Does the New Covenant Abolish the Law? Study 1

--Sharing our Saviour Yahushua the Messiah to the World!--

-Please Read this FIRST- On this site we prefer to use the actual Name of our loving Heavenly Father as it was written in the Word, and thus you will note that we will use the Four Letter “Memorial Name” of - YHVH, which is pronounced as YaHVaH or YaHWaH. In addition we will also use our Heavenly Father’s attribute/title, which is Elohim rather than “God,” which sadly is the name of a pagan god. In addition we also love to use the actual and real Name of our beloved Messiah which is - Yahushua or Yahshua in short, for this is our Saviours original Hebrew Name as given to Him at birth in Lukas - Lukas - Luke 1:31. This was the only Name ever used when He was on the earth by His family, disciples and His followers OVER THE centuries, even until today! However, it was changed to a foreign name by the founder of the new “pagan church of Rome.” Occasionally, we may also use other Hebrew or Greek names as well as different words in our studies for certain common words used are from pagan backgrounds and thus are not suitable. All names will be translated when they are FIRST used in a study or at various times as needed for clarity. There is a full explanation of YHVH’s blessed “Memorial Name” as well as the wonderful blessed Name of our Messiah and Saviour, thus please read … “The Memorial Name.”

Part One

Introduction to the Study:

We are constantly told that the New Covenant negates Elohim’s (God’s) Law and does away with the need to obey The-Decalogue, being Ten Commandments and other Old Covenant Laws of Elohim? For it is generally held that “Jesus Christ” nailed it to the cross” and this has been a long-standing teaching in traditional christianity. However, we will closely examine this question from the Brit Chadashah, being the New Covenant in this study, for it is there where we will receive the truth of the answer and believe it or not we will obtain it from some of the most amazing New Covenant sources!

But beloved, it is also important that we look at the real purpose why YaHVaH Elohim, blessed be His Sanctified Name, had these Scriptural Covenants (Hebrew “brit”) for, as we will discover there are more than just one, and they have an important role in YaHVaH Elohim’s overall plan for mankind, and I believe that it is important that we fully understand their true and full meaning!

It is sad, but the truth is - how many of those in the church, or even those faithful in Messiah Yahushua, really fully know and understand that YaHVaH’s Word is structured around a series of Divine Covenants “brit”, these are what we could well call “contracts” or “agreements” that describe the relationship that Elohim would like to have with every human being! These covenants reveal His promises and they also define the conditions that we all have to meet in order to receive the blessings of those promises.

Elohim’s covenants are the foundation of His Divine plan to properly shape the way all mankind should be thinking and behave, for He has a specific goal in mind. The final result of His plan is a Divine family of sons and daughters who have developed the same righteous character that was evident and clearly seen in Yahushua the Messiah when He was with us as a man. Beloved, that kind of character can only be created through an interactive process, which takes place between an individual and YaHVaH Elohim, blessed be His Sanctified Name! Therefore, it is a close and a personal process with you and Elohim, in and through Yahushua THE Messiah!

Freedom of Choice?

In order for us to build a Divine, holy and righteous character, our loving Elohim gives us freedom of choice. This is by giving us the liberty to make choices, for He allows us to learn by our experiences for with our limited abilities, we simply cannot foresee all of the consequences that wrong choices may produce. Therefore, by only relying on Elohim’s guidance and a complete faith in Him will we learn how to avoid making bad choices in our lives, and the sooner we learn this, the better!

As we well know, wrong choices began by Adam and Chavah – Eve. What many simply do not understand that they did have laws to follow including two of the most critical Laws. They were free in the vast majority of their way of life, and they could experiment and discern the best way to live by their experiences. Thus in many ways, they had freedom of choice! But, they did have laws to uphold, for Adam was told to “Keep the garden.” Although most tend to think that was just meant to tend and look after it, they are very wrong indeed! For the word “keep” in Hebrew being “shamar” has a far greater and a powerful meaning!

A Mini Study “Shamar”:

“And YHVH Elohim took the man and put him into the Garden of Eden to WORK it and KEEP it” Bereshis - Genesis 2:15.

