Jesus as Sacrifice — Closer look at Christianity (4)

[Isaiah 45:21] And there is no other God besides Me, a righteous G-d and a Saviour; there is no one beside Me.

Index

1. Introduction — Part 0
2. Jewish Concept of the Messiah — Part 1
3. Jesus doesn’t meet Jewish Requirments — Part 2
4. Divinization of Jesus — Part 3
5. Jesus Sacrifice — Part 4
6. Paulian Christianity (upcoming) — Part 4
7. Conclusion — Part 5

Judaism does not share the Christian concept of salvation, as it does not believe people are born in a “state of sin”.[37] Judaism holds instead that man is born to strive for perfection and to follow the word of G-d. Man is created in the image of G-d. And is given special authority over the earth. A person who sins can repent of that sin and, if he repents full-heartedly, regrets the sin, and commits to never do the sin again, will have the sin be forgiven.[38]

Christ is called a “sacrifice” (Eph. 5:2; Heb. 9:26), a “sin offering” (Isa. 53:10; 2 Cor. 5:21 [NIV alternate reading]), a “ransom” (Matt. 20:28; 1 Tim. 2:6; Heb. 9:15) and an “atoning sacrifice” (Rom. 3:25; 1 John 2:2; 4:10)

Jesus its sacrifice is far from being similar to the Jewish sacrifice. And sacrificing a man for other peoples their sins is a dismissed view in Judaism. G-d, as we shall see, makes a person responsible for their own sin.

Ways to be forgiven.

Christians often reject any other way to be forgiven than by the blood of Jesus. They then claim that jews had to ‘sacrifice a lam’ in order to be forgiven by Hashem, and Jesus is the definitive Lamb. There are some issues with those claims:

1. There are many ways sin can be forgiven in Judaism. Offering a goat, sheep, pigeon, incense (Numeri 16:46–47), charity (Exodus 30:15–16 and Numeri 31:50), and even some flower if you are poor. Most importantly repentance of your sins, and being able to forgive other wrongdoers. This is essential in Judaism. Jews have not been sacrificing for over 2000 years, they use the other ways for sin atonement.
2. A yearly offer for the forgiveness of unintentional sins was performed by sending a a goat into the desert (Leviticus 16:20–22)

As one can see, there is no one way in Judaism, nor is there any proof in the Jewish bible that the Messiah is to be the ultimate lamb, the only way to salvation, and that by his blood everyone can be saved.

Passover Lamb

The Passover lamb is first introduced in exodes when the Jewish people are on the brink of leaving Egypt. A lamb was a holy animal in ancient Egypt was an Idol and it was forbidden to kill one (Exodus chapter 8). Keeping it at home, let alone slaughter it was a terrible thing to them. G-d put the Israelites on the test by letting them put the blood on the outside of the houses which will likely make Egyptians furious. Comparing Jesus to this lam is an absurd comparison since it has not had anything to do with the forgiveness of sins. This is one interpretation, there could be others made. However, even if this interpretation is not right, the lamb is still not remotely related to the forgiveness of sin offering.

Impure Sacrifice

Jesus’ humanity, the physical state of his body, and the manner of his death (crucifixion) do not satisfy any blood atonement provisions found in the Hebrew Scriptures.

1. According to the Hebrew Scriptures, the only animals permitted for sacrificial purposes are those that have split hooves and chew their cud. The carcass of an unclean animal deFILEs (Leviticus 11:26). On these grounds alone, human beings are disqualified for sacrificial purposes. Jesus, as a human being, was unfit for sacrificial purposes.
2. An animal blood atonement offering must be physically unblemished (Leviticus 22:18–25). According to the evangelists, Jesus was physically abused prior to his execution (Matthew 27:26, Mark 15:15, John 19:1; John 20:25; Matthew 27:29, Mark 15:17, John 19:2). According to Paul, Jesus’ circumcision constituted “mutilation” (Philippians 3:2) and is likened to “castration” (Galatians 5:12). As a result, Jesus would again be disqualified as a valid sacrifice.
3. Death, no matter what was the extent of the preceding violence or pain, does not satisfy the biblical requirements for those times when a blood atonement sacrifice is offered. In a blood atonement offering the animal (clean species and unblemished) must actually die as a result of blood loss. That is why it is called “a blood atonement sacrifice.”
4. Jesus (unclean human species and blemished) did not die within the Temple precinct, at the hands of an Aaronic priest, or through the shedding of blood. Jesus’ blood was not sprinkled on the altar by the Aaronic high priest (Leviticus 16:18–19). Animal sacrifice, offered as a blood atonement, must conform to the biblical guidelines set down in Leviticus 17:11: (a) Bloodshed (by means of shechitah — Deuteronomy 12:21), (b) Given solely to the Jewish people.

G-d Is the Only Saviour

In Judaism, no man can be a savior, there is no savior outside of G-d. The name “Jesus (Y’shua)” (is) salvation, (is) a cry for salvation, (is) a cry for help, (is) my help or “G-d saves.

[Numbers 23:19] “G-d is not a man that He would lie, nor a mortal that He would change His mind.”

“And forgive us our transgressions, as we forgive those who transgress against us.” — direct question to G-d not through Jesus.

