SALVATION MESSAGE

Today I need to speak about something that it has been overlooked by many. I followed the teachings of my pastor and thought it was correct, until I heard just one simple word that changed my mind. I realized all these many years; I was trying to get someone in the Kingdom of Heaven by having the person simply agree to the message of the gospel. And that is, simply stated that collectively all of us have sinned, and that we   individually need to be repent of our sins and receive the free gift of salvation. We taught and believed that the penalty for our sin is death and His gift is eternal life (Romiyim/Romans 3:23; 6:23), and therefore we need a Savior. All of this is the truth. I learned and believed that our own death would not be able to save us. We needed someone who never sinned, to be our substitute.  Yehovah Himself had to come and redeem us. Yeshua, who is the only Ben/Son of Yehovah, is the only one who qualified to redeem mankind. He indeed came into this world, and taught us the way of salvation together with revealing the Father, our Creator to us. He taught us the ways of the Kingdom.

Yehoshua, indeed, came from heaven, and lived His life among us without sin. After He finished completing His mission received from the Father in Heaven, He allowed Himself to be falsely accused.  He was crucified in order to fulfill the Scriptures and become our Redeemer. Here are some of the Scriptures you may need to read in your Bible, if you are not familiar with them.

He prophesied His own death

Mattithyahu/Matthew 12:39-40; Mattithyahu/Matthew 26:2; 31:32)

Prophesies concerning His death and their fulfillment

Tehillim 40:6-8; Yeshayahu/Isaiah 53; Yochanan /John 19:5-37; Tehillim/Psalm 2:7 (Luqas/ Luke 1:26-38)  Tehillim/Psalm 16:9;  Acts 2:27;

He was pierced and crucified, and divided the garments

 Psalm 22:16-18;  Mattithyahu/Matthew 27:35; Luqas/Luke 23:33;  Yochanan/John 19:23-24

Betrayed by His friend  

Psalm 41:9 Mattithyahu/Matthew 26:47-50

He forgave those who crucified Him

Luqas/Luke 23:34

He made provision for His earthly mother

Yochanan/John 19:25-27

He finished His Mission of Redemption by saying: “It Is Finished!

Yochanan/John 19:30

He was pierced on His side and none of His bones were broken

Yochanan/John 19:31-37

He was buried and rose again

YeshaYahu/Isaiah 53:8-9; Tehillim/Psalm 16:9-11; Yochanan/John  19:38-41; 20:10

After He rose from the dead He appeared to Mary and the apostles

Luqas 24:36-46’ Yochanan /John 20:11-17; 20:19-29

He commissioned us to preach the gospel with sign following

Mattithyahu/Matthew 28:16-20; Marqos/Mark 16:15-18

After 40 days He was taken up to Heaven

Luqas/24:50-53/Ma’aseh/Acts 1:9-11

I only wrote some Scriptures, but you can find many more as you read the Word. However, these few verses will give you an idea of the finished work on the cross of our Messiah.

 He died and rose from the dead as the prophets said, and He Himself foretold. He indeed rose on the third day, and not on the second day as the church teaches. He did not die on a Friday, and rise on a Sunday.  

He fulfilled the Passover by becoming the perfect Lamb (Shemoth/Exodus 12:5-6/Wayyiqra/Leviticus 23:4:5; Yochanan/John 1:29)  He died on the 14^th of first  biblical month, and on the third day He rose.  We believe He rose at the end of the Sabbath according to the calendar.

Because He rose, we will also rise from the dead. Because He lives, we will also live.

I needed to speak about His life first before I explain why the “sinner’s prayer” is not biblical.

Yeshua (Jesus) preached repentance “Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”- Matt.4:17

 However there is more.

Let me share some verses of Scriptures, and we will notice that the sinner prayer was not even mentioned in the Scriptures! The apostles never had anyone repeat a prayer.

Yeshua commanded us to do the following:

“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe  will be condemned.”Marqos/Mark 16:16

Peter’s message on Pentecost (Ma’aseh/Acts 2:14-37) ends with instructing the listeners to do the following.

“Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Yeshua HaMashiach (the Messiah) for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Ruach HaQodesh (Holy Spirit).” Ma’aseh/Acts 2:38

Please note that the baptism is nothing new. Jews were instructed to deep in water on many occasions to purge their sins or sanctify themselves. 3000 souls were baptized  that day and were added to the kingdom of Yehovah. No one raised their hands and no one repeated a prayer. They believed the message of Yeshua’s death and resurrection for their salvation and they responded immediately. All they did was to believe and to obey laying down their lives as they were immersed in the water a type of being buried, followed by rising from the water to begin a new life in Messiah.  They committed their lives to serve their Savior and entered into Covenant with Yehovah through Yeshua.  This was the beginning of “The Way” as they were called, and or “The Nazarene” movement. When the Feast of Shavuot/Pentecost ended they returned to their own home land and spread the Good News of the Kingdom.

