God’s Promises in the Hebrew Scriptures. Part 1

The disciples experienced God’s promises in the Hebrew Scriptures being referred to and acted upon by Jesus.  

The sermon on the mount Jesus taught: ”Therefore, do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.” Matthew 6: 31,32

God’s promise of bread – “God will abundantly bless her provisions;  I will satisfy her poor with bread. Psalm 132 : 15. “The righteous eat to the satisfying of his soul.”  Proverbs 13: 25. “ Behold my servants shall eat.” Isaiah 65: 13.

Thirst – “I will pour water upon him who is thirsty. Isaiah 44: 3. “The Lord shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give rain.” Deuteronomy 28: 12.

Clothing – “I will clothe thee with raiment.” Zechariah 3: 4. “Their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell.” Nehemiah 9: 21. He will keep the feet of the saints.” 1 Samuel: 2: 9.

Jesus said, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.” Matthew 6: 33. “Trust in the Lord, and do good; so, you will dwell in the land, and enjoy security.” Psalm 37: 3

Jesus said, “Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day’s own trouble be sufficient for the day.” Matthew 6: 34 “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou dost preserve my life.” Psalm138: 7 “ Fear not, but let your hands be strong.” Zechariah 8: 13.

“The Lord recompense you for what you have done, and a full reward be given to you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” Ruth 2: 12.

Jesus sends out his disciples to experience for themselves God’s promises.

Jesus authorised his disciples to preach the gospel, the Kingdom of God and he and gave his authority to cast out demons and power to heal diseases. To take no money with them to pay for lodging or food or extra clothing. (God would provide for their needs.)

 “And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal. And he said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics. . . . .And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.” Luke 9: 1-3,6.

The promises in the Hebrew Scriptures that became the disciples experience.

The disciple’s message of repentance: ”Who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases.” Psalm 103: 3. “ I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sins no more.” Jeremiah 31: 34.

The disciples proclaimed the kingdom message: “Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light  to my path.” Psalm 119: 105. “For  the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light  and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life.” Proverbs 6: 23. “

The disciples pray for people to be healed: Jesus said, “The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life.” John 6: 63.   “I am the Lord that health thee.” Exodus 15: 26. “Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” Psalm 34: 19

The disciples trusted in the Lord’s provision: Jesus said, “Take nothing for  your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics”  Luke 9: 3. “For thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23: 4. “Thou preparest a table before me.” Psalm 23: 5. Jehovah Jireh – the Lord will provide” Genesis 22: 14

The New Covenant gives us greater promises as well as these and many more in the Old Testament.

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “These are my words which I spoke to you, while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead.” Luke 24: 44-46

One of these scriptures, a prophecy found in Hosea the prophet who lived in the Northern Kingdom (Israel) in the eight century B.C. His ministry overlapped that of Amos, Isaiah and Micah. All four prophets were calling the Kings of Judah and Israel to ‘repent and turn away from apostacy and be restored back to the God of Abraham, Jacob, Moses and King David. 2 Kings 15: 1, 4,17,18. 17: 5,6,9,21,22.18-20. Amos 9: 11,12. Isaiah 52: 7-10. Micah 7: 18-20.

“Come, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn, that he may heal us; he has stricken, and he will bind us up. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him. Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord; his going forth is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.” Hosea 6: 1-3.

“The NIV Theological Dictionary of New Testament Words.” Editor Verlyn D Brugge Page 120   Zondervan 2000 “The historical background of this passage is the Syro-Ephraimite War (735-734 B.C 2 Kings 15: 18; Isaiah 7: 8) and the passage constitutes a call to national repentance in faith in Yahweh for restoration, using the language of healing after being stricken for apostasy. Perhaps Hosea is consciously using the language and idioms of Baal worship polemically against the Baals. If so, Hosea’s point is that it is Yahweh, not the Baals or their cults, who will restore Israel to health and vitality.”

Jesus, the Messiah, the Saviour of Israel and the Universe, the world, fulfilled Hosea’s prophecy.

“Come, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn, that he may heal us; he has stricken, and he will bind us up. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him. Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord; his going forth is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.” Hosea 6: 1-3.

Day 1. “Come, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn, that he may heal us; he has stricken, and he will bind us up.”

“Israel’s prophets Hosea, Amos, Isaiah and Micah called their Kings to turn back to God, but because of the influence of the powers of darkness they continued to follow Baal.

“¹⁸And Azari’ah king of Judah did what was evil in the sight of the LORD; he did not depart all his days from all the sins of Jerobo’am the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin.” Israel had fallen into the snares of the devil by continuing to worship Baal on the high places. 2 Kings 15: 18.

Israel had fallen into the snares of the devil by continuing to worship Baal on the high places.

“In the second year of Pekah the son of Remali’ah, king of Israel, Jotham the son of Uzzi’ah, king of Judah, began to reign. ³³He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jeru’sha the daughter of Zadok. ³⁴And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that his father Uzzi’ah had done. ³⁵Nevertheless the high places were not removed; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.” 2 Kings 15: 32-35.

The supreme moment in the history of the universe and world that Jesus accomplished, when he personally fought and won the greatest battle against Satan, (the devil) and his principalities and powers. The battle took place when Jesus wrestled with his willingness to die. He was betrayed by Judas to the authorities. After his arrest and while Jesus was on the cross and when he was dead in the tomb.

Jesus suffered whilst praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, he asked his Father God if it were possible for this cup to taken from him, the cup of suffering and death. Jesus was betrayed by Judas to the authorities for money. His betrayal by Judas led to his arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane. Afterwards, he was taken to Caiaphas, the high priest’s house where he stood trial before the council. Jesus, was condemned by the council accused of blasphemy and making himself a king. He was brought before Pilate to pass sentence upon him. Pilate questioned Jesus and then sent him to Herod, where the soldiers mocked him and they put on him a robe, and sent him back to Pilate.

