One god, Two god, Red god, Blue god...

One god, Two god, Red god, Blue god

One god, Two god, Red god, Blue god. Why is biblical Religion/Judaism (monotheism) so hard for the Christian/Western mindset to understand?

Caveat :There is no false doctrine more offensive to biblical religion/Judaism than the elevation of a created being to equality with HaShem.

Isa 28:9 Tzav la-tzav, tzav la-tzav, kav la-kav, kav la-kav z'eir sham, z'eir sham [Precept by precept, precept by precept, line by line, line by line, a little here, a little there].

G-d Does NOT Require A Blood Sacrifice  By Dr. Akiva Belk

Parasha Vayikra

Leviticus 5:11-13

But if his means are insufficient for two turtle doves or for two young doves, then he shall bring, as his guilt-offering for that which he sinned a tenth-ephah of fine flour for a sin-offering; he shall not place oil on it nor shall he put frankincense on it, for it is a sin offering. He shall bring it to the Kohen, and the Kohen shall scoop his three fingers full as its memorial portion and cause it to go up in smoke on the Altar, on the fires of Hashem; it is a sin-offering. The Kohen shall provide him atonement for the sin that he committed regarding any of these, and it will be forgiven him; and it shall belong to the Kohen, like the meal-offering.

Hashem gladly accepts a simple product grown from the soil of the earth upon His altar as a sin offering. A product of grain ground into flour offered by a poor Jew. Obviously flour is not a blood sacrifice. It is a grain sacrifice. These verses of the Torah clearly dispute what the author of the Epistle of Hebrews wrote in chapter nine verse twenty-two. The King James Translators state: And almost all things are by the law [the Torah} purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. The New International Version states: In fact, the law [the Torah] requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

It is interesting that so much emphasis is placed on just the words without shedding of blood is no remission" and "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.The word ALMOST and the words NEARLY EVERYTHING are ignored! Yet their presence agrees with Leviticus 5:11-13. In other words a blood sacrifice is not the only way.

Much has been made of the offerings of Hevel and Kayin. Hevel's offering was from the best of the first fruits of his flocks. Kayin's offering was from the rotten spoilage of the earth's produce. An attempt has been made to conclude that Hashem accepted Hevel's offering because it was a blood sacrifice and on the other denied Kayin's offering because it was a product of the earth. Not true! The Stone Chumash states in reference to the two sacrifices that Hevel selectedthe choicest of the firstlings of his flocks. The King James Version states "the firstlings of his flock and the fat thereof." The NIV states: "Hevel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of the flocks." A simple study of Genesis chapter four verses three through seven will show that Hashem compared the attitudes behind the two sacrifices. One attitude was extremely grateful and generous the other was stingy and selfish. Hashem would have accepted both offerings had they been the choicest of the firstfruits. The NIV commentary states: The contrast is not between an offering of plant life and an offering of animal life, but between a careless, thoughtless offering and a choice, generous offering. Motivation and heart attitude are all important, and G-d looked with favor on Hevel and his offering because of Hevel's faith. This is emphasized by the writer of the Episle of Hebrews in chapter eleven verse four: ...By faith Hevel offered G-d a better sacrifice than Kayin did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when G-d spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.... To this the NIV comments: ...Both brothers brought offerrings to the L-rd: Kayin from the fruits of the soil, and Hevel from the firstborn of his flock. the chief reason for acceptance of Hevel's sacrifice was that he offered it by faith... It is implied that Kayin's sacrifice was rejected because it was without faith, as a mere formality.

Another area of serious misunderstanding is the Passover in Exodus Chapter twelve. It has been erroneously implied that the sacrifice of thousands of animals prior to the deliverance of the nation Israel proves the need for blood sacrifice. The fact is that the lamb / kid was one of the highly respected gods of Egypt. It was forbidden to kill a lamb or a kid for any reason. This was the last god of Egypt to be slain. On the tenth of Nissan, which was Shabbos, hundreds of thousands of Jews selected an unblemished male lamb or kid within its first year to be slain on the fourteenth of Nissan. This was a sign by every Jewish slave in Israel of their faith in G-d. It was a great miracle that the Egyptians did nothing. As a result that Shabbos is called "the Great Shabbos." The nation of Israel made it very clear that on the fourteenth of Nissan they were going to kill over 1/2 million lambs and kids right if front of the Egyptians. Then each Jewish household declared their freedom from Egyptian gods by killing the lamb or kid and placing its blood on the doorpost of their own home. The bold Jewish defiance of the Egyptians' god was an audacious statement by the Jews of their trust in Hashem! The blood was a sign to the Egyptians that every Jewish household had slain their god. This action one year earlier would have brought certain death. The blood on the doorpost was the evidence required by the Angel of death. The blood on the doorpost does not necessarily mean everyone in the dwelling were in agreement. Just the same, regardless of one's obedience, disobedience, faith or lack of faith, if blood was on the doorpost as prescribed by Hashem, everyone in the house was spared from death. This differs uniquely from belief and acceptance in Jesus. According to Christians / Messianics, it is an individual choice. As a result, it is preposterous to make any attempt to connect the blood on the doorpost with believing in Jesus. Belief in Jesus requires that an individual acknowledge Jesus as the son of G-d. In no way did blood on the doorpost imply what each individual in the dwelling believed. In addition, Christians / Messianics require that you believe as a prerequisite that Jesus died for your sins and, without his death, your sins cannot be forgiven. In no way does selecting a lamb four days prior to its slaughter imply or suggest in any way that the nation Israel perceived as forgiveness of their sins. And to make such a suggestion is absurd and ludicrous. Christians / Messianics are insistent that you profess that Jesus shed his blood and gave his life for you. Nowhere, in the deliverance of the nation Israel from Egypt is there any reference or implication that the blood from the slain lambs required any type of profession of each individual or group dwelling in the structure where the lamb's blood appeared on the doorpost.

