & 20, ‘Because that which is known about Elohim is evident within them (mankind); for Elohim made it evident to them. (20) For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes[1], His eternal power[2]and divine nature[3], have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.’  Like us, YHVH is not three persons in one, but consists of three parts; Yahshua being the visible image of the invisible Elohim. For those who assert that this is the so-called doctrine of the Trinity, permit me to say that this does not say that you, who like all other human beings are composed of body, soul and spirit, are a trinity or three persons in one. Instead it clearly teaches that although you have three component parts, of which two are for all practical purposes invisible, you as an individual are only one person.

This is in total agreement with the Sh’ma recorded in Deuteronomy 6: 4 (KJV), as follows: ‘Hear, O Israel; YHVH our Elohim is one YHVH.’ This was also How Yahshua responded when one of the scribes asked Him in Mark 12: 28, saying: “What commandment is the foremost of all?” Yahshua answered (in verse 29) saying: “The foremost is, ‘hear, O Israel! YHVH our Elohim is one YHVH.’” As opposed to what some Messianic and like-minded believers in the Assemblies/congregations of YHVH teach, there are not two (YHVH)’s, but only one! This is confirmed in Deuteronomy 4: 39, in this way: “Know therefore today, and take it to your heart, that YHVH, He is Elohim in heaven above and on earth below; there is no other.” As witnessed in Psalm 49: 7 Yahshua our Redeemer could not merely be another human, as follows: ‘No man can by any means redeem his brother, or give to Elohim a ransom for him—.’ Continuing in verse 15 of Psalm 49, we read: ‘But Elohim will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol (the grave); for He will receive me.’  It is for this reason that YHVH tells us through the prophet Isaiah saying in Isaiah 43: 10 & 11, “You are My witnesses,” declares YHVH, “And My servant whom I have chosen, in order that you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no Elohim formed, and there will be none after Me. (11) I, even I, am YHVH; and there is no savior besides Me.”

YHVH created the heavens by the word of YHVH (as witnessed in Psalm 33: 6) and Yochanan one of Messiah’s original disciples explains in John 1: 1 – 3, saying: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with Elohim, and the Word was Elohim. (2) He was in the beginning with Elohim. (3) All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.” This is straightforward enough – there was ‘the Word’ who was Elohim, and the Word was Elohim, who was also with Elohim. Yochanan explains further in John 1: 14, saying: ‘And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.’  So, we see that the one who carried out the act of creation, as the Word of Elohim, later came to earth as Yahshua Messiah.

The Word of YHVH became Yahshua the Son of Elohim to show us the way in which we as human beings can become born-again spiritual children of Elohim. Rav Shaul tells us about Yahshua in Colossians 1: 18, saying: ‘He is also head of the body, the ecclesia; and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything.’ This is a wonderful explanation in that the head of a new born baby is born first, and his/her body follows later. Rav Shaul continues explaining in Romans 8: 28 & 29, saying: ‘And we know that Elohim causes all things to work together for good to those who love Elohim, to those who are called according to His purpose. (29) For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren.’  The book of Hebrews clarifies this by stating in Hebrews 2: 10, ‘For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.’

Rav Yochanan explains to us that we are part of the ‘many sons’ which Elohim are bringing to glory, in 1 John 3: 1 & 2, as follows: ‘See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of Elohim; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. (2) Beloved, now we are children of Elohim, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that, when He appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is.’   This tells us that if we make it and are resurrected at Messiah’s return, we shall be spiritual sons and daughters of Elohim, just as Messiah is already a Spirit born-again son of Elohim. However, to be able to attain to that glorious position we need to conform to the image of Elohim, Yahshua. As His followers, we should do and walk in the way He taught His disciples whilst He was on earth.

After Yahshua’s ascension to heaven, the Set-apart Spirit was given to true believers who were immersed in Yahshua’s saving name, on Pentecost. Rav Shaul tells us that it is because of our obedience to be immersed and the fact that we were given the Set-apart Spirit at immersion that we will be resurrected to life, in Romans 8: 11, in this way: ‘But if the Spirit of Him who raised Yahshua from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Messiah Yahshua from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you.’ In fact Rav Shaul continues explaining in verses 14 – 17 of Romans 8, saying: ‘For all who are being led by the Spirit of Elohim, these are sons of Elohim. (15) For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Avinu! Father!” (16) The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of Elohim, (17) and if children, heirs also, theirs of Elohim and fellow heirs with Messiah, if indeed we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him.’

