There are some people who really care about you!
Shalom! -
Some people feel. . . THAT A SATISFYING, WORTHWHILE LIFE CONSISTS OF:
* A good education * Close friends * A good marriage and healthy children * Success in a business or profession * Helping those in need * Involvement with Israel and the Jewish community
These are important . . . . .
yet we all know people who have or do these things but who aren't satisfied.
Why? Because there is something even more important than all these, the Holy Scriptures* tell us five vital facts we need to know.
*All quotations from the Tenach, both English and Hebrew, are taken from the Jewish Bible.
1 God is the source of a satisfying, worthwhile life
"Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."
Psalm 16.11 This kind of life is the result of a close relationship with God.
"In thy presence . . . . at thy right hand" speaks of a personal relationship which can be as intimate as the one between Abraham and God: "Abraham my friend". Isaiah 41:8
DEEP DOWN, JUST ABOUT EVERYONE WANTS A LIFE AND RELATIONSHIP LIKE THIS.
AS A JEWISH SCIENTIST PUT IT:
"The Jewish nature and soul needs to know God. This is its purpose on earth. Our souls are looking for God and we are trying to know God." Why, then, aren't most people experiencing this life and relationship?
2 Man has separated himself from God.
GOD'S CHARACTER IS THE STANDARD BY WHICH MAN IS TO LIVE.
"Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy." -- Leviticus 19:2
Anytime man deviates from God's holiness, he violates God's standard, and this is called sin. Obviously, then, all of us have sinned.
"For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not."
-- Ecclesiastes (Qohelet) 7:20 (compare Psalm 53:3-4)
Since God is holy and just, He will not establish a personal relationship with anyone until his sin is dealt with because He cannot allow sin in His presence.
"Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity". -- Habakkuk 1:13
Because sin is a violation of His standard and character, God must judge man's sin and reject it. This is why sin causes spiritual death and results in separation from God.
"But everyone shall die for his own iniquity (sin)."-- Jeremiah 31:30
"Your iniquities have ever made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have caused Him to hide His face from you." -- Isaiah 59:2
As long as sin separates us from God, we can't enjoy the life and relationship God wants us to have.
But can't man solve the problem by living properly, by prayer, repentance and good deeds?
No, man cannot remove the sin barrier by his own effort.
"And enter not into judgment with thy servant; for no living man can be regarded righteous before thee." -- Psalm 143:2 (cf. Ezekiel 33:13)
Human effort is not adequate because, in God's sight, "We are all as an unclean thing and all our righteousnesses (good deeds) are as a filthy garment."
Isaiah 64:5
Human effort is not adequate because man cannot do enough to solve the problem. "No one can in any wise redeem his brother, not can he give to God redemption for himself; for the ransom of their soul is too costly." Psalm 49:8-9
But, then how can this problem of spiritual death and separation from God be solved?
GOD MUST TAKE THE INITIATIVE; HE MUST PROVIDE THE SOLUTION. "But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave." Psalm 49:16
3 The sin barrier can be removed by believing
God's Word (faith) and by having the blood of the atonement.
Abraham was an example of how the sin barrier can be removed.
"And he believed in the Lord; and He (God) counted it to him for righteousness." Genesis 15:6
We must follow the same pattern.
"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the Lord forever." Isaiah 26:3-4 (cf. Habakkuk 2:4)
But Moses said that one more thing is essential, the blood of the atonement.
"For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul."
--Leviticus 17:11 (cf. Leviticus 10:17;4:35)
But why would God want man to go through the awful procedure of killing an animal?
When the offerer saw the sacrifice suffering and bleeding for the sins which he had committed, he was impressed with the awfulness of sin and the penalty of death (Ezekiel 18:4, 20) the sinner deserved.
THE SACRIFICE SHOWED HIM GOD'S:
* HOLINESS because of His hatred of all evil, * JUSTICE because He does not leave sin unpunished, * MERCY because of His readiness to pardon the truly repentant and believing by providing a substitute for him.
THE ANIMAL SACRIFICE THUS PROVIDED THE BLOOD OF ATONEMENT AND WAS AN ACT OF FAITH ACCEPTABLE TO GOD.
But without a priesthood and without a temple, there can be no sacrifices. How can we have the blood of atonement today?
4 God has provided the blood of the atonement for today.
"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath caused the iniquity of us all to fall on him."
Isaiah 53.6
"For he was cut out of the land of the living; for the transgressions of my people was he stricken."
Isaiah 53:8
"And he took off the sin of many."
Isaiah 53:12
IN THE PROLOGUE TO ISAIAH 53 (ISAIAH 52:13-15) THE AUTHOR IDENTIFIES THE "HE" OF THESE PASSAGES.
He is described as God's servant who will be exalted. In other parts of his work, Isaiah equates this servant of God with Messiah. (e.g. Isaiah 42:1)
God's provision of the blood of atonement through the Messiah follows
the same principles God set up in the sacrifice system.
