|
" We need the sacrificial Blood of Jesus shed on the Cross in
order to overcome our avowed enemy Satan."
And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation,
and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ:
for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before
our God day and night. And they overcame him by the BLOOD
OF THE LAMB, and by THE WORD OF THEIR
TESTIMONY; and they loved not their lives unto the death. (Revelation
12:10-11)
Is sacrifice required for atonement of sins?
Jesus Christ: Perfect Sacrifice
to God
By Mark Andrew
Allah's laws states that the penalty of sin is death. In lieu thereof,
a ransom have to be paid. If a woman is caught in adultery, she will be
stoned to death in accordance with Mossaic law of the Torah. The principle of Allah's laws
has not been abrogated
and is applicable now and on the Day of Judgement. Hence, the Biblical
concept of a ransom paid by Jesus Christ for the sinners is in conformity
with God's laws.
Hadith Volume 3, Book 49, Number 860:
Narrated Abu Huraira and Zaid bin Khalid Al-Juhani: A bedouin came and
said, "O Allah's Apostle! Judge between us according
to Allah's Laws." His opponent got up and said, "He is right.
Judge between us according to Allah's Laws." The bedouin said, "My son
was a laborer working for this man, and he committed illegal sexual
intercourse with his wife. The people told me that my son should
be stoned to death; so, in lieu of that, I paid a ransom of
one hundred sheep and a slave girl to save my son. Then I asked the learned
scholars who said, "Your son has to be lashed one-hundred lashes and has
to be exiled for one year." The Prophet said, "No doubt I will judge
between you according to Allah's Laws. The slave-girl and the sheep
are to go back to you, and your son will get a hundred lashes and one
year exile." He then addressed somebody, "O Unais! go to the wife of
this (man) and stone her to death" So, Unais went and stoned her to
death.
It is Allah's laws that require a ransom to be paid for wrong-doings
and to suffer the consequence of sin. This is evidence for the man and
in the case of the woman is death. As the words of God is eternal,
God's laws cannot be changed by man nor an angel.
The first mention of blood sacrifice is according to the Book of
Genesis is when God make coats of skins for Adam and his wife. In Genesis
3:21, Moses testifies:
| 3:21 |
Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make
coats of skins, and clothed them. |
Where does the coats of skins come
from? It is most probably from animal's skins. From the beginning, we notice
that God requires animal's blood sacrifice for the penalty of sin. Throughout
the history from Adam till Jesus Christ, there is blood sacrifice carried
out by priest every year.
According to Exodus 4:24-26, the circumcision of
the first-born son was omitted by Moses, and the Lord therefore "sought to
kill him"; whereupon "Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off
the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his (Moses') feet, and said, Surely a
bloody husband art thou to me." Thus Moses was ransomed by the blood of his son's circumcision.
Jesus Christ is the perfect sacrifice for the atonement of the sins
of the world. In the old days, the priests have to offer blood sacrifice
to God year in and year out. Now, Jesus Christ who is the high priest in
the throne of God and who is sinless, offer Himself as an acceptable sacrifice
to God once and for all. His atoning blood is powerful to wipe away the
sins of the whole world; just by having faith in him and accept this gift
from God. You cannot earn it nor buy it with money but it is God's grace
that none should boast.
In Hebrews 4:12-16, 10:1-22 & 13:8, the author testifies as follows:
| 4:12 |
For the word of God is quick, and powerful,
and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing
asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner
of the thoughts and intents of the heart. |
| 4:13 |
Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but
all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have
to do. |
| 4:14 |
Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed
into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. |
| 4:15 |
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling
of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet
without sin. |
| 4:16 |
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may
obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. |
| 10:1 |
For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very
image of the things, can never with those
sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers
thereunto perfect. |
| 10:2 |
For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the
worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. |
| 10:3 |
But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every
year. |
| 10:4 |
For it is not possible that the blood
of bulls and of goats should take away sins. |
| 10:5 |
Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering
thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: |
| 10:6 |
In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. |
| 10:7 |
Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of
me,) to do thy will, O God. |
| 10:8 |
Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and
offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which
are offered by the law; |
| 10:9 |
Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the
first, that he may establish the second. |
| 10:10 |
By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the
body of Jesus Christ once for all. |
| 10:11 |
And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes
the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: |
| 10:12 |
But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever,
sat down on the right hand of God; |
| 10:13 |
From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. |
| 10:14 |
For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. |
| 10:15 |
Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness
to us: for after that he had
said before, |
| 10:16 |
This is the covenant that I will make
with them after those days, saith the Lord,
I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; |
| 10:17 |
And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. |
| 10:18 |
Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. |
| 10:19 |
Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by
the blood of Jesus, |
| 10:20 |
By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through
the veil, that is to say, his flesh; |
| 10:21 |
And having an high priest over the house of God; |
| 10:22 |
Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having
our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with
pure water. |
| 13:8 |
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day,
and for ever. |
In Romans 3:23-25, Apostle Paul testifies as follows:
| 3:23 |
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; |
| 3:24 |
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that
is in Christ Jesus: |
| 3:25 |
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith
in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins
that are past, through the forbearance of God; |
Why Blood Sacrifice is required in the days of Moses for atonement
of sins?
