Jesus said, "Father forgive them; for they know not what they do", Luke 23:34.
It is written, "...and made intercession for the transgressors", Isaiah 53:12.
Mankind's sinful nature
Undeniably all, each man is a sinner because he was born a sinner, he fell short of the Glory of God, the holiness of God himself and as a result man could not hope to see God, or dwell with him next
The ten commandments of God
The ten commandments of God indicated God's law and what God had, is expecting each one of us to do, to keep daily still as well
Even most secular scholars can easily recognize that the very first Christians based their lives on following the major, great spiritual law of God—the Ten Commandments.
When the apostles had said, "The Lord Jesus Christ," they recognized that the word "Lord" means "Boss"—the One even you should obey! Jesus reminded them again and again of this vital relationship, as in Luke 6:46: "But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?" TOO many Men have lost all deep respect for law even because they have forgotten the very source of all law and authority! God, Jesus, the Bible.
The Bible says: "There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy" (James 4:12). That lawgiver is Almighty God.Having made their imaginative pet "god" in their own image, men certainly do not stand in awe and deep respect of such a "god." The real message of Jesus Christ was about the God who created this earth! His was the God who blessed men for obedience to His laws—and who punished for disobedience. The Jesus Christ of your Bible always preached the gospel of the Kingdom of God (Mark 1:14; Luke 4:43). In modern language, He preached the happy news of the government of God—the rule of God. He God had said: "Repent, and believe in the gospel" (Mark 1:15). Before you can sincerely believe and accept Jesus Christ as your Savior, and have His shed blood cover your sins, you must repent. Despite the contradictory ideas and generalizations of men the Bible still clearly states: "Sin is the transgression of the law" (1 John 3:4, KJV). Sin is breaking God’s spiritual law—the Ten Commandments. That is definitely and specifically what sin is!
Before God will next forgive your past sins, you must first even personally repent of breaking His law! You must learn to fear and respect God as the Supreme Ruler of this universe — and as your King and Ruler. Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, was inspired to write: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge"
(Proverbs 1:7). Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws" (Genesis 26:5).
Clearly now many persons have even violated the First Commandment
"And God spoke all these words, saying, ‘I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me’" (Exodus 20:1–3). For many you are you still falsely worshipping according to the "traditions of men," which Jesus said would cause you to worship God in vain? (Mark 7:7). For even the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God (1 Corinthians 1:20). The real basis of all idolatry is that self-willed, rebellious man who still refuses to surrender himself to worship the true God in the way that He commands! A Truly Converted, born again from above Person knows God. "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2). The Bible even directly describes people of our day as "having a form of godliness, but denying its power" (2 Timothy 3:5). The Bible shows that many people in Jesus’ day had also failed in their worship, for "they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God" (John 12:43).
The Second Commandment Stated. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets" (Matthew 22:37–40). But falsely now putting down, bashing people for their beliefs was not the way to go too.. In His teaching in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus stated: "Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven: but whoever does and teaches them [even the "least" commandments], he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:19)."For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments" (Exodus 20:5–6). That excludes now any of our slander, bullying, bashing others too.
The Third Commandment Stated. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain" (Exodus 20:7). So we must guard against making a god out of anything — and putting it in place of the true God. God commands us to worship Him directly — to walk with Him, to talk with Him, to really know now and worship Him in spirit and truth — and to also avoid using any image, picture or physical object as an "aid" to worship or to "remind" us of the great Creator. The third commandment thus deals with God’s name, His office, His position as the great sovereign Ruler of the universe: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1). God sometimes called Himself El Shaddai, which means "Almighty God." So God is the source of all power! His name should be revered, because it stands for the one who is the source of all power, all might, and all authority.
The Fourth Commandment "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it" (Exodus 20:8–11). You rest from your work.
The Fifth Commandment "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you" (Exodus 20:12). Jesus Christ here too lived the message He taught. His own personal life is a dramatic illustration of obedience to the fifth commandment. Just before His death, Jesus said: "I have kept My Father’s commandments" (John 15:10).
