Messiah, in the Sermon on the Mount, said this in Matthew 5:17, “Think not that I have come to destroy the law or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.” How did he fulfill the law?
James tells us in chapter 2:8 that there is a Royal Law. The Royal Law consists of the Ten Commandments. Messiah gave them to Moses for the benefit of Israel. (Ex. 20:1-17) In addition to the Royal Law, Moses gave us the Levitical Law, which “was added because of transgressions”, Galatians 3:19.
Messiah gave his apostles some insights that magnified the Royal Law, and modified the Levitical Law. For example, Abraham was told that all males should be circumcised (Gen. 17.) This requirement became codified in the Law of Moses, or the Levitical Law (Ex. 12:48.) However, the new covenant removed this requirement and instituted circumcision without hands in baptism (Col. 2:11.)
Passover was changed as well. The meal was no longer required. Emblems such as leavened bread and fruit of the vine were introduced. Further, Messiah instituted the foot washing ceremony. He said he came as a servant and demonstrated this by washing his disciples’ feet.
John the Baptist baptized with water. However, when John baptized Messiah, the Spirit of Yahweh descended as a dove. His disciples were baptized like Messiah with the name of Yahweh. However, the Spirit was not given until Pentecost. Thereafter, all who wish to respond to the call to the kingdom must be baptized in the name of the Father and Son, YahwehShua (Matt. 28:19) and have hands laid on them for the down payment of the Spirit.
The requirement to keep the Sabbath is very much in force. Messiah taught in the synagogues on the Sabbath, as did Paul. This did not change.
Leviticus 23 calls the weekly Sabbath a Feast of Yahweh and introduced seven other annual Sabbaths as well.
These seven annual Sabbaths are required under the Levitical law:
First High Day of Unleavened Bread, Second High Day of Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, Feast of Trumpets (Day of Shouting), Day of Atonement (Coverings), First High Day of Feast of Tabernacles, and the Last Great Day.
Yahweh’s Passover is not a Sabbath but is a required Feast day.
These feast days are named and explained in Leviticus 23, Numbers 29 and Deuteronomy 16. Are there changes here as well?
For this answer, let us examine the Doctrine of Messiah that is revealed to us in Hebrews 6:1-2:
Therefore leaving the principles [1] of the doctrine of Messiah, let us go onto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward Elohim [Passover, First High Day of Unleavened Bread], doctrine of baptisms, and laying on of hands [Last High Day of Unleavened Bread (water baptism) and Pentecost [baptism of the Spirit], the resurrection of the dead [The Feast of Trumpets (Shouting)], and of eternal judgment [the Last Great Day].
This instruction written by Paul gives us further understanding about keeping the feasts introduced in the Levitical Law. Remember that Paul communed with Messiah for three years after his call on the road to Damascus (Gal. 1:16-18). Paul was a very learned Pharisee, who knew the Levitical Law extremely well. He was most qualified to receive further understanding.
Now, is this new understanding revealed by Paul in Hebrews important? John answers this in 2 John 1:9: “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the Doctrine of Messiah hath not Elohim. He that abideth in the Doctrine of Messiah, he hath both the Father and the Son.”
Do we need both the Father and Son? John answers this in 1 John 2:22-23:
Who is a liar but he that denieth that YahwehShua is the Messiah? He is anti-messiah, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: [but] he that acknowedgeth the Son hath the Father also.
John also recites the importance of both the Father and Son in Rev. 14:1 where the Greek actually states that the 144,000 had the name of him (Messiah) and the name of the Father of him written in their foreheads. The King James Version (KJV) leaves out very significant information.
Matthew addresses this further in chapter 28:19: “Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing in the name [singular] of the Father and the Son.” The KJV includes the Holy Spirit but many scholars recognize this as a later addition or gloss.
Yes, the Doctrine of Messiah is a very important fulfillment of the law. John offers a warning in 2 John 1:10: “If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him NOT into your house, neither [the Greek literally reads,] ‘say a greeting to him.’”
John has some very strong words to say about the importance of the Doctrine of Messiah. I believe we have been negligent in recognizing its importance. We, of the Light of YahwehShua, repent of that ignorance, and will henceforth submit to the Doctrine of Messiah.
In all my years in organized religion, the Doctrine of Messiah has, by my experience, been overlooked. A brother, George Gabler, who also taught me about the name of YahwehShua, first revealed it to me. Thank you, George!
What is different about the Doctrine of Messiah? When you compare Hebrews 6:1-2 with Leviticus 23, you will find some significant differences. Yes, Passover, the first and second High Days of Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, Feast of Trumpets/Shouting, and the Last Great Day (eighth day of the feast) are still required. However, the Day of Atonement/Coverings and the Feast of Tabernacles are missing. Why? They are no longer required under the new covenant.
