Hebrews 9:19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,
8 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:
9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;
* all kinds of rituals and tabernacles. That’s what consisted of the Mosaic covenant
* Dietery Rules = Meats and drinks
* Physical Rules including hygiene = divers washings, and carnal ordinances
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
* If we look at the book of Leviticus and Numbers, they go chapters long about this
* What we see is just simple verses to cover all that instead reading chapter after chapter
* If we read the book of Exodus, Leviticus, Number and even Deuteronomy we’ll see a whole bunch of rules which will contain all these
2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.
* all these rules and laws they had to observe it for physical prosperity (see vs 3-14)
* A lot of churches teaches prosperity gospel, God's gonna make us rich
* Physical blessings & physical riches accompanies the physical law of Moses (observing days, hygiene, dietary rules etc)
* Christians are not bound by that. We gain spiritual blessings because we a spiritual people of God (spiritual nation)
* Majority of the bible time period went by the law
* its all about rules and commandments
24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
19 And when the LORD saw it, he abhorred them, because of the provoking of his sons, and of his daughters.
20 And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith.
21 They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.
22 For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.
* Their salvation is definitely doing works
* This is very different from christian’s today. We are still considered saved by faith even though we sin against God but this verse shows one is considered automatically as no faith
* God’s judgement on them is God’s wrath coming on them that burns even to the lowest hell
* compare it to the next verse
* this verse matches with the verse above.
* If we are honest, how can some people insist that salvation in the law of Moses is by faith alone with all those rules and rituals going on pages after pages long?
a. People Who Walk In God’s Commandments Is Considered To Be Righteous & Blameless
* Before Jesus died, God considered people who does this as righteous and blameless.
* God was judging them at the best of their ability that time
* they have to do it by their own effort
* We christians are different. We are saved by Christ's righteousness not our own righteousness
22 All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.
23 Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?
24 But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.
* This is the scariest verse in the bible
* What does death mean here? It means dying in their sin, its eternally gone
* Ezekial 3:18-21 also talks about the soul that lives or the soul that dies in his sins
* How can someone say that under the law of Moses, they don’t have to do work for their salvation? No. God said right here that if one quits living righteously, one will die in their sins and one’s soul will die
26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.
* Jesus asked him to follow the law to get eternal life and to do those works as mentioned in the verses above
4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
* When Jesus died, He ended the law of righteousness
* This shows that there was a time period where people's salvation method are by man's righteousness not God's righteousness
a. The Sinner Is Required To Sacrifice An Innocent Animal By Killing & Slaying It Before God
2 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them:
3 If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; then let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the LORD for a sin offering.
4 And he shall bring the bullock unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD; and shall lay his hand upon the bullock's head, and kill the bullock before the LORD.
6 And the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle of the blood seven times before the LORD, before the vail of the sanctuary.
7 And the priest shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar of sweet incense before the LORD, which is in the tabernacle of the congregation; and shall pour all the blood of the bullock at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
26 And he shall burn all his fat upon the altar, as the fat of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and the priest shall make an atonement for him as concerning his sin, and it shall be forgiven him.
* the blood is applied everywhere in the tabernacle
* So it makes sense, even though they had faith, they had to do works out of it physically because God is dealing with physical and he can't based it on spiritual things
* Today's christians we can just go by faith (spiritual) and God can deal with us spiritually because we have a spiritual nature that is alive as a result of Christ sacrifice
* During their time they never had that because when Adam sinned, the spiritual nature died, so God can't do that with them. God deals primarily by physical dealings.
* However we see that God's grace is carried from the beginning to the end (Genesis-Revelation) as He will do some sort of spiritual dealings too but he does not do everything based of spiritual dealings
* Because the spiritual nature was dead, that's why works (physical) that was their salvation system and they cannot do spiritual because the spiritual nature of man was dead
2 Or if a soul touch any unclean thing, whether it be a carcase of an unclean beast, or a carcase of unclean cattle, or the carcase of unclean creeping things, and if it be hidden from him; he also shall be unclean, and guilty.
3 Or if he touch the uncleanness of man, whatsoever uncleanness it be that a man shall be defiled withal, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty.
4 Or if a soul swear, pronouncing with his lips to do evil, or to do good, whatsoever it be that a man shall pronounce with an oath, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty in one of these.
* Notice verse 2: soul touch? Can our soul touch something?
* Notice verse 4: soul swear? Can our soul swear someone?