Christians / Messianics believe that Jesus is the only name given whereby you can be saved. This is ludicrous! Human sacrifice is forbidden. Murder of a human being is forbidden.

The blood from over 400,000 lambs was placed on the doorposts of each house throughout Goshen. The deaths of these lambs were a terrifying sight to the Egytians since they were Egyptian gods. So, in fact, the nation Israel killed the idolatrous diety of the Egyptians and feasted on their bounty before departing. Each Jew proclaimed their allegiance to Hashem by killing the Egyptian god and placing that god's blood on the doorpost. This was an act of defiance against the Egyptians. The blood on the doorpost represented, Hey Egypt, we have killed your god! THE BLOOD ON THE DOORPOST DOES NOT REPRESENT A PROFESSION OF FAITH THAT STATES WE BELIEVE IN YOUR GOD! So, the action by the nation Israel is the EXACT OPPOSITE to what Christians / Messianics would have you believe.

Unlike the Christian / Messianic tenet, the purpose for the blood on the doorpost was a witness of Jewish obedience to Hashem and defiance of the Egyptian god.

Finally, the notion that our sins are not forgiven because our Holy Temple in Jerusalem is destroyed is ridiculous. Psalms fifty-one verses sixteen and seventeen state: You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of G-d are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O G-d, you will not despise. While we greatly desire our Temple and look forward to the day it is restored we take great comfort in the fact that Hashem desires the sacrifices of a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart...

It should also be noted that in the third Temple animal sacrifices will be restored forever! That being the situation what becomes of the belief that Jesus is the only way? What becomes of the indoctrination without the shedding of blood there is no remission for sin? Until our Temple is restored we are comforted because Hashem is Merciful, Gracious and Longsuffering. Hashem hears our cry and we cry to Hashem daily!

.

Akiva

Source: http://www.jewishpath.org/essaydoesnotrequireablood.html

Jesus & Hercules Parallels 

10 Christ-like Figures Who Pre-Date Jesus 

By JAMIE FRATER

I recently watched the documentary Zeitgeist (Part 1) as well as Bill Maher’s movie Religulous. Both made mention of claims often made that there are many stories that predate Jesus but have striking parallels. I decided to follow up on these claims and see what kind of information was out there to substantiate these assertions.

I found several websites run by Christians who obviously disputed all claims of any parallels to the life of Jesus. I also found several interesting books on the subject, such as The World’s Sixteen Crucified Saviors: Christianity Before Christ by Kersey Graves, and The Christ Conspiracy, and Suns of God: Krishna, Buddha and Christ Unveiled by Acharya S.

As a non-christian, I am approaching this topic purely as an interested observer. I am assuming half of the people who read this will automatically say the claims are false and the other half will say they are true. The truth I found is that it is difficult to know for sure.

Here are ten of the figures often sited:

10

Buddha

Both went to their temples at the age of twelve, where they are said to have astonished all with their wisdom. Both supposedly fasted in solitude for a long time: Buddha for forty–seven days and Jesus for forty. Both wandered to a fig tree at the conclusion of their fasts. Both were about the same age when they began their public ministry:

“When he [Buddha] went again to the garden he saw a monk who was calm, tranquil, self–possessed, serene, and dignified. The prince, determined to become such a monk, was led to make the great renunciation. At the time he was twenty–nine years of age… “Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age.” (Luke 3:23). Both were tempted by the “devil” at the beginning of their ministry: To Buddha, he said: “Go not forth to adopt a religious life but return to your kingdom, and in seven days you shall become emperor of the world, riding over the four continents.” To Jesus, he said: “All these [kingdoms of the world] I will give you, if you fall down and worship me” (Matthew 4:9). Buddha answered the “devil”: “Get you away from me.”

Jesus responded: “…begone, Satan!” (Matthew 4:10). Both strove to establish a kingdom of heaven on earth. According to the Somadeva (a Buddhist holy book), a Buddhist ascetic’s eye once offended him, so he plucked it out and cast it away. Jesus said: “If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out, and throw it away;.” (Matthew 5:29).

9

Krishna

According to Bhagavata Purana some believe that Krishna was born without a sexual union, by “mental transmission” from the mind of Vasudeva into the womb of Devaki, his mother. Christ and Krishna were called both God and the Son of God. Both were sent from heaven to earth in the form of a man. Both were called Savior, and the second person of the Trinity. Krishna’s adoptive human father was also a carpenter. A spirit or ghost was their actual father. Krishna and Jesus were of royal descent. Both were visited at birth by wise men and shepherds, guided by a star. Angels in both cases issued a warning that the local dictator planned to kill the baby and had issued a decree for his assassination. The parents fled. Mary and Joseph stayed in Muturea; Krishna’s parents stayed in Mathura. Both Christ and Krishna withdrew to the wilderness as adults, and fasted. Both were identified as “the seed of the woman bruising the serpent’s head.” Jesus was called “the lion of the tribe of Judah.” Krishna was called “the lion of the tribe of Saki.” Both claimed: “I am the Resurrection.” Both were “without sin.” Both were god-men: being considered both human and divine. Both performed many miracles, including the healing of disease. One of the first miracles that both performed was to make a leper whole. Each cured “all manner of diseases.” Both cast out indwelling demons, and raised the dead. Both selected disciples to spread his teachings. Both were meek, and merciful. Both were criticized for associating with sinners. Both celebrated a last supper. Both forgave his enemies. Both were crucified and both were resurrected.

