The meaning of nailing our Saviour
onto the cross or the tree of suffering
is the biggest win for ever!
Before the actual thing:
The shape of the tree of suffering - a cross or a T - is irrelevant to our salvation.
The support for both forms can be found in the Bible. In the OT, only the T-shaped tree of suffering is mentioned and it is only found in the Hebrew Tanakh Ezek. 9:4 *). NT writings mention both of them in, for example, Gal. 3:13 and John 19:17.
*) ד וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה, אֵלָו, עֲבֹר בְּתוֹךְ הָעִיר, בְּתוֹךְ יְרוּשָׁלִָם; וְהִתְוִיתָ תָּו עַל-מִצְחוֹת הָאֲנָשִׁים, הַנֶּאֱנָחִים וְהַנֶּאֱנָקִים, עַל כָּל-הַתּוֹעֵבוֹת, הַנַּעֲשׂוֹת בְּתוֹכָהּ.
http://www.bayithamashiyach.com/Ezekiel_9.pdf
(Pronounced in Hebrew) "wayo'mer Yehowah 'elo `abor b'thok ha`ir b'thok Y'rushalam w'hith'wiath taw `al-mits'choth ha'anashim hane'enachim w'hane'enaqim `al kal-hato`eboth hana`asoth b'thokah."
- Translated from that: "YHWH said to him, Go through the midst of the city, even through the midst of Yerushalam, and put a taw **) on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are done in its midst."
- **) taw i.e. Tau is shaped like a capital T. Note that the word can also be interpreted as just a sign, as taw is translated as 'sign'. So it's all about interpretation.
- Because of this, many people with an Israeli background prefer the Τ-shaped tree of suffering, while people with a Gentile background prefer the ✝-shaped one. May freedom of choice prevail!
- Adonai Yeshua is the pure and spotless sacrificial lamb of YHWH Elohim, whose coming into the world was already predicted through Moses and numerous other prophets of the Tanakh. Gen. 3:13-15, Is. 52:13-15 + Is. 53:1-12, Dan. 7:13-14.
Then the real thing:
Below I will list the main points of what it means to all who believe that Yeshua HaMashiach is the only begotten Son of Yehowah Elohim born in a body of flesh and blood, the firstborn before all creation and the Savior of the whole world.
He took away the sin of the world on Calvary after suffering the punishment for our sins, died for us, rose from the dead and received from the Father YHWH all authority in heaven and on earth:
- Adonai Yeshua is the pure and spotless sacrificial lamb of YHWH Elohim, whose coming into the world was already predicted through Moses and numerous other prophets of the Tanakh. Gen. 3:13-15, Is. 52:13-15 + Is. 53:1-12, Dan. 7:13-14.
- In addition, Daniel received the following revelation from the angel Gabriel about the coming redemption Dan. 9:24 "Seventy weeks have been appointed for your people (Daniel) and for your holy city (Jerusalem), that rebellion (pesha) will end, sins (hataim) will be sealed and crimes (avon) will be covered and eternal righteousness will be brought forth and divine revelation and prophecy will be confirmed and the Most Holy (HaMashiach) will be anointed."
- He is the only mediator of the New Covenant, in whose sacrificial blood through purification and in Him we all the chosen of the Most High have access to the Most Holy, i.e. before the throne of YHWH Elohim in heaven, pardoned, saved and redeemed for ever.
- When all that had happened, Adonai Yeshua did send his chosen apostles to proclaim his great triumph on Calvory and the glad tidings of salvation, which he had obtained through his suffering and death for the chosen saints of the Most High. The apostle Paul is still the most famous and as a knower and follower of the Jewish law, the most learned of them. That's why I quote his great teaching next.
- Adonai Yeshua's own testimony of his future destiny when he had not yet completed the work of redemption:
Matthew 20:18-19. "18 Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered into the hands of the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death 19 and deliver him to the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified, and on the third day he will rise."
- When all that had happened, Adonai Yeshua did send his chosen apostles to proclaim his great triumph on Calvory and the glad tidings of salvation, which he had obtained through his suffering and death for the chosen saints of the Most High. The apostle Paul is still the most famous and as a knower and follower of the Jewish law, the most learned of them. That's why I quote his great teaching next.
- Paul taught the following about the victory achieved by our Savior HaMashiach Yeshua: Col. 2:8-17. (Acc. to CJB, Complete Jewish Bible)
"8 Watch out, so that no one will take you captive by means of philosophy and empty deceit, following human tradition which accords with the elemental spirits of the world but does not accord with HaMashiach. 9 For in him, bodily, lives the fullness of all that Elohim is. 10 And it is in union with him that you have been made full - who is the head of every rule and authority.
