Heard from the beginning...
Today’s verse is one that popped up in my FB memory yesterday. It struck me in a different way this year because of many things I have learned. I knew immediately that I wanted to share about it, but I also needed time to ponder on what exactly to address. I pray that the video I did explained what I was thinking. I also pray that this blog will share a bit more.
The verse is from I John 2:24-25
Let what you heard from the beginning remain in you. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, you will also remain in union with both the Son and the Father. And this is what he has promised us: eternal life. (CJB)
The line that “hit me” this time is the very first phrase… “Let what you heard from the beginning remain in you.”
What is important and significant about these words? What does “from the beginning” mean?
I wrote something a while back called, “What are the Scriptures?” In this I explained how when the New Testament was written, there was only the Torah used as teachings. The prophets were also read and studied. Obviously only the “Old Testament” was available for reading. The teachings from the New Testament were only available to those to whom they were written!
1st and 2nd Corinthians were available to the Corinthian community. Romans was available to those in Rome. 1st and 2nd Thessalonians were written to the community in Thessaloniki. The writings were not read by everyone else until later, as they began to be dispersed to other communities.
ALL of them had access to the books we know as the “Old Testament.”
So, when they were told to let what they “heard from the beginning REMAIN in you,” it clearly meant everything they knew from Torah!
The verse continues on to say that IF these teachings remain in them, that is what will keep them in union with BOTH the Son and the Father.
How should all of this affect us today, and why is this important?
I believe there needs to be an understanding that the Old Testament and the teachings in it are IMPORTANT! There are hidden pieces and secrets that are missed today because people want to dismiss Torah as “The Law” and we don’t need to follow, “The Law.”
However, it is clear throughout the New Testament that there are many references to the Old Testament and the teachings from GOD that are there. It is clear that we cannot dismiss what God gave His people and say that it is not for today.
ALL of the communities in the New Testament followed the teachings in Torah. Jesus followed the teachings of Torah, and NEVER broke them. He did not change them. He FULFILLED them.
As I have studied and learned the history of the communities of faith, it has been made clear to me that we have missed Truth from the Word. We have been misled and do not truly understand what “the beginning” means.
We can be thankful that we have the complete understanding from Genesis to Revelation. We can be thankful that the Son came to live among the people and teach those He was with. We can be thankful we have Him as the fulfillment - but He did NOT REPLACE the teachings in Torah.
Verse 25 tells us that the promise for “remaining in what we have heard FROM THE BEGINNING” is eternal life.
Today, please take time to stop and think about what you are missing if you do not understand that the Old Testament teachings are ALL over in the New. Take time to think about what the early communities of faith actually participated in as celebrations. Take time to reflect on what truly was “from the beginning.”
I have found that by holding on to the Truths of the Old Testament in a way that I am still FREE in the Son, I have a completely different union and relationship with the Son and the Father.
May we all go “back to the beginning” and ask HIM to show us Truth. Truth that will set us FREE!
Love and blessings,
Rose
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