Subject: deeds of the law |
Bible Note: Estelle, "Unlike BC, today we do not 'atone' for sin because it is impossible to pay the price for it (although Catholicism believes otherwise). Jesus' blood washes us clean as we pray for God's forgiveness of both known and unknown sin in our lives. As we continue to seek truth, we should ask the Holy Spirit to reveal our sins to us so that we can confess them specifically and turn from them with the help of God (see John 3:21)." Actually Catholics do not believe otherwise. Catholics believe the atoning blood of Christ and only the blood of Christ washes us clean and achieves for us eternal salvation. This is the primary subject matter of the New Testament. There is a distinction,however, between eternal and temporal atonement and salvation. The Old Testament deals in essence with temporal salvation and atonement. The Old Testament rarely if ever in unabiguous terms refers to eternal salvation and atonement. Usually it refers to temporal salvation, such as deliverance from slavery in Egypt or physical death or the various other enemies of Israel or from plagues that Israel may or may not have brought upon itself by sin. It is mainly the temporal consequence of sin we see addressed in the Old Testament when sin is addressed. A few examples from among hundreds of examples to consider: I wait for thy salvation, O LORD. Raiders shall raid Gad, but he shall raid at their heels. Gen 49:18-19 And Moses said to the people, "Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today; for the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be still." Ex 14:13-14 Because the LORD your God walks in the midst of your camp, to save you and to give up your enemies before you, therefore your camp must be holy, that he may not see anything indecent among you, and turn away from you. Duet 23:14 Now therefore stand still, that I (Samuel) may plead with you before the LORD concerning all the saving deeds of the LORD which he performed for you and for your fathers. 1 Sam 12:7 "Man is also chastened with pain upon his bed, and with continual strife in his bones; so that his life loathes bread, and his appetite dainty food... His soul draws near the Pit, and his life to those who bring death. If there be for him an angel, a mediator, one of the thousand, to declare to man what is right for him; and he is gracious to him, and says, "Deliver him from going down into the Pit, I have found a ransom; let his flesh become fresh with youth; let him return to the days of his youthful vigor"; then man prays to God, and he accepts him, he comes into his presence with joy. He recounts to men his salvation, and he sings before men, and says: "I sinned and perverted what was right, and it was not requited to me. He has redeemed my soul from going down into the Pit, and my life shall see the light." Job 33:19-28 And although the NT is concerned primarily with etrnal salvation we also see even there the concept of temporal salavation: And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, "Save, Lord; we are perishing." Matt 8:23-25 And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, "Save, Lord; we are perishing." Matt 27:42 "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people, and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us; Luke 1:68-71 And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you on the water." He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus; but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "O man of little faith, why did you doubt?" Luke 14:28-31 Man can be a temporal savior by physically saving someone even as Jesus reached out with his hand to save Peter from drowning or by feeding the starving man. And man can atone for the temporal consequence of sin such as by making restitution for theft or destruction of anothers' goods and there by removing the hardship caused and bringing reconciliation and perhaps removing the temporal consequence of his own incarceration for his sin. It is only in this tempral sense that Catholics believe in atonement. Emmaus |