• [Isaiah 43:10] I, I am the Lord, and besides me there is no savior.
• [Isaiah 45:21] And there is no other God besides Me, a righteous G-d and a Saviour; there is no one beside Me.
• [Isaiah 44:24] Thus says the LORD your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb: “I am the LORD, who made all things, who stretched out the heavens alone, who stretched out the earth by myself.
• [Hosea 13:4] But I am the Lord your G-d of the land of Egypt; you know no G-d but me, and besides me there is no savior.
• [Jeremiah 2:23] “Surely the hills are a deceit, a tumult in the mountains. Surely in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel.
• [Hosea 13:4] But I am the Lord your God since you came out of Egypt. Thou shalt recognize no God but me, no Savior but me.
• [Isaiah 33:22] For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; it is he who will save us.
• [Isaiah 43:25] I, yes, it is I who blot out your transgressions for My sake; and I will not remember your sins.
• [Ezekiel 36:26] I will give you a new heart and put in you a new spirit; I will take your stony heart from you and give you a heart of flesh.
• [Isaiah 1:18] “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 as crimson, they shall be as wool.”
• [Psalm 68:19] Blessed be the Lord God our Saviour, who daily bears our burdens.
• [Psalm 79:9] Help us, God our Savior, to the glory of your name; deliver us and forgive our sins for your name’s sake.
• [Psalm 42:11] Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
• [Psalm 18:46] The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock; And exalted be the God of my salvation.
• [Habakkuk 3:17–18] Though the fig tree does not bloom and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the fold and no cattle in the stables, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will rejoice in God my Saviour.
• [Deuteronomy 24:16] “Fathers [אבות, a·vot’] shall not be put to death for sons [בנים, be·nim’], nor shall sons [בנים, be·nim’] be put to death for fathers [אבות, a·vot’]; a man [אישׁ, eesh] shall be put to death for his own sin.
• [Eze 18:4–5, 9] “Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father [האב, ha·av‘] as well as the soul of the son [הבן, ha·ben’] is Mine; the soul who sins shall die. But if a man [אישׁ, an eesh] is just and does what is lawful and right; … if he has walked in My statutes — and kept My judgments faithfully — he is just; He shall surely live!,” says my Master, Yehovah.
• [Jer 17:9–1] “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? I, Yehovah, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man [אישׁ, eesh] according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.
• [1 Samuel 2:25]If one person sins against another, G-d may mediate for the offender; but if anyone sins against the LORD, who will intercede for them?”
• [Exodus 32:30–35] Moses asks Gd to punish him for the sin committed by the people in regards to the Golden Calf. Gd tells Moses that the person who committed the sin is the one who must receive the punishment

Repentance, Righteous Life More Important Then Sacrifice

• [Hosea 6:6] For I desire mercy more, not sacrifice and acknowledgment of God than burnt offerings.
• [1 Samuel 15:22] Then Samuel said, Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, it is better to obey than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
• [Psalm 51:16–17] For thou shalt not delight in sacrifices, but I would give them; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou shalt not despise.
• [Proverbs 21:3] Righteousness and justice are more pleasing to the Lord than sacrifice.
• [Jeremiah 7:22–23] For in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, I spoke not unto your fathers, nor commanded them concerning burnt offerings and sacrifices. But this command I have given them: ‘Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk all the way that I command you, that it may go well with you.’
• [Psalm 40:6–8] You have not rejoiced in sacrifices and offerings, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offerings and sin offerings which you have not required. Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come; in the scroll, it is written of me: I delight to do thy will, O my God; your law is in my heart.”
• [Ecclesiastes 5: 1] Watch your steps as you go to the house of God. It is better to draw near to listen than to make the sacrifice of fools, for they know not that they are doing evil.
• [Mark 12:33] And to love him with all your heart and with all your mind and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself, is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
• [Matthew 9:13] Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
• [Matthew 12:7] And if you had known what this means, “I desire mercy and not sacrifice,” you would not have condemned the innocent.

G-d is the savior, rock, salvation

• [Psalm 118:14] The Lord is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation.
• [Psalm 18:2] The Lord is my rock and my stronghold and my savior, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
• [Psalm 25:5] Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Saviour, and my hope is in you all day long.
• [Psalm 62:] Verily he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
• [2 Samuel 22: 1–3] “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge; My savior, You save me from violence.

G-d is the judge, and he saves

• [Isaiah 33:22] For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; He will save us
• [Micah 7:7] But as for me, I watch in hope in the Lord, I wait in God my Saviour; my God will hear me.
• [Exodus 15:2] “The Lord is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation; This is my God, and I will praise Him; My father’s God, and I will glorify Him.”
• [Isaiah 26:8] Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and fame are the desire of our hearts.
  - Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. He leads the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.
• [Psalm 118:25–26] Lord, save us! Lord, grant us success! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. From the house of the Lord we bless you.
• [Psalm 130:3–4] If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared.

Conclusion

There is no single way to salvation, G-d is the only one who saves, he is the judge, savior, and forgives sins, the Jewish Messiah concept is not remotely close to atonement for sin, and righteousness is more important then sacrafice.