There is no precedent in Old Testament with regards to the sin offerings, which supports the theology that Jesus became sinful when he died on the cross.

The offerings for sin, which foreshadowed Jesus’ death, were NOT made sinful with the sins of the people and consequently rejected by God. Instead they were to be offered as unblemished sacrifices which were holy gifts to the Lord and they were accepted by God as a sweet fragrance.

Leviticus 6:25 says, Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, saying, THIS IS THE LAW OF THE SIN OFFERING: In the place where the burnt offering is killed shall THE SIN OFFERING BE KILLED before the Lord: IT IS MOST HOLY.

But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God.~ Philippians 4:18

Paul tells the Philippians that their gift of support, which was delivered to him by Epaphroditus, was “an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God.”

²⁴ Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

²⁵ Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

²⁶ To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. ~ Romans 3:24-26

The word propitiation in Romans 3:25 does not mean appeasement, and has nothing to do with God pouring out wrath on Jesus at the cross.

The word propitiation, comes from the Greek word “hilasterion,” which is employed by the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament) for the mercy seat. Also in Hebrews 9:5 it is translated as mercy seat.

A close observation of the context of Romans 3:25 shows that the word “hilasterion” is used in conjunction with our faith in the blood of Jesus, meaning that what ever “hilasterion” refers to, it refers to who Jesus is to us through our faith in his blood.

The expression “faith in his blood” is therefore the determining factor in each of our lives as to whether or not Jesus is our “hilasterion.” For God has set forth Jesus to be a “hilasterion” (atonement, reconciliation, mercy seat) through faith in his blood.

While some claim Romans 3:25 proves that God poured out his wrath on Jesus, the context is not about what God did to Jesus, but what God has made Jesus to be, according to his grace, in the lives of all who have faith in his blood.

Christ is the atoning sacrifice, the mercy seat, or the provision of God’s forgiving mercy to all who have faith in his blood.

Appeasement, on the other hand, is a concept which comes from the worship of pagan gods, because there was no natural disposition of good will in them.

Appeasement is not taught by the New Testament, nor is it foreshadowed under the Old. The worship of the one true God is nothing like that of pagan religions. The two are diametrically opposed to one another. Appeasement belongs to pagan worship, but expiation which is atonement or reconciliation through grace, belongs to the truth of the one true God.

The fundamental problem with appeasement theology is that it miss characterizes the character and nature of God. Appeasement is an act directed toward God in an effort to change him; to turn Him from wrath or anger. Expiation or atonement is an act by God directed towards man to show mercy and grace. The Bible never says that God was reconciled to man; instead it is always man who is reconciled to God because of God’s mercy and grace.

Years ago, Genesis 8:20-21 forever changed my life, because it was the beginning of the transformation in my understanding of the death of Christ on the cross as a sweet savor to God.

20 And Noah builded an altar unto the Lord; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.

9 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

10 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, AND SHALL REAP THE HARVEST THEREOF, then ye shall bring a sheaf of THE FIRSTFRUITS of your harvest unto the priest:

11 And he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord, TO BE ACCEPTED FOR YOU: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it.

12 And ye shall offer that day when ye wave the sheaf AN HE LAMB WITHOUT BLEMISH of the first year for a burnt offering unto the Lord.

13 And the meat offering thereof shall be two tenth deals of fine flour mingled with oil, AN OFFERING MADE BY FIRE UNTO THE LORD FOR A SWEET SAVOUR: and the drink offering thereof shall be of wine, the fourth part of an hin.

14 And ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched corn, nor green ears, until the selfsame day that ye have brought an offering unto your God: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. ~ Leviticus 23:9-14

These were the offerings that the Israelites were to offer to the Lord at the time of the feast of the first-fruits. First fruits was a foreshadowing of the resurrection of Jesus. In 1 Corinthians 15, the apostle Paul says: “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the FIRSTFRUITS of them that slept (those who are dead).” ~ 1 Corinthians 15:20

During the feast of firstfruits, the Israelites were to offer

1. The sheaf of the firstfruits to the Lord “to be accepted” for them. Notice the language: the firsitfruits was not rejected in their place, it was an offering that was accepted for them.

