Jehoshua is on the throne of David in New Jerusalem and He is the King of a New Israel
There is some confusion in the Hebrew roots, Messianic, Adventist, and other Sabbath keeping movements on what commandments are being referred to in the gospel of John as well as the beloved apostle's epistles. The common understanding of the above groups is that when the commandments are mentioned in the gospel of John that it is speaking of the 10 commandments. However, there is a problem with that understanding as in the context of the gospel of John it is referring to the commandments of Jehoshua. The above law keeping groups falsely assert that it was Jehoshua that gave the 10 commandments at Sinai, yet no single scripture in all the bible says such a thing. It's this false assertion that makes these groups think that when the gospel of John refers to Jehoshua's commandments that it is referring to the 10 commandments. If it wasn't Jehoshua that gave the 10 commandments at Sinai then this changes everything in how we understand the word "commandments" in relationship to Jehoshua. Remember, Jehoshua gave commandments all throughout his Kingdom mission most notably in the famous sermon on the mount. So when Jehoshua says: "If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments" (John 14:15) It should be understood that his commandments are exactly the ones he gave during his kingdom mission. Since Jehoshua wasn't present when the 10 commandments and law were given to Moses the above verse could not be possibly talking about those. However, Jehoshua directly gave an abundant number of commandments throughout his mission. These are the commandments that Jehoshua is referring to in the above verse. Many groups identify Jehoshua as the law giver at Sinai to the false pre-existent doctrine of mainstream Christianity. Even if Jehoshua was pre-existent nothing in scripture states that he was present at Sinai when Moses was given the law. In Deuteronomy 18 it was prophesied that Jehoshua would be given commandments to speak by Jehovah God. If these were the same commandments given to Moses then why would God need to raise up another prophet just to reiterate what was already spoken by Moses? Deuteronomy 18:15-21 15 Jehovah thy God will raise up unto thee a prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; 16 according to all that thou desiredst of Jehovah thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of Jehovah my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not. 17 And Jehovah said unto me, They have well said that which they have spoken.18 I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee; and I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. 19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him. Tie apostolic ekklesia taught that Jehoshua was that prophet spoken of in Deuteronomy. The Son of God was raised up within the midst of his brethren Israel and was given words/commandments in his mouth by Jehovah God to speak. Those who would not hearken to the words/commandments/teaching of Jehoshua would have it required of them by Jehovah, or as John the Baptist says the wrath of God will abide on them. This is serious because if Jehoshua taught the Mosaic law and we are not keeping it then the wrath of God is abiding on us. Jehovah said that this prophet would speak His (Jehovah's) words in His (Jehovah's) name meaning the prophet would have the authority of God Himself behind his words and commandments. Whatever Jehoshua taught is what constitutes the commandments that he is referring to in John 14:15. John 14:21 "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 unto him" Again, these are not the Sinai commandments that Jehoshua is referring to but the actual commandments that he gave throughout his mission which are summed up in the sermon on the mount. The fact that these commandments referenced by Jehoshua are not the Sinai commandments is especially obvious once you understand that Jehoshua didn't come into existence as a literal being until his birth. In fact, the gospel teaching of Jehoshua didn't begin until he was baptized at 30 years old: Mark 1:1-2 1The beginning of the gospel of Jehoshua Messiah, the Son of God. 2 Even as it is written in Isaiah the prophet, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, Who shall prepare thy way.3The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make ye ready the way of Jehovah, Make his paths straight. Mark connects the beginning of Jehoshua's gospel with his baptism by John as do other passages. This is important to understand also because many of the groups above teach that everything in the bible is a commandment of Jehoshua as if he somehow gave them himself. Clearly the bible teaches that Jehoshua did not teach until he was 30 years of age therefore not every commandment in the bible is a commandment of the Son of God. John 14:23-24 23 Jehoshua answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my word: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my words: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father`s who sent me. Jehoshua's word is his commandments, notice the close