When Yeshua sacrificed himself, his death is not the reason that we are saved. Even after he was resurrected, proving that his death was accepted as a sacrifice, that still is not what saves us.
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There is only one thing that “saves” us, and that is forgiveness of sin. And that forgiveness comes from only one place- God.
God, and God alone, is the only one who forgives sin.
Oh, yeah, I know what you’re gonna say: “But Yeshua said in Matthew 9:6 that he has the authority to forgive sins.”
Yes, he did say he has authority to forgive sins, but there was a condition: while on the earth. That verse says (CJB):
But look! I will prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.”
Notice that he says authority ON EARTH, meaning that the authority he was given to forgive sins was specifically while he was on the earth, and solely to prove that he did come from God and doing God’s work.
After he died, that authority was remanded back to God.
Think about it: if Yeshua is our Intercessor, then why would we need to ask him to intercede if he can forgive sins himself? If he can do what God does, why go to God?
This is part of the oxymoronic logic of the Trinity, in that if Yeshua and God are the same, then why does he have to intercede with himself? And when we ask for forgiveness, who do we ask: God? Yeshua? Both? Is it a joint decision or do they take turns?
But we are not talking about the Trinity, we are talking about understanding how salvation and Yeshua’s sacrificial death are related.
The sacrificial system for sin required a sheep or a goat, one that met the Torah requirements as a sacrifice, to be slain at the temple in Jerusalem (the only place sacrifices were to be made, according to Deuteronomy 12). And with the shedding of innocent blood we could receive forgiveness of sin (Hebrews 9:22)… BUT you need to ask for it, you need to really feel repentance, and you need to desire to do t’shuvah (turning from sin).
A sacrifice meant nothing if you didn’t really feel remorse at your sin. I mean, really?- do you think God would forgive a sinner who didn’t repent of their sin?
I don’t think so!
So, when Yeshua died, he was a sinless sacrifice, innocent and pure, and his resurrection proved two things:
- God accepted his sacrifice; and
- If you live your life totally and completely in accordance with God’s Torah, you will be saved.
(I know that one really throws a lot of people, but it makes sense- Yeshua lived 100% in accordance with the Torah, 100% of the time, otherwise he would not have been the sinless lamb of God, right? So, if any human could be the same way – which is, sadly, impossible for us- then our “works” would save us, although works like that can’t be done without faith. But, I digress…)
Yeshua’s sacrifice provided a special sin sacrifice, one that replaced the need to bring an animal to the temple in Jerusalem, which has proven to be really convenient since the temple was destroyed soon after that. By means of his sacrifice, we can now come before God any time, any where, and be able to ask for- and receive- forgiveness of sin.
Of course, we also need to do that repentance and t’shuvah thing, as well. God isn’t stupid, and when you ask to be forgiven, if it isn’t a legitimate, heartfelt desire, well… don’t count on it.
Yeshua’s sacrificial death is not what saves us, neither does his resurrection, but it does provide the prerequisite for us to come to God and ask HIM to forgive us.
One last point: the fact that Yeshua’s sacrifice serves as a once-and-for-all sacrifice for sin doesn’t mean forgiveness is automatic. Without true repentance, a true desire to do t’shuvah, and humbly asking God to forgive you for each and every sin, you get nuttin!
Thank you for being here and please remember to share these messages with everyone you know, even non-believers. Hey, after all, you never know how fertile the soil is until you plant a seed in it.
That’s it for this week, so l’hitraot and (an early) Shabbat Shalom!