Chapter 8

Kerusso

Proclaim the News

Let the Truth Be Known...

Yahuweh made the truth known to His people and to us through them. But we have ignored much of it, corrupted most of it, and forgotten the rest. Words, important words, God's Words have been erased, replaced, and convoluted to the point communication is difficult and understanding nearly impossible.

Paul wrote about this problem and proposed a godly solution. In the third chapter of Second Timothy, the apostle details the nature and character of men, the behavior and false teachings that he predicts will become prevalent in the last days. At the end of an exhaustive list that reads like the nightly news, he tells Timothy to "continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of them, knowing from whom you have learned them. And that from childhood you have known the Set-Apart Scripture which is able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through reliance on the Anointed/Messiah Yahushua. All Scripture is inspired by Yahuweh and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good thing that needs to be accomplished." (2 Timothy 3:14-17)

With that introduction, Paul presented Yahuweh's singular solution for confronting the false doctrines that permeate every aspect of our lives: "Proclaim (kerusso - announce, preach, and publish) the Word. Be ready to stand (ephistemi - present yourself in the right position, being at hand, standing near and by, pressing forward and being earnest) when it is opportune and convenient in season (eukairos) and when it is unseasonable, inopportune, or inconvenient. Evaluate so as to admonish and forbid (epitimao), convict (elegcho - exposing and revealing that which is wrong, disprove the errant idea in a way that shames the false teachers; detect error, demonstrate what is false and manifest the evidence so as to repudiate and condemn, judge and find fault; rebuke, admonish, chastise, and correct) to benefit, comfort and encourage (parakleo - aid, help, exhort, and beseech; inviting people to come while invoking the name of God [Yahuweh]) with all forbearance and fortitude (makrothumos - from macros, meaning endurance for a long time, and thumos, meaning rushing in and breathing hard with passion, fierceness, wrath, indignation) and instruction (didache - teaching and tutoring)." (2 Timothy 4:2)

There is an answer for ignorance, for corrupt doctrines, for bad behavior, and for forgetfulness: proclaim the Word - Scripture. Nothing else will work. That makes these words important, life and death words, words worth knowing and understanding, worth announcing and publishing. To be ephistemi is to be prepared and to engage. One without the other is useless. To be effective we must know Him, know His Word, and then rely on Him to help us as we move forward and stand earnestly before others sharing His truth as it is revealed in Scripture.

Eukairos means more than convenient and opportune. It speaks of specific times and seasons. Since Christendom has forgotten these, let's review them. There are three seasons and seven specific times on Yahuweh's calendar. They include the spring festivals of Passover, Unleavened Bread, and FirstFruits, the summer Feast of Weeks, and the fall convocations of Trumpets, Atonement, and Tabernacles. We are to proclaim His Word during these set appointments and be prepared to do so at any time in between.

What follows this singular solution to false notions is as important as what precedes it. Paul describes the attitude with which we are called to engage, the means and the objective - and none of them are consistent with what most pastors and priests teach. We must evaluate everything so that we can admonish, meaning "caution and warn," and forbid, meaning "prohibit and ban." This does not allow for tolerance, assimilation, reinterpretation or revision.

We are called to convict those who are guilty of misleading people. We must expose their errant doctrine, revealing what is wrong by disproving it so as "to shame the false teachers." And that is done by using His Word to demonstrate what is false so that the evidence is manifest and the error is repudiated. While this instruction does not ask us to judge the pontificator's salvation, it does require us to find fault in what they say and then condemn them for preaching it, rebuking and admonishing, chastising and correcting, those who mislead. This is strong medicine.

God's prescription of "evaluating, exposing, condemning and prohibiting" is designed to "benefit, comfort and encourage." But this aid is not for those who promulgate lies, but instead for those who are set apart unto Yahuweh so that they remain free of the disease of deceit. Yahuweh's Scriptural remedy is designed, when invoked in His name, to invite people to flee the deceiver and to come into fellowship with Him.

Now that we have reviewed the means to and the objective of confronting errant religious and political doctrines, let's examine the attitude Paul prescribes. We are to makrothumos - eternally endure, rushing in with passion and fierce indignation. That means with righteous anger. Therefore, we should resent the errant preacher/politician/academician/journalist and be annoyed by what they are saying because false teaching isn't a victimless crime. Corrupt doctrines, whether they are outright lies, half truths, or deceptive counterfeits, aren't a game to Yahuweh. He despises them and so must we. There is nothing deadlier or more destructive. These things, especially when they are pontificated in the name of religion and politics, academics and societal morays, separate man from God, eternally damning all who succumb. This is life and death. Yahuweh's Word is life. Religion is death. Corrupt doctrines are the diseases we are fighting and Scripture is our lone surgical instrument. For the patient to survive, we must use one to remove the other.

