SUB-TITLE: The “Glad Tidings,” Absolute Assurance of the VIABILITIY of the Promise of Perfection of Holy Character, through submission to the Spirit of Holiness, to walk in “the Way of YHWH”
[Gen 15:1; 18:18,19; Is 52:1-10; Matt 5:48; 12:50; 28:20; Lk 6:40; 20:21; Acts 5:32; Col 1:28,29; 1 Jn 2:3-6]
“Be ye therefore perfect, EVEN AS YOUR FATHER which is in heaven, is perfect”
The Universe was created for the universal Gospel offer of the “common faith/salvation” (Jn 3:16; Col 1:21-23; Titus 1:4; Jude vs 3) to establish the House of Jacob as “heirs of the world/s,” for a remnant of faithful co-heirs from the nations to partake of the promise of Hebrew eternity, AS THE INHERITANCE OF ISRAEL, the “great and mighty (holy) nation” (in-the-making), prophesied to Abraham and to his seed, forever (Is 54:3; Lk 1:33; Rom 4:13,16; 11; 15:27; Rev 21:12).
This doctrine is summarized as “the fellowship of the mystery of the Messiah,” in Gen 12:2,3b; 18:18,19; Gal 3:8,9; Eph 2:15; 3:6 KJV
So the lessons of Israel’s wilderness Exodus are hardly irrelevant to the call to holiness which we share, as “one new man” (Eph 1:4,5; 2:11,12,15,19; 3:6).
In fact, Numbers helps us understand why justification by faith is only the first step in the pursuit of the freedom reserved for “vessels of honour” whose love for the righteousness of the commandments makes them acceptable as a habitation (abode) for Father and Son. as diligent candidates to be YaH’s friends (Jn 8:31-36; 14:21-24; 15:3-15).
More is wrought by God in the wilderness, than we can imagine.
The wilderness constantly tests the quality of our ‘secret place’ (Ps 91).
Perfection is molded there, if we resort continually to the grace of intimate fellowship and confidential counsel with God to become overcomers in the heat of the crucible of tribulations of all kinds which, by trying our hearts by testing our obedience, make wilderness seasons the perfect proving ground of character, for the salvation of our souls (Acts 14:22; Rom 8:29; 1 Peter 1:4-9).
Without the faith of Jesus AND covenant-keeping, to prove that “the Way” is written on our hearts, to order our lives precept by precept according to the pattern of Godliness, for Christ to be fully formed in us, for our Christlikeness to be startlingly evident, our freedom and eternal destination are at risk (2 Sam 23:5; Ps 50:23; Gal 4:19; Eph 4:11-14; Heb 10:16; Rev 3:2-6; 14:6,7,12).
Like Jacob’s ladder, the wilderness is a path to ascend (the upward “path of righteousness” also known as “the Way of holiness” – Is 35:8), to make ‘aliyah’ to the Presence, to know God, to love Him with the understanding that is promised to those who embrace the wisdom of Torah (Ps 111:7b-10; Prov 4:5-13,18-23). Those who squander the opportunity to “go on to perfection” through PERSONAL REFINEMENT like gold (Job 23:10), face spiritual stagnation, and risk losing all, for stunting the spiritual growth which is required for them to dispense with error, dissent, stubbornness and disobedience (1 Sam 15:22,23; Heb 6:1-12), in order to contribute to the harmony of the unity of the faith (Eph 4:5,11-14). Those who embrace and overcome necessary wilderness seasons which are mandatory for the purification of true sons (1 Peter 1:4-9,22; Heb 12:8-11), find they’ve gained inimitable personal experience of God and with it, revelation knowledge which is not only beneficial for the instruction and comfort of others (Rom 5:3-5; 2 Cor 1:3-10; 2:14-16; 4:8-12,15; Col 1:2), but which makes the call to cleave to YHWH through obedience to His will (Deut 30:10-20; 2 Jn vs 5&6), all the more compelling.
