Daily Bible Portion (Saturday)
Daily Bible Portion - 7 of 7
"GET YOURSELF OUT"
(Weekly Reading>>Genesis 12:1-17:27, Isaiah 40:27-41:16, Romans 3:19-5:6)
In Paul’s day there were also many believers being grafted into Israel who had not walked after their circumcision/sanctification. In other words those who received salvation (Olam Haba/heavenly nature) were still walking in their old sinful nature (Olam Hazeh). They had access to the Tree of Life but were still eating off the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Now, they were coming under the conviction of the Holy Spirit/Ruach HaKodesh, which caused many to repent, return and walk in obedience back to Yeshua and His Torah principles.
In Scripture these people are referred to as the uncircumcised, which gives the impression that they were gentiles (Definition of Gentile: one who is a pagan, confused and without God), but in actuality they were not gentile/pagans, as the Greek interpretation of the word akrobustia infers. Looking at the actual meaning of the word akrobustia (Strong’s #G203), defines a repentant returning believer, one who had previously been circumcised (born again) but discarded his birthright, tossing it away through disobedience to Yahweh’s lifestyle (representing the House of Israel/Northern Kingdom) but now returning to God and His Kingdom ways through repentance. A person called akrobustia, before returning to Israel’s Yahweh, was considered by the Jews to be as one who behaved like the uncircumcised pagans and derogatorily were called “gentiles.” Yes, their behavior was very much like that, BUT when a believer repents, they are fully restored, no longer to be called a stranger, pagan or gentile.
The akrobustia are truly Abraham’s seed. That is why Paul gave them the special designation akrobustia to distinguish them as the repentant, returning believer versus a pagan/gentile - one who was not part of the Abrahamic Covenant.
Paul was correctly teaching and interpreting the Torah by using Abraham as an example. Judah had been entrusted to safeguard the existence of the Torah, the very Words of Yahweh. Paul was saying that the circumcised ones (House of Judah, the Jews) and the uncircumcised/akrobustia (House of Israel, the other eleven tribes) must obey “the Spirit of Torah.” Both must circumcise their hearts in order to obey the Spirit of Torah/Yeshua. Even though Judah was already circumcised in the flesh, the inward circumcision of the heart applied to them as much as it did to the physically uncircumcised (House of Israel/Ephraim).
The commandment to not eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil still stood. None were exempt from this fundamental truth. The Covenant was and is a matter of the heart first (Hebrews 8:8-10).
Physical circumcision was not an issue with Paul and it should not be with us either as Paul helps explain this through his two students/talmidim: Timothy and Titus. These men are great examples of the works of the law in action:
•Timothy was circumcised as an adult to complete his Jewish heritage (Acts 16:1-3).
•Titus was not circumcised after he came to faith as an Israelite (House of Ephraim/the nations) (Galatians 2:3).
Both men were correct according to Paul. Both men were elders in the assembly of believers; both men were Paul’s top advisors and taught believers in all church/synagogues; but more importantly both men, one circumcised and one not, were both present at all Feast days, including the Passover (Acts 16:1-3; Galatians 2:3).
The hope of ALL Israel, all twelve tribes, the Two Houses of Israel is that of reuniting and become one in the Father’s hand (Romans 9:24; Acts 26:7; Ezekiel 37:15-27).
Sarai Becomes Sarah
(Genesis 17: 15-22)
Yahweh established Sarai, along with Abraham, in the Covenant. As Abram’s name was changed to Abraham, Sarai too received the new name of Sarah. Abraham and Sarah both received Yahweh’s indwelling characteristics. The Hebrew letter ה/hei represents Yahweh’s Breath of Life; Abraham and Sarah were infused with the Spirit of the Holy One of Israel - Yeshua. For all who partake and walk in the Covenant of Abraham, their generations inherit redemption and resurrected life leading back to the Garden (1 Peter 1:9-11).
At this time Yahweh re-established Sarah’s identity and confirmed that she would have a son at the same time the next year. Abraham fell on his face in reverence and laughed when the promise was announced to him again. He reminded Yahweh that his flesh would be a hundred years old and Sarah’s body ninety! But Yahweh continued, sharing his blessings for Sarah, that she would bear a son and that his name would be called Isaac, meaning “He Laughs”! Yahweh confirmed that the Covenant would be passed on to Isaac, the only son of the promise.
Yahweh also remembered Ishmael: Ishmael would be a great nation of people and he would be the father of twelve rulers. Yahweh gave Ishmael an inheritance but made it very clear that only Isaac was the promised son of the Covenant and received the blessings attached to it, not Ishmael.
continues tomorrow...
"GET YOURSELF OUT"
(Weekly Reading>>Genesis 12:1-17:27, Isaiah 40:27-41:16, Romans 3:19-5:6)
In Paul’s day there were also many believers being grafted into Israel who had not walked after their circumcision/sanctification. In other words those who received salvation (Olam Haba/heavenly nature) were still walking in their old sinful nature (Olam Hazeh). They had access to the Tree of Life but were still eating off the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Now, they were coming under the conviction of the Holy Spirit/Ruach HaKodesh, which caused many to repent, return and walk in obedience back to Yeshua and His Torah principles.