Adam was to work and to “keep,” or to tend the garden, and it is quite obvious that this tending to the garden did not require any watering as the Word clearly states that the Almighty provided “the dew of heaven.” In fact Adam did not even have to weed the garden, why? Well there were no such things as weeds in Paradise, simple as that! We know from the Word that Adam gave names to all the animals and he would have propagated some plants. But let’s stop here and contemplate on the real meaning of that rather unusual word … “Shamar”, which means … “keep it.” The traditional phrase “and keep it” conveys only a part of the meaning in the word, but it loses the real message that is not understood by most, for in the Hebrew, there is a whole story to be found within this one word (keep) that brings a whole different light on the meaning on this single word. This proves why so many teachers do not understand some of the beautiful parts of the blessed Word of Elohim and why is this? Sadly they see and read the Word with a Greek (Gentile) mind, whereas, being from a Hebraic background, I obviously see it very differently, one with a Hebrew mind!

The important thing we need to understand is that the Hebrew root of the word “shamar” as I know has a meaning and an association of great responsibility. But it hit me with an even greater force one day whilst reading Bereshis - Genesis chapter two, when the word “shamar” suddenly made a huge impact on me. For suddenly I was reminded, and I believe that it was by power of the Ruach HaKodesh, the Sanctified (holy) Spirit, that in 1908 an organisation was formed in the then named Palestine that was named “HaShomer Society” with shomer being the root of shamar. This was a group of men that became the “watchmen” or the “guardians,” - “protectors” and “defenders” of Jewish settlements from Arab attacks.

Beloved, they were “keepers” indeed of the villages in the forthcoming Land of Israel! The word “shamar” literary means to “guard, defend and protect, to keep and preserve” and “to treasure.” See Strong’s OT:8104 for details.

Why would Elohim, blessed be He, command Adam to “protect and defend” the Garden of Eden, you may ask, well from what? Adam was to protect, guard, and keep the garden from that evil one, that serpent!

We need to understand that right from the beginning Adam knew the difference between good and evil. I know this is not what christians are normally taught, but it is an erroneous teaching! Adam had been clearly commanded by Elohim, that he and Chavah - Eve were not to eat from “the tree of the knowledge and of good and evil” for do so would be a sin against Elohim and it would mean death!

This Scripture shows us clearly that Adam failed in his duties “guarding and protecting” not only the garden but worse still in protecting his wife. Had Adam been a good “shamar,” a good “protector and guardian,” that serpent would never have reached Eve.

I pray that husbands will learn from this message that is contained herein, for you are according to the Word the head of the household and then the Husband has a responsibility to be the “shamar” a “guardian, keeper and protector” of your household and family!

Beloved, what does all this mean to us today? Indeed we are commanded to be “Keepers, Guardians, Defenders, and Protectors.” We are to “Treasure” and to “Keep” the purity of the faith and to guard the Word of YHVH Elohim with our lives if necessary!

“Blessed are those who hear the Word of Elohim and keep it!” Lukas - Luke 11:28.

“Keep it,” is “phulasso” in the Greek and it has the precise same meaning as the Hebrew word “shamar.”

Now beloved in Messiah Yahushua, let us ponder what is meant by “Keep it.”

Are you a “Watchman?” Especially in these days as the New Age and so much evil is invading the world and tragically there are so many parts of the church slipping into the so much error! The Word commands us, to “Keep on the paths of the righteous.” Mashley Shlomo - Proverbs 2:20.

“Thus says YHVH, keep (shamru) judgement, and do justice: for My Salvation is near to come and My righteousness to be revealed” Yeshayahu - Isaiah 56:1.

As we listen to the “End Time Deceptions” being spewed out by many in these “latter days,” we are commanded to “try and test all things” especially in regard to all those who tend to proclaim that the Law is gone and finished. The point is, that the world desires a simple salvation, nothing much to give to the Father, and these days it is more take, than give, thus a faith that comes more from men, the self. Please note at this point, that I did not say ALL, but so much is not Scriptural, but there are some faithful ones still around! Let us always pray for discernment and thus be “Keepers, Guardians,” and “Protectors,” keeping His Word pure!

Why was the promise of a new heart so necessary?

In those various covenants Elohim has given, which I mentioned above, He promises His Divine guidance and blessings to those who turn to Him with all their heart for the guidance they will require and He will bless us along the way!

Elohim’s latest and most important covenant revealed in the Scriptures is centred on His promise, being His unwavering commitment, to create a new heart in those who unconditionally turn to Him for guidance.

We may ask, why is Divine intervention essential in receiving a change of heart? Beloved, there is a simple answer to this question. It is true that we were created incomplete! Elohim indeed made human beings with an amazing ability to think creatively, and with an intellectual capability that far exceeds the creativity of any other physical creature. The unique talent He has given to us to design and produce what we imagine is patterned after His own astounding creative capacity …

“So *Elohim created man in His own image, in the image of Elohim created He him; male and female created He them.” Bereshis - Genesis 1:27.