What is related to us of Israel’s EXPERIENCE WITH OUR FATHER throughout their wilderness preparation, for them to be blameless and worthy to enter their promise as the prophesied “kingdom of priests and holy nation” (Ex 19:5-8) which is the majestic holy enterprise WE ARE CALLED TO JOIN as fully-fledged members of the House of Jacob (Is 14:1; Lk 1:33; Eph 2:11,12,15,19; 1 Peter 1:2,13-17,22; 2:9,10), makes it rather obvious that the Hebrew Scriptures are the roadmap to the deepest understanding of the requirements for covenant relationship with the Godhead, which are based on zero-tolerance of DISSENT from the proven wisdom of “the Way of YHWH” which Yeshua was sent to magnify (Is 42:21; Mat 5:18,19; Lk 20:21); and of IMPURITY of motive, word and deed, all of which is summed up for us in our summons to purity and holiness through living for righteousness, in 1 Jn 3:3,4,7,10, in case we imagine God has changed.
Based on a national census of males TWENTY YEARS UPWARD to determine potential defensive capability of the population (just as necessary today), which amounted to 603550, we’re provided with many insights into the physical organization and division of labour (allocation of duties as holy burdens) (Nu 4) of the camp of Israel, which highlight YHWH’s detailed interest in the heritage, legacy and purpose-in-predestination of every family in the household of God as an unique heraldic genealogy (pedigree) of special worth, if faithful, over time, to hear His Voice and keep covenant (Ex 19:5; Nu 1:2,18,52; 2:2; Eph 1:11; 2:11,12,15,19).
These insights include the description of how YHWH conducted a census of the three branches of the house of Levi (Gershon, Kohath and Merari, from A MONTH OLD, UPWARD, which amounted to 22000 – Nu 3:15,39) who would be “given to Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar,” to “minister to Aaron” and “do the service of the Tabernacle” on behalf of the entire congregation of the people of God (Nu 3:6-9); and how He swapped Levites for the FIRSTBORN MALES in every family (firstborns DEFINED THE IDENTITY of the elect nation of Israel as “My son, even My firstborn” – Ex 4:22,23), to redeem the firstborn of Israel whom Passover night preserved (Ex 11:4-7; 12:12,13,24-29), for the Levites to be His priests, the SURPLUS of 273 firstborns amongst the 22273 firstborns from amongst all the families on Exodus also counted from a month and older, OVER AND ABOVE the 22000 Levites – Nu 3:40-43, being redeemed by five shekels apiece (Nu 3:12,13,40-51; 8:9-26).
We’re then given instances of RITUAL UNCLEANNESS (requiring temporary suspension of camp privileges, for prescribed periods of separation before returning to camp) and of SIN, designed to develop our sensitivity to the holiness of the camp of the church in the wilderness (our historical church) (Nu 5:3,4; Lk 1:33; Acts 7:38) due to Father’s fine distinctions between right and wrong, for us to recognize the need to advance beyond “the first principles of the oracles of God” to “go on to perfection” by mastering the discipline which Hebrews 5:11-14; 6:1-12 requires of us, not just to be “weaned from milk” (which cannot produce skill in application of the Word of righteousness), but to master understanding of and obedience to the “solid food” of the covenant through the “exercise of our senses to discern both good and evil,” by not being unwilling to hear the law, which would be “enmity against God” for refusal to submit to His ways (Ps 94:12,13; Prov 28:9; Is 28:9-12; Matt 9:31; Rom 2:13; 3:20b,31; 7:7,12-16,22,25; 8:4,6,7; Heb 12).
Liberty (“glorious freedom” from condemnation by sin), you see, is the EFFECT of “continuance” in the Word to be sure to be obedient to “the faith” (Is 64:5; Rom 1:5; 2:6-13) by disciplined application, by the Spirit, of the laws of YaH to the tabernacles of our flesh, or we cannot walk undefiled in “the Way” to be acceptable as a temple of the Holy Spirit (Ps 94:12,13; 119:1,45; Jn 3:19-21; 8:31-36,51; Rom 2:13; 3:31; 8:4-23; 2 Cor 5:9-11).
The passage Nu 5:6-31, which begins by emphasizing the principal of equity appropriate for a proper rebuke of guilt for damages caused, by requiring restitution (“recompensing of a trespass” – in this case a twenty percent penalty added to the principal sum constituting the injury) for due repentance for a trespass against the LORD, to be ACCEPTED; then provides the startling revelation of the lengths our Father goes to in His revulsion for impurity, to ensure our sin WILL find us out, in order for contamination, especially defilement of the marriage bed, “the great mystery of one flesh union concerning Christ and the church” backdated to the origin of the covenant of matrimony in Genesis, which is an unspeakable crime against the eternal Torah – Gen 2:21-25; Eph 5:31-33), to be uprooted from the believing community.