In Scripture these people are referred to as the uncircumcised, which gives the impression that they were gentiles (Definition of Gentile: one who is a pagan, confused and without God), but in actuality they were not gentile/pagans, as the Greek interpretation of the word akrobustia infers. Looking at the actual meaning of the word akrobustia (Strong’s #G203), defines a repentant returning believer, one who had previously been circumcised (born again) but discarded his birthright, tossing it away through disobedience to Yahweh’s lifestyle (representing the House of Israel/Northern Kingdom) but now returning to God and His Kingdom ways through repentance. A person called akrobustia, before returning to Israel’s Yahweh, was considered by the Jews to be as one who behaved like the uncircumcised pagans and derogatorily were called “gentiles.” Yes, their behavior was very much like that, BUT when a believer repents, they are fully restored, no longer to be called a stranger, pagan or gentile.
The akrobustia are truly Abraham’s seed. That is why Paul gave them the special designation akrobustia to distinguish them as the repentant, returning believer versus a pagan/gentile - one who was not part of the Abrahamic Covenant.
Paul was correctly teaching and interpreting the Torah by using Abraham as an example. Judah had been entrusted to safeguard the existence of the Torah, the very Words of Yahweh. Paul was saying that the circumcised ones (House of Judah, the Jews) and the uncircumcised/akrobustia (House of Israel, the other eleven tribes) must obey “the Spirit of Torah.” Both must circumcise their hearts in order to obey the Spirit of Torah/Yeshua. Even though Judah was already circumcised in the flesh, the inward circumcision of the heart applied to them as much as it did to the physically uncircumcised (House of Israel/Ephraim).
The commandment to not eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil still stood. None were exempt from this fundamental truth. The Covenant was and is a matter of the heart first (Hebrews 8:8-10).
“Abraham received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness that he had [received] by faith while he was still UNCIRCUMCISED” (Romans 4:11).
Romans 4:9-12 “Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised [akrobustia] also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised [akrobustia]? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised [akrobustia]. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised [akrobustia], that he might be the father of ALL those who believe [circumcised in the heart], though they are uncircumcised [in the flesh], that righteousness might be imputed to them also, and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised [of flesh akrobustia].”
Physical circumcision was not an issue with Paul and it should not be with us either as Paul helps explain this through his two students/talmidim: Timothy and Titus. These men are great examples of the works of the law in action:
•Timothy was circumcised as an adult to complete his Jewish heritage (Acts 16:1-3).
•Titus was not circumcised after he came to faith as an Israelite (House of Ephraim/the nations) (Galatians 2:3).
Both men were correct according to Paul. Both men were elders in the assembly of believers; both men were Paul’s top advisors and taught believers in all church/synagogues; but more importantly both men, one circumcised and one not, were both present at all Feast days, including the Passover (Acts 16:1-3; Galatians 2:3).
“To this promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night and day, hope to attain” (Act 26:7).
The hope of ALL Israel, all twelve tribes, the Two Houses of Israel is that of reuniting and become one in the Father’s hand (Romans 9:24; Acts 26:7; Ezekiel 37:15-27).
Sarai Becomes Sarah
(Genesis 17: 15-22)
Yahweh established Sarai, along with Abraham, in the Covenant. As Abram’s name was changed to Abraham, Sarai too received the new name of Sarah. Abraham and Sarah both received Yahweh’s indwelling characteristics. The Hebrew letter ה/hei represents Yahweh’s Breath of Life; Abraham and Sarah were infused with the Spirit of the Holy One of Israel - Yeshua. For all who partake and walk in the Covenant of Abraham, their generations inherit redemption and resurrected life leading back to the Garden (1 Peter 1:9-11).
Galatians 3:29 “If you belong to, Messiah, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.”
At this time Yahweh re-established Sarah’s identity and confirmed that she would have a son at the same time the next year. Abraham fell on his face in reverence and laughed when the promise was announced to him again. He reminded Yahweh that his flesh would be a hundred years old and Sarah’s body ninety! But Yahweh continued, sharing his blessings for Sarah, that she would bear a son and that his name would be called Isaac, meaning “He Laughs”! Yahweh confirmed that the Covenant would be passed on to Isaac, the only son of the promise.
Yahweh also remembered Ishmael: Ishmael would be a great nation of people and he would be the father of twelve rulers. Yahweh gave Ishmael an inheritance but made it very clear that only Isaac was the promised son of the Covenant and received the blessings attached to it, not Ishmael.
“But the Covenant I Will Establish With Isaac, Whom Sarah Will Bear To You by This Time Next Year” (Genesis 17:15-16)
Genesis 17:23-27 “That very day Abraham took his son Ishmael and all those born in his household or bought with money, every male in his household, and circumcised them. Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised and his son Ishmael was thirteen.”
continues tomorrow...