Righteousness has always been by faith. No one has ever been able to work their way to God. Faith, hope and love have always been necessary. The blood of bulls and goats was never able take away sins.
The legalistic "observer of the law" who had no love in his heart in David’s day was just the same as the Pharisees to whom Jesus said woe.
The prophets told people who offered sacrifices and oppressed the poor that their sacrifices were abominations. The people needed to follow the command from God that Moses wrote down and circumcise their hearts. Deuteronomy 10:16 and 30:6.
Offering sacrifices did not make people forgiven. Animal blood didn't forgive, God forgave. People were to offer sacrifices out of obedience and love. A sacrifice without intent was just a dead animal.
In "Old Testament times" the temple was destroyed. People were taken in captivity to Babylon. Daniel lived during that time. He couldn't make sacrifices. But he prayed three times a day facing Jerusalem, confessing his sins and the sins of the people. I'm pretty sure Daniel recieved forgiveness.
God didn’t change his mind about what it meant for a human being to be righteous. He didn’t start off saying, “Okay, I got this pair of balances. I’m going to weigh your good deeds and bad deeds,” but then later decide that’s not what he really wanted. He’s not wishy washy. He has always judged people’s hearts and actions the same way.
Remember this: Jesus is eternal. His death 2000 years ago still covers us 2000 years later. It also covered people in 3000 B.C. God is not bound by time.
To find out about Jesus, people just had to study the Torah. The whole bible is all about Jesus.
Faith: Trust in God’s Mercy and Justice and his Promises, acting faithfully toward God.
Hope: Hope in Messiah, hope in the Word of God.
Love: Respect, honor, loyalty, submission, service to God and people.
No comments:
Post a Comment