Jehoshua is on the throne of David in New Jerusalem and He is the King of a New Israel
Here in part 3 we will look at 1st John chapter 4, we will go verse by verse starting with verse one:
“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”Whenever anyone preaches or teachings concerning spiritual things they bring a spirit with that teaching. The question is what spirit do they bring with them? There are only two options, the spirit of Messiah or the spirit of anti-Messiah. John says that we are to try the spirits just as Jehoshua says in Revelation when He commends the church at Ephesus (Rev 2:2) for trying those who say they are apostles. The spirit of anti-Messiah is brought by the false prophets John mentions here that we are to watch out for and test. John says there are many false prophets, This is important to understand as people often look at the mainstream Church (RCC,EOC/Protestantism/Evangelicalism) as having true orthodox doctrine and that the false prophets are the little offshoot cults. However, the truth is that John says the number of false prophets would be many not a few thereby by their very number mainstream Christianity fits the bill as being those many false prophets. Elsewhere in scripture the true church is pictured as a remnant (residue, rest of any number, rest of the things that remain) (Rev 12:17). Of course, it is not just the mainstream church has the majority of members that make it a false version of Christianity but it is their very doctrines that make it anti-Messiah. Verse 2 of 1 John chapter 4: “Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God” Many say here that John is addressing the heresy of Gnosticism which taught a less than fully human Jehoshua or that He wasn’t human at but simply appeared to be. Surprisingly the mainstream Church teaches a form of Gnostisicm in that they may teach a fully human Messiah but they add on that He is also fully God. This is called the hypostatic union doctrine in that the Messiah is 100 percent human and 100 percent God at the same time. This is within the framework of the trinity doctrine. While they give lip service to His humanity this doctrine ends up attacking the very humanity of Jehoshua which is essential to His identity as the Davidic Messiah. The doctrine of the trinity has resulted in the mainstream Church dethroning the Father as God and obscuring the Davidic lineage of Jehoshua. This doctrine teaches that Jehoshua came down from heaven as a spirit being who is one third of a triune god and entered into the womb of Mary as a God baby. This is the very definition of anti-messiah which denies that Jehoshua came fully in the flesh as a pure human being with a 100 percent human DNA. Any alteration or addition to Jehoshua’s humanity is anti-Messiah and violates the doctrine of Messiah as even Paul states that Jehoshua is human even while in heaven (1 Timothy 2:5). The Spirit of God confesses the absolute humanity of Messiah whereas the spirit of anti-Messiah takes away, alters or adds to it. Verse 3 of 1 John chapter 4: “and every spirit that confesseth not Jehoshua is not of God: and this is the spirit of the antimessiah, whereof ye have heard that it cometh; and now it is in the world already” This would mean that anyone who does not confess the true testimony about Jehoshua, whether His true identity as Son and Messiah of God or the truth of His ministry. The spirit of antimessiah was already in the world at the time John wrote this, however it does seem like the apostles taught that there was a greater manifestation of this spirit to come. Today we have a huge manifestation of the spirit of antimessiah with the synagogue of Satan, religious Judaism, rising in power and influence as well as the rise of atheism in the west. Both of these systems deny that Jehoshua is the Messiah and Son of God. Verse 4 of 1 John 4 “ Ye are of God, my little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.” Greater are those who have the Spirit of Christ in them than those who have the spirit of antichrist. John says that we have already overcome the world. Those who overcome the world are those who confess Jesus. Those who don’t confess Jesus have the spirit of antichrist in them and they are already defeated. Verse 5 of 1 John 4 “They are of the world: therefore speak they as of the world, and the world heareth them.” Those deny Christ are of the world and they speak the world’s principles and morals. The world loves it’s own therefore they embrace teachings and ideologies that are antichrist . spoken by those that have that spirit within them. Again, the definition of a child of God is one who confesses Christ and therefore has His Spirit. Those who are not children of God do not confess Christ and have the spirit of antichrist. Verse 6 of 1 John 4 “ We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he who is not of God heareth us not. By this we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.” The spirit of truth heeds and follows the doctrine of the apostles, those that don’t follow the apostles doctrine have the spirit of antichrist which is a spirit of error. The spirit of error is the spirit of the world with its philosophies chief of which is a denial of Christ in terms of His identity and testimony. Verses 7-8 of 1 John 4 7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is begotten of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. Those who love God and also their fellow brothers and sisters in the faith show evidence that they are begotten of God. This shows that to be God’s begotten son does not necessitate being literally God’s offspring in a physical sense but rather to be His offspring spiritually, which takes place by receiving the Spirit of Jehovah from above. Verses 9-10 of 1 John 4 9 Herein was the love of God manifested in us, that God hath sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. When someone asks, how does God love us? Tell them that the manifest evidence of His love is in the fact that He gave us His only begotten Son Jesus to be a ransom sacrifice for us so that we may the life Christ lived during His ministry and also to have eternal life in the age to come. The way of the Son of God on this earth is to have peace that surpasses all understanding as His life exemplified love and we are to live out His teachings which are rooted in love. God loved us before we loved Him, this shows the heart of our Father in heaven in that while we were sinners He still loved us. John says that Jehoshua is the propitiation for our sins which means He is the mercyseat for our sins. This proves that upon His ascension Jehoshua sprinkled His blood on the mercyseat in heaven. This was done once a year on the day of atonement in the earthy sanctuary by the Levitical high priest as he would go into the holy of holies and sprinkle the blood of animals (bull for the priest and his household and goat for Israel as sin offerings) to provide atonement for the people of Israel. The day of atonement sacrifice was most holy unto Jehovah (Exodus 30:10). Jehoshua fulfilled the day of atonement by sprinkling His blood on the mercyseat just as the priest did in the typical day of atonement. This is why He told Mary not to touch Him after His resurrection as He had not ascended to His God and her God. He had to sprinkle His blood upon the mercyseat to atone for the nation of Israel’s sins. We as Gentiles receive this atonement when we repent and put our faith in the blood of the Son of God. We then are grafted into the commonwealth of Israel. The ethnic Israelites who receive this atoning sacrifice by faith as well as Gentiles comprise the Israel of God (Galatians 6:6-16). If the day of atonement sacrifice of a bull and a goat was most holy to Jehovah then the sacrifice of His Son is super holy. Hebrews 9:11-13 11 But Christ having come a high priest of the good things to come, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation, 12 nor yet through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, entered in once for all into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling them that have been defiled, sanctify unto the cleanness of the flesh: 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish unto God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? The above passage is clear that Jehoshua’s sacrifice was once and for all meaning there is never ever a need for any animal sacrifice in the future. I bring this up because it is part of the antimessiah doctrine to minimize the blood of the Son of God’s complete effectiveness once and for all. There are many churches that teach there will be animal sacrifices in some future millennium and they actually promote it as a good thing. They actually also support the Jews in their desire for a third temple for the purpose of sacrificing animals. This is a doctrine of devils as it proves some other way of atonement besides the blood of God’s Son. The synagogue of Satan (rabbinic and Talmudic Judaism) reject the true Messiah’s blood and seek to be atoned by animal’s blood thereby trampling on the blood of the only begotten Son. The worst part of this is that many so called Christians, Hebrew roots and Messianic Jews are in support of this and call anyone who opposes it anti-semitic. This antimessiah doctrine wants people to go back to an imperfect tabernacle with the blood of imperfect animals conducted by an imperfect priest that cannot make the conscience clean. This is a cheap counterfeit to the perfect sacrifice with the precious blood of Messiah who is an eternal High Priest of a better order than Levi in the better and original tabernacle in heaven. Unlike the Levitical priests Jehoshua only had to go in once to the holy of holies to provide atonement. Also unlike the Levitical Priests Messiah conduct His priesthood on a throne as King. To minimize in any the Messiah’s perfect blood atonement by saying that we will go back to animal sacrifices or encouraging Jews to do them in a rebuilt temple is antichrist to the core. Verse 11 of 1 John 4: “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” We have no excuse not to love each other as brethren since God loved us even when we were sinners. Verses 12-13 of 1 John 4: 12 No man hath beheld God at any time: if we love one another, God abideth in us, and his love is perfected in us: 13 hereby we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have beheld and bear witness that the Father hath sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. John later says as we shall see that the love of God is in keeping His commandments. The spirit of antichrist in the churches says that God’s commandments are not necessary to keep and are down away with. The apostolic church bears witness that the Father sent the Son to be the savior of the world, the antichrist spirit denies this including Jews that claim that Jehoshua is not the Messiah of God. They are trying to gain salvation outside of Messiah making them thieves and robbers. Verse 15 of 1 John 4: “15 Whosoever shall confess