In his letter to the Romans, Shaul (Paul) says that the Torah identified what sin is (Romans 7), earlier saying that Grace can always overcome sin (Romans 6). He then goes on to ask if Grace can overcome sin, does that mean we can go on sinning?
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Of course, Shaul tells us that just because Grace can overcome sin that is no reason to keep sinning.
(And if it had been appropriate at that time, I’m sure he would have added a “DUH!“)
Yeshua made forgiveness available to anyone, at any time, because by means of his sacrificial death there was no longer a need to sacrifice an animal at the temple in Jerusalem (which was required under the Torah). Therefore, if we can receive forgiveness through Yeshua, no matter where we are, does that make sinning easier to do?
I mean, if Christianity teaches the Torah (which sort of created sin by telling us what it is) is not for Christians, and all anyone has to do is accept Yeshua as the Messiah so they can ask forgiveness in Yeshua’s name, doesn’t that make it easier to sin? And, what with Grace overcoming all sin and Yeshua making Grace available just by asking, then why not go ahead and sin?
Now, what is really scary to me is that there are, and I have no doubt about this, some people out there right now saying to themselves, “Hmmm…yeah, that makes sense.”
It NEVER makes sense to sin: period, end of story, close the door on your way out!
What does make sense is that Yeshua had to replace the need to bring an animal to the temple because within just 4 decades after his resurrection, the temple was destroyed, leaving everyone who has not accepted Yeshua as the Messiah no way to receive forgiveness.
In case you didn’t know: The Book of Leviticus identifies the sacrificial system as the only means to receive forgiveness, and in chapter12 of the Book of Deuteronomy, God commands that sacrifices are only to be made where he places his name; initially, that was the Tabernacle Moses built, then it was the temple Solomon built in Jerusalem.
This is why I say that without the temple, according to the Torah, there can be no forgiveness of sin.
It has become all too easy for Christians to sin and not worry about it, what with the “believe in Jesus and you will be saved” ad campaign, not to mention the ridiculous idea that once you have been saved, you are automatically forgiven of your sins (known as OSAS). These tenets of Christianity have misdirected so many God-fearing people who think they are doing the right thing in God’s eyes, while what they are really doing is rejecting everything that God said we should do if we want to live a righteous life!
Here’s the kicker, people: just because Yeshua made forgiveness easier to receive, if you are not repentant, you are not going to be forgiven, and thinking that you can sin and be forgiven just because you “believe in Jesus” is a one-way ticket to Sheol.
God is not stupid- he knows the heart and the mind of everyone. If you think, probably due to what some religion has told you, that Yeshua made forgiveness easy to attain whenever you sin, that is not honoring either Yeshua or God.
Shaul was right- the Torah identifies sin, and that is why we must know the Torah, intimately! God gave the Torah to teach us (both Jews and Gentiles!) how to live a righteous life, and just because we can’t do everything we should, all the time, that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth trying to be as obedient as best as we can.
Yeshua’s sacrifice wasn’t made so that it is easier to be forgiven, it was made to replace the need to bring an animal to the temple. That’s all it was meant to do- everything else under the sacrificial system still exists: you still need to confess sin, you still need to repent of sin, and you still need to ASK for forgiveness- it ain’t automatic!
The real danger of this idea that forgiveness is automatic is that when we think it comes without asking, at first try not to sin, but when we do we know we don’t need to confess it or ask to be forgiven. Eventually, and inevitably, knowing we are forgiven already, we stop trying not to sin. I mean, if I can be forgiven of my sins every time I sin, without having to confess it, or repent of it, or do anything, why try not to?
So, let’s recap:
- God identified sin by giving us his Torah;
- The Torah tells us that if we sin, we do not get to be in God’s presence for eternity;
- God made a way for us to receive forgiveness of our sins, which is the sacrificial system;
- That system required us to bring an animal to the temple in Jerusalem;
- Yeshua’s sacrifice replaced the need to bring that animal to the temple, making it easier to receive forgiveness.
But did Yeshua’s sacrifice make it easier to sin? NO!
Yeshua made it easier to receive forgiveness, but it is religion that has made it easier to sin.
Thank you for being here and please remember to share these messages with everyone you know. That’s it for this week, so l’hitraot, and (an early) Shabbat Shalom!