8

Odysseus

Homeric tales about Odysseus emphasize his suffering life, just as in Mark Jesus said that he, too, would suffer greatly. Odysseus is a carpenter like Jesus, and he wants to return his home just as Jesus wants to be welcomed in his native home and later to God’s home in Jerusalem. Odysseus is plagued with unfaithful and dim-witted companions who display tragic flaws. They stupidly open a magic bag of wind while Odysseus sleeps and release terrible tempests which prevent their return home. These sailors are comparable to Jesus’ disciples, who disbelieve Jesus, ask foolish questions, and show general ignorance about everything. It’s amazing that either Odysseus or Jesus ever manage to accomplish anything, given the companions they have, but this simply demonstrates the power and ability of the one true leader who has a divine mandate to lead the people out of darkness and into a brighter future.

7

Romulus

Romulus is born of a vestal virgin, which was a priestess of the hearth god Vesta sworn to celibacy. His mother claims that the divine impregnated her, yet this is not believed by the King. Romulus and his twin brother, Remus, are tossed in the river and left for dead. (A “slaughter of the innocents” tale which parallels that of Matthew 2:13-16). Romulus is hailed as the son of god. He is “snatched away to heaven” by a whirlwind (It is assumed that the gods took him), and he makes post mortem appearances. In his work Numa Pompilius, Plutarch records that there was a darkness covering the earth before his death (Just as there was during Jesus’ death according to Mark 15:33). He also states that Romulus is to be know afterwards as ‘Quirinus’; A god which belonged to the Archiac Triad (a “triple deity” similar to the concept of the Trinity).

6

Dionysus

Dionysus was born of a virgin on December 25 and, as the Holy Child, was placed in a manger. He was a traveling teacher who performed miracles. He “rode in a triumphal procession on an ass.” He was a sacred king killed and eaten in an eucharistic ritual for fecundity and purification. Dionysus rose from the dead on March 25. He was the God of the Vine, and turned water into wine. He was called “King of Kings” and “God of Gods.” He was considered the “Only Begotten Son,” Savior,” “Redeemer,” “Sin Bearer,” Anointed One,” and the “Alpha and Omega.” He was identified with the Ram or Lamb. His sacrificial title of “Dendrites” or “Young Man of the Tree” intimates he was hung on a tree or crucified.

5 Heracles

Heracles is the Son of a god (Zeus). It is recorded that Zeus is both the father and great-great- great grandfather of Heracles, just as Jesus is essentially his own grandpa, being both “The root and offspring of David” (Revelation 22:16) as he is part of the triune God which is the father of Adam and eventually of Jesus. Both are doubly related to the Supreme God.

Diodorus writes that,”For as regards the magnitude of the deeds which he accomplished it is generally agreed that Heracles has been handed down as one who surpassed all men of whom memory from the beginning of time has brought down an account; consequently it is a difficult attainment to report each one of his deeds in a worthy manner and to present a record which shall be on a level with labours so great, the magnitude of which won for him the prize of immortality.”

Jesus is also said to have done a very large number of good works. John 21:25 says that: “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.”

Hera tries to kill Heracles as an infant by sending two serpents after him, yet Heracles survives by strangling them. This parallels Herod’s slaughter of the innocents in an attempt to kill Jesus (Matthew 2:13-16).

Heracles makes a descent into Hades and returns from it with Theseus and Peirithoüs, just as Jesus descends into the “lower parts of the earth” or Hades (Ephesians 4:7-8); Though Jesus does not bring anyone up from it. Heracles’ body is not found and he is assumed to have been taken by the gods:”After this, when the companions of Iolaüs came to gather up the bones of Heracles and found not a single bone anywhere, they assumed that, in accordance with the words of the oracle, he had passed from among men into the company of the gods.”

4

Glycon

In the middle of the 100s AD, out along the south coast of the Black Sea, Glycon was the son of the God Apollo, who: came to Earth through a miraculous birth, was the Earthly manifestation of divinity, came to earth in fulfillment of divine prophecy, gave his chief believer the power of prophecy, gave believers the power to speak in tongues, performed miracles, healed the sick, and raised the dead.

3

Zoroaster/Zarathustra

Zoroaster was born of a virgin and “immaculate conception by a ray of divine reason.” He was baptized in a river. In his youth he astounded wise men with his wisdom. He was tempted in the wilderness by the devil. He began his ministry at age 30. Zoroaster baptized with water, fire and “holy wind.” He cast out demons and restored the sight to a blind man. He taught about heaven and hell, and revealed mysteries, including resurrection, judgment, salvation and the apocalypse. He had a sacred cup or grail. He was slain. His religion had a eucharist. He was the “Word made flesh.” Zoroaster’s followers expected a “second coming” in the virgin-born Saoshynt or Savior, who is to come in 2341 AD and begin his ministry at age 30, ushering in a golden age.

2

Attis of Phrygia

Attis was born on December 25 of the Virgin Nana. He was considered the savior who was slain for the salvation of mankind. His body as bread was eaten by his worshippers. He was both the Divine Son and the Father. On “Black Friday,” he was crucified on a tree, from which his holy blood ran down to redeem the earth. He descended into the underworld. After three days, Attis was resurrected.

1

Horus

Born of a virgin, Isis. Only begotten son of the God Osiris. Birth heralded by the star Sirius, the morning star. Ancient Egyptians paraded a manger and child representing Horus through the streets at the time of the winter solstice (about DEC-21). In reality, he had no birth date; he was not a human. Death threat during infancy: Herut tried to have Horus murdered. Handling the threat: The God That tells Horus’ mother “Come, thou goddess Isis, hide thyself with thy child.” An angel tells Jesus’ father to: “Arise and take the young child and his mother and flee into Egypt.” Break in life history: No data between ages of 12 & 30. Age at baptism: 30. Subsequent fate of the baptiser: Beheaded. Walked on water, cast out demons, healed the sick, restored sight to the blind. Was crucifed, descended into Hell; resurrected after three days.

