My study on Hebrews 9, the priesthood of Jehoshua
Hebrews Chapter 9
1Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.2For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.3And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;4Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;5And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.6Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.7But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:8The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:9Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;10Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.11But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;12Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.13For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:14How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?15And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.16For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.17For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.18Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.19For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,20Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.21Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.22And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.23It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.24For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:25Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;26For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.27And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:28So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Verses 1-7, this section describes various parts of the old covenant ministry of the priests in the tabernacle. Jehoshua's ministry is better. It's important to understand that there is a marked difference between the Levitical priesthood and the Melchizedek Priesthood. In these first seven verses of Hebrews 9 we see a description of the sanctuary. Paul uses the term tabernacle rather than temple possibly due to the wilderness theme throughout the book of Hebrews. The tabernacle and temple kept the same basic design. The outer sanctuary was accesible only to the levites, and the inner sanctuary to the High Priest once a year on the day of atonement. The first sanctuary or holy place in the tabernacle had the candlestick, table of shewbread and altar of incense. These articles of furniture had/have typological significance pointing to the person and work of Messiah.
In verse 3, the second veil is referenced. There were two curtains in the tabernacle, one separating the court from the holy place and the second, the holy place from the most holy place (Exodus 26:31-35). Tabernacle, Holy of Holies (Holiest of all). This is key to remember because it tells us when Jehoshua went into the most holy place.
Verse 4, the most important piece of furniture in the tabernacle is the ark of the covenant. The ark contains the mercyseat where the blood of the atonement was sprinkled once a year (Exodus 25:10-16). Jehoshua as the first fruits had to present Himself to the Father after His resurrection. If the Father's throne is in the most holy place as the sanctuary tells us, both in earthly type and in the original in heaven, then Messiah had to go to the most holy place to present Himself. The bible says He atoned for our sins at the cross and He presented Himself after His resurrection to the Father sprinkling His blood on the mercyseat. This could only be done if Jehoshua went to the most holy place after His resurrection.
1John 2:1-2 (KJV)
1My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:2And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
The word propitiation comes from the Greek word "hilasmos" (Strongs 2434) and means "atonement, i.e., an expiator, propitiation."
Continuing in verse 4, The manna that was in the ark of the covenant represents Jehovah's faithfulness and provision for His people. As the Israelites of old, we as Messianics are in our own wilderness experience as pilgrims waiting for the arrival of our permanent home which is New Jerusalem. Jehoshua is also the manna, the bread of life that came down from heaven. We eat of His body spiritually as He even said so in John 6:51-54:
51I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world 52The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? 53Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 54Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
In verse 4 we also see Aaron's rod mentioned. This represented Aaron's as the designated chosen head of the priestly line. Jehoshua is now our High Priest after the order of Melchizedek. The Levitical priesthood is abolished. The tables of the covenant are in the most holy place and they contain the 10 commandments. As the 10 commandments were in the most holy place in the earthly sanctuary, they are also in the heavenly sanctuary which is the sanctuary that Jehovah pitched.
Revelation 11:16-19 (KJV)
16And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,17Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.18And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.19And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.
Understanding he truth about the heavenly sanctuary is very important for today's beleiver in Messiah. The above pasaage in Revelation 11 reveals that there is a literal heavenly temple with a literal ark of the covenant containing the testimony i.e. 10 commandments. It's also key to recognize the importance of the the Messiah's priestly ministry. The Son of God sits at the right hand of Jehovah in the most holy place interceding for us. We are told by the beloved disciple John in his 1st epistle to not sin but that if we do we have Jehoshua as our advocate.
The word advocate comes from the Greek word "parakletos" which means "an intercessor, consoler: advocate, comforter"
It's noteworthy that the 10 commandments are also in the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary where the Son of God intercedes for us as we are told in 1 John chapter 3 that sin is the transgression of the law:
4Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.5And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.6Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
Sin is the transgression of the law and we are told to sin not, yet if we do sin we have a comforter who intercedes for us. This passage refutes the antinomian churches that the law of Jehovah is abolished. In verse 6 where it says "whoever sinneth hath not seen him", this is in the greek present tense meaning continuing in constant sin without repentance.
We are told to boldly come before the throne of grace. The throne of grace is the mercyseat where our Messiah intercedes for us. When we fall into temptation we must come to the Father in the name of the Son and ask forgiveness. This is a function of the Son of God as our High Priest to ask forgiveness when we transgress the law. John encourages beleivers to not sin but he also lets them know that if they do, Messiah will intercede for them provided they come to the throne of grace.
1 John 5:2-3 (KJV)
2By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.3For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
It is ridiculous to say that God's law is done away with when we are told by John to keep the commandments and also encouraged not to violate them which is sin. This is why the commandments are so prominent in the book of Revelation as it relates to the heavenly temple and priesthood of Messiah and the end time importance of all these things.
Verse 5 of Hebrews 9, the cherubims of glory. Jehovah's glory rested over these angelic beings symbolizing God's dwelling among His people. Mercyseat. The covering of the ark of the covenant where blood was sprinkled. The mercyseat represented the way of access to Jehovah, and God's forgiveness of His people.
Verse 6, priests would enter into the holy place (first tabernacle) daily. These priests were faithful in their daily ministrations.
Verse 7, the second, the holy of holies. Once every year. Day of atonement. The High Priest had to offer blood for himself and the sins of the people.
Verse 8, the Holy Spirit declared the rituals to show that the earthly tabernacle was just a type or picture of true salvation. The way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest. The tabernacle and priestly ordinances were not able to give perfect access to God in the Holy of Holies. The tabernacle veiled people from unbroken communion with God. Verse 8 makes no sense if the Messiah only went to the holy place at His ascension. While the first tabernacle was standing, the way into the most holy place wasn't made manifest meaning "revealed". This infers that the way into the Holy of Holies has now been revealed now that the first tabernacle and it's services are now obselete.
Matthew 23:38 (KJV)
38Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
Matthew 27:51 (KJV)
51And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
Acts 17:24 (KJV)
24God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
So if the way into the Holy of Holies was made manifest in the new covenant as declared by the Holy Spirit, then clearly Jehoshua had to go right to the most holy place at His ascension showing us the way into the most holy place. If He had to wait until 1844, then verse 8 makes no sense and believers all the way up to 1844 had not been revealed the way into the holiest and didn't have direct access to the throne of grace which is in the Holy of Holies. This would then mean they were still in the old covenant until 1844 as they and the Messiah only had access to the first tabernacle.
Back to Hebrews 9, verse 9, the tabernacle is a comparison of the heavenly tabernacle. The sacrifices of priests could not cleanse the conscience but were merely an outward cleansing.