Paul warns us about how difficult this will be in the last days, in our time..."For a time (kairos - season, set period which is certain, fixed and definite) will come when they will not have or hold, endure or regard, receive, admit, listen to, bear, or even tolerate (anecho from ana, which when used as a prefix means: repetition, intensity, reversal, renewal, to know again, and to read; and echo, which means to possess, hold, relate to, accompany, enjoy, bear, follow, and use) safe, sound and healthy, pure, true and uncorrupted (hugiaivo) teaching and instruction, doctrine or discourse." (2 Timothy 4:3) When it came to predicting the future, Paul was perfect. This is a precise accounting of what we have done to ourselves and how it happened.

We are anecho, which means "diseased," because we don't read His Word. We don't know it, posses it, hold it, relate to it, enjoy it, use it or follow it. As a result, the arrogant politicians and media spokespeople today who pontificate the anomalies of men will not tolerate the truth. The enlightened scholars with their pompous and pedantic attitudes won't listen to anyone nor will they admit the error of their ways. The prideful and self-righteous preachers, smugly surrounded by their adoring and like-thinking congregations and clerical associates, won't endure correction. As a result, the people have been corrupted; they are diseased. That which is healthy and pure, that which is true and good, has been forgotten.

Ignorant of Scripture and deceived by men, we celebrate Christmas rather than Tabernacles, Easter rather than Passover. Ignorant of Scripture and deceived by men, we call the Anointed/Messiah Yahushua the Lord Jesus Christ. It is why we ignore the Sabbath and endure false teaching on Sun-day. It is why Yahuweh's prescription for what ails us bears the name of a pagan sun goddess (Byble) and why His ekklesia/calling out has been branded with the moniker of another sun goddess (Circe). It's enough to make you want to vomit. We have poisoned ourselves. Fortunately there is a cure. Unfortunately, too few are willing to swallow the antidote. For them man's words are sweeter than God's medicine.

So..."After (kata - lowering themselves down to their place, from a higher position to a lower one; governing themselves; as a result of and in relationship to their hostile goals and ambitions) their own (idios - private, particular, individual) desires, longings, and lusts they shall accumulate and heap upon themselves teachers, instructors and masters having damaged (knetho - cut and scraped, and thus itching to hear something pleasing) ears." (2 Timothy 4:3)

This is the how and why of corruption. It is the consequence of ignorance. Man's evil machinations fill the void formed when we separate ourselves from God and revise His Word. Man has descended from being in Yahuweh's lofty presence to groveling in the trash with Halal. Because we have forgotten our God and separated ourselves from Him, because we have forgotten and corrupted His Word, the religious and political decrees of men, the hostile goals and personal ambitions of men, have caused us to be buried under an avalanche of false teachers, all of whom have lost the ability to hear their Maker's voice. We would rather govern ourselves than trust God.

Unlike required English sentence structure of subject-verb-object and adjectives accompanying nouns, word order in Greek is often insignificant. This verse could also mean: "Wanting to have their ears ticked with pleasurable and pleasing notions, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own personal desires." Either way, the result is the same.

All political corruptions and religious counterfeits flow from a singular source: "man's own private and individual desires, longings and lusts." Said another way, craving sex, power, and money is what motivates men to use deception and assimilation to beguile the masses into surrendering their will, lives and money to them. This is how and why Anointed became Christ, Yahushua became Jesus, Tabernacles became Christmas, Passover became Easter, the Sabbath became Sunday, Scripture became the Bible, and the Calling Out became the Church: "They will turn away from and distort (apostrepho - turn off and pervert, misrepresent and change, lead others astray by separating themselves from [God]; cause a cessation of relationship and prompt a reversal that spoils and depraves; they will find odious and hateful, detestable and abhorrent) hearing the truth (aletheia - unveiled reality, the basis of agreement, the veritable essence of genuineness, fact, certainty, and legitimacy) and will turn instead (ektrepo - turn away from, alter course, waver in faith, be stirred up so as to distort, pervert, and convert others to) superimposing (epi - substituting and relying upon) myths and fabrications (muthos - tales, fables, fiction, opinions rather than reality; a derivative of mythology and thus false religion)." (2 Timothy 4:4)

That is precisely what we have done. The blight is nearly universal. Yahuweh's Word, His Instructions, His Prescriptions have been so poorly translated, interpreted, and followed we have become blind men groping in darkness. It has been done in incremental steps, and all in the same way, by plastering over and whitewashing the truth. Man hasn't really created his own religions so much as he has "perverted, misrepresented and changed" Yahuweh's prescribed relationship. God creates; man counterfeits. The creation, nature and purpose of the third century rabbinical Mishna and seventh century Babylonian Talmud are perfect examples of religious fabrications and myths.

