From the time that God gave Adam and Eve garments made from the skins ^[1] of sheep ^[2], garments have represented works.

The hand is also a symbol of works. Fingertips pas פס represent the distinct works. Joseph 'colourful coat' was a tunic of pasim, or 'distinguishing' works. ^{[3] [4]} Elijah and Elisha shared the mantle as a symbol of sharing the same work. ^[5]

The garments Adam made from leaves did not cover his sin, but the garment of skin owr עור that God gave him was a garment representing the works of Christ. Jesus was the Light of the world. ^[6] The word 'light' owr אור is the same sound as 'skin'. God gave Adam a garment representing the works and Light of Christ.

1. ↑ Ge 3:21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
2. ↑ How do we know it was sheep?
3. ↑ Ge 37:3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he [was] the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of [many] colours.
4. ↑ Joh 19:23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also [his] coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.
5. ↑ 2Ki 2:13 ¶ He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;
6. ↑ Joh 9:5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

Garment of leaves

Adam and Eve's works, in making garments of leaves was insufficient to cover their nakedness (representing sin) before God. They made their aprons from fig leaves. Fig also means lying; their garments teased of a covering, but it was a lie.

Leaves is the word allah עלה, that may sound familiar. It means ascend, burnt offering, and halocaust. They had made a lying allah in the flesh ^[1]. They were attempting to do works to cover their sin.

This insufficiency is made clear again in how much of their nakedness was covered. They made aprons ^[2] or loin clothes. God made tunics ^[3] for them from skins. We can try to cover our sin by making amends, but the offense is still a stain. We require the tunics of God.

1. ↑ Whenever you see the ayin ע in a word, that word is related tot he flesh.
2. ↑ apron חגור - places of concealment חגו revealed ר.
3. ↑ tunic כתנת - like כ the Son of man נ from his beginning purpose to his end ת()ת

There are several words used for generic 'garments'. One is used for the clothing of the priests called beged בגד or garments of deceit. They were costumes to show that they were playing a role as a type of Christ. Beged means 'revelation to man ב that God pursued them ג with the commandment ד'. The drama performed by the priests taught them about God through his law.

The sacrifices did not give grace; ^[1] but a promise of grace through the cross. ^[2]

The sacrifices were a promise of grace, which could not be given until after the instrument of grace was in effect. Only a provisional grace could be given until Christ rose from the dead. Sacrifices never gave grace in the past, and no future sacrifices can be made. Jesus finished the work. ^[3]

1. ↑ Heb 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, [and] not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
2. ↑ Heb 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of [them], and embraced [them], and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
3. ↑ Joh 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

Theologians tell us that Adam was cursed by God as he was thrown out of the garden. He wasn't. The ground was cursed. ^[1] There was no reason for Adam to be cursed. The tree was a symbol of God's holiness.

God is separated from man by ignorance; Elohim. His 'marriage' to man concerns teaching about God, who cannot be seen nor heard. The tree was set apart as 'dinner theater' so that Adam could learn that God is Holy or separated. Adam didn't learn from lesson one, so he was further separated from God as he was put out of the garden. ^[2]

God is not angry at men, but at his sin. ^[3] He does not wish to destroy any. ^[4]

1. ↑ Ge 3:17 ¶ And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed [is] the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat [of] it all the days of thy life;
2. ↑ Ge 3:23 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.
3. ↑ Ro 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.
4. ↑ 2Pe 3:9 ¶ The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Eve's transgression was that she was deceived to think that we are like animals; she thought that anything we do must be good because God made us that way. ^[1]

The woman, representing mankind as the bride of Christ, chosen to learn from him, was deceived by the flesh. The instinct of man is an enemy of God; ^[2] making choices putting the 'self' in the position of God. It makes choices of 'good and bad' and usurps God's position as the one who declares 'good and evil'.

The garments were a perpetual reminder that we are more than animals. The naked body is not sinful. But when one chooses nakedness over clothing, it is a declaration that one is like an animal and can declare good and evil for himself. Pain in childbirth was also not a curse, but a vivid reminder that she was not an animal. ^[3] How so? Pain is generally not associated with bearing young by animals.

