3.1.26 – He's Finishing His Work

One of the greatest challenges that we face—speaking of me, myself, and I—is drawing dogmatic conclusions from partial information. Consequently, some have concluded that the cross ended it all when Yeshua said, "It is finished" (John 19:30).

No doubt, He finished what He set out to do: seeking out the "lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matt. 10:5–6). He came to a people who were under the curse of the marriage-divorce law (Deut. 24:1–4). And because Israel (the lost ten tribes) had remarried foreign gods, it was impossible for them to come back into covenant relationship with their first husband, Yahweh Elohim (Deut. 24:1–4; Jer. 31:32). Hence, Yeshua (Matt. 1:21), the Son of God (John 3:16), the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Col. 2:9), the Word made flesh (John 1:14), took upon Himself the curse that Israel was under (Gal. 3:13), gave up His life for those who rejected Him (Rom. 5:8), dying in the physical realm for a physical bride. He was raised from the dead as a new man, which provided the means for the lost sheep of the house of Israel to be grafted into the olive tree (Rom. 7:1–4). Yes, the cross finished it all! But that is not all!

Yeshua has finished the prophetic role of His ministry. Now He lives to intercede for us (Heb. 7:25) in order that what we have been called to, we will not fall short of obtaining it (Heb. 3:12; 4:1). The decision to accept Yeshua was not very difficult for most (Eph. 2:8–9). Just as the trauma of giving birth to a child is quickly forgotten, the real challenge comes in rearing that child into maturity (Gen. 3:16; Gal. 4:19; 1 John 2:12–14).

Yeshua's work on the cross is the means by which the olive tree is experienced by all twelve tribes and beyond. Every believer is experiencing growing pains, and we are longing and groaning for the day when the manifestation of the "sons of God" will take place on the day our bodies are redeemed (Rom. 8:14, 19–25). Through His death, burial, and resurrection, we have been given the Holy Spirit as a down payment (Eph. 1:13–14) for the inheritance (Eph. 1:13–14), the Spirit of adoption (Rom. 8:15), that is reserved in heaven for you who are kept by the power of God unto the salvation that will be revealed in the last days (1 Pet. 1:3–9). This sealing that we have been given is not just a past event; it is for the future day of redemption (Eph. 4:30), manifested when we see Yeshua coming back in the clouds with power and great glory (Luke 21:26–27).

Going back a long time in our studies, that is the beauty of the book of Ruth! Ruth presents a wonderful truth: that the grafted-in Gentiles cannot experience redemption until the Jewish nation does (Rom. 11:15). Ruth's marriage only takes place at the time Naomi's property is redeemed. It is when Obed is born that both Ruth and Naomi experience resurrection at the same time. Ruth and Naomi gain their inheritance at the same time. There is no distinction. This is what Paul was referring to when he said there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile, for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him (Rom. 10:12)! Yeshua is the one and only who could break down the barrier between the two divided peoples and bring them together as one new man (Eph. 2:14–15).

The law, if not satisfied through the death of the first husband, would have kept anyone divorced and remarried from the previous covenant from entering into this new/renewed covenant where there is a better priesthood and where the Torah is written on individuals' hearts (Jer. 31:31–34; Heb. 8:8–13; 12:24). Consequently, through the death and resurrection of Messiah, sin (transgressing the Torah) was condemned in the flesh, so that the righteousness of the law/Torah might be fulfilled in those who live by the Spirit (Rom. 8:2–3).

Those in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17) have experienced deliverance from death to life—from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light (Col. 1:13). We have been placed into the family of God (Rom. 8:13) and have been given the Spirit to lead us into all truth (John 14:17; 16:13), which is the Torah/instructions (Ps. 25:10; 119:142, 151).

Currently, each of us in Messiah has Yeshua interceding for us as our High Priest (Heb. 4:14–16). He knows your pain, heartache, and victory! He is calling you to intimacy. He is calling you to receive the prize of the high calling (Phil. 3:12–14). He is calling out those who will endure to the end (Matt. 24:5). We have the Spirit interceding when things are tough (Rom. 8:26–27). We have Yeshua interceding for us (Rom. 8:34), leading us boldly to the throne of God, where He is definitely for you (Rom. 8:31)!

He wants you to know He is for you and not against you. He wants you to make decisions to follow Him clearly and distinctly! He wants you to endure and overcome and be crowned! He wants you to fulfill your calling, and all of heaven is pulling for you to live out the victory!

Yeshua finished His prophetic role when He gave up His life for the lost sheep of the house of Israel (John 10:10–11). He is living out His role as our High Priest, interceding for your growth and victory to apprehend what you are being apprehended for (Phil. 3:11–13). One day He is going to come again as King of kings and Lord of lords and reward every man according to his works (Rev. 17:14; 19:16; Matt. 16:24–28; Rev. 22:12). And now, as we saw in yesterday's Zoom call, we are being called to be a kingdom of kings and priests (Rev. 5:10), a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a chosen generation (Ex. 19:3–6; 1 Pet. 2:5–8)! 

Enjoy walking with Him! Fill up with the beauty of His presence so we can move as one with Him—for He will not share His glory with someone who is different from Him (Isa. 48:11). He wants to share, and He wants you as His covenant partner, completed in Him (Phil. 2:12–13)!

Happy pre-Purim season!

Shalom,
Alan

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