More evidence ….

Then Simon Himself  also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and the signs which were done.”Ma’aseh/Acts 8:13

 Now Philip was transported by the Spirit Yehovah and ministered to the eunuch.

And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized? Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart , you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Yeshua (Jesus) haMashiach (the Messiah) is the Son of Elohim (God).  So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.” Ma’aseh 8:36-38

One again there was no sinner prayer.

The apostles Paul conversion.

And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Yeshua, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that  you  may receive your sight and be filled with the Ruach haQodesh. Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.” Ma’aseh 9:17-18

I am almost 100 %  sure that Shaul/Paul had repented for being murdering the Christians, and was now a believer in Yeshua. But there was no sinner prayer said  before the baptism.

Peter was sent by Yehovah to the house of Cornelius and gentile. There He preached the gospel and while he preached the Holy Spirit fell on all of them and spoke in other tongues. (Ma’aseh 34:46)

 “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?  And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.” Ma’aseh/Acts 10:47-48

Cornelius believed the gospel so much so that Yehovah sent His Spirit on him and his whole family as a sign that now even the unclean Gentiles were accepted when they believed in Him and Yeshua. Believing is priority. Believing and obeying the commandment of being baptized results in entering into the Kingdom of Heaven.

In the next few verses we hear the keeper of the prison saying,

“Sirs, what must I do to be saved? So they said, “Believe on the Lord Yeshua haMashiach, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of Yehovah to Him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of eh night and washed their stripes. And Immediately he and all his family were baptized.”  Ma’aseh 16:31-33

Romans 6:3-4 speaks of Baptism.

Baptism is removing himself of the old life style of sin, letting of the world’s ways, and living a new life in the power of the Spirit of Yehovah.

Therefore, if anyone is in Mashiach (Messiah), he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”Qorin’tiyim 2/ 2 Corinthians 5:17

I am not saying that none of those who prayed the sinner prayer and got baptized months or even years later, are not saved, but I am saying that the pattern Yeshua has given us is immediate baptism. Immediately committing self to die to self and live according to the Rules of His Kingdom.

Amen.

THE NUMBER 40 AND ITS POWER

 Let us see how the number 40 is seen in the Word of Elohim. Some people give much power to this number. Some feel they are very religious when they fast for 40 days. I want to find out for myself if there is anything we should learn from applying the number 40 to our lives. 

 I read a weekly Bible study that mentioned the twelve spies that were sent to the Promised Land. They were twelve men, one of each tribe of Yisra’el, and walked the land for 40 days. However, even though they found the land to be very fruitful, ten of the men gave a bad report. They became afraid of the people in the land. Only Joshua and Caleb, who also went to spy the land, had a good report and wanted to go to possess the land.

“There we saw the giants (the sons of Anak, who come from the giants), and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them.” Bemidbar/Numbers 13:33

They really did not trust Yehovah.

And all Israel complained against Mosheh/Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them,   “If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness! Why has Yehovah brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?” Bemidbar/Numbers 14:2-3

Yehovah heard their words and gave them their desire. They all died in the wilderness, except Joshua and Caleb and the young generation after the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, eventually entered and conquered the Promised Land.

What I want to concentrate now on the number 40 which is used many times the in the Scriptures. So far this number does not have a good reputation.

What is the significance or importance in the number 40 in this account? What could have been a blessing became a curse to them. They chose not to believe their Elohim, and relay only in their own strength which is nothing compared to His ability and His Word.  They forgot the miracle He did for them. Many of us are all guilty of this same thing. We could have been blessed if we had trusted Him, but we shrank back of the calling.

And now let us see what meaning we can give to the number 40 in the next account we read in the Scriptures.  

Moses was twice on the mountain of Sinai 40 days and nights.

“So Mosheh/Moses went into the midst of the cloud and went up into the mountain. And Mosheh was on the mountain forty days and forty nights. Shemoth/Exodus 24:18

There He received instructions from Yehovah for each of us.

Later on we learn the Mosheh went to the Mount of Yehovah, the second time on Sinai, and fasted food and water 40 days and 40 nights. At that time he received the Ten Commandments. (Shemoth 34:28)

This number 40 has a different meaning, if we want to give any significance to it.