Verse 10, Jehoshua was the original reformer. The whole old testament system was unable to bring the people to perfection. It served only a temporary function, and pointed forward to a time when great change and renewal (reformation) would be administered. One of the things that makes Jehoshua a reformer is that He through His death abolished the imperfect Levitical priesthood and became our High Priest of a much better order. One of the key factors of Jehoshua's priesthood being better and being a complete reformation from the old order, is that He doesn't have to follow the Levitical protocol. As Priest of the Melchizedek order, Messiah went right to the most holy place at His ascension and conducts His priesthood from His throne sitting down.
The Levitical priests could only go to the most holy place once a year after conducting their daily service in the holy place standing up. The Levitical priesthood did not grant the people direct access to Jehovah God except once a year on the day of atonement. If the Son of God had to wait until 1844 to go to the most holy place, then there really was no reformation done by Jehoshua at the cross and in effect the saints before 1844 were in the same predicament as the Israelites of old. This means they would have had no access to God the Father until 1844. Clearly, God the Father's throne is in the most holy place as represented in the earthly sanctuary which is a copy of the true heavenly one. If Messiah at His ascension went to sit at the Father's right hand, then we can be assured that He went right to the throne room which is clearly in the most holy place.
Verses 11-12, a comparison between the ceremonial aspects of the old covenant and Messiah's works, described in Levitical terms. "good things to come", likely to be understood in both the present time and a future time. "by a greater and more perfect tabernacle" Jehoshua entered the heavenly sanctuary (Hebrews 7:26;8:2) to bring His people into the presence of God. This could only be true if the Son of God went directly to the most holy place at His ascension. Remember that Jehovah's shekinah presence in the earthly sanctuary was in the most holy place above the mercy seat. The same is true in the true heavenly sanctuary.
"Eternal redemption" and "once into the holy place" - unlike the Levitical High Priest that entered the holy place every year to cover the sins of Israel, Jehoshua entered the holy place through His death only once yo offer everlasting atonement. The Son of God's sacrifice only needed to be offered once, not continually or daily. This is why it makes no sense for the Messiah to have to wait until 1844 to go into the most holy place. If He only went to the holy place to emaulate the old covenant protocol of daily ministration in the first apartment then in effect thatbis saying that the Son of God didn't obtain eternal redemption for us thereby nullfying His sacrifice on the cross.
This is the very thing that seperates the Levitical High Priest from the Melchizedek High Priest. One had to do daily ministry in the holy place standing up with the blood of calves and goats and only had access to the most holy place once a year. The other went directly to the most holy place making atonement with His very own blood and conducts His priesthood from His throne as a King-Priest.
By reducing the Messiah's priesthood to a replica of the Levitical priesthood we are disresepecting His finished work at the cross. Because in effect we are saying His blood wasn't enough to make atonement for sins and thereby reducing the value of His blood to that of goats and calves.
"For us" Jehoshua's death was for His people, that is, for their benefit and in their place.
Verses 13-14, the author of Hebrews lays out the implications of Jehoshua's sacrifice for beleivers. The priestly sacrifices cleansed only the flesh. The Messiah's death (blood) cleanses (purge) the conscience, laden with guilt of sins as it is. By virtue of Messiah's divine nature (eternal Spirit), His sacrifice was a spiritual sacrifice and is therefore effective. The Son of God was the perfect (without spot) Lamb of sacrifice. The Messiah had the fullness of the Father's eternal Spirit in Him.
"Dead works". Any works we might seek to perform to gain acceptance with God are defiled by sin like a dead body. Through Jehoshua's sacrifice, beleivers are able to offer themselves as living sacrifices and thus enabled to serve the living God. This verse proves that the living God is the Father not a trinity. Jehoshua through the Holy Spirit purged our conscience from dead works to serve the Living God. This shows that neither Jehoshua or the Holy Spirit are the living God themselves but that through Jehoshua's death, they both worked to bring us in right relationship with the the remaining member of the Godhead which is the Father i.e. the Living God.
Verse 15, the Son of God perfects the mediation between Jehovah and His people. "And for this cause" Jehoshua's work shows Him to be the mediator of the new covenant. "For the redemption of the transgressions" that is, all sins past and present committed by the people for whom He died. Even sins committed under the old covenant were not forgiven by the blood of bulls and goats, but in advance, by virtue of what Messiah's sacrifice was sure to accomplish. Those effectually called by the gospel already receive the benefits of the promise, though they still wait for their eternal inheritance.
Verse 16, "testament" the Greek word diatheke commonly means "covenant", and translates the Hebrew word for covenant, berith. However the author is bringing in the added significance of a firm anf settled testament, being effectual onlu upon death of the One who makes it. "Necessity" MesI siah's death was required so that He could pass on His inheritance to His brothers. We are joint heirs with our elder brother Jehoshua proving that the Godhead is a Family with Jehovah as our Father. This is a total rebuke to the SDA Tri theistic godhead teaching of the three independent god beings united as a committee locking us out of the Godhead as in this antichrist view there are no family relations in the Godhead . We as sons and daughters of God are part of the Godhead family in which we are a people called by Jehovah's name.
Verse 17, a testament or covenant cannot exist without the shedding of blood. As with the first covenant (Ex 24:6-7), the second was also established through blood, specifically through the blood of Messiah. Once the testator has died there is no way to annul the testament, rendering it absolute.
Verse 18, "whereupon". Therefore, drawing a conclusion from verses 16-17. "First testament". The Mosaic covenant was Instituted with blood because there was a self-malediction curse incorporated with the covenant. "Dedicated". Inaugurated. The old covenant was inaugurated by the blood of animals.
Verse 19, "for when Moses had spoken". An allusion to Exodus 24:3-8. "Sprinkled both the book, and all the people." Everything under the old covenant was ceremonially purified with blood.
Verses 20-21 Jehovah commanded perfect obdience from the people in the Mosaic covenant (Leviticus 18:5). Moses sprinkled the tabernacle and all its vessels.
Verse 22, remisson meaning forgiveness. Thankfully we no longer have to sacrifice animals to receive remission of sins, we have the one time sacrifice of Jehoshua's shed blood that provided forgiveness of our sins.
Verse 23, the pattern tabernacle on earth was purified with the blood of calves and goats (verse 19) "the heavenly things themselves". Not that heaven was unclean, but the bringing of guilty sinners into the Holy places would defile them unless they were purified with the Messiah's blood.
Verse 24, why cling to a brick and mortar building if the Son of God is in heaven itself? Jehoshua only needs to to appear in the presence of Jehovah on behalf of His people and it is more than enough. We might want to ask, where is the presence of Jehovah in the heavenly sanctuary?