*We need to consider the following important point: The Name of Elohim as in other places including Bereshis - Genesis Chapter1:1 is in the plural. I know that there are some who would argue on this point, and say that the plurality there is purely related to the “plural of majesty” as I once believed as a Jew, but this humanly conceived theory collapses under the test of the blessed Scriptures themselves as well when we consider the beloved Hebrew Statement of Faith found in Davarim –Deuteronomy 6:4, “Shema Yisroel, YHVH Eloheynu, YHVH Echad” - “Hear O Israel, YHVH our Elohim, YHVH is ONE.”

The word Echad actually is used many times in Bereshis – Genesis, but meaning more that one being one, for example …

“Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife, and they shall be One (Echad) flesh.”

It is quite obvious to us all that a man is not a woman and a woman is not a man, yet in the reckoning of the Almighty, when marriage occurs between a man and a woman, the two become truly “Echad.” Thus the word “Echad” does not sanction the idea of unity in the absolute singularity, but rather the idea of a unity in plurality! Thus when we consider Yochanan – John chapter 1, it now becomes much clearer!

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with Elohim, and the Word was Elohim. He was in the beginning with Elohim. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” Yochanan - John 1:1-4.

Thus for many there is much to be learned and a new heart is required. This new heart need to be a heart that is open to Elohim’s teachings that comes directly from His Word and to know and understand when it does come from the right source and not from one that is a counterfeit! This means beloved that you should always pray for YaHVaH’s leading and for His Discernment when reading His Word and when studying anything, and I do include when reading this site! For, I believe that Elohim will open up the beauty of His Word to all those who will hear, and we always pray that in turn, you will heed to His Word, certainly not what we say!

Let us continue:

Beloved, there remains a missing dimension in our thinking for there is a dimension that should to be added to our thoughts in order that we can properly control our thoughts as well as the actions they produce. The blessed Scriptures reveals that YaHVaH Elohim, blessed be His Sanctified Name, is committed to creating in us that additional abilities.

He promises to give us the knowledge, discernment, understanding and the power to rightly manage how we think, feel and behave that is if we choose, willingly and sincerely, to give Him our all unto Him and Messiah Yahushua! For beloved, we desperately need these added abilities from Him to understand the beauty and the fullness of His Word. So sadly, there has just been too much rubbish in and rubbish out over the centuries, for the Roman church has been responsible for so much of that! Sadly, and I must be completely honest here, he who is called the founder of the protestant movement, was no better, for except for a few things, he essentially retained the majority of the Roman false and pagan doctrines and pagan festivals!, as well as erecting statues in his church! Yes, I do mean “graven images,” which are against YaHVaH Elohim’s law! But then again, he like most christians believe the Law has been done away with, thus go to church and worship Jesus and Ba’al at the same time, why not, if the Law has been done away with, it has to be OK, for let’s be honest, most likely your church will also teach, “Once saved, always saved.”

And that is the sad record about human history for it proves that they just cannot make right choices or maintain the right attitudes without YaHVaH Elohim’s constant Divine guidance!

Instead, we naturally weave our own web of thoughts and patterns of behaviour into a conflicting mixture of good and evil. Yet, not everything we think and do is wrong, but it is not always right either. Like Adam and Chavah - Eve, we reap the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil. Whether our life will be only physical and temporary or will last forever depends on whether we allow our Elohim to actively change our hearts and minds.

As Elohim told the Children of Israel:

“I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love YHVH your Elohim, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days.” Davarim - Deuteronomy 30:19-20.

It is obvious from the Word that from the beginning Elohim had a desire for all mankind to walk the path that leads to eternal life. Yet there was only one person who ever heeded His voice completely and walked His path perfectly, and that was of course, Yahushua our Messiah!

Sadly, we have all fallen short “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of Elohim.” (Romans 3:23). But Yahushua, through His death, implemented the New Covenant, and that is why, on the evening before He was placed on that stake (tree), Yahushua

“Likewise He also took the cup after supper (the Passover meal), saying, ‘This cup is (figuratively speaking) the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.’” (Lukas - Luke 22 :20).