 Mosheh went to be in the presence of Yehovah on Mount Sinai and He did not eat or drink for 40 days.

Both of His visits to the mountain have been very beneficial for all of us. Can you imagine being in the presence of Yehovah for such long time and your body does not longer need any food or water for such long time?

Maybe we should stay in His presence more often! 

The number 40 is also used in building the Tabernacle, as you read the chapters 26-36 of Shemoth/Exodus.

Now I want to mention another 40 days.

“And the Philistine drew near and presented himself forty days, morning and evening.” Shemu’el 1/1 Samuel 17:16

The 40^th day David killed Goliath the Philistine.

Shemu’el 1.1 Samuel 17:49 Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth.

One man, who had been trained by Yehovah while serving his father as a shepherd, killed Goliath, the enemy of Israel. (See Shemu’el 1/1 Samuel 17:37)

All Yehovah needs is a man who trusts Him to win the frets of the enemy.

Yeshua was tempted also 40 days and nights.

“Then Yeshua was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of Elohim, command that these stones become bread.” Mattithyahu/Matthew 4:1-3

It seems that the number 40 is the number of testing and victories. Most times the victory came after 40 days. The spies should have gone into the Promised Land. But they lacked trust. They felt unable to accomplish such task.  They did not yet understand the power of their Elohim. They had been too long in Egypt been oppressed as slaves and serving their gods. They also forgot the mighty miracles Yehovah did to deliver them. They walked in the natural, but Yehovah is not a natural man, He is the Creator of man and knows how to defeat anyone who dares to come against Him or his Chosen People.  Fear is the cause of failure. But when Yehovah gives a command we must obey and we will be victorious.

40 also speak to us of judgment. He sent the flood,

Bereshith/Genesis 7:17, 24, Now the flood was on the earth 40 days. 24 And the waters prevailed on the earth one hundred and fifty days.

And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month. In the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains were seen. Bereshith/Genesis 8:5

So it came to pass, at the end of forty days, that Noach opened the window of the ark which he had made. Then he sent a raven. Bereshith/Genesis 8:6

 Yehovah judged mankind. They all died except for Noach and his family who had not been contaminated. The pure seed that the Mashiach would be born was preserved. Therefore although He destroyed the sinners, it also was fruitful for our salvation.

Then we saw Goliath who tested Israel. But after 40 days Israel was delivered by Yehovah through a single man whose name is David.  The enemy was destroyed. David trusted Yehovah to deliver Israel, and He did!  

The Son of Yehovah, the Son of Man, Yehoshua HaMashiach, the promised Savior, was tested before He entered into His ministry. Satan came to Him when He was hungry, but lost. Yeshua was victorious.

And now how can we describe the number 40? Should we trust this number to give us victories?

We cannot give power to any number. The power belongs only to Yehovah. However, if you feel Yehovah is calling you to a time of fasting for the length of 40 days, go forth and be victorious. However, do not put your trust in the number 40 but in Him alone. See Yeshayahu/Isaiah 58 for guidance. Our faith must be in Yehovah and in Yehoshua finished work on the cross. Learn from David, he trust Yehovah, not the five stones in his packet!  

THE VALUE OF THE NUMBER SEVEN

We read in the Scriptures that Yehovah[i] judged the earth and its inhabitants and saved only 8 persons when He had rain fall on the earth 40 days and 40 nights. (Bereshit/Genesis 7:4, 13).

Then Yehovah stopped the rain, and 40 days later Noach opened the window and sent a raven out, but could he did not find rest and returned to ark. Next Noach[ii] sent a dove but also came back. (8:8-9). Then He waited another 7 days and resend the dove, and this time he came back with an olive leaf, (8:10-11).  He waited another 7 days more days and sent out the dove and never came back. (8:12). We have noticed that Noach sent the dove three times in 21 days! (3x7).

We have seen that the number 40 and the number 7 played a very important role. He knew about the creation of the Universe in six days, and the Seventh day Yehovah rested. We learn about the numbers seven in so many pages of the Bible.

If someone doubts that Yehovah rested on the seventh day, that person needs to read the Scriptures and see for himself the forefathers regarded the number seven to have special significance.

“Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day Elohim ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day form all His work which He had done. Then Elohim blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which Elohim had done.”Bereshith/Geneses 2:2-3

As we have read, the reason is simple. Yehovah established a pattern to be kept. He blessed the seventh day and sanctified, and He has set it apart for a special purpose. He wants to meet with us His Creation once a week on the seventh day.