We of the new covenant are called to recognize that the revised list found in Hebrews 6:1-2 is very significant for us. YahwehShua, Yahweh our Salvation, has an important connection to Passover, Unleavened Bread and Pentecost. Feast of Trumpets is the day of OUR resurrection. The Last Great Day is the resurrection of all humans not in the better resurrection.
The Levitical feast days will be reinstated during the 1,000 years. These will include the Day of Coverings/Atonement and the Feast of Tabernacles. Those keeping Tabernacles will require temporary dwellings. Those keeping the Day of Coverings will be fasting.
We already have temporary dwellings. Peter says we are tabernacles and Paul says we are temples. Why? The answer is because Messiah dwells within us. The Israelites of the old covenant did not have the indwelling Spirit of Messiah as we do. Those in the 1,000 years will not have the indwelling spirit. The indwelling Spirit will again be available in the Last Great Day.
Now, how about Atonement/Coverings? I refer you to Mark 2: 18-22:
And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not? And Yahshua said unto them,-- Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days. No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment:else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse. And no man putteth new wine into old bottles:else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred:but new wine must be put into new bottles.
Notice the Pharisees and disciples of John were concerned about the disciples of Yahshua not fasting. Messiah said, “as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.” Messiah eventually left them for a while. Then they prayed and fasted. However, since Pentecost, we have the Spirit of Messiah being formed within us. He is with us at all times. He is our constant advocate with the Father and we can petition the Father without ceasing in his name. We are reconciled by his blood but are saved by his life (the name of YahwehShua). See Romans 5:10.
Hebrews 6 reveals the absence of the requirement to observe Yom Kippurim. Romans 5:11 tells us why this change was necessary: “and not only so, but we also joy in Yahweh through our Sovereign, YahwehShua Messiah, by whom we have now received the atonement.” [covering or reconciliation] The world, including those who are to be in the better resurrection, are NOW covered by his precious blood. We, in this age, are not required to observe Yom Kippurim. Participation in this annual Sabbath places you under the old covenant. We who are of the new covenant and now are the sons of Yahweh (1 John 3:2) should no longer keep the old covenant. We need to fully embrace the new covenant. We need to follow Paul’s revised list and not Leviticus 23.
In addition, to fully embrace the new covenant, we must not observe the Feast of Booths. We should not keep the old covenant annual Sabbaths, Yom Kippurim and Hag Sukkot. We do not fast; observe the days as annual Sabbaths or dwell in temporary dwellings. They are eliminated from our calendars.
This is a very different understanding than that which is taught in the Jewish synagogues and Sacred Name Assemblies. This sets us apart and will make us a target. But they persecuted Messiah and they will persecute us. We will only enter the kingdom of Yahweh with much tribulation.
We keep the feasts according to Yahweh’s calendar. The year begins with the Spring Equinox in the Northern hemisphere and the first new moon in Jerusalem after the equinox is the first day of the month of Abib. The law goes forth from Jerusalem.
The fall (north of the equator) feasts are based on the sighting of the new moon indicating the first day of the seventh month. This is also the Feast of Shouting/Trumpets. Twenty-three days later is the Last Great Day.
Our obligation to the Levitical Law changed with the death of Messiah and the institution of the new covenant. Paul confirms this in Romans 3:28: “Therefore, we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” In the previous verse, Paul says: “By what law? Of works? Nay: But by the law of faith.”
Our being in the better resurrection is based on “Messiah in us.” It is his righteousness that allows us to stand before the Father and enter the kingdom. We have the name of faith, YahwehShua, and not the deeds of works of the law: circumcision with hands, fasting, temporary dwellings (construction of booths.)
Messiah is our righteousness. We must look to him for guidance. Just as he guided the Israelites out of Egypt, he now guides us out of sin and the world. (1 Cor. 10:4)
Abraham is the example we need to follow. Note what Paul says in Romans 4:1-2: “What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before Yahweh.” Also, Paul says in Gal. 3:29, “And if ye be Messiah’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs of the promise.”
Messiah is everything to us. We must look to him for instruction about the law and how to manifest obedience to both He and the Father. This is where the Doctrine of Messiah provides the instructions we are to follow. We must pray to Yahweh in the name of YahwehShua and seek the truth. He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6.)
Please join me in submission to the Doctrine of Messiah. We must have both the Father and the Son. Keep in mind what John tells us in 2 John 1:9. These were among his last words for us. We must take them very seriously. Let us become faithful students and followers of the Doctrine of Messiah.
Messiah has fulfilled the law as he promised. We are under the law of faith (Rom 3:27), not the law of sin (Rom 7:23-25.) We are truly the seed of Abraham, held to the same standard as he. HalleluYah!
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[1] This refers to leaving the milk of the word, and progressing onto the meat. The NIV translates this section as “let us move beyond the elementary teachings … and be taken forward to maturity…” We should desire a deeper understanding.
Please also see newer article, “The New Covenant Feasts of Yahweh”, entered on August, 2018.
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