A STUDY OF IMMERSION/BAPTISMS
THE WALK OF PURITY
By: Peggy Pryor
Part Four: THE SECOND COVENANT/KINGDOM OF GOD

When we speak of the "New Covenant" or "Second Covenant" just what are we talking about? The First Covenant that was given to Moses for the people on Mount Sinai was a covenant that was writton on stone. There was a legend that the stone the commandments were written on was blue sapphire weighing 40 sa'ah/670 pounds each (The Midrash Says by Rabbi Moshe Weissman: Benai Yakov Pubications). We see that blue was used a great deal in the declaration of the tabernacle. Sapphire was one of the stones that was used on the breastpiece of judgement worn by the priest to represent the twelve tribes of Israel. We see it also used as the second of the twelve foundations in the new Jerusalem. The sapphire stone represents, according to the Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, "showing forth, speaking out, or marking as a tally or record". This certainly is a description of the commandments.

      The commandments were written, by the finger of God, in such a fashion that one could read them from either side of the stone. As you can see, for Moses to carry them down the mountain was a supernatural event. The Second Covenant was spoken of by the prophet Jeremiah as a covenant written on the hearts of men not stone. In Jeremiah 31:31-33 it is written:

"Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: {32} Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: {33} But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people".

      The kingdom of God or second covenant came into the hearts of men at the festival of Shavuot/Pentecost. Spiritually, the temple is our body. We are to take great effort to make sure our temple is pure. In II Corinthians 6:16 it is written:

"And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people".

      Three things were required to establish a covenant ... sacrifice, immersion, circumcision. The second covenant was established on these three principles just as the covenant God made with Moses and the people at Mount Sinai. God told Moses to have the people consecrate/purify themselves by sacrifice and immersion. They were already circumcised through the command given to Abraham and his descendents. The gentile/non-Jew that was living with them was also responsible to carry out these commands. In Numbers 15:15 it is written:

"One ordinance shall be both for you of the congregation, and also for the stranger that sojourneth with you, an ordinance forever in your generations: as ye are, so shall the stranger be before the LORD".

      The sacrifice for the second convenant is Yeshua, the perfect Passover lamb. Not only did Yeshua fulfill all that was required of a Passover Lamb but He also was the perfect hata'at/sin offering, olah/burnt offering, and minchah/bread offering, sh'lamim/peace offering and asham/guilt offering. The immersion required is the immersion into Messiah, and the circumcision is of the heart. In Colossians 2:11 it is written:

"In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Messiah".

So What Was Yochanan HAamatvil/John The Immerser Doing?

      In John 1:6-8 it is written:

"There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. {7} The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. {8} He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light."

      Yochanan haMatvil/John the Baptist was seen by the people as bringing the covenant just as his predecessor Elijah had done. It is the understanding of the people that before Messiah can come Elijah must come to prepare the way. Even today in the Passover Seder, there is a place set at the table for Elijah and during the evening a child is sent to the door to see if Elijah is coming. When they do not see him, they answer "next year in Jerusalem". Yochanan haMatvil/John the Baptist was born on Passover six months before his cousin Yeshua. (for documentation of this consult Luke the first Chapter and I Chronicles 24, taking note as to when Zachariah from the family of Abijah would be serving in the Temple and adding nine months.) The last place we see Elijah in scripture is on the banks of the Jordan river being taken to heaven in the chariot of God. The first place we see Yochanan haMatvil/John the Baptist in his ministry is on the banks of the Jordan river announcing the new covenant ... the kingdom of God is at hand. He plainly said that he was preparing the way for this covenant. Just as Moses had brought the people out of Egypt to Mount Sinai to meet with God to accept the covenant.

In Exodus 19:10 it is written: "And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and immerse/sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes"

      As you can see God commanded the people to prepare themselves for the meeting by immersion/ritual purification of themselves and their garments. Yochanan haMatvil/John the Baptist is telling the people to prepare themselves to meet the Messiah and receive the new covenant. The act of immersion into repentance was necessary for ritual purity. Immersion was also necessary to elevate them to a higher state of Holiness to enter into the kingdom.