Exodus 25:17-22 (KJV)
17And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof.18And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat.19And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof.20And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be.21And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.22And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.
The mercy seat was symbolic of Jehovah's divine throne and presence. With the sprinkling of blood on the mercy seat, the judgement of God is transformed into grace and mercy. Clearly, any believer with even a bit of bible knowledge knows that the mercy seat sat on top of the ark of the covenant which is in the most holy place in the sanctuary. Remember, that the earthly sanctuary is merely a copy of the heavenly which means that Jehovah's divine presence and throne in heaven is also in the most holy place.
So if the Messiah appeared in the presence of God at the time of the writing of the book of Hebrews and clearly according to Exodus 25:17-22 the presence and throne of Jehovah is in the most holy place, then that means that Jehoshua went to the most holy place way before 1844. The book of Hebrews was likely written before AD 70.
Verse 25, Jehoshua only had to make one atonement for sins and that was at the cross. Unlike the earthly priesthood of the Levites, the priesthood of Melchizedek is far superior in that only one had sacrifice had to be made for atonement (Messiah's death on the cross). Also, Melchizedek's (Jehoshua) priesthood was granted permanent access to the most holy place once the atonement was made. The Levitical priests were only granted access to the most holy place once a year on the day of atonement and then had to return to their daily ministry in the first apartment (holy place).
In verse 26 of Hebrews, Jehoshua's death is only once. "End of the world" Not a reference to the temporal end of history, but the perfection of the ages. History moves toward a definite goal and the Son of God is moving His people to this goal. "Put away" remove or cancel.
Verse 27, man dies once so this should caution us in believing in these stories where people claim they died and went to heaven or hell and then came back to tell about it. After death, the next event for man will be the judgement. The judgement takes place right after the second advent of Jehoshua. This then negates the false teaching that men go right to heaven after they die or to hell. One cannot be granted entry into heaven or the lake of fire without being judged and since the judgement is after the second advent and there is no interim purgatory type place then what becomes of man at death?
Well, he simply sleeps as the bible says the dead know nothing. He will be awaken at the resurrection whether the resurrection of the just or unjust and then he will face judgement.
Verse 28, "to bear the sins of many" an allusion to Isaiah 53:4, emphasizing substitution. "Shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation". When Jehoshua returns with the clouds, He will not appear bearing the sins of His people in order to die again, but to bring His final salvation in.
The Three Angels' of Revelation 14:6-12
Fear Jehovah, and give glory to him!
Thursday, October 19, 2017
Monday, October 16, 2017
I worship Jehoshua as the Son of God part 1
The Son of God part 1 of my study
Jehoshua being the Son of God is the absolute foundation of the Church. No other foundation can be laid. Many have tried but the results always end up the same which is apostasy and spiritual decline. The early Church worshipped Jehoshua as the Son of God. They had a crystal clear understanding of who Jehoshua was in identify. There was no confusion. Over the ensuing centuries, the precious truth of One God who had a divine begotten Son was obscured and derided as heresy as the traditons and constructs of man supplanted the faith once delivered to the saints.
In this study, we will look at the scriptures and show that Jehoshua being the Son of God and understanding who He is in identity, is crucial to our salvation as individuals and our power as a Church. This beautiful truth of One God and His only begotten Son is spreading like wildfire throughout various groups of beleivers. It can't be stopped and it won't be as Jehoshua promised that the gates of hell would never prevail against His Church. He said this after afrriming Peter's confession of Him (Jehoshua) being the Son of the Living God and stating that this confession would be the rock that the Church would be built upon.
We will go through the new testament primarily and then also include some old testament scriptures to supplement them. I hope ypu enjoy and are blessed!
Matthew 3:16-17 (KJV)
16And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:17And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
This is the first instance in Matthew that we see a direct reference to Jehoshua being the Son of God. It is fitting that it is in connection with His baptism. The first witness to Jehoshua being the Son of God is the Father Himself. This one verse alone should be enough to convince us of the Messiah's true identity. The Father only spoke audibly three times, twice affriming Jehoshua's Sonship. While many argue on the type of Son Jehoshua was/is, as we go along in the scriptures we will get the undeniable truth. The arguments range from an adopted Son denying pre existence, begotten Son denying pre existence, enternally generated Son always existing, metaphorical Son taking on a role but in reality Almighty God either by way of Tri theism, Binitarianism or onesness pentecostalism, a created Son pre existent or finally a begotten Son pre existent.
As I said, we will find out soon what the testimony of scripture says in regards to the type of Son Jehoshua was/is.
Matthew 4:3-4 (KJV)
3And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.4But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Sadly many today are doing the same work as Satan and tempting Jehoshua about His Sonship. They refuse to believe that He is indeed the Son of God and at times even mock the idea of Jehoshua being begotten from the Father's substance. Satan knew the Messiah's true identity but thought he could put doubt in His mind. Notice though what the Messiah says in response to the tempter:
"Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God"
We just saw in Matthew 3 what came out of the mouth of God after the Messiah's baptism:
"This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased"
Jehoshua is telling us that we need to go strictly by His Father's word. The word of God the Father revealed to us Jehoshua's identity by calling Him His Son. Yet many today in Christendom deny this precious truth by ascribing the Sonship of Messiah to role playing or over spiritualizing it thereby making God's word of none effect. If Jehoshua said we are to live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God and God said that Jehoshua was His Son, why don't people simply just beleive it?
Enemies of the truth have corrupted the simplicity of the faith: Jude
4For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
The 4th century promoters of the trinity did this very thing in denying the only Lord God meaning that the Father was the one true Master God and they also denied the Lord Jehoshua Messiah as being a distinct being from the Father.
Going back to Matthew 4, we see the devil's persistence in tempting the Messiah in regards to His Sonship. Sounds like today's trinitarian and tri theists.
Matthew 4:5-7 (KJV)
5Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,6And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.7Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
Satan once again tempts Jehoshua regarding His Sonship and again Jehoshua replies by going to the written word. It is the same today brethren as Satan uses the doubters of Jehoshua's literal Sonship to tempt us to discard it in favor of their false version of the Messiah. Our response is quote the word of God like our Savior did in the wilderness. When these Sonship deniers of Christendom tempt us with their false doctrine in reality they are tempting Jehovah their God who Himself said "this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased".