11 Also it was in union with him that you were circumcised with a circumcision not done by human hands, but accomplished by stripping away the old nature's control over the body. In this circumcision done by HaMashiach, 12 you were buried along with him by being immersed; and in union with him, you were also raised up along with him by Elohim's faithfulness that worked when he raised Yeshua from the dead.
13 You were dead because of your sins, that is, because of your "foreskin", your old nature. But Elohim made you alive along with HaMashiach by forgiving all your sins.
14 He wiped away the bill of charges against us. Because of the regulations, it stood as a testimony against us; but he removed it by nailing it to the execution-stake***).
15 Stripping the rules and authorities of their power, he made a public spectacles of them, triumphing over them by means of the stake. 16 So don't let anyone pass judgement on you in connection with eating and drinking, or in regard to a Jewish festival or Rosh-Hodesh or Shabat. 17 These are a shadow of things that are coming, but the body is of HaMashiach."
***) In the following, I will take a closer look at the deepest meaning for this verse 14, because the understanding of many believers in Yeshua as to what this "scripture with its decrees" really refers to, is often different and disputed.
What does Col. 2:14 really mean?
Novum 4, New Testament with explanations explains the verse as follows, and I have also come to that interpretation after carefully studying other passages of the NT:
A. First, without changing the word order, the verse translated from the Greek reads like this: "blowing out against us the manuscript (kheirografon) with the decrees (dogmasin) that were against us and took it by nailing (proselosas) it to the cross."
B. Then its normal translation: "and blotted out the writing with its decrees, which was against us and was our adversary; he took it out of our way and nailed it to the cross."
C. The explanation of the verse according to the understanding of the authors of the Novum, with which I myself agree. A direct quote from it:
>> The writing (Kheirografon) means e.g. autograph. This refers to the indictment that testified against both Jews and Gentiles. Since Paul clearly includes both Jews and Gentiles in the group against which the writing was, the writing must be understood to mean the law of Moses also insofar as it contains God's moral law that applies to all. Compare Romans 3:19.
The law makes demands on us, but it does not give us the desire or the strength to do good. It also condemns our negligence. It shows us our guilt, and then it threatens us with judgment.<<
My own addition to the previous one:
- It is by no means about nullifying the Law of Moses and its regulations! The point is that all of us who put our hope in Adonai Yeshua have been reconciled to YHWH by the blood sacrifice of the only mediator of our salvation, HaMashiach Yeshua on Calvary, according to the righteousness of the law! We have been released from condemnation (of the Law Moses) to grace (In Adonai Yeshua) !
- That's why the Law of Moses can no longer condemn us to perdition, as it condemns all its violators who do not accept the precious salvation that the Father YHWH Elohim Himself offers to all of us in His Son Adonai Yeshua!
- The Law of Moses is still valid in its entirety for all Israelis to the extent that it can be followed without the Jerusalem Temple (Matthew 5:17-20). Regarding the 10 commandments, it is also valid for all people of pagan background****), even though the so-called The Council of the Apostles in Jerusalem especially issued a decree of four necessary commandments to them in order for them to succeed. (Acts 21:25).
****) Romans 2:14 "For the Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, so they, although they do not have the law, are a law to themselves."
- It is generally known that lying, stealing, adultery, murder and the fact that children do not respect their parents are frowned upon in pagan nations. They all are part of the 10 commandments of the Law of Moses.
- It is necessary to be very aware, based on the teachings of the NT, that no human being can EARN salvation by following any actions or any laws, but only receive salvation through faith in the perfect work of redemption that Adonai Yeshua has already completed on our behalf on the suffering tree of Calvary! Romans 10:9-10
" 9 For if you confess with your mouth that Yeshua is Adonai and believe in your heart that Elohim has raised him from the dead, then you will be saved; 10 for by the faith of the heart you will be justified and by the confession of the mouth you will be saved."
" 9 For if you confess with your mouth that Yeshua is Adonai and believe in your heart that Elohim has raised him from the dead, then you will be saved; 10 for by the faith of the heart you will be justified and by the confession of the mouth you will be saved."
- Remembering that, let all the Jews / Israelites joyfully follow the Law of Moses and the Gentiles those regulations that apply to them, but never think that by following them they can EARN eternal salvation.
This is acceptable to Elohim and acceptable to humans! Rom. 14:18.