2. A male LAMB WITHOUT BLEMISH of the first year for a burnt offering unto the Lord. 1 Peter 1:18-19 tells us Jesus redeemed us with his precious blood as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

3. A meat offering which is said to be “an offering made by fire to the Lord for a sweet savor.” The meat offerings (AKA grain offerings) were symbolic of Jesus’ perfect humanity. Jesus had no sin in him and according to the Bible, we are sanctified by the offering of THE BODY of Jesus Christ once for all. ~ Hebrews 10:10.

Jesus gave his body (the body by which he took upon humanity, being made in the likeness of men) as the offering for our sins. In John 6 Jesus says, I am that BREAD OF LIFE. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is THE BREAD which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I AM THE LIVING BREAD which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and THE BREAD THAT I WILL GIVE IS MY FLESH, which I will give for the life of the world. ~ John 6:48-51

• Jesus is the first fruits of the resurrection who was ACCEPTED for us.
• Jesus is the unblemished lamb who redeemed us with his precious blood.
• Jesus is the sweet savor offering (pleasing to God) who sanctified us through the offering of his body. He is the living bread from heaven that gives us eternal life.

There are Hebrew Roots teachers who claim the Gentiles in the New Testament were the lost tribes of Israel. Those who make these claims assert that the book of Galatians was written to the dispersed from among the 10 tribes and not to true Gentiles.

They use such arguments to support their view that the Law is still in force. This is wrong and can easily be refuted by the content within the book of Galatians.

I recently listened to a leading Hebrews Roots teacher (who btw, went to prison for fraud) teach this HR doctrine. He used a lot of scripture with sleight of hand. This tactic causes many who followed him to be mesmerized by his “knowledge” rather than responding to his claims as a Berean.

And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto BEREA: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and SEARCHED THE SCRIPTURES DAILY, WHETHER THOSE THINGS BE SO. ~ Acts 17:10-11

The Hebrews Roots teacher I mentioned above used scriptures out of context to support his “theological scheme.” If those who listen to his teachings would read the full context of the scriptures he cites, they would find obvious discrepancies.

The theological scheme being advocated by this teacher was founded on the premise that the term “Jews” only refers to the southern tribes of Judah throughout the Bible.

If those who followed this man’s teachings continue reading the Bible through the theological lens he taught regarding the lost tribes of Israel, they will find themselves misreading many portions of scripture, and doctrinally in error. The aim of such teachings is to advance the Hebrews Roots ideology that the law is still in force.

Please know that term, Jews, does not refer to only the southern tribes in every place in scripture. There are many places where the term “Jew” or “Jews” is a reference to any and all Israelites.

Allow me to point out the following:

After the reign of King Solomon, the nation of Israel was splint into two Kingdoms. The 10 tribes of the north retained the name Israel, and the southern tribes (Judah and Benjamin) were known as Judah.

When God punished the northern tribes, they were over taken by the Assyrians and never recovered. When God judged Judah, they were taken captive by the Babylonians. After 70 years of captivity, they were brought back to their homeland.

The southern tribes of Judah (Judah and Benjamin) were just as sinful as the 10 northern tribes. The ONLY reason God did not permanently disinherit Judah from the land of promise as he did with the northern tribes was his oath to David. God’s promise to David was that one of his descendants would reign upon the throne forever.

In the book of Acts, the apostle Paul referred to this oath as “the sure mercies of David.” God fulfilled this oath to David in the resurrection and exaltation of Jesus.

Though Jews may have been a reference to Judah in the beginning, it became a reference to “all Israelites.” For example, many who were descendants of the dispersed from among the 10 tribes were scattered into the nations referenced in Acts 2. These Israelites, who were gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate Pentecost in Acts 2, were called “JEWS.”

And there were dwelling at Jerusalem JEWS, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. ~ Acts 2:5.

In his sermon in Acts 2, Peter refers to these Jews as “Ye men of Israel” and “the house of Israel.” ~ Acts 2:22,36

Verses 6-10 mentions the nations that these Isrealites (called Jews) were living in. Isaiah the prophet foretold of this in chapter 11.

10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.

11 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover THE REMNANT OF HIS PEOPLE, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.

12 And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble THE OUTCASTS OF ISRAEL, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. ~ Isaiah 11:10-12

Careful study shows that the places referred to by Isaiah in the scriptures above, corresponds with those mentioned in Acts 2.

All a person really has to do to know that the word Gentile(s) in the New Testament isn’t a reference to the 10 lost tribes of Israel, is study all the texts in the New Testament which mentions the Gentiles.