The Sixth Commandment "Thou shalt not murder" (Exodus 20:13, ) For it is possible to kill, yet not to murder. To even kill animals for food.
The Seventh Commandment You shall not commit adultery" (Exodus 20:14). Immediately after the sixth command, which declares the sacredness of human life, God gives this law to safeguard the highest earthly relationship. For marriage and the home are the basis of all decent society. All unchaste conduct before marriage is a wrong done to the future marriage, and unfaithfulness before marriage is violating the command as much as adultery committed after marriage. "You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart" (Matthew 5:27–28). God says: "flee sexual immorality" (1 Corinthians 6:18). The seventh commandment covers in principle all forms of illicit sex, including male and female homosexuality — Notice Ephesians 5:22–24: "Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church: and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church; is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything."Now it becomes increasingly clear why Jesus Christ taught the enduring quality of the marriage vow. When Jesus was asked by the hypocritical Pharisees why Moses allowed divorce in Old Testament times, He answered: "Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery" (Matthew 19:8–9)."For the Lord God of Israel says that He hates divorce…" (Malachi 2:16). Again: "…The Lord has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, with whom you have dealt treacherously; yet she is your companion, and your wife by covenant" (v. 14). There is no question, then, that God hates divorce— Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. (Heb 13:4 KJV) When statistics now show that even over 50 percent of evangelical pastors are divorced, have committed adultery, these acts are really unacceptable on theirs and our parts.
The Eighth Commandment This is God’s law protecting all private property and possessions: "You shall not steal" (Exodus 20:15)and that includes now cheating the government or anyone falsifying an income tax return. The eighth commandment recognizes the legitimate acquisition of personal, or corporate property, and forbids it's theft. And thus forbids any lawlessness and/or any deception business practices or Thievery through False Advertising, or wealth that is tarnished by ill-gotten gain. "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators… nor thieves… will inherit the kingdom of God" (1 Corinthians 6:9–10, KJV). "Indeed the wages of the laborers… which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries… have reached the ears of the Lord…" (James 5:4)." Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ Robbed me of my tithes and offerings" (Malachi v. 8) the book of Malachi was also now addressed mainly to church pastors now too who robbed God of his tithes, and sadly, wrongfully many pastors still do.
The Ninth Commandment "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor" (Exodus 20:16). Ironically is often violated even by too many now church pastors themselves and many of whom are known also for their slandering others.. not just the the despicable too often lawyers slandering, lying in the courts now too. For, as the Apostle Paul said, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31). Jesus said: "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake" (Matthew 5:11). Jesus Christ revealed: "When he [Satan] speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar, and the father of it" (John 8:44). Those who follow Satan in his refusal to live by truth will have a terrible fate awaiting them: "But the cowardly, unbelieving… and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death" (Revelation 21:8).
The Tenth Commandment "You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s" (Exodus 20:17). And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all. (Rev 18:14 KJV) Keep your hands off all of your neighbor's property, all of it.
In reality this following too is applicable to all mankind..
(Jer 5:8 KJV) They were as fed horses in the morning: every one neighed after his neighbour's wife.
(Jer 5:9 KJV) Shall I not visit for these things? saith the LORD: and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?
(Jer 5:10 KJV) Go ye up upon her walls, and destroy; but make not a full end: take away her battlements; for they are not the LORD'S.
(Jer 5:11 KJV) For the house of Israel and the house of Judah have dealt very treacherously against me, saith the LORD.
(Jer 5:12 KJV) They have belied the LORD, and said, It is not he; neither shall evil come upon us; neither shall we see sword nor famine:
(Jer 5:13 KJV) And the prophets shall become wind, and the word is not in them: thus shall it be done unto them.
(Jer 5:14 KJV) Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.
(Prov 6:29 KJV) So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.
