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giovedì 23 agosto 2012

Why Jesus had to shed His own blood?


Why Jesus had to shed His own blood?
Why it was necessary to shed the blood to atone and purify?
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Why this should be, why it was necessary that his blood should be shed, is an apparent mystery. It is true that we are told that without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins. But why this? Why should such a law exist? It is left with us as a matter of faith, that it was necessary he should come and, being necessary, he shrank not from the task, but came to take away sin by offering up himself.—JD, 10:114, February 22, 1863.

The scripture declares: Genesis 9:4
4 But flesh with the life thereof, [which is] the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.
In the blood there is the life but even the corruption, in fact the last Adam will be
1 Corinthians 15:42
42 So also [is] the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:

1 Corinthians 15:43
43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:

1 Corinthians 15:44
44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

1 Corinthians 15:45
45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam [was made] a quickening SPIRIT
Many people tried to give an answer to this question but so far no one was able to give a sharp explanation, therefore my attempt is just my personal opinion and could be wrong or right. God gave an important clue when declared Leviticus 17:11
Leviticus 17:11
11 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.
The life is in the blood,  and  according to the scriptures the sin brought the death, according to the first leaders of the church the blood gives the life but it is also responsible for the physical decay, like it is stated in 1 Corinthians 15:42-53
Blood redeems because it is the power by which in this life we have life. The woman who deliver life has  her menstrual course and when it is over she loose even her power to generate. Therefore to shed blood, spontaneously, it is the supreme gift of the life itself which is given to ransom something. The human mistake generate wrathfulness or disdain when it is done voluntarily, the shedding of blood when is done spontaneously, like in the case of Christ, generate compassion or admiration and great respect now it is more clear why it is written in Alma 42:13,15,17-20,22-24
Alma 42:13
13 Therefore, according to justice, the plan of redemption could not be brought about, only on conditions of repentance of men in this probationary state, yea, this preparatory state; for except it were for these conditions, mercy could not take effect except it should destroy the work of justice. Now the work of justice could not be destroyed; if so, God would cease to be God.
Alma 42:15
15 And now, the plan of mercy could not be brought about except an atonement should be made; therefore God himself atoneth for the sins of the world, to bring about the plan of mercy, to appease the demands of justice, that God might be a perfect, just God, and a merciful God also.
Alma 42:17
17 Now, how could a man repent except he should sin? How could he sin if there was no law? How could there be a law save there was a punishment?

Alma 42:18
18 Now, there was a punishment affixed, and a just law given, which brought remorse of conscience unto man.

Alma 42:19
19 Now, if there was no law given--if a man murdered he should die--would he be afraid he would die if he should murder?

Alma 42:20
20 And also, if there was no law given against sin men would not be afraid to sin.
. Alma 42:22
22 But there is a law given, and a punishment affixed, and a repentance granted; which repentance, mercy claimeth; otherwise, justice claimeth the creature and executeth the law, and the law inflicteth the punishment; if not so, the works of justice would be destroyed, and God would cease to be God.

Alma 42:23
23 But God ceaseth not to be God, and mercy claimeth the penitent, and mercy cometh because of the atonement; and the atonement bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead; and the resurrection of the dead bringeth back men into the presence of God; and thus they are restored into his presence, to be judged according to their works, according to the law and justice.

Alma 42:24
24 For behold, justice exerciseth all his demands, and also mercy claimeth all which is her own; and thus, none but the truly penitent are saved.
Alma 12:32-34
Alma 12:32
32 Therefore God gave unto them commandments, after having made known unto them the plan of redemption, that they should not do evil, the penalty thereof being a second death, which was an everlasting death as to things pertaining unto righteousness; for on such the plan of redemption could have no power, for the works of justice could not be destroyed, according to the supreme goodness of God.

Alma 12:33
33 But God did call on men, in the name of his Son, (this being the plan of redemption which was laid) saying: If ye will repent and harden not your hearts, then will I have mercy upon you, through mine Only Begotten Son;

Alma 12:34
34 Therefore, whosoever repenteth, and hardeneth not his heart, he shall have claim on mercy through mine Only Begotten Son, unto a remission of his sins; and these shall enter into my rest.

according to justice, the plan of redemption could not be brought about, only on conditions of repentance of men in this probationary state, So Justice required repentance or for except it were for these conditions, mercy could not take effect except it should destroy the work of justice and, And now, the plan of mercy could not be brought about except an atonement should be made; therefore God himself atoneth for the sins of the world, to bring about the plan of mercy, to appease the demands of justice, that God might be a perfect, just God, and a merciful God also. and 17 Now, how could a man repent except he should sin? How could he sin if there was no law? How could there be a law save there was a punishment?