Yet there was another, better, higher, more rewarding and fulfilling choice: "But you, be sober minded and watchful (nepho - circumspect, thinking rationally) in all things. Endure troubles (kakopatheo - suffer the afflictions of those whose lusts dishonor them, and undergo the hardships imposed by those whose soul is diseased, toil in adversity) doing the work of an evangelist (euaggelistes - one who declares the good news, a preacher of the Word). Fulfill (plerophoreo - accomplish, witness so as to persuade and give full assurance, ratify and confirm, demonstrate and accredit) your ministry (diakonia - service of healing)." (2 Timothy 4:5)

Understanding doesn't happen by chance; discernment isn't an accident. Truth isn't popular and sharing it is usually unpleasant. Yet the only way to cure a diseased soul is to share the good news of Yahuweh's salvation - His perfect and eternal service of healing.

So it all boils down to this: we come to know Him through His Word. By reading His Word we come to know Him better and come to understand His provision for healing us so that we can live in His presence. When we accept His gift of eternal life, He gives us His Set-Apart Spirit so that we will be able to have a personal relationship with Him and so that He can teach us His Word. That in turn enables us to share Scripture so as to reveal the good news of salvation while at the same time exposing the corruptions of men. That is Yahuweh's solution, His plan.

Paul covers this subject again - central as it is to our relationship with Yahuweh and thus salvation, in his letter to the Corinthians. Corinth lies at the isthmus of Greece, the most intellectually astute and lettered place on earth. In the first century it was one of the Roman Empire's largest cities and one of the world's wealthiest commercial centers. It lay at the crossroads of human knowledge, philosophy, economics, political ideas and religious dogmas. Paul, our resident Old Covenant scholar, spent the greatest portion of his ministry enlightening the people who considered themselves enlightened.

In the opening chapter of his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul wrote an exposé on what we have read in Hosea. He begins by introducing his mission: "The Anointed/Messiah sent me (apostello - asked me to go forth and out on a mission to speak), not to immerse (baptizo - submerge, wash and saturate), but to proclaim good news (euaggelizo - eu is good and aggello is to proclaim). Yet not with the sophistication (sophia - worldly wisdom, natural knowledge, human enlightenment or understanding) of spoken words (logos - the act of speaking intelligently and/or the words expressed; the thought, reasoning, motive, computation, account, cause, and communication; from lego - to lay forth and relate words systematically, to testify, describe, give out, name, put forth, and speak), lest the upright pole (stauros - an upright stake or post; from histemi - to stand so as to enable to stand; its derivative, stauroo, means to impale, affix or nail to an upright pole for love or selfishness; crucifixion) of the Anointed/Messiah should be neutralized (kenoo - be rendered empty or void, meaningless or hollow, be in vain, useless)." (1 Corinthians 1:17)

For those familiar with common English translations of this passage, the reason "gospel" and "cross" were not used is that these words are not in the Greek text. Both are satanically-inspired manmade corruptions. Gospel is a contraction of God and spell. We derive "god" from "gott," the Teutonic proper name used by the Celts to worship the sun. "Spell" is also of Celtic origin. It is a "spoken spiel" or a "spell cast." Gospel is therefore a corrupt, twisted, and inappropriate term. Yahuweh's Words have meaning. He selected them for a reason. So the least we can do is convey what they actually mean. Euaggelizo, which actually means "to proclaim good news," is the antithesis of a sun god spiel or the casting of a demonic spell.

The "cross" has been Satan's symbol in his sun god guise since the very first religious deception was conceived and cultivated in Babylon. We'll review its origins and purpose in the "Ekklesia" chapter as Yahushua prophetically admonishes the "Church" that corrupted His message.

The true miracle of stauros is that Yahushua was affixed to an upright timber so that we would be enabled to stand next to Him for all eternity. He stood there for us, atoning for our sins, so that we could stand up with Him and for Him. It's not per chance that Paul asked Timothy to "be ready to stand, presenting himself in the right position, being at hand, standing near and by, pressing forward and being earnest." It all ties together when we understand the words.

