Great men of faith.

Hebrews 11:1,2

To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for, to be certain of the things we cannot see.
It was by their faith that people of ancient times won God's approval.


Every man and woman of God mentioned in Hebrews chapter 11 put their faith / trust / hope in a promise made by God.

In Genesis 4:3-7, Abel offered the "fat from the firstlings" of his livestock because he trusted in God's providence. In contrast, his brother Cain brought only "some of the fruits" that he had cultivated. Cain had not done what was right in the sight of God. In Gen. 4:6, God told Cain that if he had done what was right he would have been accepted.

In Genesis 5: 21-24, we read that Enoch walked faithfully with God for 300 years after his first son Methuselah was born. He lived a whole life of trust in God. As a result, he did not die, for God took him away.

In Genesis chapters 6 - 9, Noah put his faith in what God had told him: that there would be a terrible flood to destroy all the earth. Some people believe that Noah took more than a hundred years to build the huge vessel. His faith lasted that long. Heb 11:7 tells us that Noah received righteousness from God because of his great faith in God's "promise" of the flood.

Abraham's faith in God's promises for him was so well-known that it is mentioned not only here in Hebrews chapter11, but also in Romans chapters 3 and 4 and again in James chapter2.

Abraham put his faith in God's promise of a good land and many descendants by leaving his homeland and by waiting many years for his promised son Isaac to be born miraculously in his old age. (Genesis chapters 15 through 21).

So great was his faith in God that he was willing to sacrifice his son on Mount Moriah when God tested him in Genesis 22. Heb.11:11 tells us in a few simple words, "He trusted God to keep his promise."

When Isaac blessed Jacob in Genesis 27 and then Esau in Genesis 28, he did it in faith, believing that God would keep His promises to his children.

Genesis 47:31 tells us that when Jacob asked his son Joseph to swear that he would be buried in the land of his fathers, he, being old and weak, leaned on his staff and worshipped God. Only after that did he proceed to bless his children in Genesis 48 and 49.

Jacob believed in God's promised land for his descendants. In Gen 48:21, he told Joseph, "“I am about to die, but God will be with you and take you back to the land of your fathers"

Then there is the most well known of God's prophets, - Moses, the man who gave Israel the entire Torah of God. From the Book of Exodus through Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy, we read how this great man of God lived his whole life trusting in everything that God has promised to his people.

Beginning with the liberation from slavery in Egypt, the crossing of the Red Sea, to the miraculous receiving of the Torah at Mount Horeb, to the meticulous building of the Tabernacle, through the 40 years of receiving manna from heaven in the wilderness, Moses had only one thing to trust in - the promises of God.

Likewise, all the other people mention in Hebrews 11, people like Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets - each of them put their trust in something that God has promised them.

Now, our God is YHWH, he does not change. Malachi 3:6

Our question today is, "What has YHWH, our Father in Heaven, promised his people today?" Perhaps the answer lies in the words of Peter's message to the household of Cornelius in Acts 10:42,

"He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he (Yeshua of Nazareth) is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead."

Like Noah and Abraham and Moses, we also live by faith in God's promise. For us, it is the promise that God has chosen his holy servant Yeshua the Anointed One, to be our Judge - who will return one day to judge the living and the dead.

Let us be like the believers in Thessalonica, who
- turned to God from idols
- to serve the living and true God,
- to wait for his son from heaven
- whom God raised from the dead,
- the son Yeshua, who delivers us from the wrath to come.
( 1 Thessalonians 1: 9,10)

Absolute certainties.

The Epistle to the Romans contain a series of emphatic assertions written in the words, "Certainly not!" (NKJV). Beginning with chapter six, we see:

Romans 6:1,2a NKJV

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not!

Romans 6:15

What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!

Romans 7:7

What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! . . .

Romans 7:12,13

. . . the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.

Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not!

Romans 9:14

What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not!

Finally, let's return to Romans 3:31

Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.

