EmSw
White Horse Rider
Here's something that really reveals your lack of understanding (or rejection of) Scripture.
You've frequently claimed that Jesus never spoke about the cross, or dying on a cross.
If you are going to make up stories about me, please get it right. I never said He didn't mention His death. I said Jesus never once mentioned a 'cross' on which He was to die, much less as a sacrifice on a 'cross'.
His lack of stating anything about a 'cross', surely shows how the 'cross' was not the focus on His ministry. Men today worship and idolize the cross as the foundation of their belief, even to the point of criminalizing others who do not focus on the 'cross'. And yes, you are guilty of this.
He definitely spoke much more of keeping His commandments, than any death on a cross. He did not say, 'if you love me, make the cross the focus of your belief'. He did not say, 'if you want to enter life, make the cross the foundation of your belief'. In fact, He NEVER once said to regard the cross with great or uncritical admiration or devotion
If you want the cross as your identification with Jesus, go for it; believe as your heart desires. If that is how you want to remember Jesus, as beaten, bloodied, and hanging on a Roman cross, chase it with all your might.
But I can tell you this, don't ever think this was any kind of sacrifice as stated in the OT. This was not anything near to what God demanded of OT sacrifices.
Now, as you know what I believe now, do not ever again say anything about any mocking of the cross. I do not put my faith in a godless, Roman ritual which was for the worst of criminals. If Jesus was a criminal to you, I can see why you don't believe His words about keeping the commandments to enter life.
Well, consider this from Luke 24:
6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee:
7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ”
8 Then they remembered his words.
Nothing here says anything about an OT sacrifice. The animal sacrificed was never 'delivered over to the hands of sinners' to be crucified. This showed the depth of hatred the Jews had for Jesus.
If that is not enough, consider this:
25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?”
27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
Suffering of the sacrificial animal was not a part of the OT sacrifices. So far, you are batting zero in saying the cross was a sacrifice for sins.
v.25 refers directly to your own views about what the OT prophets wrote.
v.26 is a direct reference to dying on a cross by "these things".
v.27 clearly states that the OT prophets spoke of His sacrificial death on behalf of mankind.
So, because of your views, you are foolish and slow to believe what the OT teaches.
I believe what the prophets spoke; why lie about me? Verse 26 is not about any sacrifice for the people. And verse 27 says nothing about any sacrificial death of Jesus on man's behalf.
Like I said, if the cross is your idol, wear it around your neck with Jesus hanging on it. Kiss it, stroke it, even tell others how much this idol means to you. But, I don't want your idol; I want the words of truth He spoke which give life.
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