In Leviticus 17:1-11, Moses testifies as follows:-
| 17:1 |
And the LORD spake unto Moses,
saying, |
| 17:2 |
Speak unto Aaron, and unto his sons, and unto all the children of Israel,
and say unto them; This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded, saying, |
| 17:3 |
What man soever there be of the house of Israel, that killeth an ox,
or lamb, or goat, in the camp, or that killeth it out of the camp, |
| 17:4 |
And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation,
to offer an offering unto the LORD before the tabernacle of the LORD; blood
shall be imputed unto that man; he hath shed blood; and that man shall
be cut off from among his people: |
| 17:5 |
To the end that the children of Israel may bring their sacrifices,
which they offer in the open field, even that they may bring them unto
the LORD, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto
the priest, and offer them for peace offerings unto
the LORD. |
| 17:6 |
And the priest shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar of the LORD
at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and burn the fat for
a sweet savour unto the LORD. |
| 17:7 |
And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils, after
whom they have gone a whoring. This shall be a statute for ever unto them
throughout their generations. |
| 17:8 |
And thou shalt say unto them, Whatsoever man there be of the house
of Israel, or of the strangers which sojourn among you, that offereth a
burnt offering or sacrifice, |
| 17:9 |
And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation,
to offer it unto the LORD; even that man shall be cut off from among his
people. |
| 17:10 |
And whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers
that sojourn among you, that eateth any manner of blood; I will even set
my face against that soul that eateth blood, and will cut him off from
among his people. |
| 17:11 |
For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given
it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for
it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. |
Did God abolish the blood sacrifice?
God did not abolish the Blood sacrifice but instead it has been accomplished
by the Lamb of God. Jesus Christ, Lamb of God has offered Himself as a
perfect sacrifice for the atonement of our sins. He pays the ransom for
the penalty of our sins which is eternal death. Unlike the olden days priests
who have to offer blood sacrifice every day, Christ did it once and for
all.
In Hebrews 9:11-22 (KJV), the author testifies as follows:
| 9:11 |
But Christ being come an high priest of
good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made
with hands, that is to say, not of this building; |
| 9:12 |
Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but
by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having
obtained eternal redemption for us. |
| 9:13 |
For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer
sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: |
| 9:14 |
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit
offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead
works to serve the living God? |
| 9:15 |
And for this cause he is the mediator of the
new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of
the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are
called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. |
| 9:16 |
For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death
of the testator. |
| 9:17 |
For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of
no strength at all while the testator liveth. |
| 9:18 |
Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. |
| 9:19 |
For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according
to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet
wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, |
| 9:20 |
Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined
unto you. |
| 9:21 |
Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels
of the ministry. |
| 9:22 |
And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without
shedding of blood is no remission. |
The title 'the Son of God" does not mean God has carnal relationship
with woman and begat a son. The Bible is very clear on this issue as Gospel
of Luke 3:38 support this point " ... Adam, which was the son of God."
