DON'T BE FOOLED
Jesus did not die in your stead, neither did He abolish or do away with God's Law. God is
just like you, His justice would not require the death of an innocent child. To have the
innocent suffer and die in the stead of the guilty is wrong. It is against God's justice.
God's justice is right and He will not abolish it.
1. Scriptures that show God does not accept punishment of the innocent to satisfy the debt or pay the guilt of the wicked. These scriptures show God will punish those deserving to be punished.
Abraham appeals to God's sense of justice. The righteous should not die because of the wicked. God would even spare the wicked to keep the righteous from destruction.
(Gen 18:23-25 KJV) And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? (24) Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? (25) That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?
Moses offers himself in place of the Israelites, God's response shows us what He thinks of substitutes.
(Ex 32:31-33 KJV) And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. (32) Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written. (33) And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.
Jesus, calling Himself the "Son of Man", knew it would be against God's sense of justice to die in the "place" of mankind.
(Deu 24:16 KJV) The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin.
God shows us the innocent should not die for the guilty. He moved the Israelites to follow His commandment.
(2 Ki 14:6 KJV) But the children of the murderers he slew not: according unto that which is written in the book of the law of Moses, wherein the LORD commanded, saying, The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor the children be put to death for the fathers; but every man shall be put to death for his own sin.
If God was going to have His Son die in the stead of mankind, do you think He would have used the two verses preceding His announcement of a "New Covenant?" Those two verses tell us we will die for our own sin, not someone (Jesus) dying in our stead.
(Jer 31:29-31&33 KJV) In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children's teeth are set on edge. (30) But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge. (31) Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: (33) But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Just as God does not substitute punishment, neither will He substitute righteousness.
(Ezek 14:13-14 KJV) Son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it: (14) Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD.
This whole chapter needs to be read! It shows clearly God's attitude toward those who do right and those who do wrong. If you turn from sin you will live. If you remain in your sin, to satisfy justice, only you will die.
Ezek 18:1-4 KJV) The word of the LORD came unto me again, saying. (2) What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge? (3) As I live, saith the Lord GOD, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel. (4) Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.
Paul tells Timothy deceivers would appear, but if Timothy continues following the holy scriptures (Old Testament) he would not be deceived or fooled.
(2 Tim 3:13-16 KJV) But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
(14) But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast
learned them; (15) And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise
unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (16) All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be
perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
2. Scriptures that prove Jesus did not do away with or abolish the Law of God.
Jesus is asked a simple question, His answer is also simple - keep the commandments.
(Mat 19:16-22 KJV) And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? (17) And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. (18) He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, (19) Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. (20) The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? (21) Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. (22) But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
Paul expresses an almost identical outline of how to keep the commandments. Just like Jesus, if you love, you will do good.
(Rom 13:8-10 KJV) Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. (9) For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. (10) Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
Jesus quotes the 2 greatest commands in the Law of God. All other commands in the Law will be accomplished if you follow these 2.
(Mat 22:36-40 KJV) Master, which is the great commandment in the law? (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. (38) This is the first and great commandment. (39) And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. (40) On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Paul reaffirms what Jesus taught.
(Gal 5:14 KJV) For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Jesus tells us point blank, He is not destroying or abolishing the Law. Rather He lets us know that if you break the very least commandment and teach others to follow you, you will be considered by those in His kingdom to be as nothing.
(Mat 5:17-22 KJV) Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. (18) For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. (19) Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (20) For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. (21) Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: (22) But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
God's Law is His righteousness (Ps 119:172) and Jesus is one who had God's Law in His heart. He taught us Matt 5: 17-22 because He understood what was written by Isaiah.
(Isa 51:6&7 KJV) Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished. (7) Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings.
John knew if you do not keep God's commandments, you neither love Him or know Him.
(1 John 2:3-5 KJV) And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. (4) He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. (5) But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
Satan will make war with you if you keep God's commandments and testify about Jesus.
(Rev 12:17 KJV) And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed,
which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
3. The true purpose for Jesus' death.
It is a blessing from God for you to see the result of your sin (Jesus' death) and then turn from your sin.
(Acts 3:24-26 KJV) Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.(25) Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. (26) Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
Jesus did not die in the stead of mankind. All of mankind died when He died. God looks at mankind and all He sees is dead corpses. If you realize this, then you should bury your dead corpse in baptism and start a new life totally different from your old life.
(2 Cor 5:14-19 KJV) For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: (15) And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. (16) Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. (17) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (18) And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; (19) To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
We all died with Jesus. He is our sacrifice. The purpose of sacrifice was to allow the one offering the sacrifice to get rid of or put to death whatever caused the sacrifice to be offered. That is why we should put to death our old man. This is the beginning of our priestly service.
(Rom 6:6-8 KJV) Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. (7) For he that is dead is freed from sin. (8) Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
Jesus suffered for our sake to bring us out from under the control of sin, and a Christian suffers for Jesus' sake to glorify Him. Neither one is suffering in the stead of the other.
(Phil 1:29 KJV) For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
Last Modified: 7/22/2012