By the power of the Spirit acting on a husband’s soul, jealousy can be a providential SIGNPOST to unveil a secret adultery – ‘friendship/illicit love affairs with the world’ (Nu 5:12-31; James 4:4,5/Jer 3:13,14).
James 4:4,5 is a cross-reference to Numbers 5, in the words, “Ye adulterers and adulteresses…do you think that the Scripture says in vain: ‘the Spirit Who dwells in us ‘lusts to envy’ (yearns over us with a jealous love)’”
As the Spirit of Grace, Truth and Holiness, charged with the responsibility 1) to create a PERFECT UNION between a man and a woman covenanted to one another in holy matrimony; and 2) between the Godhead and the “one new man” by Instruction of a remnant zealous for the holiness of the Way (Acts 21:20; 24:14) to keep the integrity of the faith, in all the ways of the Kingdom (Matt 6:9,10) as true students (talmidim) of the Most High (Matt 12:50; 28:20; 1 Jn 2:3-6), the ministry of the Holy Spirit is FAR, FAR GREATER than most of us imagine.
It is impossible for YHWH’s vision of Zion, the exemplification of Torah ideals for exaltation of Israel as national role model by their perfection of the beauty of holiness – Deut 4:5-8; Ps 50:2; 96:6-9; Is 2:2-4; 24:23; 46:13; 60-62 as catalyst for the reconciliation and unification of all things which are in heaven and on earth in Yeshua the Messiah as Head of the House of Jacob (Lk 1:33; Eph 1:10; Col 1:20) to be fulfilled, for as long as ignorance prevails about the revelatory role of Torah, necessary for repentance to be COMPLETE, by evidence produced by searching Torah, of what needs pruning in the body of the Messiah, for the church to be “pure even as He is pure” (Eph 5:26,27; 1 Jn 3:3,4), through self-examination against the plumbline, for COMPETENT PREPARATION to be the bride (Rom 3:20b; 2 Cor 13:1,5; 2 Tim 3:14-17; Rev 3:2-6; 19:7-9).
Not coincidentally, one of the prayers prayed over the newborn male on his eighth day circumcision (B’rit Milah) (which is a token of the covenant between YHWH and Abraham, as a strategic reminder in the flesh of the organ of desire – Gen 17:11, of the call to perfection of holiness – 2 Cor 7:1), is “may his BED be (remain) PURE” (Heb 13:4).
Infant circumcision is regarded as the ‘manchild’ being “groomed by the blood of circumcision, to proclaim Good News and consolations to the people of God scattered and dispersed amongst the nations,” which to us is a remarkable prophetic reference to the individual Jewish soul’s eventual, necessary acceptance of “everlasting salvation” through their own Gospel (Besorah Tovah) (Is 52; 45:17-25).
We remember that Abraham’s circumcision late in life (Gen 17:23,24, necessary at 99, before Isaac could be conceived and set apart in the womb as legitimate heir) became the “SEAL of the righteousness of the faith” of which Abram was an heir BEFORE circumcision (Rom 4:9-13), so there was no CONFLICT (nor is there today) between the principle of justification by faith and baptism of a BELIEVER (Mk 16:16), and fulfilling the everlasting commandment in Gen 17:7-14, by someone obviously below the age of understanding.
If a believing husband, constantly reminded of the MORAL STATURE, even “the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Messiah,” to which the “vocation” of the “one faith” CALLS HIM (Eph 4:1,5,11-14), by daily accepting his ‘summons to holiness’ by heeding the indelible mark of the everlasting covenant in his flesh (Gen 17:13) which is of such deep personal and national symbolic value (it also signifies that all of Canaan belongs to Israel forever – Gen 17:8-11), thereby upholding the integrity of his marriage vows before the LORD, an unfaithful wife will not be able to pull the wool over his eyes.
