The Messenger of the New Covenant
The gospel of the Kingdom of God is of the greatest importance, otherwise Yahshua would not have spent most of His time preaching it! Yahshua declared “Yahweh hath anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent Me to heal the broken hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised." (Luke 4:18) In fact, He also said "I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent" (Luke 4:43)
Let’s stop and think about what Yahshua is saying here. The reason He was sent was to “preach the gospel” and “proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God”. To make this even clearer, Yahweh had foretold through the prophet Malachi "Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith Yahweh of hosts. (Mal 3:1)
Understanding this is of vital importance. The “good news of the kingdom of God” and the message that Yahweh was establishing the new covenant as prophesied through the prophet Malachi were one and the same. The establishment of the new covenant which can also be translated “new testament” was the good news! However, this “new covenant” which was to bring new hope and salvation to many could only come with the shedding of blood. The blood of Yahshua.
“And as they were eating, Yahshua took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (Matt 26:26-28)
While understanding His message is vital, we must also consider to whom He was sent to convey it. Yahshua answers this Himself by stating “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matt 15:24) and He would later command His apostles to “Go not into the way of the nations, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matt 10:5-7)
Indeed Israel was lost and their position had long appeared to be utterly hopeless, having been rejected and devoiced by Yahweh for their continuous disobedience and adultery. However, Yahweh had not forgotten them:
“I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” (Rom 11:1-2, 25-29)
Israel’s punishment and rejection would not be permanent, for Yahweh had chosen them from the beginning for a special purpose and the many promises He had made to Israel would enable them to fulfil His plans and purposes and in doing so bless them and all nations. These “gifts and calling of God are without repentance” and He would keep all His promises. While their blindness was part of Yahweh’s plan, He would in time send the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob” for the covenant He was making with Israel “shall take away their sins”.
In fact, when Yahshua hung on the tree, His precious blood was shed for the people, nation and descendants of Israel and those who would also believe because “one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not” (John 11:50). For the great covenant God had made with Abraham in the beginning required such a sacrifice and redemption.
As we will look at later in more detail, the prophet Jeremiah had foretold God would make a “new covenant with the house of Israel” and “put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people”. Yahshua, being the “messenger of the covenant” was announcing that Yahweh had not abandoned Israel, but would still use them to carry out His plans and purpose. Enabling them all one day to keep His laws and therefore be able to experience His true freedom, liberty, justice, peace and prosperity on the earth as He had intended from the beginning.
This is clearly shown in the New Covenant made with Israel and Judah which was spoken of by Paul in Hebrews in which he quotes from Jeremiah “But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.” (Heb 8:6)
“For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.” (Heb 8:7-13)
The New Covenant provided the means of reconciliation. Israel had sinned and turned away from Yahweh and as such He had devoiced them, however His love would find a way. The Son would take it take it upon Himself, being born of Abraham’s seed, being tested in every way by the devil and yet remained sinless and perfect. As the spotless Lamb of God He offered Himself upon the tree as the substitute for fallen, devoiced and rejected Israel and sinful man. He took the penalty upon Himself.
“Let Israel hope in Yahweh: for with Yahweh there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption. And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.” (Psa 130:7-8)
“But now thus saith Yahweh that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am Yahweh thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour” (Isa 43:1-3)
“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.” (Gal 4:4-6)
“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; The oath which he sware to our father Abraham…” (Luke 1:68-73)
We may brush aside these scriptures as being unimportant, but they are the Word of Yahweh and vital to His plan. His primary message is to Israel whom He will never abandon.
Of course, national redemption doesn’t mean individual salvation. As it is the responsibility of the nation to get right with Yahweh, so it is with the individual. Salvation can only be realised by us personally turning to Yahweh in repentance and believing Him who was sent.
For more answers continue reading:
What is True Redemption?