that Jehoshua is the Son of God, God abideth in him, and he in God.” The synagogue of Satan i.e. rabbinic and Talmudic Judaism denies that Jehoshua is the Son of God thereby they do not have God abiding in them. Those who confess that Jehoshua is the Son of God have the holy spirit and are in covenant with God. This is not merely a verbal confession for even the demons believe but rather it is a loyalty to that truth. It is having faith (fidelity) in the Sonship of Jehoshua that brings you God’s Spirit and brings into covenant with God. The “whosoever” phrase shows that this covenant relationship is open to anyone as long as they have true faith (fidelity) in the Sonship of Jehoshua. The Sonship of Jehoshua is rooted in the Davidic covenant (2 samuel 7) and this is the kryptonite for Rabbinc/Talmudic Judaism as they are still waiting for their messiah yet the seed of David no longer exists on this earth. Modern Judaism is antichrist because they deny the Sonship of the Messiah thereby they do not have a relationship with God nor have His Spirit in them. Verses 16 and 17 of 1 John 4: 16 And we know and have believed the love which God hath [c]in us. God is love; and he that abideth in love abideth in God, and God abideth in him. 17 Herein is love made perfect with us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as he is, even so are we in this world. Again, the love of God is defined by His commandments (1 John 5:2) and those who keep them love God and their brethren. God’s commandments were given to us through His Son Jehoshua on the sermon on the mount. Jehoshua’s teachings show us how to love God and our fellow man. God’s love is not defined by man-made religious traditions and rituals including those of rabbinic/Talmudic Judaism. When man tries to justify himself before God with religious rituals including those that have been abrogated in the new covenant they are taking the easy route because they do not want to deny themselves and follow the love teachings of the Son of God. When we follow the teachings of Jehoshua and love God and our fellowman we can have boldness in the day of judgment as the standard for us will be if we followed the love teachings of Jehoshua. Systematic theology will not get you into the Kingdom. While the Messiah rejecting Jew tries to justify himself through rabbinic man-made traditions and abrogated rituals of the law of Moses, the love of God revealed is that He sent His only begotten Son into the world to save it and reconcile it back to the Father (1 John 4:9). The love of God manifests itself in those that believe Jehoshua died for our sins and was the final atoning sacrifice. The synagogue of Stan denies this precious truth. Verses 18 and 19 of 1 John 4: 18 There is no fear in love: but perfect love casteth out fear, because fear hath punishment; and he that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19 We love, because he first loved us.” Love and fear are opposites, when one loves it shows that they have the Spirit of God in them. When someone fears it shows that they are exhibiting the spirit of antichrist. When we walk in the commandments of God we can be assured that we are made perfect in love. When we break God’s commandments we then fear the punishment of God. Those who are righteous walk in the perfect love of God, those who aren’t portray God out of His character. This is why the lie of Calvinism is so dangerous as they portray God as a monster who doesn’t love everyone which causes its adherents to walk in fear. Calvinism is a doctrine of antichrist that portrays God as God of fear rather than a God of love thereby its adherents are consumed whether or not they are of the elect and worry incessantly over it as if they are not they believe God has predetermined them for the lake of fire to suffer torment forever. Although it is biblical to fear God it is not biblical to have a petrified type of fear but more of a reverence type fear as our heavenly Father. Verses 20 and 21 of 1 John 4: 20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, cannot love God whom he hath not seen. 21 And this commandment have we from him, that he who loveth God love his brother also.” The true sign that someone loves God is that he loves his brethren as John makes it clear that if you have seen your brother but don’t love him, how can you love God who you have not seen. This is because our brothers and sisters in the faith are extensions of God having been made in His image and begotten as His children into His Kingdom. Even unbelievers are made in God’s image and we are commanded to love them by the Son of God. Jehoshua’s sermon on the mount doctrine gave us commandments in how to love God and our neighbor. The synagogue of Satan i.e. Talmudic and rabbinic Judaism makes a mockery of God and His love due to their despising of Palestinians and Muslims and Christians. They preach a ethnic superiority doctrine and our okay with b ringing fire down upon their enemies through War in order to preserve Jerusalem and the land of Israel as being theirs. This is another reason rabbinic and Talmudic Judaism are antichrist becaue they lack the teue biblical love of God.
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Part 7 of the gospel in Acts
Acts 16:13 "And on the sabbath day we went forth without the gate by a river side, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down, and spake unto the women that were come together" Here we see that the Sabbath is a holy day that Paul is still keeping after the cross. The distinctness and the specialness of the Sabbath is very apparent even after the cross. Acts 16:14-15 14And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple of the city of Thyatira, one that worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened to give heed unto the things which were spoken by Paul.15And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide [there]. And she constrained us. Jehovah God opened the heart of Lydia and she and her household were baptized. This shows us two things, one that it is God who saves and moves people to accept the gospel and two, that baptism immediately follows conversion. Acts 16:19-21 19But when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they laid hold on Paul and Silas, and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers,20and when they had brought them unto the magistrates, they said, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,21and set forth customs which it is not lawful for us to receive, or to observe, being Romans. In the context of the above passage, Paul cast a demon out of a woman who had been following them. Since she could no longer be a tool of her masters for gain, Paul and Silas were brought before the magistrates at Philipi. This passage is also key and could easily be missed. Notice that the men point out that Paul and Silas are Jews and that they are troubling the city by intoducing customs which are not lawful for Romans to observe. What customs would these be? Some will say the Sabbath and feast days but likely it is the same thing that was being preached all through the book of Acts. It is likely the anointing, ministry, death, resurrection, ascension and enthronement of the Son of God. Why would the men say these things are not lawful for Romans to observe? Acts 17 gives us the answer: 6And when they found them not, they dragged Jason and certain brethren before the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;7whom Jason hath received: and these all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another King, one Jehoshua. Here is the answer, just a chapter later we see that Jason is dragged before the rulers of Thessalonica and the Jews accuse them of turning the world upside down which was true. But what was it that they were preaching that was turning the world upside down which was also unlawful for Romans to observe? Verse 7 of Acts 17 gives us the answer: "Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jehoshua." The doctrine that the apostles were teaching that was against the law of the Roman empire was that there was a King besides and instead of Caesar and that was Jehoshua. This was a political statement by the Church. Some ministries teach that the doctrine that the apostles were teaching that was contrary to Caesar was the law of Moses but that is not found here. The doctrine that offended the Roman empire was the Kingship of Jehoshua Messiah. The Roman empire held that Caesar was a divine king a son of God. These were titles that the Messianic's were ascribing to the Messiah. In effect, the Church was saying that Caesar was not their king. Although the early Church believed in respect for authority they gave their allegiance only to Jehoshua and His Father. Acts 16:22-23 22And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent their garments off them, and commanded to beat them with rods.23And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: For teaching that there was another King, one Jehoshua, Paul and the brethren were beaten with rods and cast into prison. The idea that the true King was Jehoshua and not Caesar so offended the Macedonian leaders that they rent their clothes. This was a similar response to the Pharisees and other Jewish religious leaders when Jehoshua stated that He was the Son of God and King of Israel which are Kingship titles. The early Church was getting hit from both sides of the fence. On on one side, we have the Jews who rejected Jehoshua as the Messiah and Davidic King because He didn't come in the form they wanted. On the other side were the pagan Gentiles in the Roman empire who counted Caesar as their king and also worshipped false gods. Amazingly, this type of persecution against Christians happens today around the world as they reject the sovereignty of government rulers and claim allegiance solely to the Son of God. In America, the Churches have largely forgotten this and have sided with the Caesar's of the Republican and democratic parties. They still claim the Son of God but their allegiance is divided. If the Church wants to get back to fervor of the 1st century Church they must get back to proclaiming they have no King but Jehoshua. Acts 17:1-3 1Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:2and Paul, as his custom was, went in unto them, and for three sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures,3opening and alleging that it behooved the Christ to suffer, and to rise again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom, said he, I proclaim unto you, is the Christ. Again, the Sabbath was set apart day to preach the gospel. The apostles everyday but the Sabbath clearly had a significance different than other days. Let's see what Paul preached. He preached that Jehoshua had to suffer so that He can rise again and that He is the Messiah. Paul preaches the same message that Peter preached in Acts 2, the passion of the Messiah, his death, resurrection and Kingship. When Paul says that Jehoshua is the Messiah He also means "He is the King". The title "Messiah" is a Kingship title belonging to the Israelite King. This is consistent gospel message of the apostolic Church i.e. the suffering, death, resurrection and enthronement as Davidic King of Jehoshua. This is what Paul preached to the Jews in Thessalonica. How do we know that the preaching of Jehoshua being the Messiah meant He was King? Because just a few verses later Jason who was housing Paul and the others was brought before the rulers of the city and was accused of the following in chapter 17: 5But the Jews, being moved with jealousy, took unto them certain vile fellows of the rabble, and gathering a crowd, set the city on an uproar; and assaulting the house of Jason, they sought to bring them forth to the people. 