Are You Becoming Set Apart
from Evil?
"It
is Yahweh's will that you become set apart from evil (hagiasmos), that
each one of you keep from doing sexual law breaking. Each one must
understand how to gain mastery over their own bodies in a way that is
separate from evil (hagiamo), and honorable, do not walk in an evil way
seeking your own evil desires as those of the nations do, those who do
not know Yahweh!" (1Thessalonians 4:3-5).
The Greek word hagiasmos is
sometimes translated sanctification, sometimes holiness; it comes from
the word hagios which is usually translated holy or pure. The literal
meaning is separation from all that defiles or is evil; and therefore set
apart to Yahweh. (Vines Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words
pg.307). Other forms of hagios are translated purify, hallowed, sacred,
sanctuary, saint.
We are to become set apart
from evil so that our whole desire will be to obey Yahweh's
commandments (John 15:9-17).
The New Covenant teaches that we are freed from the written law (Law of
Moshe; Acts 15:1-35). We are
free from the written law only if we walk in obedience to the Spirit of
Yahweh, offering ourselves as instruments of righteousness because we are
not in the power of the written law, but in the power of unmerited favor (grace)
(Romans 6).
"The
written law was given for law breakers (those who disobey Yahweh), for
the unrighteous, for those who defile (do evil), for those who kill
parents, for men-killers, for sexual law breakers (sinners), for
perverts, for men-stealers, for liars, for those who give false witness
and any other thing that opposes sound teaching according to the good
news which is the honor of our Praised Elohim (God)" (1Timothy
1:8-11).
"Therefore
is the written law against the promises of Yahweh? May it never be! If
however there had been a written law given which could give us life
(eternal), truly righteousness would have come by the written law. But
scripture has shut up (enclosed) all things in the power of law breaking
(sin) so that the promise, which is by belief and trust (faith) in
Yahshua the Messiah, will be given to those who believe. But before
belief and trust (in the Messiah) came, we were guarded, being shut up in
the power of the written law, until belief and trust in Yahshua was to be
revealed. So the written law was our instructor (guardian) to lead us to
the Messiah, so that by belief and trust (faith) we would be justified.
Now that belief and trust (in the Messiah) has been revealed we are no
longer under a guardian, because we are all children of Yahweh through
belief and trust in the Messiah Yahshua. Therefore all who were immersed
in water in the Messiah (Romans 6:3-11) have put on the Messiah"
(Galatians 3:21-27).
No one can truly serve
Yahshua until they have a desire to obey Yahweh with their whole being!
Yahweh's ten living words (Ten Commandments) were written by Yahweh on
stone tablets in the Old Covenant, but in the New Covenant they are
written on the human heart by the Spirit of Yahweh! (2 Corinthians 3:3). This is in
fulfillment of Jeremiah 31:31-34,
and is witnessed to in Hebrews 8:8-13,
10:15-39.
If we truly want to follow
Yahshua and become set apart from evil so that we can obey Yahweh, then
we must first execute our fallen evil nature (Romans 6:1-23, Galatians
2:8-21, 5:24-25). This is what Yahshua meant by denying our self, (self
is the seat of authority of our evil fallen nature) and picking up our
execution stake (cross) so that we will be able to follow Him (Matthew
16:24). Then we must set ourselves apart from the world; listen to
Yahshua's prayer to Yahweh; "I
have given them Your Word, and the world hated them, because they ARE NOT
OF THIS WORLD! I do not request that You take them out of the world, but
that You KEEP THEM FROM EVIL. They are not of this world, AS I (YAHSHUA)
AM NOT OF THIS WORLD, set them apart from evil (hagiason) in the
truth, Your (Yahweh's) WORD IS THE TRUTH! As You have sent Me into the
world, I also send them into the world and on their behalf, I SET MYSELF
APART FROM EVIL (hagiazo) so that they will also BE SET APART FROM
EVIL (ehagiasmenoi) in the truth! Not only concerning these do I
make requests, but also all those who believe in Me through their words,
so that all (those who believe in Yahshua) will become one, even as You
Father are in Me and I am in You! (John 17:14-22).
The world is full of evil
pleasures and those who take part in this evil will not see Yahweh's
kingdom (1John 1:15-17).
This present world is controlled by the adversary (Satan) (Ephesians 2:1-3, John 12:31) and all
unbelievers (those who don't believe in Yahweh) minds are blinded by the
adversary from understanding the good news of Yahshua (2 Corinthians 4:3-4).
"Therefore
be obedient to Yahweh, resist the accuser (Satan) and this one will flee
from you. Come near to Yahweh and Yahweh will come near to you. Wash your
hands you law breakers and separate from evil (hagnisate) your hearts you
with a divided inner being (soul). Grieve, cry out and shed many tears.
Change your laughter into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble
yourselves in the presence of the Master (Yahshua) and He will lift you
up" (James 4:7-10).
We will not only be judged by
our works, but by our self sacrifice to Yahweh, which includes being set
apart from this evil world and being obedient to Yahweh from the depths
of our inner being!
Who is truly willing to serve
Yahweh as Yahshua did? He lived His life in TOTAL obedience to Yahweh's
will (this is what He lived for!). If you are willing to surrender your
life to Yahshua, then execute your fallen evil nature along with all of
its evil desires and offer your self as a living sacrifice to Yahweh.
"Therefore
I urge you brothers, through the loving kindness of Yahweh, offer your
bodies as living sacrifices, set apart from evil (hagian) and well
pleasing to Yahweh, this is your reasonable act of worship. Do not be
conformed any longer to this present age, but be transformed by the
renewing of your mind, so that you will be able to test what the desire
of Yahweh is, that which is good, well pleasing, and the complete desire
of Yahweh!" (Romans 12:1-2).
"Come
my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of Yahweh. Whoever
loves life and desires to see many days, keep your tongue from evil; your
lip from speaking lies. Turn away from evil and do what is good; seek
peace, yes, pursue it!" The eyes of Yahweh are on those who are
righteous; Yahweh hears their cry. But the face of Yahweh is set
against all those who do evil; their names will be erased from the
earth" (Psalm 34:11-17).
"Beloved
(of Yahweh) do not be surprised at the fiery ordeals which come upon you
to test you, as though some strange thing were happening to you. But
rejoice as you share in the sufferings of the Messiah, so that you will
also rejoice and be lifted up when His honor is revealed. If you are
insulted because of the Name of the Messiah, happy are you, because the
honor of the Spirit of Yahweh rests upon you. Do not let anyone of you
suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil doer, or a meddler in
another's affairs, but if you suffer for believing in the Messiah, do not
be ashamed, but honor Yahweh in this Name! Because the time has come for
judgment to begin with the household of Yahweh and if it begins with us,
what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the good news of Yahweh?
If the righteous ones are delivered with difficulty, what will become of
the unrighteous and law breakers? Therefore those who suffer
according to Yahweh's desire (will) let them entrust their inner beings
(soul) to the faithful Creator, and do what is right!" (1 Peter
4:12-19).
"I
saw no temple in it (New Yarushalom) because Yahweh the Almighty and the
Lamb are the temple! The city needs no sun, nor moon in order that it
will be lit up, because the honor and power of Yahweh is its light and
its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk through it light and the
kings of the earth will bring their honor into it. The gates will never
be shut by day and there will be no night, and the nations will bring
their honor and everything of value into it. Nothing unclean (that which
is not hagios) will enter into it, nor those who make objects of disgust,
and who speak falsely, but only the ones whose names are written in the
Book of Life of the Lamb! (Revelation 21:22-27).
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