The Hebrew Bible tells us that God is Holy. That means God is not like you or me.
When we get a glimpse into heaven, we see that the angels make this statement with great strength….
“And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”” (Isaiah 6:3)
And when the Hebrew prophet Isaiah also saw this same glimpse into heaven – he cried out:
“Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips,
and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” (Isaiah 6.5)
So basically, if one of the holiest people in all of Israel’s history said he was not very holy when he actually saw heaven – what can you or I say?
King David says the same thing….
“And do not enter into judgment with Your servant,
For in Your sight no man living is righteous.” (Psalm 143:2)
So does King Solomon…
“When they sin against You (for there is no man who does not sin)…”
(1 Kings 8.46)
I think you get the idea. If you think you have no sins before God – then you are in for a rude awakening.
Not exactly.
There is a specific way that God forgives – and that is by an innocent victim dying for the guilty party - a SUBSTITUTE. That was the purpose of the Temple in Jerusalem, to have animal sacrifices. God gives us life. When we sin, He has the right to remove that life from us whenever He wills.
Unless there is a substitute who can pay for us. God allows substitutes. To restate this important point – that was the purpose of the Temple in Jerusalem. It was filled with sacrifices. One of those sacrifices was called a ‘sin offering.’
An innocent animal dies for the guilty party.
In Leviticus 17, the Lord commands against consuming blood because it was only to be used for one purpose:
“For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life” (Leviticus 17:11).
Blood represented life. It is the way God atones for sin in repentant people. Without blood, a creature or person obviously could not live. Because of this, God chose to use a blood sacrifice as part of the sacrificial system of the Jewish people. Each time blood was shed, it reminded the people of life and death. The blood was their atonement.
This is found all throughout the pages of the Hebrew Bible.
The Jewish prophet Isaiah told Israel about One who would be human, and come to take their sins upon His back. Biblical prophets see things in the future and this was written over 700 years before Yeshua (Jesus’ Hebrew name.)
“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:5+6)
If you read the entire chapter of Isaiah 53, this is an amazing prophecy about the coming Messiah written hundreds of years before Yeshua.
Let us summarize what we have learned so far.
* God forgives repentant people through the system of a substitute. Without the right heart, a substitute means nothing.
* Someone whom Isaiah saw in the future would be punished for our sins.
* We are all guilty of sin and need a substitute.
This is the reason why Messiah came. To fulfill the role of the innocent sufferer – a substitute – like a lamb.
Without this Messiah carrying your sins, then you have to carry them before God one day. It is really that simple.
Carrying your sins into God’s presence after death is a scary thing. Do you remember what Isaiah said at the top of this page? God is Holy and sins must be punished. After all, what human judge would let his family go free for any crime and yet convict the rest of the world for their crimes. The media would be in an uproar. “Judge lets his family members off the hook!”
God’s judgment is ‘guilty’ no matter who you are – Jew or Gentile. And the wages of sin….? Death. But the gift of God is Everlasting Life. Life with never dying there, ever. How? By a substitute dying in your place here on earth.
Either the Messiah carries your sins, or you do. He died for them 2,000 years ago just outside of Jerusalem as a substitute payment but was raised from the dead three days later just as the Hebrew Bible foresaw. He was resurrected from his tomb!
“After he has suffered, he will see the light of life.” (Isaiah 53.11)
Meaning – The Messiah is still alive! His presence can be known today – personally.
God did punish your sins and mine. He put them all upon the back of the Messiah and beat Him to a bloody mess to make His suffering and death a substitute payment.
If you wish to accept this truth, it can be applied to your soul's account.
You see, in Tanach (the Hebrew Bible) the “Ruach Elohim” (the Spirit of God) entered into a person’s life when they submitted to God's will.
Here are a few examples…
David—brokenhearted over his sins—asked God not to “cast” him from His presence or “remove” His Spirit.
“Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.” (Psalm 51:11).
* The Jewish prophet Micah was filled with the Spirit of God (Micah 3:8)
* Moses' successor, Joshua was filled with the Spirit (Numbers 27:12-23).
* And on and on.....
So these are just some examples of how the same truth holds today.
And how does one receive the “Ruach Elohim” (Spirit of God) today?
By repentance and trusting in Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) and asking His “Ruach” (Spirit) to enter into your heart.
If you wish the Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) to enter into your life and remove your sins... then read this prayer.
And if you agree, pray it out loud to God.
“Oh, God. I am guilty of sinning before You. I am sorry for my sins and with your help I will turn from them. Jesus (Yeshua) You are the Messiah of Israel, you are my substitute and you are alive. I ask Your presence and Spirit to enter into my heart and remove all my sins. Thank you for Your salvation. Amen.”
If you meant it from your heart – you are now “saved” from your sins. Hallelujah. There is no greater joy in life.
If you did pray that prayer, let us recommend a few things…