* When we read these verses we know its actually their physical body doing that
* Whatever the physical body did, God counted it as their soul doing it and it effects the salvation of their soul
* Why? Because their soul is connected to their body
* Whatever they do in their physical body, it effects their soul
* Their soul’s salvation is connected to what their body does
* See another example below
* Its like their body and their soul are stuck together
* Why? Because their body and their soul are connected to each other and they are interchangeable
* So, God will judge a person in the old testament by whatever their physical body did and that determies wheter their soul will be going to heaven or hell
* This is interesting, why a christian’s soul goes to heaven and doesn’t go to hell no matter what the body sins because God spiritually circumcised us out of our body
* That’s why our salvation can be done by faith alone (spiritual and not by physical actions)
* Whereas the people in the old testament they had to live by physical actions or else their soul will be judged
* Once we got saved by faith, we got this circumcision already
* its a spiritual circumcision: “circumcision made without hands”
* circumcision of Christ means its done by Lord Jesus Christ. He is the one who performs this circumcission at the moment of salvation when we believe
“ What did God do? What did God circumcise us out of?
* We are are cut off completely from our body. So, no matter what our body sins, it will not contaminate and effect us
* Who is us? We are the soul. When someone dies, its their soul that goes to either heaven or hell
* Fill up water in the tray - ice becomes part of the tray
* Break up the ice from the tray but leave the ice in the tray - ice is no longer part of the tray - it is cut off but still in the tray
* If a save person sins with his body, it doesnt affect his soul
* Our soul is not corrupted with sin no matter how many times we sin in our body
* That’s why when we die, we will go to heaven no matter what.
=> Once Saved Always Saved
* But we still commit sin in our body and God is going to judge our soul for the sins done in our body
a. We Will Be Judged At The Judgement Seat Of Christ, God Will Judge Good Or Bad Things Done In Our “Body”
13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
* Our works will be revealed and tried by fire
* If our works are good, we will get rewards (gold, silver or precious stones). If our works are bad, we will loose rewards but we are still saved
* Noticed verse 15: “but he himself shall be saved” we are still saved
* This judgement is not to judge our salvation but it is to judge our service to God
* In the old testament, everything that their physical body did, God counted it as the salvation of soul in old testament because their soul was connected to their body
* Jehovah witness thinks the body and soul is the same. When we die, the body is dead. It doesn't go to heaven or hell. They don’t believe in soul and body but that will be solved if they study dispensationalism
* The reason people criticize right doctrine and believe wrong doctrine so easily is because the don’t have the right foundation.
* If they are familiar with dispensationalismh, then they will understand what is wrong with these wrong teachings
* If we learn dispensationalism we will understand that there is a physical circumcission and a spiritual circumsission and the judgement seat of christ which is to judge our service to God and not a judgement that judges our soul wheter we are going to heaven or hell, then a lot of question will be answered and it will solve a lot of supposedly contradictions
* Dispensationalism means dividing. God administering things in order. Not all things are the same
2 And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.
3 And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it.
4 And the LORD said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand:
5 That they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee.
6 And the LORD said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow.
7 And he said, Put thine hand into thy bosom again. And he put his hand into his bosom again; and plucked it out of his bosom, and, behold, it was turned again as his other flesh.
8 And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign.
9 And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe also these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land: and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land.
1. Rod Turn To Serpent (Exodus 4:2-4)
2. Hand Turned Leprous As Snow When Put In Bosom (Exodus 4:6-8)
3. Water Turn To Blood (Exodus 4:9)
* Very first mention of physical signs did not go to christian church. It went to Jews
* Noticed verse 5: “God of their fathers”, their forefathers. Its all to the Jews
* These phsical signs are performed to the Jews so that they believe in God (so that they can have faith in God) because they can see the physical signs happening right in front of their eyes
* For christians, we don’t go by physical signs today.
* Why is it back then Jews went by physical signs? Remember, because God was dealing with them physically. That’s why physical literal signs had to be shown
* God’s physical dealings with physical nation of Jews will be obvious that God will have to use physical signs to prove it.
* But for christians because we are a spiritual nation (spiritual Israel), and God is dealing with us spiritually, that’s why we don’t go by physical signs
* Because God’s dealings are spiritual we go by faith. “Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God”
a. Since We Have The Spirit Which Is Alive, Why Go By Physical?
3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
* Paul is questioning if we received the spirit by works of law or by hearing of faith?
* Paul is saying since we have a spiritual nature that’s awaken, why still go by physical?
* This verse shows a vital difference between new testament christians from the old testament Jews.
* They are different from christians because they go by the flesh (physical) (eg. works of the law) while christians, we go by the spirit
* This verse is saying the law is not againts the promises of God.
* If the law could have given life, then our righteousness should have been by the law
* Why? Because we have the spiritual nature alive that’s within us
* Compare with Ezekial 18
a. Wicked People: Wicked People Who Turned From Their Wickedness And Does The Law, Their Soul Will Shall Be Saved
* Why was it like that?
