[Continuing the series of an ex-Christian Pastor, please refer to the prequels to this post:
We presume readers are familiar with the bible translations and their acronyms; the author uses NASB [New American Study Bible]; TLB [The Living Bible]; NKJV [New King James Version]; GNB [Good News Bible] and JPS [Jewish Publication Society].
Edited, reformatted, highlights added, and colorcoding of verses from Hebrew Scriptures as Israel blue and verses from the New Testament as red for caution.—Admin1.]
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One of the key questions that I had to re-examine on my journey to discovering the truth was:
Who said that someone has to PAY for our sin?
“Christians” teach that Jesus is the only one who can pay for our sins because he was the only one who never committed sin and therefore was the only worthy sacrifice to pay for our sins. He paid for sin on our behalf. It is as if we died on the cross with him.
The Hebrew Scripture, however, knocks down the idea of a vicarious (substitutionary) sacrifice – someone dying for YOUR sin. Read what Ezekiel has to say about this:
[Ezekiel 18:1-3/NKJV]
1 The word of the LORD came to me again, saying,
2 “What do you mean when you use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying: ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, And the children’s teeth are set on edge’?
3 “As I live, ” says the Lord GOD, “you shall no longer use this proverb in Israel. The father was the one who ate, but it was the children’s teeth that were affected … That can never be! The wicked will die for their sin!
Ezekiel 18 — son cannot die for father’s sins and vice versa. We are responsible for our own sins. Therefore, we may conclude that we are in trouble. What do I do if I have to pay for my own sins?
[Ezekiel 18:21-32/NKJV]
21 “But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die.
22 None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him; because of the righteousness which he has done, he shall live.
23 Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?” says the Lord GOD, “and not that he should turn from his ways and live?
24 “But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? All the righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; because of the unfaithfulness of which he is guilty and the sin which he has committed, because of them he shall die.
25 “Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ Hear now, O house of Israel, is it not My way which is fair, and your ways which are not fair?
26 When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity, and dies in it, it is because of the iniquity which he has done that he dies.
27 Again, when a wicked man turns away from the wickedness which he committed, and does what is lawful and right, he preserves himself alive.
28 Because he considers and turns away from all the transgressions which he committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die.
29 Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ O house of Israel, is it not My ways which are fair, and your ways which are not fair?
30 “Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, ” says the Lord GOD. “Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin.
31 Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel?
32 For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,” says the Lord GOD. “Therefore turn and live!”
Nowhere is there any mention of a vicarious sacrifice. There is no mention that a messiah will die for your sins! This is a PURELY PAGAN CONCEPT!
Imagine if our senators and congressmen put this as part of Philippine law. When someone who is corrupt and steals the people’s money, that they should be forgiven because we will kill an “innocent lamb” in their place! Or worse, forgive them for Jesus already paid for their sins of plunder and murder!
The real problem is when men think about forgiveness of sins men cannot imagine that God can forgive us without sacrifice! We are projecting unto God our own nature that’s why we don’t believe God can forgive us without sacrifice. Someone has to pay is our motto. We create God in our own image, as one who cannot forgive, as one who finds it very difficult to forgive. Many are unable to turn to God. Since we have difficulty forgiving others, we think God is the same; God can’t forgive me– E.G. Wives become historical — remembering what happened three years ago — we think that God is like that … Don’t do that.
[Isaiah 55:6-11/NKJV]
6 Seek the LORD while He may be found,
Call upon Him while He is near.
7 Let the wicked forsake his way,
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
Let him return to the LORD,
And He will have mercy on him;
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon.
8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways, ” says the LORD.
9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.
10 “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven,
And do not return there,
But water the earth,
And make it bring forth and bud,
That it may give seed to the sower
And bread to the eater,
11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me void,
But it shall accomplish what I please,
And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
My thoughts are not like man’s thoughts says YHWH. Is the New Testament man’s thoughts or YHWH’s thoughts? If YHWH does not want the sons of men to pay for their fathers’ sins, it does not make sense that He would kill “His son” for us! YHWH does not take pleasure in the death of even the wicked! When we take a PANORAMIC, wide angle view of Genesis, we see the difference in YHWH’s thoughts versus man’s thoughts:
What is the major difference all the way back to Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, from Cain and Abel?