We know that God created Adam from the dust of the ground and gave man
the breath of life. As Adam originates from God, he is known as the son
of God. In Genesis 2:7, Moses testifies:
| 2:7 |
And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed
into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. |
Allah is not God of the Bible because Allah has no son. God of the Bible
has the only begotten Son called Jesus. Quran says it so appeared that
Messiah Jesus is crucified. God of the Bible sent his Son Messiah Jesus
to die on the Cross for the sins of the world. The first Adam and woman
sinned against God and expelled from the garden of Eden as a consequence
of sin. The second Adam from Heaven came to reconcile men to God by atonement
of sin and give right to eat from the Tree of Life (Eternity) for those
who do his commandments. In Revelation 22:14, Apostle John testifies:
| 22:14 |
Blessed are they that do his Commandments,
that they may have right to the Tree of Life, and may enter
in through the gates into the city. |
What are the commandments of Jesus Christ that we should obey? It is
not the 5 pillars of Islam. Do not be deceived by anyone who said so. In
Matthew 22:35, Apostle Matthew testifies:
| 22:35 |
Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked
him a question, tempting him, and saying, |
| 22:36 |
Master, which is the great commandment in
the law? |
| 22:37 |
Jesus said unto him, Thou
shalt LOVE the
Lord thy GOD
with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. |
| 22:38 |
This is the first
and great commandment. |
| 22:39 |
And the second
is like unto it, Thou shalt LOVE
thy NEIGHBOUR
as thyself. |
| 22:40 |
On these two commandments
hang all the law and the prophets. |
How can we demonstrate our love for our neighbours?
All people need the
Lord because they are perishing. We are commanded to preach and teach all
nations about good news (gospel) of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God as a
demonstration of God's love.
In Matthew 28:18-20, Apostle Matthew testifies:
| 28:18 |
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All
power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. |
| 28:19 |
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing
them in the name
of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost: |
| 28:20 |
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever
I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto
the end of the world. Amen. |
Who can save you from your sins?
Nobody except Jesus Christ of Nazareth who was tempted in every way and
yet overcame it with victory. Believe Him today and accept this gift from
God. The gift has been offered to every sinners but it only benefits those
who receive Him into their life by faith.
Who is a mediator between God and men? How
many mediators are there in Heaven?
Apostle Paul saith: “For there is one God,
and one mediator between God and men,
the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified
in due time.(1 Timothy 2: 5-6)
Who are our intercessors on earth and in Heaven?
Holy Spirit is our intercessor for men on earth while Lord Jesus Christ
is our intercessor on the right hand of God.
Likewise the (Holy) Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know
not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit
itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot
be uttered. And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of
the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to
the will of God.(Roman 8: 26-27)
Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather,
that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also
maketh intercession for us. (Roman 8:34)
Can
a sinner save another sinner?
The profound truth
has been taught by Jesus Christ (Al-Messiah) who says: “Let them alone:
they be blind leaders of the blind.
And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch” (Matthew
15:14)
Blind leaders is a figure of speech referring to spiritual leaders and prophets
who disbelieve Jesus as the Son of God and leading others not in the path of truth
that leads to eternal life in Paradise. It tells us that sinner cannot save
another sinner. Both sinners will land in the pit. Ditch is an analogy to Hell.
What is the basis of the 5 pillars
of Islam that claim to supersede the practice of Blood Sacrifice to Allah?
Forty Hadith translated by Ezzedin Ibrahim and Denys Johnson-Davies:
Hazrat Umar (Allah be pleased with him) said: One day while we were sitting
with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) there appeared before us
a
man whose clothes were exceedingly white and whose hair was exceedingly
black; no signs of journeying were to be seen on him and none
of us knew him. He walked and sat down by the Prophet (peace be upon him).
Resting his knees against his and placing the palm of his hands on his
thigh, he said: O Muhammad, tell me about Islam.
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: Islam is to testify that
:
-
there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah,
-
to perform the prayers,
-
to pay the zakat (NOTE 4) ,
-
to fast in Ramadan, and
-
to make the pilgrimage to the House (NOTE 5) if you are able to do so.
He said: You have spoken rightly, and we were amazed at him asking him
and saying that he had spoken right.
He said: Then tell me about iman
(NOTE 6) . The Prophet (may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him
) said: It is to believe in Allah,
His angels, His books, His messengers and
the Last Day, and to believe in divine destiny, both the good and evil
thereof. He said: You have spoken rightly.
He said: Then tell me about ihsan (NOTE 7) , The Prophet (may the blessings
and peace of Allah be upon him ) said: It is to worship Allah as though
you are seeing Him, and while you see Him not yet truly He sees you. He
said then tell me about the Hour (NOTE 8) , The Prophet (peace be upon
him) said: The one questioned about it knows no better than the questioner.