proximity between these verses and verse 21 where he says that he that hath his commandments will be loved by himself and the Father. Jehoshua says the same thing here about those who keep his words in that they will be loved by him and the Father. The commandments of Jehoshua are exactly the same as the words that he spoke. This shows that the commandments mentioned in verses 15 and 21 are not the law of Moses as he didn't speak those words but Moses did and the angel who gave them. Jehoshua said that the word which he spoke was not his own but the Father's. This fits Deuteronomy 18 where Jehovah says He will put His words in the prophets mouth. Hebrews 1:1-2 1 God, having of old time spoken unto the fathers in the prophets by divers portions and in divers manners, 2 hath at the end of these days spoken unto us in his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds; If Jehoshua was around in the old testament giving out commandments then this passage doesn't fit with that concept. The author of Hebrews clearly says that it was at the end of these days that Jehoshua spoke to us (Israel). When did Jehovah God start speaking through His Son? Clearly after Jehoshua was baptized at the Jordan river and began teaching at the age of 30 years old. This shows and proves that the last days started back in the first century in connection with the baptism of the Son of God. John 14;26 "But the Comforter, even the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you" The job description of the Angel of the Holy Spirit is to remind the ekklesia of the words that Jehoshua spake. Remember, Jehoshua didn't preach the law of Moses but rather spoke specific commandments given him by the Father. John 14:30-31 30 I will no more speak much with you, for the prince of the world cometh: and he hath nothing in me; 31 but that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence. What was this commandment that the Father have the Son? It was to offer himself up as the atonement for Israel. This was the context of Jehoshua's Statement and I point this out to show that just because the word commandment is used in a text it doesn't necessarily denote the 10 commandments. The context determines what the commandments are that are being spoken of. John 15:10 "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." Again, we have to determine what commandments Jehoshua gave before we jump to conclusions. Jehoshua 15:3 "Already ye are clean because of the word which I have spoken unto you" Here are the commandments which Jehoshua is talking about in verse 10, it is the word that He spoke to the apostles. We do not have to guess at what Jehoshua instructed his apostles it is right there in the gospels for us and it wasn't the law of Moses. The sermon on the mount is the core of Jehoshua's commandments. John 15:12 "This is my commandment, that ye love one another, even as I have loved you" This is the overall concept of Jehoshua's commandments which is that the brethren of the Kingdom love one another. Jehoshua did not preach the Mosaic law, he was not a Moses revivalist preacher. Jehoshua was preaching a doctrine of sacrificial love which is the law of the new covenant. Galatians 6:2 "Bear ye one another`s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ." This is what the law of the Son of God is all about, bearing one another's burdens. Jehoshua came to preach the Jehoshua covenant which is rooted in the Abrahamic, Davidic and new covenant which is not according to the Sinai covenant. John 15:13-14 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14 Ye are my friends, if ye do the things which I command you. If love is the heart of Jehoshua's commandments and the greatest of this love to lay down one's life for his friends this is what the commandments of the Son of God are all about i.e. sacrifical love. Jehoshua then says if we are his friends we will keep his commandments. These commandments are not the Mosaic law but rather it is the law of sacrificial love for one's brother or sister in the faith. Jehoshua didn't come preaching the ritual commands of the law of Moses i.e. the outward observances such as touch not taste not, keep this day holy keep that day holy etc. You won't find this emphasis in any of his sermons. But what you will find is the instruction to love your brother and sister by serving them selflessly. 1 John 5:9-11 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.11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. John in his epistles continues the theme that sacrifice is at the heart of true godly love as he says that the evidence of God''s love is that He sent His only begotten Son into the world (Israel) that we (Israelites) would live through Jehoshua. This means that just as Jehoshua was resurrected to eternal life that we also would be resurrected through our faith in the resurrected Son of God. We also live through Jehoshua now as Paul says we are united to him (Jehoshua) in the likeness of his resurrection (Romans 6:5). Notice what John says here which is that we didn't love God first (doing the works of the law) but rather He loved us first be sending His only begotten Son to be the mercy seat (propitiation) for our (Israel's) sins. Again, John equates love with sacrifice of oneself for the benefit of one's friends. This is what Jehoshua said in John 15:13. In verse 10, John is talking about the Father's love for us by offering His only begotten Son Jehoshua to die on the cross and shed his blood for our sins so that we can be atoned for. Because of this great love of the Father for us we should love one another (brethren). John 15:17-19 17 These things I command you, that ye may love one another. 