By David T. E. S. Cooke
Messiah Yeshua has worked a great deliverance for His chosen people - an Exodus from spiritual bondage. However, we must be obedient to His demands. When Moses explained the way of God's deliverance from Egypt, the children of Israel needed to listen and act as God required. They needed to apply the lamb's blood to the doorposts of their homes.
In the same way both Jew and Gentile today must heed the requirements of Yeshua (Jesus), who came from God to deliver us. But, what does He require? We might think that nothing short of a perfect obedience to the Torah should satisfy Him. After all, does the Law not say, "Cursed is the one who does not confirm all the words of this law" (Deuteronomy [Devarim] 27:26)?
We might think that Messiah would demand very much. The words of Yeshua would seem to affirm this when He said, "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect" (Matthew 5:48). However, Messiah knows better than us all that this is an impossible standard to attain on our own!
"There is none who does good, no, not one" (Psalms [Tehillim] 14:3). "And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6). |
In fact, this is the primary reason for Messiah's coming - to work a spiritual salvation. Yeshua came to deliver us from our sins and to provide us with that perfect righteousness which the Father requires. This is why Paul wrote, "For He [God] made Him [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21). Yeshua is "The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). Yeshua says about Himself, "the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28).
And so, what does Messiah Yeshua demand? He says, simply,
Come unto Me all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and My burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30).Messiah Yeshua requires but one thing - not that you do any work of righteousness, but that you receive the work of righteousness that is from God. If you acknowledge your sin and trust in Yeshua as your Messiah, then you have applied the blood of the Lamb of God (Yeshua) to the doorposts of your heart. You have received Messiah's salvation; you have been forgiven of your sins; and the Spirit of the Lord Yeshua has come into your heart to guide and direct you in His path.
"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23). |
If you are wanting to accept Yeshua as your Messiah, we would like to help you. Please read How Do I Accept Yeshua? and contact us by email, by phone, or in person at New Covenant House.
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