Because sin is a violation of his standard and character, God must judge man's sin and reject it. This is why sin causes spiritual death and results in separation from God.

"But everyone shall die for his own iniquity (sin)." Jeremiah 31:29
(כִּי אַשְׁאֵית כְּדוֹת יְמָוֹת קַי אַשְׁאֵית כְּדוֹת יְמָוֹת (cf. Ezekiel 18:20)

"Your iniquities have ever made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have caused him to hide his face from you." Isaiah 59:2

כִּי אַשְׁשָׁתְּהֵבּוֹ הַיּוֹם מִהֲלֵם גִּינְהֶם לְהַיּוֹם אֱלֹהִים וְתִשְׁאֹתְהֵבּוֹ חֲסָדְךָ בְּיָם מִהֲלֵם מִשְׁמָנָי:

As long as sin separates us from God, we can't enjoy the life and relationship God wants us to have.

**But can't man solve the problem by living properly, by prayer, repentance and good deeds?**

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[c]

No, man cannot remove the sin barrier
by his own effort.

"And enter not into judgment with thy servant; for no living man
can be regarded righteous before thee." Psalm 143:2 (cf. Ezekiel 33:13)

ואֵלָיָתֵינוּ בֵמֶשֶׁטִּי אַרְיָיִם עִבְקֵהּ בִּי לֹא יָצִידַק לְשָׁנֵי כָּלֵיהּ:

Human effort
is not adequate because,
in God's sight,

"We are all as an unclean thing and all our righteousnesses (good deeds) are

as a filthy garment." Isaiah 64:5 וְהִיּוֹ כָּשְׁמֹא כָּלָט וּבְכַגְדּ עָשָׂיִם כָּלִי צַדְקָתִי

Human effort is not adequate
because man cannot do enough
to solve the problem.

"No one can in any wise redeem his brother, nor can he give to God redemption

for himself; for the ransom of their soul is too costly." Psalm 49:8-9

אֶחָי לֹא פֶרֶה יִשְׁרָאֵל אַשְׁלֵּה לֹא יָשִׁיחַ לָא לֵאלֹהִים כָּלֵיהּ: אֲקֵרָה פְּרִית נְפָשִׁם

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[LC]

But, then,
how can this
problem
of
spiritual death
and
separation
from
God
be solved?

GOD MUST TAKE
THE INITIATIVE;
HE MUST
PROVIDE
THE SOLUTION.

"But God will redeem
my soul from the
power of the grave."

Psalm 49:16

אַהֲלֹם יִהְיוּסָה מִיָּהוֹאָל

9

[LC]

The sin barrier can be removed by believing God's Word (faith) and by having the blood of the atonement.

Abraham was an example of how the sin barrier can be removed.

"And he believed in the Lord; and he (God) counted it to him for
righteousness." Genesis 15:6 (he was a Jew; the Lord said to him, 'Believe
in the Lord Jesus; I will be your God and give you the Holy Spirit;')

We must follow the same pattern.

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the Lord forever." Isaiah 26:3-4 (cf. Habakkuk 2:4) [Hebrew: kātōth kābōšׁim; English: 'because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the Lord forever']

But Moses said that one more thing is essential, the blood of the atonement.

"For the life of the flesh is in the blood; and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul." Leviticus 17:11 (cf. Leviticus 10:17;4:35)

כִּי נָסַשׂ הַקָּשָׂר כָּהֶם הָאֹמֶר אֲשֶׁר יִתְהוּד לָכָם אֶל יִתְמַצְנָה לִכָּמֶךָ עָל-יִנְקָשָׁתִיכֶם כְּיִתְהֶם הָאֹמֶר בְּנָסַשׂ יְקֹרָ:

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But why would God want man to go through
the awful procedure of killing an animal?

When the offerer saw the sacrifice suffering and bleeding for the sins which he had committed, he was impressed with the awfulness of sin and the penalty of death (Ezekiel 18:4, 20) the sinner deserved.

THE SACRIFICE SHOWED HIM GOD'S:

* HOLINESS because of his hatred of all evil,

* JUSTICE because he does not leave sin unpunished,

* MERCY because of his readiness to pardon the truly repentant and believing by providing a substitute for him.

THE ANIMAL SACRIFICE THUS PROVIDED THE BLOOD OF ATONEMENT AND WAS AN ACT OF FAITH ACCEPTABLE TO GOD.