18 If the world hateth you, ye know that it hath hated me before [it hated] you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love its own: but because ye are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Again, notice the context of what these things are that Jehoshua commanded the apostles. The things that Jehoshua was commanding them to do was to love one another which goes back to verse 13 for the ultimate fulfilling of this love commandment which is to lay down one's life for his/her friends. Nowhere in the context of John 15 is the law of Moses. Also, part of the commandments of Jehoshua is nit to love the world and to be willing to be hated by it. Being hated by the world is evidence that one is a true follower of the Son of God. If a so called Christian/Messianic is not hated by the world then they are not a true follower of the Messiah as Jehoshua says that we will (not maybe) be hated by the world. Jehoshua chose us out of the world and therefore the world hates those who are truly God's elect. Those who are loved and popular in the world prove that they have not been chosen by Jehovah God and are merely performing religion. This accurately describes the Hebrew roots folks who have traded a true Kingdom new covenant relationship with Jehoshua and his commandments for the law of Moses and all it's outward observances. The world loves them as the world feels safe and secure with ritualistic religion as the New covenant Kingdom gospel shakes people to the core and is earth shattering in it's power. John 15:20-22 20 Remember the word that I said unto you, A servant is not greater than his lord. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name`s sake, because they know not him that sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no excuse for their sin. This about sums up what Jehoshua means when he refers to his commandments which is that we must suffer for his name as he himself did. We are not above our King and if they persecuted him they will persecute us. The commandment of Jehoshua is not going back to the law of Moses but rather we must die to the world and not love it and pick up our cross and drink the cup of suffering. The commandments of the Son of God are the words (sermon on the mount) which he spoke not the Sinai covenant (law of Moses). Notice that the ones guilty of sin are the ones who have heard Jehoshua's word that he spoke. Sin is the transgression of the law and sin as defined by Jehoshua are those who hear his words and don't keep them. This means that the law is now defined by the words of Jehoshua not the Mosaic system of law. This is why Jehoshua said that if they keep his word (commandments) they will also keep the word of his apostles as his true apostles preach the doctrine (teachings, word, commandments) of the Son of God. Nothing in chapter 14 or 15 even remotely suggest that Jehoshua is talking about the law of Moses. John 16:1-3 1 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be caused to stumble.2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the hour cometh, that whosoever killeth you shall think that he offereth service unto God.3 And these things will they do, because they have not known the Father, nor me. One of the things we have to consider in relationship to Jehoshua telling the apostles that they will be cast out of the Synagogues is the reason for them being cast out. Obviously, the primary reason is their preaching that Jehoshua was the Messiah. However we also get strong clues as to the other reason at the stoning of Stephen: Acts 6:11-14 11 Then they suborned men, who said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and [against] God. 12 And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and seized him, and brought him into the council, 13 and set up false witnesses, who said, This man ceaseth not to speak words against this holy place, and the law: 14 for we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered unto us. Verse 11 gives us another indication of why the Messianics would eventually be cast out of the Synagogues. They were accused of speaking against Moses. They were also accused of speaking against the temple (holy place) and the law of Moses (verse 13). This also indicates the reasons for their eventual expulsion from the Synagogues and even their martyrdom as we see with Stephen in chapter 7. We see from verse 11 that the accusations against Stephen were not true in regards to speaking against Moses, the holy place and the law. However, where there is smoke there is usually fire and Stephen was preaching that the new covenant had