My own additional reasons for that interpretation
A. Apostle Paul taught the Galatians in the following verses from the very beginning that Yeshua HaMashiach suffered on our behalf the curse brought by the Law of Moses for everyone who breaks it. Adonai Yeshua gave himself up to be nailed to the cross/suffering tree and took upon himself the curse we deserved! Gal. 3:9-13
" 9 So those who hold to the faith will be blessed together with Abraham who believed. 10 Those who hold to the works of the law are under a curse. For it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who does not keep everything written in the Scroll of the Torah. (Deut. 27:26) 11 Now it is evident that no one becomes to be declared righteous by Elohim through legalism, since "The person who is righteous will attain life by trusting and being faithful." (Hab. 2:4).
12 But the Law and its commandments are not based on faith, but: 'He who obeys them will live by them.' (Lev. 18:5 & Ezek. 20:11). 13 HaMashiach redeemed us from the curse pronaunced in the Torah by becoming cursed on our behalf, for the Tanakh says, "Everyone who hangs from a stake comes under a curse." (Deut. 21:23). "
B. The apostle Paul taught all people the important change brought by the New Covenant with regard to the Mosaic Law, which he declared to the Romans in Romans 10:1-5.
"1 Brethren, I hope with my heart and pray to Elohim for them (the Israelites) that they may be saved. 2 I testify of them that they have a zeal for Elohim but no understanding. 3 For when they do not know the righteousness of Elohim but try to establish their own righteousness, they have not submitted to the righteousness of Elohim.
4 HaMashiach is the end of the Law *****), for righteousness to everyone who believes.
5 Moses writes about the righteousness that comes from the Law, that a person who fulfills (the whole) Law lives by it. (Lev. 18:5 & Ezek. 20:11). "
*****) The meanings of the Greek word 'telos' are: end, fulfillment, goal. The first meaning is 'the end' and it fits best into the context of the verses.
C. The apostle Paul taught us a clear distinction between two different covenants as follows: Rom. 8:1-4. (Note. In the previous chapter 7, he showed that the Law proves all people to be sinners before their Creator, that we all live in the body of death, and that the Law condemns us to death because of that, and because according to the Bible, the wages of sin is death.)
"1 Now therefore there is no condemnation for those who are in HaMashiach Yeshua, (addition in Bys. text: for those who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit) 2 because the law of the Spirit of Life in HaMashiach Yeshua has freed you from the law of Sin and Death.
3 What for the Law it was impossible because it was weak because of the flesh, it was done by Elohim. He sent His only begotten Son in the form of sinful flesh and for sin and condemned sin in the flesh, 4 so that the righteousness requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit."
3 What for the Law it was impossible because it was weak because of the flesh, it was done by Elohim. He sent His only begotten Son in the form of sinful flesh and for sin and condemned sin in the flesh, 4 so that the righteousness requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit."
Verse 2 mentions two completely different Laws:
1. The Law of the Spirit of Life in HaMashiach Yeshua. It is the Law of the New Covenant. It is based on forgiveness through faith in Yeshua.
2. The Law of Sin and Death. It is the law of the Old Covenant. That is, the Law of Moses, which shows every person as a transgressor of the Law before Elohim and deserving of death.
D. As in the Old Covenant, Elohim also in the New Covenant sets before all people two ways leading to different places:
1. The way of one's own works, i.e. the law is the way of righteousness. It eventually leads to death.
2. The way of righteousness of faith in Adonai Yeshua. It ultimately leads to eternal life.
He also urges us living during the New Covenant, as follows: Jer. 21:8 & Deut. 30:19.
a.) "You must say to this people: 'Thus says YHWH: I am now setting before you the way of life and the way of death.' " (Jer. 21:8).
b.) "I take heaven and earth as witnesses against you this day, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. So choose life, that you and your descendants may live." (Deut. 30:19).
Dear readers: Let us pray that every reader of this writing will choose the Way, called Yeshua HaMashiach, which leads all it's followers to the eternal life!
Song suitable for the topic:
Lead Me to Calvary (Hymn Charts with Lyrics, Contemporary)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmSKOR5y764
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Note the following powerful testimony from an American gay man who was a devout Catholic and died, met Jesus, and came back to life. Meeting Jesus changed his perception of homosexuality, which he rejected even though he had lived in a homosexual relationship for 3 years and thought then that it was according to Elohim's will!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmSKOR5y764
- - -
Note the following powerful testimony from an American gay man who was a devout Catholic and died, met Jesus, and came back to life. Meeting Jesus changed his perception of homosexuality, which he rejected even though he had lived in a homosexual relationship for 3 years and thought then that it was according to Elohim's will!
Video:
A gay man died, met Jesus, and what he saw turned him straight when he was allowed to come back to life!