Source: http://listverse.com/2009/04/13/10-christ-like-figures-who-pre-date-jesus/

Watch this short video explaining the Jewish understanding of Isaiah 53.

—

ISAIAH 53… IN 53 SECONDS

Chosen People Ministries has focused on Isaiah 53 because it believes this passage is one of its most powerful proof-texts. When read out-of-context and mistranslated, Isaiah 53 gives the impression of a prophecy describing the suffering and death of the messiah, specifically Jesus dying for our sins.

This Christian interpretation is absolutely incorrect for several good reasons. Isaiah commonly uses familiar metaphors and often speaks of the people of Israel as a single individual referred to as the Servant of God. Moreover in nine previous  passages, Isaiah identifies the Servant to be  Israel, as we see in Isaiah 41:8  “Israel is my Servant…” and Isaiah 43:10 “You are My witnesses says the Lord, and My Servant whom I have chosen…”

Chapters 52-53 describe the reaction of the nations of the world when they witness the future and ultimate redemption of the Jewish people.

Initially, the nations viewed the Jewish people scornfully and considered them to be rejected by God and deserving of suffering and His divine punishment. Isaiah states that in the future, the nations will be shocked and dumbfounded when they witness God’s unexpected and glorious redemption of the Jewish people.

The nations will then contrast their new realization of Israel’s grandeur with their previous beliefs. Ultimately, they will conclude that the Jews were not rejected by God, but in fact, they suffered from the unjustified and disproportionate persecution inflicted upon them by the nations of the world.

To validate their biased misinterpretation, missionaries intentionally avoid mention of a critical fact. In Isaiah 53:5, they deliberately mistranslate the word “from” as“for”, andthereby claim that the Servant will suffer for the sins of the Jewish people. In fact, the verse says that the nations of the world will actually admit that Israel – the Servant of God – “was wounded from our transgressions, bruisedfrom our iniquities.” In the original Hebrew, the letter “מ – mem” which serves as the prefix to the words “transgressions” and “iniquities” means “from”, not “for.”Therefore, this verse cannot be read as supporting the Christian view that the Servant, namely Jesus, suffers for the sins of the world.

In fact, many Christian commentaries including the New English Bible: Oxford Study Edition, The New Interpreters Study Bible and The Harper Collins Study Bible agree with the Jewish interpretation of Isaiah 53. For example, the Oxford Study Edition states, “Israel, the servant of God, has suffered as a humiliated individual.”

SOURCE: http://www.jewsforjudaism.org/isaiah53/isaiah-53-in-53-seconds/

***

Oneness Pentecostals Debate Muslims

Debate Oneness Pentecostals (David Bernard) vs Muslims

Published on Apr 21, 2013

Debate Oneness Pentecostals (David Bernard) vs Muslims

"True understanding is in the heart. Even the heathen nations possess understanding but not in their heart. The heart must be filled with awe. It is not enough to acknowledge God in the mind alone. It is necessary for one to draw his understanding down into the heart and to be so aware of the Creator that one's heart is filled with awe and fear of the greatness of God and one is aroused to serve Him with true devotion in the knowledge of His utter exaltedness. The way to achieve this is through meditation, through examining oneself and weighing all one's actions. This is the path to the `light that is treasured up for the just'." Rabbi Nachman  (Likutey Moharan)

I do not own these photographs or the video. FAIR USE ACT 1976 NOTICE: This video may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Such material is made available to advance understanding of political, human rights, economic, scientific, moral, ethical, and social justice issues. This constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the 1976 US Fair Use Copyright Act. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit, to those who have expressed a prior general interest in receiving similar information for research and educational purposes

Saved By The Blood of Jesus

Shalom, Chag Semeach Sukkot!

Before Sukkot this year I shared a little about the Festival of Tabernacles with a close relative of mine. 

I wrote:

Today is the Festival of Sukkot (at sunset Sept 30th this year)  Sukkot may be the actual birthday of Jesus (Yeshua) The Catholic Church celebrates HIS birthday on December 25^th.

It is a big day for both Jews and those who follow the messianic teachings of Messiach ben David (Yeshua) 

Tabernacles: Yeshua was born the first day of Tabernacles, and He was circumcised the eighth day of Tabernacles. (Sukkot)

What I really want to bring to your attention is that Tabernacles was a feast of the ingathering of the Harvest. His first coming was when he was born on the 15th of Tishri, the first day of Tabernacles, so then would it be quite reasonable to presume that the Harvest of this earth, the ingathering of the Second Coming of Yeshua, will occur precisely the same day? I am not talking about the rapture of the saints. I am talking about His Second Coming.

Luke 2:6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were

accomplished that she should be delivered. 

7And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in

swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room

for them in the inn.

And as fate would have it, they ended up in a sukkah of sorts anyway!

Have you ever noticed most nativity scene? The figurines are usually

under a 3 sided structure with a straw like roof… in other words, a sukkah! For the Messiah to be qualified as Messiah He had to obey the Torah in every way, and G-d caused it so that Yeshua was born in a sukkah!

Yeshua said Himself that He is the Bread of Life (John 6:48). Yeshua

was born in Beyt-Lechem, Bethlehem, being translated, the House of

Bread. And when He was born He was laid in, of all things, a feeding

trough, a manger, in which grain, which is used to make bread, was put

to feed the livestock. And in the Scriptures, especially in Psalm 23,

we are likened as unto sheep, who at times eat grain.

