Tab, please don't take this as a slight. That was part of the Old Testament law prior to Christ's birth and crucifixion. There were no Christians until after He was crucified and it's not a part of Christian "law". The Old Testament was only law...it was pre-grace....it was based upon law and not at all on the precept of your sins being forgiven by Christ dying on the cross. Yes they had (and some Jews still practice) blood sacrifices by the priests in the Old Testament but not the salvation by unmerrited favor through the blood of Christ.
The law can only condemn. Without the law we would not know, not have standards of moral conduct, by which we could judge ourselves....we would have some type of twisted moral relativism which is something pervading our culture today. With the law we can judge ourselves and perceive our personal state of being as being lost. Through Christ we have grace and can obtain salvation that we cannot obtain by following law. No one can follow the law without some tresspass, only Christ is able and through that we can accept him have that unmerrited favor, salvation by His shed blood.
Christians don't believe that a rape victim can be absolved by application of some amount of silver from the attacker. In fact, the attacker can be forgiven under Christian teaching if that person is repentant...that's grace not something under the law under the Old Testament. The victim forgiving them is something the victim would have to work out as terrible as that is...but that attacker who is truly sorry and repentant can be forgiven and receive salvation despite the despicable act. Any sin condemns...the "worst sin" will put you at odds with God just like the "best sin"...sin is sin and it's fruit is death whatever it is. We should be careful not to apply the law which we construct to live by here on earth in this adminstration among ourselves with what it takes for a right relationship with God.
From where did your perception of what Chritianity is come from? I'm not being critical, just curious.
MBTV
Forum Index
Help
Calendar
Contact Info
Register as a member