Beloved, it was in that new covenant that YaHVaH Elohim, blessed be His Sanctified Name, gathers together His carefully designed plan of Salvation. In order to benefit from this blessed and wonderful plan, it is essential that we correctly understand the full meaning and purpose of the New Covenant that Yahushua our beloved Messiah implemented. Tragically, it is far too many people and christians who continue to distort what the Scriptures really says about that New Covenant, and we are about to unravel those very distortions!

The Covenant’s of Elohim:

“I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am YHVH. They will be My people, and I will be their Elohim, for they will return to Me with all their heart” Yirmyahu - Jeremiah 24:7.

We could ask, what is the central message that our beloved Messiah’s gave us in the Gospel? The answer is, that it is the promise that Elohim plans to transform all those who are faithful according to His Word to be like Him, and He first desires for their hearts and minds to be pure and right when it comes to His Word, for the Truth is that it is readily available and there are sufficient tools to search out facts and the truths! Proclamation of that message continues today through the “Little Flock” (Lukas – Luke 12:32) being the true church He built (Mattityahu - Matthew 16:18). However, the full impact of that message will not be felt by all until after He returns. Sadly, there was a much larger group of faithful, but it diminished due to the Roman based church going forth and slaughtering all those who refused to be part of their pagan religion or if they believed in full immersion, rather than sprinkling. Martin Luther did the same, and the Lutherans after his death continued to murder true believers! This, the “Little Flock” of the faithful slowly diminished, but always remained!

However, eventually, as a result of Elohim’s direct supervision, the whole “earth shall be full of the knowledge of YHVH as the waters cover the sea.” (Yeshayahu - Isaiah 11:9). Messiah’s first coming was only the beginning of His personal involvement in transforming the spiritual nature of mankind.

Elohim’s visionary plan:

Through special covenants made with Noach - Noah, Avram later named Avraham, Moses - Moses and Dovid - David, Elohim in ancient days began to reveal vital details of His grand plan to produce for Himself an enduring devout people (Vayikra - Leviticus 20:26; 26:12; Hebrews 8:10). The promised New Covenant, is certainly the capstone of that revelation process.

Through the pen of the prophet Yirmyahu - Jeremiah, Elohim summarized what He intends to accomplish through Yahushua Messiah:

“I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me.” Yirmyahu - Jeremiah 32 :40.

The impact of that promise was only hinted at, through symbolic ceremonies at the time ancient Israel became a nation under the Sinai Covenant. For example, the temple worship of ancient Israel anticipated Messiah’s sacrifice with figurative rituals and ceremonies. Those rituals symbolized for those living in that era that a lasting permanent solution to the problem of humanity’s spiritual inadequacies was needed. But the sacrifices and rituals given to Israel at that time never fully provided that solution. The reason was that the gifts and sacrifices being offered did not clear the conscience.

“… the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people's sins committed in ignorance; the Sanctified Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience.” Hebrews 9:7-9.

It was only through forgiveness of sin, which came through the Blood Sacrifice of Messiah Yahushua, and the receiving the spiritual power provided by the gift of the Ruach HaKodesh – The Sanctified (holy) Spirit is that possible!

Righteous laws, but no righteous heart:

Since most of the ancient Israelites never received the Ruach (Spirit) of Elohim, they were unable to live or apply His teachings from the heart as a truly righteous people. As Moshe - Moses told them;

“YHVH has not given you a heart to perceive and eyes to see and ears to hear.” Davarim - Deuteronomy 29:4.

But Elohim already had a clear plan in mind to give Israel a “new heart” in the future, even when He was speaking to Moses, Elohim expressed His eager longing for the time when that change of heart would eventually happen, thus He exclaimed to Moshe – Moses;

“Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My Commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!” Davarim - Deuteronomy 5:29.

Yet sadly, the time was not right, and thus Elohim could not make His Spirit available to the Children of Israel. This would be reserved for Israel’s prophets and just a few specially chosen servants of YaHVaH Elohim, blessed be His Sanctified Name, for Israel’s history sadly describes a people who had righteous laws but a people at large who lacked righteous hearts.

Having said that, we must remember, that at ALL times, and that includes whilst our beloved Saviour was with us, there were always a good number of faithful of the House of Israel and Judah, but the nation at large would be worshipping other god’s and following wayward priests and false prophets. Mind you nothing has changed, for the truth is that it is just like great parts of the church is today!