6And when they found them not, they dragged Jason and certain brethren before the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;7whom Jason hath received: and these all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jehoshua. This was the message that was turning the world upside down, which is that there was another King besides Caesar. This King is Jehoshua and the Church was preaching that He was the King. This was against the law of the Roman empire who held that Caesar was the only rightful King. This was considered treasonous against Rome. The Kingship of Jehoshua was the custom that was unlawful for the Romans to observe noted in Acts 16:20-21. The customs that the apostolic Church was teaching was unlawful for Romans to observe was not the law of Moses because people were allowed to go to synagogue and they generally had religious freedom. A Roman citizen could lawfully convert to "Judaism". The Kingship of Jehoshua was tied into the Davidic covenant. You cannot separate one from the other. The message of the Davidic covenant being fulfilled, in that one of David's offspring would be raised up to establish the the throne and Kingdom of David forever, was the message that was turning the world upside down. Acts 17:22-24 22Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.23For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. Onto the next sermon, here Paul adresses people of Athens. He was stirred in his heart regarding the idolatry that they partook of. The people of Athens thought Paul was preaching a strange new doctrine when he preached to them Jehoshua: Acts 17:18 "Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jehoshua, and the resurrection." The philosophers of Athens thought Paul was preaching some strange teaching (doctrine). The doctrine Paul was preaching was Jehoshua which entails His earthly ministry, teachings and identity and also His resurrection. This is the overlying theme of the message in Acts which is that Jehoshua is the resurrected Messianic King. Let's look at verses 22-24, we see here a good example of how to preach the gospel to people who are caught up in other religions. Paul knows that these people are in idolatry, however rather than blast them for that he acknowledges their devout spirituality but then tells them that it is misplaced. Paul does point out that they are worshipping in ignorance but he stops short of calling them idolaters. Acts 17;24-25 24God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;25Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; Paul then goes on to declare who God is and He is the creator of all things and dismisses the idea that He can be contained in man made temples or be relegated to a physical object to be worshipped. Paul says that God is the giver of life to all things. Acts 17:26-27 26And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;27That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: Paul says that God has made all nations of one blood which refutes any ideas of racial superiority. Very importantly Paul says that God is very near to us & engages with His creation. Paul puts the onus on humans to seek after God. This refutes the idea of the Calvinist predestination. The God of the bible is a near God contrary to the Plantoic idea that God is far from us and distant so much so that He needs an intermediary to interact with us and that this intermediary is the one who involves himself with God's creation. Acts 17:28-32 28For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.29Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.30And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:31Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.32And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter. Paul refers to the poets of Athens and how they acknowledged that we as humans have our life due to God. We as human beings are the offspring of God denoting that He created us. This does not mean that we are all children of God as that comes via spiritual begetting from above. Notice that Paul's sermon here is not one where he is castigating the Athenians but rather he appeals to their spirituality while at the same time directing them to have a more accurate understanding of who God is. Because we are made in the image of God we should not think of God in terms of silver and gold and other inanimate objects. Paul's statement that God winks at ignorance is important to remember because He doesn't condemn those who are ignorant but rather winks at it. This shows us that God is a God of love therefore we should not condemn those who have been ignorant of Him to the lake of fire. However, He does command those once ignorant to repent when they hear the gospel of the Kingdom preached. Verse 31 of Acts 17, Paul says that there is a day (one day) that God will judge the world with righteousness being the standard by a man (Jehoshua) He (God) has ordained. Let's unpack a bit this part of verse 31: Paul says that the day of judgment is one day not two days separated by a thousand years. This agrees with Jehoshua as well and the prophets who say the resurrection of the just and unjust takes place simultaneously. God will judge the world by a man showing that Jehoshua is fully human. This shows that God and Jehoshua are two separate distinct beings. God is God and Jehoshua is a man. God is a Spirit and not a man according to the bible. Jehoshua is a man who is of the seed of David. The fact that Jehoshua will sit on the judgment seat does not mean He is God but Paul makes it clear He is a man. This is true Christology. This agrees with the old testament prophets and the new testament apostles that the Messiah is a man (1 Timothy 2:5). Paul says God ordained Jehoshua showing that Jehoshua was given privileges by God and did not have them inherently. This ordaining took place at Jehoshua's baptism which is the first time He is described as being full of the Spirit. Now lets look at the second part of verse 31, Paul says that God raised Jehoshua from the dead. There is no scripture that says the trinity raised Jehoshua from the dead but rather the witness of scripture agrees that the Father raised Him from the dead. Jehoshua being raised from the dead is our assurance that there will be a future resurrection which is the hope of all those who believe in the gospel. Verse 32, of course some mocked the resurrection but others were willing to hear it at some other time. This is what happens when we preach the gospel of the Kingdom, some will mock and some will be interested. Paul shows us how to preach the gospel to unbelievers in that we shouldn't condemn them but rather direct them to an accurate understanding of God. We are also to exalt the man Jehoshua and that He is ordained by God to judge the world at the last day. The resurrection should be preached as the hope not dying and going to heaven. Jehoshua being raised from the dead by the Father should be at the centerpoint of our preaching. Acts 18:1-5 1 After these things he departed from Athens, and came to Corinth.2 And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, a man of Pontus by race, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome: and he came unto them;3 and because he was of the same trade, he abode with them, and they wrought, for by their trade they were tentmakers.4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded Jews and Greeks.5 But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was constrained by the word, testifying to the Jews that Jehoshua was the Messiah. Oftentimes when we are sent to preach the gospel we must be willing to work with our own hands as Paul did. There should never be a time when a preacher of the gospel lives rich off the gospel and demand that people support him. Again, Paul preaches the gospel on the Sabbath day in the synagogue to both Jews and Gentiles. Gentiles who were fearers of God or proselytes went to hear the word of God on the Sabbath. They did not have a separate day of worship on Sunday. Paul's message was rooted in Jehoshua being the Messiah i.e. anointed one of God. As he did at Berea Paul would have proved this by the old testament as those were the only scriptures that the Messianic's had at this point in history. In order for Paul to prove Jehoshua's Messiahship he would have had to refer to the Davidic covenant and other Davidic Messianic passages. He also would have had to show that Jehoshua was from the line of David. This is something many modern Christians ignore or are unable to do because of the severe lack of emphasis placed on it by mainstream Christendom. Acts 18:8 "And Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized" This shows that upon belief/faith in the gospel baptism is suppose to immediately follow. The idea that baptism is to wait after a period of instruction is unbiblical and a man made tradition. Acts 18:9-11 9 And the Lord said unto Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak and hold not thy peace:10 for I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to harm thee: for I have much people in this city.11 And he dwelt [there] a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. Paul was instructed to be bold in preaching the word and not to hold his tongue. This is also for us as well. Paul was in Corinth teaching "the word of God" for a year and a half. Remember, at this time there was no canonized bible as we know it today. The new testament had not been written yet. This shows that the "word of God" does not refer to the bible itself but rather is short hand for the gospel of the Kingdom.(Acts 28:31). Acts 18;28 "for he powerfully confuted the Jews, [and that] publicly, showing by the scriptures that Jehoshua was the Messiah." This was Apollos who was a Jew and confounded the Jews by showing from the scriptures that Jehoshua was the Messiah. Again, we need to see the overwhelming witness in scripture that the Apostles doctrine was that Jehoshua was the Messiah not God. To be the Messiah means you are God's anointed King not God Himself. Also, note that in order to prove the Messiahship of Jehoshua Apollos had to use the old testament. This means he would have to refer to the covenant God made with David and other Davidic Messianic passages. Part 2 of why Anabaptism?