Pretty amazing, right?  Think about how God is. He has done everything about the Messiah through His festivals.

I pray you too will get hungry to learn more of what HaShem (God) has in store for you.

My friends response was:

"“You are causing confusion. We are Apostolic by our belief. Pentecostal by our experience. And saved by the blood of Jesus."

“It is important to me that you come back to the truth. You must have a love for the truth. These are the last days!”

My brother, God love him, belongs to a sister denomination of the Catholic Universal Church, known as the United Pentecostal Church International, a oneness (Jesus Only) form of Christianity. As sincere as many of these followers are in their beliefs about the deity of Jesus as being God and their heretical belief that the UPCI has taken the place of the Jews (the Tribe of Judah) as the elect of HaShem, they totally miss the understanding of the oneness of God, the role of the Jews in the last days and where their beliefs and doctrines actually come.

I've placed links on his sentence for anyone wanting a better understanding how the Oneness denominations DO NOT go back to the original doctrine of the Talmidim (Disciples) of the first century but, are theories of men from the late 1800'sand early nineteenth century. (1914) Here I will address Saved by the blood of Jesus.

The UPCI emerged out of the Pentecostal Movement, which traces its origins to the teachings of Charles Parham in Topeka, Kansas, and the Azuza Street Revival led by William J. Seymour in 1906. Rejected by the mainline churches, Pentecostals began to form organizations of their own. One of these new groups was the Assemblies of God, which formed in 1914. In 1925, three new Oneness churches were formed: the Apostolic Churches of Jesus Christ, the Pentecostal Ministerial Alliance, and Emmanuel's Church in Jesus Christ. In 1927, steps were taken toward reunifying these organizations. In 1932, the Pentecostal Ministerial Alliance changed its name to the Pentecostal Church, Incorporated to reflect its organizational structure. In 1936, Pentecostal Church, Incorporated ministers voted to work toward an amalgamation with the Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ. Final union, however, proved elusive until 1945 when these two Oneness Pentecostal organizations combined to form the United Pentecostal Church International. [1]

Pentecost: A feast of the universal Church -the Catholic doctrine, [2]

“We are Apostolic by our belief. Pentecostal by our experience. And saved by the blood of Jesus?”

Note: NOWHERE* does the Bible use the term "Saved by the blood of Jesus".

"Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats? Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. ."

God makes it clear that it's good deeds, not sacrifice that counts:

""With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my first-born for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?" He has showed you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? ."

(Micah 6:6-8)

So it is clear that whereas the Nicene Christian system believes that blood effects atonement, in the Hebrew system it's repentance, contrition and prayer.

As far as Jesus being the "Lamb of God", this again is solely a NT concept.

According to the Hebrew Scriptures, the only animals permitted for sacrificial purposes are those that have split hooves and chew their cud. The carcass of an unclean animal defiles (Leviticus 11:26). On these grounds alone, human beings are disqualified for sacrificial purposes. Jesus, as a human being, was unfit for sacrificial purposes.

An animal blood atonement offering must be physically unblemished (Leviticus 22:18-25). According to the evangelists, Jesus was physically abused prior to his execution (Matthew 27:26, Mark 15:15, John 19:1; John 20:25; Matthew 27:29, Mark 15:17, John 19:2). According to Paul, Jesus' circumcision constituted "mutilation" (Philippians 3:2) and is likened to "castration" (Galatians 5:12). As a result, Jesus would again be disqualified as a valid sacrifice.

The New Testament's claim that Jesus' death was "one sacrifice for sin for all time" (Hebrews 10:12) is not supported by the Hebrew Scriptures. Mere death, no matter what was the extent of the preceding violence or pain, does not satisfy the biblical requirements for those times when a blood atonement sacrifice is offered. In a blood atonement offering the animal (clean species and unblemished) must actually die as a result of blood loss. That is why it is called "a blood atonement sacrifice."

Jesus (unclean human species and blemished) did not die within the Temple precinct, at the hands of an Aaronic priest, or through the shedding of blood. Jesus' blood was not sprinkled on the altar by the Aaronic high priest (Leviticus 16:18-19). Animal sacrifice, offered as a blood atonement, must conform to the biblical guidelines set down in Leviticus 17:11: (a) Bloodshed (by means of shechitah--Deuteronomy 12:21), (b) Given solely to the Jewish people, (c) Blood sprinkled upon the Temple altar.

Jesus' humanity, the physical state of his body, and the manner of his death (crucifixion) do not satisfy any blood atonement provisions found in the Hebrew Scriptures.

Summary:

Both beliefs agree:

a) God commanded that literal goat and sheep sacrifices are part of atonement for some (not all) sins.
b) Presently, the literal goat and sheep sacrifices are not necessary, and nor are they possible, and they've been replaced with some other means of achieving the same.

They disagree as to WHAT they are replaced with.

Nicene Christians believe it's the figurative sacrifice of Jesus. (Human sacrifice is not supported by OT scripture, and is called an “abomination” in Jeremiah 32:35)

Hebrew Scripture teaches that it's repentance, prayer, and contrition.

What Nicene Christians making the claim that the Old Testament would demand sacrifices are trying to do is on one hand state that they acknowledge that literal goat and sheep sacrifices are not necessary, as they have been replaced by another figurative means, while holding Old Testament believers to the premise that there is no substitute.

This is using different measures for each of the two groups.