At present we belong to the family of man, made from flesh and blood, but we have the potential to be part of Elohim’s Family one day soon, made of the Spirit of Elohim. We are presently physical replicas of the Elohim Kind, later to like Yahshua our perfect example become Spiritual Replicas. We are mortal, of fleshly substance, subject to death and totally dependent on our physical environment, namely earth. In our current  state we cannot reach our ultimate potential, since as Rav Shaul explains in 1 Corinthians 15: 50, saying: ‘Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood, cannot inherit the kingdom of Elohim; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.’  Therefore, even though we are potential heirs of the Kingdom of Elohim, a change is required before we are able to receive our inheritance. Rav Shaul explains further in 1 Corinthians 15: 42 - 44, saying: ‘So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; (43) it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; (44) it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.’

Yahshua is the only ‘human being’ who has undergone this transformation. He the very Creator of mankind allowed Himself to be sacrificed in order to become the Savior of Mankind and to reconcile us back to the Father. Yahshua was a spirit being before his ‘human’ birth and before His impalement prayed (as recoded in John 17: 5) saying:  ‘And now, glorify Thou Me together with Thyself, Father, with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was.’ Yahshua was fully aware that he would be resurrected to the existence He had before He became flesh, and three days and three nights after His burial, His battered lifeless physical body was raised into an immortal spirit being. As witnessed before and confirmed again in 1 Timothy 6: 16, Elohim ‘(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!’ Similar to the way in which Yahshua was changed from mortal flesh to immortal spirit by means of the resurrection, so will those of us called by Elohim at this time, be resurrected to eternal life, if we remain faithful to the way of Elohim!

Yes, we are created with the incredible potential to live forever. The Scriptures clearly show that we can transcend the limitations of our physical existence and become eternal children of Elohim. It is difficult for physical beings to fully understand the implications of what this entails, as Rav Shaul witnessed in 1 Corinthians 2: 9, saying: “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that Elohim has prepared for those who love him.”  At this time it is difficult to fully grasp the wonder of our human potential, but somehow we are given an idea by the discoveries at the frontiers (or borders) of knowledge, that help us realize that there is a reality beyond what we can see, hear, taste and smell.  

As Rav Shaul wrote in Romans 1: 20, we have no excuse; we should know Elohim, from understanding our own makeup. However, by considering the far reaches of the universe and glimpse at the workings of inner space, we are in a better position than ever to understand the power and majesty of our Creator. It is absolutely awesome to realize that we were created to share His immortal spiritual life as children of Elohim, but also sobering to acknowledge our present inadequacies. The point is: We know so much today, and if we take what we have learned, and examine it in the light of the Scriptures, we will begin to understand why Elohim is mindful of us, the question asked by David in Psalm 8.  We, who are created in the image of Elohim, have the potential to share in His character and glory in an eternal existence. Yahshua Messiah came to show us that the dimensions beyond our present existence will not always be beyond our reach, as witnessed in Hebrews 11: 3, in this way: ‘By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of Elohim, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.’

Yahshua was born about 2,000 years ago, and lived on our earth sharing in the experiences, the problems, the limitations and frustrations of mankind. He allowed Himself to be sacrificed for the sins of the world, but was resurrected three days and three nights later as an immortal being. He was the first ‘human’ to be resurrected as a born-again spirit being. He showed us that all humanity was created to be part of Elohim’s Family, as Rav Shaul wrote in Colossians 1: 16 & 17, saying: ‘For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities –all things have been created by Him and for Him. (17) And He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.’

As Creator, First-born and Savior, Yahshua Messiah plays a pivotal role in the future of every human being. We will not be ready for eternal life until we have learned to live, think and do as He does. Even though the potential is there, we cannot get there on our own! We have to do it in partnership, between willing and humble human beings and a loving merciful Creator. This is the only way we will be able to advance from mortality to immortality – to become spirit born-again members of Elohim’s Family! Halleluyah!

 

[1] YHVH our Elohim is invisible as is confirmed in 1Timothy 1: 17, as follows: ‘Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only Elohim, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.’

[2] Yahshua is according to 1 Corinthians 1: 24 the power of Elohim, in this way: ‘But to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Messiah the power of Elohim and the wisdom of Elohim.’ A second witness comes from Jeremiah 32: 17, as follows: ‘Ah YHVH Elohim! Behold, Thou hast made the heavens and the earth by Thy great power and by Thine outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for Thee.’

[3] The Set-apart Spirit is the Divine Nature of Elohim: We are given a portion of His divine nature when we are immersed, according to Ephesians 1: 13 - 14, as follows: “In Him you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of salvation – having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Set-apart Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of Elohim’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.” We demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit or divine nature of love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness and the like (as per Galatians 5: 22 & 23), by the indwelling of the Set-apart Spirit. We are also told in 2 Peter 1: 4 that we may become partakers of the divine nature.