(Prov 6:32 KJV) But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul. A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away. For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.
(Lev 20:10 KJV) And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.
(Lev 20:11 KJV) And the man that lieth with his father's wife hath uncovered his father's nakedness: both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
(Lev 20:12 KJV) And if a man lie with his daughter in law, both of them shall surely be put to death: they have wrought confusion; their blood shall be upon them.
(Lev 20:13 KJV) If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
(Lev 20:14 KJV) And if a man take a wife and her mother, it is wickedness: they shall be burnt with fire, both he and they; that there be no wickedness among you.
(Lev 20:15 KJV) And if a man lie with a beast, he shall surely be put to death: and ye shall slay the beast.
(Lev 20:16 KJV) And if a woman approach unto any beast, and lie down thereto, thou shalt kill the woman, and the beast: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
(Lev 20:17 KJV) And if a man shall take his sister, his father's daughter, or his mother's daughter, and see her nakedness, and she see his nakedness; it is a wicked thing; and they shall be cut off in the sight of their people: he hath uncovered his sister's nakedness; he shall bear his iniquity.
(Lev 20:18 KJV) And if a man shall lie with a woman having her sickness, and shall uncover her nakedness; he hath discovered her fountain, and she hath uncovered the fountain of her blood: and both of them shall be cut off from among their people.
(Lev 20:19 KJV) And thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother's sister, nor of thy father's sister: for he uncovereth his near kin: they shall bear their iniquity.
(Lev 20:20 KJV) And if a man shall lie with his uncle's wife, he hath uncovered his uncle's nakedness: they shall bear their sin; they shall die childless.
Note- Because no man could even firstly be justified by keeping all the commandments of God, could not be saved as a result as well he God next sent his own son Jesus to personally die, Shed His own innocent, pure blood for all, for each one of us, he shed his blood so we all can live next in heaven with God, with him.
(Heb 9:22 KJV) And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
(Heb 9:27 KJV) And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
(Heb 9:28 KJV) So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
(Heb 10:1 KJV) For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
(Heb 10:10 KJV) By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
(Heb 10:17 KJV) And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
Isaiah 53:1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
(2 Cor 5:21 KJV) For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
(1 Pet 2:22 KJV) Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
(1 John 3:5 KJV) And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
(John 18:38 KJV) Pilate ..saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.
The Bible now clearly says
Jesus had no sin.
Jesus did not sin.
Jesus knew no sin.
He, Jesus was the perfect, sinless, holy, righteous Son of God. Was God himself.
Jesus Christ is sinless.
There is nothing wrong with him, Jesus.
There’s no fault in him, jesus.
There’s no shadow of turning in him, Jesus.
There’s no guile or deception in him, jesus.
He, Jesus is a sinless Savior.
Pilate said, "I don’t find anything wrong with him"...
The death of Jesus 2000 AD in reality was a very vicious death.
First of all, Jesus, his death was vicious physically.
First Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged.
the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns.
they clothed him, Jesus in a purpose robe.
and they struck him in the face.
They made Jesus cary his own cross.
And so here is Jesus carrying this cross that weighs probably several hundred pounds.
and next they crucified him, Jesus
"This is what is written, the Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day,
and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations,
beginning at Jerusalem." (Luke 24:46)
Man of Sorrows by Phillip Bliss.
"Man of Sorrows," what a name,
For the Son of God who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim!
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
In my place condemned He stood;
Sealed my pardon with His blood:
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Guilty, vile and helpless, we:
Spotless Lamb of God was He:
"Full atonement!" can it be?
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
"Lifted up" was He to die,
"It is finished," was His cry;
Now in heav'n exalted high:
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
When He comes, our glorious King,
All His ransomed home to bring,
Then anew this song we'll sing:
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Jesus death on a cross
The crucifixion is one of the most heinous form of capital punishment ever created.
He jesus was suspended up between heaven and earth...
And there Jesus died the most horrible, vicious death known to man.