Pilate could not decide, so he asked the crowd to release Barabbas or Jesus? The crowd responded to crucify Jesus. The Roman soldiers took Jesus to the Praetorium, where the soldiers mocked him, and they placed upon him in a scarlet robe and put on his head a crown of thorns and a reed in his hand. After the soldiers had ridiculed him, they took off the robe and put on him his own clothes and led him away to be crucified. Jesus carried the cross until he was too weak. Jesus’ death on the cross took place on the Day of Preparation, the day before the Passover, when the lamb sacrifices were killed. Jesus the Lamb of God was slain, he bore on the cross the entire sins of humanity and the causes of sin. Matthew 13: 41. Mark 9: 41-47.

Including Moses’ story of creation, where Adam and Eve were in fellowship with God in the Garden of Eden, They were tempted by the serpent (the devil) to become like God knowing good and evil. But God had warned them not to eat the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Eve succumbed to the serpent’s temptation, and she gave some of the fruit to Adam. After eating the fruit, they became aware of the presence of evil and their relationship with God changed from being in fellowship with God to knowing about  God. They were sent out of the garden to work and live in the world. Genesis 3: 1-7,23,24.

Day 2. “After two days he will revive us.”

When Jesus died he was taken down from the cross by Joseph and Nicodemus, they carried his dead body to the tomb. The two of them wrapped his body with the spices and strips of linen cloth. From there he descended to Hades, to the departed dead and preached the gospel of redemption through faith in him and revived those who believed in him. We read that the graves were opened and they witnessed in Jerusalem, Matthew records, “The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.” Matthew 27: 52,53. Peter wrote in his first letter, “For Christ also died^[ for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit; in which he went and preached to the spirits in prison.” 1 Peter 3: 18,19. The Psalmist prophesied, “O Lord, thou hast brought my soul from Sheol,(hell)  restored me to life from among those gone down to the pit.” Psalm 30: 3

Day 3. “On the third day, he will raise us up, that we may live before him; let us know, let us press on to know the Lord; his going forth is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.”

Day 3. On the third day, he will raise us up, that we may live before him.

Jesus told his disciples that he would suffer death and rise on the third day. “And taking the twelve, he said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written of the Son of man by the prophets will be accomplished. For he will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon;  they will scourge him and kill him, and on the third day he will rise.”  But they understood none of these things; this saying was hid from them, and they did not grasp what was said.” Luke 18: 31-34.

The apostles witnessed those three days that Hosea prophesied, but they did not understand until the evening of the third day, that Jesus had won the battle over Satan’s power over death until after they received the Holy Spirit from Jesus.

Apostle John writes, “On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” The disciples were taken by surprise and their fears were stilled by his words. During the conversation Jesus breathed on his disciples the Holy Spirit, And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit,” John 20: 19-23. Jesus had fulfilled Hosea’s prophecy the disciples were raised on the third day when they received the Holy Spirit from Jesus. The indwelling presence of God, Hosea’ prophecy “Coming into God’s presence living before him.”

Hosea prophesied the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. “The showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.”

At Pentecost Hosea’s, John the Baptist’ and Joel’s prophecy were fulfilled, Hosea’s – “The showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.” Hosea 6: 3 John the Baptist – He (Jesus) will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” Matthew 3: 11. Joel’s – “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.” Joel 2: 28,29.”

The Apostles and followers where gathered at the house in Jerusalem, when they heard the sound of a rushing strong wind filling the house. Luke records from eyewitness accounts that everyone present received the Holy Spirit and they saw tongues of fire upon their heads, and they spoke in a language that was given to them by the Holy Spirit. Acts 2: 1-4.

Through repentance the forgiveness of sin for all who come to God seeking forgiveness and healing.

 “Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord; his going forth is sure as the dawn.”

Jesus rose from the dead and in his resurrection attained reconciliation between humanity and God, from knowing about God to personally knowing God. When a person seeks God, they find in the Old Testament Hebrew prophesies in the Scriptures have been fulfilled by Jesus. Isaiah writes of one man’s suffering and death and resurrection.

Isaiah’s prophecy of suffering and death, “⁴Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. “ ⁵But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities…. he shall see the fruit of the travail of his soul and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous; and he shall bear their iniquities. ¹²Therefore I will divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” Isaiah 53:4,5,11,12. God allowed Jesus to suffer because of his love for us. Jesus was willing to lay down his life for our sin, to die a horrible death on the cross and through it redeem us from the devil’s power over sin and death. “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same nature, that through death he might destroy him who has the power of death, that is, the devil.” Hebrews 2: 14.

Isaiah’s prophecy of the resurrection of the dead, “Thy dead shall live, their bodies shall rise. “O dwellers in the dust, awake and sing for joy! For thy dew is a dew of light, and on the land of the shades thou wilt let it fall. Isaiah 26: 19.  

Without the resurrection no one can be saved from eternal darkness and without the warmth of God’s love. God’s promise to those who seek God. John writes, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3: 16

Today, a person can receive from God the Father, through faith in Jesus forgiveness of sin and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

If you would like to begin a personal relationship with Jesus today, please say this prayer:

Lord Jesus Christ, I am sorry for the things I have done wrong in my life. I ask your forgiveness.       Thank you, for dying on the cross for me to set me free from my sins. sins.   Please come into my life and fill me with your Holy Spirit and be with me forever.          Thank you, Lord Jesus, Amen

Worldwide. UCB’s Prayer ucb@contactforchrist.org.uk  

Jesus said, “The Holy Spirit will guide you into all truth.” John 16: 12

I wish to explain the magnitude of Jesus’ resurrection, by demonstrating that Jesus, in fact, raised himself from the dead. Currently, it is widely accepted by the church that God raised Jesus from the dead, but I wish to develop this belief to a new level and hope to transform people’s interpretation of the resurrection.

