Inheriting the Whirlwind
seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.  For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. 2 Peter 1:3-4 NASB
Partakers – First answer a few questions.
1) What is the purpose of the cross? Traditionally the answer is, “Jesus died on the cross for the forgiveness of sins.” By now I trust you realize that this answer is inadequate and unsupported by Scripture although it is standard Church self-identity doctrine. You can read all about this in my book Cross Word Puzzles. You can even disagree, but then you will have to explain the rest of our study today. In my view, the cross is about defeating death, not about forgiving sins.
2) What is the purpose of Torah? If you answered, “To guide us in living” you understand the methodology but you’ve missed the goal. Peter gives us the goal in these verses. The purpose of Torah is to enable us to become partakers of the divine nature!Â
If the two questions above are answered as I suggest, then something amazing emerges from the implications. First, we recognize immediately that Torah is not opposed to godliness. If fact, it is essential for godliness. Secondly, we see that Augustine’s idea of sinful nature, based as it is on Roman concepts of law, is not only completely opposed to the Hebraic idea of law (Torah) but is contrary to the entire thrust of Scripture. Dwight Pryor makes this point abundantly clear in his lecture series, “Reassessing the Doctrine of Original Sin.”[1] If Augustine is right, then the resurrection is unnecessary. All that is required for appeasing the wrath of God according to the Roman view of law is an appropriate substitute. Once the substitute is offered, the legal status of the offender is changed from guilty to not guilty since the penalty has been paid. No further action is required in order for the anger of the offended party to be ameliorated. This is called the penal substitution theory of the atonement and you have undoubtedly been taught some form of this theory if you have been exposed to any kind of reformed theology (e.g., Luther, Calvin, etc.) Therefore, if “Jesus” died on the cross to pay for our sins, nothing further needed to be done. The resurrection is superfluous. And, by the way, so is future obedience. Once judged “not guilty,” double jeopardy applies. The price is paid. The trial is over. “Not guilty” can never become “guilty” again.
Augustine taught that men were ontologically damaged in the Fall, that is, their very nature was changed. As a result, every man since Adam inherits a sinful nature which not only makes him guilty from birth but causes him to sin. What Jesus did on the cross was appease the wrath of God poured out on these tragically marred creatures, elevating them from Hell-deserving rebels to God-accepted children. But this view depends on the notions that 1) God is an angry Judge, 2) God demands payment, and 3) the cross is the place of substitution.
Now consider Peter’s claim. According to Peter, God was not angry with us. In fact, by His divine power, God granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness. It is simply historically and biblically impossible to suggest that Peter does not include the Torah in this package of life-enabling gifts. Certainly no God filled with wrath toward disobedient children and anxious to punish them would be described in this way.Â
Peter goes on the claim that we are called “by His own glory and excellence.” In other words, Augustine’s idea that God seeks punishment is exactly the opposite of Peter’s claim. God seeks to exhibit His glory, not His wrath, in the call of men. There is absolutely no hint here that God is operating like the pagan deities who need to be placated in order to turn their anger away from men.Â
Finally, Peter draws the conclusion. Why does God do this? So that we may become “partakers of the divine nature.” Peter clearly does not mean that we will become God. What he means is stated over and over in the Tanakh. We will become—it’s a process—like Him because we will act as He acts. Go read Exodus 34:6-7 again and ask yourself if there is any reason why you cannot act like the verbal descriptions God gives to Himself. We are not destined for judicial status change, subsequently to act as we please since the verdict is in. We are process-makers of God’s intended heritage. We become what He desires and designed as we live according to His instructions.
As Pryor points out, the Passover typology present in the passion week is a model of God delivering His people from the oppression of a evil power under whose influence they suffered bondage and lack of free will. Just as God redeemed Israel, so God redeems His entire family from the power of the Evil one, namely, death. That’s what’s happening on the cross. That’s why the resurrection is crucial! Sin was settled long before. Now the way must be cleared of the obstacle that held us all captive all our lives. The fatal blow has been delivered. Obedience means freedom.
“Partakers of the divine nature.”  What more glorious end can there be? You and I are not inheritors of corrupt wills completely bent on godless choices. We are designed to be conformed to His image and He has taken every measure necessary for that to come true. Now it’s up to you.