1. ↑ Ge 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree [was] good for food, and that it [was] pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make [one] wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
2. ↑ Ro 8:7 Because the carnal mind [is] enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
3. ↑ Ge 3:16 ¶ Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire [shall be] to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

Concerning the Kingdom of heaven there is much confusion. Is it a place in the clouds; an other world-ly place where we go when we die? Is it a Borg-like ship that will descend on Jerusalem?

Without the rules ^[1], there is nothing to guide your interpretation, causing endless debates ^{[2] [3]}with no standard of truth.

The rules say that a symbol must be the same thing everywhere. Notice that this does not say "every where it is used as a symbol". We have no choice when to read it as a symbol or not.

1. ↑ https://sensusplenior.net/wiki/Rules
2. ↑ Ro 1:29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
3. ↑ 2Co 12:20 For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and [that] I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest [there be] debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:

Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven is like leaven. ^[1] Even here there is a controversy because theologians allow leaven to be one thing in one place and another thing in another place. Leaven cannot symbolize sin, as some would have us believe.

Consider: the Hebrews got rid of leaven before Passover ^[2], which is a well-known symbol of the cross. Did they get rid of their sin before the cross? Of course not, or the cross would not have been necessary.

They got rid of their old teaching in preparation for the new teaching. Leaven represents teaching. New cloth on a patch represents new works mixed with old. ^[3] New wine represents new life; wine represents blood and life is in the blood. ^{[4] [5]}, and you can't mix a new life in Christ with your old life. ^[6]

1. ↑ Mt 13:33 Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
2. ↑ Ex 12:15 Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.
3. ↑ Mt 9:16 No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.
4. ↑ Ge 49:11 Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass’s colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes:
5. ↑ Ge 9:4 But flesh with the life thereof, [which is] the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.
6. ↑ Mt 9:17 Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.

The word for 'kingdom' is 'mamlakah' ממלכה. See the lamed ל? The kingdom has something to do with teaching. 'The promise of the Father מ (in heaven and earth x2) teaching ל by the Son of God כ was not understood ה.'

The kingdom is his teaching. Originally he taught in mystery and parables so that people did not understand. ^[1] He could not let them believe before the cross or it would have created a dilemma:

Salvation is by faith in the cross. ^[2]

He taught them of the cross, before the cross. ^[3]

If they had believed and gotten saved, then the cross would not have been necessary.

But without it, there was nothing to believe in.

Now that the mystery has been revealed ^[4], and the work of the cross is complete ^[5], the kingdom can be found in those who have been taught. ^[6]

1. ↑ Mt 13:11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
2. ↑ 1Co 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
3. ↑ Mt 16:21 ¶ From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
4. ↑ Eph 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
5. ↑ Joh 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
6. ↑ Lu 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

The kingdom of heaven is like leaven; teaching. Jesus was the 'unleavened bread' or the 'untaught teacher'. ^[1] There were twelve loaves of shewbread, or bread of his presence in the temple, representing God's people. We are told by some that the bread was leavened because there was a leavened bread presented to the Lord elsewhere. ^[2] Others say that it was unleavened because it was a meat or meal offering. God intentionally did not tell us.

If it was leavened, some would say that we must be taught to be presented to the Lord. This is a common and popular (Gnostic) view among Evangelicals who teach that you must know and believe their doctrine. If it were unleavened, some would deduce that teaching was not necessary. Both positions are wrong.

When we are presented to the Lord, there will be some who have been taught and some who have not been taught. Salvation is of the Lord ^[3], not based on our works (or learning). When we are in his presence, there will be no more teaching about him, because all will know him. ^[4]

1. ↑ Joh 7:15 And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?
2. ↑ Le 23:20 And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the firstfruits [for] a wave offering before the LORD, with the two lambs: they shall be holy to the LORD for the priest.
3. ↑ Jon 2:9 But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay [that] that I have vowed. Salvation [is] of the LORD.
4. ↑ Heb 8:11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.