Matthew 4:8-11 (KJV)
8Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;9And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.10Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.11Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
Boy that devil sure doesn't give up does he? Here he offers the kingdoms of this world to the Messiah if the Son of God will worship him. Again, Jehoshua's response is an appeal to the word of God:
"Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and Him only shalt thou serve"
Messiah is making reference that only the Father is to be worshipped supremely. This is a verse that refutes the trinitarian god doctrine. Jehoshua gives the enemy of truth the word of God and the proper object of supreme worship. Just like then, today's Pastor's and evangelists are offered the material blessings and comforts of this world if they will tow the Church line and doubt the Sonship of Messiah and deny the command to worship the Lord thy God only in order to support the man made Satan inspired trinity doctrine.
Only by denying the literal Sonship of Jehoshua and confessing the trinity god can you be allowed to buy and sell in the mainstream Churches of Christendom. Satan offers ministers the kingdoms of this world if they will only doubt the Sonship of Messiah. Once a Pastor or evangelist leaves the trinity doctrine they are essentially forfeiting their buying and selling rights in the market place of Christendom. Let's be like Jehoshua and tell them the word of God says to worship Jehovah thy God alone as the one true God (John 17:3).
Matthew 8:28-29 (KJV)
28And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.29And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?
Even the demons knew the identity of Jehoshua. Just like Satan, they knew that in identity Jehoshua was the Son of God. The devil and his demons don't address Jehoshua as "God the Son" or "Almighty God" but rather the "Son of God". Your pastors want you to believe that Jehoshua is the Almighty God rather than the Son of the Almighty God. Isn't sad that the devil and his demons have more accurate knowledge of who Jehoshua is in identity than do most of Christendom's clergy and their followers?
Matthew 11:25-27 (KJV)
25At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.26Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.27All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
Jehoshua's prayer above highlights His intimate relationship with His Father. He acknowledges His Father as the creator something many SDA Trinitarians deny. In verse 26 He calls God His Father and states that no one knows Him (Jehoshua) except His Father. Right here Jehoshua is making a distinction between how the Jews viewed themselves as adopted earthly sons and How He (Jehoshua) viewed Himself as Jehovah's divine Son.
In verse 27, again Jehoshua refers to God as His Father and states that all things are delivered unto Him by the Father. This denotes inheritance as being God's true Son Jehoshua is deserving of this. Jehoshua also makes a seperation between His Sonship and the Jews in that He states that only the Father knows Him and that only He knows the Father. The blessing is that the Son reveals to us the Father if He so chooses. Brethren, thankfully the Son of God has chosen to reveal the Father to us. We know this because we have been called to salvation and the Family of God. Jehoshua is the only conduit by which the Father can be revealed to man. This again makes a definite distinction between His Sonship and everyone elses as many try to ascertain Messiah's Sonship as just metaphorical or adoptive.
Matthew 12:50 (KJV)
50For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
Jehoshua makes a possesive statement about God referring to Him as "my Father". This denotes an intimacy beyond just a metaphorical or adoptive Sonship. Jehoshua's statement reveals a closeness He has with God that no one else has to that extent.
Matthew 14:31-32 (KJV)
31And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?32And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.33Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
In context, this is the Messiah walking on water and here He helps Peter out of the water. The subject here is one of faith and it's important to receive in your spirit what this text is really saying. Jehoshua tells Peter he is of little faith and asked rhetorically why he doubted that he could walk on water. Notice the reaction of the disciples in verse 33, they came and worshipped Jehoshua confessing that truthfully He is the Son of God. This text in verse 33 shows a couple things that should awaken trinitarians. The disciples worshipped Jehoshua as the Son of God not God Almighty.
The Greek word for worship is Proskuneo and it is used here for the homage that the disciples were giving to Jehoshua. This shows that worship can be given to someone other than the Father. It also shows that worship can be given to someone other than the eternal God. One of the fallible arguments used by trinitarians is that Jehoshua must be God Almighty because He is worshipped, however the disciples did not worship Him as such but rather they worshipped Him due to being the Son of God Almighty. There is nothing written in the text that the disciples understood Jehoshua to be one part of a trinity god so there worship of Him was not as part of a trinity.
The disciples knew that Jehoshua was God's divine Son and they expressed their faith in this truth verbally. They knew that Jehoshua being the Son of God gave Him the right to be worshipped. They didn't get into a religious theological debate that only God canbe worshipped so that must mean Jehoshua is God or part of a trinity. They didn't debate the meaning of deity or co eternal or co equal, they simply worshipped Jehoshua as the Son of God. They didn't confess Jehoshua as God in the sense of being the eternal God but rather God's Son. For the disciples this was enough to render worship to Jehoshua.
Today's Christian's can learn a lot from this incident in the sea. It was Peter's lack of faith that made him sink. After Jehoshua rescued him, the disciples were convinced even more that Jehoshua was the Son of God. Perhaps a leaven of doubt entered Peter's mind about Jehoshua's Sonship and thereby he didn't think the Messiah could sustain him walking on water. Today's Christian's have far more doubt than Peter did about the identity of Jehoshua. Perhaps if they were in a similar situation they would also sink because they already doubt Jehoshua's Sonship because they have over thought the plain statements in scripture and refuse to believe that Jehoshua is indeed the begotten Son of God.
They have convinced themselves that Jehoshua was just playing a role as God's Son and is really God Almighty Himself. Their professors and Pastor's have put this doubt in their minds and they have trusted these fallible men rather than the testimony of scripture. Modern day Sonship denying Christian's would sink in the sea if their faith in Messiah's Sonship was the measuring stick. Let's be like the disciples who recoginized the true Sonship of Messiah and worship Him as the Son of God. If we have this faith in our heart we can walk on water. Let's not be "oh thou of little faith".
Matthew 15:13 (KJV)
13But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.
Jehoshua makes a reference to God as His heavenly Father. You get a sense from reading the text that when Jehoshua says this that there is an intimacy He has with God that no one else has. There tone of the text suggests that God is Jehoshua's heavenly Father in a way that is different from everyone else.
Matthew 16:13-20 (KJV)
13When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?14And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.15He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?16And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.17And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.18And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.19And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.20Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.
The above passage of scripture is one of the most important and overlooked passages in the bible. The denominations have robbed the meaning of this passage and the implications have been devastating for the Churches of Christendom. Without a strong foundation a building will eventually crumble and remain no longer or it may not crumble but not have sufficient power to completely withstand heavy wind and earthquakes and thereby weaken.
This my friends is exactly what has happened to the Churches of Christendom. They have left the rock solid foundation of what the Church was supposed to stand on until the end of time. Let's analyze the text to see what I am talking about.
