Jesus Is Not a Substitute

"For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sin according to the Scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:3)

"He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross..." (1 Peter 2:24)

The bible does not say sin is a debt that needs to be paid to God, but a result of bad behavior. All die as the result of sin - there are no exceptions, not even Jesus. But Jesus did not die for his own sin, but “for our sins". He “bore our sins in his body on the cross". Jesus IDENTIFIED himself with sinful men to demonstrate God’s love for sinners.

"God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8).

In the resurrection of Jesus God has revealed that the death of a sinner will be "swallowed up in Victory" when resurrected - a free gift.

"The wages of sin is DEATH but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our LORD.” (Romans 3:23) 

Almost all Christian theologians teach that when Jesus died on the cross it was as our "substitute" to "pay" for our sin. No, he "bore" the sin of Adam and everyone else, and died "for" Adam's sin and everyone else's, because he had no sin of his own to die for. We will all "die" like Jesus, and be "made alive" like Jesus.

"For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive...The last enemy to be destroyed is death...so that God may be ALL in ALL....death has been swallowed up in Victory." (1 Corinthians 15:22-29,53)

Our Destiny - Sinning And Getting Saved

Following is a summary of what I was taught growing up in church…

When a child dies before reaching the age of accountability, that child goes to heaven.  However, if the child reaches the age of accountability he is lost and needs to be saved and it is the Church members Great Commission to save the lost.  The lost will be cast into hell upon death to be eternally punished and separated from God and that lost person's blood may be on the hands of a disobedient Church member who failed to tell them. To be saved the lost person must confess and repent of sin, and accept Jesus as his Savior by his own free will before he dies.  At that point the person becomes a new creature in Christ and will go immediately to heaven at death.  The church further emphasized that if a person is actually saved, he will want to join the Church, be baptized, observe the Lord's Supper, and fellowship primarily with others in the church, and of course, support the ministries of the church with a regular tithe of their income. 

I taught most of this for many years myself until I discovered from my personal study of the Bible over the past 20 years that none of the above is true. Obviously I am not invited to teach in churches anymore. 😃

For those who care, and it is perfectly fine if you don't, following is a brief SUMMARY of my thoughts about what the Bible actually teaches with regard to the history and future of mankind, backed up by some of the many Scriptures on point…

1. SIN of mankind: Eve sinned and Adam joined in that sin and God determined that they and all their progeny would die for their sin. So the dying process passed through to all mankind. Hard work to sustain ourselves was also the result of that original sin.  All are appointed to suffer and eventually die and return to the dust from which our bodies are made…

"...you shall surely die...because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, you shall not eat from it, cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you…By the sweat of your face you will eat bread, till you return to the ground, because from it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return….Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all mankind...” (Genesis 2:17; Genesis 3:17-19; Romans 5:12)

2. SALVATION of all mankind: It is God’s WILL and responsibility to save mankind from death, and reconcile all Creation to Himself. No one can prevent God’s WILL from being accomplished. God loves mankind and provided a Savior, His Son Jesus. God, through His Son, has shown us that He will give us eternal life after death. This abundant life will come only after the resurrection.  After the resurrection of all mankind, death, the grave, and sin will be abolished. God will then be All in all mankind and the whole Creation at peace with God.

“As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive...so that God may be All in all...God wills all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth...By grace are you saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God...the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord...through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross." (1 Corinthians 15:22, 28; 1 Timothy 2:4; Ephesians 2:8; Romans 6:23; Colossians 1:20)

God says plainly that He will save mankind and reconcile all Creation to Himself through His Son Jesus, and he will do so because of His Grace alone. Faith gives us the knowledge and hope of this...

"We have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand…God demonstrated his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us…we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him...While we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life...Just as sin entered the world through one man (Adam), and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people…just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act (of Jesus) resulted in justification and life for all people. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous…where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:22-28; Romans 5:1-20)

Since I am not holding my breath until asked to teach this truth in churches, I share my thoughts on Facebook.  A few years ago my daughter created a blog for me which can be accessed at jrwlakey.blogspot.com.  It is entitled Random Thoughts On The Really Good News and I post a link to that blog on my Facebook page from time to time. Thanks to those of you who are sleepy enough to read them. Nevertheless, I am not a fan of Facebook in general, or its founder, and I will most likely stop using it in the near future.  But you brave souls can still google my blogspot when you need something to put you to sleep. 😊💤

PS:  The Easter Bunny, Bambi and all pets are included in God's plan!