A vertical pole set in the earth and pointed to the heavens only goes up and down - symbolic of Yahuweh reaching down to man by becoming a man, walking in our dust as an example for us to follow, and then sacrificing Himself so that our wickedness could be overlooked, enabling us to travel up that pole which was anointed with His atoning blood. The addition of a horizontal crossbar adds nothing to the equation because the work man does with his hands plays no role in our salvation.

I used "Anointed/Messiah" rather than "Christ" for many reasons. First, used as a name or title, "christos" is not to be found in any Greek New Covenant manuscript prior to Constantine's corruptions. When addressing the Messiah, every one of the earliest manuscripts use a two letter capitalized form similar to the YHWH rendering of Yahuweh's name throughout the Hebrew Scriptures. A line was universally placed over these two letters, signifying Deity.

When applicable to the Messiah, "Anointed" was rendered XS (Chi-Sigma), XU (Chi-Upsilon), XW (Chi-Omega), or XN (Chi-Nu). Interestingly, Rho or "r," the second letter in "christos," was never used, nor was the Tau or "t." I believe the Rho was deleted because it became synonymous with drugs. I believe the Tau was deleted because the "t" symbolized the first sun god, Tammuz, and his cross.

Second, had the apostles meant to use "Anointed or Messiah" as a name, rather than as a title or description, they would have transliterated the Hebrew name "Mashiyach" into its equivalent Greek letters to replicate the sound. This was done in John 1:41 where John records Andrew, Simon Peter's brother saying: "We have found the Messias (Messiah)." Then in John 4:24 the Messiah said: "'God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.' The woman said to Him, 'I know that Messias (Messiah) is coming; when that One comes, He will declare all things to us.' Yahushua said to her, 'I who speak to you am He.'" It's safe to say Yahshua knows His own name and title better than any contemporary translator.

Messiah, as a name or title, is not rendered elsewhere in the New Covenant Writings. So it is evident the apostles were trying to convey the meaning of "mashiyach" which is "anointed" in every other place it is used. Therefore, so should we. Being anointed is central to our relationship, understanding, and salvation.

Third, if the apostles only meant to convey the meaning of the Hebrew word "mashiyach" (anointed - to rub, immerse or anoint with oil), and nothing else, they would have translated the Hebrew word into its closest Greek equivalent and been done with it. Yet they didn't. But although they didn't, the post Constantine manuscripts did replace the original two letter format universally found in all of the early manuscripts with "christos." So here's the rub. Should these first Catholics have been correct with their alterations, we should follow their example and translate the meaning of the Greek word into the most similar English one so that we might understand the significance of being anointed. If they were wrong to change Scripture, we should expunge their edits and return to the original nomenclature.

And fourth, the reason the oldest manuscripts differ from the more recent ones is that the meaning of the Greek "christos" is not equivalent to the Hebrew "mashiyach." In the Hebrew mind, someone who was anointed with oil was immersed in the true light and spirit of Yahuweh. Olive oil provided the purest source of illumination in their darkness so someone who was anointed with oil was the purest representative of God in that light is symbolic of His nature and His truth.

However, in juxtaposition to this, in Greek society, a "christos" was a physician or pharmacist who applied herbal ointments or drugs on people who felt they needed manmade cures. The doctor dispensed these drugs out of a plethora of jars he carried with him in a wooden box marked with the same Rx symbol (the Greek letters Rho Chi), we find on the doors or our drugstores. The ancient Greek dispensers of these drugs did so under the watchful "Eye of Horus" - the pagan god associated with medicine. I am certain that Yahuweh did not intend for men to misrepresent the significance of "anointing" with "drugged." You can call yourself drugged, I mean Christian, if you wish. As for me, I'm anointed.

In 1948, Christian theologian, A.W. Tozer explained the reasons why "Christian" theologians mindlessly imitate the folly of their peers and misrepresent Yahuweh's message: "Christian literature, to be accepted and approved by the evangelical leaders of our times, must follow very closely the same train of thought, a kind of 'party line' from which it is scarcely safe to depart. A half-century of this in America has made us smug and content. We imitate each other with slavish devotion and our most strenuous efforts are put forth to try to say the same thing that everyone around us is saying." They are busy tickling one another's ears.

In the political arena, democracy and terror are examples of erroneous word usage. America isn't a democracy, it's a republic. There has only been one democracy - a generation long oligarchy of 10,000 people in the city-state of Athens more than two millennia ago. To say that the loss of a thousand American lives in Iraq is justified because we're fighting to impose democracy in the Islamic world is ignorant and errant on every level. So is the "war on terror" that justified our destructive idiocy. You can't rationally declare a war against a tactic. It's like saying that WWII was a battle against Kamikazes and Blitzkrieg. Because we are in denial regarding the false religion of Islam, because we'd rather tolerate it, revise it and accommodate it, than evaluate it, expose it, condemn it and ban it, we are dying and will continue to die. Words are important. They can have life and death consequences even when they are not God's. But when they are, a misunderstanding can have eternal consequences.