* Its because the spiritual nature was dead during the old testament. God could not deal with them spiritually
* So, God deals with them physically and counted their soul’s salvation based on their physical deeds. So, They had to go by their physical deeds, physical actions and works so that they can be counted worthy to receive salvation from God
* Where else Paul showed us a big contrast that the law could not give people in the new testament righteousness.
* Why? Its because now we have a spiritual nature that’s alive
* Physical dealings is not enough because man’s physical righteousness of the law can never meet the standard of God’s righteousness no matter how much man lives righteously
* God is a spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in sprit and in truth
* No one can ever meet God’s perfection. No one could keep every jot and tittle of the whole law for salvation and be so perfect and sinless until Jesus Christ
* Jesus had to die to meet perfection for all of us
Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
* The physical dealing by the law is weak
* Noticed verse 3: “condemned sin in the flesh”.Jesus came and got rid of that sin in the flesh
* So, Jesus came so that righteousness of the law is fulfulled in those who walk by the Spirit
* none could work it out to the best
* Why? Because at their best it is still weak to the flesh
* because when Adam sinned, the spiritual nature was dead. So Go has to deal with them physically
* So, in order to deal with them physically, its not like new testament christians where we go by faith, walking in the spirit but rather physical hard law. So many rules about physical aspects which even include hygiene and diet
* People who teach salvation has been the same eversince the beginning are going to pull up these new testament verses to insist that old testament saints were not saved by the law and it really seem to show that.
* But if we look in the old testament, we can see that they have to do all these works for their salvation
* If we are a dispensationalist, its very simple to understand because in the old testament there was no spiritual nature that was alive. So they had to do all this physical fleshy works to get their salvation
* But now since Jesus Christ died on the cross, we can see from a new testament perspective that those physical fleshy works and deeds could not save us
* Why? Because Jesus Christ’s spiritual perfection is far more better in comparison. So, now we go by that.
25 And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us
* Noticed verse 25: “our righteousness”. Its man’s own righteousness
* Christians are different. We receive the righteousness of God because we have a spiritual nature that is alive. So, the Holy Spirit can come inside us and give us God’s righteousness
* God counted them as righteous and blameless according to the best capability that man can do (determined by comparing man to man, man’s standard)
17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
* Noticed verse 16: “what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?”
* Jesus never said by faith. But rather, Jesus gave him all these physical works to do of the law because Jesus didn’t die on the cross yet * God considered it perfect according to man’s standard
* When the bible talks about perfection and righteousness in the old testament, it was not in God's standard (God is a spirit). Its by man's standard (physical)
* God considered them safe but it was not really complete and not perfect because there was no spiritual nature alive that time, so he had to deal with them physical like that
* That’s why the death of Jesus Christ is so important for a complete salvation
10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
15 Their feet are swift to shed blood:
16 Destruction and misery are in their ways:
17 And the way of peace have they not known:
18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.
19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
* Paul is using the old testment law to prove that before God, everyone has sins and they are not good enough to go to heaven
* so that’s why in order to attain the righteousness of God, it is not by our good works for salvation
* Propitiation means the act of appeasing wrath
* God sent Jesus to be the act of appeasing His wrath
* The wrath of God abides on sinners, those who aren't saved
* Hell is the wrath of God. Hell is a place where God pours out His wrath on a sinner for all eternity. That's why we need to be saved, because God is angry with us sinners and God hates sin. We have to come to Him, Jesus who paid for our sin
* Jesus Christ suffered the wrath of God for the sins of the whole world. God the Father poured out his wrath on Jesus Christ for our sins. Jesus Christ died in our place for our sins.
* Our sins are paid for. Why do we need to still go to hell and pay for it? All that needs to take place is trust the blood, then that forgiveness is ours through the atonement of Christ. So we don't have to go to hell. We have eternal redemption through the one sacrifice of Jesus Christ
* It is based on the sacrifice of Jesus that we can have all these things but in the old testament, they didn’t have the suffering Messiah to die for them. So, they had no choice but to go by the law
* Wherefore then serveth the law? = what can the law do?
* Paul mentioned that the law was there because of the sins they were committing till Jesus should come
21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
* Because everyone sin in comparison to God, so they have to go by faith of Jesus
* Faith and Jesus’s Christ’ righteousness its only operational based upon when Jesus Christ came and died on the cross
* That’s why new testament christians, we can say its never by the law for us.
