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Why Does the Law Demand the Life of the Sinner?

Why Does the Law Demand the Life of the Sinner?

How do we harmonize quotes like this one, or perhaps is there a better way to say it?:

“On the Day of Atonement the high priest… went into the most holy place with the blood and sprinkled it upon the mercy seat, above the tables of the law. Thus the claims of the law, which demanded the life of the sinner, were satisfied.”  – Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 355

I like the way you teach and you obviously have this whole thing worked out in your understanding, but I am still struggling to come to terms with some of it, not that I disagree with what you are saying, but that I don’t know how to repeat some things because I don’t have the whole understanding yet.  I don’t know if I am making sense.  How do you explain the “substitution” aspect, ie that Jesus stands in our place in the judgment? I have pre-ordered your book.  I can’t wait to get it.

Thanks for your ministry


Glad you pre-ordered the book, because it will lay all of this out so it will be easier to understand substitution and why Jesus had to die. But to your specific question…

First thing to do when reading quotes like this is to remind ourselves that the “law” is not a Roman imposed law, but our Creator’s protocols upon which life is built. The law of life!

Why would the law upon which life is built require the life of the sinner? For what reason did the law demand the life of the sinner? What is happening in the OT sacrificial service? Was it not symbolically revealing the process of restoring the sinner to unity and harmony with God?

If one believes the law of God is like a Roman emperor, an imposed law, then one sees such statements as demands for a blood payment to satisfy anger and wrath of the offended god and pay the legal penalty required by the broken law. All of this is based on accepting a lie about God’s law, that it is like Rome’s.

But what if one recognizes that the law is actually the protocol upon which life is built to operate and that “we are born in sin and conceived in iniquity” i.e. a terminal condition, then why would the law demand the life of the sinner? It would demand the sick, terminal, diseased, sinful life in order to heal, cleanse, renew, recreate, and restore the sinner in righteousness. Consider this description and how this author describes what the law requires:

The law requires righteousness,–a righteous life, a perfect character; and this man has not to give. He cannot meet the claims of God’s holy law. But Christ, coming to the earth as man, lived a holy life, and developed a perfect character. These He offers as a free gift to all who will receive them. His life stands for the life of men. Thus they have remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God. More than this, Christ imbues men with the attributes of God. He builds up the human character after the similitude of the divine character, a goodly fabric of spiritual strength and beauty. Thus the very righteousness of the law is fulfilled in the believer in Christ. God can “be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” Romans 3:26.”  Desire of Ages 762 

What satisfies the law? A legal payment if you believe God’s law if like Rome’s, but a perfect life if you believe God’s law is the design protocol upon which He built His universe to operate.

So, when Jesus said we are to eat his flesh and drink his blood (John 6:53-56) he was trying to make it more obvious that the blood is a metaphor for his perfect life. When the blood was sprinkled on the ark it symbolized the law was satisfied because it saw perfection, perfect harmony with it, perfect character, the perfect life of Jesus. That blood was symbolic of the perfect character of Christ, which is now in the believer.

When we accept Jesus as our Savior we “die to self” (1Cor 15:31) and are renewed by the Holy Spirit, (Rom 12:2, Tit 3:5) so “it is no longer I that live but Christ lives in me.” (Gal 2:20) The “law is written upon the heart and mind” (Heb 8:10) and thus our old diseased life is destroyed and replaced with the life of Christ. Thus our sinful life was demanded to be surrendered so that the righteous life of Christ could be recreated within the believer. Christ is our substitute because he took upon himself “our iniquity” “our infirmity” our sick condition (Isa 53:4) so that Christ “who had no sin [would be made] sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2Cor 5:21)

 

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Testimony 65

I have been tuning into your weekly study classes for a while now and wanted express my appreciation for the teachings that ha been a huge blessing in opening up the true message of the word. Viewing scripture under an imposed law theory always, without fail, raised more questions, concerns, and conflicting scripture interpretations that were discouraging at the very least. Looking at scripture through the design law lens has brought more truth to light for me personally and an understanding of our Heavenly Father that places Him “above all others,” where I am now more than thrilled to witness and serve Him.  I “stumbled” across this ministry a year or so ago and would only watch a few minutes at a time. But the more I listened and the longer I paid attention, the more my spiritual eyes were opened to the ever present truths of scripture. The comprehension of the great controversy and it’s origin by the lies perpetrated and perpetuated throughout the Bible on the attack of God’s character and government is truly priceless. Keep up the Good Work! Your servanthood is desperately needed in such a time as this!

