Transformation and Commandments for Eternal Life

Notice the progression again. In Genesis, God separates light from darkness. In John, Yeshua brings the light into the world. In Peter, God calls a people out of darkness into that marvelous light. This is not merely a separation between two physical conditions; it is a spiritual transformation, a paradigm shift. Peter connects this with the identity of God's covenant people. Peter's language about a royal priesthood and a holy nation echoes Exodus 19:5-6, where God called Israel to be His special people, a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. Peter applies that covenant language to the community of believers in Messiah. The movement from darkness into light is therefore connected with God's purpose of establishing a holy people who proclaim His glory. We've discussed this on every new moon. Peter confirmed what Moses said. This concept of a kingdom of priests and a holy nation was found at Mount Sinai, in Exodus 19, because of the commandments.

It's related to the commandments in Exodus 20. In Exodus 19, God spoke about being a holy nation, a set-apart people, His own people. Then He goes on to say in verse 9 of Exodus 19 that He will make the people who believe Moses believe him forever. This means we will believe what Moses wrote about God's law forever, not just until the first or second coming. You can read that in Exodus 19:9. That is when the one new body and the one new man should have begun. We know how the story continued because there were Egyptians and Jews, Jews and Gentiles, crossing the Red Sea. I've said that before. Even Pharaoh's daughter passed through the Red Sea with them, the one who saved Moses. That's in 1 Chronicles 4. You can read it if you read it slowly; you will read that Pharaoh's daughter crossed over with them. So, the point is that He wants all of us to be the sons of the light, the daughters of the light, not of darkness, to follow Him, whether you are Jew or Gentile.

Because there is only one way to worship God, and that is in Exodus. Second Peter 1:19 states, "the day dawns and the morning star rises." This passage is especially interesting in connection with the Day of the Lord. Second Peter 1:19 says, "And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts." Look at Peter's language: "a light that shines in a dark place until the day dawns and the morning star rises." Peter connects prophetic revelation with light shining amid darkness. The imagery of the approaching dawn is particularly meaningful; it suggests movement from darkness towards the fullness of the day. Now, compare this with 1 Thessalonians 5. Paul calls believers children of the day and children of the light. Peter describes the prophetic word as a light shining until the day dawns.

Both passages connect light with spiritual understanding and the hope of what is coming. There is a beautiful progression across the scriptures here. Genesis 1: God creates the light. John 1: The light comes into the world. 1 John 1: God is light. 1 Peter 2: God calls His people out of darkness into the light. 1 Thessalonians 5: His people are children of light. Revelation 20: Judgment precedes the final new creation. Revelation 21: The Lamb is the light of the New Jerusalem. Revelation 22: There is no more night, and God's servants reign forever in the light by the light of the world, Yeshua the Messiah, and the glory of Yahweh. So, the God who separated light from darkness at creation is the same God who calls His people out of darkness through Yeshua and ultimately brings them into His everlasting light. The central message is: In Genesis, God separates light from darkness. In the Gospels, Yeshua reveals Himself as the light of the world.

In the Epistles, believers are identified as children of light rather than darkness. In Revelation, God's redeemed people dwell forever in His everlasting light. And the central thread connecting everything is Yeshua Himself. He is the Word through whom creation came into existence, the Light who entered the world, the One who delivers people from darkness, and the Lamp who illuminates the New Jerusalem. Amen. And amen and amen. Now, let's connect this to the Tree of Life. We are all familiar with the Tree of Life in Genesis 2 and also in Revelation 22. The Tree of Life first appears in Genesis 2:9 after Adam and Eve sinned. Genesis 3:22-24 describes their exclusion from access to the Tree of Life, with cherubim and a flaming sword guarding the way. But Revelation 22:14 describes the redeemed being granted access to that very Tree of Life. In Revelation, this is the final separation of light and darkness that we find from Genesis 1 to Revelation 22.