But if Jesus Christ had not died upon the cross for us...
Then you and I would be hopelessly lost in our sin.
"And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit:
and having said thus, he gave up the ghost", Luke 23:46.
"... God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh
& for sin condemned sin in the flesh", Romans 8:3.
"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that,
while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us", Romans 5:8.
Jesus Christ is the lid of covering. His blood covers all our sin (I John 1:7).
It was GOD's perfect plan that we would accept Jesus as an offering for our sin (Isaiah 53:10).
GOD provided a lamb that was Jesus Christ, as our passover offering (I Corinthians 5:7).
Jesus is, "the Christ, the Son of the living GOD", Matthew 16:16,
"the Lamb of GOD who taketh away the sin of the world", John 1:29.
He had come here to finish His Father's work and to do His Father's will.
His death on the cross finished this work, overcoming the curse of sin and death.
All that had been lost would now be gathered & made new again in Chirst & restored to the Father.
Jesus said, "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
This he said, signifying what death he should die." John 12:32 and 33.
“He did that once for all when he offered himself.” (Hebrews 7:28).
Deuteronomy 21:23 … “He that is hanged is accursed is accursed of God.”
Galatians 3:13 … “Cursed in anyone that hangeth on a tree.”
When Jesus Christ died on the cross, He died as a sacrifice,
to pay for the sins of each, all the people like you and me.
When Jesus Christ died on the cross, He purchased, made possible
a new relationship between God and sinful people … a relationship of love and peace.
"And the sun was darkened, & the veil of the temple was rent in the midst", Luke 23:45.
"And the earth did quake, & the rocks rent ...", Matthew 27:51.
The Old Testament scriptures contain the law & the Messianic prophecies that Jesus would fulfill.
And He fulfilled them all.
Let us look at some of these.
Jesus was nailed to the cross. There is an account in Exodus 17:8-15, of the battle between Israel and Amalek. It is taught that this battle represents the battle between spirit & flesh. The imagery in this account in Exodus parallels that of the crucifiction. Moses standing on a hill with Aaron and Hur. When the hands of Moses were raised Israel prevailed but when they became heavy and began to fall to his side Amalek prevailed. So Aaron & Hur helped Moses to hold up his hands. When Moses was too tired to stand, he sat on a rock. The rock representing Christ but also there is some speculation that there was a ledge on the cross to sit on. This is a picture of the crucifiction. Jesus in the middle and the two malefactors on either side. The difference being that the nails held up the hands of Jesus in victory. The scripture declaring, "And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place...", Isaiah 22:23.
It is written in Matthew 27:35, "And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots...", which fulfilled Psalm 22:18. "They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture". This brings to mind two things. First, "...for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness...", Isaiah 61:10. The second, that the action of dividing his garments was a sign that believers would receive a portion and be covered with, "His garments of salvation & the robe of His righteousness".
Matthew 27:39-40, "And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads", which fulfilled both Psalm 22:7 & 109:25.
Matthew 27 verse 40, "And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross".
There is an account in Nehemiah, in the 6th chapter, of the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem. The enemies of Nehemiah tried to get him to come down from his work on the wall. "...Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief. And I sent messengers unto them saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you", Nehemiah 6:2-3.
I believe the account given in the 6th chapter of Nehemiah answers the question of those who chided Jesus to come down from the cross. "...I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you", Nehemiah 6:3.
John 19:28, "...Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scriptures might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst".
"Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar,
and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth", John 19:29.
"When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished", John 19:30.
Jesus had come to do His Father's work. "Jesus saith unto them,
My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work", John 4:34.
John 19:30, "...and bowed his head and gave up the ghost".
The Father had given Jesus the power to give His life and to take it back again.
Jesus said, "Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of my self. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.
This commandment have I received of my Father", John 10:17-18.
In regard still to Jesus
"Jesus him was life and the life was the light of men", John 1:4.
Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live", John 11:26.
Jesus is:
Our Advocate (1 John 2:1), the Alpha and Omega (Revelation 1:8), the Amen (Revelation 3:14),
and the Author and Finisher of our Faith (Hebrews 12:2).
He is the Beloved Son (Matthew 12:18), the Bridegroom (Mark 2:19-20), Branch (Isaiah 4:2)
and Bread of Life (John 6:32).
Jesus is the Captain of our Salvation (Hebrews 2:10), the Corner-stone (Isaiah 28:16),
Counselor (Isaiah 9:6), Creator (John 1:3), Dayspring (Luke 1:78), our Deliverer (Romans 11:26),
the Door (John 10:7, 9), Emmanuel (Isaiah 9:6) and the Everlasting Father (Isaiah 9:6).
He's the Faithful Witness (Revelation 1:5), the First Begotten of the Dead (Revelation 1:5),
the Glory of the Lord (John 17:1), the Good Shepherd (John 10:11),
our Great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14), Head of the Church (Ephesians 1:22), the Holy One (Acts 3:14)
and the Horn of our Salvation (Luke 1:69).
Jesus Christ is the Great I Am (Exodus 3:14; John 6:35), the Image of God (II Corinthians 4:4),
the Judge (Matthew 25:31-46), the Just One (Acts 7:52), King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Revelation 19:16),
the Lamb of God (John 1:29,36), the Life (John 14:6), Light of the World (John 8:1)
and the Lion of Judah (Rev 5:5). Jesus is the Man of Sorrows (Isaiah 53:3), Mediator (I Timothy 2:5),
Messiah (John 1:41), Morning Star (Revelation 22:16), the Nazarene (Matthew 2:23),
our Passover (I Corinthians 5:7), Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6) and Prophet (Acts 3:22).
He is called Rabbi (John 3:2), Redeemer (Job 19:25), Resurrection (John 11:25),
Rock (I Corinthians 10:4), Rose of Sharon (Song of Songs 2:1), Savior (Luke 2:11),
the Son of the Highest (Luke 1:32), Son of Man (John 6:53), Suffering Servant (Isaiah 42:1-4)
and the Sun of Righteousness (Malachi 4:2).
Jesus is the Truth (John 14:6), the Vine (John 15:1), the Way (John 14:6), the Witness (Isaiah 55:4)
and the Word (John 1:1).
The mercy seat of God
Ps 99:1 The LORD reigns; let the peoples tremble! He dwells between the cherubim; let the earth be moved!
(Exo 25:17-22 KJV) And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof. {18} And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat. {19} And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof. {20} And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be. {21} And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee. {22} And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.
Exod 25:8-9 "And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it."
Exod 25:22 "And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony, about everything which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel."
So the outstretched wings of the cherubim were to provide a throne for the God where He would mediate His rule on the earth as a representation of the real throne in heaven:
1 Sam 4:4 So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim. (NIV)
When God had spoken to Moses out of the midst of the cloud upon Sinai, He also told him that He would come down to speak with him in the midst of His people. It was from the area above the Mercy Seat that He did:
Num 7:89 Now when Moses went into the tabernacle of meeting to speak with Him, he heard the voice of One speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the Testimony, from between the two cherubim; thus He spoke to him.
Heb 9:2-5 "For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary; and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle, which is, called the Holiest of All, which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail."
Rom 3:23-26 "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus."
The Greek word for Mercy Seat is 'hilasterion'. It is used here in Romans 3:25 where Paul says (literally) that God presented Christ as a propitiation or 'mercy seat'. This means that Jesus Christ is the mercy seat.
The Mercy Seat did not derive its worth from the purity of its gold but from the fact that it was the place where the blood of sacrifice was sprinkled in the presence of God.
The word for "mercy seat" is the same root for the word "atonement". It means to cover, cancel, appease, or cleanse.
The Greek equivalent is the word "propitiation".
