Christ, our Passover by His Blood Atonement
It is taught by some that Jesus Christ did not die on the cross for our sins, that His blood was not shed as an atonement made for our sins, and that it has nothing to do with His ability to forgive us. Rather, Jesus could have grown old and died naturally and still accomplished his mission, except that he chose to suffer on the cross only so that He might be able to help those who had committed the unpardonable sin.
This doctrine opposes the doctrine and gospel of Jesus Christ. In order to accept this, we must discredit all three books of scripture, all of the gospels, the epistles of all the Apostles, the Doctrine and Covenants and most of the Book of Mormon. The atonement made by the death and the blood of Christ is testified to over and over again by the testimony the prophets, the apostles, and even Christ Himself along with innumerable witnesses, both ancient and modern. It is testified in the Feast Days of Israel and in many things, which are a type and shadow of Christ.
To deny the sacrifice of Christ and His blood atonement, is to deny the only way back to the Father. Rick Joyner writes of this terrible deception, as a doctrine of demons. He says of those ensnared by it:
“Most quickly become isolated and then are deceived
to the point of even denying the cross and return to various forms of
legalism for righteousness…
“There can be no compromise with the one essential truth—any doctrine that attempts to displace the cross of Jesus as the atonement for sin is a heresy of the most dangerous kind. As the Scripture warns, this can actually sever us from Christ.
“The demonic power of deception now accompanying these heresies is obviously increasing dramatically, subduing many with a spirit of deception that seems nearly impossible to penetrate.”
On Aviv 14, the Passover is celebrated. Thousands of years
ago, in
If these teachings I spoke of at the beginning of this article are correct then instead of having to kill the lamb, and place its blood on their door, the Israelites could have just kept it with them until it died of old age. They wouldn’t need the blood of the lamb for their protection at all, because the Lord could redeem them without it.
It has been said that “He did not have to suffer and die in order to obtain the ability to forgive for He forgave the sins of men as He walked among them upon the earth, and He could have died quietly of old age”
My friends, the reasoning given here for why Christ did not have to die in order to atone for our sins is preposterous. Christ was able to forgive sins because the effect of the atonement, made at the cross, had its effect in eternity, as it is written that He was crucified from the foundation of the earth!
Can you not see that even before Christ died and was resurrected as the “first fruits” of God in the resurrection that he first resurrected Lazarus? Using the reasoning found for why Christ did not have to suffer and die on the cross to forgive, we could then argue that Christ did not even have to die because he was already able to resurrect people even before dying in order to make the resurrection possible.
The gospels reveal that Jesus earnestly desired to eat the Passover Feast with His disciples before He suffered, and He connected this final Passover with a change of covenants. "This cup is the new Covenant in my blood, which is shed for you." [Luke 22:20]. The Passover sacrifice of Jesus on the cross fulfilled the SHADOW image projected by the original Passover. Exodus 6:6-7 reveals the results of that first Passover: "I will bring you out -- I will rid you of bondage -- I will redeem you -- I will take you to me for a people."
Jesus’ death on the cross provided the blood on the door for
his people to escape from the bondage which their sins had ensnared them. Jesus
Himself declares this. The cross and the atonement by His own blood is an
integral part of His gospel and his doctrine, even the only gospel [3 Ne
Consider the words of Christ:
“Behold I have given unto you my gospel, and this is the gospel which I have given unto you, that I came into the world to do the will of my Father, because my Father sent me; And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross;” [3 Ne 12:25-26] “And for this cause he fulfilleth the words which he hath given, and he lieth not, but fulfilleth all his words; and no unclean thing can enter into his kingdom; Therefore nothing entereth into his rest, save it be those who have washed their garments in my blood, because of their faith, and the repentance of all their sins, and their faithfulness unto the end.” [3 Ne 12:31-32] “And if it so be that the church is built upon my gospel, then will the Father shew forth his own works in it; But if it be not built upon my gospel, and is built upon the works of men, or upon the works of the devil, verily I say unto you, They have joy in their works for a season, and by and by the end cometh, and they are hewn down and cast into the fire, from whence there is no return;” [3 Ne 12: 22-23] “Verily, verily I say unto you, This is my gospel; and ye know the things that ye must do in my church; for the works which ye have seen me do, that shall ye also do; For that which ye have seen me do, even that shall ye do; therefore if ye do these things, blessed are ye, for ye shall be lifted up at the last day.” [3 Ne 12:34-35]
We have the testimony here that no unclean thing can enter into His rest and uncleanness comes from committing sin. The cure is to have your garments washed in His blood, by faith, and repentance from sins.
“But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. And all scripture given by inspiration of God, is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” [2 Timothy 3:13-17]