Just like the vast majority of people then as it is today, they did not have the ability to live by the instructions that Elohim had given them in His Word. It was …

“Because finding fault with them, He says: ‘Behold, the days are coming, says YHVH, when I will make a new covenant with the House of Israel and with the House of Judah not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says YHVH. For this is the covenant that I will make with the House of Israel after those days, says YHVH: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their Elohim, and they shall be My people.” Hebrews 8:8-10.

A Changing of the Heart:

Most people assume that the New Covenant abolishes the Laws of Elohim as given in what is known as the Sinai Covenant, or the Old Covenant Laws. But notice that there is no indication given whatsoever in that promise that Elohim’s laws are to be ignored or abolished. In fact on the contrary, they are to be engraved into the minds and hearts of the recipients of the promised New Covenant and they are to be made a part of their very being! This New Covenant is a vital revision on how Elohim interacts with His people!

Praise Him, for Elohim has fully committed Himself to changing the hearts of those people who willingly choose to serve Him. And as “there is no partiality with Elohim” (Romans 2:11), He has extended this promise to all peoples!

As Shaul - Paul explained;

“The Scripture foresaw that Elohim would justify the nations by faith, and announced the Gospel in advance to Avraham: ‘All nations will be blessed through you.’” (Galatians 3:8).

From the beginning, Elohim’s plan has been that all the people who turn away from pagan god’s and sin to Him, in and Through Yahushua the Messiah in faith are to receive the opportunity to repent, to turn from doing things their own way to wholeheartedly embracing Elohim’s way, and have their hearts changed so they can live as He intended. In the Tanach, Old Covenant days He decided to begin with one faithful family Avraham and his descendants through his grandson Ya’akov - Jacob.

Elohim gave Ya’akov - Jacob a very special honour, being the title of “Yisroel - Israel.” This is what most do not understand a name, but as I said a title of great honour, for Ya’akov, remained to be called by that name, even in the New Covenant! Then from his twelve sons came the twelve tribes of Israel, and Elohim began to reveal the essential details of His plan to make a righteous people for Himself.

What is a covenant?:

Inherent in any covenant is the concept of a lasting commitment to a clearly defined relationship. Generally speaking, a covenant is a long-term agreement between two or more parties that formalizes a binding relationship between them. It defines their essential obligations and commitments to each other.

In ancient times, major covenants were ratified and kept alive through symbolic rituals that reflected each party’s commitment to, and acceptance of, the covenant’s binding requirements. However, covenant rituals are not the same as covenant commitments and obligations.

Rituals in Divine Covenants serve primarily as symbolic reminders and are intentionally given only as a figurative value. The real value is in the substance of the commitments made! Through the substance of His covenants, His Divine commitments, Elohim binds Himself to perform all of the promises He makes.

In a Divine covenant, Elohim defines the basic obligations that He imposes on Himself and usually on the other participants. Thus a dominant feature of a covenant is a list of blessings that Elohim promises to give to those who honour their covenant commitments.

A Divine Covenant can be compared to a sacred constitution being established to regulate human relationships with Elohim. It is a formal declaration of YaHVaH’s will and purpose. It typically expresses His deep love for humanity and reveals one or more major aspects of His plan for our salvation!

Covenant Discussions in the Brit Chadashah:

Two covenants, the Sinai or Old Covenant and the Brit Chadashah – the New Covenant (mediated by Yahushua our Messiah) are the focus of considerable discussion in the Brit Chadashah. Both are based on Elohim’s earlier covenant with Avraham that promises the inheritance of a global Kingdom to Avraham’s special “seed” or descendant, Yahushua Messiah (Romans 4:13; Galatians 3:16).

The covenant made at Mount Sinai established the ancient national Kingdom of Israel. The New Covenant promises that Yahushua Messiah, will establish the much more inclusive Kingdom of Elohim that will rule over the whole earth (Yeshayahu - Isaiah 9:7; Matthew 25:34 ; Lukas - Luke 22 :29-30; Revelation 11:15).

Yahushua made that coming Kingdom and the repentance required for us to participate in it, the central feature of His gospel (Markus - Mark 1:14- 15). To qualify as an heir of the coming Kingdom, one has to meet the terms defined in Elohim’s covenants. Yahushua alone has met all of those terms perfectly.

Therefore, as He being “the Word was with Elohim, and the Word was Elohim,” means that He alone is the qualified heir of all the promises made to Avraham. And only through Him can all other human beings, including such men of faith as Abel, Noach - Noah, Avraham, Yeshayahu - Isaac and Ya’akov - Jacob (Hebrews 11), share in that promised inheritance. As Shaul - Paul explained;

“If you belong to Messiah, then you are Avraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:29.