Peter at Pentecost said that God had raised Jesus from the dead of whom they were Jesus’ witnesses. “King David foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.” Acts 2:31,32. The apostles tell us that God raised Jesus from the dead. Acts 4: 10. 13: 30. Romans 6: 4. 8: 10,11. 1 Peter 1: 21.

The New Testament writers all state the same message that God raised Jesus from the dead. So, when the Holy Spirit revealed the word May 22, that Jesus raised himself from the dead, I still questioned the legitimacy of what was being shown to me in the word. I examined the Bible texts were Jesus indicated that he raised himself from the dead.

John 10: 17, 18 “Jesus said, “For this reason the Father loves me, because I (Jesus) lay down my life, that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again; this charge I received from my Father.”

John 10: 30,37,38.  “Jesus said, “I and the Father are one,” Jesus one in being with the Father. 15: 23,24. The one Godhead consisting of three persons: God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit. Acts 16: 6,7,10. Titus 3: 4-8.

John 11: 25. “Jesus said to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life.”

John 2:19- 22 “Jesus said, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it up in three days.” The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you will raise it up in three days.” But he spoke of the temple of his body. When therefore, when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.” Therefore, Jesus said that he would raise himself, the temple of his body. Also, when he referred to his body, his risen body being the same body as he had during his life on the earth. But with one exception it was without blood.                                                                          

Matthew 12: 40. 27: 62-64. The chief priests and Pharisees came before Pilate and said, while he was still alive, he said, “After three days I will rise again.” They had heard Jesus say, that he would be like Jonah and rise from the dead after three days.

Jesus was born having an immortal body, The Holy Spirit planted God’s seed and egg in Mary’s womb. John Wesley’s hymn confirms this when he wrote, “Tis mystery all, the immortal dies.” What John was saying: Jesus could have lived for ever on the earth, had he chosen to do so.  Jesus chose to lay down his immortal body, as a final sacrifice for sin and its causes, Jesus was spiritually separated from God on the cross (Mark 15: 34) and he took the burden of sin upon himself in that moment of death (his task was to do this alone). Jesus died on the cross. But Jesus himself was innocent, therefore, death had no dominion over his immortal body.

Jesus raised himself from the dead, this was indicated in his conversation with Mary Magdalene at the tomb, Jesus asked Mary not to hold him, as he had not yet ascended to his Father. “Jesus said to her, “Mary. “She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabboni” (which means teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not hold me, for I have not yet ascended to my Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” John 20: 16,17. Mary recognised it was Jesus when he called out her name, “Mary.”

It was in the evening of the day of his resurrection when he gave his disciples permission to touch his resurrected body. Luke wrote, Jesus said, “See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have.” While the disciples were rejoicing, Jesus asked if they had anything to eat, so they gave him some grilled fish and he ate it in the presence of his disciples. Jesus’ resurrected body consisted of flesh and bones. (without blood.) I believe his blood was poured out for the forgiveness of sins at Calvary. Luke 24: 39-43.                                                

Jesus did a complete work of reconciling humanity with God, in his death and resurrection. Jesus paid for our reconciliation by laying down his life’s blood, death had no dominion over him, he raised himself from the dead to complete our reconciliation with Father God. At his ascension Jesus said, “All spiritual authority had been given to me.” This underlines the fact that he did a complete work of salvation: Jesus has personally conquered death and dealt with sin by his resurrection from the dead. Matthew 28: 18. Daniel 7: 13,14.

Jesus’ indestructible Life (Indestructible meaning not able to be destroyed)

Over twelve months after receiving ‘Jesus raised himself from the dead’ I received another word, when I read in Hebrews 7 verse16 “This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become a priest not according to legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life.” The Holy Spirit revealed ‘by ‘The power of his indestructible life, ’which I believe confirmed the previous word ‘Jesus raised himself from the dead,’ it was ‘by the power of his indestructible life. ’Jesus’ life which included his body that was indestructible.

Jesus’ risen body was without blood, Jesus the High Priest, of an eternal order of priesthood, (Jesus was not Melchizedek reincarnated) Jesus, as high priest offered his blood to God for humanities sin and as our intercessor for forgiveness of sins. (for all those who come in true repentance and faith to him.)

The writer of the letter to the Hebrews, explains that Jesus was not a high priest like Aaron and the Levites. When the high priest died, he was succeeded by the next in line and this happened throughout the generations. “For it is fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, unstained, separated from sinners, exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins, and then for those of the people; Jesus did this once for all when he offered up himself.” Hebrews 7: 26. Jesus’ sacrificial offering: of his life’s blood to reconcile humanity to God and when he offered up himself in person, having raised himself up from the dead, to appear before his Father with the offering of his blood.

Jesus’ indestructible, resurrected body had the marks of crucifixion.

The apostles witness, that Jesus’ resurrected body was his own body, “Jesus said, “See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself.” Luke 24: 39. This proves that his own body was indestructible.

Jesus through being born in the flesh, suffered and was killed by crucifixion. He was buried in a tomb, and he rose from the dead on the third day. Jesus having in his resurrection his own body, that has enabled humanity to enter eternal life, through faith in Jesus.

Women’s ordination to the priesthood in the Church of England.

At Bristol Cathedral on the 12th of March 1994, Barry Rogerson, the Bishop of Bristol, ordained thirty-two women to the priesthood, who become the first in the Church of England. Commenting on the 25th anniversary, Barry Rogerson said: “Over the last twenty five years I have observed and received the ministry of women in parishes, but also in chaplaincies; hospitals and hospices, schools, universities and prisons and know what an innovative and positive contribution women have made to the priesthood and perhaps today we might give a thought for all those women worldwide, whose vocations to the priesthood have still not been neither recognised nor tested.”