Verse 14 says, "Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the Tree of Life, and may enter through the gates into the city." Verse 15 says, "But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices a lie." Let's notice the contrast. In verse 14, those who enter have access to the Tree of Life and enter through the gates of the New Jerusalem; they are the ones who keep the commandments, just as verse 14 says. This is at the very back of the book, everybody, the last chapter of the Bible, Revelation 22. And Yeshua still tells everybody, "Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they are the ones who do the commandments to enter the Tree of Life or to take part of the Tree of Life and may enter through the gates into the city." But outside are the ones who are not doing the commandments: the dogs, the Gentiles, the sorcerers, witchcraft, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie or falsehood.

So, there is a great contrast, my friends, between those who have access to the Tree of Life and the New Jerusalem and those who remain outside. They are identified by their allegiance to evil, deception, and unrighteousness, and disobedience. This connects directly with the separation we've traced throughout the entire scriptures. Genesis 3:24: Access is guarded; humanity is expelled from Eden. Revelation 22:14: Access is restored to those who are keeping the commandments and believing in Yeshua the Messiah. The connection with Genesis 1 and John 3 is significant. In Genesis 1:4, God divides the light from the darkness. In Genesis 3:19-21, Yeshua explains that some people love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil, while those who practice truth or the Torah come to the light. In 1 John 1:5-7, John declares that God is light and calls believers to walk in that light. In 1 Thessalonians 5:4-5, Paul distinguishes between children of light and those who are in darkness.

Then, in Revelation 22:14-15, John describes the final separation or distinction between those who are granted entrance into the New Jerusalem and to partake of the Tree of Life, and those who are excluded from it. Again, let's read Revelation 22:14, at the very end of the Bible: "Blessed are those who do His commandments." What are His commandments? The Torah. "That they may enter through the gates of the city. But outside, here's the curse, are the dogs, the Gentiles, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, murderers, idolaters, and everyone or anyone who loves and practices a lie." So, my friends, there is a great separation that is coming between the light and the darkness. The redeemed enter the city and receive access to the Tree of Life. This is a beautiful symmetry. Genesis begins with the creation of light and eventually records humanity's expulsion from Eden. Revelation concludes with the everlasting light, the removal of the curse, and restored access to the Tree of Life.

The connection is particularly striking when we compare John 3:19 with Revelation 22:15. John 3:19 says, "Men love darkness rather than light," or men love disobedience rather than obedience. In Revelation, those outside include whoever loves and practices disobedience, falsehood, a lie. Both passages associate the rejection of God's truth with what people love and practice. Again, what is God's truth? We just read that in the book of John. When you practice truth, you don't practice Yeshua; you practice the Torah, is what it says. So, we have to use our common sense as well. Of course, Yeshua is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. But He said it for a reason: He is the living Torah. Because what we read earlier in John says, "When you practice the truth, what is the truth?" You can't say when you practice Yeshua; how can you practice Yeshua? You can practice what He did, of course, which is following the commandments.

And that's what He's saying: the truth is the Torah. Just like King David said, "The truth is the Torah. The way is the Torah. The life is the Torah." The law. And that's why Yeshua came. John 14:6: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." Well, goodness gracious. How do you come to the Father? Through Yeshua, through the Holy Spirit, and following the Father's commandments. To me, it's pretty simple to understand, but people do love their rebellious behavior, and that's why they're still in darkness, unfortunately. Now, let's go to John 14 and 15. These are two of the most amazing chapters in the New Testament and in the Holy Bible. If our Christian friends would go revisit John 14 and 15 and understand what He is truly saying about either following the commandments or it's going to be the gavel, because that person is in darkness if they're not following Yeshua's commandments, which are His Father's commandments.

If you read John 14 and 15, it's very clear that He says, "He and His Father are one." Ekad, one. What does that mean? They are one. So, His Father's commandments are His commandments. To me, that's pretty simple to understand. But we have too many rebellious Christians out there who do not want to follow the Father's commandments, and they are out of alignment and they are walking in darkness, or excuse me, they *are* darkness, as it says. Not walking in darkness; they *are* darkness if they are not keeping the commandments of God. So, again, that is very simple to understand when you read John 14 and 15. And that's why I hope someone can go revisit that. Whoever is provoked to do that, who might not believe what I'm saying, go read what your Master said in John 14 and 15, and many other passages, but just go to John 14 and 15, and He will be very clear with you on what you need to do and what I need to do to be children of the light and not of the darkness.