[Continuing this discourse between Sinaite BAN@S6K and missionary friend, this is the response to #7–Admin1].
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Hi [Name witheld],
Thank you for the verses you quoted from the book of Hebrews—a book supposedly authored by Paul or Apollos, or an unnamed new testament writer. I believe that if we have to dialogue with respect to our adhered convictions, we have to have common parameters. Without question, the old testament is canon to both of us so why don’t we use it as our common base in affirming our respective convictions?
You have quoted extensively from Hebrews 10, which in a nutshell says that Jesus, the “son of God” is the perfect sacrifice, that through his blood, he has paid for the sins of those who accept his sacrifice, and those who will not accept have insulted the Spirit of grace, and therefore merits the wrath of God. This is the foundation on which Christianity rest. The death of Jesus on the cross was the last and final sacrifice and his blood had the power of the ransom required to overcome the sinful nature of mankind, wipe clean the stain of “original sin” and restore “eternal life”
Christianity claims that since the shedding of blood is required for the remission of sins, believers in YHWH have no way to obtain atonement from the time the Romans destroyed the Second Temple in 70 CE. Therefore, the only option for man is to accept Jesus as lord and saviour, because he died for our sins. The biblical reference cited is :
Leviticus 17:11 (Artscroll)
“For the soul of the flesh is in the blood, and I have therefore given it to you to be place upon the altar, to atone for your souls; for it is the blood that atones for the soul.”
The message contained in this portion of the verse is echoed in several other passages in the New Testament. A superficial reading of only this portion of the verse in Leviticus, without studying the entire passage and placing this verse in its proper context will lead one to conclude that only in being covered by the blood of Jesus, can forgiveness of one’s sins be attained.
WHAT DID GOD SAY IN THE OLD TESTAMENT?
Based on the proper reading of the text, when this verse is considered in its entirety, it becomes evident that a specific statement concerning blood is conveyed. That the blood of the sacrifice animal must be placed “upon the altar to atone for your souls.” Jesus’ blood was never placed on the altar. If Christians are going to take the “blood” literally, they must also take the “altar” part literally as well. Jesus’ blood was never sprinkled on the altar, and therefore his death could not provide atonement for anyone.
Furthermore, YHWH forbids the offering of human sacrifice under any circumstances. There is not one place throughout the entire body of the Old Testament Scriptures, where human sacrifice was condoned. The Old Testament warns the Jewish people that it is a grave sin to bring a human sacrifice. In Leviticus, only distinct species of animals are permitted for use in blood sacrifice.
Ancient pagan religions promoted the same idea about atonement as Christianity continues to preach today (e.g. Molech). They would joyfully offer a child into the fires of their sacrificial offering in order to expiate for their sins and appease their gods. Why a child, rather than an adult? The reason is, a child is thoroughly innocent of sin. A child could not have committed iniquity and thus mirrored the animal sacrifice which also had to be unblemished. The Old Testament admonished the Israelites never to offer human sacrifice and forewarned the people of terrible consequences if this commandment were violated.
This message was communicated at Mt. Moriah where Abraham was prepared to offer Isaac as a sacrifice. When he raised his hand to slay Isaac as an offering, the Lord stopped Abraham and directed him to sacrifice the ram caught in the thicket instead. God’s directive that He only wanted animal sacrifices rather than human sacrifices was immediately understood. This teaching has never departed from the mind and soul of the faithful children of Israel.
Leviticus 18:21
And you shall not let any of your descendants pass through the fire to Molech, nor shall you profane the name of your God: I am the LORD.
Leviticus 20:2
Again, you shall say to the children of Israel: Whoever of the children of Israel, or of the strangers who dwell ion Israel, who gives any of his descendants to Molech, he shall surely be put to death. The people of the land shall stone him with stones.
Jeremiah 32:35
And they built the high places of Baal which are in the valley of the Son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire to Molech, which I did not command them, nor did it come into My mind that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.
Moreover if Christians want to use Leviticus 17:11 to bolster their position that blood sacrifices are indispensable for procuring an atonement, they must use the whole verse, not just a part of it. Leviticus 17:11 specifically says that the blood of the sacrifice must be placed upon the altar to make atonement for your souls, explicitly saying that blood can only effect atonement if it is placed on the altar. Jesus’ blood was never placed on the altar. If Christians take the “blood” issue literally, they must also take the “altar” part literally as well. Therefore if Jesus’ blood was never sprinkled on the alter, then his death could not provide atonement for anyone.
Lastly, the prophets loudly proclaimed to the Jewish people, that the contrite prayer of the penitent sinner replaces the sacrificial system. Therefore, atonement for unintentional sins today is expiated through devotional supplication to our Merciful Creator.
In Hosea 3:4-5, the prophet foretold with divine exactness that the nation of Israel would not have a sacrificial system during the last segment of Jewish history until the messianic age:
“for the children of Israel shall abide many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred pillar, without ephod or seraphim. Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the LORD their God and David their King. They shall fear the Lord and His goodness in the latter days.“
In the words of the Scriptures, this period of time would last for many days. Yet despite the repeated proclamations of the Christians that the crucifixion of Jesus serves as a sin sacrifice today, the words of Hosea were meticulously fulfilled, for there is no sacrificial animal system to this day.
