Jesus said: “Here I am. I have come to give my life" and Paul explains that "…Under this new plan we have been forgiven and made clean by Christ’s dying for us once and for ALL…Christ gave himself to God for our sins as one SACRIFICE for all time and then sat down in the place of highest honor at God’s right hand…For by that one offering he made forever perfect in the sight of God all those whom he is making holy.” (Hebrews 10:9-14)
The closest approximation of the Hebrew word translated “sacrifice” in English is “korban”. The word “korban” refers to something one does to draw near to God. In order to draw near to God, that which separates from God needs to be dealt with…sin. The word “sin” has no moral connotation, it simply means “missing the mark” or “falling short”. In other words it means failure…which happens to all men no matter what their station in this age – they fail to stay alive by DYING.
“And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.” (1 Corinthians 15:17-19)
So, in order to take away what keeps men from drawing close to God death has to be dealt with. And that is the essence of what the “sacrifice” of Jesus portrayed. What followed his death is the heart of the “gospel”. Jesus died, was buried, and ROSE AGAIN…the first fruits of mankind who will all be eternally NEAR TO GOD after they die, are buried and resurrected to immortality.
“But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive…The last enemy to be destroyed is death…that God may be all in ALL." (1 Corinthians 15:20-28)
The closest approximation of the Hebrew word translated “sacrifice” in English is “korban”. The word “korban” refers to something one does to draw near to God. In order to draw near to God, that which separates from God needs to be dealt with…sin. The word “sin” has no moral connotation, it simply means “missing the mark” or “falling short”. In other words it means failure…which happens to all men no matter what their station in this age – they fail to stay alive by DYING.
“And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.” (1 Corinthians 15:17-19)
So, in order to take away what keeps men from drawing close to God death has to be dealt with. And that is the essence of what the “sacrifice” of Jesus portrayed. What followed his death is the heart of the “gospel”. Jesus died, was buried, and ROSE AGAIN…the first fruits of mankind who will all be eternally NEAR TO GOD after they die, are buried and resurrected to immortality.
“But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive…The last enemy to be destroyed is death…that God may be all in ALL." (1 Corinthians 15:20-28)