Person and work of Jesus Christ for sinners

[2nd_Adam]

I would like to compare beliefs about the person and work of Jesus Christ within different Christian communities. Would you please share what you believe about the work of Christ. What do you think Jesus accomplished by keeping the law perfectly as well as His death on the cross?

 

[JAGCath28]

I see the question about priest intercession a lot on these forums. Being a former protestant, I grew up with the belief that the veil at the temple was split to signify that you no longer needed a priest. That the purpose of Jesus’ death and resurrection was to open a more personal relationship with God than the Israelites were able to have previously. I was under the impression that prior to Christ’s sacrifice no one could go to God directly, they first had to go through a priest.

I’ve been reading the daily Psalms this week, mostly written by David at this point. It got me thinking. These were prayers to God. Written prayers (which I do in my journal sometime), but prayers none the less. Then I wondered if there were others in the Old Testament that prayed to God directly (other than the Levitical priests). I believe Hannah was one. She wanted a child and would pray and pray and pray. She didn’t ask Eli to pray for her. She prayed. (1 Samuel). These are just a few examples. My point is that the Israelites had a personal relationship with God. A very personal one. They were His chosen people. So this notion that Christ’s purpose was to open up a personal relationship is just silly to me.

So, I thought well, what did the priests do? They offered animal sacrifices to atone for sins. Every sin had to be atoned for. Christ’s sacrifice was THE sacrifice. The saying “By His stripes we are healed” is so true. Each wound that was inflicted upon His body was for a sin that you or I had yet to commit. Each thorn that dug into His head was just another sin being added to the burden that He had chosen to carry for us. Sin means death, and with every step He made with His cross to Calvary was one step closer to taking on all of our sin…one step closer to death. When He died on that cross and the veil split, it was the sign that we no longer needed to offer animal sacrifices as atonement for our sins because through His death our sins were atoned.

When Christ says that the only way to the Father is through Him, He is speaking of His sacrifice because only through Christ’s death are we open to the gift of Heaven. His death, His sacrifice, the gift of salvation and Heaven were made legitimate when He rose again.

 

[2nd_Adam]

I see the question about priest intercession a lot on these forums. Being a former protestant, I grew up with the belief that the veil at the temple was split to signify that you no longer needed a priest. That the purpose of Jesus’ death and resurrection was to open a more personal relationship with God than the Israelites were able to have previously. I was under the impression that prior to Christ’s sacrifice no one could go to God directly, they first had to go through a priest.

I’ve been reading the daily Psalms this week, mostly written by David at this point. It got me thinking. These were prayers to God. Written prayers (which I do in my journal sometime), but prayers none the less. Then I wondered if there were others in the Old Testament that prayed to God directly (other than the Levitical priests). I believe Hannah was one. She wanted a child and would pray and pray and pray. She didn’t ask Eli to pray for her. She prayed. (1 Samuel). These are just a few examples. My point is that the Israelites had a personal relationship with God. A very personal one. They were His chosen people. So this notion that Christ’s purpose was to open up a personal relationship is just silly to me.

So, I thought well, what did the priests do? They offered animal sacrifices to atone for sins. Every sin had to be atoned for. Christ’s sacrifice was THE sacrifice. The saying “By His stripes we are healed” is so true. Each wound that was inflicted upon His body was for a sin that you or I had yet to commit. Each thorn that dug into His head was just another sin being added to the burden that He had chosen to carry for us. Sin means death, and with every step He made with His cross to Calvary was one step closer to taking on all of our sin…one step closer to death. When He died on that cross and the veil split, it was the sign that we no longer needed to offer animal sacrifices as atonement for our sins because through His death our sins were atoned.

When Christ says that the only way to the Father is through Him, He is speaking of His sacrifice because only through Christ’s death are we open to the gift of Heaven. His death, His sacrifice, the gift of salvation and Heaven were made legitimate when He rose again.

According to Jesus, the Old Testament was pointing to Himself. I think Hebrews is a good book to make the connection of the OT and NT. If we read the OT, looking for Jesus Christ… we will clearly find Him as the central person in the OT.

John 5:39

You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me,

 

[JAGCath28]

The Old Testament is a beautiful foreshadowing to coming of Christ, as well as His sacrifice on the cross.

 

[2nd_Adam]

The Old Testament is a beautiful foreshadowing to coming of Christ, as well as His sacrifice on the cross.

I believe the person and work of Jesus Christ redeemed the chosen Old Testament Saints through the instrument of faith. Does the Catholic Church have the same or different position? Abraham was preached the gospel in advanced. Moses considered the reproach of Christ geter weath than the treasures of pleasures of sin. Even Job knew his redeemer lived.

Galatians 3:8

And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.”

By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them. - Hebrews 11

Job 19:25
For I know that my Redeemer lives,
and at the last he will stand upon the earth.

 

[JAGCath28]

I’m not sure I understand your question. I also don’t think I understand your thought process in your last post. Your first question was

What do you think Jesus accomplished by keeping the law perfectly as well as His death on the cross?

I answered what I believe His death on the cross accomplished (briefly).

Is this a second question?

I believe the person and work of Jesus Christ redeemed the chosen Old Testament Saints through the instrument of faith. Does the Catholic Church have the same or different position?

 

[2nd_Adam]

I’m not sure I understand your question. I also don’t think I understand your thought process in your last post. Your first question was

I answered what I believe His death on the cross accomplished (briefly).

Is this a second question?

Sure, I added a second question if you want to try to answer it. I thought a thread about the person and work of Christ would be an important thread for all of us. However, it does not seem too popular.

 

[JAGCath28]

I think you may have it in the wrong forum section. You may try moving it (or starting a new thread) to Apologetics, especially if you want more Catholic involvement.

I’m a convert so I honestly never thought your second question in that light and would also be interested in knowing what the Catholic understanding of your question would be.