What is the difference in thinking that we see?
God wanted man to accept responsibility for their actions.
Man refused to because they were “afraid” of God.
They did not, could not believe, that God would forgive.
[Genesis 3:7-13/NKJV]
7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.
8 And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.
9 Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?”
10 So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.”
11 And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?”
12 Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.”
13 And the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
Adam and Eve lacked personal responsibility. Both gave “excuses” for their actions. Adam says, “It wasn’t me; it was the woman YOU gave me.” Eve says, “It wasn’t me, it was the serpent.” It is as if they deny being the author of their own acts – as if they do not understand either freedom or the responsibility it entails.
Cain does not deny personal responsibility. He does not say, “It wasn’t me. It was Abel’s fault for provoking me.” Instead he denies moral responsibility: “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
Paul in the New Testament sets man up in such a way that man should not accept responsibility for his sin:
[Romans 7:14-23/NKJV]
14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin.
15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.
16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good.
17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.
19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.
20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good.
22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man.
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
Compare Paul’s thinking to YHWH’s thinking:
[Genesis 4:6-7/NKJV]
6 So the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?
7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”
Acts of Righteousness bring atonement too …
[Proverbs 16:6/NKJV]
In mercy and truth Atonement is provided for iniquity;
And by the fear of the LORD one departs from evil.
[Proverbs 21:3 /NKJV]
To do righteousness and justice
Is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
Even Jesus in the New Testament says that during judgment day, the righteous will be separated from the wicked based on the righteous deeds they have done:
[Matthew 25:33-46/NKJV]
33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;
36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.”
37 Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, “Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?
38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?
39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?”
40 And the King will answer and say to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.”
41 Then He will also say to those on the left hand, “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:
42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink;
43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.”
44 Then they also will answer Him, saying, “Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?”
45 Then He will answer them, saying, “Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.”
46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.
We are held RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR ACTIONS;
both for what we do and also what we DO NOT DO.
Ask Christians — Is there a need for an animal sacrificial system now or in the future? They will answer ‘No more need for animal sacrifice’! Their clear position: Animal sacrifice are no longer needed NOW or in the future because Jesus already died for all our sins.
[Romans 6:10/NKJV]
10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.
[Hebrews 9:11-14NKJV]
11 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.
12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.
13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh,
14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
[Hebrews 10:10-14 /NKJV]
10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.
12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God,
13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool.
14 For by one offering He has perfected foreverthose who are being sanctified.
[Hebrews 10:17-18NKJV]
17 then He adds, “THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE.”
18 Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.
As nice as all that sounded, that is NOT what the Hebrew Scripture says: In fact, every time the Hebrew Scriptures talk about the end times when YHWH (not Jesus) will come, it talks about the return of animal sacrifices:
[Jeremiah 33:16-18/NKJV]
16 In those days Judah will be saved,
And Jerusalem will dwell safely.
And this is the name by which she will be called:
THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.’
17 For thus says the LORD: “David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel;
18 nor shall the priests, the Levites, lack a man to offer burnt offerings before Me, to kindle grain offerings, and to sacrifice continually.”
[Zechariah 14:21 /NKJV]
21 Yes, every pot in Jerusalem and Judah shall be holiness to the LORD of hosts.
Everyone who sacrifices shall come and take them and cook in them.
In that day there shall no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts.
Ezekiel 40-48 describes physical details of third temple to be built in future:
[Ezekiel 43:22-27/NKJV]
22 On the second day you shall offer a kid of the goats without blemish for a sin offering; and they shall cleanse the altar, as they cleansed it with the bull.
23 When you have finished cleansing it, you shall of er a young bull without blemish, and a ram from the flock without blemish.
24 When you offer them before the LORD, the priests shall throw salt on them, and they will offer them up as a burnt offering to the LORD.
25 Every day for seven days you shall prepare a goat for a sin offering; they shall also prepare a young bull and a ram from the flock, both without blemish.
26 Seven days they shall make atonement for the altar and purify it, and so consecrate it.
27 When these days are over it shall be, on the eighth day and thereafter, that the priests shall of er your burnt offerings and your peace offerings on the altar; and I will accept you,” says the Lord GOD.