If you will do this, you will observe that the context often makes a contrast between the Gentiles and those who were given circumcision and the law.

You cannot fit the disperse tribes of Israel into the context of the Gentiles in the New Testament, not if you have any Biblical integrity at all.

Here are a couple of examples:

For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves…~ Romans 2:14

NOTE: The 10 tribes were given the law so the Gentiles in this verse is not a reference to them.

What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin… Romans 3:9

NOTE: In this text Jews refers to those who had the law (this include all the 12 tribes of Israel) and those who did not have the law are called the Gentiles. This is clearly understood by the context.

One of the ploys used by the teacher mentioned above was his misuse of out of context scriptures from Romans 9-11. He did this to claim that the Gentiles in Romans 9-11 were the 10 tribes of Israel.

This is error. Notice the following from Paul in chapter 11:

For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: If by any means I may provoke to emulation (jealously) them which are MY FLESH, and might save some of them. ~ Romans 11:13-14.

Paul wanted to win all his fellow Isrealites, not just those from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. In chapter 9 Paul says the following:

1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,

2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.

3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for MY BRETHREN, MY KINSMEN according to the flesh:

4 Who are ISRAELITES; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;

5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. ~ Romans 9:1-5

Those who are called Israelites mentioned above (Paul’s kinsmen according to the flesh) were given the covenants, the law, the service of God, the promises, they were descendants of the fathers (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) and Christ came through their nation.

Israelites in the New Testament refers to those from ALL the tribes of Israel. Paul refers to them as Israel and Israelites multiple times in Romans 9-11.

If you think Gentiles is a reference to the 10 tribes and Israel in Romans 9-11 you will absolutely make a mess of the context and only be confused.

In the New Testament: a Gentile is a Gentile. Don’t get confused by those who twist the Word of God.

Is it scripturally accurate to tell everyone, “God is not mad at you” ?

Certainly, God is not angry with his people who love him, nor is God angry with those who are in bondage to sin, but desire freedom from their sins. However, God does get angry with the ungodly who despise him and who love wickedness.

If no one is under the wrath of God, the words of John the Baptist would be untrue: He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. ~ John 3:16

The words of John the Baptist belong to the same context in which we find the words of Jesus: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. ~ John 3:16

When we consider the words of Jesus within of context of John 3, we learn that God’s love in the giving of his Son is his provision to save people from his judgment against ungodliness, which does indeed provoke his wrath.

Consider with me the following from verses 14-15:

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Now consider the Old Testament account from which Jesus references:

5 And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.

6 And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.

7 Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee; pray unto the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.

8 And the Lord said unto Moses, make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.

9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived. ~ Numbers 21:5-9

The serpent of brass which God commanded Moses to make was the atoning provision to save the people from the judgment which God had sent. Notice that the text says: And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. ~ v.6

According to Jesus, this was a type of how God would deliver us from our sins, and it was an Old Testament foreshadowing of how God would display his love for us in Jesus Christ.

Sinful man is under the judgment of God, but God sent his son to be the atoning sacrifice for the sins of all who will repent and turn to him, and this is how God so loved the world: He gave his only begotten Son so that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal life. ~ John 3:16

Now consider verses 17 – 21:

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. ~ John 3:16 – 21

This is the context to which the words of John the Baptist in verse 36 belong: He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

God gave his Son to bestow his love on all who would humbly turn from their sins, with the condition, that the recipients of his love turn from their sins.

Those who refuse to turn from their sins by rejecting the precious gift of God, given through the offering of his Son, have consequently rejected the love of God. Therefore, they are condemned, and are under God’s wrath.

This will become clearer as we continue.

Whether we like it or not, there are people throughout the world who hate God because they love their sins. God’s love is extended to them, calling them to repentance. If they persist in their rebellion against God, refusing to humble themselves, they will be judged and damned in their sins. In this way, they are under the wrath of God.

The New Testament teaches that God has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man he has appointed: Jesus Christ. ~ Acts 17:31

God has given his Son as the witness of himself, and in the Son, God offers forgiveness, grace, and mercy, to all people. Those who believe God’s witness, in his Son, receive life everlasting.

⁹ If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.

¹⁰ He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

¹¹ And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

¹² He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

¹³ These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. ~ 1 John 5:9-13

He who rejects the Son of God, rejects the love, mercy, and grace God has offered him, and as the apostle John says above, God hath made him a liar.