In verse 13, Jehoshua asks the disciples who men say that He (Jehoshua) is. This passage is key understanding the correct identity of Jehoshua. In fact, I believe along with the Fatjer's confession (Matthew 3:17) it is the most rock solid evidence of Jehoshua's true identity. In verse 14, the disciples answer with various speculations of men's opinions of Jehoshua's identity.
In verse 15, Jehoshua then directs the question to the disciples of who they think He (Jehoshua) is.
Verse 16, Peter gives what is one of the most powerful statement of faith's given in the bible. This is to be the eternal statement of faith for the Church of all generations and never to be changed by any man. Let's read Peter's statement of faith concerning Jehoshua:
" Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."
This confession by Peter along with the Father's In Matthew 3:17 should be enough to settle the issue once and for all the identity of Jehoshua. Of course man in his arrogance thinks he knows better than God and through vain satanic philosophy has formed for themselves another Jesus, which is not according to the plain statements of scripture.
We know a two things about Jehoshua's identity from the above apostolic confession:
1) He is the anointed one (Messiah) of Jehovah God.
2) He is the Son of the Living God Jehovah.
The Churches of Christendom got the first part right but even that has been confused. This is because they say that Jehoshua is Himself the Almighty God which would mean that He is the anointed one of Himself. Do you see the confusion that the trinity doctrine breeds?
The Churches have also attempted to turn Jehoshua into a double personality. On one hand, they say He took on the role of the Son and on the other hand, they say He is the Living God which in essence would mean He is the Son of Himself. Do you see how ridiculous the conclusions are that the trinity doctrine forces you to arrive at?
Today's pastors and theologians if they were alive to hear Peter's confession or if Peter was brought back to life, would tell him that technically he was wrong and that Jehoshua was really the living God. Man's heart is wicked beyond all understanding so let's instead go by what Jehoshua Himself said in verse 17 concerning Peter's confession:
" And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven."
Did you read that? Jehoshua completely affirmed Peter's statement of faith concerning His (Jehoshua's) identity. There was no rebuke, no philosophical rendering of Peter's statement, no over explanation of His statement but rather a straightforward affirmation. Jehoshua said His (possessive) Father revealed this truth to Peter. This means that Peter could have only confessed this if the Father revealed it to him by way of His Spirit. Today's Pastor's and theologians are saying the exact opposite of what Jehoshua said to Peter. Those who confess that Jehoshua is the literal Son of the Living God are being told that they are deceived by Satan. Oh how things have changed!!!
Jehoshua told Peter that his confession wasn't revealed to him by flesh and blood yet that's exactly what the trinitarians and tri theists say about us today who confess the true begotten Sonship of Messiah. We are told that we are thinking according to the flesh when we agree with Peter's statement of faith. The enemy has greatly deceived the Churches of Christendom in that they have allowed the philosophies of men to pollute their thinking and thereby cannot simply accept the plain statements of scripture. This is the poison of Catholicism and Protestantism which have interwoven pagan Greek philosophy into the purity and simplicity of the apostolic doctrine.
The truth is actually the exact opposite of what the Pastor's and theologians of Christendom say. Those of us who beleive in One true God and His literal begotten Son have been revealed this by our Heavenly Father Jehovah. Those who explain away the Sonship of Messiah by saying it was a role he took on (tri theism) or that He is also the Living God in addition to being an eternally generated Son (trinitarianism) have been revealed these lies by their own flesh and blood and not by the Heavenly Father Jehovah. Thankfully the Father is restoring in a big way the precious truth of Peter's confession in these last days as His Son is coming back for a spotless Church not one embued with man made pagan philosophy of trinitarianism and tri theism.
Let's go back to the text in Matthew 16, in verse 18 we see another powerful statement from our Messiah:
" And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
Clearly Jehoshua is not saying that the Church will be built upon Peter but rather upon Peter's confession of His (Jehoshua's) Messiahship and Sonship. There are two different Greek word's for rock used here in verse 18. In reference to Peter's name which in Greek means rock (petros) it describes "a piece of rock" (Strongs 4074) whereas in reference to the word "rock" used by Messiah "upon this rock" (petras) it means "a mass of rock" (Strongs 4073). Peter is a piece of rock, as all of us in the faith are a piece of rock that are part of the building i.e. the Church. However, Jehoshua is a mass of rock who is the chief cornerstone of the building. He is the mass of rock made without hands taken out (begotten) from the mountain which is the Father.
Now that we have that clear, let's look at what the Messiah says concerning the Rock (Himself). Jehoshua says that He will build His Church based on the truth of Peter's statement of faith that He (Jehoshua) is the anointed one of Jehovah and the Son of Jehovah who is the living God. The Church was always supposed to build according to Jehoshua's blue print not according to the blue print of any Church Father, Catholic Pope or any Protestant reformer. The Church was always supposed to be built on the truth that Jehoshua is the Son of the Living God not a trinitarian or tri theistic version of Jesus.
There is a growing number of believers who are returning to the blue print that Jehoshua established which is the blue print founded and rooted in His true begotten Sonship. This my friends is the Church that will go through, this my friends is the ark of safety. Don't let anyone deceive you! Any denomination that is not rooted in the literal Sonship of Jehoshua is going to be overcome by the gates of hell and infact they already are.
Jehoshua clearly said that the Church that He builds and only those who believe in His literal Sonship are part of this Church, will never be overcome by the gates of hell. Now brethren, isn't that comforting? In a world of uncertainty, this is something that is better than gold and it is something we can take to the bank in a manner of speaking. They say diamonds are forever but I say Jehoshua's Church that is built on His true begotten Sonship is forever. However it's not what I say that matters but rather what Jehoshua says and He indeed did say it.
This is why brethren in these end times that we leave the false Churches of Christendom that deny Jehoshua's true begotten Sonship, because they are not built on the rock of Peter's apostolic statement of faith. Jehoshua said that the only Church that would endure to the end and not be overcome by the gates of hell is the Church built on His literal Sonship. The opposite is then true, any Church not built on the foundation of Jehoshua's literal Sonship will be overcome by the gates of hell and as said before they already are and have been for awhile. The proof is in their filthy apostasy evidenced by their acceptance of women pastors, inclusion of Sodomites into their assemblies, supporting government sponsored wars and ecumeniscism with the Catholic church and United Nations.
Jehovah's true Church stays away from all that wickedness and madness. This is because His Church is built on the solid foundation of the Sonship of Jehoshua and not a trinitarian or tri theistic god.
Let's go to verse 19 now:
" And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
The plain fact is that Jehoshua gave the right to His Church that He builds the authority to judge all matters concerning the Church. See Matthew 18 and 1 Corinthians 5 for more on this as well as read Peter's epistles.