Alma 42:24
24 For behold, justice exerciseth all his demands, and also mercy claimeth all which is her own; and thus, none but the truly penitent are saved.
Those two qualities are the perfect balance in God
Psalms 89:14
14 Justice and judgment [are] the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face
2 Nephi 11:5
5 And also my soul delighteth in the covenants of the Lord which he hath made to our fathers; yea, my soul delighteth in his grace, and in his justice, and power, and mercy in the great and eternal plan of deliverance from death.
Jacob 4:10
For behold, ye yourselves know that he counseleth in wisdom, and in justice, and in great mercy, over all his works.
Mosiah 3:26
26 Therefore, they have drunk out of the cup of the wrath of God, which justice could no more deny unto them than it could deny that Adam should fall because of his partaking of the forbidden fruit; therefore, mercy could have claim on them no more forever.
Mosiah 5:15
15 Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal you his, that you may be brought to heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal life, through the wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of him who created all things, in heaven and in earth, who is God above all. Amen.
Mosiah 15:5
5 And thus the flesh becoming subject to the Spirit, or the Son to the Father, being one God, suffereth temptation, and yieldeth not to the temptation, but suffereth himself to be mocked, and scourged, and cast out, and disowned by his people.

Mosiah 15:6
6 And after all this, after working many mighty miracles among the children of men, he shall be led, yea, even as Isaiah said, as a sheep before the shearer is dumb, so he opened not his mouth.

Mosiah 15:7
7 Yea, even so he shall be led, crucified, and slain, the flesh becoming subject even unto death, the will of the Son being swallowed up in the will of the Father.

Mosiah 15:8
8 And thus God breaketh the bands of death, having gained the victory over death; giving the Son power to make intercession for the children of men--

Mosiah 15:9
9 Having ascended into heaven, having the bowels of mercy; being filled with compassion towards the children of men; standing betwixt them and justice; having broken the bands of death, taken upon himself their iniquity and their transgressions, having redeemed them, and satisfied the demands of justice.
Alma 34:10
10 For it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice; yea, not a sacrifice of man, neither of beast, neither of any manner of fowl; for it shall not be a human sacrifice; but it must be an infinite and eternal sacrifice.

Alma 34:11
11 Now there is not any man that can sacrifice his own blood which will atone for the sins of another. Now, if a man murdereth, behold will our law, which is just, take the life of his brother? I say unto you, Nay.

Alma 34:12
12 But the law requireth the life of him who hath murdered; therefore there can be nothing which is short of an infinite atonement which will suffice for the sins of the world.

Alma 34:13
13 Therefore, it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice, and then shall there be, or it is expedient there should be, a stop to the shedding of blood; then shall the law of Moses be fulfilled; yea, it shall be all fulfilled, every jot and tittle, and none shall have passed away.

Alma 34:14
14 And behold, this is the whole meaning of the law, every whit pointing to that great and last sacrifice; and that great and last sacrifice will be the Son of God, yea, infinite and eternal.

Alma 34:15
15 And thus he shall bring salvation to all those who shall believe on his name; this being the intent of this last sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice, and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance.

Alma 34:16
16 And thus mercy can satisfy the demands of justice, and encircles them in the arms of safety, while he that exercises no faith unto repentance is exposed to the whole law of the demands of justice
This is the real key for this topic.
to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice, and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance.
Alma 42:30
30 O my son, I desire that ye should deny the justice of God no more. Do not endeavor to excuse yourself in the least point because of your sins, by denying the justice of God; but do you let the justice of God, and his mercy, and his long-suffering have full sway in your heart; and let it bring you down to the dust in humility.

Alma 42:31
31 And now, O my son, ye are called of God to preach the word unto this people. And now, my son, go thy way, declare the word with truth and soberness, that thou mayest bring souls unto repentance, that the great plan of mercy may have claim upon them. And may God grant unto you even according to my words. Amen.
This should be our purpose.
The blood of Israle, often mentioned in the scriptures is the blood of the covenant that is chosen by covenant and obedience.
There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved Acts 4:12
That name is Jesus Christ. No one else has the power to take us back: not even Elohim, our father. The scriptures point  the reason why. God has to apply justice and justice is required:
John Taylor, Mediation and Atonement, Ch.11
There are other questions mixed up with this rebellion besides those above referred to, and those questions are directly connected with the atonement. In the event of man having his free will and being subject to the power of temptation, the weakness of the flesh, the allurements of the world, and the powers of darkness, it was known that he must necessarily fall, and being fallen, it would be impossible for him to redeem himself, and that, according to an eternal law of justice, it would require an infinite, expiatory atonement to redeem man, to save him from the effects and ruin of the Fall, and to place him in a condition where he could again reinstated in the favor of God, according to the eternal laws of justice and mercy; and find his way back to the presence of the Father. Satan (it is possible) being opposed to the will of his Father, wished to avoid the responsibilities of this position, and rather than assume the consequences of the acceptance of the plan of the Father, he would deprive man of his free agency, and render it impossible for him to obtain that exaltation which God designed. It would further seem probable that he refused to take the position of redeemer, and assume all the consequences associated therewith, but he did propose, as stated before, to take another plan and deprive man of his agency, and he probably intended to make men atone for their own acts by an act of coercion, and the shedding of their own blood as an atonement for their sins; therefore, he says, "I will redeem all mankind, that one soul shall not be lost; and surely I will do it; wherefore, give me thine honor." His plan, however, was rejected as contrary to the counsel of God, his Father, The well beloved Son than addressed the Father, and instead of proposing to carry out any plan of his own, knowing what His Father's will was, said, "Thy will be done;" 'I will carry out thy plans and thy designs, and, as man will fall, I will offer myself as an atonement according to thy will, O God. Neither do I wish the honor, but thine be the glory;'" and a covenant was entered into between Him and His Father, in which He agreed to atone for the sins of the world; and He thus, as stated, became the Lamb slain from before the foundation of the world,
Alma 34:13
13 Therefore, it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice, and then shall there be, or it is expedient there should be, a stop to the shedding of blood; then shall the law of Moses be fulfilled; yea, it shall be all fulfilled, every jot and tittle, and none shall have passed away.