Now that we know what the words mean, and understand the consequence of tinkering with them, let's continue to examine how Paul explained the circumstances Hosea had predicted. "For the testimony (logos) of the upright pole that enables us to stand (stauros) is to those who are perishing (apollumi - having received the death penalty; who are destroyed, lost, put entirely out of the way, abolished, finished and rendered useless; declared one who must be put to death) foolishness (moria - moronic, folly, absurd, senseless, and ignorant), but to us who are being saved (sozo - delivered, made whole, preserved, kept safe and sound, rescued from danger and destruction) it is the intrinsic power of God." (1 Corinthians 1:18) You can trust men who call God's solution folly, or you can trust God who calls man's solutions moronic. Moreover, to label men's imaginings ignorant and moronic can't be bad if God, Himself, does it.

Yahuweh has provided a way to distinguish between them. If it's in His Scripture it is from Him. If it's not, it is from men. "For it is written (grapho - engraved in Scripture) [in Isaiah 29:14], 'I will destroy (apollumi) the wisdom (sophia - worldly sophistication, natural knowledge, human enlightenment or understanding, intelligence) of the wise (sophos - lettered and learned). And the cleverness (sunesis - perceptions, comprehension and reason, understandings of concepts and the relationships between them) of the clever sages (sunetos - perceptive and discerning, intelligent, and erudite) I will set aside (atheteo - make no place for, do without, cast off and down; despise and displace, condemn, abrogate and abolish; get rid of, do away with, set aside, disregard, and render null and void; reject and refuse; from atheos - an atheist who is godless and destitute, impious and profane; a person devoid of reason; one who does without, is excluded from communion with, and is forgetful of God)." (1 Corinthians 1:19)

It would be fair to say that Yahuweh isn't impressed with the intrinsic value of human enlightenment or of atheists. He has told us what he intends to do with them and their "enlightened" notions.

"Where is the wise man (sophos)? Where is the one who writes (grammateus)? Where is the debater (suzetetes - the one who questions, investigates and discusses) of this age?" (1 Corinthians 1:20) In other words, does anyone have the capacity to think, to write intelligently, or to rationally investigate what is true anymore? I haven't found many and I wouldn't even know where to look to find more. But I would know where not to look: statehouses, churches, mosques, synagogues, schools, universities, and media studios.

 "For indeed the Jews (Ioudaios - those who are Jewish in respect to birth, race, and religion) ask for (aiteo - beg for, crave, desire, and require) signs (semeion - tokens and miracles; that by which something is distinguished and known), and the Greeks (Hellen - the name embraces all nations not Jewish who usurped the language, customs, and learning of the Greeks) search for (zeteo - seek in order to discover by thinking, meditating, and reasoning) wisdom (sophia - worldly sophistication, natural knowledge, human enlightenment or understanding, intelligence). But we preach the Anointed/Messiah crucified, to Jews a stumbling block (skandalon - a thing that offends; an impediment causing one to stumble and fall), and to Gentiles (ethnos - the rest of humanity) foolishness (moria - moronic, folly, absurdity, senselessness, and ignorance)." (1 Corinthians 1:23)  

Truth was a "stumbling block" for the Jews because of their self-reliant religious pride. It has been considered "foolishness" by those of us influenced by Greek society because of our self-reliant intellectual pride. Arrogant and covetous men are wont to think that their ideas are better than God's. But such pride is what got Satan into trouble in the first place and Halal has used it to lure us down to his level ever since. Yahshua's crucifixion, His sacrifice, is the entirety of salvation in that nothing man can add matters. By way of confirmation, "crucified" in this verse is in the perfect tense conveying that it is a past, completed action, with abiding results.

The salvation message is offensive to many because it underscores the gravity of our problem with sin. Just look at how much "emergency equipment" God had to send to the scene of the accident to rescue us. Sin is a serious calamity, an injury for which there is but one remedy. And since salvation is a gift, it means that the industry and inventions of man add nothing to the equation. Our religions or political institutions are useless. Apart from God, man is helpless and destined to die. Yahushua's completed and perfect, eternally abiding work leaves no room for human pride - the ultimate source of all corruptions.