Topical Index:Â sinful nature, Dwight Pryor, partakers, cross, death, 2 Peter 1:3-4
[1] Dwight Prior, Reassessing the Doctrine of Original Sin (in four parts) is available as an audio download from the Center for Judeo-Christian studies. Prior’s analysis of original sin and its devastating implications is excellent. Prior even notes that the purpose of the cross is to deal with death and Satan’s controlling power in death, but he continues to view the cross as the place of expiation of sin. I highly recommend his lectures in spite of this detail.
I do not disagree with your assessment that the cross is about defeating death, however if resurrection from the dead was the sole purpose, then ANY death would have sufficed. There would have been no need for the fulfillment of Isaiah 53 in the type of death required of the Messiah. Innocent blood has been the requirement to “cover”(kippor/atone) disobedience/sin from the beginning. Sacrifice.
Adam and Ishshah were created with the ability to make informed choice. Infants must be taught this. After the first disobedience, we are told in Genesis 5 that infants are brought into the world after Adam’s image. We no longer come into a world learning trusting obedience, but one of distrust and disobedience. Our inheritance now becomes one of choice that we must make based on what we have learned from those who have gone before us. Thus, the need for Torah/instruction in righteousness. Original sin? No. Consequences? Absolutely.
It appears to me that assigning only one role to Yeshua’s death and resurrection is more Greek thinking than Hebrew. A kind of this OR that, rather than this AND that.
Apparently you haven’t read the book. I am not assigning one role to Yeshua’s death. In fact, I certainly believe that He died as the atonement for sin. The only issue is WHEN. If you think that occurred on the cross, then you have some pretty big problems to deal with, as the book points out, including Abraham and even Yeshua’s statements about forgiving sin before the cross. So can I suggest you read the book.
Secondly, the idea that those born after the Fall are somehow in Adam’s image rather than God’s is a theological construct, not a textual one. It leads to some very difficult issues as well, including your statements about infants.
Finally, if you think about it, atonement is accomplished in multiple ways. The atonement of Yeshua fits biblical themes perfectly, but not because it is innocent human blood. In fact, human sacrifice is strictly prohibited by Scripture. You need to rethink the claim that any human being’s sacrifice would do since that would have been a sin. There are much bigger things happening in the atonement AND in the defeat of death.
I am reading “Cross Word Puzzles” now. I’ve asked before, and you have said, Skip, that Yeshua did not die twice, once at the foundation of the world and once on the cross. But when you say, “…He died as the atonement for sin,” I am confused. How could he die then, and die on the cross (victorious over death)?
Also, the book states that a sacrifice for sin had to already be in place so that forgiveness could be extended to everyone who lived before Yeshua came. Why couldn’t God have forgiven people, just knowing that a penalty would be paid in the future? Aren’t we supposed to do the same? Aren’t we supposed to forgive even if a penalty is unpaid?
Your books always get me to thinking, and for that I am grateful.
I am not sure what it meant to be the atoning sacrifice before the foundation of the world. I mean that I don’t know what was involved in that sacrifice but I do know, because the text tells me, that it did happen and that it was sufficient. Of course, as you know from Cross Word Puzzles, there were a number of way to accomplish atonement, but this particular sacrifice must have been necessary in spite of all those other provisions. The point is that the cross is NOT A SACRIFICE. It is an execution under Roman, pagan power for a crime (although falsely accused). It does not qualify as a sacrifice under any biblical rubric. Therefore, it isn’t quite correct to say that he died twice for sin. He died once for the atonement but the death on the cross isn’t about atonement. It’s about DEATH.
How all of this works isn’t quite clear. What is clear is that somehow it does work, it is supported by both Tanakh and apostolic writings and it removes many of the illogical statements that arise from viewing the cross as the place of atonement. But it steers us toward the penal theory of atonement to suggest that God required payment of a penalty for sin (this theory was developed by the Reformers and is not even found in the early church). I am not sure a “payment for the penalty of sin” makes any sense, at least not as we see it now under the influence of Roman law. Yeshua’s sacrifice was not a way of appeasing an angry God. It was a way of removing defilement and restoring relationship. That changes how we think about forgiveness as well.
Lots to learn and even more to unlearn.