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Each of the above assertions, expressed emphatically in the NKJV as, "Certainly not!" are absolute invariants, completely undeniable and non-negotiable. Under no circumstances are they to be changed, modified or watered-down in any way whatsoever. 

These assertions are sign posts that stand out among all the explanation, reasoning and arguments presented by Paul in Romans chapters 3 to 9, alerting the reader to the real meaning behind all the polemics written therein.

Thus the teaching in Romans chapter 5 that righteous act of one man - the Anointed One - by the grace of God, is a free gift of justification to all people, is guarded by the absolute sign post of Romans 6:1 and 6:15, that we shall certainly not sin just because we are justified under such grace from God.

Likewise, the teaching in Romans chapter 7 that through the body of the Anointed One we have been released from the penalty of the Torah, that we have "died to the Law" is guarded by the unchangeable sign-post of Romans 7:7 and 7:12, that the Torah is certainly not sin and that it has certainly not brought death to us. Instead, the commandments in the Torah are holy, just and good.

Last, but not least, the teaching in Romans chapter3 that both Jews and Gentiles are justified by faith, apart from the deeds of the Torah, is guarded by the undeniable and immoveable sign-post of Romans 3:31, that we certainly do not make void the Torah through our faith.

Au contraire! We uphold the Torah.

Brothers and sisters, let us beware of false teachings that ignore these sign posts.

YHWH said to my Master.

In his address to devout Jews "from every nation under heaven" on Pentecost Day, Peter explained Psalm 110:1 in this way:

Acts 2:34-36

For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself:

YHWH said to my Master,

“Sit at My right hand,

Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”

Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that GOD HAS MADE this Yeshua, whom you crucified, both Master and the Anointed One.

Yeshua the Anointed One, the Son of Man.

Have we considered how the Apostles describe Yeshua the Anointed One?

Peter preaching on the Day of Pentecost to God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven:
Acts 2: 22-24
“Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a MAN accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This MAN was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But GOD RAISED HIM from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him."

Peter preaching to the household of Cornelius the Centurion at Caesarea:
Acts 10:37,38
You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— how GOD anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because GOD was with him.

Paul preaching to the Areopagites in Athens:
Acts 17:29-31
“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the MAN he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”

Finally,
1 Timothy 2:5
For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the MAN Christ Jesus,

Also, in the last verse of Luke chapter 3, Adam was called the son of God.

Luke 3:38
the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.

If Yeshua the Son of God is God, then was Adam also God Himself?

It is noteworthy that our Master Yeshua referred to himself many times as the son of Man. In Hebrew, this would actually be "son of Adam", who according to Luke is son of God.

This is consistent with Paul explaining that Yeshua is the last Adam,

1 Corinthians 15:45
So it is written: "The first man Adam became a living being"; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit.

God's Son, God's Rest and God's Priest.

Lecture slides presented to a Methodist Youth Fellowship meeting back in 2002:

An overview of Hebrews chapters 1 to 10, entitled:

Teachings for these days.

Please click on the link above.

The Oath and the Promise.

After Avraham successfully passed the test set by God on Mount Moriah, YHWH gave him a promise,

Genesis 22:15-18
The angel of YHWH called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said,
“I swear by myself, declares YHWH, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring [seed] all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me."

There are two immutable things in the word of YHWH in Gen.22:15-18 above i.e. there are two things that cannot be changed after it is declared to Avraham.

The first immutable thing is the promise of YHWH. The promise of YHWH is sure and unchangeable. He does not change His mind.

Num 23:19 ESV
God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?

When YHWH declared to Avraham that He would surely bless him, make his descendants numerous and make all peoples on earth become blessed through his seed, YHWH will not change his declaration. He will not change his words. His promise is immutable.

The second immutable thing is the oath of YHWH. The declaration was made when YHWH swore an oath by Himself, by His own Name. There is no other name higher than the Name YHWH to swear an oath by. The oath confirms the promise. Like the promise, it is also immutable.