 Eventually He wrote it on stone on Mount Sinai.  The 4^th Commandment is written in order for all mankind to know that He has set apart the seventh day of each week to meet with us His People. It is a great privilege for us to be able to meet with our Creator on this special day. Therefore the Sabbath is part of the Covenant. As we obey the other nine commands we must also obey the fourth.

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of Yehovah your Elohim[iii]. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter; nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days Yehovah made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all seventh day. Therefore Yehovah blessed the Sabbath day and Hallowed.” Shemoth/Exodus 20:8-11

Please notice the word “Remember”. He gave the command on Creation, and not on Sinai. On Sinai He reminded us to obey this Commandment.  Our ancestors, beginning with Adam and Chava (Eve) kept the Sabbath and so did all the others. On Sinai there were also a mixed multitude (Shemoth 12:38). There were other nations that followed the children of Israel into the Promised Land. Therefore, no one can say that it is only for the Jews! On Creation there were no Jews or Mormons, Catholics or Protestants, there was only Adam and Yehovah. Together they rested and had fellowship!

Let us remember that before the Commandments were given, the mixed multitude knew about the Sabbath, and was keeping the Sabbath. They were instructed to pick up a double portion on the sixth day because they would not find any manna on the Seventh day, which is the Sabbath! (Shemoth 16:22-23)

 Yehovah was in control how much they should pick every day according to the number of family member. When, on a week day, they pick up more to save for the next day the manna rotten. (Shemoth 16:19-20)

Each time they used the number seven they remembered Yehovah and the fact He created the world, and that He blessed the seventh day and made it holy.  Saturday is the seventh day of the week, and Yehovah has chosen it for us to have fellowship with Him.

Do not allow anyone tell you that keeping the Sabbath is no longer necessary. Keeping the Sabbath is an obligation as much as it is “You shall not kill.” What happens if you kill? In certain countries you pay back with your own life!

The Sabbath is a Commandment, therefore stop listen to those who erroneously say that the Sabbath is a Jewish thing! This is false. The Jews have, more than anyone else, kept this day holy, but it is a commandment for all humanity.  In fact even the animals rest on the Sabbath because man cannot use them to work.

Here are only a few examples taken at random.

Yehovah is giving direction on how to keep the Passover.

“Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses. For whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel. On the first day there shall be a holy convocation, and on the seventh day there shall be a holy convocation for you. Now manner of work shall be done on them; but that which everyone must eat-that only may be prepared by you.” Shemoth/Exodus 12:15-16

The Feast of Weeks /Shavuot/Pentecost

And you shall count for yourselves from the day after the Sabbath, form the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering seven Sabbaths shall be completed. Wayyiqra/Leviticus 23:15:16

Feast of Tabernacles

Then Yehovah spoke to Mosheh, saying, ‘Speak to the children of Israel, saying: “The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the Feast of Sukkoth/Tabernacles for seven days to Yehovah. On the first day there shall be a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work on it. For seven days you shall offer an offering made by fire to Yehovah.” Wayyiqra/Leviticus 23:33-36

Clearly Yehovah has given to the number seven a great importance. I am not surprised, for the world has tried so much to discredit Him as Creator. He knew that from the beginning, therefore He made sure we do not forget.

As I have said: Sabbath is the Seventh Day. Yehovah created the world in six days, and the seventh day He rested.  Bereshith/Genesis 2:2-3

Constantine changed the seventh Day to be Sunday, which is the sun-god day of worship.

I cannot give too many references, but you can find out for yourself, if you doubt that even the land has to rest every seventh year.  (Wayyiqra/Leviticus 25:1-7)

 And after seven times seven years or 49 years is a Jubilee, or the 50^th year. Debts were canceled on the 50^th year. Property had to return to their original owners.  (Wayyiqra/Leviticus 25:8-17)

The Slaves were released after the sixth year. The Seventh year is the Year of release. The seventh year is the Millennium, or the year the Kingdom will be established by the Messiah. The return of Yeshua is now imminent.

Seven is the number of completeness.

The land needs to rest every seventh year. (Wayyiqra/Leviticus 25:1-7)

The number seven is so special that we must also forgive a person seven times

seven in one day! (Luqas/Luke 17:3-4)

If you continue to read the Word of Elohim, you will be shocked to find out how many times the number seven is mentioned in the Scriptures. 

By mentioning the number seven so many times in His Word Yehovah is making very clear that He is the Creator of the Universe. Man want to rob Him of His glory, but fail.

Shalom

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[i] The Creator, the Great I Am, translated in English as The LORD

[ii] Noah

[iii] God