I thank the Lord, for the Church of England’s recognition of women as equal members of the body of Christ. I know from personal experience of friends who were not able to fulfil their calling to the priesthood. The recognition of women in being equal with men in serving the Lord in the gifts of Jesus and the Holy Spirit, still the teachings of Paul’s traditions found in his letters undermine a lot of women’s ministries today.

I thank, ‘Jews for Jesus,’ for making known the traditions. in Jewish culture that applied to women in the first century. Zhava Glaser, sums up the first century Jewish women’s situation in life, “One Talmudic passage perhaps best sums up the situation of women in the first century “(They are) swathed like a mourner (referring to the face and hair coverings) isolated from people and shut up in prison” (Eruvin 100.6.)

The first century church were empowered with the Holy Spirit to carry forward the New Covenant in the expectation of Jesus’ return. The transforming of people’s lives by knowing God as their Father and Jesus the Son of God and the Holy Spirit. Ordinary people, both men and women received forgiveness of sin and its causes and entered the joy of salvation. To be Christlike, by loving God, the law of commandments written in the heart: to love one another, to love their neighbour as themselves. Receiving the ministry in the gifts of the Spirit of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Also, with a great desire to read and share the word about Jesus with others.

Jewish Traditions coming from the writings of Moses.

It is important to understand that there was a moment in human history that changed our relationship with God.                                                                                                                                                                           Moses’ creation story of the fall of humanity, he tells us that the first human beings had fellowship with God in the Garden of Eden and instructed them not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The serpent tempted them to eat from that tree, he said to them that they would be like God knowing good and evil. Eve was tempted first to eat from the tree, and she gave some to her husband Adam. As a result, they became aware of the presence of evil and their nature fell under the influence of the devil, and they became subject to eternal death. Their relationship with God changed from knowing God in a personal way, to knowing about God, for him to be revered, but kept at a distance. Genesis 3: 15,16

Once that door of knowledge of good and evil was opened to them, they became aware of the presence of evil and they could not close the door. Sin had entered the world and the battle between good and evil has continued since their fall.

The Jewish tradition put in place human descent, through the man being created first. Moses wrote, “So, God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him. Male and female.” Genesis 1: 27.

After the fall of humanity, Moses writes that Seth the son of Adam and Eve, was born in the likeness of Adam. Therefore, Seth received his father’s fallen nature. Genesis 5: 1-3.

John recorded the words that he heard when Jesus prayed to his Father, Jesus prayed, Father, glorify thou me, in thy own presence with the glory which I had with thee before the world was made.” Jesus came from being with the Father in heaven, to be born as one of us, to fulfil God’s plans and purposes in his life laid down as the final sacrifice for sin and the restoration of humanities fellowship with God.

When the Pharisees questioned Jesus about divorce in marriage. In his reply he stated that men and women were created before the fall of humanity, “From the beginning of creation, (katabole – from before the fall of humanity) God made them male and female.” God created men and women, I believe he made them so, that they needed each other, each with their special purpose, and in their fall, they were both equally separated from their personal relationship with God.

Paul taught the Moses tradition in his letters, in his first letter to the church at Corinth. Paul writes, “I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the ‘traditions’ even as I have delivered them to you. But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a woman is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.” 1 Corinthians 11: 2,3. The early church were Jewish people, and they struggled to change Moses’ traditions. Perhaps equality between men and women was a step to far, especially for the leaders of the Sanhedrin to accept, before Jesus returned.

Verlyn Verbrugge Editor of “The NIV Theological Dictionary of New Testament Words.” The Greek word paradidomi – to hand down, pass on and the noun paradosis denotes (actively) a handing down, (passively) that which is handed down, tradition.

Paul continued in his first letter to the Corinthians: when a woman prophesied, she should cover her head. “But any woman who prays or prophesies with her head unveiled dishonours her head, it is the same as if her head were shaven. For if a woman will not veil herself, then she should cut off her hair; but if it is a disgraceful for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her wear a veil. For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is in the image of God’ but a woman is in the glory of a man. (for man was not made from a woman, but woman from a man). 1 Corinthians 11: 5-8

Jews for Jesus. ‘Women’s Rights in New Testament Time’ Extract from the article by Zhava Glaser 1988. Women were not allowed to testify in court. If a woman was ever in the streets, she was heavily veiled and was prohibited from conversing with men. The woman of the first century did not even do their own shopping.”

In Anglican churches this tradition of a woman covering her head continued up to the 20th Century, were women in the Church of England wore hats in church. Thankfully, it has changed, women have recognised Paul’s teaching of Jewish traditions.

A change in covenant, but Paul keeps Jewish Traditions on Christian women.

Paul’s first letter to Timothy, the Minister of the church at Ephesus, 1 Tim 4: 6. Paul states, “For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.” 1 Tim 2: 13,14.

Paul uses these words in giving Adam the status as being formed first (human descent) and making him appear the innocent party, Moses writes that both Adam and Eve’s eyes were opened, “Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realised that they were naked; so, they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.” Genesis 3: 7.

Paul’s teaching to Timothy, brings a woman under traditional Judaism when he writes, “Let a woman learn in silence with all submissiveness. I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over men; she is to keep silent and yet a woman will be saved through bearing children, if she continues in faith, love, and holiness, with modesty.” 1 Timothy 2: 11-15. Leviticus 12: 1-8.

Jews for Jesus. ‘Women’s Rights in New Testament Time’ Extract from the article by Zhava Glaser 1988. “The concept of tzenuah, or the private role of the women, was based on Psalm 45: 13. “All glorious is the princess in her chamber.” While a man’s primary responsibility was seen in public, a women’s life was confined almost entirely within the private family sphere.”