* But in the old testament, they couldn’t say that because Jesus Christ didn’t die on the cross yet
* It is also important to the Jews that they have to have a suffering Messiah who would die and take care of their sin
* The law is proof that everyone is in need of salvation by faith in Christ alone because everyone is a sinner in comparison with God
* The law is proof that everyone today is in need of salvation by faith in Christ alone. Why? Because everyone is a sinner in comparison to God.
* In the old testament, God determined them by man’s standard. So, no one can be actually perfect for salvation by the law.
* God had to determine salvation in the old testament by physical aspect according to man’s righteousness
* Why? Because the spiritual nature was not operational that time and Jesus have not died on the cross yet so that He can give the Holy Spirit to them
* But now that Jesus Christ did that, we have to go by that now and no more by the law
20 Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.
21 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.
22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
* they could not receive for remission (forgiveness of sins) unless they do blood atonement sacrifices
* Other verses about forgiveness of sins by physical animal blood sacrifices (blood atonement): Leviticus chapter 4,5,6,7,16
* That’s why Jesus’ sacrifice is so important, so that He can make a complete forgiveness of sins which can take away and clear all the sins of the world
* They could only get forgiveness of sins but it will not clear away their sins
* They had to do this because no one was able to keep the law and no one was perfect and this will help them to make up for it. To be forgiven, like a clean slate and then start over again. That’s why blood atonement by animal sacrifices were important during that time
* After Jesus Christ when He died with His blood atonement sacrifice, we can now based it on that. But they didn’t have Jesus’s blood atonment sacrifice, so they had to go by blood atonement by physical animal sacrifices.
* During the old testament because they were not fully cleared of their sins, their salvation is incomplete. However, God considers them as saved people and put them in a temporary place called Abraham’s Bosom to wait for Jesus Christ to come and die on the cross to compete their salvation and then get them out of there
* heart of the earth means its down underneath, not up
* Paradise is down below the earth where hell was located
9 And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
18 To whom art thou thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? yet shalt thou be brought down with the trees of Eden unto the nether parts of the earth: thou shalt lie in the midst of the uncircumcised with them that be slain by the sword. This is Pharaoh and all his multitude, saith the Lord GOD.
* Eden was not destroyed in Noah's flood. God send it down to the nether parts of the earth
a. Rich Man And Beggar (Lazarus) Died. Rich Man Went To Hell And Lazarus Went To Abraham’s Bosom
20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
a. Saul Went To A Witch To Bring Up Samuel From Paradise. The Witch Says She Saw Gods (Angels) Bringing Him Up. Samuel Came Up As An Old Man
12 And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.
13 And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.
14 And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself.
* This is the only instance in the bible that a soul was being called up because God allowed it
12 Why did the knees prevent me? or why the breasts that I should suck?
13 For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept: then had I been at rest,
35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool.
* Only Jesus Christ can manage to accomplished the work of redemption by His blood on the cross
2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
* The old testament saints who died were forgiven of their sins and they would go to a place called Paradise and there they awaited the atonement of Jesus.
* The old testament saints who died were sent to a place called Abraham's Bosom or Paradise which is a place of rest and comfort waiting for Jesus to finish His work of atonement for them
9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
* This tree of life is in new Jerusalem (see Revelation 21 & 22)
a. John Is Talking About New Jerusalem Which Will Descend Down From Heaven
10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
* After 3 days and 3 nights accomplished, Jesus rose up and His soul got back His body (a glorified body) and He ascended bodily into heaven
* Jesus went down to Abraham's Bosom, completing their salvation, took took them out of Abraham's Bosom and put Abraham's Bosom or paradise up to the 3rd heaven where God is
* Old testament Jews have to go through the physical dealings of God because the spiritual nature of man was dead during that time
* So God deals with them physically and they had to do physical works to the best that they can.
* God counted them temporarily blameless (according to man’s standard) because they are not perfect in comparison to God’s standard
* God put all these old testament saints temporarily in Abraham's Bosom in hell because Jesus have not died on the cross yet to make the ultimate complete and perfect sacrifice to pay for all our sins
* Until Jesus died on the cross, then He can get them out of there
* God is a spirit, Jesus gives the Holy Spirit and gets the spiritual nature alive and start the spiritual operations going
* After Jesus died that's why we don't need to do all those physical dealings anymore because now we are under spiritual dealings
a. God Cast Out & Destroy Other Nations & Does Not Allow Intermarry To Protect The Seed From Being Contaminated
2 And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them:
3 Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son.
24 And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people.
25 And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves.
26 Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin.
27 Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives?
* God doesn’t want the seed to be tainted
* The seed of the Messiah is important & essential
* God had to divide and segregate them to make sure that seed is protected from contamination
* Things are different after Jesus died on the cross