God is holy and just to be displeased and even angry with those who refuse to humble themselves before him so that they may receive mercy and grace.

On the day of judgement, those who reject God’s love will have no intercessor or advocate to defend them. They will stand before a holy and righteous God with all their sins exposed before him. They will be judged for their sins because of their defiance of his goodness, and their rejection of the love he offered them in Jesus.

For them, there will no forgiveness when they stand before God. They will be judged, not by God’s compassion, but by God’s wrath. Therefore Paul tells the Corinthians, Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men. ~ 2 Corinthians 5:11

If no one were under the wrath of God, as some teach, Paul would have never told the Thessalonians that the Jews who killed the Lord Jesus, and who were hindering his ministry to the Gentiles, were under God’s wrath. ~ 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16

Think about it. Paul believed the hostile Jews who put Jesus to death and who continued in their hostility by opposing the gospel, were under the wrath of God. Paul says this in his first letter to the Thessalonians, in the New Testament, after the death and resurrection of Jesus. Yet there are modern day teachers who claim that no one is under God’s wrath because of their “theological” claims that God poured out his wrath on Jesus.

One well know minister has said the following: Jesus forever changed the way God relates to mankind. Sure, there are scriptural examples of God’s catastrophic judgment on sin. But God’s greatest act of judgment was when He placed all of His wrath for our sins upon Jesus. This forever satisfied God’s wrath. Since that time, God hasn’t been judging our sins.

If no one is under the wrath of God, Paul would have never said what he did to the Thessalonians (cited above), nor would he have instructed believers not to take vengeance because God says he will repay and vengeance belongs to the Lord. ~ Romans 12:19

If no one is under the wrath of God, as these teachers claim, Paul would not have taught that we who follow Jesus are not appointed to wrath at the coming of the Lord, but those who refuse to obey the gospel are under the wrath of God when Christ comes. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:8 and 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10

If no one is under the wrath of God, the author of Hebrews would never have said that those who turn away from the Lord have nothing to look forward to except for a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. ~ Hebrews 10:27, 30-31

When ministers teach, as a sweeping statement, God is not mad or angry with you, they are not handling the word of God correctly. The ideology that God is not angry with anyone is predicated on the belief that God poured out all his wrath on Jesus, and therefore he will no longer be angry with anyone, nor judge sin.

Yet the apostle Peter tells us God turned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes and condemned them with an overthrow, making them an example unto those that after should live ungodly; and delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished,  ~ 2 Peter 2:6-9

The apostle Peter also declared: For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? ~ 1 Peter 4:17

The teacher whose comment is referenced above has made a bold statement based on his theological assessment that God placed all his wrath on Jesus. The ideology that God placed all his wrath on Jesus is not Biblical doctrine.

According to the Bible, Jesus suffered under the wrath of men, who opposed God and Jesus. ~ Acts 4:25-27.

In Acts 7, Stephen asserted that Jesus had been murdered. Stephen declared this to those who were about to stone him, saying to them that they had been “the betrayers and murderers of Jesus.” ~ Acts 7:52

According to the prophet Isaiah, and Philip preaching to the Eunuch, Jesus was deprived of justice from the time of his arrest until his death on the cross. ~ Isaiah 53:8, Acts 8:33

In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. ~ Acts 8:33

Other translations say the following:

• He was humiliated and received no justice …(NLT)
• In his humiliation he was taken away by distressing and oppressive judgment and justice was denied him …(Amplified Bible)
• In his humiliation justice was denied him …(Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Acts 8:33 is a quote from Isaiah 53:8: He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? For he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

Other translations say the following:

• Unjustly condemned, he was led away… (New Living Translation).
• By oppression and judgment he was taken away… (Amplified Bible).
• He was condemned to death without a fair trial… (Contemporary English Version).