arrived and that Jehovah God doesn't dwell in buildings made with hands: Acts 7:48-49 48 Howbeit the Most High dwelleth not in [houses] made with hands; as saith the prophet, 49 The heaven is my throne, And the earth the footstool of my feet: What manner of house will ye build me? saith the Lord: Or what is the place of my rest? This refers to the temple (houses) and the holy of holies (place of my rest). This isn't speaking against the existing temple or holy place but rather teaching that those things are now the ekklesia and that the holy of holies is in heaven where Jehovah's throne is. Stephen was preaching exactly what Jehoshua told the woman at the well: "Jehoshua saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, shall ye worship the Father" (John 4:21). The Son of God clearly states that the place of worship will no longer have any significance in the new covenant era and Stephen was simply reiterating the teaching of the Messiah regarding this matter. This doesn't mean that Stephen was preaching against those things that he was accused of but rather just teaching that a new era had arrived in Jehoshua Messiah. These are the reasons the early believers were expelled from the Synagogues. John 16:13 "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he shall guide you into all the truth: for he shall not speak from himself; but what things soever he shall hear, [these] shall he speak: and he shall declare unto you the things that are to come" The very function of the Angel of the Holy Spirit is to is to guide us into all truth of what Jehoshua taught during his earthly mission. We will now look at what is meant by the commandments in the epistles of John. Is John talking about the law of Moses or the doctrine of Messiah (Jehoshua's teachings)? 1 John 1:1-3 1 That which was from the beginning, that which we have heard, that which we have seen with our eyes, that which we beheld, and our hands handled, concerning the Word of life 2 (and the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare unto you the life, the eternal [life], which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us); 3 that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you also, that ye also may have fellowship with us: yea, and our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ: This is an important passage of scripture to understand because it sets the tone for the passages regarding the commandments that we are going to look at. What beginning is John talking about above in verse 1? Most mainstream Christians automatically think it is talking about Genesis but the beginning that John is talking about is connected with that which John and the other apostles heard. We then have to ask, when did the apostles hear the word of life? It was only after Jehoshua's baptism that they heard the word of life as that is when they first beheld him physically as they did not hang out with him prior to that. Also, he only started preaching the gospel of the Kingdom after he got baptized at the age of 30 years old. Verse 3, "that which we have seen and heard", again this could only refer to after Jehoshua's baptism as that us precisely when he began his gospel preaching and when he called the apostles. Jehoshua's teachings were that eternal life that was manifested to the apostles as it was only after his baptism that they began to fellowship with him. Also in verse 3 John says that whatever was declared to him and the other apostles is being delcared to the ekklesia. The very purpose of the word declared to the apostles which in turn is declared to the ekklesia is that they would have fellowship with the Father and His Son Jehoshua Messiah. The word of life that was manifested to the apostles is centered upon the fact that Jehoshua is the Son of Jehovah God. Let's remember this as we go through the rest of the epistles concerning John's mention of the commandments. 1 John 1:5 "And this is the message which we have heard from him and announce unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all" The message of the word of life taught by Jehoshua was that Jehovah God is light and that there is no darkness at all in him. The Son of God's mission was to declare the righteous character of his Father and his God Jehovah. All you have to to is go to the gospels and see what Jehoshua preached about the character of the Father and it wasn't the law of Moses: John 1:17 "For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jehoshua Messiah" Why John say this if Jehoshua preached the law of Moses? John is clearly making a distinction between the law of Moses and what Jehoshua preached, which is the gospel of grace and truth. 