Please Note: Can one who was once a Gentile now saved and “one in the body” become the physical seed of Avraham? The answer is in reality - NO! For surely this would be impossible. Can we then become the spiritual seed of Avraham? We need to ask does Avraham have a spiritual seed to give? Again, the answer is NO.

How do we receive the SPIRIT? We receive it only through Faith and Repentance. What, faith in Abraham? No … only through FAITH in Yahushua our beloved Messiah who gave His life that we might live!

Shime’on - Peter confirmed this central role of Yahushua, saying;

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other Name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12.

We may ask, could you reveal more about Yahushua’s role in these covenants and why it is so vital? I will certainly do so throughout this page.

Those covenants contain the promise of Salvation that He alone, as the Messiah can make a reality, for each of the covenants points to specific aspect of Elohim’s ultimate solution to the problem of sin and evil. And the New Covenant deals explicitly with the “heart” aspect of that solution!

Covenant Recipients:

Elohim carefully chose special individuals to convey some of His Covenant commitments to the rest of humanity. Each of these special covenant recipients had already been serving Elohim from the heart. Each had a personal relationship with Elohim and was already living a righteous life to the best of his ability and knowledge.

Noach - Noah is the first person mentioned specifically in the Scriptures as entering into a covenant relationship with Elohim. This occurred at a time when all human beings, except for Noach - Noah and his immediate family, had become completely engrossed in an evil way of life (Bereshis - Genesis 6:5-8; 9:8-11).

The second individual recorded in the Scriptures with whom Elohim made a personal covenant was Avraham (Bereshis - Genesis 15:18; 17:1-2).

Avraham shared Noach - Noah’s key character traits. Just as Elohim chose to have a covenant with Noach, a righteous man (Bereshis - Genesis 6:8-9), so He chose Avraham, a man of faith and obedience (Bereshis - Genesis 15:6; 26:5), for this second covenant. From these two examples it becomes clear that Elohim initiated special covenants with individuals only if the persons receiving those covenants had already demonstrated that they were willing to obey and serve Him.

These traits of faithfulness and obedience were also present in Moshe - Moses (Bamidbar - Numbers 12:3; Hebrews 11:24 -28) and also Dovid – David as well as in the other prophets in the Word who participated in writing the Tanach, being Hebrew for the Old Covenant (Scriptures).

Concerning Dovid - David, Elohim said;

“I have made a covenant with My chosen, I have sworn to My servant Dovid - David: ‘Your seed (Yahushua the Messiah) I will establish forever, and build up your throne to all generations.’” Tehillim - Psalm 89:3-4.

Paul mentions, concerning the Children of Israel, that Elohim;

“… made David their king. He testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after My own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’ From this man's descendants Elohim has brought to Israel the Saviour Yahushua, as He promised.” Acts 13:22 -23 .

Avraham and Dovid - David are especially significant to the Divine promises and covenants most necessary for humanity’s salvation. That is why the very first words in the New Covenant are: “The book of the genealogy of Yahushua Messiah, the Son of Dovid - David, the Son of Avraham.” (Mattityahu - Matthew 1:1).

This opening sentence links Messiah’s mission directly to the promises made to Avraham and Dovid - David. The covenants with these men contain the basic promises related to Elohim’s plan to bring salvation to all the world through Yahushua Messiah. That is to all who will accept it!

The covenant with Avraham:

To Avraham Elohim promised:

“I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Bereshis - Genesis 12:2-3.

Here Elohim declares His intention to offer salvation not only to the physical descendants of Avraham but also to “all the families of the earth.” But Avraham’s descendants were to play a special and vital role in this process, especially the unique descendant of David who would come as the Messiah. Shime’on - Peter explained to his fellow Judeans what Yahushua’s most challenging role would be;

“You are sons of the prophets and of the covenant which Elohim made with our fathers, saying to Avraham, ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ To you first, Elohim, having raised up His Servant Yahushua, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.” Acts 3:25-26.

And this is what the whole world needed most. For only when all of mankind has received a “new heart” through Messiah’s role here on the earth, and the people accepting Him and turning away from their sins, will Elohim’s plan be finally complete. Shime’on - Peter explained that full reconciliation, as planned by Elohim, requires “every one of you” to turn away “from your iniquities.”