“Then shall the man (alerted to his wife’s betrayal, by the spirit of jealousy “bringing iniquity to remembrance”), be guiltless from iniquity; and the woman (who fails the test of jealousy), shall bear her iniquity (and suffer shame and barrenness)” (Nu 5:15,31).
The Nazarite VOW (from the Hebrew root ‘nazar,’ to ‘separate or consecrate oneself to the service of YaH’) for personal consecration (Nu 6), strongly alluded to in the Messianic faith originally being regarded as “the sect of the Nazar|enes,” called “the Way” because of its Personification by the Messiah from Nazareth, Himself, “the Branch (netzer)” from the Root of Jesse, of Is 11:1, AS “the Way, the Truth and the Life,” making the faith of Israel upgraded by the New Covenant, forever the highest ever test of allegiance to God and His ways (Acts 24:5,14; Heb 2:1-3); and the record in Nu 7 of the valuable, IDENTICAL OFFERINGS of the Twelve Tribes, brought to honour the commissioning of the anointed Tabernacle of the congregation, and the Presence which approved and sanctified it with YHWH’s Glory (Ex 29:42-46; Nu 7:89), BETWEEN THEM point to texts and passages like Ps 50:5,23 and Deut 29:12-15 which describe the earnestness of those throughout the history of our adopting nation whose hearts were covenanted to YHWH by sacrifice (Ps 50:5; Rom 12:1,2) through dedication to knowing and keeping the faith of their God.
The Christian walk is a gift of probation (our profession of belief in and submission to Yeshua as LORD and Master accepted up front in good faith by the Father), for our dedication to the pursuit of truth and righteousness, the ‘holy coinage’ of the Kingdom (Zech 8:8; Matt 6:33), to be proved, in expectation that we will co-operate with the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit to become “offerings acceptable to God” as purified living temples of His Spirit constituting the spiritual house of the body of the Messiah (Acts 10:35; Rom 15:16-18; 1 Thess 5:23; 2 Tim 2:19-26; 1 Peter 2:5-10), which, if we continue in the covenant (Col 1:21-23), will be crowned by sanctification by the Glory of YHWH (2 Cor 3:18), just as the Tabernacle was, when perfectly ordered and commissioned, in the wilderness.
It is shocking that the concept of the discipline of covenant-keeping (Heb 13:20,21) has almost been lost to the vocabulary and exegesis of Christianity, so distorted has the teaching of grace become.
More of us would have a better attitude to the Hebrew Scriptures which are prescribed for us to “make us wise,” to meet the criteria for final redemption, if we’d only recognize that once reconciled to the Father through the Sacrifice of His Son, WE either surrender our wills to bear our crosses to be crucified with Christ, as obedient as He was, to be “living sacrifices” (foreshadowed by sacrifices in the past) necessary to prove our dedication to a life of consecration and loyalty to God and to the faith (Rom 1:5; 12:1,2; Eph 4:11-14,23,24), or by sabotaging our own sanctification (threefold set-apartness from worldliness – 1 Thess 5:23; James 4:4,5), will forfeit any claim to acceptance in the everlasting Kingdom, by being unfit to represent YHWH’s vision of Zion, which is Israel’s refinement like silver and gold, to exemplify the beauty and wisdom of pure doctrine – a witness lost long ago, but soon to be restored, with an impact “like life from the dead” (Deut 4:5-8; Ps 50:2,5,23; Ezek 16:11-17; Zech 13:8,9; Rom 11:11-15,23-29; 15:16-18; 2 Cor 5:9-11; 2 Peter 1:1-13).
What Israel failed to obey (not because they couldn’t but because like ungrateful delinquents, they wouldn’t, thereby grieving the Spirit Whom they stubbornly resisted, just as we are prone to do – Jn 7:19; Acts 7:51,53; Eph 4:30), is the very LEAST we are required to master (Matt 5:19; 2 Tim 2:5) to “continue” in the covenant (Heb 8:9; 13:20,21), to meet the far higher expectation of faithfulness and integrity made possible under the New Covenant by our heart circumcision through regeneration and renewal by water and the Spirit which have defeated the power of sin, to avoid being “unprofitable” to the Master by only doing our duty (Lk 17:9,10; Rom 3:12; 6:6,7; 8:2-4; 1 Jn 5:2&3).
