Nineveh's PotD 5-23-07

[Nineveh]

Many Christians believe that Man is sinful, and that the only thing that can possibly save Man from everlasting punishment is accepting the ultimate sacrifice - that of Jesus on the cross.

The Old Testament has a completely different message. Men sin, but they can repent and be forgiven by God. Here:

Deuteronomy 4:
29 But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul. 30 When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the LORD your God and obey him. 31 For the LORD your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your forefathers, which he confirmed to them by oath.

Part of obeying God included offering animal sacrifices. The sacrifice is not excluded by this passage.

Psalm 130
3 If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins,
O Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness;
therefore you are feared.

1 Kings 8:
33 "When your people Israel have been defeated by an enemy because they have sinned against you, and when they turn back to you and confess your name, praying and making supplication to you in this temple, 34 then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and bring them back to the land you gave to their fathers.

35 "When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because your people have sinned against you, and when they pray toward this place and confess your name and turn from their sin because you have afflicted them, 36 then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel. Teach them the right way to live, and send rain on the land you gave your people for an inheritance.

These are just a few examples. God forgives those who repent. No need to sacrifice the son-of-god. That is a later concept that does not appear in the Hebrew Scriptures.

Chair

Repentance in the OT would require that you returned to keeping the Mosaic Law. That would require you to offer an animal sacrifice for the forgiveness of your sins.

Is it possible for the modern Jew to be forgiven? They are not able to offer any sacrifices because the Ark o the Covenant is lost. Israel refuses to follow Mosaic Law as they no longer stone adulterers and murderes. Can you repent if you have no way to return to following the laws God gave you?

Post 5

Awsome post!