The Joy Of Their Salvation

How can believers remember the joy of their salvation?

Purim is a two-day chag (religious celebration) that celebrates the Jewish people being saved from annihilation throughout the Persian Empire.  The story of this salvation is found in the book of Esther.

The Jewish people have kept Purim each year to remember the joy of their salvation (Esther 9:20-22).  So, every year many Jewish people throw a Purim party.

Jewish believers still do this in following the example of Paul the Jew (Shaul aka Saul aka The Apostle Paul) who taught Jewish believers living among the Gentiles to continue to keep the customs of the Jewish people and circumcise their children (Acts 21:24).  However, he did not teach Gentile believers that they needed to keep these customs (Acts 21:25).

Paul the Jew said that everyone who was circumcised to be marked as part of the Jewish people was obligated to keep all the commandments of the Law of Truth (Torah aka The Law) (Galatians 5:3).  This applied him as well, for he had been circumcised to mark him as part of the Jewish people (Philippians 3:4-6).

Therefore Paul the Jew had to keep the commandments of custom, but the Gentile believers were not obligated to do so.  Yet, the Gentile believers could keep many of these customs if they wanted to do so, like those who kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread with him in Philippi (Acts 20:6).

So, Gentile believers can celebrate Purim if they want to, but why should they?

First, all Gentiles who joined themselves to the Jewish people were invited to join in the joy of the salvation of the Jewish people when Purim was established in a second letter (Esther 9:26-29).  In like manner, the Gentiles have joined the Jewish people in the joy of their salvation through a second covenant (Ephesians 3:5-6).

All Gentle believers have joined themselves to the Jewish people through faith in the Man of Truth (Yeshua HaMashiach aka Jesus Christ) (Romans 11:13-18).  His blood has caused them to come near to the Commonwealth of Israel (Ephesians 2:11-13).

Secondly, salvation of the Gentiles came through the Jewish people (John 4:22).  Salvation could not be given to the Gentiles until after it was given to the Jewish people (Romans 1:16).

The Jewish people are the guardians of the Word of Truth (Romans 3:1-2).  The Gentiles came into salvation though that Word of Truth (1 Peter 1:23-25).

Third, many Gentiles joined the Jews in carrying out the work of temporary salvation (Esther 9:2-3).  In like manner, many Gentile believers have joined Jewish believers in carrying out the work of eternal salvation (2 Corinthians 8:23).

Gentile believers will be rewarded along with Jewish believers for their work (Romans 2:10-11).  They will share in the joy of that reward with Jewish believers (Philippians 2:15-18).

Fourth, Gentile believers have a part in a greater salvation than the salvation of the Jewish people at the time of Esther (Hebrews 2:3-4).  Those who obeyed Mordecai experienced a temporary salvation that only lasted for their lifetime, but those who obey the Man of Truth will experience an eternal salvation that never ends (Hebrews 5:9).

The Man of Truth has put away their sin by the sacrifice of himself, so he will complete this eternal salvation when he appears again (Hebrews 9:26-28).  The Gentile believers will receive all that the Father of Truth (YHVH aka God aka THE LORD) has reserved for them when this salvation is revealed (1 Peter 1:3-5).

The Jewish people in the time of Esther expressed the joy of their salvation (Esther 9:15-19).  How much more should Gentile believers be expressing the joy of their salvation - even in times of trouble (1 Peter 1:6-9)?

So, Gentile believers have more to celebrate at Purim than Jewish unbelievers.

Mordecai established Purim so the Jewish people would not let the joy of their salvation slip (Esther 9:20-22).  Celebrating Purim will also help Gentile believers to not let the joy of their salvation slip (Hebrews 2:1).

The Man of Truth remembered the joy of the salvation that he would bring at Purim each year (John 5:1).  It helped him remember this joy when he endured the shame of the cross (Hebrews 12:2).

Remembering the joy of their salvation at Purim each year will help Gentile believers to endure persecution like the Jewish Prophets of Truth endured (Matthew 5:10-12).   It will help them remember this joy when the Spirit of Truth (Ruach HaQodesh aka The Holy Spirit aka The Holy Ghost) demonstrates power through them (Luke 10:19-20).

Remembering the joy of their salvation at Purim each year will help Gentile believers to keep their eyes on the resurrection of the Man of Truth (John 16:20-22).  It will help them remember the hope of glory that comes from peace with the Father of Truth (Romans 5:1-2).

Remembering the joy of their salvation at Purim each year will help Gentile believers to show their love to each other (Romans 12:9-15). It will help them remember to continue to demonstrate love in all circumstances (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

Remembering the joy of their salvation at Purim each year will help Gentile believers to keep the commandment for them to rejoice with the Jewish people (Romans 15:8-11).  It will help them remember that their circumcision is of the heart and not the flesh (Philippians 3:1-3).

Remembering the joy of their salvation at Purim each year will help Gentile believers to experience the peace and provision of the Father of Truth (Philippians 4:4-7).  It will help them remember to let the Spirit of Truth reign in their lives (1 Thessalonians 5:16-23).

Remembering the joy of their salvation at Purim each year will help Gentile believers to not lose confidence as they work for the eternal reward promised them (Hebrews 10:32-35).  It will help them remember that an even greater cause of joy is coming (1 Peter 4:12-13)!

So, Gentile believers should celebrate Purim to remember the joy of their salvation!

However, only those who have come into the House of Truth can celebrate this eternal salvation.  Jews who have not done so can only celebrate a temporary salvation.

Both Jews and Gentiles are guilty before the Father of Truth without justification (Romans 3:12-20).  All have sinned and come short of His glory, so both need to be justified by faith that blood of the Man of Truth has redeemed them (Romans 3:21-26).  The Father of Truth is God of both Jews and Gentiles who are justified by faith (Romans 3:29-30).

Both Jews and Gentiles can become parts of the same body through the Spirit of Truth (1 Corinthians 12:12-14).  The wall between them can be removed through faith in the Man of Truth (Ephesians 2:14-17).

So, both Jews and Gentiles come into the House of Truth by surrendering control of their life to the Man of Truth because they believe the Father of Truth raised him from the dead (Romans 10:9-13).  They will both be able to celebrate Purim together each year to remember the joy of their salvation (Jude 1:3)! 

Come into the House of Truth!