Remission of sins
REMISSION OF SINS
In The Light of the Hebrew Scriptures
Christian doctrine claims that remission of sins can be obtained ONLY by the shedding of blood; since no carnal sacrifices are offered today, man’s only choice is to believe that Jesus’ blood atoned for our sins. Otherwise, we are under the death penalty, the «curse».
We absolutely reject this teaching for at least two reasons. Firstly, we do NOT believe that Jesus died for someone else’s sins. Please examine the following scriptures for the truth on this matter:
Deuteronomy 24:16; Exodus 32:33; Ezekiel 18:3-4; Ezekiel 14:9; Deuteronomy 18:20-22; Deuteronomy 13:1-6; Proverbs 21:18.
The second and most obvious reason is that YHVH’s Word provides mankind with excellent and even preferable alternatives to the mechanical shedding of sacrificial blood. (There is no need to even discuss the doctrine of Jesus’ blood as a means of atoning for sin; only the deluded could claim that murder and human sacrifice are pleasing to YHVH!)
The first alternative to carnal sacrifice is confession and sincere repentance: «again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. Because he considereth and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall NOT DIE!» Ezekiel 18:27-28.
«I acknowledged my sin unto Thee and mine iniquity have I not hid; I said: ‘I will make confession concerning my transgressions unto YHVH’, and Thou, Thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.» Psalms 32:5.
«For Thou delightest NOT in sacrifice, else would I give it; Thou hast no pleasure in burnt offering. The sacrifices of Eloheem are a BROKEN SPIRIT; a broken and contrite heart, Oh Eloheem, Thou wilt NOT despise!» Psalms 51:17-19.
«He that covereth his transgressions shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall OBTAIN MERCY!» Proverbs 28:13.
YHVH’s Word mentions yet another acceptable offering; prayer.
«Return Oh Israel unto YHVH thine Eloheem; for thou hast stumbled in thine iniquity. Take with you WORDS and return unto YHVH; say unto Him: ‘Forgive ALL iniquity and accept goodness’; so will we render INSTEAD OF BULLOCKS the OFFERING of our LIPS! Hosea 14:2-3.
«Let my PRAYER be set forth as incense before Thee, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.» Psalms 141:2.
«I will NOT REPROVE thee for thy sacrifices; and thy burnt offerings are continually before Me. I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he-goats out of thy folds. For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountains; and the wild beasts of the field are Mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell thee; for the world is Mine and the fullness thereof. Do I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats? Offer unto Eloheem the sacrifice of THANKSGIVING and pay thy vows unto the Most High, and call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee and thou shalt honour Me!» Psalms 50:8-l5.
«I will praise the Name of Eloheem in SONG and will magnify Him with thanksgiving. And it shall please YHVH better than a bullock that hath horns and hoofs» Psalms 69:3l-32.
Of course, the truest and most efficacious way of atoning for sin is living and acting according to YHVH’s Will.
«When the wicked turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and DOETH that which is lawful and right, HE SHALL SAVE HIS SOUL ALIVE:» Ezekiel 18;27..
«Hath YHVH as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in hearkening to the voice of YHVH? Behold, to obey is BETTER than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.» Samuel 15:22.
«For I desire MERCY and NOT SACRIFICE, and the knowledge of Eloheem rather than burnt offerings.» Hosea 6:6.
«By MERCY and TRUTH is iniquity atoned for.» Proverbs 16:6.
«To him that ordereth his way aright will I show the SALVATION of Eloheem,» Psalms 50:23.
«Sacrifice and meal-offering Thou hast no delight in; Mine ears hast Thou opened; burnt-offering and SIN OFFERING HAST THOU NOT REQUIRED! Psalms 40:7.
«For I spoke NOT unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices; but THIS I commanded them saying: ‘Hearken unto My Voice, and I will be your Eloheem, and ye shall be My people and walk ye in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you’.» Jeremiah 7:22-23.
Dear reader, would you come before YHVH with a truly acceptable sin offering, not a mere credo or «magic slogan»? Hear the Word of YHVH!
«Wherewith shall I come before YHVH, and bow myself before Eloheem on high? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with year old calves? Will YHVH be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give my first born for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? IT HATH BEEN TOLD THEE, OH MAN, WHAT IS GOOD, AND WHAT YHVH DOTH REQUIRE OF THEE : ONLY TO DO JUSTLY AND TO LOVE MERCY AND TO WALK HUMBLY WITH THINE ELOHEEM!» Micah 6:6-8.
AMEN, HALLELUYAH!
Submitted by Mordecai Alfandari