Hey Skip: Is it safe to say that Yeshua’s death for us is a redemptive work, we are “saved” but then, as in Acts 15, that we still work out our salvation with obedience to His Word? Much like coming out of Egypt but then to Sinai to learn to obey?
It is safe to say that rescue without obedience means not very much. It is safe to say that God removed the obstacle to my faith through Yeshua’s atonement, but that doesn’t mean there is nothing for me to do. It is safe to say that God restored the relationship for me but I must engage Him to enjoy it. And it is safe to say that, like everything else in the Hebraic worldview, it is progressive.
You are right, I have not read the book. I am embroiled in study and research due to reading Guardian Angel. No time for Crosswords just now. I do wrestle with the concepts you state re: the cross and appreciate what you do very much.
Exodus 34:7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.” (ESV)
Doesn’t this mean that God indeed demands payment?
Hi Rein, perhaps it’s a matter of perspective but it would seem to me that this “self description” has more to do with faithfulness, justice and loyalty than it does with demanding payment.
Consider that Moses is seeking God’s glory and that he calls on His “name”. Moses isn’t allowed to see God’s face, only what “follows” Him. Much like the “good works” of men, the motivation can’t necessarily be determined by the activity that is seen by others.
It’s interesting that when He says, “KEEPING steadfast love”…..the term is natzer or to guard or protect, and in this particular instance the NUN is both enlarged (the nun speaks of activity) and it extends BELOW the line (like the bet in bereshit of gen.1:1.
It could be said that a lot of God’s activity is put toward guarding mercy (hesed) and that this particular characteristic of God is part and parcel (extended downward) of His kingdom and creation.
There’s a lot more there but it would take a while to dig it out. anyhoo… just some thoughts.
YHWH bless yo and keep you…….
Please do a very careful study of paqad, the word translated “visiting.” You will find that the implications in the usual English text are NOT present in the Hebrew concept. See in particular TWOT.
“Payment” as to a vengeful God, seems out of sync with the tenor of the rest of the thought in vs 6 and 7. Visiting (paqad) might better be understood as God giving oversight to the fathers — with the express intention of limiting the “punishment of iniquity” to what is necessary for correction. It has always seemed out of place to me that God “inflicts iniquity” on future generations when the rest of the thought in these two verses is all about His chesed.
I read it as “merciful and gracious, slow to anger, great in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, not leaving entirely unpunished but overseeing the punishment of iniquity (that is, the discipline) of the fathers upon sons, and sons of sons to the third and fourth generation.”
IMHO. 🙂
This Grace In Which We Stand
~ But the other of Love, knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel ~
~ But in your hearts revere Christ as LORD. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect..~
~ The wages of sin is death. ~ How do we know this? “It is written.” All of the answers for sin, for death, for judgment, for law, for living (both now and later), for life eternal, for everlasting life, for abundant life, for “Torah-obedient living”, for salvation, for sanctification, for knowing that which is pleasing unto our Father, for living in right-relationship to each other, for the history of this planet, for our future and that of this green planet, for wisdom, -He has given unto us. (Please notice the tense- “has given”), God, (our Father) “has given” unto us: – all things that pertain unto life and godliness.
~ For unto us a Child is born (and) a Son is given ~ Do we (both Jew and Gentile) agree with the words of The Messiah, “You (Nicodemus) and you (every man, woman and child) must be born from above?” Is this “new birth” necessary? E-v-e-r-y-thing, – all the promises of God are hanging in the balance here! And you (sinner) have been “weighed in the balances and found wanting..”
Shall we? May we do some “exploring?” Where to begin? Ahh.. why, (of course) “in the beginning.” ~ Let all things be done decently and in order. ~ Amen. Did Adam sin? In what way or how did this occur? For whatever “reason” Adam disobeyed the clear and concise instructions of his Creator (and intimate Friend!)- “don’t eat the fruit.” Adam, what part of “no” don’t you understand? Adam, “You can’t touch this!”
Scene 2? Enter the Dragon. The Serpent. The Deceiver of the brethren. The Tempter. The sales pitch was made, LSD (lust,sin and death) was offered, Adam and Eve both swallowed the bait and..? Paradise Lost. Worse than this, intimate fellowship – RELATIONSHIP with Elohim “destroyed.”
