the Way| When Adam decided to disobey G-d he allowed
sin to enter into the world. We are all guilty of
it, and we all suffer the greatest consequence of it:
separation from G-d. "For there is not a just man upon earth, that does good and sins not." (Ecclesiastes 7:20) (see also Psalm 143:2; Isaiah 59:2) "But your iniquities have separated you and your G-d, and your sins have hid His face from you that He will not hear." (Isaiah 59:2) But in His great love for mankind, G-d has not abandoned His creation. In fact He is ever pursuing a relationship with mankind. When Adam sinned G-d first spoke of future redemption (Genesis 3!15) and then provided the temporary covering for the sin. (Genesis 3:21) While G-d has commanded us not to sin, our own "goodness" still cannot reconcile us to Him.
"But we are all as an unclean
thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy
rags" So how are we reconciled to G-d? What atones for our sin?
"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 makes an atonement for the soul."
G-d set up a system of sacrifices, the most important occurring once a year on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement -- this to atone for all the sins of Israel for the whole year. But always G-d foretold of another sacrifice, one which would not need to be repeated; it was good once, for all; He spoke of a Redeemer, the Messiah.
|
