Christian Churches of God
No. CB122

Ways People attempt to do away with or Limit the Sacrifice of Messiah

(Edition 1.0 20080212-20080212)
In the series on the Temple, Offerings and Sacrifices, Priesthood of Eloah, and Perfect Sacrifice of Messiah we have looked at Eloah’s Laws and Commandments and how to worship Him correctly. In this paper we look at ways that people through the ages have attempted to do away with the sacrifices of Messiah and the Plan of God.
Christian Churches of God
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(Copyright © 2008 Christian Churches of God, ed. Wade Cox)

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Ways People attempt to do away with or Limit the Sacrifice of Messiah

We know from our studies we must have the sacrifice of Messiah or we can’t be reconciled or reunited to the Father. We would remain dead in our sins and our life would end when we die. What God the Father gave us through His Plan is the greatest gift ever given to anyone. Christ, in his willingness to lay down his life for the fallen Host and mankind, is also a gift beyond belief.

The demons or fallen Host or angels are doing everything they can to stop or interfere with the Plan of Eloah. We know that will not happen. Only what God allows or wills will happen. Yet as we get closer and closer to the time of the Witnesses and Messiah’s return many will arise and attempt to deceive even the elect if it were possible (Mat. 24:24).

As long as we obey God and keep all of His Laws we will not be deceived or tricked. In this paper we will look at the many ways people attempt to invalidate or make Christ’s sacrifice of no effect and change the Plan of Eloah.

If we are ever asked, it is our responsibility to be able to give an answer of the hope that lies within us (1Pet. 3:15).  We need to be able to explain the reasons we believe what we do. From the lesson on the Amour of God we know we are to use the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Eph. 6:17).

Let us start looking at the various ways people have attempted to invalidate the sacrifice of Messiah and the Plan of Eloah. We know that those who teach against the Law and the Testimony have no light in them (cf. Isa. 8:20). Matthew 24:15-29 tells us many false Christs will arrive and even deceive or trick the very elect if it were possible.

These errors are allowed to demonstrate or show who has the approval of God and who does not have approval.

1Corinthians 11:17-19

But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. 18 For, in the first place, when you assemble as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you; and I partly believe it, 19 for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized (RSV).

Letter to the Churches of God re the New Moons and the Hillel Calendar (No. 124B).

Some people say that Messiah and Satan were different substances from their creation.

  • This would imply or mean that God was not fair and He played favourites, which is clearly not the case (Acts 10:34). To show partiality or play favourites is a sin (Jas. 2:9).

Some people say Christ was not human or did not come in the human flesh.

o       1John 4 clearly states in verse 3: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. (CEV)

Some people say Messiah could not sin.

o       Yet we know God does not play favourites He is not a respecter of persons (Deut. 10:17; 2 Chr. 19:7; Rom. 2:11; Gal. 2:6; Eph. 6:9; 1Pet. 1:17; Acts 10:34). Both he and Satan had the same expectations.

Some people say Messiah was touched before he ascended to the Father on Wave Sheaf.

o       John 20:17 clearly shows Messiah instructing Mary Magdalene not to touch him; yet after his ascension and acceptance by the Father he was touched (Mat. 28:9). Had he been touched prior to ascension to the Father, Messiah would no longer be a perfect untouched/unblemished offering.

Some people say we will be flesh and blood or flesh and bone in the resurrection.

o       1Corinthians 15:50 tells us flesh and blood can not inherit the Kingdom of God. The text goes on to say that “this mortal must put on immortality”. Some religions attempt to replace “blood with bone” and believe those in the Great Multitude will be flesh and bone yet never die.

A serious error is the claim that the Godhead is Ditheist or Trinitarian. Over the course of history various groups have attempted to say non-biblical things about Christ and God the Father. The first step was typically to say that Christ was co-equal and co-eternal with the Father. Then the next step was to introduce the Trinity, stating that the Holy Spirit is part of the Godhead with the Father and the Son.

Some people say that the day of worship was changed to Sunday.

o       Christ said not one jot or tittle shall change (Mat. 5:18); Messiah came to keep the Law not change or break the Law (Mat. 5:17). The Sabbath was protected by the closing of the gates of the city from evening to evening (Neh. 13:19). There is no buying and selling on Sabbaths or New Moons (Amos 8:5); this includes no shopping, no going to restaurants or amusement parks etc. on the Sabbath. Christ did not move the day set aside from creation as the Sabbath to Sunday  (Gen. 1:2-3).

o       We are not to work on the Sabbath (Ex. 20:8; Deut. 5:13-14), nor are we to encourage or make our servants to labour, or strangers in our towns, or our animals, or our family (Ex. 20:10; Deut. 5:14-15).