The Nicene Christian Concept of "the Blood"

There are some Nicene heresies that are so deeply rooted in the Christian psyche that for those seeking authentic biblical religion getting beyond them is very difficult, even with the Light of Torah. One of these is the "Blood of Jesus" dogma. The famous Christian hymn declares this central Nicene dogma clearly:

What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
What can make me white as snow?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

The Nicene dogma of "the blood atonement" causes many to question and even reject the clear word of Torah! Some even claim that the Torah of HaShem has been "nailed to the cross" and made irrelevant!

The Bible Clarifies Everything:

Deuteronomy 24:16 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.

That this truth has never changed.
It has always been this way:

Ezekiel 18:4 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.

18:20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

There are two impulses that drive the human race: yetzer tov and yetzer ra. As Prophet Ezekiel says, the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. The idea of an atonement in the Nicene sense would completely undermine this vital human responsibly and denigrate the very purpose of human existence.
The notion that another person might bear our sins for us is ridiculed by Prophet Micah when he says:

Micah 6:6 Wherewith shall I come before Adonai, and bow myself before the high G-d? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?
6:7 Will Adonai be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
6:8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth Adonai require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy G-d?

You and I are responsible for our actions, be they positive or negative. No one else can answer for nor for atone for our sins. The Bible is clear on this.

Are humans so sinful that they need a sinless agent to redeem them?

Question: Isn't it true that humans are so innately sinful that they need an outside sinless agent to redeem them from sin?

 Answer: God says of sin, "you may rule over it" (Genesis 4:7). Yet, "there is no man that does not sin" (1 Kings 8:45). Indeed, "Who can say, 'I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin'?" (Proverbs 20:9). That is why God provided Israel with the means of cleansing itself from sin through the sacrificial system, which includes blood offering and repentance. By God's grace, when the system cannot be fully utilized repentance alone suffices (Psalms 69:31-32, 1 Samuel 15:22). The remedy for sin is clear, "But if the wicked turn from all his sins that he has committed, and keep all My statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die" (Ezekiel 18:21). An individual that sins can utilize those statutes that provide for reestablishing a right relationship with God.

According to the Jewish Scriptures, repentance is open to Jew and non-Jew alike (Jonah 3:5-10, Daniel 4:27). The repentant sinner undergoes genuine remorse for his past misdeeds and pledges himself to improve his ways in the future. He is to make every effort to keep away from all past transgressions. However, if righteous acts are done insincerely as an attempt to hide unrepentant iniquities, "all our righteousnesses are as a polluted garment" (Isaiah 64:5).

The Christian concept is that man is hopelessly entrapped in innate original sin. However, the Jewish Scriptures provide ample testimony that although man may have an inclination towards evil (Genesis 8:21) the means of reestablishing a right relationship with God are always at hand for Jew and non-Jew alike through sincere repentance (Psalms 32:5).

There is no innate sin that separates the individual from God and forgiveness of sin is not dependent on a sinless sacrifice. Even when sacrifices were offered in the Temple the sinless animal's blood did not automatically redeem from sin. Blood sacrifice was part of a process that was primarily dependent on confessionary prayer to achieve reconciliation between the repentant sinner and God.   

A KNOCK-OUT PUNCH:THE "LAST AND FINAL SACRIFICE" TAKES THE TEN-COUNT

I. INTRODUCTION

Christian missionaries claim that those who do not accept Jesus as their lord and

savior, which includes the Jewish people, are doomed to burn in “hell” because

they cannot have their sins forgiven by God. This claim is rationalized with the

allegation that, in Biblical times, the only way to bring about the remission of sins

was via the blood of a certain animal. This animal had to be brought to the priest

to be slaughtered at the altar in the Sanctuary, first while in the portable

Sanctuary and later in the Temple, as a sacrificial offering. According to this

claim, since there has been no Temple standing in Jerusalem since the year 70

C.E., valid sacrificial offerings can no longer be made and, therefore, the only

way for Jews to have their sins forgiven is through the blood shed by Jesus in his

"sacrificial" death on the cross. In other words, the claim is that the blood of

Jesus, who was allegedly sacrificed by God (the "Father") as a demonstration of

his great love for mankind,

has once and for all removed the stain of “Original

Sin" from those who follow Jesus (the "Son"). This act of love by God allegedly

made Jesus the "last and final sacrifice" forever.

There are two main aspects to the claim that Jesus was "the last and final

sacrifice". The first concerns the suitability of Jesus and his death as a sacrificial

offering for the remission of sins. The second aspect, which was investigated in

another essay, concerns the need for blood in the atonement process.

This essay examines the suitability of Jesus and the manner in which he died as

a sacrificial offering for the remission of sins.

II. THE CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE VERSUS THE SPECIFICATIONS IN THE HEBREW BIBLE

The process for testing this claim by Christian missionaries consists of

contrasting the requirements concerning sacrificial offerings, as specified in the

Hebrew Bible, against the accounts in the New Testament that describe the

death of Jesus on the cross as a sacrificial offering. As part of this analysis, it is

important to bear in mind the following two conditions that existed during the life

of Jesus, at the time of his death, and for several decades following his death:

 The Second Temple was still standing in Jerusalem

 The Hebrew Bible was the Scripture in force

The salient issue to be addressed, and answered, is:

According to the requirements set forth in the Hebrew Bible, was Jesus a valid sacrificial

offering, and was his death by crucifixion an acceptable process, for remission of sins?

The analytical phase of the testing process identifies ten elements for which the

respective accounts in the New Testament are compared with the specifications

provided in the Hebrew Bible, primarily in the Torah.

One

According to the accounts in the New Testament, Jesus was crucified by

Roman soldiers:

John 19:18,23(KJV) – (18) Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either

side one, and Jesus in the midst.