Sin Is A Good Thing - But Don't Tell My Grandkids

“Then Paul said to him, God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall…as for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!” (Acts 23:3; Galatians 5:12)

Ouch! Paul had a temper and sometimes it just could not be contained. It was probably this “thorn in the flesh” that he pleaded with God to remove (as opposed to an eye problem that theologians like to speculate). Paul was tormented by his temper...

“…there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:7-9 KJV)

Humans have to sin in order to need Grace and Mercy. Sooo - is it better to sin and be forgiven, than never to have sinned at all?

"But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 5:20-21)

Remember the Garden of Eden?  It was God who planted the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Again - IT WAS GOD, not Satan! Note it was the tree of the knowledge of GOOD, as well as EVIL. God knew what He was doing when he created both the tree of knowledge and Satan the tempter.  

“I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create EVIL: I the LORD do all these things….All have sinned and come short of the glory of God...the wages of sin is death. But the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Isaiah 45:7; Romans 3:23; 6:23 KJV)

God knew what Adam and Eve would do - sin. But he also knew they would have to experience the evil of sin in order to have knowledge of and appreciate GOOD...including the Love and Grace of God in redeeming them and forgiving their sin. So it seems to me that God created evil in order for people to learn that good is better than evil. People learn by experience so it was God's plan for people in this "present evil age" to experience both.

"Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father." (Galatians 1:3-4)

So it just might be “better to sin and be forgiven, than to never have sinned at all” - but don't tell my grandkids!

Behold I Tell You A Mystery

"Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel… they all shall know Me...For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more." (Jeremiah 31:31, 33-34)

This of course is a promise to ISRAEL. Remember them? They are the ones who delivered Jesus their Messiah to the Romans to be crucified. I cannot think of a greater sin than this. However, God says He will "forgive their iniquity" and their sin He will "remember no more".

"Father forgive them, they do not know what they doing" (Luke 23:34)

Jesus said this from the cross and his request included both ISRAEL and the ROMAN empire who conspired together to crucify Jesus. Jesus asked God to forgive them because the cross was God's plan to save sinners. Christians think God is going to put them in hell and torture them forever unless they repented and accepted Jesus as their Savior before they died, because that is what they would do to them. But God delivered Jesus up "for us all"...

"He that spared not His own Son, but delivered him up for us all......this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. But God raised Him up again" (Romans 8:32; Acts 2:23-24).

All those "godless men" who had part in the crucifixion of Jesus died for their sin, just like Jesus did, and we will all eventually die for our sin. The amazing thing about God, and what separates Him from men, is he is going to save those "godless men". This truth had remained a mystery until revealed to the Apostle Paul...

”...we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people...Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable...thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Timothy 4:10; 1 Corinthians 15:51-57)

Now that should get a standing ovation for God and Christ Jesus, the Savior and Redeemer of the whole world!

"He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 John 2:2)

Fuel for the Fire

"The soul who sins shall die...." (Ezekiel 18:4)

"The wages of sin is death..." (Romans 3:23)

"All have sinned..." (Romans 6:230

“So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God" (Romans 14:12)

Sin has consequences, both in this life and the next, which a wise person will seek to avoid by making good choices now. Excessive drinking, drug use, eating habits and stress result in serious health problems. Refusing to forgive others for wrongs committed results in hate, which is a miserable and depressing way to go through life. Violating the laws of the land have legal consequences.

And death eventually finds us all, for...

"it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment." (Hebrews 9:27)

This "judgment" simply means a decision is made as to whether the things we have done in this life were "good or bad".

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad." (2 Corinthians 5:10)

We will be rewarded for the good things done, and the bad things will be burned up. But even if all of our acts, motives, and beliefs were bad and thus no reward is received, we ourselves will "be saved" - as promised in Scripture.

“For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire." (1 Corinthians 3:11-15)

Both the Old and New Testaments teach the same thing with regard to the penalty for sin. It is death. Only mythology and manmade religion teach that the penalty for sin is everlasting separation from God and punishment in an underworld for all eternity. That is a shame, and those who insist on such will be ashamed, not rewarded - that teaching will be fuel for the fire in the day men give account to God. But in the end, because of our gracious God - all will receive the free gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

"...the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23)

Flipping A Coin

"God ... endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction...And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy... even us, whom He also called." (Romans 9:19-24)

We humans are rarely merciful to our enemies. However, God is both gracious and merciful to both His enemies and friends.

