Atonement

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ

The idea of a bodily resurrection is a longstanding belief in Judaism, and there are multiple accounts in the Old and New Testaments. Elijah raised the son of Zarephath and the son of the Shunammite woman. Later, a man rose from the dead when his body touched Elisha’s bones. Jesus raised the son of the widow of Nain, the daughter of Jairus, and Lazarus from the dead. And in the Book of Acts, we read that Paul raised Eutychus from the dead. Even in recent history, we have heard stories of people who died and came back to life.

The Doctrine of Salvation

The Doctrine of Salvation

The word “salvation” in Greek, Soteriology, is derived from two Greek words, Soteria, meaning salvation, and logos, meaning “word, discourse, or doctrine.” Having studied the infinite holy nature of God and the fallen, depraved nature of man, only God could bridge the gap between Himself and His creation. As Jesus said, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Mathew 19:26).

The Names and Nature of God

The Names and Nature of God

To understand God’s nature, attributes, and works, we begin by studying the names of God. Names are so important to the Lord that He dedicated an entire chapter in the book of Exodus called Shemot (names). We read, “Now these are the names of the children of Israel who came to Egypt” (Exodus 1:1). Names have meaning, and they have power. It says, “Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light” (Genesis 1:1), for the Lord God created the universe by His spoken word. And names have authority. We read, “What a word this is! For with authority and power, He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out” (Luke 4:36).

Entering The Kingdom

Entering The Kingdom

The arrival of the Messiah and His death and resurrection is unquestionably the most significant event in human history. Jesus-Yeshua, the Son of God, was born of a woman conceived by the Holy Spirit. He lived a perfect and sinless life, and in God’s time, He gave His life to atone for the sins of humanity.

The Fullness of Time

The Fullness of Time

The Bible tells that, "when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons" (Galatians 4:4-5). This verse speaks to the First Advent of Christ. It also speaks to the redemption of Israel. But what about Christ's second Advent and Israel's final redemption?

God Will Provide for Himself a Lamb

God Will Provide for Himself a Lamb

We all know the story of Abraham, how he took his only son Isaac to Jerusalem and was prepared to offer him as a burnt offering to the Lord on Mount Moriah. They traveled for three days until Abraham saw the place in the distance. As he and his son carried the wood and fire for the sacrifice, Isaac asked his father a question:

“My Father? Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” Abraham responded: “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering” (Genesis 22:7-8).

Mysteries of the Shofar

Mysteries of the Shofar

The first time read about the Shofar, the ram’s horn, in the Bible is in Exodus Chapter 19, when the Israelites encamped below Mount Sinai. The Hebrew word used in these chapters is Shofar (שֹׁפָ֖ר).[i] The Lord instructed the Israelites to wait for the third day when He would come down upon the mountain, and the blast of a Shofar would sound before them.

The Foundation of His Throne

The Foundation of His Throne

It is written, “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Mercy and truth go before Your face” (Psalm 89:14). Reading this verse makes me feel like I am standing in a court of law. We are— “I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom” (2 Timothy 4:1).

Mystery of the Gentiles

Mystery of the Gentiles

The Apostle Paul spoke of several mysteries in his epistles to the church. These mysteries were in essence, God’s hidden wisdom concealed from humanity, until the time He would choose for its revelation;[i] as it is written, “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (1 Corinthians 2:7-8).

The Covenant with Levi

The Covenant with Levi

In Christian circles, we hear much about God’s covenant with King David. After all, Yeshua is called the King of Kings. However, there is little mention of God’s eternal covenant with Levi and his descendants through Aaron, the first High Priest of Israel after Moses. To further complicate things, Christology has adopted another form of supersessionism regarding the Levitical priesthood, presuming that, somehow, Christ has done away with Aaron’s priesthood, and replaced it with a new one for the church that follows a different order—called “the order of Melchizedek.”

The Tabernacle of Moses

The Tabernacle of Moses

A number of years ago I was asked to prepare a teaching on the Tabernacle of Moses—the Mishkan. I had read the endless narratives in the Torah many times where each part of the Tabernacle, meticulously detailed by the Lord, commanded the Israelites to only build a copy of the heavenly image. I had visited several life-size displays, one recently in Pennsylvania, but none revealed anything of particular magnificence. Even its size looked rather underwhelming—a small tent perched in the desert surrounded by miles of barren wilderness. From a near distance the structure would have been hardly noticeable.

Yom Kippur—The Day of Atonement

Yom Kippur—The Day of Atonement

Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement is considered to be the holiest day of the year for the Jewish people. It is a solemn day to afflict our souls, but it is also a joyful day in knowing that God will forgive our sins. It commemorates the day when God forgave the Jewish people for the sin of the Golden Calf.