The book of Hebrews explains this in chapter 6:

Hebrews 6:13-18
"When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.” And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.
People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, . . ."

Brothers and Sisters, both the promise and the oath made to Avraham in Gen.22 are immutable. They do not change. They cannot be changed. Through the Seed (Offspring) of Avraham, all the peoples on earth will be Blessed.

Let us ponder. Let us ask, "Who is this Seed of Avraham?"

God has done great things in these last days.

The first two chapters of the Book of Hebrews tells us some great things that YHWH our God has done:

Heb 1:2 God has spoken by His Son.

Heb 1:2 God has appointed His Son the heir of all things.

Heb 1:4 God has given to His Son a much more excellent name than that of angels.

Heb 1:9 God is the God of His Son. God has anointed His Son with the oil of gladness. (Ps.45:7)

Heb 1:13 The Son of God sits at the right hand of God and waits for God to make his enemies his footstool. (Ps.110:1)

Further on in Hebrews chapter 2, we find:

Heb 2:4 God has born witness to the words spoken by His Son with signs and wonders, miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Heb 2:5 God did not put the world to come in subjection to angels.

Heb 2:8 Instead, God is putting all things, leaving out nothing, under subjection to His Son. (Ps.8:4-6). This is still ongoing, for now we do not yet see all things under him.

Heb.2:10 God, for whom and by whom all things are made, makes His Son the captain of salvation, perfect through sufferings in order to bring many sons to glory.

Heb 2:11 The Son of God is one with those whom he has sanctified. As such, he is not ashamed to call them his brethren. (Ps. 22:22)

Heb 2:13 The Son of God will put his trust in God (2 Sam.22:3, Is.8:17)

Heb 2:13b The Son of God calls his brethren "the children whom God has given me" (Is.8:18)

Heb 2:17 The Son is a merciful and faithful high priest in all things .pertaining to God.

From Hebrews chapters 1 and 2 alone, we can see that the Son is not God and that God is not the Son.

God has done great things indeed. Blessed be the name of YHWH our God.

The Master Yeshua honoured God.

A summary of what I had elaborated on in my earlier post written two years ago,
Jesus honoured God, His Father.

The words of Yeshua the Anointed One recorded in John chapter 8 tell us that:
(1) God sent him.
v16 - My judgments come from me and from the Father who sent me.
v29 - He who sent me is with me. He doesn’t leave me by myself, because I always do what makes him happy.
v42 - Jesus replied, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God. Here I am. I haven’t come on my own. God sent me".

(2) God spoke to him.
v26b - The one who sent me is true, and what I have heard from him I tell the world.
v38 - I’m telling you what I’ve seen when I am with the Father
v40a - Instead, you want to kill me, though I am the one who has spoken the truth I heard from God.

(3) He honoured God and God glorified him.
v49 - 49 “I don’t have a demon,” Jesus replied. “But I honor my Father and you dishonor me.
v50 - I’m not trying to bring glory to myself. There’s one who is seeking to glorify me, and he’s the judge.
v54 - Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is meaningless. My Father, who you say is your God, is the one who glorifies me.

Blessed be the Name of YHWH our Father in Heaven.

Through this man is forgiveness declared.

Paul spoke to both Jews and Gentiles in the synagogue at Pisidian Antioch on a Shabbat day:

Acts 13:38,39 YLT

Let it therefore be known to you, men, brethren, that through this one ("this man") to you is the forgiveness of sins declared, and from all things from which ye were not able in the law of Moses to be declared righteous, in this one every one who is believing is declared righteous;

What are those "all things" from which we cannot be declared righteous under the Torah of Moshe?

Let us consider the following examples:

(1) King David acknowledged that no one can be considered righteous before YHWH

Psalm 143:1,2 CJB

(YHWH), hear my prayer;

listen to my pleas for mercy.

In your faithfulness, answer me,

and in your righteousness.