Given the spiritual magnitude of this prophecy, Hosea was compelled to reveal how the ritual temple functions were to be replaced. If the prophet is testifying that the nation of Israel will be without a sacrificial system during their long exile until the messianic age, what are they to use instead? How would unintentional sins be atoned for without blood sacrifice during their exile? What about all the animal sacrifices prescribed in the Book of Leviticus? Can they, the Jews, get along without animal offerings? Christians say they cannot. The Scriptures disagree.
For this reason, Hosea’s statement in Hosea 14:2-3 is vital. In these two verses, Hosea reveals how they are to replace the sacrificial system during their exile. Hosea declares that the Almighty wants us to “render for bulls the offering of our lips” PRAYER is to replace the sacrificial system.
Take words with you, and return to the LORD. Say to HIM, “Take away all iniquity; receive us graciously, for we render for bulls the offering of our lips.”
The prophets never instructed the people to worship any crucified messiah or demigod. nor does Scripture ever tell us that an innocent man must die as an atonement for the sins of the sinners. That kind of a message is utterly opposite to the teachings of the Old Testament. It is the contrite prayers of the sinner that would become as ‘bulls of the sin offering’.
The same message is found throughout the Old Testament, particularly in 1 King 8:46-52. King Solomon echoes the same idea in his inaugural prayer during the consecration of the First Temple in Jerusalem, the one he built. King Solomon delivers a startling prophetic message as he inaugurates the first temple. He forewarns that the Jewish people would be driven out of the land of Israel and be banished to the land of their enemies, near and far. During their exile they would fervently desire to repent of their sins. They would face Jerusalem, confess their sins,
“and God would hear their prayers in heaven and forgive them for all their transgressions.”
If they sin against You, for there is no man who does not sin, and You will be angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, and their captors will carry them away captive to the land of the enemy, far or near; And if they take it to heart in the land where they were held captive, and repent, and make supplication to You in the land of their captors, saying “We have sinned, and have done perversely, we have committed wickedness.” And they return to You with all their heart, and with all their soul, in the land of their enemies who led them away captive, and pray to You toward their land, which You gave to their fathers, toward the city which You have chosen, and toward the house which I have built for Your Name. Then You shall hear their prayer and their supplication in heaven, Your dwelling place, and maintain their cause. And forgive Your people what they have sinned against You and all their transgression that they have transgressed against You, and have mercy upon them before their captors, so that they may have mercy on them. For they are Your people, and Your inheritance, whom You have brought out of Egypt, from inside the smelting furnace of iron. That Your eyes may be open to the supplication of Your Servant and to the supplication of Your people Israel, to hear them whenever they call to You.
Later that night, God responds to Solomon:
2 Chronicles 7:12-15:
And the Lord appeared to Solomon at night, and He said to him, “I have heard your prayer, and I have chosen this place for Myself for a House of sacrifice. If I shut up the heaven and there be no rain, and if I command locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence upon My people. And My people, upon whom My name is called, humble themselves and pray and seek My presence and repent of their evil ways, I shall hear from heaven and forgive their sin and heal their land.
Now, My eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer of this place.
There is no mention of a cross or a dead messiah in King Solomon’s prophetic message. Only the contrite and repentant prayer of the remorseful sinner can bring about a complete atonement. Although King Solomon’s timeless message stands out as a theological impossibility in Christian terms, it remains the centerpiece of the Old Testament’s system for atonement for sin.
TRUTH? Who proclaims it? The Old or the New Testament? Are they dependent on each other?
I believe not, for the Old Testament can stand on its own. It has the complete revelation of God for us. The New Testament crumbles without it. So, I choose to anchor my faith on the God whose Word has withstood the test of history. I will obey Him with all of my being.
ADONAI’S BLESSINGS ON YOU,
BAN@S6K
This excellent piece of explanation supports the scriptural truth that the God of Abraham,Isaac and Israel detests and forbids human blood sacrifice. Apparently, understanding clearly God’s sacrificial system, the fact that God hates human sacrifice became the turning point in my spiritual search.
What an excellent piece of work! Since the turning point of my spiritual search for truth anchored on my understanding the ancient Hebrew sacrificial system as laid out for them by the God of Israel, your explanation further deepened and enriched my conviction. Truly, YHVH is Creator and Redeemer alone and there definitely is no other!!! Blessings on you!
RS to BAN@S6K:
I’ve gone over your website and I have to say that it is closer to what I believe now than what most “Messianic Jews” or Evangelicals Teach.
I truly believe that YHWH is the only true God and that “Man shall not live by bread alone but by EVERY WORD that proceeds from the mouth of YHWH!” His Word (TNK) is a lamp unto our feet and a light to our path”.
While as you say the “Jews and their scholars and sages have studied” their Scriptures, ultimately it is YHWH who is my teacher. While it is good to listen to people, I choose what is written rather than man’s “interpretations”.
I trust YHWH with all my heart and do not lean on my own understanding. It is better to trust YHWH than to trust in man or princes. His thoughts are much much higher than man’s, any man’s.
Would love to sit with you and [VAN@S6K] when you are down here in Manila — Looking forward to the day YHWH will bring us together! –
May YHWH bless you abundantly!