quote:
According to the New Testament, Jesus died for our sins (or at least of those who wish to believe it). But what would have happened if the Romans hadn't crucified him, but simply put him in jail for life?
pd writes:
God would have continued to forgive people by his standard methods explained by Ezekiel.
Ezekiel 18:21-22
But if a wicked man turns away from all the sins he has committed and keeps all my decrees and does what is just and right, he will surely live; he will not die. None of the offenses he has committed will be remembered against him. Because of the righteous things he has done, he will live.
According to the Latter testaments, the casting of Joshua's ritual atonement killing was officially sanctioned and being touted by the supposed prophet and certified high priest Yosef Bar Kayafa (
Matisyahu 26:3;
John 11:48,
49,
50,
51,
52,
53) against Joshua's will and advisement (
Matisyahu 9:13,
12:7,
26:1(2)), as some sort of an alleged whole offering blood sacrifice apparently based on a legalistic regulation of the 'ToRaH of Moshe' (according to Augustine, Anselm, Aquinas, etc.).
This is the setting as Joshua storms the Yuhdean countryside freely forgiving sins, jarring the extant economy of salvation, all the while being hunted down by certain religious dogmatics (
Mark 14:1;
Luke 13:31,
22:2 ) and finally murdered by Caesar's ruthless militia as a result of some special pleading arranged to circumvent the laws of the province.
That said, Ezekiel is continually addressed as the 'Son of man' and the phrase is employed within his booklet roughly eighty times; more than five times as often as all the other books within the Original testaments combined.
Likewise, Joshua the Anointed One is also pictured referencing himself as the Son of man quite often, with this title of sorts actually dominating his self-reflective discussions, particularly in the booklet of John.
And so, it seems only natural to allow the words within the narrative attributed to Joshua the opportunity to speak to the context of how a sin can be forgiven without necessitating a homicide.
After all, before he was murdered, Brother Joshua poured out his wisdom to teach every man and woman how sins are removed; however, Joshua
never discussed
any penal substitution method
whatsoever.
He attested that if you forgive others the Father will forgive you (no penal substitution or blood required).
quote:
Matisyahu 6:14
For if you forgive others their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
Brother Joshua displayed that he had authority to forgive sins through bold faith alone (no penal substitution or blood required).
quote:
Luke 5:19
When they found no way to carry him in because of the crowd,
they went up on the roof and let him down on the stretcher through the roof tiles right in front of Joshua.
20 ~ When Joshua saw their faith he said, Friend, your sins are forgiven.
The Anointed One declared an abundance of love may attain forgiveness ... again, no penal substitution or blood required.
quote:
Luke 7:47
Therefore I tell you, her sins, which were many, are forgiven, thus she loved much; but the one who is forgiven little loves little.
Within the text of 1 John, we are told to repent, confess our sins and they will be forgiven (no penal substitution or blood required).
quote:
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous, forgiving us our sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness.
Perhaps Brother Joshua and the author of 1 John had taken the time to read Ezekiel and the rest of the Prophets & Psalms, etc. ...
quote:
Psalms 32:5
Then I confessed my sin; I no longer covered up my wrongdoing.
I said, I will confess my rebellious acts to the Lord.
And then you forgave my sins. (Selah)
One Love
I'm not here to mock or condemn what you believe, tho my intentions are no less than to tickle your thinker.
If those in first century CE had known what these words mean ...
'I want and desire mercy, not sacrifice'They surely would not have murdered the innocent; why trust what I say, when you can learn for yourself?
Think for yourself.
Mercy Trumps Judgement,
Love Weary
™ Version 4.2