He said: Tell me about its signs. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
The slave-girl will give birth to her mistress (NOTE 9) and that you will
see the barefooted naked, destitute herdsmen competing in constructing
lofty buildings. Then he took himself off and I stayed for a time. Then
the Prophet (may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon) said: O
Umar, do you know who the questioner was? I said: Allah and
his Messenger know best. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: It
was Gabriel, who came to you to teach you your religion.
Comments:
1) From the above conversation, we read that Muhammad was replying to the
questions of the
angel and not angel Gabriel "came to teach you your religion". It is very doubful as whether the conversation actually happened because Hadith was written
200 years
after Quran.
2) Nowhere in Quran revealed that these 5 pillars of Islam has superseded
Allah's laws on sacrifice for sins. Angelic teachings cannot be accepted
unless it conforms to God's law. Did angel announce "In the name of Allah,
I come to teach you your religion..."?
3) Angels are not greater than Jesus. So we should listen and obey
the commandments of Jesus Christ and not angel's.
4) Believe in one God does not assure
salvation. Devils or demons also believe in God but will be thrown to the Lake of fire on
the Day of Judgment. In James 2:18-20 (KJV), Apostle James testifies as follows:
| 2:18 |
Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy
faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. |
| 2:19 |
Thou believest that there is one God;
thou doest well: the devils also believe, and
tremble. |
| 2:20 |
But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? |
The misconception that there is no original sin is
in contradiction with God's word.
In 1 John 1:7-10, Apostle John, by inspiration of God,
testified as follows:
| 1:7 |
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one
with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son
cleanseth us from all sin.
| 1:8 |
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive
ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
| 1:9 |
If we confess our sins {repent}, he is faithful and just to forgive
us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
| 1:10 |
If we say that we have not sinned, we make
Him {God} a liar, and His word is
not in us.
|
| | |
Believers are sprinkled by the Blood of Jesus as testified by Apostle
Peter in 1 Peter 1:2:
| 1:2 |
Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through
sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling
of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be
multiplied. |
The Believers are washed from sins in the Blood of Jesus as testified by
Apostle John in the Book of Revelation 1:5-6:
| 1:5 |
And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten
of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us,
and washed us from our sins in his own blood, |
| 1:6 |
And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his
Father; to him be
glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. |
Is there an original sin? Sin came to the world through Adam and saved by grace of God.
Romans 5:12-17 & 6:9-10, 14-15
| 5:12
| Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and
so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
| 5:13
| (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there
is no law.
| 5:14
| Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not
sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him
that was to come.
| 5:15
| But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the
offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by
grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
| 5:16
| And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was
by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto
justification.
| 5:17
| For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which
receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in
life by one, Jesus Christ.)
|
| | | | |
| 6:9
| Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath
no more dominion over him.
| 6:10
| For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he
liveth unto God.
|
|
| 6:14
| For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law,
but under grace.
| 6:15
| What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under
grace? God forbid.
|
|
1 Corinthians 15:20-26 & 45-47
| 15:20
| But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them
that slept.
| 15:21
| For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the
dead.
| 15:22
| For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
| 15:23
| But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they
that are Christ's at his coming.
| 15:24
| Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God,
even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and
power.
| 15:25
| For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
| 15:26
| The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
|
| | | | | |
| 15:45
| And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the
last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
| 15:46
| Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural;
and afterward that which is spiritual.
| 15:47
| The first man {Adam} is of the earth, earthy: the second man {Jesus} is
the Lord from heaven.
|
| |
Who are the False Prophets?
For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus,
whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have
not received, or another gospel, which
ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. For such are false
apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the
apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself
is transformed into an angel of light.(2 Corinthians 11:4, 13-14)
Conclusion: God's law on blood sacrifice has not been abolished.
Satan can disguise himself as Angel of light and deceive many. Muhammad
spoke the Satanic verses (Sura 53:19-20) because he was bewitched. As Muhammad
was ever bewitched then all other revelations are very doubtful to be from
God. Lord Jesus was not bewitched as He stood against the 3 temptations from
Satan (Matt 4:1-11). The blood of Jesus shed from the Cross is powerful and sufficient
to wipe away the sins of the whole world; just come by faith to Jesus and
trust in Him now. Heaven will rejoice with you!
In Luke 15:7, Jesus said: I say unto you, that likewise
joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more
than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
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