Notice that the sacrifice of animals are coming back! Why, if Jesus already paid for all our sins with ONE SACRIFICE THAT IS GOOD FOREVER? What is the TRUE GOSPEL according to Jesus? How can we have eternal life?
[Matthew 19:16-24/NKJV]
16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”
17 So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
18 He said to Him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “YOU SHALL NOT MURDER, YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, YOU SHALL NOT STEAL, YOU SHALL NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS,
19 HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER, and, YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”
20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?”
21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
[Mark 10:17-23/NKJV]
17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”
18 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.
19 You know the commandments: DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, DO NOT MURDER, DO NOT STEAL, DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS, Do not defraud, HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER.“
20 And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.”
21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”
22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
23 Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!”
[Luke 18:18-25/NKJV]
18 Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
19 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.
20 You know the commandments: DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, DO NOT MURDER, DO NOT STEAL, DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS, HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER.”
21 And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.”
22 So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
23 But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.
24 And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!
25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
Over and over again, Jesus repeats his gospel:
“If you want to enter into life, obey the commandments of YHWH. To be perfect, give to the poor.”
In other words, it is one’s ACTION that determines his destiny. Not the “sacrifice of a substitute.”
Story – How does FBI train agents to detect counterfeit money? One would think that the way they do it is to show them the counterfeit money and its specific defects — NO that is not the way they do it — What they do is to bury the agents with REAL MONEY SO THAT WHEN THE COUNTERFEITS COME ALONG, THEY CAN EASILY SEE IT BECAUSE THEY KNOW THE STANDARDS SO WELL — Any deviation will be noticeable!
How do we translate this training technique to ourselves? Do we need to study all of the New Testament? Or go to theological school? No. We master the TRUTH! Forget the counterfeit. When they come, we will know because we have mastered the TRUTH! TEACH your children the TRUTH!
In Summary:
1] In the Hebrew Scriptures, TaNaK, blood sacrifice is not the only way to attain atonement for sin. In fact, blood sacrifice of an animal is only used for atonement of unintentional sin. There is no sacrifice for intentional sin.
2] Repentance and Doing righteousness or obeying YHWH’s commands is the way for our sins to be forgiven. If the wicked prays, confesses his sins to YHWH with broken and contrite heart, and turns away from his sin and obeys YHWH, he will live and not die. The IMPORTANT premise here is that YHWH’s mercy endures forever. YHWH is ready and able to forgive us our sins! YHWH does not delight in the death of the wicked!
3] Vicarious sacrifice, especially human sacrifice, is contrary to the written word of YHWH. No man can pay for another’s sins.
4] Animal sacrifices are prophesied to come back after YHWH has ushered in universal peace in the end days.
What does it mean when we are declared “righteous before YHWH”? Action, in line with YHWH’s will, brings righteousness. Obedience to YHWH’s commandments brings righteousness. Faith without action is dead.
[Psalms 106:30-31/NKJV]
30 Then Phinehas stood up and intervened,
And the plague was stopped.
31 And that was accounted to him for righteousness
To all generations forever more.
Story of Phinehas
[Numbers 25:1-13/NKJV]
1 Now Israel remained in Acacia Grove, and the people began to commit harlotry with the women of Moab.
2 They invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods.
3 So Israel was joined to Baal of Peor, and the anger of the LORD was aroused against Israel.
4 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Take all the leaders of the people and hang the of enders before the LORD, out in the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may turn away from Israel.”
5 So Moses said to the judges of Israel, “Every one of you kill his men who were joined to Baal of Peor.”
6 And indeed, one of the children of Israel came and presented to his brethren a Midianite woman in the sight of Moses and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping at the door of the tabernacle of meeting.
7 Now when Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose from among the congregation and took a javelin in his hand;
8 and he went after the man of Israel into the tent and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her body. So the plague was stopped among the children of Israel.
9 And those who died in the plague were twenty-four thousand.
10 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
11 “Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned back My wrath from the children of Israel, because he was zealous with My zeal among them, so that I did not consume the children of Israel in My zeal.
12 Therefore say, ‘Behold, I give to him My covenant of peace;
13 and it shall be to him and his descendants after him a covenant of an everlasting priesthood, because he was zealous for his God, and made atonement for the children of Israel.’