Deut 4: 9. ”Teach them (the scriptures) to your sons.” The rabbis declared women to be exempt from the commandments and to learn the Law of Moses. Indeed, the Talmud says, “It is foolishness to teach Torah to your daughter (Sotah 20a). Woman were separated from men in private, public, and religious life confined to the women’s Court (not found in Solomon’s Temple).

“One Talmudic passage perhaps best sums up the situation of women in the first century “(They are) swathed like a mourner (referring to the face and hair coverings) isolated from people and shut up in prison” (Eruvin 100.6 )

“Mary and Martha. Jesus passionately defends Mary’s choice to sit and listen. In doing so, he counter-culturally affirms women’s roles as fully fledged disciples and implicitly invites Martha to join her sister among the disciples.

The few rights of a woman included her right to go to the House of Study to hear a sermon or pray (Vayikra Rabbah, Sorah 22a). Also, it was her right to attend a wedding feast, a house mourning or to visit her relatives (Mishnah Ketubot 7: 5). Extracts from an article, “Women’s Rights in New Testament Times by Zhava Glaser. 1988. Jewsforjesus.org.

Jewish and Gentile women in the first century received the Holy Spirit when they became Christians and were set free by the New Covenant from the constraints put on women under law.

Apostle John in his gospel writes that Salvation is not by a husbands will, but by God’s will.

Apostle John writes, “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” John 1: 12,13. NIV Bible

John’s view does not agree with Paul’s traditional Judaism, every woman becomes a child of God by God’s will, through repentance and faith in Jesus and not by her husband’s will as being head over a woman. It is I believe by personal salvation and being individually members of Christ’s body, united by the blood and Spirit of Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

It was by direct intervention by God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, which led to Paul receiving the vision at Troas. Paul and Silas were stopped by the Holy Spirit from speaking in Asia. They attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus stopped them. At Troas Luke joined Paul and Silas, he was in their company, when Paul during the night, saw a vision of a man beseeching him saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” Paul concluded that God had called them to preach the gospel to them. Acts 16: 6,7,10.

Paul, Silas and Luke sailed across to Samothrace, from there they made their way to Philippi, the leading city of that region. On the sabbath day they went to the riverside, where they expected to find a place of prayer and Luke records, “We sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. One who heard us was a women called Lydia, from the city of Thyaura, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshipper of God.” Luke witnessed Lydia coming to faith in Jesus, “The Lord opened her heart to give heed to what was said by Paul.” Lydia was baptised with her whole household.” Acts 16: 14,15.

Paul was learning and teaching from what he experienced, like the unity in fellowship in the Spirit with other members of the body of Christ. At the end of Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians he writes, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” 2 Corinthians 13: 14.

Our fellowship in the Holy Spirit is like the unity of the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the person, the Holy Spirit three individual persons, making up the one God head.

Paul states in his letter to the Romans where he writes, “Though many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another.” Romans 12: 4,5. A Christian is personally redeemed from sin by Grace, through repentance and faith in Jesus.

The fellowship that Jesus spoke of in his prayer in John’s gospel, ““I do not pray for these only,(apostles), but also for those who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” John 17: 21. The oneness as with the relationships individual persons between Father, Son and Holy Spirit working together as one, in perfect harmony.

Luke witnessed in the Acts of the Apostles, Paul receiving a vision at Troas, this vision that opened the door of personal salvation to Gentile women.

The vision Paul received called him to Macedonia, where at Philippi he sat down among women on the banks of the river. Paul shared the good news about Jesus and Lydia responded to his message and received Jesus into her heart, following this, she was baptised along with her household.  Acts 16: 6-15.

It was by direct intervention by God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, that led to Paul receiving the vision at Troas. Paul and Silas were stopped by the Holy Spirit from speaking in Asia. They attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus stopped them. At Troas Luke joined Paul and Silas, he was in their company, when Paul during the night, saw a vision of a man beseeching him saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”  Paul concluded that God had called them to preach the gospel to them.

Paul, Silas and Luke sailed across to Samothrace, from there they made their way to Philippi, the leading city of that region.   On the sabbath day they went to the riverside, where they expected to find a place of prayer and Luke records, “We sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. One who heard us was a women called Lydia, from the city of Thyaura, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshipper of God.” Luke witnessed Lydia coming to faith in Jesus, “The Lord opened her heart to give heed to what was said by Paul.” Lydia was baptised with her whole household.”

Paul, I believe was responding to the vision, just as Peter did at Joppa. In Peter’s vision he saw a sheet full of unclean creatures, he was instructed to kill and eat them. Peter was appalled at the idea. But Peter responded when two men came to Joppa in search of him, because he discerned that God was calling him to go to Caesarea with the two men to the home of Centurion Cornelius who was a worshipper of God. Peter shared the good news about Jesus with Cornelius and his kinsmen, his friends and his household, and as he was telling them about Jesus they received the Holy Spirit and they were all baptised. Acts 10.

Lydia’s heart was opened by the word about Jesus that she received from Paul and Lydia was baptised along with her household.

God, by direct intervention through the vision, I believe God was indicating to Paul that Gentile women were equally receivers of salvation in the New Covenant in Christ.                                                                  

Paul never mentioned Lydia in his letter to the church at Philippi, but he mentions working side by side with women as well as men. In his closing words Paul sends his love in Christ, to every Christian.

Despite this important encounter with the women at Philippi, Paul’s teaching in his letters kept women, Jews and Gentiles under traditional Judaism. Was this another reason why Jesus did not return within the lifetime of the apostles?

The Church in Christ Before the Foundation of the World.
The magnitude of God the Father’s creation of the universe and the beautiful earth. The fathomless depths, the unreachable heights and his unsearchable riches in Christ our Lord.