Now let's look at the Hebrew roots movement. This movement began likely with a right concern that much of the American Church had become lawless & taught lawless doctrine. They indeed recovered some precious truths that had been lost and/or denied. The return to keeping the Sabbath and honoring the feast days was indeed a good thing. However, just because a movement has some good in it doesn't mean it's a biblical movement. The Hebrew roots folks teach that we as new covenant believers are still under the law of Moses. There are about 613 laws & they teach that we are to keep all of them that apply to us as of course some apply only to men or only to women. The fact that there is no temple or Levitical priesthood doesn't bother their view too much as they say just keep the laws as best you can or try your best as "we are in the diaspora". This mindset leads to an emphasis on Moses rather than Jehoshua. They look at Moses as the source of doctrine rather than Jehoshua. For the Hebrew roots crowd, Jehoshua was simply a Moses revivalist preacher. Scripture however refutes this idea that we are to emphasize the teachings of Moses at the expense of Jehoshua: Hebrews 3:3-6 3For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house.4For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.5And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;6But Messiah as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. The author of Hebrews wants to make it clear that Jehoshua is superior to Moses in that Moses was a servant in the earthly tabernacle of God. Moses served the people of Israel as God's servant. Jehoshua is God's Son & is over His house which He built which is the church and God's temple. This fulfilled the prophecy in Zechariah 6:9-15 where it says that the Branch of David would build the temple of Jehovah & bear it's glory. Moses didn't bear the glory of the earthly tabernacle. Jehoshua has a higher position than Moses does. Moses was a servant whereas Jehoshua is the heir, the only begotten Son of God. Therefore, Jehoshua has authority to give law for the house that is His & that law does not have to be an exact replica of the one Moses, being servant, gave. 1 Samuel 2:35 was a prophecy that God would raise up a faithful high priest and build Him a sure house. Moses was not high priest in the tabernacle of God but Jehoshua is the high priest in the heavenly sanctuary. In Isaiah 42:4 it says: "He will not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set justice in the earth; and the isles shall wait for his law" This is a prophesy in regards to Jehovah's elect servant in that the nations would wait for His law. This shows that the law of the future Messiah would be His own meaning that God would indeed give it to Him but it would have a unique Messianic stamp to it. A new covenant would be made which would not be according to the one Jehovah made with Israel at Sinai (Jeremiah 31:31-34). In the sermon on the mount, Jehoshua utters the phrase "you have heard it said" multiple times showing that He is revising what was previous stated as being law. He is not contradicting the previous given law but rather revising it, giving it's true intent. Going back to the sermon on the mount let's look at a key verse used by the Hebrew roots movement that they pin their hermeneutic on. Matthew 5 17 Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I came not to destroy, but to fulfil.18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law, till all things be accomplished.19Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven Verse 17, most Christians acknowledge that Jehoshua didn't destroy the law. The disagreement is, how did He fulfill the law. Most Christians agree that Jehoshua kept the law but disagree on what fulfill means in terms of this passage. Does fulfill mean He completed the law and therefore brought it to a close? or does it mean He performed the law therefore we must also? Or does it mean He fufilled the law by performing it and also bringing it to it's true spiritual intent? Of the three questions posed, one and three are correct. Jehoshua completed the old covenant law bringing it to a close by performing it and through His actions and words bringing it to it's true meaning and spirit. Verse 18, Jehoshua says one jot and tittle shall not pass away from the law till all be fulfilled and heaven and earth pass away. Now this is the sticking point as Hebrew roots folks will use this verse to promote the necessity of keeping all the law of Moses. Again, at face value one can see why they come to this conclusion. However, if this is so why aren't we sacrificing animals and stoning people? The Hebrew roots crowd as to ignore the book of Hebrews which says there has been a change in the law: Hebrews 7:12 "For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law." There are a bevy of scriptures in the new testament that clearly show that we are in a new covenant and not under the law of Moses. The above passage from Hebrew is in respect to the animal sacrifices, Levitical priesthood and temple system of worship. This is actually a huge change in the law as Israel's religious society and worship was centered on these things. This then should cause the Hebrew roots crowd to reevaluate their understanding of Matthew 5:17-19. So why should no jot and tittle pass from the law until heaven and earth pass away? Because the law is just, holy and good and it is an object lesson of the better and more glorious new covenant which is in Messiah. The law points people to Messiah and is a tutor to bring us into the adoption as sons and daughters of God. Not only that, Jehoshua's statement above shows that He holds the old testament scriptures as authoritative. Also, the Acts 15 Jerusalem council makes it clear that the Gentile believers were not to be put under the law of Moses as to do so would be to tempt Jehovah God. In fact, Peter says they (Jewish) believers were to be saved by the grace of God just like the Gentiles. This decision made by the council was never overturned or altered and restated later by James in the book of Acts. Ephesians 2 also shows us that the carnal ordinances of the old covenant have been done away: 14For he is our peace, who made both one, and brake down the middle wall of partition,15having abolished in the flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; that he might create in himself of the two one new man, [so] making peace; The law of commandments contained in ordinances is related to the temple system of worship as the middle wall of partition is speaking of the temple in which Gentiles were restricted in terms of entering certain areas. The book of Hebrews shows clearly what these ordinances were that were abolished and that is what I mentioned above which are the animal sacrifices, Levitical priesthood and temple system of worship. The carnal (temporal) ordinances of the old covenant worship system were to vanish away: Hebrews 8:13 "In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away." This then shows that Jehoshua's statement in verse 18 of Matthew 5 does not mean we are to keep every jot and tittle of the law until the new heavens and new earth arrive but rather the law still has it's place. The things that are now abrogated in Messiah serve as an object lesson. Once the new heaven and new earth arrive we will be redeemed and that lesson will no longer be needed as we will have reached perfection. The law serves as a witness of Jehovah God's redemptive program which was reformed when the fullness of time arrived and God sent forth His Son Jehoshua. 2 Corinthians 3:7-11 7But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:8How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?9For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.10For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.11For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious. That which is done away i.e. the Mosaic covenant. Paul says that covenant was indeed glorious but it was a glory that was passing away and temporal. The Jehoshua covenant of the new testament far exceeds the Mosaic one in glory. This begs the question, why does the Hebrew roots movement insist on going back to a glory that is already done away with? It is because of man's tendency to seek justification by religious externals. It is a rejection of a free gift given by Jehovah God through His only begotten Son Jehoshua, which is freedom from the yoke of the Mosaic law and adoption into sonship and daughterhood. 2nd Corinthians 3:12-15 12 Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: 13 And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: 14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Paul clearly says here that the covenant that God instituted with Moses and old testament Israel was abolished, there really is no other way to understand this passage. The children of Israel could not look upon the glory shining on Moses face even though it was temporal and would one day be abolished. In Paul's day many of the Jews still had their Mosaic blinders on by rejecting the Son of God and His new covenant. This is what is happening to the Hebrew roots crowd as they have Mosaic blinders on i.e. a vail upon their heart and they cannot see the glory of the new and better covenant which is built on better promises. Hebrew 8:6-7 6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. The author says that the first covenant was not faultless meaning it was not perfect as the sacrifice of animals could not clear the conscience clean of sin. The Levitical priests were also temporary priests as they would eventually die. Also, they were only allowed in the holy of holies once a year otherwise their priesthood was operated in the holy place standing daily. The new covenant priesthood of Jehoshua is conducted in the holy of holies from the throne of David. You may ask yourself, so what's the big deal? What is wrong with wanting to keeping the Mosaic laws? The problem is in the conclusions one has to arrive at when one puts themselves under the law of Moses. Obviously, once one starts on this road they are gonna want others to go on the same path and that leads to tempting Jehovah as Peter stated in attempting to put a yoke on the disciples neck: Acts 15:10-11 10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?11But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. The other issue is that this leads one to not obey the teachings of Jehoshua outlined in the sermon on the mount.One can look to the law of Moses and justify things that were taught against by Jehoshua such as going to law, swearing oaths, striking back, building up wealth etc. The Hebrew roots people end up reading Jehoshua's teachings through the lens of Moses and it leads to a spiritualization of His commandments. For Hebrew roots folks, the picking up of one's cross is not talked about too much and the focus is more of doing the law of Moses. In fact, one need not pick up his/hers cross too much if they go back to Mosaic law as one certainly find things in the law of Moses that will justify striking back, not loving enemies, taking people to court, swearing, fighting for your rights and your property etc. None of these things I mentioned are bad or evil but it doesn't require cross carrying and that is exactly what Jehoshua left us, the cross! His way is the way of self denial that tells you that if someone takes you to court find a solution on the way or give them your coat as well as the cloak they asked for. His way is to give, not lend, without expecting back as there were provisions for being paid back what you lent in the old covenant system. Jehoshua's way is to turn the other cheek when struck whereas there was provision for self defense in the law of Moses. The Son of God's way is to joyfully accept the plundering of your goods whereas Moses prescribed the right to protect your property. Hebrews 10:34 "For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance." The early church was able to be joyful when they were robbed of their material possessions because they knew they eternal rewards awaiting them in the Kingdom to come. All throughout church history you see the true followers of Messiah embracing the taking of their material possessions. So while it is somewhat