"But to those who are the called (kletos - invited, welcomed, and appointed; divinely selected), both Jews and Greeks, the Anointed/Messiah is the power and wisdom of God." (1 Corinthians 1:24) Personally, I love this message and the Messenger. I find each and every word inspiring. I see it as the greatest story ever told, the ultimate tale of unrequited love. But for those who don't, for those who prefer man's spin on things, you'd better hope that Yahuweh doesn't exist and that we are nothing more than a chance assemblage of chemicals.

For if God exists, it is senseless to consider Him unengaged and uncaring. A God worth knowing would have revealed Himself to us and I can say without equivocation, that these Scriptures we are reviewing represent the lone rational candidate for such revelation. If they are not inspired, there is no God. But if they are inspired, God's name is Yahuweh and He is not pleased with our arrogance.

"The foolishness (moros) of God is wiser than men, and the weakness (asthenes) of God is stronger than men." (1 Corinthians 1:25) Since "moros/foolishness" and "asthenes/weakness" are gender neuter, they do not refer to God's character or nature, but instead are used for the purpose of contrast - human schemes verses Yahuweh's plan.

The Corinthians had a problem with pride - which in turn led to self-reliance, self-indulgence and the commiserate overemphasis of religion. Paul is reducing everyone to the same level - sinners in need of salvation. Even once saved, he calls us all brethren in the same family. But most importantly, what he is saying is that our most profound thoughts and greatest achievements, even our power and accumulated wealth, are of no value. What the world values, God does not. Salvation is a gift, not a reward. It cannot be earned, and it cannot be bestowed by any man, and that would include prophet and pope, pastor and priest, president and pedantic pontificators all.

"God has chosen (eklegomai - has selected and picked out for Himself) the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the strong...that no flesh should boast (kauchaomai - seek glory, carry on in an arrogant manner, be conceited or self-assured, vainly exulting oneself with pride) before God." (1 Corinthians 1:27-9) Kauchaomai also tells us that religious hierarchies are ungodly because it means that "no man should think of himself as being above any other in God's presence." And that would clearly include the elegantly robed popes, cardinals, and bishops and their church which vainly exalts its doctrines above those of the Creator.

In this concluding sentence, Yahuweh explains Yahushua's nature and mission in exacting engineering parlance. "By His doing you are in the Anointed/Messiah Yahushua, who from God to us (apo theos hemin - came out from God and was sent away from God to us, indicating the separation of one entity from another with whom He was formerly united but is now separated - i.e., Yahushua is the human manifestation of Yahuweh sent to us to reveal what God is like) became (ginomai - I Exist [Yahuweh] came into our existence by changing His state and place [again confirming that Yahushua is the human manifestation of Yahuweh]; presented Himself, stood by, for and over us becoming) wisdom from God, righteousness (dikaiosune -  one whose goodness and works of goodness are transferred to others, one who by being just and right sets the rules whereby man can live, one who is right standing), separation (hagiasmos), and redemption (apolutrosis - freedom through the payment of a ransom; deliverance, liberation procured by a gift paid by another), that, just as it is written, 'Let him who boasts (kauchaomai), boast in the Anointed/Messiah Yahushua.'" (1 Corinthians 1:30-31) Now there is something we can proud of - God loves us. And that makes us very valuable.

Simplified and put into modern English, the sentence says: As a result of what Yahuweh has done we are joined to God and united with Him through Yahushua, Yahuweh's Anointed human form, who entered our world to reveal God's wisdom and truth, to demonstrate God's goodness and sacrificial love, to separate us from the pollution of sin onto Himself, freeing us from judgment by paying our penalty personally. If that is weakness and folly, I'm proud to be one of Yahuweh's feeble fools.

Earlier in his letter, Paul referenced a line from Isaiah, the most oft quoted prophet in the New Covenant Writings, and the voice of Salvation who preceded Hosea. Isaiah delivered a very similar message. And in this context of equating knowing to salvation and lack of understanding to destruction, it's important to see how all of Yahuweh's prophets and apostles wrote with the same voice, delivering the same message. "Linger here a moment and be amazed (tamahh - wonder and be astounded)." (Isaiah 29:9)

That was good advice. The Yahudim had been coddled and warned countless times. They had witnessed Yahuweh's magnificence up close and personal. They had been entrusted with His Divine revelation. If only they would have read it as we are doing. If only they had lingered for a moment to be amazed, to delight in Him and to speak with Him, the next 2700 years would have been so very different.

But instead these Jews did what the Church did; they created an amalgamated religion, blending some of what Yahuweh had revealed with a heavy dose of Babylonian counterfeits. Prideful and self-reliant, they preferred their concoction, their morality, their positions of power and influence, and their fortifications to His.