” I was afraid and hid myself”- Adam, haven’t you heard? ~ Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but the one who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy ~ (Proverbs 28.13) Oh, they attempted to cover themselves, -hiding behind a fig leaf? Adam, where are you? Over here- hiding in the bushes- hiding from You, the Holy One. Yes, God is holy. Yes, we (all) are sinners. – There is Trouble in Paradise.
Houston, we (all) have a problem. Is there among us, (please let us know- do speak up) one who has never sinned? What is sin? Sin is the transgression of the Law. Sin is disobedience- not doing what God has said to do. Sin happened when Adam and Eve made the choice to disobey God. Sin came to full fruition when the dirty deed “occured” and the end result? Separation or death. They both were separated from the intimate fellowship they once knew, the twisted “blame game” was invented, Adam made excuses for his “self”- it was all George Bush’s fault, er.. Eve’s fault- she gave me the fruit! (Don’t you know this did wonders for their own “intimate” relationship!) Eve blamed the Serpent, and the Serpent didn’t have a leg to stand on!
Even in a perfect place, in a perfect world, with everything provided, sin found a way to enter in. Is death/separation the only result? No, no and no!
Death, disease, rot and decay, damning destruction, debilitation, depression and despair and friend, -this is only a partial list of the results of sin. This green planet and the people who now inhabit it, even nature itself is under the curse of sin. Sin is the antithesis of holiness and God is holy. If God is holy (and He is- thrice holy!) and we (all) are sinners, Who or what is the solution? How may we be “reconciled” or in “right-relationship” with God?
What we need is an Arbitrator, an Advocate, -Someone to plead our case. Someone to represent us. What we need is a Savior, -who is Christ the LORD. One who is fully God and One who is fully human. Who can this possibly be? (oy). Boys and girls, what is His Name? And what, (pray what) is His mission? He will build some nice furniture in his father’s carpenter shop? He will do some good while he is here “with us”- and then he will die- just like the rest of us? You tell me, -where is this Man’s tombstone? (oy)
For the preaching, the proclamation, the word, the message of the cross.. Oh, I just know.. has no one, no, not one man has ever heard this?.. but just in case -might we attempt to raise the volume up a bit? THE CROSS. The message of the Cross. The proclamation of the cross. The Word of the cross. The Tslav of the Messiah. What is the good word? What is the good news (the gospel) concerning the cross of The Anointed? What is the mission of The Messiah? We are not left to wonder (or to wander..) ~ For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost ~
Maybe John might ‘splain this to us: ~ My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world. By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.. (1 John 2.2) Propitiation? Atoning Sacrifice? Payment for sin? This is Love!! not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. (1 John 4.10)
“Payment” for sins? The wages (payment) for sin is death! (Romans 6.23) Oh, remember the words of The Messiah, yes!, written in red! Remember these words, (Hallelujah!) “Paid in Full!.” – Tetalesti!
Benevolence towards another at cost to myself? What was “the price” our Redeemer, the Lamb of God, paid for us? What were the words of our Messiah? ~ This is the New Covenant(?) in My blood ~
The prophets, who prophesied about this Gift of deliverance that was meant for you, pondered and inquired diligently about it. They were trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of the Messiah in them was referring in predicting the Messiah’s sufferings and the glorious things to follow. It was revealed to them that their service when they spoke about these things was not for their own benefit, but for yours. And these same things have now been proclaimed to you by those who communicated the Good News to you through the Ruach HaKodesh sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things!
Therefore, get your minds ready for work, keep yourselves under control, and fix your hopes fully on the gift you will receive when Yeshua the Messiah is revealed. As people who obey God, do not let yourselves be shaped by the evil desires you used to have when you were still ignorant. On the contrary, following the Holy One who called you, become holy yourselves in your entire way of life; since the Tanakh says,
“You are to be holy because I am holy.”
Also, if you are addressing as Father the One who judges impartially according to each person’s actions, you should live out your temporary stay on earth in fear. You should be aware that the ransom paid to free you from the worthless way of life which your fathers passed on to you did not consist of anything perishable like silver or gold; on the contrary, it was the costly bloody sacrificial death of the Messiah, as of a Lamb without defect or spot. God knew Him before the founding of the universe, but revealed Him in the acharit-hayamim for your sakes. Through Him you trust in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory; so that your trust and hope are in God.
Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth, so that you have a sincere love for your brothers, love each other deeply, with all your heart. You have been born from above, not from some seed that will decay, but from one that cannot decay, through the living Word of God that lasts forever.
For all humanity is like grass,
all its glory is like a wildflower —
the grass withers, and the flower falls off;
but the Word of Adonai lasts forever.
Moreover, this Word is the Good News which has been proclaimed to you.
“Christ died for sinners, of whom I am chief”
If Augestine is right then there is no need for the resurrection! A good observation.Passover is coming up and I am now looking at it from a diferent angle,thanks to (cross word puzzels).In the past my attention has been on the cross,and not so much on first fruit.This is changing,it will affect the way I have been running the sader and the things I have been reading into the sader that were not even there.Thanks for the new perspective Skip!
Let’s review. 613 one at a time. Obedience.
So I ask, muse, ponder;
did Christ die for sin
or did Christ die for sinners?
Is atonement about a concept or about relationship? Sin killed Yeshua on the cross, but He volunteered to be a sacrifice for sinners in the atonement. The two events are not the same.
Skip
I really love the interaction on this post. I love the fact that you challenge our understandings, what we’ve “learned”. I love the fact that your willing to put it all on the line to address these ideas and concepts we’ve bought into without seeing them from a biblical and Hebraic perspective.
When I first started reading your book “Cross Word Puzzles” I no doubt felt “offended”. As you so boldly challenged my preconceived notions about the cross. But, as one seriously puts they’re hand to the bible and looks into what your presenting, it becomes clear that we’ve really missed some very serious things regarding the “work of the cross”. And what it was perceived as, and how it would have been looked upon, in the 1st century.
I’m not totally willing to admit that everything I’ve learned, read and studied about the event of the cross is all wrong but, what you’ve done is make me “consider” the reality that I just simply don’t have it all figured out. And it may just be a worthy endeavor for me to press in and investigate it some more.
I would really encourage people to read your book “Cross Word Puzzles” before they put a lot of time in commenting (and don’t do as I did and make assumptions before they finish it) but, I would also love to see this conversation continue. I believe this matter of the cross is one of those areas that not only encourages us and drives us to seek after the truth of the matter but, also brings us all to the table to sit down and examine it ‘together”.
Every time I think about this book, it leads me to ask more questions of myself about why I really believe what I do, and makes me ask myself, what am I going to do about it? I must confess, I still have many issues and difficulties with what your presenting but, that just leads me to a realization of how little I really know and understand, as well as what “iron sharpening iron” is all about.
May the Creator of heaven and Earth continue to keep you, bless you and drive you to press on towards the mark and help others do the same.
Shabbat Shalom!
Thank you so much for this testimony and review. If all that the book accomplishes is to cause the reader to question, then it succeeds. Please continue, disagree, comment and debate. That way I get to learn too.
Since we have much to learn about this subject, here are some more of my thoughts:
Are we limiting God by saying “Yeshua” was the One who was sacrificed from the foundation of the world, and “Yeshua” was the one executed by the Romans? Can’t God’s Word be anything He wants it to be? Could not He have made “the Lamb” to be the sacrifice? And could the Word not also have been made flesh–“Yeshua”–who would die on the cross? Can’t the Word of God be made to be whatever God wants, however many He wants, whenever He wants?
Are we limiting God by saying “Yeshua” was the One who was sacrificed from the foundation of the world, and “Yeshua” was the one executed by the Romans? Can’t God’s Word be anything He wants it to be? Could not He have made “the Lamb” to be the sacrifice? And could the Word not also have been made flesh–”Yeshua”–who would die on the cross? Can’t the Word of God be made to be whatever God wants, however many He wants, whenever He wants?
Yeshua is the One who was sacrificed from the foundation of the world.
Yeshua was the One executed by the Romans.
Yeshua (our High Priest) was the One who stood trial before Sanheidrin and the High Priest Annas
Yeshua is the (resurrected) Living Word of God (Revelation 19.13)
Yeshua is the Word (Logos) made flesh.
And, “Behold, the Lamb of God,”- refers to Who?