When Jesus said that the Kingdom of heaven was near ^[1], he was saying that it is here; his teaching was already here.

It is as near as your heart. ^[2] THe Hebrew word for heart is leb לב. It means 'Teaching ל revealed to man ב.

We are separated from God by ignorance Elohim, joined to him by revelation Israel, marriage is a symbol for doctrine, the bride is a symbol for those who are taught by Christ, and the kingdom is teaching, particularly the teaching of Christ and the cross. We have this teaching now.

1. ↑ Mt 3:2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
2. ↑ Mt 13:19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth [it] not, then cometh the wicked [one], and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

There are three heavens: The heaven where birds are, the heaven where stars are, and the heaven where God is ^[1]. This is a common teaching, but it causes confusion. Since the heaven where stars are is above the heaven where birds are, we reason that the heaven where God is must be above the stars. This is false.

Gen 1:1 says that God created the heavens. The word used shamayim שמים is a dual form of 'heaven'. He created two heavens; where the birds are ^[2] and where the stars are. ^[3] But the third heaven is not where God is. "The heaven of heavens cannot contain thee...". ^[4]There is nothing bigger than God to contain God.

If the third heaven was not created; how many things are self-existent? Nothing in the heaven; where the birds are, is self-existent; they were created. Nothing where the stars are is self-existent; they were created. Only God is self-existent; the third heaven is God himself. When you are in the third heaven, you are in God. It is imprecise to say that God is everywhere. It is better to say that everywhere is in God. Nothing is bigger than God. And if everywhere is in God, then every-thing is in God. It is imprecise to say that God is in everything. ^[5]

1. ↑ 2Co 12:2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
2. ↑ Jer 4:25 I beheld, and, lo, [there was] no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled.
3. ↑ De 1:10 The LORD your God hath multiplied you, and, behold, ye [are] this day as the stars of heaven for multitude.
4. ↑ 1Ki 8:27 But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?
5. ↑ Ac 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

The word 'heaven' שמים reflects that we are in God. John says that there are three in heaven who testify: The Father מ, Word ם, and Spirit ש. The word shamem שמם means 'desolate'. Heaven was desolate... God was desolate, until he created, represented by the yod י. ^[1]

Saying that God is desolate sounds like it should be some kind of heresy. It's not. It simply says that God had not yet created. He was not the creator until he created. Notice where creation (the yod י) is: It is between the two mems מים.

Creation י is between the Father מ and the son ם. That is exactly where creation is. It is because the Son's love for the world, that he had to die and be separated from the Father. ^[2]

1. ↑ This does not denegrate God in any way. He was not the creator until he created. It teaches us language.
2. ↑ Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

The center of Jewish life was the temple at Jerusalem. The lamed in 'Temple' heykal היכל means the temple has something to do with teaching. The particular lessons in it's construction and the sacrifices will be covered later. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

Jerusalem ירושׁלם‎ is the 'teaching ירו of peace שלם. Jeru ירו means 'God's י revelation ר made clear ו' or 'Jehovah's יו heart of revelation ר'. God has a heart of revelation or 'teaching'. Jerusalem is the center of God's 'dinner theater' ^[4] or parable used to teach about himself. ^[5]

Jerusalem is not the subject of revelation, it is the prophetic riddle with the fulfillment in Jesus. If you point at the symbol as the completion, you miss the thing intended by the symbol.

1. ↑ Construction of the tabernacle
2. ↑ Construction of the temple
3. ↑ Christ in the sacrifices
4. ↑ History as 'dinner theater'
5. ↑ De 28:37 And thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword, among all nations whither the LORD shall lead thee.

Salem שלם means 'peace'. It's construction is 'reputation שם of teaching ל. Why would we need a teaching of peace?

