GOD PREPARED HIMSELF A BODY

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"For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices, which they offered year by year continually, make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it was not possible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins.

Wherefore when He cometh into the world, He said: Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared for me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sins, thou hast had no pleasure.

Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will O God. Above when he said: Sacrifice and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law: Then said he: Lo, I come to do thy will O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which are we sanctified through the offering of the body of Yeshua haMashiach/Jesus Christ once for all." (Hebrews 10:5)

For hundreds of years, God prophesied Messiah's coming in the mouthes of His holy prophets. This "epiphany" of the "Light of the World;" was the very apex or focal point of God's entire plan, or LOGOS. In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the word was God. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was on the face of the deep.

God spoke and said: "Let there be light, and there was light." (Genesis 1:1-3) When God created mankind, the man and woman were clothed in a garment of light. They lived in the shekinah gory of God, dwelling in the presence of the Almighty, who existed from everlasting to everlasting. They were made in His image, and they were immortal. When passed on man-kind because of sin, the "shadow of ," spread a dark wing over God's creation.

"When the fulness of time was come, God sent forth His Son made of a woman, made under the law that He might redeem that that were under the law." (Galatians 4:4)

The sacrificial system offered to man a means by which to approach God through the blood of the slain animal, offered as an atonement for sin. God carefully laid out the pattern needed, in the Mosaic law. In every detail it prefigured Messiah haMashiach. It was not Messiah. But in it's sacrifices and rituals, it "resembled Him," like the "shadow of a thing" that was cast by the image.

These were prophetic pictures if you will of God's Messiah, yet unborn. Not yet incarnated in flesh and blood. The entire mosaic economy was a "passing shadow" the writer of Hebrews tells us. The term "shadow"refers to a rough outline, as an artist draws his preliminary sketch. In this there is a semblance of the finished product, but it is not yet the finished product. For that is yet to come.

This "sketch," as reasonable a facimile as may be drawn, nonetheless is not the "very image" of the thing. The idea is conveyed in the root word of the "faintness of the copy," and that it was made to resemble the final thing, as a blue-print does a building. The phrase "good things to come," in Hebrews 10:1, refers to those future blessings that under the old covenant would be conferred upon mankind when they came into the gospel.

"Which are a shadow of things to come, but the body is of Yeshua haMashiach/Christ. (Colossians 2:17)

THE INSUFFICIENCY OF THE MOSAIC COVENANT

...Never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually, (could) make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins."

The sacrifices which are referred to here, are those offered once a year on the "Day of Atonement," for it was here, that Aaron went once a year. Aaron went wearing the holy "garments of glory," commanded by God.

As High Priest, the priestly apparel that he wore was entirely of white. It consisted of a white linen coat, white linen breeches, he was clothed with a white linen girdle, and he wore a crown or mitre of white linen upon his head. All of this, in type or symbol was the antithesis of the "shadow of " that sin brought between God and His fallen creation, for it speaks of the "righteousness of Yeshua haMashiach/Jesus Christ, which could truly only come through the blood of God's spotless Lamb, slain once for all in the LOGOS or plan of God; for the sins of all mankind from the foundation of the world.

The LOGOS was always in God's heart. But until the fulness of time came, the Mosaic Law enacted what the scriptures themselves foretold. He took a young bullock for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering; and placed blood on the horns of the altar. (Leviticus 16, Lev. 23:26-32, Exodus 30:10, Num. 29:7-11)

SIN CREATES SIN CONSCIOUSNESS:

"The worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins..." (Hebrews 10:2

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water."(Hebrews 10:22)

...The like figure whereunto baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth o the flesh) but the answer of a good conscience toward God, by the resurrection of Yeshua haMashiach/Jesus Christ: who is gone into heaven,and is on the right hand of God;angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto Him."(I Peter 3:21)

Vines Expository Dictionary defines the word "conscience" in this way:

SUNEIDESIS: Literally "A knowing with. SUN="with, and OIDA="know." The witness borne of one's conduct by conscience, that faculty by which we apprehend the will of God as that wich is designed to govern our lives; hence a "guiltiness before God." (Hebrews 10:2)

That process of thought which distinguishes what it considers morally good or bad, commending the good, condemning the bad, and so prompting to d the former, and avoid the latter. (Romans 2:15) (Bearing witness with God's law; 9:1; 2 Cor. 1:12) Acting in a certain way because conscience requires it. (Romans 13:5) so as not to cause scruples of conscience in another.

There may be a conscience not strong enough to distinguish clearly between the lawful and the unlawful. (I Corinthians 8:7, 10, 12)

Definition of sin: Sin is the transgression of the Law. (I John 3:4) To miss the mark. An act of disobedience (toward God and His laws. ) Lawlessness.

GOD PREPARED HIMSELF A BODY

"Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."

For unto us a child is born, and unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this." (Isaiah 9:6-7)

This concept of Messiah is outlined by the Prophet Isaiah, in chapters 40-66. Isaiah saw his own mission as futile at times, but the prophet prophesied that One was coming who would "prevail." (Isaiah chapters 49-53) The 53rd chapter (verse 5) fore-tells that He will prevail by taking upon Himself the penalty for the sins, as he is made the "sin-offering."

Secondarily, and only after having totally surrendered to the will of His Heavenly Father, does Messiah become the conquering King, and Mighty Victor; triumphing over all His foes.