As Jesus prepared his disciples for the things he was to suffer in his death, he told his disciples that he would suffer at the hands of men. ~ Matthew 16:21; 17:9, 22-23; 20:17-19; 26:1-2, 24, 31, 45; 26:51-56; Mark 8:31; 9:9-11, 31-32, 10:32-34; 14:27, 43-50; 15:27-28; Luke 9:21-22, 44-45; 17:24-25; 18:31-34; 22:37; 24:1-8, 13-27, 44-48; John 18:31-32; 19:24, 28

In the book of Acts, the declaration of the gospel by the apostles and men like Stephen, was that Jesus had suffered an unjust death at the hands of sinful men. ~ Acts 2:22-24, 36; 3:13-18; 4:10-11, 20, 23- 28; 5:30-32; 7:52; 10:36-43

Neither Jesus, nor any of his followers in scripture ever preached that Jesus died under the wrath of God. They always attributed the death of Christ to the hands of sinful men, and they preached the resurrection as God’s righteous vindication of His Son, Jesus.

According to the apostle Peter, the sufferings Jesus endured serves as our example of how we are to respond when we suffer wrongfully.

19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.  

20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow in his steps:  

22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. ~ 1 Peter 2:19-25

Notice that in view of Jesus suffering for us, Peter says that Jesus committed himself to God who judges righteously, setting an example that we should follow when we suffer wrongfully. Peter would not have said this if Jesus had suffered under God’s righteous wrath.

According to the author of Hebrews, Jesus endured hostility from sinners when he died on the cross (Hebrews 12:2-3) and he endured such hostility by the grace of God. ~ Hebrews 2:9

Paul tells us in Romans, the reproaches of those who reproached (defamed) God fell upon Jesus. ~ Romans 15:3

Jesus was crucified by those who were in opposition to God. The condemnation Jesus endured from sinful men, was sinful man’s opposition against God. This is exactly why the disciples prayed in Acts 4 saying: The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and his Christ. ~ Acts 4:26

Within the context of Acts 4:26 (mentioned above) the disciples of the Lord made appeal to Psalm 2, which clearly reveals that Jesus was condemned, not by the wrath of God, but by the wrath of sinful men: why do THE HEATHEN RAGE and the people imagine vain thing.

Heathen raging, is an expression of the heathen’s wrath. Jesus died under the wrath of heathen, and not the wrath of a holy God. The hatred and opposition from sinful men, who condemned Jesus to death, was hatred and opposition against God who sent Jesus. This is what the four gospels and the book of Acts repeatedly give testimony concerning.

According to Jesus, God was with him when he gave his life (John 8:29; 16:28-32) and this is exactly what the prophet Isaiah said. ~ Isaiah 50:5-9

Jesus endure such opposition from sinful men in order that he might give his life as a sacrifice for our sins. Jesus is the gift of God to us, but he is also the gift to God on our behalf, for he gave himself to God as a holy sacrifice, as a sweet -savor offering (Ephesians 5:2), when he offered his holy life on the altar of the cross for us.

The one who desires to obey God is NOT under God’s wrath. The one who despises God and rejects his goodness is. Those who abduct children, rape children, murder innocent people, live in adultery, mock Jesus, etc., are  absolutely under God’s wrath. Only by repenting and being saved through the cross, is the wrath of God turned away from such people.

God patiently gives them space to repent, but God is not, “not angry”, with them. He is angry with the wicked every day. ~ Psalm 7:11

But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh THE WRATH OF GOD upon the children of disobedience. ~ Ephesians 5:3-6

 

Jesus is the gift of God to us, but he is also the gift to God on our behalf, for he gave himself to God as a holy sacrifice when he offered his holy life on the altar of the cross as the offering for our sins.

Under the Old Testament, the sacrifices which were offered upon the altar were called “offerings” and “oblations” and they are so called some 40 times in the book of Leviticus alone.

These two words come from the same Hebrew word, kor-bawn, meaning a sacrificial present brought near to the altar. The sacrifices which were brought to the altar, were to be presented as “sacrificial presents” or “gifts.”

In the New Testament, the writer of Hebrews uses the word gift on multiple occasions to refer to these.

For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both GIFTS and sacrifices for sins… ~ Hebrews 5:1

For every high priest is ordained to offer GIFTS and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer. ~ Hebrews 8:3

In Hebrews 11:4, the author of Hebrews refers to the more excellent sacrifice offered by Abel as a “gift.”

After God delivered the children of Israel out of Egypt, he commanded Moses to build a tabernacle so that he could live among his people. ~ Exodus 25:8

Upon the completion of the building of the tabernacle, both the priests and the tabernacle, were consecrated to the Lord for service.

At the inauguration of the service of the tabernacle, God demonstrated his acceptance of the offerings (the gifts) which foreshadowed Christ by consuming the sacrifices by fire from his holy presence.

And Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people, and blessed them, and came down from offering of the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and peace offerings. And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and THE GLORY OF THE LORD APPEARED unto all the people. AND THERE CAME A FIRE OUT FROM BEFORE THE LORD, and CONSUMED upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces. ~ Leviticus 9:22-24

This fire which consumed the sacrifices came from the presence of God from within the inner most section of the tabernacle: the holiest of all.

This demonstration of God’s glory was repeated at the dedication of the temple which Solomon built, except this time the fire came down from Heaven.

Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, THE FIRE CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN, and CONSUMED the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and THE GLORY OF THE LORD FILLED THE HOUSE. And the priests could not enter into the house of the Lord, because THE GLORY OF THE LORD HAD FILLED THE LORD’S HOUSE. And when all the children of Israel saw how THE FIRE came down, and THE GLORY of the Lord upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the Lord, saying, for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever. ~ 2 Chronicles 7:1-3

In both cases, in the tabernacle of Moses and in the temple of Solomon, God’s glory was manifested as he accepted the sacrifices which foreshadowed the sacrifice of Jesus.

Throughout the Old Testament, the sacrifices which were types of Christ were offered (presented as presents) to God as a sweet fragrance and were accepted by God. They were never rejected by God.

These sacrifices were holy and they were accepted on the behalf of the people (Lev 22:20, 21, 25, 27). By virtue of these offerings, the people were sanctified and made holy in the sight of the Lord.

Ephesians 1:6 tells us, “we have been accepted in the beloved.” We are accepted in the beloved because of Jesus who gave himself for us as a sweet saver offering when he died for our sins.

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God FOR CHRIST’S SAKE HATH FORGIVEN YOU. Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath GIVEN HIMSELF FOR US AN OFFERING AND A SACRIFICE TO GOD FOR A SWEET-SMELLING SAVOR. ~ Ephesians 4:32-5:2

God accepts us because he accepted (not rejected) Jesus, when he died for our sins. Someone may ask, doesn’t the Bible teach that Jesus was made sin with our sinfulness and thereby rejected by God in our place?

Not exactly.

Paul’s reference to Christ being made sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21), is derived from the Old Testament concept of the sin offerings. The sin offerings were offered to make atonement for sin.

Throughout the Old Testament the word atonement was used to convey the idea of reconciliation, sanctification, consecration, and forgiveness. This is the context which surrounds Paul’s statement in 2 Corinthians 5.

Literally, Paul is telling us that Christ was made to be the offering for our sins, and that is how we are reconciled to God. Christ was made to be our sin offering not our literal sin.

Throughout the Old Testament the words sin and sin offering are translated from the same Hebrew word chattath, which is translated as sin offering 118 times, and as sin 168 times.

In Hebrews 10:6, the writer of Hebrews speaks of sacrifices for sin. The words “sacrifices for” were added by the translators of the KJV for clarity. Literally, Hebrews 10:6 says: In burnt offerings and sin thou hast had no pleasure.

However, we know that the author is not referring to sin but to the sin offerings instead. We know this because of the context and we know this because Hebrews 10:6 is a quote from Psalm 40:6 which says the following:

Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.

The same Greek word “hamartia” used throughout the New Testament for sins is used in Hebrews 10:6 to reference the sin offerings, and this is exactly how Paul employs the same word in 2 Corinthians 5:21.

It should also be of importance to us that the apostle Paul was a Jew who had come to know Christ. The things which Paul taught about Jesus were rooted in his scholarly understanding of scripture. Paul most assuredly would have thought through the scriptures as a Jewish scholar and would have understood Christ’s death and resurrection in view of the scriptures.

Consider Paul’s words to the Corinthians:

3 I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES;

4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES…~ 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

Paul certainly understood Christ’s death in view of the Old Testament scriptures and did not teach contrary to the Old Testament’s motif when he speaks of Christ dying for our sins. Paul spoke of Christ’s death in view of the precedent set forth within the sacrificial system because those sacrifices foreshadowed Christ. Jesus is our Redeemer, and he died for our sins as one who was pure and holy.

There is no precedent in scripture which would indicate that the offerings for sin were made sinful with the sins of the people and consequently rejected by God. Instead they were to be offered as unblemished sacrifices which were holy gifts to the Lord and accepted by God as a sweet fragrance.