His name is Elohim; 'God separated from men by ignorance'. The carnal mind; the mind of flesh, is an enemy of God because your instinctive nature usurps God's position of declaring good and evil. By instinct you choose your own way. We even celebrate it in song. ^[1] Peace with God comes by renewing your mind by teaching. ^[2]

Jerusalem is the city that God chose to carry his reputation. (1Ki 11:36) His desired reputation is that he reveals himself and teaches for peace. ^[3]

1. ↑ "I did it my way"- Frank Sinatra, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SXWX6qg0y4
2. ↑ Ro 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
3. ↑ Mt 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

This is the purpose of the temple in Jerusalem. The sacrifices were a symbols of how peace with God was made possible through the death of the Son of God. ^[1]

But the death of Christ was no more notable than the death of any animal, or of any person unjustly condemned. It is his resurrection that sets him apart. It is not the death that gives life, but his resurrected life which gives it. Planting a seed does not give fruit. It is the springing to life from the dead seed which produces.

Can you find symbols of the resurrection of Christ in the temple and sacrifice dramas?

1. ↑ Ro 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

'Temple' היכל means 'wo הי at the Son of God's כ teaching ל'. It was a woeful place as people repented and confessed their sin; but it was in Jerusalem - the teaching of peace with God.

The temple was inside of Jerusalem. The wo of the cross is surrounded by, and engulfed by the teaching of peace. Yet, we so often hear of the death of Christ, and only of his resurrection at Easter. It is not the 'wo' of the cross which saves us. It is the heart of the 'good news'. There is no good news without it. But there is more to the good news than his death.

Peace with God is the 'good news' or the 'gospel'. Jerusalem is a symbol of the Gospel. What happened at Jerusalem? A Holy God was placed in the hands of sinful men to be offered as the sacrifice for sin and produce peace with God. It was a great and terrible day; the day of the cross, the day of the Lord. And now God dwells with men ^[1]

1. ↑ Re 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, [and be] their God.

'Jerusalem' means 'teaching of peace', so the 'New Jerusalem' is the new teaching of peace. ^[1]

When the Hebrews removed leaven from their homes, they were not symbolically removing their sin, but removing the old teaching of the law in preparation for the teaching of peace. ^[2]

During the sermon on the mount, Jesus repeatedly said "You have heard it said... but I say...". ^[3] He was ushering in the new teaching of peace. The kingdom (teaching) of heaven was "at hand". ^[4] It was there in front of them in the teaching of Jesus.

1. ↑ Heb 8:13 In that he saith, A new [covenant], he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old [is] ready to vanish away.
2. ↑ Heb 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, [and] not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
3. ↑ Mt 5:21, 27, 33, 38, 43
4. ↑ Kingdom at hand

John says, "Re 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, ..." This is not literal, but a symbol. You are the temple of God. ^[1]

Re 3:12 "...and he shall go no more out..." You can't leave the temple; you are his. ^[2]

Re 3:12"...and I will write upon him the name of my God" You will have the reputation of God. The word for 'heaven' shamayim שמים is 'the reputation שמ of creation י finished by the son ם. You are the reputation of God. You are the visible representative of the invisible God.

1. ↑ 1Co 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
2. ↑ Joh 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

When Moses return from the mountain with the law, and the people were worshiping a golden calf ^[1], God was going to destroy them all and start over with just Moses. ^[2] Moses interceded saying that the nations would deride God because he could not save his people. It was for God's reputation that they were spared. ^[3]

His reputation is not important because of his ego. It is important because he wishes to be known. Anything that misrepresents God is counter to that purpose. This is why lying and gossip are so serious.

We are not spared because we are good people. We are spared because God's reputation is on the line. He is Holy; he is Love. Revealing the invisible God, is the message of the cross.

1. ↑ Ex 32:4 And he received [them] at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These [be] thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
2. ↑ Ex 32:10 Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.
3. ↑ Ex 32:12 Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people.

The kingdom of heaven is the kingdom of the reputation of God, made through his work in finishing his creation. The New Jerusalem, the new teaching of peace, was the plan from the beginning. ^[1]

The new teaching of peace came down from heaven ^[2], not physically from a high place to a low, but in his incarnation and condescension. God lowered himself so that we might be lifted up. Then he dwelt within us. His teaching is not in words only, but in the lives of his people.

