For the One not knowing sin, He makes to be a sin offering for our sakes that we may becoming Gods righteousness in Him
Paul to the Corinthians (2) 5: 21, Concordant New Testament
When we understand the sin of man, we understand that someone needed to die. Somehow, there needed to be a death, a sacrifice in order to cover that which we had done in the eyes of the Lord. Anyone familiar with the writings of the old testament knows that the priests of Israel would offer up sacrifices for the misdeeds of the people. We know that Abraham also offered up his sacrifice upon the deliverance of his son Ishbak (Isaac). For His part, Jesus made no friends among the leaders of the Jews when He drove out the moneychangers from the temple, who were there to exchange money for the animals the people needed for their sacrifices of atonement {Matthews Account 21:12-13}. So it is that mankind needed a sacrifice to atone for our sin. Not just any sacrifice would do, this sacrifice needed to be guiltless, sin free. The death of the innocent needed to cover the sin of the many. This was accomplished through Gods dispatching of His Son Jesus {Johns Account 3:16-17}. For it is through the willing sacrifice of Christ that the sin of the many has been blotted out forever {Paul to the Corinthians (2) 5:21}. In the eyes of the Father, that which once convicted us has been washed away by the shed blood of His Son. Interestingly enough, this is celebrated as one of the truths of Christian theology. That Jesus came, suffered for many and gave His life to the death of sin {Paul to the Romans 6:10}. We also believe that Jesus died but once to accomplish this. Jesus Himself, on that cross, declares that what He has been sent to accomplish has been done as the Father willed {Johns Account 19:30}. This is the truth which those within the Christian religion accept and celebrate at this time each year. Indeed, we celebrate this truth, but we do not practice it.
It is no secret that those within the mainstream church continue to proclaim that it is our sin which has separated us from God. I have written on this practice many times. My question has always been, if we celebrate the death of Jesus as one of our core principals of the Christian faith, why do we continue to falsely believe that sin continues to be an issue in our lives? Did Jesus somehow miss a few sins as He hung on that cross? I find that difficult to believe. So do those in the church, which is why they continue to preach that He died for the forgiveness of sin. They proclaim it, yet they don't practice what they preach. The apostle Paul speaks in his evangel that Jesus gave Himself to sin "Once for all time" {Paul to the Romans 6:10}. The apostle also reminds us that we're to consider ourselves "Dead, indeed, to sin" {Paul to the Romans 6:11}. Indeed, He Who knew no sin has accomplished what He has been sent to do. So, either we believe what the scriptures have declared or we don't. There is no room for lukewarm belief on this matter. Do you believe that Jesus has died for your iniquities? That He is the propitiation of that which once held you captive? Or, do you trust in the lie of the deceiver who will proclaim that sin remains? This brings another interesting aspect into this conversation, what is sin? If Jesus has died to take away the sin of the world, what is it that the mainstream church continues to wring its hands over? Bad judgement? Bad behavior? Wicked thoughts? These ARE NOT SIN. These are simply man following the lead of his flesh. When we trust in the knowing of our life lived within the Fathers love, we can be confident in proclaiming that sin is not the issue {Johns Account 14:20}. For Jesus has given Himself for the death of sin. He Who knew no sin became the death of many.
Seeing that Christ also, for our sakes, once died concerning sins, the just for the sake of the unjust, that He may be leading us to God; being put to death, indeed, in the flesh, yet vivified in the spirit
Peter to the Dispersion (1) 3: 18, Concordant New Testament
~Scott~
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