admirable that these believers want to go back to the law due to the rampant antinomianism in mainstream churchianity it is misguided and leads to more error. So with the analysis of the evangelical and Hebrew roots hermeneutic's out of the way, let's look at "why Anabaptism?" For Anabaptists, the sermon on the mount is the core of how to live out the Christian life. All of Messiah's teachings contain His doctrine and it is summed up in the sermon on the mount. At the end of Matthew 7, Jehoshua bases salvation on following the commandments He just gave in the sermon. Matthew 7:21-23 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. What is the will of the Father? Well, Jehoshua just got done saying what the will of the Father is in the previous 3 chapters (Matthew 5-7), obviously the sermon on the mount is in view. It will not be enough in the day of judgment to say "Lord, Lord" even though you did prophesying and miracles in His name. You will be cast into the lake of fire for practicing iniquity. Iniquity is lawlessness which is sin (1 John 3:4). What defines sin in the context of Jehoshua's words? Obviously it is not doing the will of the Father (verse 21). Again, what is the will of the Father in the context of Matthew 7:21? That we keep the sayings that Jehoshua just finished giving. So those Christians (evangelicals) who just rely on their sinners prayer for salvation will be in a rude awakening come judgment day. Those who disobey Jehoshua's commandments given in the sermon on the mount will be told "depart from me, you who practice iniquity". Jehoshua only knows those who hear His voice which are His sheep. To hear the voice of the Son of God is to know what His commandments are and to be His sheep is to actually follow Him as our shepherd and to follow Him means we actually live how He lived and keep His sayings. There is no such thing as a Christian that doesn't follow the Son of God & keep His commandments Let's look at Matthew 5:19 "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: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." While the Hebrew roots folks think this applies to the Mosaic law, I have already shown that not to be the case. What commandments are being talked about here? The very commandments that are about to be given by Jehoshua in the sermon on the mount. Entrance into the Kingdom is based on the commandments in this sermon not in keeping the law of Moses. Matthew 25:32-46 agress with this. When you read that passage there is no mention of the law of Moses as being what grants you entrance into the Kingdom but rather a summation of the commandments of Jehoshua given in the sermon on the mount. Matthew 7:28-29 28And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:29For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. This is the end of the sermon on the mount and note that it says that the people were astonished at His doctrine (instructions). In other words the sermon on the mount is the doctrine of Messiah. This helps us then understand the apostle John's words in 2 John: 9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: So if the doctrine of Messiah is His teachings from the sermon on the mount then John's warning here applies to that. John says that if anyone does not come to you with rhe doctrine (instructions) of Messiah they have not God. This agrees with Jehoshua's own words in John chapter 14 verse 21 "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him." Jehoshua says that only those that have His commandments (know what they are) and keep them (actually do them) are those that love Him (Jehoshua) and are loved of the Father. We know that the Father loves even those who are against Him but this love refers to covenant relationship love. If you do not keep the commandments of Messiah then point blank you are not in covenant with the Father. Those who do abide, i.e. remain in covenant, in the doctrine (commandments) of Messiah thereby have relationship with both the Father and the Son. Verse 10 of 2nd John holds a very stern warning, in that those who come and do not bringing the doctrine (teachings) of Messiah are not to be welcomed into our homes neither are to bid them Godspeed (bless them). The evangelicals have used this passage in 2 John against Jehovah Witnesses and Mormons since those 2 groups are typically the ones that go door to door. However, this can eqaully be used against the evangelicals who teach that keeping the commandments of the Son of God outlined in the sermon on the mount aren't required. We are not to bless the efforts of evangelicals when they go preach or witness as they are not teaching people the doctrine of Messiah. It may sounds harsh, but we must submit to the word of God not what feels good. The Anabaptist method of understanding the bible is the truth because it steers clear of the antinomianism of evangelicalism but also stays away from the legalism of the Hebrew roots movement. For Anabaptists, the word of God is not the letters of the 66 book canon but rather it is a person, Jehoshua Messiah. This means that the Anabaptists interpret all of scripture through the lens of Jehoshua the Son of God. Matthew 16:24-26 24Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.25For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For Anabaptists the cross is not just about the Messiah's death but also about denial of self and losing your life in this world which includes pursing wealth, status and demanding your rights. Jehoshua is clear in that those who pursue gaining those things will lose their soul meaning they will not inherit eternal life. On the other hand though, those who deny themselves by not pursuing these things and demanding their rights will inherit eternal life. Both the Hebrew roots movement and Evangelicals do not teach this but both systems engage in the culture wars to demand biblical laws be passed and when they are persecuted they seek their rights through civil lawsuits. Both systems of belief have no problem pursing wealth and being rich and moving up the corporate ladder due their ignoring of Jehoshua's literal commands. The Hebrew roots movement finds solace in going to Moses to justify themselves in not denying themselves and the evangelicals go to Paul. While the Hebrew roots movement believes in Rabbi's and the Evangelicals have their pastor's, Anabaptists believe in the priesthood of all believers (1 Peter 2:9). Both Hebrew roots and Evangelicals practice a one man leadership structure. Yes they also employ elders but for the most part they are just yes men who don't even teach much from the pulpit. The title and position of Pastor and Rabbi is unbiblical in the new testament church, especially that of a one man office who rules over the church. First of all, the leadership position in the church is called "Bishop" and they operate as overseers meaning they are not their to lord their authority as a one man leadership structure but rather they are to guide and shepherd (pastor) the flock. So while pastoring is a function that the Bishop is to perform, it is not a title unto itself. Also, this seems to be a plural position meaning there are to be multiple Bishops per congregation if possible. This was certainly true of the Jerusalem church in which all 12 apostles were Bishops. This does not mean that one of the Bishops does not take a lead role as it appears James did in the Jerusalem Church. In fact, there may be times in a congregation that only one man qualifies for the role of Bishop. Either way, the idea that a church fellowship is centered around the leadership of one man is unbiblical. While the evangelicals and Hebrew roots folks blast the Catholic Church where the priests operate as the sole mediators for members of the church, they themselves have a watered down version of this where the singular pastor or rabbi is looked at as the spiritual guru and be all end all. The truth of the priesthood of all believers when it is practiced levels the playing field. With this belief, the idea of a one man centered leadership structure is null and void. All believers, male and female, are expected to evangelize and preach, stand in the gap for the brethren in prayer, minister to the sick and visit those in prison. The priesthood of all believers encourages a full functioning church body rather than looking at special men who are more anointed than others and thereby it is up to them to lead and carry out the work of the ministry. The early Anabaptists practiced this "priesthood of all believers" concept and the result was a vibrant Kingdom community of believers rather than a church of lay people who go to church once a week to hear some specially anointed guy preach from a stage. This concept of the one man Pastor as the head has paralyzed the church & made them largely ineffective in the real world outside of Sunday mornings. This leads us to discuss the concept of "what the church is" i.e. ecclesiology. Why Anabaptism? Part 1
While I generally don't like labels, it has become somewhat neccessary to identify with a particular belief system within Christianity since the label "Christian" no longer means "one thing" and actually has a very wide spectrum of meaning. I think names like Lutheran, Calvinist and Mennonite are problematic because they give undue honor to men and indicate that we are followers of these men more than Christ. With the variety of understandings within the Christian umbrell, I do believe it's helpful to identify with a particular hermeneutic within that umbrella. "her·me·neu·tics" -noun- "the branch of knowledge that deals with interpretation, especially of the Bible or literary texts." Basically hermeneutic is a way of interpreting the bible. Our interpretation will affect how we view soteriology, ecclesiology and eschatology. It's a principle of how we interpret scripture which determines how we walk out our faith. There are various hermeneutic's throughout the Church. On one hand this has caused enormous divisions, however on the other hand it makes a home for those who do not go along with the mainstream church doctrines. In this write up, I will tell my readers why I believe Anabaptism is the most sound principle for understanding and living out the faith. There is so much out there in the church wonderland that it can really be tough to identify the right path to go and therein lies the heart of the issue. Many of us who are "born again" have come out of the Roman Catholic Church and feel relieved that we did so due to their obvious unbiblical traditions. However, this is not enough that we leave that system because the churches that people flock to once they leave Rome also have their own interpretation of the bible. The non Catholic/Orthodox world is littered with denominations and movements, many of which claim to have the truth. In this write up, I am only going to focus on a few of the more well known principles of bible interpretation are: Protestantism Evangelicalism Hebrew roots Anabaptism It's important to note that there are variations with the above hermeneutic's but I will focus on the general beliefs of them. 1) Protestantism - Systematic theology is emphasized here.Because systemic theology is emphasized Protestantism lends itself to intellectualism. God's sovereignty is highlighted as most Protestants are believers in Predestination in some form or fashion. Substitutionary penal atonement and original sin are points of emphasis. Soteriology (doctrine of salvation) is faith alone by grace alone in Christ alone and sola scriptura the bible alone as the rule of faith. The reformed aspect of Protestantism holds to a once saved always saved doctrine and that the evidence that one is saved is that they endure to the end and have Christ as their Lord (Lordship salvation). Paul's teachings are usually the criteria for obedience in the reformed camp. Other aspects of Protestantism are a hybrid between Calvinism (reformed Predestination) and armininianism (free will) but overall Protestantism has a faith alone once saved always saved view of salvation. Eccelesiology (doctrine of the church) is Catholic (universal) usually aligned with the State (via 501 C 3 or State religion) and wheat and tares are together in the church until the harvest. They believe in a visible and invisible church. A believers