1 John 2:3-4 3 And hereby we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; What commandments are these? And whose commandments is John referring to, the Father or the Son? Remember, the context determines what is meant by the commandments as well as if these commandments are the ones the Father gave at Sinai or Jehoshua gave during his Kingdom mission. The first two verses indicate that the commandments mentioned above are the Son's, however it is not crystal clear. Thankfully the verses that come after the above pasaage show us what commandments John is referring to: 1 John 2:5-6 5 but whoso keepeth his word, in him verily hath the love of God been perfected. Hereby we know that we are in him 6 he that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked. Who spoke the word? It was Jehoshua so John is referring to the teachings of the Messiah when he says "whoso keepeth his word". In verse 6, we have our answer as to what John is talking about when he mentions the commandments earlier. John says that we ought to walk as Jehoshua walked if we claim that we abide in him. Clearly, it is Jehoshua's doctrine (teachings) that are in John's mind when he says that those who keep his commandments are those who know him (verse 3). The opposite is true in that those who don't keep Jehoshua's commandments don't know him. This is exactly what Jehoshua taught in John chapter 15 and he uses the same word "abideth" that John uses in verse 6 above. This shows that the commandments here in the epistle of John are the same as the commandments in the gospel of John and those commandments are the words that Jehoshua spoke. It has nothing to do with keeping the law of Moses. Both Jehoshua and John use the word abideth to denote our relationship with Jehoshua and that the evidence that we abide in him is if we keep his commandments. 1 John 2:7-8 7 Beloved, no new commandment write I unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning: the old commandment is the word which ye heard. 8 Again, a new commandment write I unto you, which thing is true in him and in you; because the darkness is passing away, and the true light already shineth. Again, the context of the epistle determines what commandments John is talking about. Notice that the commandment John is talking about is what they (the ekklesia) had from the beginning. The question is what beginning? Even the law of Moses wasn't from the literal beginning of creation so we cannot automatically assume John is talking about that. If we go back to what I said is an important verse to understand (1 John 1:1) then we know that John's beginning is not about creation because very little in the way of commandments was given and those commandments were for Adam and Eve not the new covenant ekklesia. John's beginning in 1 John 1:1 is the beginning of Jehoshua's evangelism as that is exactly when the apostles began to behold Jehoshua, fellowship with him and hear him. In verse 7 above John says that this old commandment is the word that they heard from the beginning. When John uses the word "word" in connection with the commandments then that is clearly referring to the teachings of the Son of God not the law of Moses. Verse 8, the new commandment is the commandment that Jehoshua gave his apostles: John 13:34-35 34 A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; even as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. The new commandment that John is referring to in his epistle is exactly the new commandment that Jehoshua gave the apostles. Again, it has nothing to do with the law of Moses but the actual teachings of Jehoshua. This is the what Jehoshua means by his new commandment of love: John 15:12-14 12 This is my commandment, that ye love one another, even as I have loved you. 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14 Ye are my friends, if ye do the things which I command you. This is the new commandment, that the love we love one another with is the sacrifical love of laying down one's life for his brother or sister. Jehoshua says that we are his friends if we do the thing that he commands which is to be willing to lay down our life for the brethren and that is the new commandment. See how all of this ties in together concerning the use of the word "commandments" when used by John throughout his writings? It's not about keeping the law of Moses but obeying Jehoshua's commandments regarding self denying love. Continuing in verse 8 John says that the darkness was passing away and the true light was shining as Jehoshua is the light of the world and shone brightly throughout his Kingdom mission. The Father was translating people from darkness to the marvelous light of the Son of God's Kingdom so Satan was losing territory and subjects (darkness passing way). The Kingdom of Jehoshua was advancing and spoiling the strong man's palace (Satan's Kingdom). This fits in perfectly with the 1st seal of Revelation 5: Revelation 6:2 "And I saw, and behold, a white horse, and he that sat thereon had a bow; and there was given unto him a crown: and he came forth conquering, and to conquer" The more the Kingdom of Jehoshua Messiah advances and conquers the more the light shines and the darkness of Satan's Kingdom passes away. Isaiah 9:1-2 1 But there shall be no gloom to her that was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali; but in the latter time hath he made it glorious, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. 