      Yochanan haMatvil/John the Baptist was not a reincarnation of Elijah. There is not a teaching in the Bible that substantiates such an idea. Yochanan haMatvil/John the Baptist had been given the same assignment or anointing as Elijah, to prepare the people for the kingdom. As we have seen, those people just as we do today, need a time of reflection and repentance in order to partake of the things of our Lord, the kingdom of God, just as the people prepared themselves each time to enter the Temple by going through a mikvah. Yochanan haMatvil/John the Baptist is telling the people they must do the same. In order to move on in God, we must strive for a higher degree of holiness, (without holiness no man shall see God). Just as the priests were immersed/installed into the priesthood, we today are kings and priest to our God and must be cognizant of our place in holiness. We must remember that the water does not defile and the water does not purify ... it is heart attitude. Just as the niddah and the proselyte had to have intention, so must we. We can never immerse ourselves enough to wash away our sins. Only the Blood of Yeshua can do that. We will never work our way to heaven by just doing the commandments, we arrive by faith.

      We see an incident in Acts 2 that has produced many different understandings and several denominations. I would like to comment on it. In Acts 2 it is written:

"And when the festival of Shavu'ot/Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. {2} And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. {3} And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. {4} And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance".

      When God met with the ones that came out of Egypt on Mount Sinai to confirm the covenant with them, He spoke to them out of a cloud. In Exodus 19:16-18 it is written:

"And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled. {17} And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount. {18} And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.

      This was a very impressive event to the people. The Lord knows how to get our attention and He sure had their attention. The Lord is speaking to them the covenant, part of this covenant is what we commonly call the "Ten commandments". The text actually says in Hebrew that He spoke to them with the voice of words and gives the idea that the words were visible...such as tongues of fire. In Hebrews 12:18 it is written:

"For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, {19} And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard entreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: {20} (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: {21} And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:"

      On the festival of Shavu'ot/Pentecost, which means Feast of Harvest, The Lord is giving the new covenant to the people. They are at the Holy Temple area as they would be to participate in this great feast day. Suddenly, there came a sound from the sky like the roar of a violent wind, and it filled the whole area. Then they saw what looked like tongues of fire, which separated and came to rest on each one of them. After the covenant had been confirmed, Shimon/Peter stands to give an explanation of what has happened. They have been offered the new covenant, they are experiencing a higher degree of holiness with elevated status in the kingdom. The natural thing to do would be to be immersed, just as the Lord had commanded before meeting with the people on Mount Sinai. In Acts 2:41 it is written:

"Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls".

      It has greatly been debated how three thousand people could be immersed in one day. But lets remember that we are at the Holy Temple area where there are many mikvot/immersion baths. Each person entering the Holy Temple would be immersed in a mikvah so there was ample mikvot for each person to be immersed. On some feast days as many as ten thousand people would enter the Holy Temple area. The text indicates a house, so the assumption has been made over the years that it was a literal house. This has caused some confusion as to how those passing by would be able to witness this great event ... hear the different languages etc. The simple fact is that the Temple was also called a house. We even use that term today for a church ... house of God.

Immersion Into Messiah

      Immersion into Messiah is different than immersion into repentance. In Ephesians 4:5 it is written:"One Lord, one faith, one baptism".

      The immersion into Messiah is to install a person into the priesthood, the kingdom and elevate that person to a higher degree of holiness. Just as Aaron and his sons that were to become Kohen/priests were immersed as an act of "change of status", when we enter the kingdom of God, we are undergoing a change in status. In Revelation 1:6 it is written:

"And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

      It is an act of accepting the new covenant. Yochanan haMatvil/John the Baptist immersion was an immersion of repentance to prepare the people to be ritually pure.

In Acts 19:1 it is written:

"And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, {2} He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Spirit since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Spirit. {3} And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. {4} Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Messiah Yeshua. {5} When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Adonai Yeshua".

A good example of immersion into Messiah is recorded in Acts 8. There is a devout Ethiopian man returning from worship at the Holy Temple in Yerushalayim/Jerusalem reading from Yeshayahu/Isaiah. By the way this man was not a eunuch, if he were he would not have been allow to worship in the Holy Temple and the scripture states that he was returning from worshiping. In Acts 8:27 it is written:

"...and had come to Jerusalem for to worship".

      Adonai sent Philip to tell him about Messiah helping him to understand and expanding on the passage in Yeshayahu/Isaiah 53:7,8 as to the deity of Yeshua. In Acts 8:35 its is written:

"Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Yeshua. {36} And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the Ethiopian said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? {37} And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Messiah Yeshua is the Son of God. {38} And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the Ethiopian; and he baptized him."

      This man was ritually pure, but he wanted to accept the covenant of Messiah and attain a change of status, doing so by immersion.

      The account of Rav Sha'ul/Paul accepting the covenant in Messiah is another example of immersion into Messiah. As soon as he realized who Messiah was He wanted to be immersed for a change of status. In Acts 9:18 it is written:

"And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized".