SIN-OFFERING: atonement for a man by means of a sacrifice.
PESACH: atonement for a family by means of a sacrifice.
YOM KIPPUR: atonement for a nation by means of a sacrifice.
MESSIAH: atonement for all by means of a sacrifice.
As we have seen, under the sacrifice system personal faith was necessary along with the blood of atonement. So also faith is necessary with the sacrifice of Messiah. He should be the object of our faith today. But how can we know who Messiah is?
God made sure we could recognize Messiah by certain specific identifying marks. These are described by the prophets of Israel.
His ancestry was from the family of David (Jeremiah 23:5-6). The city of his birth was Bethlehem (Micah 5:1). He had a supernatural nature (Jeremiah 23:5-6; Micah 5:1; Isaiah 9:5-6). The manner of his execution was crucifixion (Psalm 22:14-17). He rose from the dead (Psalm 16:10; Isaiah 53:10). The time of his coming was before the destruction of Herod's Temple in 70 CE (Daniel 9:26) Do you have any idea if anyone has fulfilled these prophecies, or has even come close?
HISTORY TELLS US THAT JESUS OF NAZARETH FULFILLED THESE AND MANY OTHER PROPHECIES.
There are at least 48 specific prophecies concerning Messiah which Jesus fulfilled. The probability that one person could fulfill all 48 prophecies is 1 out of 10 with 157 zeros after it!
During his lifetime many people called him Messiah ("Christ" is the Greek translation) and believed in him (Matthew 16:16; John 1:45-51; Acts 6:7)
Many people since that time, both Jews and Gentiles, have had their sins forgiven and have gained a personal relationship with the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob through Messiah Jesus. Through him one becomes a completed person; e.g., a Jewish person becomes a completed Jew.
Since the blood of atonement has been provided through Messiah Jesus, there is only one thing left for you to do.
5 You must by faith receive Messiah Jesus into your life in order to have a personal relationship with God and a satisfying, worthwhile life.
"To all who received him (the Messiah), to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." John 1:12.
Receiving Messiah Jesus involves a moral decision to turn to God's way and from your own, to trust Messiah Jesus to forgive your sins and bring you into a right relationship with God.
When you receive Messiah Jesus by faith (trusting what he has done for you), he comes into your life and gives you the power to live a satisfying, worth-while life.
Jesus says
"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him and fellowship with him, and he with me." Revelation 3:20
Some people think that receiving Messiah Jesus by faith means you're no longer Jewish.
THAT'S NOT TRUE. AS JESUS PUT IT:
"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." Matthew 5:17
THE APOSTLE PAUL FELT THE SAME WAY
"It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain" (in jail). Acts 28:20
Are you still here?
Don't let anything hold you back- why not invite Messiah Jesus to give you a right relationship with God right now? Remember,
1. God is the source of a worthwhile life. 2. Your sin has separated you from God. 3. God's provision through Messiah Jesus is the solution to the sin barrier. 4. The only thing God asks you to do is to trust Messiah Jesus to forgive your sins and give you a right relationship with God.
YOU can receive Messiah Jesus by faith right now through prayer.
Prayer is talking to God and is a good way to express your faith.
You may want to use this prayer to express your decision to trust Messiah Jesus.
"Messiah Jesus, I admit that I have sinned. I believe that you have provided the blood of atonement for me. I receive you as my Messiah. Thank you for forgiving my sins and coming into my life as you promised."
Messiah Jesus always keeps his promises.
DID YOU RECEIVE HIM BY FAITH JUST NOW? DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS?
It means that the following promises are now true in your life:
1. Messiah Jesus came into your life, and he's there permanently. (Revelation 3:20; Hebrews 13:5) 2. All your sins are forgiven. (Colossians 2:13). 3. You have a brand new relationship with God - you're his child! (John 1:12) 4. You've become a completely new person inside, and you've got a great new life! (2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 John 5:11-13) 5. You've been set free from yourself to help others. (John 8:31-35; Galatians 5:13).
So, what now?
CONTINUE TO TRUST MESSIAH JESUS.
The way you began is the way to keep going (Colossians 2-6; Hebrews 11:6). If you keep trusting him, you'll grow in your new relationship.
Here are a few suggestions:
1. Let him communicate to you, read his words (1 Peter 2:2). 2. Talk to him about everything (Philippians 4:6-7; 1 Peter 5:7). 3. Get together with others who have received him (Hebrew 10:24-25). 4. Tell other people about him (Acts 1:8). Remember to be tactful and kind.
"From all your filthiness will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes" Ezekiel 36:25-27.
Don't forget, keep trusting him!
for further information please contact:
E-mail: Life in Messiah International: info@lifeinmessiah.org P.O. Box 5470, Lansing, IL 60438-5470 (708) 418-0020 Fax: (708) 418-0132
Copyright 1974, 1990, Life In Messiah International
Printed copies of this tract may be purchased from Life in Messiah International
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