He gives us a new name, a new reputation, that of God himself; we are holy, we are love. Our new name is Israel; man joined to God by revelation.

1. ↑ Re 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
2. ↑ Re 21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,

There is so much confusion about what it means to be 'born again'.

Some believe that joining a church full of Born-againers makes then born again. Some think that having an emotional experience is the key. To some it is not an experience but an obedience in walking an aisle and declaring Christ as Lord. For some it is when the Holy Spirit descends upon you with signs and wonders and you come away speaking in tongues.

The notarikon of the word 'born' yalad ילד makes it's meaning clear.

Born 'Yalad' is the 'hand יד of teaching ל, where 'hand' is a symbol of works. Being born is the work of being taught. We are separated from God by ignorance, "Elohim", and our purpose is to know God.

When you are born [the little child], you are like Adam, even though Adam was with God, he did not know him. ^{[1] [2]} The Tree of the knowledge of good and evil was separated from the other trees as a symbol of God's Holiness. Adam was supposed to learn of God's holiness from it. But instead he chose to usurp God's position by making his own rules. ^[3]

Being born is the beginning of that work of teaching you of God. He began the good work in you, and he will finish it. ^[4]

1. ↑ 1Ki 3:7 And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I [am but] a little child: I know not [how] to go out or come in.
2. ↑ Mt 19:14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
3. ↑ 1Ti 2:14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
4. ↑ Php 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform [it] until the day of Jesus Christ:

Being 'born again' means that you are taught again. Like leaven in the Hebrew Passover, you have put aside the old teaching of the law, and have been taught by Christ of the new teaching of peace, or the New Jerusalem.

Jesus said you must be born of water ים, representing teaching by being the lives of the people who were created י and then finished by the son ם. He said you must also be born of the Spirit, or taught by the Spirit. Incidentally, Spirit ruwach רוח means 'revelation ר clarified ו for understanding ח. It is the Spirit who helps you understand what you have been taught. ^[1]

We are taught once by the suffering of the flesh ^[2] and a second time by the Spirit through the law. ^[3]

1. ↑ Joh 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
2. ↑ Heb 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
3. ↑ Ga 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster [to bring us] unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

How is it that we are born again by the law if the law kills? ^[1] The same law that condemns us condemned Christ and we die together. ^[2]

We are not saved in the death of Christ. But to live again, to be born again, we must die. ^[3] The old man must be put to death ^[4] ; the old teaching put away, so that we may be taught [born] again by his Spirit.

The symbol of being born again is the same teaching of the New Jerusalem, the leaven, the new wine. We must be taught again and have our minds, our thinking changed by his teaching. ^[5]

1. ↑ 2Co 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
2. ↑ Ga 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
3. ↑ Joh 12:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
4. ↑ Ro 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with [him], that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
5. ↑ Ro 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Being born again is the same as being the bride of Christ; you are taught by Christ... by his Spirit. It is the same as being Israel; 'man joined to God by revelation'. It is the same as being a member of the kingdom of heaven; having entered into his teaching.

The word 'ab' אב for father, also means 'green shoot' and 'fruit on a tree'. In it's formation it means 'after he created teh heavens and teh earth א he revealed himself to man ב. He taught! The nature of a father is to produce life. The green shoot is evidence of the Father giving us out first life. The fruit on the tree ( a symbol of the cross) indicates he has given us our second life as well. Being born again is being the fruit of the cross.

When you are taught by Christ, you have the New Jerusalem; the new teaching of peace, within you.

There is more confusion about salvation and what we are saved from. Again notarikon makes the meaning clear. 'His salvation' yasha ישע breaks into 'his flesh יע with the increase of the word ש in his heart (in the middle of the word).

His flesh; his body, is the church ^[1]; the saved. What distinguishes the saved is what is in their heart. ^[2]

The letter shin ש has one leg coming down and two returning. The right leg (vav) is God's word coming to earth. It returns on the left as two zayins ז. This is the increase of the word.