But without a priesthood and without a temple, there can be no sacrifices. How can we have the blood of atonement today?

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God has provided the blood of atonement for today.

"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath caused the iniquity of us all to fall on him."

כֹלֵנוּ בִּצְ�וֹן הַצֹּיט אִישׁ לִדְרִכּוּ קָנִינוּ הִיא בְּהִלֹּהוֹ הַמִּצְווֹן בְּעֵת הַזֶּהוֹן כָּלֵנוּ:

"For he was cut out of the land of the living; for the transgressions of my people was he stricken."

"And he took off the sin of many." Isaiah 53:6, 8, 12

וְהוֹא הַכֹּא רַבִּים נָשָׂא

IN THE PROLOGUE TO ISAIAH 53 (ISAIAH 52:13-15)
THE AUTHOR IDENTIFIES THE "HE" OF THESE PASSAGES.

He is described as God's servant who will be exalted.

In other parts of his work, Isaiah equates

this servant of God with Messiah (e.g. Isaiah 42:1).

12

[LC]

God's provision of the blood of atonement through the Messiah follows the same principles God set up in the sacrifice system.

**SIN-OFFERING:**
atonement for a man
by means of a sacrifice.

**PESACH:**
atonement for a family
by means of a sacrifice.

**YOM KIPPUR:**
atonement for a nation
by means of a sacrifice.

**MESSIAH:**
atonement for all
by means of a sacrifice.

As we have seen, under the sacrifice system personal faith was necessary along with the blood of atonement. So also faith is necessary with the sacrifice of Messiah. He should be the object of our faith today.

**But how can we know who Messiah is?**

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God made sure we could recognize Messiah by certain specific identifying marks. These are described by the prophets of Israel.

* His ancestry was from the family of David (Jeremiah 23:5-6).

* The city of his birth was Bethlehem (Micah 5:1).

* He had a supernatural nature (Jeremiah 23:5-6; Micah 5:1; Isaiah 9:5-6).

* The manner of his execution was crucifixion (Psalm 22:14-17).

* He rose from the dead (Psalm 16:10; Isaiah 53:10).

* The time of his coming was before the destruction of Herod's Temple in 70 CE (Daniel 9:26).

Do you have any idea if anyone has fulfilled these prophecies, or has even come close?

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Some people think that receiving Messiah Jesus by faith means you're no longer Jewish.

THAT'S NOT TRUE. AS JESUS PUT IT:

"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." Matthew 5:17.

THE APOSTLE PAUL FELT THE SAME WAY

"It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain" (in jail). Acts 28:20

Are you still here?

Don't let anything hold you back—
why not invite Messiah Jesus
to give you a right relationship with God
right now?

17

You
can receive
Messiah Jesus
by faith
right now
through prayer.

*Prayer is talking to God and is a good way to express your faith.*

You may want to use this prayer
to express your decision to trust Messiah Jesus.

> "Messiah Jesus, I admit that I have sinned. I believe that you have provided the blood of atonement for me. I receive you as my Messiah. Thank you for forgiving my sins and coming into my life as you promised."

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Messiah Jesus
always keeps his promises.

DID YOU RECEIVE HIM BY FAITH JUST NOW?
DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS?

*It means that the following promises are now true in your life:*

1. Messiah Jesus came into your life, and he's there permanently. (Revelation 3:20; Hebrews 13:5).

2. All your sins are forgiven. (Colossians 2:13).

3. You have a brand new relationship with God — you're his child! (John 1:12)

4. You've become a completely new person inside, and you've got a great new life! (2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 John 5:11-13).

5. You've been set free from yourself to help others. (John 8:31-35; Galatians 5:13).

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LC

## So, what now?

CONTINUE TO TRUST MESSIAH JESUS.

The way you began is the way to keep going (Colossians 2:6; Hebrews 11:6).
If you keep trusting him, you'll grow in your new relationship.

### Here are a few suggestions:

1. Let him communicate to you, read his words (1 Peter 2:2).

2. Talk to him about everything (Philippians 4:6-7; 1 Peter 5:7).

3. Get together with others who have received him (Hebrews 10:24-25).

4. Tell other people about him (Acts 1:8). Remember to be tactful and kind.

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