That is Elohim’s goal. And He has promised to achieve this! His covenants contain His commitments to fulfil that goal, however, when we say this, it does not mean every single human being of course, only those who in the end believe in Yahushua, being the only Name, by which man can be saved!

More details revealed about Elohim’s plan:

In His covenant with Avraham, Elohim first began to give clear details regarding His plan for He told Avraham:

“I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly … and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be Elohim to you and your descendants after you.” Bereshis - Genesis 17:2, 6-7.

This covenant anticipated the following key elements of Elohim’s plan: 1. Elohim’s special relationship with Avraham’s descendants, 2. the institution of the Kingdom of Israel, 3. the birth and reign of the Messiah over the Kingdom of Elohim and the ultimate salvation of all nations.

It was Avraham’s faith and his implicit trust in and his loyalty to YaHVaH Elohim, blessed be His Elohim, is ascribed to him as righteousness (Bereshis - Genesis 15:6). His full confidence in Elohim was the foundation of his character. His trust in Elohim was demonstrated through his obedience (Ya’akov - James 2:21-24 ). Avraham did not just believe in Elohim, he also understood and fully obeyed Elohim’s Laws as a result of his faith (Bereshis - Genesis 26:5).

Avraham’s pattern of faith was demonstrated through his obedience to Elohim, which is the model of a living faith that Shaul - Paul describes in the book of Romans, where he makes the point that even the obedient Avraham still needed forgiveness. When speaking about Avraham and his faith, Shaul - Paul said:

“Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin YHVH will never count against him.” Romans 4:7-8.

Avraham’s manner of life was that of obeying Elohim from the heart. But even he was not completely without sin (Read my “Avram” studies). He still needed forgiveness for the sins that he committed, especially during his earlier life, just as all of us do.

That forgiveness beloved is possible only through faith in the Sacrifice of Yahushua the Messiah. But once forgiven, we are expected to follow Avraham’s example in demonstrating our faith by putting our full effort into pleasing Elohim through obedience to Him. That is the righteous response our faith should produce in us.

Shaul – Paul defending himself having been accused spoke out very clearly, let us first set the scene and then part of Shaul – Paul’s reply!

“Now after five days Ananias the high priest came down with the elders and a certain orator named Tertullus. These gave evidence to the governor against Shaul - Paul.” Acts 24:1.

“… so I worship the Elohim of my fathers, believing (observing) all things that are written in the Law and in the Prophets. I have hope in Elohim, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward Elohim and men.” Acts 24:14-16.

And then there is that powerful statement our beloved Saviour gave us in Mattityahu - Matthew chapter 5;

“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfil. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the Kingdom of heaven.” Mattityahu - Matthew 5:17–20.

What does “till all is fulfilled” mean? Beloved that is very simple, for He was speaking in a normal Hebraic prophetic manner and He was saying when the final prophecy has been fulfilled and that prophecy is the arrival of the New Heaven and the New Earth, with the New Jerusalem, the Kingdom of Elohim, being the grand conclusion!

Did the Ten Commandments Exist Before Moshe - Moses?

I would like to quickly look at something just a little different, before I return to the main subject matter. However, as you will note it is obviously closely connected!

Many people assume that the Ten Commandments and the Old Covenant, or the Torah Laws that YaHVaH Elohim, blessed be His Sanctified Name, established with the Children of Israel are identical, and that both were abolished by Yahushua’s death. They also tend to believe that the Sinai Covenant and Ten Commandments came into existence at the very same time.

However we should ask ourselves, considering what we read in the Word prior to the receiving of the commandments at Mt. Sinai, is that kind of reasoning really Scriptural? The truth is that it is not! For if we closely examine the blessed Scriptures we will discover that breaking any of the Ten Commandments was in fact already a sin long before Mt. Sinai, thus any arguments that they came into existence at Mt. Sinai and that it was terminated with the Law certainly cannot be true. For there is sufficient scriptural evidence.

Elohim’s Word defines sin as “the transgression of the law” (1 Yochanan - 1 John 3:4) alternatively it could also be “lawlessness”.

Therefore, “where there is no law there is no transgression.” (Romans 4:15). And beloved that is what the Scriptures clearly states! Therefore we do find transgressions of the Ten Commandments clearly described as sinful long before Mt. Sinai? And we will look at some of these now.

For example, Bereshis - Genesis 13:13 tells us that “the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against YHVH.” Since sin is violating Elohim’s Law, the people of Sodom could not have been punished for any wicked and sinful actions, if no law condemned them for what they were doing. Therefore we must conclude that Elohim had already made available the knowledge of what is sinful.