Jeff D., Reading, MA, USA

 

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We really appreciate your views on the judgment and they make good sense considering our free choice.

Anonymous

 

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The Healing the Mind DVD set tarted me on a journey that has changed my relationship with our loving God more significantly than any other study, and brought me to your book and Bible study podcasts, which I now listen to daily, thanks to the availability of archived content on your site and on iTunes.

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I was invited over a friend’s house to see the “God and Your Brain” seminar today. I became [a christian] 36 years ago at the age of 19, but have struggled with the concept of God taking His ‘pound of flesh’ out on His Son to be appeased. Wow. Your seminar has been an incredible revelation and breath of reason and fresh air! I have your book, “The God Shaped Brain,” and it is SO eye opening. Finally, after 36 years enlightenment has come! Praise the Good Lord! What can I say, but that the Real Gospel is truly “Good News!” Thank you for your efforts in giving the Gospel a clear sound!

Paul C.,  Springfield, MA, USA

 

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I’ve been very blessed by “The God Shaped Brain” and this ministry, through video and podcast, over the last few years. It’s truly opened up my eyes more to the truth about God and the importance of that truth in the present world. The message is so inviting, freeing and enlightening and MORE people need to know about it. I believe it is the last message that can truly, not only prepare a people for salvation and translation, but vindicate the character of God.

Michael V., Yonkers, NY, USA

 

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I wanted to thank you very much for presenting your understanding of God. I’ve always been troubled by this question: Why did Jesus have to die? Since my conversion I understood that The Father & Jesus are one, I did not have issues with that. But was there not any other way to save us than for Jesus to die? I guess I actually had a question about God – if He is so wise, how come He did not find another way? I did not see the real ‘beauty’  in the cross. Only when you explained the picture in the medical context, Jesus providing medicine for my selfishness, have I started to finally ‘see the light’. Thank you so much. Your seminar, “Healing the Mind,” are absolutely marvelous & have shared them with my family and many other people, including colleagues at work. Thanks, thanks, thanks. May God bless you abundantly in your ministry.

M. W., Australia

 

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Your message of design law vs imperial law is so uplifting and makes so much sense- it is a game changer for me. The fact that Jesus’s death is not a big payment by an angry God is , quite frankly, a relief.

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I was born [into the church], then I left it for many years. 10 years ago, I came back, but I could not take the hypocrisy and the lack of answers to the missing pieces. I struggled, but I did not abandon my commitment to know the truth. God is leading me to the simple understanding of his relevance and I am relearning what the church taught me as a youth… that he loves me, that he has led me to a knowledge of him such as I have never known. He is using Dr. Jennings to connect the dots that are now so apparent and hiding in plain sight!

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I Love This Ministry!!!!!!! I see first hand how this message is desperately needed, how erroneous beliefs about God and His Character negatively affect humanity at every level. I thank God for your ministry, as I was searching on my own and was discovering some of your same beliefs and was blown away when I found your ministry. I know you hear it all the time, but it is truly life changing. May God continue to reveal His Will to you and Bless you!

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I am blown away by the truth that you present. God’s Design Law makes so much sense! You have validated my impression that, if God is love, He would not kill those who don’t want to know him. If God gives us choice, then how can He destroy us if our choice is not to follow him. Thank you for opening my eyes and heart to the pure love of God seen through Jesus. The love I now have for Jesus is deeper and free from condemnation. My heart has been opened to love others as Jesus loves me. May God continue to bless your God-given insight into His word and your ministry. The truth has set me free!

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