Reflections on shabat, July 3, 2026

  Images from the left: 1) John the Baptist proclaims the necessity of repentance for people to be saved. (I created the image with AI) 2) Many Israelites believed in him, confessed their sins and were baptized for repentance. 3) Yeshua also came to the Jordan to be baptized by John. John at first forbade it, but then agreed to baptize him when Yeshua said that in this way all righteousness should be fulfilled.

We reread the Bible verses in the picture

>>1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of Yehowah, make his paths straight. Matt. 3:1-3

>>5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan, 6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.<< Matt. 3:5-6

>>13 Then came Yeshua from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him... 16 And Yeshua, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of Elohim descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17 And a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.<< Matt. 3:13,16-17

>>15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be damned.<< Mark. 16:15-16

  The people of Israel had been waiting for the promised Messiah for almost 2000 years! Yet only a small part of them humbled themselves to confess their sins and were ready to receive their Messiah. As in the days of Noah, a great apostasy had taken hold of the majority of the chosen people. Because of the jealousy of the high priests, they crucified the Messiah.

  The great apostasy is true also today with the Gentile nations. Although the message of salvation has been proclaimed everywhere under heaven for many generations, only a few have accepted it. Many of them, too, have given up following Adonai Yeshua in trials of faith and returned to the pleasures and temptations of the world. How sad!


What does repentance mean in the NT?

  It means that the listener of the message of salvation feels a stab in his heart as the Holy Spirit testifies that he is a sinner who needs forgiveness of sins. The person is exposed to a kind of illumination, in which the Holy Spirit shows the things about which the listener must repent, that is, give up doing wrong things.

  The immediate reaction to this is the question: "What must I do to be saved?" The apostle Peter gave a comprehensive instruction that is still valid today: Acts 2:38-39

(I use our Savior's original proper name, which Peter also used)

>>38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Yeshua HaMashiach for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as Yehowah our Elohim shall call.<<


Why is repentance so difficult?

  We are all corrupt in our inner nature, and we would not want to give up our sinful habits, which we are accustomed to and even fond of. Even if we really want to give up the practice of our sins, we are not able to do it on our own. Every smoker, alcoholic, and drug user has noticed this.

  Our Creator knows this and therefore, as mentioned in the verses above, he has given us the promise of the gift of the Holy Spirit. He is the Spirit of power, who helps our weaknesses and strengthens our willpower so that we can give up even the deepest slavery to sins. The Holy Spirit is our invaluable helper! Let us read what Adonai Yeshua taught about the Holy Spirit: John 16:13-15

>>13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 15 All things that the Father has are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.<<

  We learn from those verses how well Yehowah Elohim has provided for us in advance and that we are not left to our own wisdom, our own strength, or our own luck. Let us therefore be grateful to him and strive joyfully to fulfill the priestly duties given to us by Adonai Yeshua!

  Let us remain under the cleansing of the holy blood of Adonai Yeshua today, so that we may be ready for the first resurrection, the rapture, of the chosen saints!

Songs suitable for the topic

Obs. Our Savior's original name in Hebrew is Yeshua HaMashiach HaNotzri

His Name Is Wonderful
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCYidpA7-4A

Bo Ruach Elohim (Come Spirit of God)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wk2xYOV4rnU

Empty Hands
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crRHB6LH0uU

Written in Heaven
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPAcC5icV-s

The Harvest
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8wHsD5hdqU

P.S. 1 You can check out the interesting stages of my life from the link below. My life has been a great adventure. There have been successes and setbacks. Adonai Yeshua has always helped me!
https://seventh-river.blogspot.com/2020/02/the-seventh-river.html

P.S. 2 I have also prepared these studies in Finnish. They consist of selected Bible translations and include various hymns:
https://yakov-tutkielmia-sapattina.blogspot.com/2026/07/pohdintaa-sapattina-372026.html