This doesn't mean that the Church has authority to add or subtract from Jehovah's word but rather enforce it through Church discipline if needed. However, only one Church has this authority granted to them by Jehoshua and that is the Church that is rooted in the belief that He (Jehoshua) is truly the Son of the Living God in identity. The implications of this are fascinating brethren. This means that the denominations built on the trinity and tri theistic doctrines have absolutely no scriptural authority whatsoever!! This includes the Seventh day Adventist General Conference.
This is because the trinitarian and tri theists denominations deny the literal Sonship of Jehoshua. This is why I dont beleive we as non trinitarians should attend these Churches unless we get invited to present our view of the One true God and His Son. We should have our own Church fellowships. The authority granted by Messiah to the Church is strictly for the Church that wholeheartedly without explanation agrees with Peter's confession and is built on the foundation of Jehoshua's literal Sonship.
Verse 20:
" Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ."
Just as it was then it is now, Jehoshua knew that the religious leaders of that time were hard hearted and waxed cold and that they wouldn't accept the truth of His literal begotten Sonship. It's the same way today as most trinitarians and tri theists especially the Church leaders have waxed cold in their hearts to what scripture says about the begotten Son. This is why often we are careful in who we present this truth to because like the days of old, the denominatonal religious leaders of today have hardened their hearts to bible truth that Jehoshua truly is the Son of the Living God in identity.
Jehoshua being the Son of God is the absolute foundation of the Church. No other foundation can be laid. Many have tried but the results always end up the same which is apostasy and spiritual decline. The early Church worshipped Jehoshua as the Son of God. They had a crystal clear understanding of who Jehoshua was in identify. There was no confusion. Over the ensuing centuries, the precious truth of One God who had a divine begotten Son was obscured and derided as heresy as the traditons and constructs of man supplanted the faith once delivered to the saints.
In this study, we will look at the scriptures and show that Jehoshua being the Son of God and understanding who He is in identity, is crucial to our salvation as individuals and our power as a Church. This beautiful truth of One God and His only begotten Son is spreading like wildfire throughout various groups of beleivers. It can't be stopped and it won't be as Jehoshua promised that the gates of hell would never prevail against His Church. He said this after afrriming Peter's confession of Him (Jehoshua) being the Son of the Living God and stating that this confession would be the rock that the Church would be built upon.
We will go through the new testament primarily and then also include some old testament scriptures to supplement them. I hope ypu enjoy and are blessed!
Matthew 3:16-17 (KJV)
16And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:17And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
This is the first instance in Matthew that we see a direct reference to Jehoshua being the Son of God. It is fitting that it is in connection with His baptism. The first witness to Jehoshua being the Son of God is the Father Himself. This one verse alone should be enough to convince us of the Messiah's true identity. The Father only spoke audibly three times, twice affriming Jehoshua's Sonship. While many argue on the type of Son Jehoshua was/is, as we go along in the scriptures we will get the undeniable truth. The arguments range from an adopted Son denying pre existence, begotten Son denying pre existence, enternally generated Son always existing, metaphorical Son taking on a role but in reality Almighty God either by way of Tri theism, Binitarianism or onesness pentecostalism, a created Son pre existent or finally a begotten Son pre existent.
As I said, we will find out soon what the testimony of scripture says in regards to the type of Son Jehoshua was/is.
Matthew 4:3-4 (KJV)
3And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.4But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Sadly many today are doing the same work as Satan and tempting Jehoshua about His Sonship. They refuse to believe that He is indeed the Son of God and at times even mock the idea of Jehoshua being begotten from the Father's substance. Satan knew the Messiah's true identity but thought he could put doubt in His mind. Notice though what the Messiah says in response to the tempter:
"Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God"
We just saw in Matthew 3 what came out of the mouth of God after the Messiah's baptism:
"This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased"
Jehoshua is telling us that we need to go strictly by His Father's word. The word of God the Father revealed to us Jehoshua's identity by calling Him His Son. Yet many today in Christendom deny this precious truth by ascribing the Sonship of Messiah to role playing or over spiritualizing it thereby making God's word of none effect. If Jehoshua said we are to live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God and God said that Jehoshua was His Son, why don't people simply just beleive it?
Enemies of the truth have corrupted the simplicity of the faith: Jude
4For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
The 4th century promoters of the trinity did this very thing in denying the only Lord God meaning that the Father was the one true Master God and they also denied the Lord Jehoshua Messiah as being a distinct being from the Father.
Going back to Matthew 4, we see the devil's persistence in tempting the Messiah in regards to His Sonship. Sounds like today's trinitarian and tri theists.
Matthew 4:5-7 (KJV)
5Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,6And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.7Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
Satan once again tempts Jehoshua regarding His Sonship and again Jehoshua replies by going to the written word. It is the same today brethren as Satan uses the doubters of Jehoshua's literal Sonship to tempt us to discard it in favor of their false version of the Messiah. Our response is quote the word of God like our Savior did in the wilderness. When these Sonship deniers of Christendom tempt us with their false doctrine in reality they are tempting Jehovah their God who Himself said "this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased".
Matthew 4:8-11 (KJV)
8Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;9And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.10Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.11Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
Boy that devil sure doesn't give up does he? Here he offers the kingdoms of this world to the Messiah if the Son of God will worship him. Again, Jehoshua's response is an appeal to the word of God:
"Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and Him only shalt thou serve"
Messiah is making reference that only the Father is to be worshipped supremely. This is a verse that refutes the trinitarian god doctrine. Jehoshua gives the enemy of truth the word of God and the proper object of supreme worship. Just like then, today's Pastor's and evangelists are offered the material blessings and comforts of this world if they will tow the Church line and doubt the Sonship of Messiah and deny the command to worship the Lord thy God only in order to support the man made Satan inspired trinity doctrine.
Only by denying the literal Sonship of Jehoshua and confessing the trinity god can you be allowed to buy and sell in the mainstream Churches of Christendom. Satan offers ministers the kingdoms of this world if they will only doubt the Sonship of Messiah. Once a Pastor or evangelist leaves the trinity doctrine they are essentially forfeiting their buying and selling rights in the market place of Christendom. Let's be like Jehoshua and tell them the word of God says to worship Jehovah thy God alone as the one true God (John 17:3).
Matthew 8:28-29 (KJV)
28And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.29And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?
Even the demons knew the identity of Jehoshua. Just like Satan, they knew that in identity Jehoshua was the Son of God. The devil and his demons don't address Jehoshua as "God the Son" or "Almighty God" but rather the "Son of God". Your pastors want you to believe that Jehoshua is the Almighty God rather than the Son of the Almighty God. Isn't sad that the devil and his demons have more accurate knowledge of who Jehoshua is in identity than do most of Christendom's clergy and their followers?