John recorded Jesus’ prayer, were Jesus indicates that the church was created in God’s heart and mind before the foundation of the world, before the fall of humanity.
God appointed Jesus and the church, his body of believers to fulfil his purposes and plans, revealed through Jesus and the Holy Spirit to those whose faith is in Jesus. Jesus prayed, “I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their (apostles) word, that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. . . . Father, I desire that they also, who you have given me may be with me where I am, to behold your glory which you have given me in your love before the foundation of the world.” John 17: 20,21,24.

The Greek words used in verse 24 “the foundation of the world.” Foundation -Katabolo –throwing down and the ‘world’ – Kosmos –– world affairs, humanity. The pivotal moment in time, “the fall of humanity.”
Jesus used the word “Before” the foundation of the world,” The church Christ’s body of believers were created in the mind and heart of God before the fall of humanity. Therefore, the devil cannot prevail against it.
The term “from the foundation of the world” relates to when the devil caused the first humans to be separated from God, known as ‘the fall’ of Humanity, termed in the Bible as being “from the foundation of the world.

God created the church in heaven before the fall of humanity, Jesus has revealed the plan of God when he established the church on the earth in his death, resurrection and ascension, uniting his church in heaven and on the earth.

The NIV Theological Dictionary of New Testament Words” Editor Verlyn D Verbrugge. Katabole: foundation, beginning. Katabollo: throw or strike down, found, ground.

 Matt 13: 35. 25: 34. Psalm 78: 2. Rev 13: 8 is a fixed expression for the point from which historical dates are reconned. When God’s free activity is dated ‘before’ this point in time (e.g. Jn 17: 24) where the object of God’s love is Jesus: Eph 1: 4 when God’s providence from the absolute beginning he himself set for human history. The independence enables God to break into history in his loving presence and to bring the course of salvation history to its completion again in his love.”

God created the church before the foundation of the world in heaven. Jesus has revealed the plan of God when he established the church on the earth in his death, resurrection and ascension, uniting his church in heaven and on the earth. Jesus fulfilled his Father’s plan, when he suffered and died on a cross. Peter speaking at Pentecost, in his address he states, “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs which God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know– this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.” Acts 2: 22,23 Acts 4: 28.

The Jewish leaders and people acted in ignorance when they handed Jesus over to Pilate for sentencing. The jews were taught from the law that the Messiah would not die, he would remain for ever. John 12: 34. The Messiah’s Secret by Dorothy Newton Published 2001

God in his foreknowledge before the foundation of the world, put in place the means of reconciling humanity back to himself through Jesus, his blood being the atoning sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin, between God and humanity.

Part 2 God created the church before the foundation of the world in heaven. Jesus has revealed the plan of God when he established the church on the earth in his death, resurrection and ascension, uniting his church in heaven and on the earth.

God in his foreknowledge that is before the foundation of the world, put in place the means of reconciling humanity back to himself through Jesus, his blood being the atoning final sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin.                                                                                                        

Paul in his letter to the Romans writes, “Not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death was passed on to all men, because all sinned. For sin was in the world before the law was given; but sin is not taken into account when there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sins were not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.” Romans 5: 12-14. One man’s sin brought about separation from God. A Type meaning one man Jesus restored our relationship with God. Jesus sometimes referred to as the second Adam.

Moses’ inspired story of the fall of humanity, he tells us that the first human beings had fellowship with God in the Garden of Eden and instructed them not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. They were tempted by the serpent to eat from that tree, he said to them that they would be like God knowing good and evil. Eve was tempted first to eat from the tree, and she gave some to her husband Adam. As a result they became aware of the presence of evil and their nature fell under the influence of the devil and they became subject to eternal death. Their relationship with God changed from knowing God in a personal way, to knowing about God, for him to be revered, but kept at a distance. Genesis 3.

John recorded the words that he heard when Jesus prayed to his Father, Jesus prayed, Father, glorify thou me, in thy own presence with the glory which I had with thee before the world was made.” John 17: 5. Jesus saw Satan fall like lightening from heaven. Luke 10: 18. Ezekiel 28: 11-19.

Jesus was tempted by the devil on the earth and was offered the kingdoms of the world if Jesus acknowledged Satan as god. Matthew writes, “Again, the devil took him to a high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them, and he said to him, ‘All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.’ Then Jesus said to him, “Begone, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.” Matthew 4: 7-10.

 In the plan of God Jesus was sent to restore the relationship between humanity and God. Jesus accomplished this through his death, paying the price for sin, in his life’s blood shed for forgiveness of all that stood against humanities relationship with God.

When Jesus rose from the dead and after his ascension the coming of the Holy Spirit, he established the church.

Paul confirms Jesus’ prayer indicates that the church was in God’s heart and mind before the foundation of the world, before the fall of humanity. God appointed the church to fulfil his purposes and plans, revealed through Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Paul wrote in his letter to the Galatians saying that he knew that God had set him apart before he was born. “Set me apart before I was born and called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles.” Galatians 1: 15,16. Jeremiah 29: 11,12.

When Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus, he encouraged the Gentile Christians that God had planned their inclusion into the Kingdom of God through faith in Jesus before the foundation of the world. ”Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.” Ephesians 1: 4.

God had prepared their ministries, the vessels of mercy. ”For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”     Ephesians 2: 10

Responding to God’s call to ‘follow Jesus’ God is able to reach to reach to the deepest depth of sin in a person’s life. In forgiveness he takes a person to the heights of joy, love and peace. The plans he has made will be challenging and need the support of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit to fulfil it. The purpose will emerge as his plan unfolds.

Every Christian is called to fulfil God’s purposes and plans in their lives.

Jeremiah’s prophecy, “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and you will find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29: 11,12.

John wrote, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3: 16.

The endless possibilities of God’s love and grace to those who believe in Jesus.

 ‘Whoever believes in Jesus’ or is it ‘Predestined?’