2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. In the days before the Messiah began his mission the land of Northern Israel was in darkness and the arrival of the Son of God lightened them. Jehoshua was the light that shined in the darkness of Israel. This light was rooted in the Davidic Kingship and Kingdom which is what Isaiah 9 leads up to: 6 For unto us a child is begotten, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of Jehovah of hosts will perform this. Verse 6 prophesies of Jehoshua's conception (begetting) and the government upon his shoulders is the same one Eliakim had on his shoulders which is the Davidic Kingdom. Jehoshua has the keys of David (Revelation 3:7). Verse 7, the light spoken of in the first two verses of Isaiah 9 are rooted in the throne of David which is the throne that the light of God's Kingdom will shine forth in justice and righteousness. Jehovah's zeal made sure that this took place when He resurrected Jehoshua and set him upon His right hand (Psalm 110:1). It is Jehoshua's new covenant Davidic Kingdom that is the marvelous light that was brought to the darkness of Israel and this Kingdom is forever and the more it spreads the more the existing darkness passes away. Now let's get back to the epistles of John, if you the verses following verses 7 and 8 then you will see that the context of the commandments being spoken of by John are all about loving our brethren and not hating them. Verses 18-26 of 1 John 2 talk about the spirit of antichrist which is those who deny that Jehoshua is the Son of God. Remember the commandment of the Father? 1 John 3:22-24 22 and whatsoever we ask we receive of him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight. 23 And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jehoshua Messiah, and love one another, even as he gave us commandment. 24 And he that keepeth his commandments abideth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he gave us. The commandment of the Father according to John isn't about the law of Moses but rather it is to believe in the name of His Son Jehoshua Messiah. The phrase "believe in the name of his Son" means to believe in the identity, authority and character of his Son. Essential to Jehoshua's identity and authority is that he is the only begotten Son of Jehovah God. In order to keep the commandment of God we must believe and have faith (loyalty) that Jehoshua is the Son of God. The other commandment we are to obey from the Father is that we are to love one another. Jehoshua detailed how we are to do this throughout his kingdom mission and this is summed up in the sermon on the mount. 1 John 3:4-5 4 Every one that doeth sin doeth also lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. 5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away sins; and in him is no sin. This is where many Hebrew roots folks get tripped up as they eqaute te sin and lawlessness being spoken of here as the breaking of the law of Moses. However, we know that there was sin in this world before the law of Moses was given. The law of Moses was not given until Sinai 430 years after Jehovah made a covenant with Abraham (Galatians 3:17). Sin entered in by Adam long before the law of Moses was even around. Sin is disobedience to Jehovah's commandments. Of course, what Jehovah's commandments are must be understood with the administration (dispensation) that is being discussed. The breaking of law of Moses would have been the definition of sin within that old covenant dispensation. In the new covenant, lawlessness and sin is defined by the breaking of the commandments given by Jehoshua. Before the old covenant, lawlessness and sin would have been defined by disobeying the specific commandments given by Jehovah to that person or group of persons in specific situations. 1 John 3:11 "For this is the message which ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another" This is the same as the commandment John's audience heard from the beginning which is a commandment about loving the brethren. The message (word) of Jehoshua is the same as his commandments. These are the commandments of God in the new covenant i.e. the words that Jehoshua spake. This is consistent all throughout John's writings, it has nothing to do with the law of Moses as that is not what Jehoshua taught (John 1:18). 1 John 3:17-18 17 But whoso hath the world`s goods, and beholdeth his brother in need, and shutteth up his compassion from him, how doth the love of God abide in him? 18.[My] Little children, let us not love in word, neither with the tongue; but in deed and truth. This is the summation of the commandment of Jehovah God for us in the new covenant which is to show practical love for our brethren. We are to supply the physical needs of our brethren when we have the substance to do so and they are in need. Paul says the same thing in terms of what consists of the law of the Messiah: Galatians 6:2 "Bear ye one another`s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ" Bearing each other's burdens can be emotional or physical. This fulfills the law of the Son of God Jehoshua. 