Here is another clear example. Bereshis - Genesis 20:3-9 and 39:7-9 describes adultery as “a great sin” and as being a “sin against Elohim.” The truth is that adultery breaks the Seventh Commandment.

In Bereshis - Genesis 3:6 and 17, Elohim punishes Adam and Cahvah - Eve for their coveting and stealing, thus breaking the Tenth as well as the Eighth Commandments. They also dishonoured Elohim for being their parent, violating the Fifth Commandment.

In Bereshis - Genesis 4:9-12, Elohim punishes Cain for murder and lying, thus these being violations of the Sixth and Ninth Commandments.

In Shemos - Exodus 16:4, before Elohim established His Covenant with the Children of Israel at Mt. Sinai, we find Elohim giving them a test and to see “whether they will walk in My law or not.” His test involved to see if they would rest on the seventh-day Sabbath as He had commanded in the Fourth Commandment of His law, as well at Creation, with which they were well familiar. The seventh day had been hallowed and set aside as sanctified (holy) by Elohim from the time of Adam and Chavah - Eve (Bereshis - Genesis 2:1-3).

Thus Elohim’s reaction to their disobedience is quite revealing as He exclaims, “How long do you refuse to keep My commandments and My laws?” (Shemos - Exodus 16: 28). Elohim clearly speaks of both His “commandments and … laws” as already existing and in force well before He had even given them verbally at Mt. Sinai, as described some four chapters later!

Therefore, the Ten Commandments were only codified written in stone as part of what we may call a formal Covenant at Mt. Sinai. The blessed Scriptures clearly prove that all these laws had existed and were in force well before then. Even the dietary laws, for how else did Noach know the difference between the clean and unclean animals? (Shemos – Genesis 7:7-9).

Bereshis - Genesis 26:5 clearly proves the facts about the laws, for it is here where Elohim tells Yitzchak - Isaac that He blessed his father Avraham “because Avraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.” This event took place centuries before the Law was given at Mt. Sinai, centuries before Moshe - Moses and two generations before Judah, head of the tribe that much later would become known as the Jews, was even born!

Then in Vayikra- Leviticus 18:21 and 27, Elohim calls the idolatrous practices of the people of the land of Canaan “abominations” for their actions are so filthy and degrading that Elohim compared their expulsion to being “vomited out” of the land (verse 28). So what was their sin? Among other things, idolatry, the worship of false gods, as well as human sacrifice, which violated the First, Second and Sixth Commandments?

The Scriptures so clearly proves to us that the Ten Commandments did not originate with Moshe - Moses or during his time. Nor were they in any way limited only to the Hebrews. They were in effect and known long before the Children of Israel even existed. They are the foundation stone of Elohim’s laws that show us how to love Elohim (defined by the first four Commandments) and how to love our fellow man (defined by the last six).

This is why, after Yahushua our beloved Messiah returns to establish His glorious Kingdom on earth, Yeshayahu - Isaiah 2:3 tells us that;

“… many people shall come and say, ‘Come, and let us go up to the mountain of YHVH, to the house of the Elohim of Ya’akov - Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.’ For out of Zion shall go forth the Law and the word of YHVH from Jerusalem.”

At that time beloved, all of mankind will at last be taught to live according to all of Elohim’s laws and commandments! HalleluYAH.

Go to Part Two of the New Covenant and the Law studies

“Teach me Your way, O YHVH. I will walk in Your truth.
UNITE MY HEART TO FEAR YOUR NAME!”

Tehillim – Psalms 86:11

May YHVH Elohim bless and keep you in the palm of His hand always, in Messiah Yahushua’s loving Name!

The RETURN Movement name was founded in 1978.

RMI Ministries International - The International Ministry.

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Yahushua said; “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets: They will all be taught by Elohim. Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from Him comes to Me. No one has seen the Father except the One who is from Elohim; only He has seen the Father. I tell you the truth he who believes has everlasting life.” Yochanan (John) 6:43-48.

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Quotations are derived from various versions of the Word
including KJV/NKJ/NIV/Hebrew/Greek translations by the Webmaster, and Messianic versions.

Although the author does not believe in having to copyright his studies, but there have been occasions where there parts

of his studies have been taken and quoted out of context under his name, and thus he has been misquoted by

those who had their own reasons for doing so. Thus, it is only for this reason these works