I think that this idea is so important and often overlooked in Biblical scholarship. This is why it is so important to have one's ideas critiqued by other competent Bible students.

When others disagree (in a Christian manner) this reveals flaws and misunderstandings in ones ideas, and ultimately, if you are willing to learn, strengthens your position.

Well-said, Green & Nadi

Just an FYI to clarify, all I was questioning was this statement by hch.

biAnd Green refuses to take all that is written to come to the truth. God is NOT the source of death. Sin and the devil is. God wrath is not like the wrath of men or the devil. God's wrath comes when He lets us have our own wishes. This is the Eternal Gospel spoken about in Revelation 14.

Everyone does; there is no need to single out Green. He sees things different than you. Just state your position without attacking other forum members. It takes effort to create a safe environment for discussion.

I agree; I know I fail miserably at it sometimes, but am grateful for people's patience.

APL; I am still interested to hear from you about scripture that supports what you said about how "sin killed Jesus." I did enclose several texts which reflect varied perspectives on the death of Christ. Just wondering how you see it.

Jeremiah 19:5 They have built also the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire [for] burnt offerings unto Baal, which I commanded not, nor spake [it], neither came [it] into my mind:

God's will for His son to die for us was not His will for your son (if you have one) to die for us.

His Child,

Could you next explain to me how Abraham was able to read Jeremiah's writings?

For all we know, the practice of offering sons to Baal came from Abraham's example. Can you show that it pre-existed Abraham's story?

If not, we are back to the same question: Upon what basis can you make the claim that God's instruction to Abraham "was contrary to God's teaching"?

Blessings,

Green Cochoa.

Green,
God's principles are eternal. as Jeremiah said, "to burn their sons with fire [for] burnt offerings...which I commanded not, nor spake [it], neither came [it] into my mind." In Eden, God promised to give a redeemer "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." Genesis 3:15

Prior to God telling Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, there was no command to sacrifice your sons to atone for your sins in place of the promised redeemer. It is interesting that after God's encounter with Abraham regarding Isaac, the Bible speaks of the abomination of the Ammonites, Chemosh, and Molech, (they practiced child sacrifice).

Furthermore, God promised Abraham that he would be the father of many nations. "And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, [and] with his seed after him." Genesis 17:19

Thus Abraham had the promise of a coming redeemer, and that Isaac would receive the promise of the covenant that stated that Abraham would be the father of nations and through Isaac's seed the covenant would be fulfilled. No matter how you want to frame the issue, God appears to be contradicting Himself by commanding Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, who had no "seed" (children) at that time.

This is a clear case of an apparent contradiction in God's word that only faith could resolve through the leading of the Holy Spirit. The Scriptures available to Abraham did not settle the issue as you pointed out. Abraham knew God and followed him. That is the only safe course that we have today especially when so many are twisting the Scriptures to make them say what they do not say as it might be illustrated by the Amorites who substituted the sacrifice of their children for Christ's atonement.

The example of circumcision in Paul's day illustrates how difficult it was to rightly divide the word of truth. 'the pro party had the Scriptures in their favor. Paul understood that Christ had fulfilled the law and by the Holy Spirit he taught that circumcision was no longer required. It is the same way today with the woman's ordination issue. Those that see that Christ has fulfilled the law trying to move forward in faith against the will of those who do not understand the truth as it is in Jesus.

"This [is] the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts." Zechariah 4:6

Christian regards