{"id":356,"date":"2013-02-05T10:11:45","date_gmt":"2013-02-05T10:11:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.all-creatures.org\/blog\/?p=356"},"modified":"2013-02-06T11:33:55","modified_gmt":"2013-02-06T11:33:55","slug":"forgiveness-without-sacrifice-part-08","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.all-creatures.org\/blog\/forgiveness-without-sacrifice-part-08\/","title":{"rendered":"Forgiveness Without Sacrifice \u2013 Part 08"},"content":{"rendered":"

Forgiveness Without Sacrifice \u2013 Part 08<\/h2>\n
\"Lamb<\/a>
Lamb of God<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In this part of our\u00a0 study of the forgiveness of sins without the need for an animal sacrifice, we\u00a0 will take a look at the story of a paralytic who was healed by Jesus.\u00a0 This\u00a0 story is recorded in three Gospels: Matthew 9:1-8, Mark 2:1-12, and Luke\u00a0 5:17-26.<\/p>\n

As we begin this portion of\u00a0 our study, it is important to remember that this account occurs while the animal\u00a0 sacrificial system was still in place in the Temple.\u00a0 And, Jesus grants\u00a0 this forgiveness prior to His death.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, we need to\u00a0 remember what Jesus said about His mission and ministry in Matthew 5:17:
\n17 “Do not think that I came\u00a0 to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.
\nNASU<\/p>\n

Thus, what is taking place\u00a0 must still be within the intent of the Law.\u00a0 With this in mind let’s take a\u00a0 look at what we are told in Matthew 9:2.<\/p>\n

2 And they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, “Take\u00a0 courage, son; your sins are forgiven.
\nNASU<\/p>\n

Jesus healed this man and\u00a0 forgave his sins because of a combination of his and his friends’ faith, alone.\u00a0\u00a0 There was no animal sacrifice.\u00a0 Forgiveness was a gift of God’s grace just\u00a0 as it had been with Abram in Genesis 15:6.<\/p>\n

Such an incidence proves that\u00a0 the sacrificial system was not the true intent of God that leads to forgiveness,\u00a0 but only a concession, as it was when God granted it to Abram when he doubted\u00a0 the promise of possessing the land.<\/p>\n

There is something greater at\u00a0 work here than the sacrifice of an animal and the shedding of blood.\u00a0 It is\u00a0 faith and love and compassion.<\/p>\n

Go on to Forgiveness Without Sacrifice \u2013 Part 09<\/a><\/p>\n

Since \"date\"