In the term ‘whoever’ there will be several people among those who respond to become a follower of Jesus who in the foreknowledge of God (predestined) will serve the Lord our God till the end of their lives. For example, Paul writes in Romans, “We know that everything in God works for good, for those who love him, who are called according to his purpose. For those who he forknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the first-born among many brethren. And those he predestined he also called, and those who he called he also justified; and those who he justified he also glorified.” Romans 8: 28-30.                                                                            

The Holy Spirit searches the heart and mind of every person who turns in faith to Christ. Those who seek to do God’s will through loving God in the Spirit of God, have been justified, declared not guilty before God of sin, through their faith in Jesus, as he paid the cost of their freedom from sin in his life laid down on the cross. God glorified Jesus in his resurrection so, every person receives forgiveness from sin and the causes of sin. Mark 9: 42-48.

Jesus’ ‘Sermon on the Mount’ he teaches that we should not judge one another, as every Christian receives the Holy Spirit when we confess that Jesus is our Saviour and Lord. We all are called to fulfil God’s plans and purposes through the gifts of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12: 3-11.

Ephesians 1: 4 “Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should holy and blameless before him.”

The parable of ‘The Sower’ gives reasons why not everyone who believes about Jesus will become his disciple. The Sower scattered the word. Those who heard and received the word along the path, however, Satan came and took away the word that was sown in them, and likewise from others, who for various reasons, would accept it for only a short time before turning away and rejecting his message. Only those who accepted the teaching of the kingdom. and repented would bring forth a harvest of varying proportion. Mark 4: 1-20. God embraces both, ‘Whoever believes in Jesus’ and those ‘predestined’ to believe in Jesus. The parables of the dragnet and the banquet present the same principal were God searches the mind and heart of every person who believes in Jesus.

In Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians he confirms to both Jews and Gentiles that Jesus will come and ‘Fetch the Bride’ both the dead and those who are alive to this meeting in the air. Jesus will then take the church to his home in heaven followed by the marriage ceremony which takes place in heaven.

“Fetching the Bride.”                                                                                               

Paul in his first letter to the Thessalonians writes concerning Jesus the bridegroom. The church – the Bride. The Jewish term for this is ‘Fetching the bride.’

“Paul writes, “But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first; then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so, we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.”  1 Thessalonians 4: 8-18. Mark 13: 24-27.

“Footsteps of the Messiah” by Arnold Fruchtenbaum.                                                                “The marriage was accomplished when the bridegroom would go to the home of the Bride and fetch her and bring her to his home, as he approached his own home, he would be met by a procession of virgins that would conduct (organise) the bride and groom for the marriage ceremony and the marriage feast.”

The church is the virgin Bride of Christ.” Revelation 19: 7. 2 Corinthians 11: 1,2.

Today the church is watching and listening for Jesus calling out  ‘to fetch the bride.’

The creator of this beautiful earth has given humanity stewardship of the world. Genesis 1: 28.                               

God knows that there is an evil power at work in the world (spiritual powers of darkness) that seeks to destroy humanity and all that lives on the earth. Jesus Christ is the hope for all humanity and the continuing existence of this world. Ephesians 2: 1-6.

Jesus is the Saviour of the world, and he will return with his Bride the church from God’s kingdom in heaven and defeat the powers of darkness at work on the earth and bring peace and stability to this world. Revelation 19: 13-20.

Paul writing to the church at Ephesus to both Jews and Gentile Christians, Jeremiah’s prophecy is found in his teaching as part of the New Covenant that Jesus established in his death, resurrection and ascension.

Jeremiah’s prophecy Chapter 31 verses 31-34. “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, ³² not like the covenant which I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant which they broke, though I was their husband, says the Lord. ³³ But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. ³⁴ And no longer shall each man teach his neighbour and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

God’s covenants and promises were between God and the nation of Israel. The first covenant stemmed from Abram’s relationship with God that from him and Sarah a great nation would emerge and through him all the families (nations) on the earth would be bless themselves. Genesis 12: 1-3

Paul informs the Ephesians that the Gentiles had no covenants with God.

Jeremiah verse 31 “^“Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah.”   

Paul in his letter emphasises to the Gentile Christians that before they came to faith in Jesus that the Gentiles had no covenants with the God of Israel. “Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called the uncircumcision by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.” Ephesians 2: 11,12.    

God revealed to Paul his purposes and plans, “How the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.”  Jesus has enabled those whose faith is in him to attain the promise of receiving eternal life. Paul reveals that this news had now been made known to the principalities and powers in heavenly places. Ephesians 3: 3, 6

Jeremiah’s prophecy verse 32 “Not like the covenant which I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant which they broke.”                                                                                                                                                                                   Jeremiah’s prophecy refers to the incident when God met with Moses on the mountain and gave Moses two tablets of stone on which God had written ten commandments. When Moses returned to the camp at the base of the mountain, he found the people worshipping an idol of a golden calf. In his anger he threw down the stone tablets and broke them. Moses later returned to meet with God on the mountain where he received again the commandments.

Paul reminds both the Jews and the Gentile Christians at Ephesus not to include any gods that they used to worship in their former way of life. Paul writes, “And you he made alive, when you were dead through the trespasses and sins ² in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience. Ephesians 2: 1,2.

Gentiles in the first century worshipped more than one god, often believing in the one god that was the supreme god and all the other gods under his rule. Today, many people hold the same view and incorporate the spirituality of different deities along with their god-fearing beliefs.

Verse 32 Jeremiah’s prophecy speaks of God being a husband to Israel. “Though I was their husband, says the Lord.”                                                                                                          Apostle John records in his gospel, the incident when the Pharisees brought before Jesus a woman caught in the act of adultery. They asked Jesus what should they do to punish her? In his response, Jesus pointed to Jeremiah’s prophecy of a New Covenant. John’s narrative, the woman I believe represents Israel, the wife of God. Jesus, wrote with his finger twice on the ground, representing the two tablets on which the ten commandments were written, and were broken when Moses brought them down from the mountain into the camp where he found the Israelites worshipping the idol. When Jesus asked those present for those without sin to cast the first stone at her, they were convicted of unconfessed sin in their lives and walked away. They were convicted from the heart of the law of commandments written in their hearts. Jesus I believe endorsed Jeremiah’s prophecy. John 8: 1-11. Matthew 5: 17-19

Verse 33 “But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it upon their hearts.”  