[Deuteronomy 6:20-25/NKJV]
20 When your son asks you in time to come, saying, “What is the meaning of the testimonies, the statutes, and the judgments which the LORD our God has commanded you?”
21 then you shall say to your son: “We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand;
22 and the LORD showed signs and wonders before our eyes, great and severe, against Egypt, Pharaoh, and all his household.
23 Then He brought us out from there, that He might bring us in, to give us the land of which He swore to our fathers.
24 And the LORD commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is this day.
25 Then it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to observe all these commandments before the LORD our God, as He has commanded us.”
[Deuteronomy 24:13/NKJV]
13 You shall in any case return the pledge to him again when the sun goes down, that he may sleep in his own garment and bless you; and it shall be righteousness to you before the LORD your God.
[Psalms 112:1-9/NKJV]
1 Praise the LORD!
Blessed is the man who fears the LORD,
Who delights greatly in His commandments.
2 His descendants will be mighty on earth;
The generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches will be in his house,
And his righteousness endures forever.
4 Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness;
He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.
5 A good man deals graciously and lends;
He will guide his af airs with discretion.
6 Surely he will never be shaken;
The righteous will be in everlasting remembrance.
7 He will not be afraid of evil tidings;
His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.
8 His heart is established;
He will not be afraid,
Until he sees his desire upon his enemies.
9 He has dispersed abroad,
He has given to the poor;
His righteousness endures forever;
His horn will be exalted with honor.
Even the New Testament Epistle of James, the “brother” of Jesus agrees with the TaNaK:
[James 2:13-26/NKJV]
13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,
16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?
17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!
20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?
22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?
23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS ACCOUNTED TO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” And he was called the friend of God.
24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
James does not focus on one verse (Genesis 15:6) but takes Abraham’s life to the end. If a man is declared righteous by YHWH, it will surely reflect in his actions! Abraham was willing to sacrifice even his son Isaac, simply because YHWH said so! But notice that YHWH did not allow Abraham to kill Isaac.
This teaching of James is in line with the teaching of Jesus in the gospels as I have previously shown. It differs from the teaching of Paul who teaches salvation by faith alone! Do you believe Paul or Jesus?
It is INTERESTING that the epistles of James (and Jude) the brothers of Jesus, DO NOT EVER MENTION the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross. The sacrificial death on the cross is INCOMPATIBLE with REPENTANCE! A substitute removes all accountability to REPENT and CHANGE OUR WAYS!
REPENTANCE (a change of mind resulting in turning away from our evil ways) was the real gospel of John the Baptist and Jesus:
[Matthew 3:1-2/NKJV]
1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,
2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”
[Mark 1:4/NKJV]
4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
[Luke 3:3/NKJV]
3 And he (John) went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins,
[Matthew 4:17/NKJV]
17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
So who will pay for our sins? How do we remove sin? The simple yet profound answer is written by King David:
[Psalms 51:1-3/NKJV]
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David When Nathan the Prophet Went to Him, After He Had Gone in to Bathsheba.
1 Have mercy upon me, O God,
According to Your lovingkindness;
According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,
Blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
And cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions,
And my sin is always before me.
[Psalms 32:1-5/NKJV]
A Psalm of David. A Contemplation.
1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity,
And in whose spirit there is no deceit.
3 When I kept silent, my bones grew old
Through my groaning all the day long.
4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;
My vitality was turned into the drought of summer. Selah
5 I acknowledged my sin to You,
And my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD, ”
And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah
For over 3760 years before even Jesus was born, the Hebrew Scriptures teach that men have been forgiven by YHWH simply on the basis of His lovingkindness and mercy!
Let us repent, do well, and follow the ways of Abraham and King David. They made it to heaven long before Jesus died on the cross!
If you are a Pastor, like I was for 20 years, you really need to step back and THINK about what you are teaching others. Do not ASSUME you are correct simply because that is what you have come to believe. Look at the facts. Check out your BASIS for BELIEF. Heed the warning of James in your New Testament:
[James 3:1 NKJV]
My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.
If you would like to discuss any of the above scriptures, please email me at help.others.ras@gmail.com and I would be more than happy to sit with you. The only condition is you come with an open or “fair mind.”
Ricky Samson