church is not emphasized here. Professional clergy (Pastor/elder) leadership with heavy emphasis on the preaching of the word from the pulpit as a weekly sacrament. Eschatology- this is generally Amillenial or Post millennial with an emphasis on the church being the Israel of God basically a continuation of old testament Israel. Let's look at Evangelicalism - Paul the apostles teachings are the rule of faith in these churches. Heavily dispensational theology. The Son of God's commandments are for the Jews. Soteriology - many if not most of these churches are once saved always saved (eternal security). No Lordship salvation so for most of these churches no matter what someone does in their life they will go to heaven as long as they said the sinners prayer at some point. Works have nothing to do with salvation and remaining in covenant with God and His Son. Things like practicing homosexuality or taking the mark of the beast would not cause one to lose the Kingdom. Eccelesiology - the Church and Israel are two separate distinct things. In fact, with the dispensational aspect of eccelesiology the church was only a stop gap measure because the Jews rejected the Messiah. All the promises go to ethnic Geo-political Israel. The Church gets to go to heaven while Geo political Israel reigns over the earth after the second advent of Jehoshua. The Evangelical churches are Pastor led, usually a one man leadership structure so heavy emphasis is placed on the Pastor as the authority over the Church. The church services are pulpit centered with the use of gifts during the service by congregants not encouraged unless it is a charismatic church. Eschatology- premillennial pre trib rapture is the predominant view. They teach that most of the book of Revelation will be fulfilled within the last seven years of earth's history. Most of the book of Revelation applies to end time ethnic Jews. The antichrist is a future political world superpower leader. The mark of the beast is a literal physical mark likely an implanted computer chip. The image of the beast is a literal statue that speaks. During the millennium there will be an reinstating of animal sacrifices and a Levitical priesthood with a physical third temple in which the ethnic Geo-political nation of Israel will rule over Gentile nations. Meanwhile, the Church will be up in heaven during the millennium. Now let's look at the Hebrew roots movement Soteriology- this movement teaches that one must keep all the law of Moses or at least that which applies to every individual based on gender. This includes keeping the feasts days outlined in Leviticus 23. For this movement, Jehoshua was a Moses revivalist preacher trying to bring back people to keep the law of Moses. Moses rather than Jehoshua's teachings are emphasized within these groups which usually focuses on the letter on the law rather than the spirit of it. The Son of God's commandments in the sermon on the mount are downplayed and tough teachings are explained away in order to find the easier road within the law of Moses. They believe males are to be circumcised. Ecclesiology- the Hebrew roots movement forms their own congregations and heavily focus on living in rural areas. They will even form a community that will live on a section of land in a rural area and that will be their church community. Their leaders call themselves Rabbi's. They will often insert what they think are biblical Jewish traditions in theitlr services. They will try and speak some words in Hebrew when discussing the bible during their services. A focus on pronouncing words in Hebrew is emphasized. Those who lead and teach often refer to themselves as teachers of the torah. Some have even gone so far as to sacrifice a lamb during their passover services. Eschatology- heavily premillennial post tribulation with a heavy end time focus on Geo- political Israel and a third physical temple. All believers will take part in the millennial reign of Jehoshua where animal sacrifices will be reinstated in a physical temple with the Levitical priesthood conducting them. A futurist view of eschatology with most of the book of Revelation to be fulfilled within the last seven years of earth's history. Mostly they believe in a future political antichrist. Now we go to Anabaptism. This look at Anabaptism will be based on historic Anabaptism and not what the modern denominations believe. Soteriology - Salvation is dependent upon obeying the teachings of the Son of God which are summed up in the sermon on the mount. The teachings of the Messiah are the basis for the law in the new covenant. In this view, faith and works go together. The sermon on the mount is the focus with a literal understanding of what Jehoshua said. For Anabaptists the word of God is not the bible per se but rather it is Jehoshua Messiah. Everything in the bible is to be understood Christologically. Moses points forward to Jehoshua and Paul points back to Him. For Anabaptists, Christianity is not systematic theology but rather a way of life. Anabaptist soteriology should be understood within a Kingdom theology framework in that they believe that the teachings of Jehoshua are the law of the Kingdom of God. Ecclesiology - Anabaptists do not have a once a week church model like the aforementioned hermeneutic's but rather emphasize gathering together as often as possible. Unlike, Protestantism and Evangelicalism, the church is understood to be the organization or institution but rather the gathering of the people independent of where that gathering may be. The priesthood of all believers is emphasized so even though they believed in Bishops and deacons, the Anabaptists had a much more flat leadership structure than Protestants and now evangelicals. While some evangelicals and Protestants believe in the priesthood of all believers the original Anabaptists actually practiced it. Also, the original Anabaptists had more of a participant friendly atmosphere in their meetings and taking the eucharist everytime they gathered for fellowship was central. Every believer was expected to be an active evangelist whether traveling or homestead. Anabaptists believed in a pure believers church and that the church was visible and local. They did not believe in the Universal Church concept. Anabaptist ecclesiology would be understood within a Kingdom theology framework in that the Church is a physical representation of God's Kingdom on earth. Eschatology - Anabaptists were generally classic premillennial with second advent of the Messiah bringing the Kingdom to earth. Anabaptists believed that they would be on this earth reigning with Messiah after His second coming. No dispensational aspects of premillennialism were believed such as a third temple with animal sacrifices nora Levitical priesthood. The Anabaptists believed what appears to be a historic view of prophecy as they believed that both the Papacy and Protestants were fulfillments of the antichrist and/or false prophet. Okay, so now we have a brief rundown of the different hermeneutic's i.e. principle's for interpreting scripture therefore let's show why Anabaptism is the correct model. I am going to look at both Evangelicalism and the Hebrew roots movement as I will touch on Protestantism towards the end of the study. Evangelicalism and Hebrew roots can both be proven right if one takes certain scriptures at face value. However, they both can easily be proven wrong once one compares scripture with scripture. Evangelicalism appeals to Paul and the Hebrew roots movement to Moses and therein lies the issue, which is looking to the wrong source. This leaves both systems vulnerable to false understandings of what the new covenant is and how the law applies to us in this covenant. For an evangelical, Paul gets them off the hook from having to obey any commandments in terms of obtaining eternal life in the Kingdom. They take Paul's words regarding the law and mistakenly taking that for there being no law at all in the new covenant. They also take his words about being saved by grace and eqaute that to a one time gift that is recieved through mental assent to the death, burial and resurrection of the Messiah. Their misunderstandings of the law and grace leads them to a false conclusion regarding what is required of a new covenant believer. For instance in Titus 2, we see what the definition of grace truly is: Titus :11-12 11For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Paul here says what the results of having grace is. To have grace meana you deny ungodliness and the sins of the flesh. The evangelicals also misunderstand the word "law" and use what Paul says about not being justified by false premise. The battle cry of the Anabaptists is "to go"
Matthew 28:19-20 19 Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: 20 teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. For Anabaptists, the commandments of Jesus Christ are what defines true Christian faith. These commandments are summed up in the sermon on the mount and it is these teachings that are to be taken to the nations with the intent of making disciples among them. The command given to the apostles and those that would follow after them was not to come up with a system of theology and teach that to others but rather to teach them the doctrine of Christ. See, Jesus Christ the Son of the living God is central to the faith of Anabaptists. While all Christians would make that claim, for Anabaptists it is more than just acknowledging and believing who Jesus is but rather it is to have faith that what Jesus taught is the measuring stick for how one is deemed a follower of Christ. For Anabaptists, Jesus cannot be separated from His actual words (teachings). To reject and/or disobey Jesus words is to reject and disobey Jesus Himself. John 14:15-16 15 If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may be with you for ever, The proof that we love Jesus is that we keep His commandments. No other evidence is sufficient to prove our love for Jesus. This truth has been lost on the evangelical world that has turned Christianity to a complicated set of theological beliefs yet obedience to Jesus commandments is outright ignored. In fact, to be sent the holy spirit is contingent upon obeying Jesus commandments. These are the words of Jesus Himself. John 15:10 10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. Jesus makes it clear that abide (remain) in His love is dependent upon obeying His commandments. To remain in His love is to remain in covenant with Him. To disobey Jesus is to be out of covenant relationship with Him. It's that clear and simple and this is why it is crucial that we preach the commandments of Jesus as the doctrine for the church and teach potential disciples from the nations that they to observe these commandments to remain in covenant with the Son of God. 2 John 9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds There is a clear warning from the apostle John that those who do not bring the doctrine (INSTRUCTUONS/TEACHINGS) of Christ are to be rejected and not even given greeting nor be allowed in our home. John also says that those who do not abide (remain) in His doctrine (commandments) do not have God nor do they have His Son. This means they are not in covenant with Jehovah God and His Son Jesus. This is why we have a battle cry as Anabaptists, which is "to go" and make disciples of all nations teaching them to observe the commandments of the Davidic King Jesus Christ. Remember the prophet Isaiah said that the islands would wait for the law of Jehovah's elect servant: Isaiah 42:1-4 1 Behold, my servant, whom I uphold; my chosen, in whom my soul delighteth: I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the Gentiles. 2 He will not cry, nor lift up his voice, nor cause it to be heard in the street. 3 A bruised reed will he not break, and a dimly burning wick will he not quench: he will bring forth justice in truth. 4 He will not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set justice in the earth; and the isles shall wait for his law. Royal Davidic Messianism part 4