(23) Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made

four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam,

woven from the top throughout. [See also Matthew 27:35; Mark 15:24; Luke 23:33.]

According to the Levitical Law of Sacrifice in the Torah, the animal brought as

a sin sacrifice had to be slaughtered by the person who offered it:

Leviticus 4:27-29 - (27) And if any one person from among the common people sins

unwittingly, by performing one of the commandments of the Lord which may not be

done, and incurs guilt; (28) Or if his sin, which he has committed, is made known to

him, then he shall bring his sacrifice, an unblemished female goat, for his sin which he

has sinned. (29) And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and he

shall slaughter the sin offering in the place of the burnt offering.

Two

According to the Levitical Law of Sacrifice in the Torah, some of the blood of

the (sin) sacrifice had to be rubbed by the priest with his finger on the horns of

the altar in the Temple, and the rest had to be poured out at the base of the

sacrificial altar. The fat of the sacrifice had to be removed and burnt:

Leviticus 4:30-31 - (30) And the priest shall take some of its blood with his finger, and

put [it] upon the horns of the altar [used] for the burnt offering; and [then] he shall

pour out all of [the rest of] its blood at the base of the altar. (31) And he shall remove

all of its fat, as was removed the fat from the sacrificial peace offerings; and the priest

shall burn it upon the altar for a pleasant fragrance to the Lord; and [thus] shall the

priest make an atonement for him, and he shall be forgiven.

 The New Testament is silent on what was done with the blood of Jesus and

with the fat of his body.

Three

According to the accounts in the New Testament, Jesus was beaten,

whipped, and dragged on the ground before being crucified:

Matthew 26:67(KJV) - Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others

smote him with the palms of their hands, [See also Mark 14:65; Luke 22:63; John 18:22.]

Matthew 27:26,30-31(KJV) – (26)Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he

had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

(30) And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. (31) And

after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own

raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him. [See also Mark 15:15-20; John 19:1-3.]

According to the Torah, a sacrificial animal had to be without any physical

defects or blemishes:

Deuteronomy 17:1 - You shall not sacrifice to the Lord your God an ox or a sheep that

has in it a blemish or any bad thing, for that is an abomination to the Lord, your God.

Sidebar Note: As a born Jew, Jesus was circumcised on the eighth day following

his birth, a ritual that leaves a scar (Genesis 17:10-13; the “sign of the covenant”).

The circumcision of Jesus is mentioned in the New Testament (Luke 2:21), yet Paul

refers to circumcision as being tantamount to mutilation (Galatians 5:11-12;

Philippians 3:2).

Four

 According to the New Testament, Jesus was "the Lamb of God" whose bones

may not be broken [a reference to the Paschal Lamb of Exodus 12:46 and

Numbers 9:12]:

John 1:29(KJV) – The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold

the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

John 19:36(KJV) - For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A

bone of him shall not be broken.

 According to the Torah, the Paschal Lamb was not offered for the removal of

sins. Rather, it was a festive, or commemorative, offering. Yom Kippur (the

Day of Atonement) would have been a more appropriate time for a sin

offering:

Numbers 29:11 - One young male goat for a sin offering, beside the sin offering of

atonement, and the continual burnt offering, and its meal offering, and their drink

offerings. [Yom Kippur – Individual sin offering]

Leviticus 16:15 - He shall then slaughter the he goat of the people's sin offering and

bring its blood inside the dividing curtain, and he shall do with its blood as he did with

the blood of the bull and sprinkle it upon the cover of the ark, and before the cover of

the ark. [Yom Kippur – Communal sin offering]

Five

 According to the Torah, the Paschal Lamb had to be slaughtered and its

blood used to place markings on the side-posts and lintels of the entrances to

the dwelling. Moreover, the meat had to be roasted and eaten, and whatever

was not consumed by the time the Israelites were to leave their homes, had

to be burnt and destroyed:

Exodus 12:6-10 - (6) And you shall keep it under watch until the fourteenth day of this

month; and the entire congregation of the community of Israel shall slaughter it at

dusk. (7) And they shall take [some] of its blood, and place it on the two doorposts and

on the lintel, on the houses in which they will eat it. (8) And they shall eat the meat in

that night, roasted over fire, and [with] unleavened bread; with bitter herbs they shall

eat it. (9) You shall not eat from it raw, nor boiled in water; but roasted over fire, its

head with its legs, and with its inner parts. (10) And you shall not leave any of it until

morning; and that which left over until the morning you shall burn in the fire.

 According to the accounts in the New Testament this was not done with

Jesus after his death. In fact, Jesus was buried.

Matthew 27:57-60(KJV) – (57) When the even was come, there came a rich man of

Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple: (58) He went to

Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be

delivered. (59) And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen

cloth, (60) And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he

rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed. [See also Mark 15:42-46;

Luke 23:50-53; John 19:38-42.]

Six

 According to the New Testament, the death of Jesus was a sacrificial offering

that expiated the sins of mankind for all times:

Hebrews 10:10,18(KJV) – (10) By the which will we are sanctified through the offering

of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

(18) Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. [See also

Romans 6:10; Hebrews 9:12.]

 According to the Torah, the Passover (sin) sacrifice, a male-goat, had to be

offered on an individual (per household) basis, not as a communal offering:

Numbers 28:22 - And one young male goat for a sin offering, to make atonement for

you.

Seven

 According to the New Testament, the death and blood of Jesus took care of

(almost) all sins:

Hebrews 9:22(KJV) – And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and

without shedding of blood is no remission.

