Covenant 101

If you ask the average Christian who Yeshua is you will usually get some answer along the lines of “he is my lord and savior”. Possibly, someone will say “he is God” or, he is “the son of God” or “the Messiah”. I don’t think enough Christians have really thought about who he is and the implications of his position in creation. I believe it is very important for us to have a clear understanding. The best way to get this understanding is from the Hebrew scriptures, (the Torah and the Prophets) and from the Gospels. It is especially important to listen to Yeshua’s own words. Not listening to Yeshua’s words has lead to some tragic errors in doctrine. So, let’s dive in and see what we can learn. Some of this, many of you may not have heard before and may even be contrary to what you were taught. If you read to the end I hope and believe you will gain some new insights.

I want to start by looking at the patriarch Abraham and the covenant that YHVH made with him. It is the foundation of everything else that occurs in the Bible. This covenant is an unconditional contract made by YHVH with Abraham and his descendants. YHVH promises to make them a nation, give them land and to have a special relationship with them. He also promises that through Abraham and his offspring (the Jewish People) all people of world will be blessed.

Genesis 12:1 Then the LORD said to Abram, “Leave your country, your kindred, and your father’s household, and go to the land I will show you.  2 I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you.” 4 So Abram departed, as the LORD had directed him.

This was the beginning of the people and nation of Israel based on the covenant that YHVH made with Abraham, and I repeat, the foundation of everything else that happens in the Bible.

The next place in scripture I want to point out is where YHVH has brought the people of Israel out of Egypt and has brought them to mount Horeb to receive the Law and all YHVH’s instructions (which were an addition to the Abrahamic covenant) now it is referred to as the mosaic covenant because the Law is given here through Moses, although it is the same covenant. But, amended with the Law. The mountain shook, there was darkness and fire on the mountain and YHVH’s voice frightened them. So, YHVH did not require them to go with Moses to the mountain again. At that time Moses gives this prophesy.

Deuteronomy 18:15 The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. You must listen to him. 16 This is what you asked of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, “Let us not hear the voice of the LORD our God or see this great fire anymore, so that we will not die!” 17 Then the LORD said to me, “They have spoken well. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. I will put My words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him. 19 And I will hold accountable anyone who does not listen to My words that the prophet speaks in My name.

Here the prophet Samuel is prophesying an addition to YHVH’s covenant concerning David the king of Israel.

2 Samuel 7: 8 Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel. 9 And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. 10 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, 11 from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house. 12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son.

Isaiah 42:1 “Here is my servant, whom I support, my chosen one, in whom I delight. I’ve placed my Spirit upon him; and he’ll deliver his justice throughout the world.

Now let’s identify “The Prophet” and the descendant of David that would sit on his throne forever and YHVH’s chosen one. I believe that Yeshua is that prophet, that chosen one. We should now look at what others who knew Yeshua had to say and see if that is correct.

John 1:19 And this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He did not refuse to confess, but openly declared, “I am not the Christ (annointed).” 21 “Then who are you?” they inquired. “Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” Are you “THE PROPHET”? He answered, “No.” 22 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet: “I am a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’

24 Then the Pharisees who had been sent 25 asked him, “Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor THE PROPHET?” 26 “I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands One you do not know. 27 He is the One who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” 28 All this happened at Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing. 29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is He of whom I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know Him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that He might be revealed to Israel. ”32 Then John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove and resting on Him. 33 I myself did not know Him, but the One who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is He who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’

Luke 3:21 Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus also was baptized, and while He was praying, heaven was opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came from heaven: “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well pleased.”

Mark 1:4 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 People went out to him from all of Jerusalem and the countryside of Judea. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 6 John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 7 And he proclaimed: “After me will come One more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I baptize you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. 9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 As soon as Jesus came up out of the water, He saw the heavens breaking open and the Spirit descending on Him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”

Luke 9:28 About eight days after Jesus had said these things, He took with Him Peter, John, and James, and went up on a mountain to pray. 29 And as He was praying, the appearance of His face changed, and His clothes became radiantly white. 30 Suddenly two men, Moses and Elijah, began talking with Jesus. 31 They appeared in glory and spoke about His departure, which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 Meanwhile Peter and his companions were overcome by sleep, but when they awoke, they saw Jesus’ glory and the two men standing with Him. 33 As Moses and Elijah were leaving, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 34 While Peter was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 And a voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, whom I have chosen. LISTEN TO HIM!”