Luke 3:23 "And Jehoshua himself, when he began [to teach], was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli" The phrase "as was supposed" may not be an original part of the text but even if it is, it does not invalidate that Joseph is the legitmate father of Jehoshua. "As was supposed" can also be rendered "as was thought" which is basically affirming what was already known. It is not a statement of invalidation. This genealogy in Luke is tracing Joseph's lineage through the line of David via Nathan all the way to the Messiah. Remember, that it is Joseph who is said to be of the house of David not Mary. This is why both genealogies are traced through Joseph because tribal affiliation in Israel was determined through the Father not the mother. Numbers 1:18 "And they assembled all the congregation together on the first day of the second month; and they declared their pedigrees after their families, by their fathers` houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, by their polls" This scripture here destroys any possibility of Jehoshua making a Davidic lineage claim through His mother Mary. Numbers 1:18 is clear that the Israelites recieved their pedigree (tribal and family) through their fathers houses. This is why we don't see a genealogy record of Jehoshua being traced through Mary. In fact, Mary is said to be the cousin of Elisabeth who said to be of the house of Levi (Luke 1:5). If we are able to trace the Messiah's Davidic lineage through Mary then He is disqaulifed to be the Messiah as the book of Hebrews explicitly states that the Messiah is not of Levi (Hebrews chapter 7). Both genealogies are clearly tracing Joseph's lineage as it is plainly stated. Luke 3:31 "the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David" Jehoshua is the rightful heir to the throne of Israel, as God had promised (2 Sam 7:12). This genealogy in Luke starts with Joseph and does not mention Mary. We see that David is Joseph's ancestor in the middle part of this genealogy. Luke 6:1-5 1Now it came to pass on a sabbath, that he was going through the grainfields; and his disciples plucked the ears, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands.2But certain of the Pharisees said, Why do ye that which it is not lawful to do on the sabbath day?3And Jehoshua answering them said, Have ye not read even this, what David did, when he was hungry, he, and they that were with him;4how he entered into the house of God, and took and ate the showbread, and gave also to them that were with him; which it is not lawful to eat save for the priests alone?5And he said unto them, The Son of man is lord of the sabbath. By drawing upon the analogy of what David did in eating the shewbread of the holy place with his men, Jehoshua is indicating, that like David, He stands as the royal representative of Jehovah's people. The Son of God is the new David. Jehoshua claims His authority on how to keep God's Sabbath day. Mathews 17:5 "While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him" At the transfiguration, the voice of Jehovah God reiterates the royal coronation hymn of Psalm 2:7 this time with an adaptation "This is my beloved Son" as Jehoshua was previously begotten at His baptism. Jehovah God is restating that Jehoshua is His covenant Son per the oath He made with David. The adaptation of the Davidic psalm affirms that Jehoshua is of the heritage of David and the fulfillment of the covenant. Psalm 89:3-4 3I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant,4Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. The psalmist hearkens to the covenant that Jehovah made with David (2 Samuel 7:8-16). The God of Israel has sworn to David that his seed would be established forever and that David's throne would be built up to all generations. Jehovah calls David His chosen and this election of David extends to his royal seed of which Jehoshua is the final and ultimate fufillment. This is a covenant, which means agreement, that Jehovah has made with David. Jehovah has sworn these promises to David which means He (Jehovah) cannot go back on them or alter them in any way. While over 600 years went by without a Davidic king on the throne of Israel, Jehovah made good on His promise by raising up a royal seed of David and begetting Him into Kingship. The covenant promises are mentioned in the above Psalm, which is that David's seed would last forever and this fulfilled in Jehoshua's resurrection. Also, that David's throne would be built up throughout all generations and that was fulfilled in Jehoshua's ascension into heaven and being enthroned on the heavenly throne of David (Hebrews 1:8-9). Luke 10:22 "All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him" Jehoshua's statement above seems to recall the covenantal Father-Son relationship of Jehovah God to the Davidic monarch (Psalm 2:7-8; 8:4-8; 72:8; 89:25-27). Luke 18:35-43 (KJV) 35And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:36And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.37And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.38And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.39And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.40And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him,41Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.42And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.43And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God. Even the blind man knew that Jehoshua was the Son of David, a title for the royal lineage of the Davidic seed line. Jehoshua being of the fruit of David's loins was His identity. If the blind man saw this why can't those who claim to see miss out on the most obvious and prophetically important aspect of the Son of God's identity? It's because they have been taught another "Jehoshua" who is part of a trinity god or a preexistent angel or spirit being. Paul warned about this "other Jehoshua" in 2 Corinthians chapter 11. Along with this "false Jehoshua " comes another spirit and another gospel. The true gospel is centered on the fact that Jehoshua is of the seed of David (2 Timothy 2:8). This scene of the blind man calling out to Jehoshua as the Son of David foreshadowed the entrance of the Messiah into Jerusalem as the royal King. Luke 19:38 "Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of Jehovah: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. Here Luke describes Jehoshua's triumphal entry into Jerusalem so as to correspond to Zechariah 9:9-10, which in turn uses images of Solomon's coronation procession to describe the coming of an eschatological King, almost certainly a Davidide (Zechariah 12:7-14:1). In verse 38 of Luke 19, the disciples of Jehoshua proclaim Him as the King of Israel who represents Jehovah God. Zechariah 9:9-10 (ASV) 9Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy king cometh unto thee; he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, even upon a colt the foal of an ass.10And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off; and he shall speak peace unto the nations: and his dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth. Luke 19:28-48 was a fufillment of the prophecy above in Zechariah. This propechy foretold the coming of an eschatological Davidic King who would be righteous (Just) and bring with Him salvation. Jehovah God put eternal life in Jehoshua and made Him the only means by which one can have eternal life. Jehoshua brought salvation first unto the nation of Israel and then His disciples brought it unto the Gentile nations. This fulfilled verse 10 which shows that this Messianic King will rule over a borderless nation as the text reada from sea to sea, river to the ends of the earth. This is why verse 10 speaks of Israel being disarmed as the Messiah will be their defense. This is what is talked about in the new covenant gospel, which is that Jehoshua's Kingdom subjects do not war with physical warfare but trust in God for their vindication. Zechariah 12:7- 13:1 7Jehovah also shall save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem be not magnified above Judah.8In that day shall Jehovah defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem: and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of Jehovah before them.9And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.10And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplication; and they shall look unto me whom they have pierced; and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his first-born.11In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon.12And the land shall mourn, every family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart;13the family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of the Shimeites apart, and their wives apart;14all the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart. Zechariah 13 1 In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness. Verse 7 of Zechariah 12 posits an equality among God's people. Verse 8 of Zechariah 12 that those who are weak in Israel will have the strength of David. The Davidic dynasty was a symbol of power in Israel. The Kingdom of David in the day of deliverance shall be as God. Jehoshua as the next King in David's line was fully indwelt by Jehovah God and was functionally equal to God in the day of Israel's salvation (Jehoshua's earthly ministry). The Davidic dynasty would be restored through Jehoshua. The angel of Jehovah was strong in going before the nation of Israel delivering them in the red sea and fighting for them on other occasions. The newly restored Davidic Kingdom led by it's eschatological King Jehoshua would lead the new covenant Israel to victory over Satan's Kingdom. This victory was fufilled at the cross and continues throughout the new covenant Church age and consummates with the new heaven and new earth. Verse 10 of Zechariah 12, Jehovah God will pour out His Spirit upon the house of David i.e. Jehoshua and those within His Kingdom. We see this fulfilled in the baptism of Jehoshua and on the day of Pentecost which was the inauguration of the new covenant Davidic Kingdom. It was on that day that the apostles were filled with the Spirit of Jehovah fulfilling the Joel chapter 2 propehcy. Since that time Jehovah has been pouring His Spirit onto the inhabitants of the Messiah's Davidic Kingdom (the Church). The reference in verse 10 that they will look unto Jehovah who they pierced and mourn for Him as an only Son and firstborn Son alludes to Jehoshua. By persecuting the Son of God the rulers of Israel were really persecuting the Father Jehovah. Just as with human beings, to come against one's son is to come against the Father as well. The Spirit being poured upon the house of David was also fufilled with the bringing in of the Gentiles into the Church (Acts 15; Amos 9:9-11). The entrance of the Gentiles into the faith was a fufillment of prophecy that David's Kingdom was being rebuilt and set up. Verse 1 of Zechariah 13, a time of divine intervention, here a blessing and salvation. This purging from sin is context linked to the one who was pierced, pointing to the atonement. Jehoshua the eternal Davidic King brought salvation with Him to the nation of Israel and in turn also reestablished the Kingdom of David. Just as Psalm 118 states, the arrival of a righteous King of Israel brings prosperity to the nation. The lamp (throne) of David is a light to the people of Israel and with the Davidic dynasty comes salvation and a well of spiritual blessing. At the last supper, Jehoshua speaks of a new covenant evoking Jeremiah 31;31 and the broader context (Jeremiah 30-33), which foresees a new covenant uniting Israel with Judah under the Davidic monarchy. Psalm 89:3-4 3I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant:4Thy seed will I establish for ever, And build up thy throne to all generations. Jehovah conferred a Kingdom to David by covenant. Jehoshua was the ultimate fulfillment of this covenant. The ascension of Jehoshua into heaven fulfilled this as Paul stated He received the sure mercies of David (Acts 13; Isaiah 55). The amazing thing is that we are also partakers of the sure mercies of David and are also conferred a Kingdom. Revelation 1:5-6 5And from Jehoshua Messiah, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,6And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. This is a present tense statement by John in that we are kings and priests by virtue of what Jehoshua did at the cross and His subsequent resurrection. The resurrection and ascension of the Son of God is when He received the sure mercies of David according to Paul. When we are spiritually raised from the dead we also partake of the sure mercies of David because the Davidic King has made us priests and kings. 