 According to the Levitical Law of Sacrifice in the Torah, the sacrificial sin

offering brought atonement only for unintentional sins, except as noted in

Leviticus 5:1-6, 20-26[Leviticus 5:1-6, 6:1-7 in Christian Bibles]:

Numbers 15:27-31 - (27) And if a person sins inadvertently, then he shall offer a female

goat in its first year as a sin offering. (28) And the priest shall atone for the erring

person who sinned inadvertently before the Lord in order to make atonement on his

behalf; and it shall be forgiven him. (29) For the native born of the children of Israel

and the stranger who resides among them, one law shall apply to him who sins

inadvertently. (30) And the person who does anything presumptuously, whether he is a

native born or a stranger, that person blasphemes the Lord; and that person shall be

cut off from among his people. (31) Because he has scorned the word of the Lord, and

has violated his commandment; that person shall surely be cut off, for his iniquity is

upon him.

Eight

 According to the New Testament, the death of Jesus brought about the

remission of sins yet uncommitted, and of sins of those yet to be born:

Hebrews 10:18(KJV) – Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for

sin.

 According to the Levitical Law of Sacrifice in the Torah, sacrifices could bring

atonement only for sins committed prior to the offering of the sacrifice. No

sacrifice was provided for the atonement of sins committed after the sacrifice

was offered and, thus, no sacrifice can bring atonement for sins of people

born after it was offered. This includes both טּאתָחַ (haTAT)], a sin offering,

described in Leviticus 4:1-5:13, and שׁםָאָ (aSHAM), a guilt offering,

described in Leviticus 5:14-26. Had there been, among the listed sacrifices,

even one kind of sin or guilt offering that could bring atonement for future

sins, the person who would have offered that particular sacrifice would not

have had to do so again for the rest of his life. Moreover, Yom Kippur (the

Day of Atonement), which is ordained by the Torah as an annual Holy Day

(Leviticus 16:29-34), would have had to be celebrated by the Israelites only

the very first time after the giving of the Torah at Mt. Sinai, had they used one

of those "super" sacrificial offerings that could atone for sins of the future.

The claim by the author of Hebrews, that there are no more sin offerings

required following the death of Jesus, is false for other reasons as well:

 The Second Temple stood in Jerusalem for nearly 40 years following the death of

Jesus, during which time literally thousands of animals were offered as sacrifices

of all sorts, including sin and guilt offerings, as prescribed by the Torah.

 The Hebrew Bible contains prophecies about the building of the Third Temple in

the messianic era, and of the resumption of the sacrificial system at that time. All

the types of sacrificial offerings described in the Hebrew Bible will be made on the

sacrificial altar [חַ בֵּזְמִ (mizBE'ah)] in the Temple, including both the טּאתָחַ and

שׁםָאָ sacrificial offerings. In other words, the sacrificial system, which has been

in a state of suspension since the year 70 C.E., when the Romans destroyed the

Second Temple, will be completely restored in the messianic era:

Ezekiel 43:21-22 - And you shall take the bull of the sin offering, and he [the priest]

shall burn it at the edge of the Temple, outside the Sanctuary. (22) And on the

second day you shall offer an unblemished he-goat for a sin offering, and they [the

priests] shall purify the altar as they purified it with the bull. [See also: Isaiah 56:7;

Jeremiah 33:17-18; Ezekiel 40:39,46-47, 41:42, 42:13, 43:13,15,18-19,22,25-27,

44:27,29, 45:17,19,22-23,25, 46:20, 47:1; Zechariah 14:21.]

Nine

 According to the New Testament, God's "only begotten son" died on the cross

for the sins of mankind, and all who accept this belief are "saved" (i.e., get

salvation) and will go to heaven:

Romans 5:8-11(KJV) – (8) But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we

were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (9) Much more then, being now justified by his

blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. (10) For if, when we were enemies,

we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we

shall be saved by his life.(11) And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord

Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. [See also Acts 10:43;

1Corinthians 15:3; 1Peter 3:18.]

 The Hebrew Bible strictly prohibits (human) vicarious atonement, and

mandates that everyone is responsible for his or her own sins:

Deuteronomy 24:16 - Fathers shall not be put to death because of children, nor shall

children be put to death for fathers; each person shall be put to death for his own sin.

[See also Exodus 32:31-33; Numbers 35:33.]

Ten

 According to the New Testament, Jesus was "God manifest in the flesh" (this

would make it a human sacrifice):

Romans 8:3(KJV) - For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh,

God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in

the flesh: [See also 1Timothy 3:16; 1John 4:2.]

 The Hebrew Bible strictly prohibits human sacrifices. The concept of human

sacrifices to a deity is foreign to Judaism. Human sacrifice is a pagan rite:

Leviticus 18:21 – And you shall not give any of your offspring to pass through the fire

for Molech, and shall not profane the name of your God; I am the Lord. [See also

Deuteronomy 18:10; Jeremiah 7:31, 19:32; Ezekiel 23:37-39.]  

Shalom aliekhem

Sources
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Pentecostal_Church_International

[2] http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15614b.htm

      http://www.jewsforjudaism.org/

[*] http://www.shalombewithyou.com/scripture-verses/spiritual-warfare-verses/verses-on-the-blood-of-christ/verses-on-the-blood-of-jesus-christ/


Pastor Robin Almeida-Casting out demons by the blood of Jesus-live

See Who is Lucifer?

 http://natzrim.blogspot.com/2012/08/who-is-lucifer.html

Rabbi Nachman of Breslov taught (Likutay Moharan 64) that every Wisdom and Intellect has it's own specific tune and melody. It is from the melody that the wisdom is produced and extended (as can be discerned in Psalms (47) 'sing enlighten'). Even the the wisdom of heresy has it's own specific tune and melody unique to the wisdom of heresy.