Leviticus 6:25 says, Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, saying, this is THE LAW OF THE SIN OFFERING: In the place where the burnt offering is killed shall the sin offering be killed before the LORD: IT IS MOST HOLY.

Leviticus 22:21 tells us that the sacrifice had to be perfect in order to be accepted.

Christ was perfect. He was without sin. He knew no sin. He was without spot or blemish, and as a perfect and holy sacrifice offered for our sins, Jesus was accepted by God on our behalf, to reconcile us to God. He was made to be a “sin offering” for us, not our literal sin.

The teaching of the Bible is that we were redeemed with the precious blood of Jesus as of a lamb without spot or blemish. ~ 1 Peter 1:18-19

Jesus is, was, and always will be holy, pure, and just. The apostle Peter declared that he is the holy and just One which the people rejected (Acts 3:14). Peter also declared that he is the prince of life and that the grave could not hold him because God would not allow his HOLY ONE to see corruption. ~ Acts 2:24, 27; 3:15

Jesus redeemed us to God by his own blood when he gave himself (his holy life) as a gift to God to make atonement or reconciliation for our sins.

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. ~ Revelation 21:1

The word earth in the text above comes from the Greek word “ghay.” It is used to reference both the new earth and the first earth.

This Greek word “ghay” is contracted from a primary word; soil; by extension a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe (including the occupants in each application): – country, earth (-ly), ground, land, world. (Source, Strong’s Concordance)

It is used a total of 252 times, and is found in 226 verses in the New Testament.

It is translated as: land, earth, country, and ground; it is always used in reference to the actual physical planet, earth. Never once is it used in a spiritual or mystical fashion.

In Hebrews 1, the writer of Hebrews tells us the following:

10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:

11 They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;

12 And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail. ~ Hebrews 1:10-12

Notice that the author of Hebrews tells us that Jesus laid the foundation of the earth and the heavens are the works of his hand. He goes on to describes how these are going to be changed as well:

They (the heavens and the earth) shall perish; but thou remainest; and they (the heavens and the earth) all shall wax old as doth a garment; And as a vesture shalt thou fold them (the heavens and the earth) up, and they (the heavens and the earth) shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.

The author of Hebrews is speaking of the exact same thing that John saw, when John says, I saw a new heaven and a new earth. ~ Revelation 21:1

In chapter 2, the writer of Hebrews tells us about the coming world of the new heaven and new earth:

5 For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection THE WORLD TO COME, whereof we speak.

6 But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man that thou visitest him?

7 Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honor, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:

8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. 

9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. ~ Hebrews 2:5-9

Notice that the writer tells us that we do not now see all thing that were put under man’s dominion, but we do see Jesus.

In chapter one, where the writer says the heavens and the earth will be folded up like a vesture (an old garment), he goes on to say, But to which of the angels said he at an y time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? ~ Hebrews 1:13

God has exalted Jesus as both Lord and King, and by His Holy Spirit, God is going to subdue all of Christ’s enemies under his feet. Christ is the last Adam, and he is the one who has been given “all authority” in heaven and earth.

His Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom with no end. According to scripture, the last enemy that will be put under foot is death.

25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.

26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.

28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. ~ 1 Corinthians 15:25-28

Man was created to have dominion over the works of God’s hands, but sin caused an interruption.

In Romans 8, the apostle Paul tells us the following:

19 For the earnest expectation of the creature (creation) waits for the manifestation of the sons of God.

20 For the creature (creation) was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of Him who hath subjected the same in hope,

21 Because the creature (creation) itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. ~ Romans 8:19-21

According to Paul, God has subjected creation to vanity in hope of full redemption. Creation is groaning in earnest expectation for the manifestation of the sons of God.

Paul then goes on to say the following:

22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. ~ Romans 8:22-23

The redemption of our bodies is a specific reference to the coming resurrection in which the people of God will experience the resurrection of their mortal bodies. Though our bodies are now subject to death, they will put on life and immortality: death will be swallowed up in victory.

Jesus is the redeemer, not only of mankind, but of the whole creation

19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled… ~ Colossians 1:19-21

Jesus is the creator of the heavens and the earth, and he is the one who is going to fold them like an old garment and bring into being the new by his own power.

This will happen when the last enemy, death, is put under foot, and God’s people are clothed in with their resurrected bodies!