The next line could be translated a myriad of ways and that was probably by design. Based upon what follows, it was meant to be confusing, to be disorienting. The operative word is sa'a' which can mean: "to look upon or to shut one's eyes; to see or to be blind, to be complacent or to be distracted, amusing oneself with frivolous things; to look about in dismay or to cry out in delight." It means "to be confused." So it's: "Open or close your eyes and be delighted or distracted, be complacent or amused (sa'a'); look out in dismay or cry out in joy, be blinded or see, or just be confused (sa'a')."

As we have learned, there is a limit to God's patience and His forgiveness. There comes a time when Yahuweh separates Himself from man, using man's plastered over and whitewashed stones as a barricade. "They become intoxicated, but not with wine. They stagger trembling (nuwa' - quivering, tottering, shaking, reeling, staggering, wandering, and wavering), but not with alcohol. For Yahuweh has poured over you a spirit (ruach) of deep sleep (tardemah - unconsciousness; a moral and spiritual stupor, nocturnal dreams)." (Isaiah 29:9-10)

So rather then delighting in Yahuweh's Spirit, the Jews got to wallow in the intoxicating and immoral spirit of nocturnal dreams - better known as Satan. The choice was and is Yahuweh verses Baal. They chose the Lord and got him.

"He has shut the eyes (ayin - mental and spiritual acuity). He has covered (kacah - concealed and hidden in darkness) your prophets, your leaders, and your wise men (chozeh - one who perceives)."  So as a result, this is what happened and is still happening..."The entire vision shall be to you like the words of a sealed message (siprah - document, written record or account, book or scroll), which when they give it to the one who is literate (yada siprah - knows how to read a book or a scroll), saying, 'Please read this,' he will say, 'I cannot, for it is sealed.' Then the scroll will be given to the one who is illiterate (lo' - without, yada - knowledge, and siprah - writing), saying, 'I beg you, and plead with you, read (qara' - recite, read aloud, and proclaim) this.' And he will say, 'I cannot (yakol - prevail, overcome my handicap, demonstrate the ability to) read (qara').'" (Isaiah 29:10-12)

It was all there, and for all to see: the history of the world, past, present, and future. But they could no more read the words on the page than we seem to be able to do so today. There was an answer for everything man needed to know. There was a cure for the most deadly disease. There was a great adventure and an even greater treasure - a garment of light and a crown of gold. And there was God waiting for them. But you have to read the Book to find these things. Instead they wrote their own books. They called one the Mishna, another the Talmud. They would sell their words to Muhammad so that he could "reveal" the Qur'an. Not yet finished alienating themselves from God, another Jew named Marx wrote a book that elevated man to the status of God.

Yahuweh knew they would do this and said so..."Then the Supreme Master (adonay - a noun used exclusively in reference to Yahuweh, signifying His supreme authority and power; it is from adon, a masculine noun meaning master which carries the nuance of authority rather than ownership; it is frequently used with Yahuweh signifying His sovereignty) said, 'Forasmuch as these people approach Me with their mouths, and with their lip service (sapah yapa - language that is ironic, statements that depict a false sense of light in deep shadows and utter gloom, words which vainly seek approval), yet they removed their hearts (rachaq leb - wandered away spiritually, emotionally, and intellectually, allowing their hearts to become distant) from Me. (Isaiah 29:13)

When you get right down to it, most religion is nothing more than lip service, a worthless and ingenuous flicker of artificial light in an ocean of gloom. Yahuweh is not buying it. He knows the difference between real and fake, the truth and a counterfeit, even if we don't. The beriyth is a relationship, one that depends upon constant, honest, open, and sincere communication. It is rooted in love. This is why Yahuweh asked Abraham to walk beside Him, to be at ease with Him, to be conversant and genuine with Him. Insincerity is almost as irritating to God as pride.

What comes next is extremely important. It lies at the core of one of the most grotesque translation errors in Scripture. The Hebrew word yare is a verb which can mean fear, respect or revere. Since you cannot love what you fear, it is obvious that yare should always be translated "revere and/or respect" when used in reference to Yahuweh. To be absolutely certain we would understand this fundamental truth, Yahuweh inspired Isaiah to use yir'ah in the following verse in relation to the doctrines of fear taught by men. Yir'ah means fear, and that's all it means. "Their fear (yir'ah) toward Me exists (hayah) because it is taught (lamad - learned, studied, acquired through the instruction of, is derived) from manmade traditions (iysh mitzvah - manmade commandments, human edicts and precepts) learned by rote." (Isaiah 29:13) We must not fear God. He loves us and wants us to love Him in return. The fear of God is a manmade corruption, a human invention, a stifling and deadly abomination that leads to man appeasing this god through religion.