He shall see the travail of his soul and be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because hw has poured out his soul unto : and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sins of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." (Isaiah 53:11-12)

This phrase regarding "dividing the spoil" is particularly interesting, as it occurs in the prophecy to the tribe of Benjamin, whose courage on the battlefield, speaks or testifies in symbol, of Messiah and of all those found "in Christ" through the new birth. (Acts 2:38, Acts 8:16, Acts 10:46-48, Acts 19:5) See "The Benjamin Company."

Various verses of scripture proclaim the deity of Messiah, and

state that in Yeshua/Jesus all the fulness of the Godhead was manifested in bodily form. John 1:14, Phil.2:5-8, Colossians 1:18, Colossians 2:9, Hebrews 2:14.

The angel of the Lord reminded Joseph, as he spoke to him in a dream that the prophet Isaiah predicted that God would "prepare Himself a body" in the very person of Messiah/Yeshua haMashiach, hundreds of years before this took place. The intrinsic reason for his coming to earth in this way was fore-told: For he shall save His people from their sins. And again, his name Yeshua declared God's purpose, for it means: Yahweh is salvation.

This linking of the old covenant name or ha Shem of God, with that of the new covenant is very important, for although the covenants are different, the old and new covenants are both based upon the revealed covenant keeping name of the Lord. In the Old Testament, covenant was kept through the blood of the Mosaic sacrificial system, between Yahweh and His people Israel. The blood sacrifices were lambs, he-goats, meal offerings, and even turtle doves. Each in it's own way pointed to Messiah, by illustrating aspects of the redemption story, which being enacted in symbolic form under the Old Covenant, was still yet to be fulfilled in Messiah Himself, whose sinless atonement would not merely cover sins, but remove them.

In the new covenant, the shed blood of Messiah himself, as the sinless Lamb of God, would be the redemption price to save His people from their sins. He would do this as the Son of the Most High God, declared the angel of the Lord to Joseph. But also as "the Seed" of Abraham," (singular) through the flesh. In Galatians 3:16, Apostle Paul draws a distinction between SEED singular and SEED plural, saying:

"Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds as of many, but as of One, and to thy seed, which is Messiah."

THE CHURCH AS THE ANOINTED BODY OF CHRIST

The Apostle Peter on the Day of Pentecost, preached from the prophecies of the Prophet Joel; concerning the restoration of what the locust and the canker worm have eaten. This speaks of our losses. But God wanted us to know first of all, that the root cause of these losses is because of sin. Jerusalem at this time was filled with people who had come to celebrate the feast of Sha Vu Ot. In Acts 2:38, Peter said: 1) Repent. 2) Be baptized every one of you in the name of Yeshua haMashiach for the remission of sins. 3) You will receive the gift of the Ruach haKodesh!" On that day, 3000 responded to the gospel message, concerning salvation through Yeshua! The Samaritans heard the same message. (Acts 8:16) And also the Gentiles. (Acts 10:46-48) And Ephesians in Acts 19:5. All received salvation through Messiah! Each was baptized into His name. All received the infilling and indwelling presence of Ruach haKodesh/the Holy Spirit.

The writer of Hebrews speaks of those who "through faith" have obtained the promises. He draws our attention to two important things. 1) The cleansing of the conscience. 2) The washing of the body with pure water. The worshipper, had the Mosaic sacrifice the power to put sin away once and for all, would not have had any "sin consciousness;"for his sins would have been purged. The repitious offering of sacrifice went on and on. But this was not the case under the law, for in each sacrifice was the rehearsal of ones past sins. Why?

"Because it was not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins."

Thus says the Lord God, I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries, where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel. And they shall come thither, and they shall take away the detestable things therefore, and all the abominations thereof. And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of their flesh, and I will give them a heart of flesh: That they may walk in my statutes and keep Mine ordinances to do them: and they shall be My people and I will be their God."
A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: And I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and I will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you,and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments and do them. And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be My people, and I will be your God. And I will save you from all your uncleanness, and I will call for the corn, and I will increase it, and lay no famine on you. And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field, that you receive no more reproach of famine among the heathen." (Ezekiel 11:19, Ezekiel 36:26)

The Mosaic covenant could never do what God prophesied through the Prophet Ezekiel, and that is to take away "the stoney heart out of their flesh, and to "make God's people" the temple themselves the very of God, that "God might live is us and walk in us and we can thus be His people and He our God."

The "stoney heart" shows the basically sinful condition which needed to be dealt with, through a sacrifice which would avail once and for all. With the fall of man in Eden, death passed on all men, for that all have sinned. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. There is none righteous no not one! God laid on Yeshua haMashiach the iniquity of us all!

ISRAEL'S PROMISE EMBODIED IN YESHUA HAMASHIACH:

You will notice that with the prophetic promises spoken through the Prophet Ezekiel, God stipulated the contract, or covenant, with various stipulations, saying which part each would play. This is done in any legal agreement between two parties. It is always this way in the various covenants which God made between Himself and man. To Israel, God said: There is a land of your fathers, which I swore to give you, and I am going to do this. But here is the way in which this will come to pass. Here is how I intend to carry this out!

He is despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from Him; he was despised and we esteemed Him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed! All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to His own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all." (Isaiah 53:3-6)

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