Don’t bring your servant to trial,

since in your sight no one alive

would be considered righteous.

(2) King David also acknowledged this in a song of ascents

Psalm 130:3,4 CJB

Yah, if you kept a record of sins,

who, Adonai, could stand?

But with you there is forgiveness,

so that you will be feared.

(3) The Preacher, son of David, wrote in Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes 7:20 YLT

Because there is not a righteous man on earth that doth good and sinneth not.

(4) King Solomon, in his Prayer of Dedication, said

1 Kings 8:46 ESV

If they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you are angry with them . . .

The Gospel of God.

Paul, Sylvanius and Timothy commended the disciples at Thessalonika for their good testimony, on how they had

- turned to God from idols
- to serve the living and true God,
- to wait for his son from heaven
- whom God raised from the dead,
- the son Yeshua, who delivers us from the wrath to come.
- 1 Thessalonians 1: 9,10

To turn away from idols, to serve the living and true God, to wait for His son from heaven, the son whom He raised from the dead, who will deliver us from the wrath to come.

This is the gospel of God which Paul, Sylvanius and Timothy preached.

1 Thessalonians 2:2
But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict.

1 Thessalonians 2:8
So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.

1 Thessalonians 2:9
For you remember, brothers, our labour and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.

The Power of the Father's Name

Dear Christian brothers and sisters, How often do we remember the Name of our God?

In Matthew 6:9, the Master Yeshua told his disciples that they should pray to God like this,
"Our Father in heaven! May your Name be kept holy. . . "

In John 5:43, the Master told the Judeans who opposed him,
" I have come in my Father’s Name, and you don’t accept me; if someone else comes in his own name, him you will accept."

And in John 17:6, our Master said in his prayer to the Only True God, "I made Your Name known to the people you gave me out of the world."

Again in John 17:11, the Master Yeshua prayed for his disciples, "Now I am no longer in the world. They are in the world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, guard them by the power of Your Name,"

Likewise in John 17:12, he prayed, " When I was with them, I guarded them by the power of Your Name, which you have given to me; "

Finally in John 17:26, our Master Yeshua reiterated, "I made Your Name known to them, and I will continue to make it known; so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I myself may be united with them".

May God our Father in Heaven guard us by the power of His Name, the Name of Adonai YHWH. Let us remember His Holy Name always.

The Gate, The Cornerstone and The Blessed One

Prophecies from Psalm 118 fulfilled. All quotes from the Complete Jewish Bible.

Psalm 118:19-20
Open the gates of righteousness for me;
I will enter them and thank Yah.
This is the gate of Adonai;
the righteous can enter it.

John 10:7-10
Yeshua said to them again, “Yes, indeed! I tell you that I am the gate for the sheep. All those who have come before me have been thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. I am the gate; if someone enters through me, he will be safe and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only in order to steal, kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, life in its fullest measure.
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Psalm 118:21-23
I am thanking you because you answered me;
you became my salvation.
The very rock that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone!
This has come from Adonai,
and in our eyes it is amazing.

Matthew 21:42-46
Yeshua said to them, “Haven’t you ever read in the Tanakh,

‘The very rock which the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone!
This has come from Adonai,
and in our eyes it is amazing’?[i]

Therefore, I tell you that the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to the kind of people that will produce its fruit!” 44 [j] As the head cohanim and the P’rushim listened to his stories, they saw that he was speaking about them. But when they set about to arrest him, they were afraid of the crowds; because the crowds considered him a prophet.
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Psalm 118:24-26
This is the day Adonai has made,
a day for us to rejoice and be glad.
Please, Adonai! Save us!
Please, Adonai! Rescue us!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of Adonai.
We bless you from the house of Adonai.

Luke 13:34-35
“Yerushalayim! Yerushalayim! You kill the prophets! You stone those who are sent to you! How often I wanted to gather your children, just as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, but you refused! Look! God is abandoning your house to you! I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of Adonai!’”
(see also Matt.21:9)
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