      Peter was summoned by the Ruach haKodesh/Holy Spirit to present the covenant to the Goyim/Gentiles. This was an amazing thing to the Jews ... that the covenant would be offered to the pagan world. Adonai in the vision he gave Shimon/Peter of the sheet filled with unclean things was to show Shimon/Peter that he was cleansing the goyim/gentiles. The vision does not do away with the dietary laws as stated in Leviticus 11 as has been the teaching in the Christian world. The vision was only understood by Shimon/Peter after the men arrived from Cornelius of Caesarea. In Acts 10:44-48 it is written:

"While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. {45} And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit. {46} For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, {47} Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Spirt as well as we? {48} And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days".

      After the covenant had been presented to Cornelius and his group on be half of the whole pagan world, The Holy spirit confirmed the covenant by descending. The most natural thing for Cornelius and his group was to accept the covenant of Messiah by immersion.

      How does immersion relate to us now...believers in Messiah without the temple in force? Emerging from the Mikvah is very much like a process of rebirth. The Mikvah represents the womb. When a person enters the Mikvah, he is reentering the womb, and when he emerges, he is as if "born again". Thus he attains a completely new status. In John 3:3 in the Jewish New Testament version, Yeshua is having a conversation with a righteous man by the name of Nicodemus who has asked how to enter the kingdom of heaven. Yeshua answered him:

"I tell you that unless a person is born again from above he cannot see the Kingdom of God." (4) Nicodemus said to him, "How can a grown man be 'born again' can he go back into his mother's womb and be born a second time? (5) Yeshua answered, "Yes, born from water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God."

      The womb is a place that is completely free from all concepts of tumah/ritual impurity. A baby enters the world in complete purity, and there is no way in which he can be defiled while in the womb. Thus when an individual enters the Mikvah, he leaves all tumah/ ritual impurity behind and comes forth as a new, ritually purified person. In a sense, water represents the womb of creation. When a person immerses in the Mikvah, he is placing himself in the state of the world yet unborn, subjecting himself totally to God's creative power. Immersing then nullifies ego and asks " What am I?" Ego is the essence of permanence, while water is the essence of impermanence. When a person is ready for the mighty hand of God to replace his ego with a question, "What am I?", then he is also ready to be reborn with its answer. When a person enters the Mikvah he subjugates his ego to God. Another way of looking at the immersion is a state of non-existence or non-life, an environment where a person cannot live. If a person stays submerged for any length of time he will die form lack of air. Since breath is the essence of life, this is placing him in non-existence or non-life. According to Torah, if a person stops breathing he is no longer considered among the living. Upon entering the Mikvah, a person momentarily enters the realm of the nonliving, so upon emerging, he is like one reborn.

      The Mikvah also represents the grave. When a person immerses, he is temporarily in a state of nonliving, and when he emerges, he is resurrected with a new status. The representation of immersion as both womb and grave is not a contradiction. Both are places of non-breathing, and are end points of the cycle of life. Indeed, it is interesting to note that the Hebrew word kever, which usually means a "grave" is also occasionally used for the womb. Both are in the cycle of birth and death, and when a person passes through one of these, he attains a totally new status.

      Please remember that there is not enough water to wash away our sins or to make us righteous, only the blood of Yeshua can do that. Ultimately all purification comes from God and His gracious kindness. In Titus 3:5 it is written:

"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit"

      In Hebrews 10:22 it is written:

"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".

      All that we have seen up to now seems to be a rehearsal for the time that Messiah will catch us away for the great wedding. The first miracle that Messiah performed was to turn the purification water into wine at the wedding in Cana. We might consider all the times that we go through the immersion/purification process as a rehearsal for the time that the bride will be presented to Messiah without spot or blemish. We will receive our glorified body and join Him for the great festivities. In Ephesians 5:25b-27 (Jewish New Testament version) it is written:

Messiah loved the Messianic Community, indeed, gave himself up on its behalf {26} in order to set it apart for God, making it clean through immersion in the mikvah, so to speak, {27} in order to present the Messianic Community to himself as a bride to be proud of, without a spot, wrinkle, or any such thing, but holy and without defect

      We might ask, "why does Messiah have a bride"? Yeshua fulfilled Torah completely as we have previously stated. In Genesis 1:28, there is a commandment to marry. To understand more about the wedding of the bride to Messiah, we must look at the Jewish wedding ceremony that was performed in ancient Israel.