Keywords: british, israel, repent, believe, faith, god, yahweh, yahshua, jesus, gospel, kingdom, truth, true, Anglo, Saxon, Celts, Celtic, Israelites, Britain, america, covenant, good, news, new, canada, australia, new zealand
Let’s stop and think about what Yahshua is saying here. The reason He was sent was to “preach the gospel” and “proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God”. To make this even clearer, Yahweh had foretold through the prophet Malachi "Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith Yahweh of hosts. (Mal 3:1)
Understanding this is of vital importance. The “good news of the kingdom of God” and the message that Yahweh was establishing the new covenant as prophesied through the prophet Malachi were one and the same. The establishment of the new covenant which can also be translated “new testament” was the good news! However, this “new covenant” which was to bring new hope and salvation to many could only come with the shedding of blood. The blood of Yahshua.
“And as they were eating, Yahshua took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (Matt 26:26-28)
While understanding His message is vital, we must also consider to whom He was sent to convey it. Yahshua answers this Himself by stating “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matt 15:24) and He would later command His apostles to “Go not into the way of the nations, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matt 10:5-7)
Indeed Israel was lost and their position had long appeared to be utterly hopeless, having been rejected and devoiced by Yahweh for their continuous disobedience and adultery. However, Yahweh had not forgotten them:
“I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” (Rom 11:1-2, 25-29)
Israel’s punishment and rejection would not be permanent, for Yahweh had chosen them from the beginning for a special purpose and the many promises He had made to Israel would enable them to fulfil His plans and purposes and in doing so bless them and all nations. These “gifts and calling of God are without repentance” and He would keep all His promises. While their blindness was part of Yahweh’s plan, He would in time send the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob” for the covenant He was making with Israel “shall take away their sins”.
In fact, when Yahshua hung on the tree, His precious blood was shed for the people, nation and descendants of Israel and those who would also believe because “one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not” (John 11:50). For the great covenant God had made with Abraham in the beginning required such a sacrifice and redemption.
As we will look at later in more detail, the prophet Jeremiah had foretold God would make a “new covenant with the house of Israel” and “put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people”. Yahshua, being the “messenger of the covenant” was announcing that Yahweh had not abandoned Israel, but would still use them to carry out His plans and purpose. Enabling them all one day to keep His laws and therefore be able to experience His true freedom, liberty, justice, peace and prosperity on the earth as He had intended from the beginning.
This is clearly shown in the New Covenant made with Israel and Judah which was spoken of by Paul in Hebrews in which he quotes from Jeremiah “But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.” (Heb 8:6)
“For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.” (Heb 8:7-13)
The New Covenant provided the means of reconciliation. Israel had sinned and turned away from Yahweh and as such He had devoiced them, however His love would find a way. The Son would take it take it upon Himself, being born of Abraham’s seed, being tested in every way by the devil and yet remained sinless and perfect. As the spotless Lamb of God He offered Himself upon the tree as the substitute for fallen, devoiced and rejected Israel and sinful man. He took the penalty upon Himself.
“Let Israel hope in Yahweh: for with Yahweh there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption. And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.” (Psa 130:7-8)
“But now thus saith Yahweh that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am Yahweh thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour” (Isa 43:1-3)
“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.” (Gal 4:4-6)
“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; The oath which he sware to our father Abraham…” (Luke 1:68-73)
We may brush aside these scriptures as being unimportant, but they are the Word of Yahweh and vital to His plan. His primary message is to Israel whom He will never abandon.
Of course, national redemption doesn’t mean individual salvation. As it is the responsibility of the nation to get right with Yahweh, so it is with the individual. Salvation can only be realised by us personally turning to Yahweh in repentance and believing Him who was sent.
For more answers continue reading:
What is True Redemption?
Keywords: british, israel, repent, believe, faith, god, yahweh, yahshua, jesus, gospel, kingdom, truth, true, Anglo, Saxon, Celts, Celtic, Israelites, Britain, america, covenant, good, news, new, canada, australia, new zealand