What is the Gospel of Salvation? - Part 1 HD

For the first fifteen years after Yeshua’s resurrection, the message that Yeshua was the long awaited Messiah of the Jewish people spread throughout Judea, the Galilee, and to Jewish Communities throughout the Roman world. Some accepted the message with joy; others rejected the message and even attempted to kill those who proclaimed Yeshua as the Messiah. But there were God-fearing Gentiles worshiping in the Synagogues alongside of the Jews. Paul spoke to both Jew and God-fearing Gentiles at the synagogue in Pisidia recorded in Acts 13:16. Acts 13:16 NKJV 16 Then Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said, "Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen: What meaning, if any, did Yeshua have for the Gentiles? This is the question that faced the early leaders of the followers of Yeshua and was the subject of the meeting Luke described in Acts 15.

 

The Woman Caught in Adultery HD

John 8:2-11 tells the story of Yeshua being confronted by the Pharisees and teachers of the law with a woman caught in adultery. When questioned about what He would do, Yeshua stooped down and wrote in the earth. When they continued to question him, He stood and replied that the one without sin should throw the first stone. He then bent down and resumed writing in the earth. We can figure out what Yeshua probably wrote by looking at the overall context of the incident.

Prepare the Way of the LORD HD

Last Saturday, August 13th, was the 9th of Av on the biblical calendar. It is a national day of mourning for all Israel wherever they are scattered throughout the world. On this day, the Temple of God was destroyed…twice! First by the Babylonians and then by the Romans. It is a day of lamentations and mourning for all that the Jewish people have lost. Jeremiah mourns over the destruction of the temple and city of Jerusalem in Lamentations.

Lamentations 1:1-3 NKJV 1 How lonely sits the city That was full of people! How like a widow is she, Who was great among the nations! The princess among the provinces Has become a slave! 2 She weeps bitterly in the night, Her tears are on her cheeks; Among all her lovers She has none to comfort her. All her friends have dealt treacherously with her; They have become her enemies. 3 Judah has gone into captivity, Under affliction and hard servitude; She dwells among the nations, She finds no rest; All her persecutors overtake her in dire straits.

But now, these days are past, and God is the one who comforts His people.

Yeshua the Prophet like Moses HD

In the days following the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the apostles testified frequently about Yeshua’s identity. After healing the lame man, Peter told the assembled crowd that Yeshua was the prophet like Moses in Acts 3:22-23 NKJV 22

"For Moses truly said to the fathers, 'The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you. 23 'And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.' Peter is quoting the words of Moses in Deuteronomy 18.

What does it mean that Yeshua was a prophet like Moses? How was this prophet to be recognized?

The Dire Straits: A Time for Mourning HD

The biblical calendar is packed with events and times of the year that those of us on the Gregorian calendar have no knowledge about. The three week interval of time that began this year on July 23rd is called the dire straits. This is a time of intense mourning for what might have been if only the children of Israel had demonstrated more faith in God. It is a time of introspection as each person examines their relationship with God. It is a time of repentance and return leading to hope and confidence that God never abandons His people.

 

Jew and Gentile - Part 3: One New Man HD

Jew and Gentile - Part 2: Abolishing the Enmity HD

Jew and Gentile - Part 1: Covenants of Promise HD

In a discussion with a friend, the passage in Ephesians 2:14-16 came up to support the idea that the commandments of the Law (Torah) were done away with in Christ. In a superficial reading, this sounds true. Ephesians 2:14-16 NKJV 14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. To really understand these three verses, we need to ask, “What is the overall context of this passage?

 

A Covenant of Peace - Restoration of All Things HD

Isaiah writes about a covenant of peace that will last forever. The context of this verse is the return of the children of Israel to the Promised Land. Isaiah 54:10 NKJV 10 For the mountains shall depart And the hills be removed, But My kindness shall not depart from you, Nor shall My covenant of peace be removed," Says the LORD, who has mercy on you. What do you think of when you hear the words “A covenant of peace?” Do you think of tranquility and the absence of strife? This is part of the covenant of peace, but not all that it refers to.

 

The Priestly Blessing - Numbers 6:22-27