2nd Samuel 9:9-13 9 Then the king called to Ziba, Saul`s servant, and said unto him, All that pertained to Saul and to all his house have I given unto thy master`s son.10 And thou shalt till the land for him, thou, and thy sons, and thy servants; and thou shalt bring in [the fruits], that thy master`s son may have bread to eat: but Mephibosheth thy master`s son shall eat bread alway at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.11 Then said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord the king commandeth his servant, so shall thy servant do. As for Mephibosheth, [said the king], he shall eat at my table, as one of the king`s sons.12 And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Mica. And all that dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants unto Mephibosheth. 13So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem; for he did eat continually at the king`s table. And he was lame in both his feet. Here in 2nd Samuel 9, David confers by covenant Kingdom privileges to Mephibosheth. Mephibosheth was given privileges It was a honor to eat at the kings table and here David grants the descendant of Saul "Mephiboseth" to eat at his table. Also, earlier in the chapter "verse 6" Mephiboseth did obeisance to King David showing that the King of Israel was to be worshipped in respect to His position as God's anointed Son. This should not surprise us then that Jehoshua is also to be worshipped as He is the King of Israel and the eternal Davidic King. As the Kings men and women we also are granted to eat at the King's table. This is the Lord's eucharist meal in which we drink wine and eat bread within the context of a full meal or feast. The drinking of wine is likened to drinking from the holy vine of David. Psalm 122:3-5 3 Jerusalem, that art builded As a city that is compact together;4 Whither the tribes go up, even the tribes of Jehovah, For an ordinance for Israel, To give thanks unto the name of Jehovah.5 For there are set thrones for judgment, The thrones of the house of David. The apostles were conferred thrones of judgment over the 12 tribes of Israel. It is being of the house of David that gives them this right to sit on these thrones as verse 5 states. Although the apostles are not said to be of the house of David, they are kings and priests under the Davidic kingship made so by Jehoshua. They were given the keys to the Kingdom by Jehoshua (Matthew 16:19). The Kingdom in view is the Kingdom of heaven and the Kingdom of David. The Kingdom of heaven phrase indicates the origin of the Kingdom that it is headquartered in New Jerusalem. The Kingdom of David indicates that the King (Jehoshua) comes from the line of David and that the earthly representation of the Kingdom of heaven is the Church which James says is the Kingdom of David restored (Acts 15). Revelation 3:7 "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth" The reference to having the key of David comes from Isaiah 22 and the key is of the house (Kingdom) of David. Jehoshua is the holder of this key as the Davidic King and He opens the doors to the Kingdom to whom He will and no one can shut it, the reverse is also true. This is the same key he granted to the apostles (Matthew 16:19). What's amazing is that we are also granted this authority to possess the key to the Kingdom of David: Matthew 18:18-20 18Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.19Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.20For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. This passage applies to all believers, where two of us gather together in the name of the Davidic King then it will be granted to us. This is in the context of judgment. We are only granted authority to judge things and people within the Church i.e. the Kingdom of David (Acts 15). Luke 23:35-38 35And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also scoffed at him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if this is the Christ of God, his chosen.36And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, offering him vinegar, 37 and sayjng, If thou art the King of the Jews, save thyself.38And there was also a superscription over him, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 39And one of the malefactors that were hanged railed on him, saying, Art not thou the Christ? save thyself and us. This is a Davidic title "King of the Jews" and it is being used in contempt against Jehoshua nonetheless they are being used accurately as Jehoshua is the royal seed of David. Also note that the title "King of the Jews" is being used in connection with the title "Messiah" which is also being used in contempt towards Jehoshua. The rulers mockingly refer to Him as "the Messiah, his chosen" meaning "the anointed one, God's chosen". This shows that the title "Messiah" means "King of Israel" and not "God" or anything to do with being a an angel or pre-existent spirit being. To be the Messiah means you are God's chosen one and it does not mean you are God. The mockers here in this passage use the titles "King of the Jews" and "Messiah" interchangeably. The prophesied Messianic King was to be Jehovah's servant not Jehovah (Isaiah 42:1). Even the people of Israel knew this. 2nd Samuel 2:11 "And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months." David was king of the Jews. Psalm 89:3-4 3I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant:4Thy seed will I establish for ever, And build up thy throne to all generations. Selah David was both the chosen of Jehovah and the servant of Jehovah. The covenant that Jehovah made with David was that the royal seed of David would be God's servant and chosen one to shepherd the people of Israel as their anointed King. Jehovah didn't make this covenant with an angel or some second person of a triune god. Acts 2:30-31 30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; 31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. In Peter's first recorded sermon and the first recorded sermon after the Messiah's ascension, he draws on the Davidic covenant and Jehoshua as it's fulfillment. Peter hearkens back to the covenant that Jehovah God made with David (2 Samuel 7) which promised David that of the fruit of his body, one would be raised up to establish his throne, crown and Kingdom forever. Peter says that David being a prophet foresaw this being fulfilled in the resurrection of the Messiah. This passage is clear that upon Messiah's ascension into heaven, he sat on the throne of David. Acts 2:34-35 34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, Jehovah said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand 35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool. This is the prophecy that David uttered regarding the future resurrection of his royal seed in order to inherit the throne of David and fulfill the covenant. This is from Psalm 110:1. It is noteworthy that this is the most alluded to old testament text in the new testament. Hebrews chapter 1 details the fulfillment of Psalm 110. Acts 13:22-24 22And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.23Of this man’s seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:24When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. Saul was the one removed from kingship. The raising up of David was when he was anointed as King in 1 Samuel 16:13: "Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of Jehovah came mightily upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah." The raising up of David was in conjunction with him receiving the Spirit of Jehovah God. The Spirit was with David from that day forward which is when he became King of Israel. In verse 23, Paul says that of David's seed God has raised up unto a Israel a saviour. Just like David, the raising up of Jehoshua was when He was anointed with the Spirit of Jehovah. We know this took place at His baptism which verse 24 confirms as it says Jehoshua was raised up during the times of John's preaching the baptism of repentance. From that day forward, Jehoshua's anointing, the Spirit of Jehovah was with Him and He was confessed as the King of Israel two days later (John 1:49). Acts 13:32-35 32 And we bring you good tidings of the promise made unto the fathers,33 that God hath fulfilled the same unto our children, in that he raised up Jehoshua; as also it is written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.34 And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he hath spoken on this wise, I will give you the holy and sure [blessings] of David.35 Because he saith also in another psalm, Thou wilt not give Thy Holy One to see corruption. What was the promise made to the patriarchs of Israel? It was the prophetic promise that God would raise up seed unto David to establish the Kingdom of David forever. The raising up of Jehoshua in verse 33 should be understood in the context of the raising up of David and Jehoshua earlier in the chapter which were connected with them being anointed by the Spirit of Jehovah. Paul then connects the raising up of Jehoshua with His begetting as he qoutes Psalm 2:7 "Thou art my Son; This day have I begotten thee" While many believe this raising up and quotation of Psalm 2 is about the resurrection we must remember that all through Jehoshua's ministry He claimed to have an intimate relationship with Jehovah God. Also, we should remember that the raising up of David and Jehoshua were in connection with the Spirit coming upon them which for Jehoshua was at His baptism. Many scholars acknowledge that this begetting spoken of in Psalm 2 has nothing to do with literal birth but rather the coronation of an Israelite King. It's important to remember that just two days after Jehoshua's baptism that He was confessed as the Son of God and King of Israel. John even told Nicodemus that one must be begotten from above by the Spirit to see the Kingdom of God. Jehoshua's begetting as Son of God and King of Israel was at His baptism as He was raised up by Jehovah God for the Kingdom gospel preaching. In verse 34, Paul talks about the resurrection which is another raising up of Jehoshua, this one being from the dead. Paul quotes Isaiah 55:1-3 in that upon His resurrection Messiah received the sure mercies of David. This proves that Jehoshua fulfilled the Davidic covenant upon His resurrection and ascension as that passage states that the sure mercies of David are being made King (commander) over Israel and the establishment of the seed of David forever which only happens when that seed is sat on the throne of David. Nowhere is it even hinted that the Davidic covenant will be fulfilled 2,000 years into the future after the second advent of Jehoshua. In verse 35, Paul speaks of David prophesying of His royal descendant Jehoshua being raised up from the grave (Psalm 16) to life and thus inheriting the Davidic throne as Peter also says in the aforementioned Acts 2:29-31 passage. Acts 13:36 "For David, after he had in his own generation served the counsel of God, fell asleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption" Paul says that David was not the fulfillment of what he prophesied in Psalm 16 as he is still in the grave and saw corruption. Jehoshua by being raised up from the dead is the fulfillment of Psalm 16. Acts 4:24-26 24 And they, when they heard it, lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, O Jehovah, thou that didst make the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that in them is: 25 who by the Holy Spirit, [by] the mouth of our father David thy servant, didst say, Why did the Gentiles rage, And the peoples imagine vain things? 26 the kings of the earth set themselves in array, And the rulers were gathered together, Against Jehovah, and against his Anointed: Here the apostolic church praise Jehovah God and applies Psalm 2:7, which is a Davidic prophecy to Jehoshua. Herod represented the Jews and Pontius Pilate the Gentiles. The church identified Jehovah as God and Jehoshua as His anointed one who fulfilled the Davidic covenant. It was in God's plan that the rulers of the earth would do this. |
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