Christians often say “love the sinner, but hate the sin." It is a nice little catch phrase that justifies judging those we think are worse sinners than us, and sounding all righteous in doing so.

I know it is hard, but we need to try to spread a little mercy around from time to time like our heavenly Father.

"For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all...give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good: His mercy endures forever..." (Romans 11:32; Psalm 136)

Sinful people are like a coin in God's hand, with Grace on one side and Mercy on the other.   The coin gets spent for both good and evil over a lifetime.  But when God flips that coin for the last time into the grave, no matter which side comes up, that sinner will come up and out of the grave the winner of the "free gift of eternal life".

"God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our sins, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)...for the wages of sin is death, but the free gift is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Ephesians 2:4; Romans 6:23)

Is Going To Church A Sin

“...the wages of sin is death...” (Romans 6:23a)

You and I, and everyone else, are sinners and that is why we die. No amount of bible study, church attendance, witnessing, walking the aisle, or baptisms will change that.

The cross of our Lord Jesus did not change that fact. The human race are still sinners and "the wages of sin" is still "death". All of the saints of bygone eras have passed away. It is the destiny of human beings - ALL of us - Christians, Muslims, Atheists, and everyone in between - even Christ Jesus himself died.

What followed the cross is the gospel, the good news which revealed God's plan for sinful humans after we die. For it was after the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus that God revealed to Paul the good news of what follows death...

"As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive…" (1 Corinthians 15:22)

And after the cross and resurrection of Jesus, God revealed to Paul why a world of sinful people will be "made alive"...and what we are to do with this good news...

"God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them." (2 Corinthians 5:19)

"And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation...” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Our commission is not to save the world, but to deliver the message that it will be saved out of death because the world is now reconciled to God.  After we are "made alive" God will no longer count our sins agains us.  We will have paid the "wages of sin" and thereafter been saved by the grace of God as a "free gift".

“...the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23)

Is going to church a sin?

It occurred to me that it might be - if we go to one that teaches things about God that aren't true. But of course the good news is that He will not forever count that sin against us either.

So by all means, go to your favorite Church if you enjoy going, but it is not a sin to quit if those humans running it stop teaching the truth about God.  

You should, in those circumstances, quit that church without quitting God.

Victory For All

“The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:56-57)

What does that mean?

“The sting of death” simply means that the cause of death is sin. Paul puts it this way in his letter to Rome…

“For the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23a)

“…the strength of sin is the law” simply means that the law of God is the reason we all sin.

If God had not given any laws to obey, there would be no sin. And if no sin, there would not have been any death. Paul is saying that the responsibility for sin lies squarely on God. For he created us the way we are and He created the law which we could not keep. Paul puts it this way in his letter to Rome…

“I would not have come to know sin except through the Law…for apart from the Law sin is dead. I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died; and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me; for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me… Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? THANKS be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:7-24)

The word “THANKS” above is the Greek word “charis” which is usually translated GRACE!

So what Paul is saying is that we are all sinners and we cannot help it. God made us this way.  However, God has a remedy for sin and death.  We are to be delivered from sin and death, in His GRACE, by our resurrection to eternal life. 

That is what we are to have faith in, what we are to believe. God has promised to deliver sinners from this fleshly sinful dying mortal body and make us alive again, a new creation, finished in an immortal, spiritual, glorious body liken unto that glorious resurrected body of Jesus.

“For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive…Our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of his glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself...the free gift of God is eternal life...” (1 Corinthians 15:22; Philippians 3:20-21; Romans 6:23b)

A Really Good Thing

“This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. “For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. “But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.” (John 3:19-21)

There once was a vicious evil predator who did all manner of horrible crimes against humanity. He eventually was arrested, tried, sentenced to death, executed and his body cremated and returned to the dust out of which that body was formed.

Death is a good thing.

Out of the ashes came forth a new creation, immortal and full of love, grace and mercy who will spend all of eternity doing all manner of good for all that he would encounter. Those horrible but temporary crimes having been drowned out by the wonderful and eternal good of a life redeemed.

A redeemed life is a good thing.