God gave His Breath to man in Creation
and God gave His blood for man at Calvary.
“The purpose of Torah is to enable us to become partakers of the divine nature!”
Absolutely! Yet somehow we missed the point though we do emphasize the importance of having the mind of Messiah, and being transformed by the renewing of our mind, but, that should progress for us to prove what is that good and well pleasing and perfect desire of Elohim, but this just isn’t the case. That ‘transformation’ and ‘renewing’ ought to draw us closer to HIM, to be more like HIM in partaking of His divine nature, His likeness.
And,that transformation comes through a process of getting to know Him from the very beginning, from the start of the Book, not from the middle.
And, to understand His ways are that of chesed and rachamim, in setting forth examples of how we ought to walk-e.g. in the case of Nadav and Abihu, Lev 10, who were presumptuous in not relating to ABBA’s Presence in their service nor His Presence in the Temple, resulting in their punishment set forth to give us a serious warning in our ‘serving’ Him, carelessly. That was to deliver leaders from certain death, when not discerning clean and profane, offering strange fire.
We are called to partake of His divine nature by overcoming our corrupted natures that lead to death, to overcome death.
This is the victory- O death, where is your sting? O grave where is your overcoming/victory? The sting of death is sin, and the power overcoming sin is Torah.
That our ‘ministry’ and serving may not be in vain. 1 Cor 15 : 55, 56 paraphrased.”
” We become what He desires and designed as we live according to His instructions.”
Amein!
“You and I are not inheritors of corrupt wills completely bent on godless choices. We are designed to be conformed to His image and He has taken every measure necessary for that to come true.” HalleluYAH!
Col 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances which stood against us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to the stake…
That was not a human sacrifice, but it was to abolish the writ of sin transgression that leads to death, otherwise, we are ALL dead! It was to redeem us from the wages of sin that is death. YHWH takes no pleasure in death! HE is not willing that any should perish. Amein!
The decision is ours, i.e. to turn back to ABBA’s ways or, transgress against Him in not guarding all His commandments.
Very challenging, Skip, thank you!
The binding of Issac was clearly a preemptive look at the work to come of Messiah (at least in my opinion). If HaShem wasn’t good with the sacrifice of Yeshua the human, then why would He use that as a example? Way more to that whole story then just testing the faithfulness and obedience of Abraham, It seems to me, and I may have over looked something but, when I did a search a while back of the scriptures relating to “human sacrifice”, all I could find, as far as Adonai not being good with it, was in relation to “Child human sacrifices” to other gods. And let’s not forget about Judges 11:30-39 either.
So, when the Angel of the Lord tells Abraham not to slay Issac, He also tells him the YHVH Himself will provide the lamb/ram. So, when we see John proclaim Yeshua to be the lamb of God, (lamb almost always denotes a lamb for sacrifice) do we not think theres some correlation to the binding of Issac? And YHVH providing Him as His lamb?
The binding of Isaac was clearly a preemptive look at the work to come of Messiah (at least in my opinion). If HaShem wasn’t good with the sacrifice of Yeshua the human, then why would He use that as a example? Way more to that whole story then just testing the faithfulness and obedience of Abraham, It seems to me, and I may have over looked something but, when I did a search a while back of the scriptures relating to “human sacrifice”, all I could find, as far as Adonai not being good with it, was in relation to “Child human sacrifices” to other gods. And let’s not forget about Judges 11:30-40 either.
So, when the Angel of the Lord tells Abraham not to slay Isaac, He also tells him that YHVH Himself will provide the lamb/ram. So, when we see John proclaim Yeshua to be the lamb of God, (lamb almost always denotes a lamb for sacrifice) do we not think theres some correlation to the binding of Isaac? And YHVH providing Him as His lamb?
What of the Isaiah statements that God Himself will redeem Israel? Doesn’t that suggest that it isn’t a “human” sacrifice that accomplishes atonement?
Shalom Skip, received the Crossword Puzzles a few days ago. It is super, makes sooo much sense, as usual, in placing the “Cross” and particularly the “sacrifice” that we have been so blinded to through lack of understanding and has so muddled us, and clarifying that in its Scriptural Hebraic perspective. Wonderful, invaluable book, highly recommended!
Thank you, we so appreciate your taking time in putting forth this book!