Matthew 11:25-27 (KJV)
25At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.26Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.27All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
Jehoshua's prayer above highlights His intimate relationship with His Father. He acknowledges His Father as the creator something many SDA Trinitarians deny. In verse 26 He calls God His Father and states that no one knows Him (Jehoshua) except His Father. Right here Jehoshua is making a distinction between how the Jews viewed themselves as adopted earthly sons and How He (Jehoshua) viewed Himself as Jehovah's divine Son.
In verse 27, again Jehoshua refers to God as His Father and states that all things are delivered unto Him by the Father. This denotes inheritance as being God's true Son Jehoshua is deserving of this. Jehoshua also makes a seperation between His Sonship and the Jews in that He states that only the Father knows Him and that only He knows the Father. The blessing is that the Son reveals to us the Father if He so chooses. Brethren, thankfully the Son of God has chosen to reveal the Father to us. We know this because we have been called to salvation and the Family of God. Jehoshua is the only conduit by which the Father can be revealed to man. This again makes a definite distinction between His Sonship and everyone elses as many try to ascertain Messiah's Sonship as just metaphorical or adoptive.
Matthew 12:50 (KJV)
50For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
Jehoshua makes a possesive statement about God referring to Him as "my Father". This denotes an intimacy beyond just a metaphorical or adoptive Sonship. Jehoshua's statement reveals a closeness He has with God that no one else has to that extent.
Matthew 14:31-32 (KJV)
31And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?32And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.33Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
In context, this is the Messiah walking on water and here He helps Peter out of the water. The subject here is one of faith and it's important to receive in your spirit what this text is really saying. Jehoshua tells Peter he is of little faith and asked rhetorically why he doubted that he could walk on water. Notice the reaction of the disciples in verse 33, they came and worshipped Jehoshua confessing that truthfully He is the Son of God. This text in verse 33 shows a couple things that should awaken trinitarians. The disciples worshipped Jehoshua as the Son of God not God Almighty.
The Greek word for worship is Proskuneo and it is used here for the homage that the disciples were giving to Jehoshua. This shows that worship can be given to someone other than the Father. It also shows that worship can be given to someone other than the eternal God. One of the fallible arguments used by trinitarians is that Jehoshua must be God Almighty because He is worshipped, however the disciples did not worship Him as such but rather they worshipped Him due to being the Son of God Almighty. There is nothing written in the text that the disciples understood Jehoshua to be one part of a trinity god so there worship of Him was not as part of a trinity.
The disciples knew that Jehoshua was God's divine Son and they expressed their faith in this truth verbally. They knew that Jehoshua being the Son of God gave Him the right to be worshipped. They didn't get into a religious theological debate that only God canbe worshipped so that must mean Jehoshua is God or part of a trinity. They didn't debate the meaning of deity or co eternal or co equal, they simply worshipped Jehoshua as the Son of God. They didn't confess Jehoshua as God in the sense of being the eternal God but rather God's Son. For the disciples this was enough to render worship to Jehoshua.
Today's Christian's can learn a lot from this incident in the sea. It was Peter's lack of faith that made him sink. After Jehoshua rescued him, the disciples were convinced even more that Jehoshua was the Son of God. Perhaps a leaven of doubt entered Peter's mind about Jehoshua's Sonship and thereby he didn't think the Messiah could sustain him walking on water. Today's Christian's have far more doubt than Peter did about the identity of Jehoshua. Perhaps if they were in a similar situation they would also sink because they already doubt Jehoshua's Sonship because they have over thought the plain statements in scripture and refuse to believe that Jehoshua is indeed the begotten Son of God.
They have convinced themselves that Jehoshua was just playing a role as God's Son and is really God Almighty Himself. Their professors and Pastor's have put this doubt in their minds and they have trusted these fallible men rather than the testimony of scripture. Modern day Sonship denying Christian's would sink in the sea if their faith in Messiah's Sonship was the measuring stick. Let's be like the disciples who recoginized the true Sonship of Messiah and worship Him as the Son of God. If we have this faith in our heart we can walk on water. Let's not be "oh thou of little faith".
Matthew 15:13 (KJV)
13But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.
Jehoshua makes a reference to God as His heavenly Father. You get a sense from reading the text that when Jehoshua says this that there is an intimacy He has with God that no one else has. There tone of the text suggests that God is Jehoshua's heavenly Father in a way that is different from everyone else.
Matthew 16:13-20 (KJV)
13When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?14And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.15He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?16And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.17And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.18And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.19And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.20Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.
The above passage of scripture is one of the most important and overlooked passages in the bible. The denominations have robbed the meaning of this passage and the implications have been devastating for the Churches of Christendom. Without a strong foundation a building will eventually crumble and remain no longer or it may not crumble but not have sufficient power to completely withstand heavy wind and earthquakes and thereby weaken.
This my friends is exactly what has happened to the Churches of Christendom. They have left the rock solid foundation of what the Church was supposed to stand on until the end of time. Let's analyze the text to see what I am talking about.
In verse 13, Jehoshua asks the disciples who men say that He (Jehoshua) is. This passage is key understanding the correct identity of Jehoshua. In fact, I believe along with the Fatjer's confession (Matthew 3:17) it is the most rock solid evidence of Jehoshua's true identity. In verse 14, the disciples answer with various speculations of men's opinions of Jehoshua's identity.
In verse 15, Jehoshua then directs the question to the disciples of who they think He (Jehoshua) is.
Verse 16, Peter gives what is one of the most powerful statement of faith's given in the bible. This is to be the eternal statement of faith for the Church of all generations and never to be changed by any man. Let's read Peter's statement of faith concerning Jehoshua:
" Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."
This confession by Peter along with the Father's In Matthew 3:17 should be enough to settle the issue once and for all the identity of Jehoshua. Of course man in his arrogance thinks he knows better than God and through vain satanic philosophy has formed for themselves another Jesus, which is not according to the plain statements of scripture.
We know a two things about Jehoshua's identity from the above apostolic confession:
1) He is the anointed one (Messiah) of Jehovah God.
2) He is the Son of the Living God Jehovah.
The Churches of Christendom got the first part right but even that has been confused. This is because they say that Jehoshua is Himself the Almighty God which would mean that He is the anointed one of Himself. Do you see the confusion that the trinity doctrine breeds?
The Churches have also attempted to turn Jehoshua into a double personality. On one hand, they say He took on the role of the Son and on the other hand, they say He is the Living God which in essence would mean He is the Son of Himself. Do you see how ridiculous the conclusions are that the trinity doctrine forces you to arrive at?