Lk 18:13 "And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, `God, be merciful to me a sinner!'
Ex 25:18-20 "And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work you shall make them at the two ends of the mercy seat. "Make one cherub at one end, and the other cherub at the other end; you shall make the cherubim at the two ends of it of one piece with the mercy seat. "And the cherubim shall stretch out their wings above, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and they shall face one another;
the faces of the cherubim shall be toward the mercy seat.
- They represent the judgment of God.
- Their position indicates that God's judgment upon Israel was averted because of the blood-sprinkled mercy seat.
- The Cherubim are revealed by Ezekiel in chapter 1:5-10 as 4 living creatures, each one having 4 different faces, the face of a man, lion, ox, and eagle.
This mercy seat was placed on top of the ark and it was here that the blood was sprinkled.
Lev 16:11-15 "And Aaron shall bring the bull of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make atonement for himself and for his house, and shall kill the bull as the sin offering which is for himself. "Then he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from the altar before the LORD, with his hands full of sweet incense beaten fine, and bring it inside the veil. "And he shall put the incense on the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of incense may cover the mercy seat that is on the Testimony, lest he die. "He shall take some of the blood of the bull and sprinkle it with his finger on the mercy seat on the east side; and before the mercy seat he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times. "Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering, which is for the people, bring its blood inside the veil, do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it on the mercy seat and before the mercy seat.
Lev 16:30 "For on that day the priest shall make atonement for you, to cleanse you, that you may be clean from all your sins before the LORD.
- Because of the mercy seat the tabernacle was called "the tent of meeting". Because here God met with man:
Ex 25:21-22 "You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the Testimony that I will give you. "And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony, about everything which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel
1 Jn 2:2 And He ( Jesus) Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
Note that the
1.Ark - contained God's holy laws the ten commandements- - and there was no hope for me even keeping them there - "all come short of the glory of God and every mouth is stopped." = condemned to DEATH We are all bad sinnners, enough to be condemned to death. I am guilty before God. Any hope? or "It’s the best I could do?" Can I have such hope of dslavation based on the law? No.
2. Mercy Seat - cover of ark with cherubim = represents our personal justification by the covering of our sin
Propitiation = Christ set forth to be a covering or complete payment for the "sin of the world." God provided his sacrifice to completely fulfill the penalty of our sin.
Where do the cherubim look? They look down on the mercy seat at the blood and the site where God meets His own. This teaches us all :Christ accepted on my behalf the punishment for our sin in the presence of God! The pure gold represents the most valuable possible symbol to show the price paid to unlock the gate of heaven to us.
3: The veil reminds us of God previously hid in heaven, yet next by Jesuss God is in complete access to all believers today. The ark/mercy seat point to our forerunner, the Lord Jesus Christ. This is based on His propitiation for our sins:
Romans 3:25 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
I John 4:10 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Lk 22:20 Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.
Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
1 Pet 1:18-19 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
Heb 9:11-12 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.
Heb 9:28 so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.
Dan 7:9-10 "I watched till thrones were put in place, and the Ancient of Days was seated; his garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, its wheels a burning fire; A fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, and the books were opened.
Dan 7:13-14 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
Rev 5:1-13 And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?" And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. But one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals." And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, And have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth." Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!" And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: "Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!"
Ps 99:1 The LORD reigns; let the peoples tremble! He dwells between the cherubim; let the earth be moved!
Jesus said "For apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5).
The land of a rich man was very productive, and he began reasoning to himself, saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?" Then he said, "This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, 'soul, you have many goods, laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat , drink and be merry.' But God said to him, "You fool! This very night your soul is required of you, who will own what you have prepared? So is the man who stores up treasures for himself and is not rich toward God." (Luke 12:15-22)
"...Make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, and unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys. " (Mat 6:20-21 KJV) For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Hebrews 10:21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
(Isa 66:1 KJV) Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? 2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.
Revelations 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
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A brother Paul
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