1 John 4:7-8 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. John continues with the theme of love which is the commandment given by Jehovah God through His only begotten Son Jehoshua (1 John 2:7-8, Deuteronomy 18:15-21). Jehovah God is love it's the very easy essence of His character. The evidence that we are begotten of Jehovah is that we example His character of love. The evidence that we are not begotten of Jehovah God is that we do not love our brothers and sisters. This is the very context of the commandments spoken of in the epistle of John which is love. 1 John 4:9-11 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. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. God's love was made evident (manifested) in us in that He sent His only begotten Son into the world to bring eternal life to us and that we would live now in this life through His power. Jehovah God loved us first and again that love was made evident in Him sending His only begotten Son Jehoshua to be a propitiation (mercy seat) for our sins. Jehoshua fulfilled the day of atonement by sprinkling his blood on the mercy seat on the ark in New Jerusalem as the ultimate act of love. This was the commandment of the Father given to the Son and both showed their love in the atonement. 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" This highlights the very meaning of the commandments mentioned by John in this epistle and that is the commandment to love each other with the same sacrifical love that Jehoshua loved us with. Loving each other in the way that Jehoshua loved us is the evidence that Jehovah's Spirit dwells in us. 1 John 4:18-19 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. How did Jehovah love us first? By what John mentioned earlier in the passage and that is by Jehovah sending Jehoshua to be the propitiation (mercy seat) for our sins. Jehovah sent His Son to bring us into the new covenant so that we would live in covenant relationship with Him (Jehovah). 1 John 4:20-21 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. Verse 21 sums up the commandment we have from him (Jehoshua) and that commandment is to love our brothers and sisters in the Kingdom. Again, nothing here about the law of Moses but everything about the atonement on the cross as the evidence of God's love for us and the example that we are to follow in having sacrificial love for each other as brethren. 1 John 5:1-3 1 Whosoever believeth that Jehoshua is the Messiah is begotten of God: and whosoever loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. 2 Hereby we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and do his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. God's primary commandment for us is to believe that Jehoshua is His only begotten Son. See John 3:16-18 for proof of this. In fact, the very purpose of John's writings is that we would believe that Jehoshua is the Son of God. Keep this in mind when John talks about keeping the commandments of God. John is not referring to the law of Moses but rather believing that Jehoshua is begotten of Jehovah God. John says that God's commandments are not greivous which proves these commandments are not the the law of Moses since that law was described as a yoke that neither the apostles nor thier forefathers could bear (Acts 15). The love of God is that we keep His commandments which in John's gospels and epistles is to believe that Jehoshua is the Son of God and that we are to love our brethren with the same love that God and Jehoshua loved us with. 1 John 5:9-10 9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for the witness of God is this, that he hath borne witness concerning his Son. 10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in him: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he hath not believed in the witness that God hath borne concerning his Son. The witness of Jehovah God that He bore witness concerning Jehoshua is that He begat him in the womb of Mary (Luke 1:29-36) and anointed him as the King of Israel at the Jordan river (baptism). Also, Jehovah sent Jehoshua as His apostle into the world (Israel) to preach the gospel of the Kingdom. The Angelic Spirit of Jehovah God bore witness that Jehoshua was the only begotten Son of Jehovah at the Jordan river, mount of transfiguration and the resurrection (Romans 1:1-4). When someone denies these truths they have made God a liar and rebelled against His commandment to honor Jehoshua as His only begotten Son. However, those who believe the witness of God concerning the witness He bore of His Son has the witness of God dwelling in them i.e. the holy spirit. 1 John 5:13 "These things have I written unto you, that ye may know that ye have eternal life, [even] unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God" We can be confident that we have eternal life when we have faith that Jehoshua is the Son of God and believe on his name (character, identity and authority). Just like in his gospel John's purpose for his epistle is that we have eternal life by believing that Jehoshua is the Son of Jehovah God. Again, this sums up the commandments of God which is that we believe that Jehoshua is begotten of Him. Also, God commands us to love one another as brethren as His Son loved us and gave himself for us as a ransom. ReplyForward
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