Some people say that Christ rose from the dead on Sunday.

o       The Sign of Jonah is the most significant aspect of Messiah’s ministry (cf. Mat. 12:39-40; Lk. 11:29-32). The Sign of Jonah was not only that he was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale, but he also entered Nineveh, which was three days journey across. After one day’s journey into the city, he prophesied to Nineveh and they repented after being given 40 days to do so (Jn. 3:3-10). The Sign of Jonah shows us Christ had to be in the grave three days and three nights or we do not have a saviour. We know God’s word can not be broken (Jn. 10:35), and Messiah is our saviour. For more details on the day and time of Christ’s death and resurrection see Summary of the Sign of Jonah and the Reconstruction of the Temple (No. 13z).

Some people say that Christ did away with the Law, calendar, etc.

  • On the Fourth Commandment hang all the Law and the prophets concerning God’s Calendar (see the papers Law and the Fourth Commandment (No. 256) and God’s Calendar (No. 156)). Isaiah 1:10-20 tells us God hates how we have changed His Calendar. God tells us to cease or stop sinning; yet most of humanity does not listen to their Creator.  We have a witness in the first century who was alive at the time of the Temple, and two witnesses who saw the Temple (and saw it destroyed) and knew what its system was. Two Jewish witnesses at the end of the Temple period wrote on the Calendar and established that the New Moons were determined by conjunction by the astronomical schools, and that they were used as a day of worship on which the High Priest formally robed. As mentioned, he did that only on Sabbaths, New Moons and Feasts.” Letter to the Churches of God re the New Moons and the Hillel Calendar (No. 124B)
  • Some argue that the New Moons will be kept in the Millennium yet not now. This pretence that God said we had to keep the New Moons and then “we don’t now, but later we will, but they will be different New Moons” is nonsense yet this perverse and illogical reasoning is common among these “ministers”. These people will resort to any argument to avoid keeping God’s Laws.
  • Some also argue that Isaiah 66:23 does indeed state that God demands that all flesh will come and worship Him from one Sabbath to another and from one New Moon to another, but they don’t have to keep the New Moons now. They only have to keep them when Christ comes. Letter to the Churches of God re the New Moons and the Hillel Calendar (No. 124B) and Statement of Beliefs (No. A1)

Some people say we are to celebrate Christ’s birthday, which falls on December 25.

Others argue that Christ lives in our hearts and therefore he is not coming back as King and High Priest to rule in the period of Just Rule.

  • Messiah is coming back as the ruling Day Star of the planet: he will function as King from Matthew 28:18 and Priest from John 3:17; Hebrews 5:9; 1Timothy 2:5. See also Jesus the Christ, King, Priest and Prophet (No. 280)

Some advocate Antinomianism, being Antinomians, which means anti-law and attempt to do away with the Law. Can Eloah’s Law ever be done away with?

o       Matthew 5:17 clearly tells us Christ came to keep and fulfil the Law and not do away with the Law. God and His Law are holy, righteous, goodness, perfect and truth and always existed and will exist until Heaven and Earth are done away (see the paper Who is God? (No. CB1)).

False prophets:

  • False Prophets could deceive the very elect (Mat. 24:24). God gave specific orders concerning this aspect of prophecy. God always informs/warns the people before He acts (Amos 3:7). God also punished the false prophets in various ways (Deut. 13:1-5; 18:18-22).  The test of what is correct is in Isaiah 8:20: “To the Law and to the testimony: If they speak not according to this it is because there is no light in them”.  They teach the doctrines of men, passing them off as the Laws of God.

He is all-powerful and nothing is impossible for God (Lk. 1:37).

In summary …

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2Tim. 3:16). Here a little there a little through which we are able to gain understanding of God’s word (Isa. 28:10,13). As we can understand, we are expected to obey God and His Law. As we are obedient to God He is able to direct our thoughts (Prov. 16:3). There is no reason to be afraid or scared of the future as long as we obey God and keep His word and Law. Psalm 62 is one of the many places in scripture that gives us comfort and direction of where our protection comes from

Psalm 62:5-8 My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.

Let us all be about our Father’s business getting the Gospel out to the world, teaching, explaining, keeping, judging and living by God’s Laws so none can be led astray by false teachings. Also let us study to show ourselves approved of God (2Tim. 2:15).