Yeshua’s magnification of Torah (the ‘filling to the full’ of the knowledge of the Way, prophesied so many years earlier – Gen 18:18,19; Ps 138:2; Is 42:21), warranted because the righteousness of GOD HIMSELF has been imputed to us (Rom 3:22; 10:3), is the reason Heb 10:26-39 is such a solemn plea and warning not to take for granted, the grace which is available to the redeemed to become “a perfect man,” without which we could not regain and reflect the image of God (Rom 8:29; Eph 4:11-14; Heb 12:14,28; 2 Tim 3:17).
That makes the “Glad Tidings” the absolute assurance of the viability of the promise of perfection of human nature, because overcoming the challenges of testings of our faith on the narrow Way, IS an attainable ideal through the power and Presence of the Holy Spirit. Anyone who chooses to doubt this promise (Matt 5:48), which is the ultimate purpose of faith and obedience, is at serious risk of condemnation by Rev 21:8, for UNBELIEF.
No-one told us that through its application by the Spirit, Torah (Instruction in general) is the BLUEPRINT FOR LIBERTY, not just for us, but for Creation, whose ultimate freedom from impairment depends on our respect for the perfect law of liberty (Rom 7:7,12-16; 8:4-23). We have no justification for ignoring it, because the discipline of obedience is the foundation of morality. Our JUSTIFICATION by faith is just the ‘ante-room of the preparation necessary to be accounted worthy, as the bride’ (Lk 20:35; 21:36; Rev 19:7-9; 20:6), whereas SANCTIFICATION of the redeemed which is the ongoing work of purification as proof of repentance, is the CHIEF WORK OF SALVATION (Phil 2:12-15; 1 Thess 5:23; Heb 12:14; 1 Peter 1:2,13-17,22).
As the Living Word, the Master cannot be separated from either His Word (Torah), or His Spirit, since His Words are Spirit and they are life, which is why believing on or in Him entails obeying His example, to love and know Him, to be as He is (Lk 6:40; Is 2:2-4; Jn 6:63; 14:15,21-24; 1 Jn 2:3-6,28,29; 4:17)
“…everyone who is PERFECT, shall be AS HIS MASTER” (Lk 6:40; Col 1:28; 4:12)
Most of us haven’t discerned that understanding from Jn 8:31-36,51 and Rom 8:4-23.
As Jesus said in Jn 8 above, to those who had BELIEVED on Him, ‘IF ye CONTINUE (in continuance as in Is 64:5; Rom 2:6-13) in My Word (Torah/Instruction), THEN are ye My disciples indeed (Matt 28:20). And ye shall know the truth and the truth (instruction out of the laws of God) (Ps 94:12,13; Rom 3:20b,31) shall MAKE you free (from committing and being condemned by sin)”
Jn 8:36, like Jn 3:36, teach us that the Son cannot “make us free indeed” without our believing in Him being fulfilled by showing proof of respect for our covenant obligations as true sons, because faith without works is dead (Rom 8:4; James 1:22-25; 2:8-26).
Therefore, anyone who claims exemption from the discipline of the wilderness’s spiritual therapy, will be found to have failed to count the cost of discipleship, and by wishing away trials of the heart (Rom 5:3-5; Heb 12; James 1; 1 Peter 1:4-9; 5:6-12), to have fallen short of being “accounted worthy” of the high calling to “glory and virtue” through the “vocation” of “righteousness and true holiness” (Lk 20:35; Eph 4:1,23,24; 2 Peter 1:3).
We need to know that when we attentively and impartially read the narrative of the wilderness Exodus recorded for us from Genesis to Deuteronomy, we are lovingly being primed (subliminally as well as consciously) to do justice to the Son’s expectations of a HOLY and BLAMELESS bride, whose “seal by the Holy Spirit of promise,” for “(final) redemption of the purchased possession, for the praise of His Glory,” IS IN NO DOUBT (Rom 8:4,23; Eph 1:4,5,13,14).
THAT, you will surely agree, is “full assurance of hope (for an eternal inheritance), to the end” (Heb 6:1-12).
Only those who believe that grace CAN’T be “failed,” would think differently (Heb 12:14,15)
HalleluYaH