Matthew 16:13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.

Yeshua was a Jew. That is his first qualification. He was a descendant of David, that would be the second. He was of the tribe of Judah that would be the third.

I want to point something out that has caused a tremendous amount of misunderstanding and confusion. In the Deuteronomy passage above Moses says that YHVH will send a prophet like himself except, YHVH will put His words in the Prophet’s mouth which he will speak. The second point I want to show you is that at Yeshua’s baptism the Spirit of YHVH descended on him and rested on him. The third point is that YHVH spoke on the mountain to Peter, James and John and commanded them to Listen to Yeshua. So, among the many things that Yeshua was, probably one of the least understood is that he was the long awaited Prophet that spoke for YHVH. Many churches teach that Yeshua is God. They are confused and claim Yeshua said he was God. What many don’t understand is that Yeshua spoke for YHVH. Many people speaking to him were in essence speaking directly to YHVH through him. If you do not understand that then it is easy to make the mistake of thinking he was God. Yeshua at times seems to be accepting worship and at other times tells people don’t worship me “there is only one that is good, God. Yeshua prays to YHVH and says that no one not even himself knows the hour of the coming of the end of the age except YHVH Himself. He asks YHVH why he has forsaken him in the hour of his death. Clearly Yeshua was not God. He was a vessel for the Spirit of God, and God spoke directly through him. He did say “if you have seen me you have seen the father” but not because they are one and the same person. But, because Yeshua was YHVH’s agent and spokesperson in the earth. YHVH’s very presence was in him. Yeshua was tempted in the wilderness. Yet, God cannot be tempted. Yeshua died. Yet, God cannot die. God knows all things. But, clearly Yeshua did not know certain things. So, the doctrine that proclaims Yeshua as God is clearly wrong. I hope you see where the confusion comes from. It comes from not understanding that Yeshua was the long awaited Prophet that was “like unto Moses”. That would speak directly for YHVH. Now remember that YHVH told us that whoever would not listen to His words that the Prophet speaks, YHVH would hold that person accountable! This means that Yeshua’s words and teachings are of enormous importance. The words that YHVH has given us through His Law, His prophets and Through “the Prophet” (Yeshua) are to be obeyed if we are to obtain salvation. The words of the Torah, the prophets and the words of Yeshua are binding and eternal. They are all part of the eternal covenant that YHVH made with the seed of Abraham to make salvation available to the whole world. To be included in this covenant and to thereby receive your own salvation you must obey YHVH’s instructions. No one is authorized to change one word of that covenant. There is no new covenant that replaces the eternal covenant of YHVH. Each time YHVH amended the eternal covenant not one word was abolished, the previous terms remained (because they are eternal) and new terms and promises were added only, and all remained in effect.

Deuteronomy 7:9 Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations.

Matthew 5:18-19 Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or tittle shall nowise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven.

Luke 19:16-17 One came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him … if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

Revelation 14:12 The saints … are they that keep the commandments of God.

Ecclesiastes 12:13 Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

Deuteronomy 11:1 Therefore thou shalt love the LORD thy God, and keep his charge, and his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments, always.

Matthew 7:13 “Enter through the narrow gate, because the gate is wide and the way is spacious that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14 But the gate is narrow and the way is difficult that leads to life, and there are few who find it. 15 “Watch out for false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are voracious wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruit. Grapes are not gathered from thorns or figs from thistles, are they? 17 In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree is not able to bear bad fruit, nor a bad tree to bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So then, you will recognize them by their fruit.

Traditional Christianity is not producing the fruit of salvation.

I hope to continue this post and perhaps make it into a series of posts pointing you to the way that does lead to salvation.