Alma 34:14
14 And behold, this is the whole meaning of the law, every whit pointing to that great and last sacrifice; and that great and last sacrifice will be the Son of God, yea, infinite and eternal.
"Therefore, according to justice, the plan of redemption could not be brought about, only on conditions of repentance of men in this probationary state, yea, this preparatory state; for except it were for these conditions, mercy could not take effect except it should destroy the work of justice"
Only Jesus could perform all of this and teach us about repentance, or better to wash our clothes in his blood.
What if the people will not repent?
Mosiah 2:38
38 Therefore if that man repenteth not, and remaineth and dieth an enemy to God, the demands of divine justice do awaken his immortal soul to a lively sense of his own guilt, which doth cause him to shrink from the presence of the Lord, and doth fill his breast with guilt, and pain, and anguish, which is like an unquenchable fire, whose flame ascendeth up forever and ever.

Mosiah 2:39
39 And now I say unto you, that mercy hath no claim on that man; therefore his final doom is to endure a never-ending torment.

this is what mankind is supposed to do
Mosiah 3:19
19 For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.
D&C 88:35
35 That which breaketh a law, and abideth not by law, but seeketh to become a law unto itself, and willeth to abide in sin, and altogether abideth in sin, cannot be sanctified by law, neither by mercy, justice, nor judgment. Therefore, they must remain filthy still.
D&A 45:4-5 is clear on this topic
D&C 45:4
4 Saying: Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified;

D&C 45:5
5 Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life.
It is through the shedding of His perfect blood and the suffering He endured spontaneously that He can rescue us. We are just SPARED because of Him. He lived a perfect life. We can try to live our best with many means like Holy Ghost and His gifts, but the most important of all for us is the gift of repentance, the only one that Jesus never used.
The word sacrifice comes from Latin and means "to make holy" Sacrament comes from Latin too and means" sacred moment, or holy moment". The symbolism of the atonement is that a vital power, in this case an infinite vital power, is given to nullify a power that has the power to kill..
So like (Adam) generated the fall for all mankind, he was not guilty for that, also Christ, another man, atoned for that transgression during His life (this is the grace given to  who is born in this fallen state without guilty) but not only for that one transgression. If mankind accepts Christ, and His Gospel, accepting the ordinances and using the gift of repentance. That is through  faith in Him and in His atonement they can wash their sins (through repentance) in His blood..
The idea of a special blood is clearly identified in the scriptures and it is imperative to try to better understand this point so we can better understand how Jesus could atone for us.
The forbidden fruit contained the germs of death. In fact according to the scriptures it is sin that generates death. Without the knowledge of good and evil it is impossible to sin. That is why the little children and people without proper  intellect are redeemed by the atonement of Jesus, they couldn't sin and they die just because of the fall, the fall introduced death
Romans 5:12
12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
for that all have sinned:  always in Roman there is an interesting comparison, a man transgressing brought death to all mankind even so Christ living a perfect life, just a person like Adam, could  demand to have the same result on mankind. Christ had the power over death for two main reason, the first because He had a divine Father, but this was not the main reason by which He had power over death.If , by chance he had sinned He could be subject to death according to the explanation of Paul. The main reason He had the power on death was simply because He never sinned. This was the real reason why He could declared in John 10
John 10:17
17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.

John 10:18
18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.
Therefore His death was indeed a true gift from His free agency. Christ had the power Hebrew 7:16
Hebrews 7:16
16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
In my Italian Bible the word endless is translated with the word "insolvable" that gives  an idea of something real "flawless". We can use the word endless because He never sinned so His life was really endless
Romans 8:10
10 ¶ And if Christ [be] in you, the body [is] dead because of sin; but the Spirit [is] life because of righteousness.

Romans 8:11
11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Romans 8:12
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

Romans 8:13
13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

Romans 8:14
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Romans 8:15
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Romans 8:16
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
This is the key. Christ living a perfect life PRODUCED in His human body the  perfect , infinite antibodies . He, like a man, won the world and showed that man can be perfect. Therefore mankind being  involved in the fall were innocent, but only because they were the offspring of Adam. Mankind could become offspring of Jesus because they are real brothers in this life, and therefore for the same principle they could be redeemed. By grace all mankind receives resurrection according to the scriptures but the scriptures are speaking  regarding a judgment according to the works. Jesus Taught that in His house there are many mansions.
If you want to go back to "The blessings of obedience." or "The Atonement of Jesus." the study goes on with "A broken heart and a contrite spirit."

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