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NASB | 1 Corinthians 15:21 For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Corinthians 15:21 For since [it was] by a man that death came [into the world], it is also by a Man that the resurrection of the dead has come. |
Subject: The ransom - God or man? |
Bible Note: I'm glad you waited as your comments seem most contemplative. I agree, the law was a tutor leading to Christ. The sacrifice of animals, according to God's arrangement, allowed for temporary relief only or atonement for sins. As Paul defines, the blood of animals was not able to save continually, being inferior to man's blood that "contains the soul" or life. God does not condone the taking of innocent blood, so of course God's people were not instructed to use humans for sacrifice like the pagans. But the fact is, not even a human could stand in for Adam's life, as he was created sinless. You say the question should be “Did God have to become man?” That will work for this discussion as well and may be better. The answer in my opinion is NO. The one to become man only had to be sinless, and any faithful angel could have satifsfied this criteria. If you read all my posts, you know why I feel God could not have been the ransom. To reiterate, "all his activities are perfect." (Deut 32:4) The ransom had to be like Adam in order to be truly tested by Satan. The issues raised by Satan, in order to be resolved, would have to involve a created being with freewill and living in the flesh in the physical realm. The theme of the Bible is not man's salvation (although that is a secondary theme). The theme is the vindication of God's rightful sovereignty. God could not prove this without the testimony of his creation. So Jesus being the ransom, he must be created. Is this Scriptural? (Col 1:15; Rev 3:14; Prov 8:22) |