If the current covenant requires all the laws, including animal sacrifice, offerings, and atonement by the high priest to atone for sin, how does G-d reconcile sin with holiness now?
- It is clear that the Mosaic Law given at Mt. Sinai is from G-d. Therefore it is good, lawful and just, and for a blessing. However it is also clear that G-d knew that the law was going to be broken. How can this be reconciled?
- What does G-d really want? How were Jews before Moses and the covenant made right with G-d? Or those during the exile?
- Look at some Psalms...
Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.
Psalms 40:6-8 (KJV)
For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
Psalms 51:16-17 (KJV)
- It is clear while animal sacrifice is a covering for sin, the real desire is faith and obedience.
- Compare that to these New Testament scriptures
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
Matt 5:17 (KJV)
But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
Gal 3:11-13 (KJV)
- G-d himself has reconciled this by sending his own Son to die for our sins. This is the good news of the gospel: All are guilty of not following the law completely. But G-d in his mercy has made a sin offering for us Himself!
- This does not mean that we are now free to sin, for the Law is still right. But that when we do sin we can have forgiveness. G-d changes us from the inside, he puts the law "on our heart" exactly as we have read earlier. This then leads to one following G-d both inwardly and outwardly.
For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
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But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Gal 5:14, 22-25 (KJV)
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Romans 6:1-2 (KJV)
For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
Romans 6:14-15 (KJV)