      There was not any dating or courtship or even teenage years as we think of today. A boy became a man at age 13 when he had his Bar-Mitzvah (son of the commandment). A girl also went through a ceremonial Bat-Mitzvah (daughter of the commandment) at age 12 or 13 declaring she had reached the age of religious majority. Marriage was a practical legal matter which was established by contract and carried through by exacting procedure. The marriage ceremony consisted of two parts kiddushin/betrothal and nissu'in/marriage proper. A form of these customs exist today in the Jewish wedding ceremony.

      A young Jewish man would select a young Jewish lady or perhaps his parents would select a young Jewish lady that they thought would make him a good wife. In some cases, the selection was made while the children were quite young. Sometimes a person called a "Matchmaker" would make the arrangements for the families. The Broadway play "Fiddler on the Roof" gives us a glimpse into the roll that a matchmaker would play.

      The young man would go to the house of the young lady with a marriage contract. This contract or covenant is a true legal agreement giving the terms of the marriage proposal. We might call this today kiddushin/betrothal. The price that the young man was willing to pay for this bride was the most important consideration of the contract. In parts of the world today there is still a "bride price". The old saying "put your money where your mouth is" was surely true in this case.

      He would ask the young lady and her father to read the contract. If the terms were suitable, the bride and groom would drink a cup of wine together thus sealing the contract and they were betrothed. This cup is of great importance. If the bride chose not to enter into this agreement, she would not drink the cup. The kiddushin/betrothal period is considered a sacred relationship. The bride is consecrated to her husband and forbidden to all others during the betrothal. This contract is so binding that a divorce is needed for dissolution. The groom, by drinking the cup, signifies his willingness to sacrifice in order to have this bride.

      After drinking the cup, the groom would pay the price. The price was set so that the new bride would be a costly item and not just a modest token. The young man had no delusions that he was getting something for nothing. He would pay dearly to marry this girl. Genesis 29 is an example of the "bride price". Jacob worked seven years for Rachel, then is tricked into marrying Leah, then must work another seven years for Rachel. Fourteen years of labor is a very high price. The price that Messiah paid for us is even higher ... He gave His very life as the "bride price".

      After the transactions were concluded, the groom would depart. But before leaving, he would make a speech to his bride ... "I go to prepare a place for you". He would return to his fathers house to prepare a honeymoon cottage for his bride. There was never a doubt in the bride's heart that he would not return for her. She knew that he would return for her because of the high price he had paid. We can be just as sure that Messiah will return for us, just as He has promised, because of the high price he has paid for us.

      The wedding would take place at the father's house. After the wedding, the bride and groom would stay in the honeymoon cottage for a period of seven days. The guests would be having a great party during this time. When the seven days were completed, the bride and groom would return to the brides house for another party. We see a parallel here to the seven year period when we will be at the Father's house while the tribulation or the "birth pains of the Messiah" is transpiring on the earth. In Luke 21:36 it is written:

"Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man".

      In Revelation 19:7-8 it is written:

"Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife has made herself ready. {8} And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine line is the righteousness of saints".

      After that time, we will return to the earth with our bridegroom for the reign of a thousand years. In Revelation 19:14 it is written:

"And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean"

      Yeshua, our bridegroom, has gone on to His father's house after He brought the covenant/marriage contract, drank the cup and paid the price. In Luke 22:20 it is written:

"Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you"

      The announcement that He made to His disciples is very much like the words of a Jewish bridegroom. In John 14:1 it is written:

"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. {2} In my Father's house are many rooms: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. {3} And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."

      During the kiddushin/betrothal period, there were "friends of the bridegroom". One was assigned to the groom and one to the bride. Yochanan HaMatvil/John the Immerser declares that he is the "friend of the Bridegroom". In John 3:29, it is written:

"He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled"

      The "friend of the bride" was responsible for the bride. At the wedding, the friend of the bride was to present the bride to the groom. He was to make sure that the bride had remained pure and acted as a liaison between the bride and the groom. We know that the "friend of the bride" is the Holy Spirit. In Romans 8:26 it is written:

"Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered"

      This person also gave gifts to the bride. In this, we see a beautiful picture of the works of the Holy Spirit with us today. He has given us wonderful gifts ... the gifts of the Spirit. Not only gifts of the Spirit but beautiful attributes also. In Galations 5:22-26 it is written:

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith {23} Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. {24} And they that are Messiah's have crucified the flesh with affections and lusts. {25} If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. {26} Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another"

      In Ephesions 4:11-12 it is written:

"And he gave some, apostles: and some, prophets: and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; {12} For the prefecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Messiah"

      While in the kiddushin/betrothal period the bride had the responsibility to beautify herself. She would purchase expensive oils and perfume and had a detailed beautification regiment that she strictly adhered to. In I Peter 3:3-4 it is written:

"Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel: {4} But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not ocrruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is the sight of God of great price"

      We today have that responsibility also, to beautify ourselves with the gifts of the Spirit. We are in the kiddushin/betrothal period with our bridegroom Messiah and the Holy Spirit is keeping us pure and will soon present us to Messiah at the wedding. In II Corinthians 11:2 it is written:"For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Messiah."