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away. And He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." (Revelation 21: 4-5)

“Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb...On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations…and they will reign forever and ever… and he said to me, “These words are faithful and true”…”I am coming quickly.”…The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.” (Revelation 22:1-20)

Grace freely given to sinners is a really good thing.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life...” (Romans 6:23)

All Things Are Lawful

“All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify. Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor.” (1 Corinthians 10:23-24)

“Abstain from every form of evil” (I Thessalonians 5:22)

“…to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.” (James 4:17)

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 8:21)

Sin no longer condemns us, Christ has overcome the penalty for sin by his resurrection to perfection...and he will do that for all in God's timing. The above Scripture is not warning of the penalty for sin. All sin has been atoned for at the cross and Christ has set us free from the law and we are FREE...

"It was for freedom Christ set us free....He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." (Galatians 5:1; 1 John 2:2)

HOWEVER, we still have to live out our appointed time in this “present evil age”, as Paul calls it, before our own gracious resurrection to perfection.

"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father." (Galatians 1:3-4)

So the Scriptures first quoted above tell us that we should "abstain from every form of evil" as the best way to make this age more enjoyable for us and those we come in contact with, even though doing them no longer condemns us.

 I have learned that some things are just not worth doing. But I do not allow assemblies of men to prepare the list of  these "worthless" things...in my freedom I decide knowing I will give account to God.

"For all of us must appear before the judgment seat of the Messiah, so that each of us may receive what he deserves for what he has done in his body, whether good or worthless." (2 Corinthians 5:10)

Worthless things won't be rewarded, the good we do will.  The best thing I know to do is to treat people right and with respect, if possible, and hope they appreciate it enough to treat me the same way...as Jesus taught in his Sermon on the Mount...

"In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you,” (Matthew 7:12)

Our Advocate

“My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.” (1 John 2:1-2)

The death of Jesus was the “propitiation” for all of the sins of the world. Propitiation has the idea of a place where MERCY begins. It is the place where the mercy of God in resurrecting the dead is manifested – starting with Christ Jesus who promised to return and resurrect "all people" from death.

The Bible says Jeus “gave himself as a ransom for all people” (1 Timothy 2:6). 

Ransom is payment to the captor for releasing the hostages. It is NOT the payment for the SINS of the hostages! Otherwise none of us would die. Mankind is held hostage by our captor, death. The cost to release the hostages was Christ Jesus identifying himself with us in death so that he could then lead those captive by death into abundant, everlasting life by means of resurrection.  It is the gracious "gift" of our "Advocate" to us, not a payment for works that we may do….

“But to each one of us GRACE was GIVEN according to the measure of Christ’s GIFT. Therefore it says, WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH, HE LED CAPTIVE A HOST OF CAPTIVES, AND HE GAVE GIFTS TO MEN…He who descended is himself also he who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might COMPLETE ALL…until WE ALL attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God.” (Ephesians 4:7-13)

Missing The Mark

“For the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ of Lord” (Romans 6:23)

I have been thinking about sin as that term is used in the Bible. It occurs in many forms and for individuals it ranges from innocently missing a free throw in basketball to murder in the first degree. But the greatest sin of the past 1700 years or so, in my opinion, is not individual sins, but the collective sin of most institutions of Christianity with respect to His plan in Christ Jesus to save the world.

Jesus Christ was sent by God to atone for and take away the sins of the world and he is proclaimed in the Bible to be the "Savior of the world".

"John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world… he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world…we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world… God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” (John 1:29; 1 John 2:2; 1 John 4:14; 2 Corinthians 5:19)

Since about 325 AD the institutions of Christianity have encouraged others  to accept an “offer” to save, and added their own twist that anyone who refuses that offer will suffer eternal conscious torment in the lake of fire. There is no "offer" to save the world but the finished work of Christ in saving the world.

I sometimes wonder if it is this sin which will trump them all when Christians stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it has robbed the world, NOT of salvation which Jesus secured for all mankind, but of the KNOWLEDGE of the finished work of our Savior…

“This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe. Command and teach these things…And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming...For the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ of Lord” (Romans 6:23)

Love Keeps No Record Of Wrongs

“Then David said to Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. Nathan replied, The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die.” (2 Samuel 12:13)

My wife is the love of my life. In my eyes she is the perfect wife and without her I would only be half a man…she completes me and has done so for 40 years. I love her without reservation. She is also a great cook. But even the very best cooks learn by experience…and husbands learn to keep their mouth shut…by experience.

Early in our marriage she prepared meat loaf for supper. At the time we had a pet Saint Bernard who lived with us in our apartment in Norman. “How is it she asked” so I placed my plate on the floor in front of Puppy Casey. He sniffed it and licked it and then went over and sat in the corner. I laughed and said to Casey “I know what you mean”. Sue Ann didn’t think it was funny. She did not kill me but she did start me on an involuntary diet for about a week.