In the temple at Jerusalem there was a dividing wall separating Jews from Gentiles. On the Jewish side is where the rituals and sacrifices took place. Jesus having made the final sacrifice for sin and had fulfilled the rituals observed by the Jewish law for both Jews and Gentiles. As a result, he removed the wall of separation making peace.

Paul wrote,  For he is our peace, who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility, ¹⁵ by abolishing in his flesh the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, ¹⁶ and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an end. ¹⁷ And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.” Ephesians 2: 14-17.                                                                                                            

The New Covenant abolishes the commandments and ordinances that took place at the temple at Jerusalem and removes the barriers from knowing about God to knowing God in a personal way. The cross becomes like a bridge, where we pass over from eternal death to eternal life. It is through our repentance, and by Jesus taking our sin upon himself on the cross and dying in our place. His body broken and his blood shed for forgiveness of sin. So, the cross is where we die to sin and death and receive God’s forgiveness and raised in the likeness of Jesus’ resurrection. The Holy Spirit acts upon our faith in Jesus and as a result, a change takes place within a person’s heart. The commandments are not kept as a set of rules, instead they become part of our nature, written in the heart. Ezekiel 11: 19,20. 2 Corinthians 3: 3

Verse 33 “And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”  “Jesus said that the first and greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart, and soul and mind. This is the first and great commandment. Jesus continued saying, And the second is like it, you shall love your neighbour as yourself.”   Matthew 22: 37-40                                                                                                                                                                               Paul endorses this commandment, “There is one body and one Spirit; just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, (Jesus) one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all.” Ephesians 4: 4-6

One God- three persons in the one God. Paul teaches: one Spirit, one Lord Jesus, one in the Father who is above all and through all and in all.

Only the perfect sacrifice from God himself could make us right with God. Jesus the Son of God made peace between God and humanity through his one sacrifice of himself and at the service of Holy Communion we remember Jesus establishing the New Covenant in his death and resurrection and in his ascension unifying heaven and the earth.  

Jeremiah’s prophecy verse 34 “And no longer shall each man teach his neighbour and each his brother.” It is by example we love our neighbour and brother as ourselves with the guidance of the Holy Spirit

God’s covenant with Moses enabled a Jewish person to earn their righteousness through doing good works and keeping the law. The pharisees and lawyers loved God but added laws to justify earning their righteousness by doing good deeds.

Paul writes in Ephesians teaching them of a change in the New Covenant Chapter 2: 9,10 “Not because of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”  

Christians have entered God’s Sabbath day of rest; we cannot work towards earning our place in God’s kingdom. Jesus has secured a place in God’s kingdom in response to having faith in him.

Ephesians Chapter 4: 25-29 “Therefore, putting away falsehood, let everyone speak the truth with his neighbour, for we are members one of another. ²⁶ Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, ²⁷ and give no opportunity to the devil. ²⁸ Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labour, doing honest work with his hands, so that he may be able to give to those in need. ²⁹ Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for edifying, as fits the occasion, that it may impart grace to those who hear.”                                               

God’s love in the heart working in every believer by demonstrating their love for their neighbour by acts of kindness and doing charitable deeds that God has prepared for them to do.                                            

Chapter 5: 5 Paul writes, “Be sure of this, that no fornicator or impure person, or one who is covetous (that is an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Chapter 6: 1,2. “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise). This commandment has the promise of living a long life on the earth.

Jeremiah’s prophecy Verse 34 “Saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,”                                                                                                                                                                                              Paul writes, “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,(the Holy Spirit reveals Jesus to us.) ¹⁸ having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.” Ephesians 1: 17,18.

Personal testimony – I made my commitment to follow Jesus nine years prior to receiving the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands at a prayer group meeting. Afterwards, the Holy Spirit revealed to me that God was my Father and I felt one with creation. I realised that God had added substance, reality to my faith because I knew spiritually that the gospels gave a true account about Jesus. Since that wonderful day: I know Jesus is God revealed in the flesh and Jesus is the word of God clothed in the flesh and that he is the Son of God and I know the commandments are written in my heart, the Holy Spirit revealing God’s love and I discern his guidance, revealing Jesus through the word and prompting action through stepping out in faith.

                                                                                                                                                                               Jeremiah’s prophecy verse 34 “Says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”                                                                                                                                                                                                Paul writes, “In him (Jesus) we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace which he lavished upon us.” Ephesians 1: 7,8. Jesus’ redemption includes sin done in ignorance and generational sin.

Paul writes, “Put off your old nature which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new nature, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4: 22-24

Jesus added a new commandment to ‘love one another.’    Agape love.

Paul in his letter to the Ephesians writes, “That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have the power to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fulness of God.” Ephesians 3: 17-19. God reached to the depths of a person’s sin and forgives. Paul writes, God has blessed every Christian with every spiritual blessing in the highest place, heavenly places, in Christ.

Paul’s example of forbearance when writing this letter to the Ephesians, “With all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love.” Ephesians 4: 2

Paul points out the necessity of being trueful, “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,” Ephesians 4: 15

Jesus dying in agony to fulfil his Father’s will, “Therefore be of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God,” Ephesians 5: 1,2.

Love fulfils the commandments loving God and loving our neighbour as ourselves.

Today, a Christians’ love for God, enables God’s love to flow through his Church, Christ’s body. Christ’s love reaching out to love our neighbour and making Christ known to them by sharing the gospel and by faith in action doing charitable deeds.