1. ↑ 1Co 12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
2. ↑ Je 17:10 I the LORD search the heart, [I] try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, [and] according to the fruit of his doings.

The saved are those who have a love for the increase of the word. They have a love for teaching and for the taught.

The increase of the word represented by the shin ש also refers to those who have been taught by the word, or as mentioned previously, the bride or the church.

It may be said that the saved are those who love the brethren as well as the word. ^[1]

1. ↑ 1Pe 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, [see that ye] love one another with a pure heart fervently:

When a rich man approached Jesus asking what to do to "inherit eternal life" ^[1], Jesus equated it with "enter the kingdom of God". ^[2] The men hearing him equated it with being saved. ^[3] The answer was that only God could save you.

If salvation is having a love for his teaching and his people, then only God can teach you and give you that love.

The bride does not merely learn from Christ, but loves to learn from Christ. The saved do not merely associate with church goers, but love the fellowship of his mystery. ^[4]

1. ↑ Mr 10:17 ¶ And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
2. ↑ Mr 10:23 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
3. ↑ Mr 10:26 And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?
4. ↑ Eph 3:9 And to make all [men] see what [is] the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

What then are you saved from? You are saved from being separated from God by ignorance: Elohim אלהים. His purpose is to make himself known. He does that through revelation ר and teaching ל.

What then? Are we saved by teaching? No! The cross is the culmination of the revelation of God. If there was no cross, there could be no teaching; but it would have been the greatest tragedy if Jesus had died on the cross and no one knew it. The cross brought the revelation of holiness and the revelation of love together. It is the cross which makes the teaching effectual.

"The preaching of the cross is ... the power of God unto salvation..." ^[1]

1. ↑ 1Co 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

What is the teaching or preaching of the cross? ^[1] A typical short answer is: Jesus died for your sins.

You can already discern, in the context of the discussion on teaching, that there is something missing here. It does not answer the question of "How does the preaching of the cross reveal the invisible Father? Remember, man is separated from God by ignorance: Elohim.

How does the death of Jesus make the Father known if no one learns who Jesus is? ^{[2] [3]} How will they know of the culmination of the teaching if they don't learn of the cross? ^[4] Without the teaching or preaching of the cross, the cross was pointless.

Jesus told his disciples to go into all the world teaching... ^[5] If you are not making the invisible Father known, then what is your point? What have you decided is more important?

1. ↑ 1Co 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
2. ↑ Joh 10:30 I and [my] Father are one.
3. ↑ Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
4. ↑ Ro 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
5. ↑ Mt 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Most theologians agree on some central points:

1. It is the culmination of God's revelation.

2. It is where Gods holiness and his love meet.

3. It is where one may be set free from the penalty and power of sin.

However, the use of the words is where the agreement ends.

If it is the 'culmination of God's revelation', why do they look for bigger and greater revelation in some end times event? ^[1]Now they may shy away from confessing that the "end times" are bigger and greater, but 'culmination means 'climax'. Certainly the way the Book of Revelation is preached is as the climax of all human history.

What does it mean that holiness and love meet? To some it means that the Father (of Old Testament fame), who is mean and judgemental, meets the Son (of New Testament fame), who is gentle and kind. The Father killed the Son, whom he loves more than anything, to show us how much he loves us, though it isn't as much as he loves the Son. This is not real encouraging if you think about it.

What is the penalty of sin? Is it consequences in this world? Death? Eternal separation from God forever? Writhing pain and anguish in a burning hell forever? Among theologians there is no agreement.

What is the power of sin? An inability to control one's desires? A possession by an evil entity?

As these questions are placed in the context of the foundational truth; that man is separated from God by ignorance: Elohim, the answers to these questions will become clear. The preaching of the cross is more than: Jesus died for your sins. ^{[2] [3]}

1. ↑ Such as the coming tribulation , anti-Christ, rapture, and end of the world?
2. ↑ Mt 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
3. ↑ Lu 4:4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.