Life is where husbands learn they should keep their mouths shut…or pray and hope for forgiveness. Sue Ann loves me and so she forgave me, just like God has done for all us sinners. We suffer for some of our sin in this age, account for all of it later, but forgiveness is always the outcome of true love…and I sure am glad!

“…as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us…Love is patient, love is kind…it keeps no record of wrongs…Love never fails…the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life…” (Psalm 103:12; 1 Corinthians 13:4-8; Romans 6:23b).

To most secular Philosophers, faith in God is opposed to reason. He or she apparently knows nothing of biblical faith. Biblical faith rests on the sure foundation of perfect reason...reasoning with the Creator of all things.

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)

When I observe the wonder of creation and learn some of the science of how it all works together I cannot help but see the beauty, wisdom and reason of the one behind the creation...like King David says

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” (Psalm 1:1-4)

The Creator says it is reasonable to believe that when the God who created all is finished with sinners they shall be white as snow and wool.

Treasured Possession

“Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now IF YOU OBEY ME FULLY and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my TREASURED POSSESSION. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.” (Exodus 19:3-6)

There was a CONDITION to Israel becoming a “treasured possession” out of all the other Nations. They had to obey Him fully and keep His covenant. Obviously this did NOT happen. Even before Moses got off the mountain where he received the Commandments Israel had broken them. And the first thing God told Moses to do was to set up the Tabernacle and build the ARK with a MERCY SEAT covering. The Ark contained the broken commandments.

Thus began the requirement for all the animal sacrifices to ATONE for breaking the commandments...UNTIL the final Lamb of God, and sin bearer, came to take away the sin of the world…and he came about 1500 years later.

“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)

Israel is still his chosen Nation, but are NOT yet his “treasured possession”. To become God's "TREASURED POSSESSION" requires a sinless existence. Good luck with that in this present evil age...for anyone. However, in the ages to come AFTER the resurrection to immortality the Israelites and all others will become God's treasured possession. God tells Israel….

“This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people… so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but NOW you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.” (Hebrews 8:10; 1 Peter 2:9-10)

And for the rest of us Gentiles...

“…the grace of God has appeared bringing salvation to ALL MEN, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people FOR HIS OWN POSSESSION, zealous for good deeds. These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you.” (Titus 2:11-15)

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 next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29)

Under the Law given to Israel to atone for sin a bull or a goat was brought by the sinner as an offering (approach present) to be sacrificed by the priest for “unintentional” sins. However, for “intentional” sins, a perfect “lamb” was to be brought by the sinner to the priest. (Leviticus 4)

These offerings, however, could not “take away sins”.

“Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins” (Hebrews 10;11)

NOTE that the Law of Moses required the “sinner” to bring to the Temple the offering to be sacrificed on his behalf. BUT not anymore does the sinner have to bring to the Temple (or Church) an offering! …God Himself has brought the final offering on behalf of ALL sinners, and this sacrificial LAMB “takes away the sin of the world”… ALL “intentional” sins of the whole world!

“He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.” (1 John 2:2) “…he said, ‘BEHOLD, I HAVE COME TO DO YOUR WILL.’ He takes away the first in order to establish the second. By this will we (sinners) have been SANCTIFIED through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ ONCE FOR ALL. Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time onward until his enemies be made a footstool for his feet. For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified (sinners)." (Hebrews 10)

GLORY TO GOD! ALL have been saved in Christ Jesus…by the GRACE of God. It is His gift to sinful mankind!

“So that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the approach present (gift) of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:7-9 CLNT)

Man cannot save himself…he must first be humbled…then saved by the one who can.

“For without shedding of blood is no remission” (Hebrews 9:22)

Before God allowed evil and sin into the world, He had a plan for its removal. It is the shedding of the blood. Sin demands a harsh judgment - the shedding of blood…death! The innocent sacrificial lamb has died, extending the life of the sinner, but the sinner eventually dies...death is necessary for remission.

The plan of salvation is simple, the execution of that plan is harsh, but the final result is the salvation of both the sinner and the sinless lamb…the deliverance from death…first for the innocent lamb (Jesus), then for all sinners.

Is it that simple? It is for me….it is finished.

“The next day John sees Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world. . .” (John 1:29)

 “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

“And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day...it is finished” (John 6:39; 19:30)