What if Jesus didn't die for our sins?

[hellopeople]

Why?

The New Testament is based on the Old Testament. Take the Old Testament out and the New Testament crumbles, because these two work as a whole.

Well after doing some research, it seems Paul uses Isiah 53 in his writings as does Luke in Acts. It is quite possible that this is exactly where Paul got this view from. VERY INTERESTING. Thanks for the (name removed by moderator)ut.

 

[hellopeople]

In my opinion though, if Isaiah 53 is about Jesus, then the end of Isaiah 52 must be about him as well…

13 See, my servant will act wisely ** ;
he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.
14 Just as there were many who were appalled at him [c]—
** his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man
and his form marred beyond human likeness—**

15 so will he sprinkle many nations, [d]
and kings will shut their mouths because of him.
For what they were not told, they will see,
and what they have not heard, they will understand.

The problem is that Jesus being disfigured is not in any of the gospels. In 53, it seems to be talking about the same person…look at 53:2

53:2 " He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him."**

 

[hellopeople]

Anyway, I sent a letter to my professor about it, a well renowned scholar who specializes in Paul, and this is what he said back to me.

I asked him the following:

From my understanding, Paul bases his whole Christian philosophy on one
thing: the fact that Jesus died for our sins. From this view stems his
views on the law, righteousness by faith, and morality.

So, my question is, what if Jesus did not die for our sins? What if
Jesus was just a teacher that was destined to be killed due to his
radical message? What if Jesus’ death in actuality was nothing more
than a consequence of his teachings, without having any actual
significance? And what if his resurrection was just a way of ensuring
his disciples that he in fact was divine?

I am not a scholar of the gospels (not by a long shot), but did Jesus
ever mention that his death was symbolic? Was this belief on Jesus’
death held by Peter and other apostles of Jesus?

It seems as though the whole Christian faith is based on the fact that
Jesus died for our sins and through faith in Him we will be righteous.
I just don’t think that there is any evidence of this fact other than
Paul’s own interpretation of the Gospel. One could say that Paul is
authoritative, but I’m not so sure.

What do you think? Does Paul’s whole argument fall apart if Jesus did
not die for our sins?

And this was his response:

Actually, this was not an area where Paul was the least bit
original. As he says in 1 Corinthians 15:1-3, when Paul told the
Corinthians that “Christ died for our sins,” he was merely passing on
to them the tradition that he himself had received; verse 13 indicates
that the same message was preached by all the apostles. And it’s found
throughout the New Testament, not just in Paul. See, for example,
Hebrews 10:11-12; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 2:2; Revelation 1:5 and 5:9. See
also, for example, Matthew 1:21 and John 1:29. The idea goes back to
Jesus’ last supper with his disciples, when he spoke of the bread and
wine that he gave the disciples as symbols of the gift of his own body
and blood, a gift that was intended “for the forgiveness of sins”
(Matthew 26:26-28). The same point lies behind Jesus words that he
would give his life as “a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).
Does that help?

 

[NotWorthy]

Well after doing some research, it seems Paul uses Isiah 53 in his writings as does Luke in Acts. It is quite possible that this is exactly where Paul got this view from. VERY INTERESTING. Thanks for the (name removed by moderator)ut.

Yes, Jesus does read Himself into the Old Testament. Read Luke’s chapter 24, discussing the road to Emmaus. What did Jesus do? Go through the Old Testament telling the two disciples how the Scriptures were talking about Him. I’d be willing to bet that Isaiah 52 & 53 was discussed.

 

[NHInsider]

In my opinion though, if Isaiah 53 is about Jesus, then the end of Isaiah 52 must be about him as well…

13 See, my servant will act wisely ** ;
he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.
14 Just as there were many who were appalled at him [c]—
** his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man
and his form marred beyond human likeness—****

15 so will he sprinkle many nations, [d]
and kings will shut their mouths because of him.
For what they were not told, they will see,
and what they have not heard, they will understand.

The problem is that Jesus being disfigured is not in any of the gospels. In 53, it seems to be talking about the same person…look at 53:2

53:2 " He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him."

Actually, these verses are frequently cited as prophetic of the Passion - not least notably in Handel’s Messiah.

We don’t have any evidence from the gospels that Jesus was anything special to look at. He had to be pointed out to people, including those who came to arrest Him. And certainly by the time of the crucifixion, after a long night of being abused, he was not beautiful or majestic-looking.

 

[Mark77]

If Jesus didn’t die for our sins then we are just random mistakes inadvertently created by nothing? We are nothing more than a collection of molecules living without reason or any purpose!

The real question any intellectually honest person should ask isWHAT IF JESUS DID DIE FOR OUR SINS??

Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, Ora Pro Nobis Peccatoribus!

mark