Love is the essence of God. He demonstrates this vividly in the next verse so I want to linger on it. With your eyes wide open, take a moment to recall the root of the Greek word stauros: histemi - "to stand so as to enable to stand" - and its derivative, stauroo - "to impale, affix or nail to an uptight pole for love, to be crucified." Paul explained that Yahuweh manifest Himself in human form as Yahushua "to stand upright" on our behalf, to be "crucified," so that we would be "enabled to stand" with Him. In that light, this next verse is especially prophetic and revealing. We may be among the first to experience what has been "sealed" for over two millennia.

But before we dive in, this note: most English translations render the following the verse "Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among my people." "Behold" is hinneh, an interjection that means: "pay attention, look now, and expect a surprise." Hinneh is an "expression of hope," telling us to "expect a future thing to happen with absolute certainty." A hinneh is an "announcement of God's response to something essential." It is designed to "vividly illuminate and clarify," providing a "sense of vitality and life to the words which surround it." So by examining hinneh, we can be certain that what follows is: "an essential and surprising announcement, a prophetic expression of hope, and a vivid response to something that is vitally important" to us and to God.

In the context of separation resulting from false teaching and sin, that could only be one thing, and it is the very thing Yahuweh inspired Isaiah to write: ken - to stand upright and establish; to lay an honest foundation to enable others to stand upright." The languages changed from Hebrew to Greek, the meaning did not.

This means Yahuweh prophesized: "Behold (hinneh), I will stand upright (ken)." The announcement is written in first person. Yahweh is proclaiming His expression of hope, His remedy for what ails us. He Himself will stand up for us so that we can stand with Him. Oh how marvelous the words are when only we know what they say!

Since this is so remarkable, seeing that Isaiah penned Yahuweh's words 700 years prior to the crucifixion, let's examine ken under a linguistic microscope and make certain we have this right. Strong's, the bible of Hebrew word meanings, says: "ken, to set upright, hence to justify so as to make right after this; to make the way straight, just, and true; from kuwn, to stand up, to set up so as to establish, to appoint and render sure, proper, and prosperous, to confirm with certainty, to be faithful and perfect, to make preparation by preparing oneself to provide a provision, to do a deed that makes ready and right, that establishes." That's not only clear, it's a perfect description of what happened on a pole outside Jerusalem.

But there's more. Baker's and Carpenter's Complete Word Study Dictionary reveals: "ken, is derived from the verb meaning to stand upright so as to establish; to correct according to an established standard; to be or make upright and honest; it is a statement of agreement, a foundation from which something or someone can stand upright." Taken together, they provide a textbook definition of the benefit of the Anointed's atoning sacrifice.

The established standard is the Torah. We have all violated it, and thus must suffer the consequences and be punished. However, Yahuweh chose to accept our punishment. He decided to stand in for us, to make us right and render us perfect. It was His provision for sin. It remains the most wondrous miracle ever conceived. And while that's my opinion, I'm in good company.

Seven hundred years before He performed it, Yahuweh told us that the miracle of miracles - salvation through His crucifixion - would be His most glorious: "After a period of intermission, I will appear and proceed to do (yasap) a wonderful, extraordinarily marvelous, and difficult work (pala - referring to the miracle of deliverance from judgment) amongst ('et - with, near, among, indicating in extremely close proximity such as to walk alongside) this people (am - the congregation, usually inferring Israelis), a wondrously marvelous work (pala) and a miracle (pale)." I am humbled by the majesty of it all. I am so very grateful that He has rewarded our willingness to: "Linger here a moment and be amazed, wonder and be astounded."

In the creation account, God told us that creating the universe was good. Conceiving the DNA double helix and creating life earned a favorable evaluation as well. But reconciling man back into fellowship with Himself deserved two extraordinarily marvelouses and a miraculous. It tells you where Yahuweh's priorities are - what's important to Him.

And that brings us to the end of the verse that led us to Isaiah's confirmation of Paul's confirmation of Hosea's confirmation of Yahuweh's prediction of what would occur and why it would happen..."For the wisdom (chokmah - skill, experience, and shrewdness) of their wise (hakam - skillful and experienced craftsmen and builders; leaders who spin and weave, interpreters of dreams, the learned, shrewd, crafty, cunning, and wily) men shall perish, and the discernment of their perceptive men who teach shall be concealed (satar - hidden from public notice and from certain persons, preventing some from knowing or seeing)." (Isaiah 29:14) We live in such days.