Today's pastors and theologians if they were alive to hear Peter's confession or if Peter was brought back to life, would tell him that technically he was wrong and that Jehoshua was really the living God. Man's heart is wicked beyond all understanding so let's instead go by what Jehoshua Himself said in verse 17 concerning Peter's confession:
" And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven."
Did you read that? Jehoshua completely affirmed Peter's statement of faith concerning His (Jehoshua's) identity. There was no rebuke, no philosophical rendering of Peter's statement, no over explanation of His statement but rather a straightforward affirmation. Jehoshua said His (possessive) Father revealed this truth to Peter. This means that Peter could have only confessed this if the Father revealed it to him by way of His Spirit. Today's Pastor's and theologians are saying the exact opposite of what Jehoshua said to Peter. Those who confess that Jehoshua is the literal Son of the Living God are being told that they are deceived by Satan. Oh how things have changed!!!
Jehoshua told Peter that his confession wasn't revealed to him by flesh and blood yet that's exactly what the trinitarians and tri theists say about us today who confess the true begotten Sonship of Messiah. We are told that we are thinking according to the flesh when we agree with Peter's statement of faith. The enemy has greatly deceived the Churches of Christendom in that they have allowed the philosophies of men to pollute their thinking and thereby cannot simply accept the plain statements of scripture. This is the poison of Catholicism and Protestantism which have interwoven pagan Greek philosophy into the purity and simplicity of the apostolic doctrine.
The truth is actually the exact opposite of what the Pastor's and theologians of Christendom say. Those of us who beleive in One true God and His literal begotten Son have been revealed this by our Heavenly Father Jehovah. Those who explain away the Sonship of Messiah by saying it was a role he took on (tri theism) or that He is also the Living God in addition to being an eternally generated Son (trinitarianism) have been revealed these lies by their own flesh and blood and not by the Heavenly Father Jehovah. Thankfully the Father is restoring in a big way the precious truth of Peter's confession in these last days as His Son is coming back for a spotless Church not one embued with man made pagan philosophy of trinitarianism and tri theism.
Let's go back to the text in Matthew 16, in verse 18 we see another powerful statement from our Messiah:
" And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
Clearly Jehoshua is not saying that the Church will be built upon Peter but rather upon Peter's confession of His (Jehoshua's) Messiahship and Sonship. There are two different Greek word's for rock used here in verse 18. In reference to Peter's name which in Greek means rock (petros) it describes "a piece of rock" (Strongs 4074) whereas in reference to the word "rock" used by Messiah "upon this rock" (petras) it means "a mass of rock" (Strongs 4073). Peter is a piece of rock, as all of us in the faith are a piece of rock that are part of the building i.e. the Church. However, Jehoshua is a mass of rock who is the chief cornerstone of the building. He is the mass of rock made without hands taken out (begotten) from the mountain which is the Father.
Now that we have that clear, let's look at what the Messiah says concerning the Rock (Himself). Jehoshua says that He will build His Church based on the truth of Peter's statement of faith that He (Jehoshua) is the anointed one of Jehovah and the Son of Jehovah who is the living God. The Church was always supposed to build according to Jehoshua's blue print not according to the blue print of any Church Father, Catholic Pope or any Protestant reformer. The Church was always supposed to be built on the truth that Jehoshua is the Son of the Living God not a trinitarian or tri theistic version of Jesus.
There is a growing number of believers who are returning to the blue print that Jehoshua established which is the blue print founded and rooted in His true begotten Sonship. This my friends is the Church that will go through, this my friends is the ark of safety. Don't let anyone deceive you! Any denomination that is not rooted in the literal Sonship of Jehoshua is going to be overcome by the gates of hell and infact they already are.
Jehoshua clearly said that the Church that He builds and only those who believe in His literal Sonship are part of this Church, will never be overcome by the gates of hell. Now brethren, isn't that comforting? In a world of uncertainty, this is something that is better than gold and it is something we can take to the bank in a manner of speaking. They say diamonds are forever but I say Jehoshua's Church that is built on His true begotten Sonship is forever. However it's not what I say that matters but rather what Jehoshua says and He indeed did say it.
This is why brethren in these end times that we leave the false Churches of Christendom that deny Jehoshua's true begotten Sonship, because they are not built on the rock of Peter's apostolic statement of faith. Jehoshua said that the only Church that would endure to the end and not be overcome by the gates of hell is the Church built on His literal Sonship. The opposite is then true, any Church not built on the foundation of Jehoshua's literal Sonship will be overcome by the gates of hell and as said before they already are and have been for awhile. The proof is in their filthy apostasy evidenced by their acceptance of women pastors, inclusion of Sodomites into their assemblies, supporting government sponsored wars and ecumeniscism with the Catholic church and United Nations.
Jehovah's true Church stays away from all that wickedness and madness. This is because His Church is built on the solid foundation of the Sonship of Jehoshua and not a trinitarian or tri theistic god.
Let's go to verse 19 now:
" And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
The plain fact is that Jehoshua gave the right to His Church that He builds the authority to judge all matters concerning the Church. See Matthew 18 and 1 Corinthians 5 for more on this as well as read Peter's epistles.
This doesn't mean that the Church has authority to add or subtract from Jehovah's word but rather enforce it through Church discipline if needed. However, only one Church has this authority granted to them by Jehoshua and that is the Church that is rooted in the belief that He (Jehoshua) is truly the Son of the Living God in identity. The implications of this are fascinating brethren. This means that the denominations built on the trinity and tri theistic doctrines have absolutely no scriptural authority whatsoever!! This includes the Seventh day Adventist General Conference.
This is because the trinitarian and tri theists denominations deny the literal Sonship of Jehoshua. This is why I dont beleive we as non trinitarians should attend these Churches unless we get invited to present our view of the One true God and His Son. We should have our own Church fellowships. The authority granted by Messiah to the Church is strictly for the Church that wholeheartedly without explanation agrees with Peter's confession and is built on the foundation of Jehoshua's literal Sonship.
Verse 20:
" Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ."
Just as it was then it is now, Jehoshua knew that the religious leaders of that time were hard hearted and waxed cold and that they wouldn't accept the truth of His literal begotten Sonship. It's the same way today as most trinitarians and tri theists especially the Church leaders have waxed cold in their hearts to what scripture says about the begotten Son. This is why often we are careful in who we present this truth to because like the days of old, the denominatonal religious leaders of today have hardened their hearts to bible truth that Jehoshua truly is the Son of the Living God in identity.
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