      The Holy Spirit also has the job of pointing out sin in our lives that we are not even aware of in some cases, and pointing the way to Messiah for cleansing of that sin. In Genesis 24, there is a picture of Avraham/Abraham sending his servant, to a far land to bring a wife back for his son, Yitzchak/Isaac. We can see in this passage that Avraham/Abraham is a type of God the Father. The son of Avraham/Abraham, Yitzchak/Isaac is a type of Yeshua, the bride Rebekah is a picture of us, mankind in a far and pagan country. The servant is a picture of the Holy Spirit and his work to present us to the son of promise.

      Avraham/Abraham's servant gave to Rebekah gifts of golden bracelets and a nose ring. The servant escorted the bride on the long journey to the father's house protecting her from all harm. When she saw her bridegroom, she knew who he was instantly, jumped from the camel's back and ran to him. Likewise, we are on that long journey but not alone, we are being escorted by the "friend of the bride" the Holy Spirit. I am sure that on the long journey Rebekah asked the servant many questions about the man with whom she would spend the rest of her life. In like manner, we have questions from time to time about what Messiah is like and what heaven is like. When we arrive, we will fly to Messiah in a moment and in a twinkling of an eye.

      While we are in this waiting period, we are being immersed daily in the spiritual mikvah by the Holy Spirit to prepare us for the day when we will be presented to Yeshua our bridegroom. The Holy Spirit is writing the covenant on our hearts each day and cleansing us by that word. In Ephesians 5:25b-27 Jewish New Testament version) it is written:

Messiah loved the Messianic Community, indeed, gave himself up on its behalf {26} in order to set it apart for God, making it clean through immersion in the mikvah, so to speak, {27} in order to present the Messianic Community to himself as a bride to be proud of, without a spot, wrinkle, or any such thing, but holy and without defect

      In Ephesians 1:17 it is written:

"That the God of our Adonai Messiah Yeshua, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him"

      Not only will we be wed to our Messiah but we will participate in His coronation as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. In Revelation 22:14 (Jewish New Testament) it is written:

"How blessed are those who wash their robes, so they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city"

      A beautiful picture of both the wedding and the coronation is found in Psalm 45 as it is written:"To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, for the sons of Korah, Maschil, A Song of loves. My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer. {2} Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever. {3} Gird thy sword upn thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty. {4} And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things. {5} Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies; whereby the people fall under thee. {6} Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. {7} You love righteousness and hate wickedness: therefore, God, your God, has annointed thee with the gladness above thy fellows. {8} All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of thy ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad. {9} King's daughters were among your honourable women: upon your right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir. {10} Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father's hosue; {11} So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him. {12} And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall entreat thy favour. {13} The king's daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold. {14} She shall be brought unto the king in raiment and needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee. {15} With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the king's palace. {16} Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom you may make princes in all the earth. {17} I will make your name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever"

      We that make up the bride of Messiah have a responsibility to prepare ourselves for that role. Each time we drink the cup of communion we are reaffirming the marriage contract that we have with our Messiah. In I Corinthians 11:24 it is written:

"And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me"

      Each time we enter the spiritual mikvah, we are renewing our mnd and becoming more like Messiah. In Romans 12:2 it is written:

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God"

      Immersion in the mikvah is an outward sign of the changes that the Holy Spirit is making in our hearts. An outward sign is death to self and selfish motives. An outward sign of the blessed day when we will all be changed into our glorified bodies. An outward sign of the changes of status, going from one level of holiness to another. As we beautify our spirits with the gifts and fruit of the Holy Spirit and we asked Him each day to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, we enter the spiritual mikvah.

      Will you make a decision to immerse as an outward sign of the many changes that the Holy Spirit, "friend of the bride" is doing in your life?

      In light of what we have seen ... do we need to immerse ourselves today? Do we have any times we need to repent? Is there any desire to achieve a higher degree of holiness? The answer is yes just as in a marriage covenant the vows are renewed and reaffirmed, we need to renew and reaffirm our covenant with Messiah. How often? You pray and ask Adonai!

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