“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! ⁵  “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”  Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (NASB)

“ One” Hebrew Word: ‏אֶחָד‎

Transliteration: ʾeḥād ,  Root: a numeral from <H258> (‘achad); probably united, i.e. one;  Strong’s Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary.

If the Lord our God is one (united), He must exist or consist of several (forms) united in such agreement that there is no differentiation except their respective forms. These forms are expressions of Him with tasks assigned requiring those forms. After all God is “I AM, that I AM.” All in all God is revealing Himself to accomplish His will in us.

Yes, “Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!

And yes, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”

How can we possibly do that?

Before Christ:

Was there reconciliation to God without a sacrifice?

What about afterward? How lasting was that reconciliation? Did our hearts truly change?

What if God wanted something more, something better?

What if God wanted to change the focus to our hearts?

Would not one sacrifice have to be set aside for another since the first of bulls and goats did not bring our hearts to God in relationship or lasting repentance? And what were we to repent of? Were we not following the rules?

What sacrifice would be significant enough, meaningful enough, to pierce our hearts?

“And Abraham said, My son [Isaac], God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.”  Genesis 22:8 (KJV) [added for clarity]

Did God provide His own sacrifice that day in the stead of Isaac? (Gen 22:13)

Was not Abraham blessed because of his obedience to offer his son, his only son? (Gen 22: 15-18)

Is it not possible God would provide “Himself” a sacrifice, to again save the potential children of His kingdom, the future seed of blessing?

If God wanted something better between us and Him, by a better sacrifice, would He not also want to teach us how to stay in a relationship with Him after accepting His sacrifice, since the sacrifice can only be given once? (Hebrews 10:10, 7:27, 1 Peter 3:18 NKJV)

So as with Abraham, in providing “Himself” a sacrifice for us, would God not also provide an instructor? Might they be One and the same? Might God go the extra mile for us and then provide “Another” again so aligned with Him that they are One, who is to remain with us after this special Sacrificial Teacher has departed?

What if our heart condition is all that matters in the light of eternity? Has there not been teaching, a sacrifice of all sacrifices, and a helper to provide all we need in order to walk in a broken and contrite heart, to do rightly, love mercy and walk humbly with our God?

Where else but here first, in this life, might we reflect Him and reveal our new heart condition, His presence in us? Is this not to be the result of this “perfect” sacrifice that He Himself, providing Himself, provided for our sake?

Has not a son of Israel spoken, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.”

And again John says, “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. ¹⁵ John [the Baptist, son of Zechariah the priest] testified about Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.'” ¹⁶ For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. ¹⁷ For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.” John 1:14-17 (NASB)

In our flailing attempts toward God, was not grace (from Him) needed? Could grace come accept through truth? Was there not a need for a person, a prophet, a teacher, to speak of the path, the Way to grace, to God?

To empower that grace in us, did we not already believe there had to be a sacrifice first, making a relationship with God possible? Knowing ourselves, did that sacrifice not have to be different, better than that of bulls and goats? Did God have a right to expect better results from us after providing Himself a sacrificial Lamb?

Is God not looking for a work of true repentance in us; a lasting (forever) repentance that renders us a new creation in Him? Does repentance not speak to future sin? If a work (of repentance) exists, yet to be accomplished, does repentance not occur after we have been reconciled to God, and not before?

Is not reconciliation to God where and when our previous sins have been passed over, (Romans 3:25) where and when we come to know of God’s grace toward us? Does this grace not come at a price and for a purpose? Does this purpose not extend beyond being initially forgiven into the realm of the transformation of our heart, our soul? And why is that important except that there is life everlasting and we are to be pre-qualified for it here?

Another son of Israel said, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, [about returning] as some count slackness, but is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 (NKJV)  [for clarity]

So what must we repent of lest we perish?

Is it permitted in heaven? Is it forbidden in heaven? Are these things not written on our hearts?

Have we not been taught? Have we let the Holy Spirit guide us into all truth?

Can it be that we must repent of anything that is short of Love?

Can we allow our love to grow cold? Must our love endure by grace and intercession as Christ’s did?

A unique Jewish Son, a Prophet, a Teacher, our Sacrifice and Resurrected Savior taught,

“Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. ¹³ But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved; ¹⁴ this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:12-14

Our Messiah waits for the transformation that occurs in us AFTER reconciliation. Call upon Him and His Spirit, He is faithful to help.

To you in each nation, PLEASE … forward this post or my other posts to anyone you think of, especially our Jewish friends.

“If we remain in His grip, how far from His heart can we be!”

In the guardianship of Christ,

Michael

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