Why did God need to sacrifice Jesus to forgive sin?

I am sure that the 96 pages of people saying things has been both fascinating and enlightening, but I'm not going to read it all because ... 96 pages. Probably everything I say here will have already been stated, but just because it's a Free* Internet, I'm going to go way back to the OP and answer it anyway.

The God of the Israelites established from the beginning that without a blood sacrifice, there could be no forgiveness of sin. So, for a few thousand years that is what the Israelites did. They slaughtered various kinds of animals to their God, which they believed would cover their sins. Basic blood sacrifice 101 really, lots of ancient religions required killing things to appease their Gods.

Christianity, being a spin-off of this Hebrew religion, couldn't really get away with just saying "well, that was then and this is now." It wouldn't be logically consistent, and we all know Christians are great big fans of logical consistency. But they also knew that the Future™ was coming, and soon blood sacrifice would be considered barbaric. Conveniently, their leader, Jesus, had just been killed by the Romans. So, they opted to define his death as a "once and for all" sacrifice that would never wear off and was good enough for all future generations of people to claim as a sacrifice for themselves.

That's the history of it.

As for the theology of the question, it boils down to the definition of what "sin" is. Sin is not just "doing bad stuff." I mean just look at God -- he does all kinds of bad stuff, but he is never considered a "Sinner." Sin, then, must be something other than doing bad stuff. So it isn't being mean or petty or cruel or selfish, it's being mean or petty or cruel or selfish when God doesn't want you to be or to the wrong people. It is breaking God's law, which is admittedly arbitrary and a little ridiculous, but it's there because God said so and what are you gonna do, take God to court? hardly.

When you transgress God's law, it becomes easier to keep transgressing it. That's because one broken rule sets you on a path away from the Perfect Will of God. One minor violation and you've taken one small step off the path. Keep breaking the rules, and pretty soon you've lost sight of the path altogether and all you can do is wander around. Sin is the distance between what you're doing and what God would rather you be doing.

The Will of God -- or, that perfect Path God wants you to be on -- is the only path that leads to ever lasting bliss. It isn't God's fault that this is the way it is. It's just the way he built the universe. There's one way to go, and if you don't go that way, you go some other way. Just like you can't get to Washington, DC by taking a flight headed for Honolulu.

The problem is that if you step off the path, you're immediately outside of it, and you can't get back on all by yourself. It's protected by some kind of force field or something, and the only way you can get back on the path is to cover yourself with the blood of some creature that never did anything to you. Again, this isn't God's fault, it's just the law of the universe. That he created.

I mean, it's sort of a pointless question to ask anyway. Yeah it seems brutal to require the death of some innocent creature just so you can get back on the path to righteousness, but if you hadn't messed up in the first place that innocent creature would never have had to die, right? So really it's your fault.

So instead of asking God why he created a universe where innocent blood is the only key that can unlock the door to righteousness, you should ask yourself why you screwed up and locked the door behind you.

 

God having to make any viable statement, like sacrificing his son, is a human need for dramatic tragedy. God is not human. Humans place human characteristics onto God in order to better identify with him. That was the mistake of those who created God and wrote a book in relation to him. God is supposedly capable of anything, yet logic states he should not have to resort to such petty actions to accomplish his will. In fact, it diminishes the believability of a deity when man has to make excuses for his actions.

 

I don't think God sacrificed Jesus. I think Jesus was sent to teach us but upon becoming human the free will of human beings came into play. God did grant this to us didn't he? Free will? It was out of his hands. People sacrificed him. Does that sound dumb lol

 

If God exists he's a masochist - simple really.
On the other hand it's a convenient myth to use as a method for controlling the masses through guilt having them accept the necessity of suffering in this life.
And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it.
Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.
I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you"
1st Corinthians. Ch:4 V:12 - 14.
There's an alternative theology that often terrifies unthinking Christians. Consider the possibility that Christ's death is only a symbol of God's. That is, in order for an omnipotent being to grant us free will the only way it could do so would be to commit suicide itself.
So, the big bang could have been something most of you don't want to even begin thinking about.
All things have I seen in the days of vanity; there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness.
Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
Ecclesiastes Ch:7. V:15 - 16.

 

Ukr-Cdn,
while I am neither Catholic nor Christian, this was beautifully done.

thank you,

JKHolman

 

Post #1154 is not your post. It is a post by the dope.

The end of this system of things and saved from the end of this system of things.

 

Already answered.

 

Revenge? Revenge for what?

Yes, I believe in hell but not the misinformed concept of hell that you have. Hell is the the common grave of mankind and those in it are conscious of nothing at all, not your place of pain, torture, and blood.

Satan was behind the serpent that was in the garden and no "aspect" of God comprises the serpent.

 

Well since God never "demanded" a "ransom", I do not worship a terrorist. Yes, a "ransom was needed to buy back what had been lost but God never "demanded" it.

 

Actually the Bible says that there is much we can learn about God from his creations.

Perhaps.

Some may say that but there is much to be said about that that does not come down to circular reasoning. You might check out this thread:
http://www.hipforums.com/newforums/showthread.php?t=371369
and my posts #4, 33, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56

 

Against Roman law but not against God's law.

 

What do you consider to be a consequence? If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around, does the tree make a sound? Yes. Likewise a consequence is what results from actions taken and it doesn't matter who knows or is aware or unaware of it, it still remains a consequence. So I would say an end to existence is a consequence whether the person who no longer exists is aware of it or not.

 

already answered

 

And where your reason fails is in your take that condemnation is the result of free will. Will is not free if you have to pay for the use of it.

 

already answered

 

Still a fail in the reason department.

 

Which is normal for you.

 

Thanks i needed that. Sorry for I've allowed the thread to be diverted from the original question.

Nicely stated.

 

We have the free will to act out of ignorance.

 

Negativity is not in our own minds all the time.