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Answer: The claim that one person's perfect observance
of the Mosaic Law makes it unnecessary for others to
observe it is not found in the Jewish Scriptures. The
notion of a one time perfect sacrifice is also alien
to the Jewish Scriptures.
The New Testament states that included in Jesus' earthly
task was the mission to completely fulfill the commandments
as literally decreed by God in the Jewish Scriptures
(Matthew 5:17-18). According to the New Testament, the
Mosaic Law was in effect until Jesus fulfilled all,
in all its exactness.
Jesus was to fulfill the Mosaic Law to perfection.
For the New Testament's god-man, Jesus, there could
be no exceptions to fulfillment that were outside the
limitations of the Mosaic Law.
Jesus' supposed sacrificial death took place while
the Mosaic Law was still in effect. Any sacrificial
offering made prior to the Mosaic Law's end would have
to be in full compliance with that Law. Prior to the
moment of Jesus' death, the proper procedures and location
for a blood atonement sacrifice would be biblically
fixed and immutable. The crucifixion of Jesus meets
none of these criteria.
If the Mosaic Law was in effect until the exact moment
of Jesus' death, or for any length of time afterwards,
that act cannot be considered as an atoning blood sacrifice
bringing remission of sin. The cause of Jesus' death
(even if one imagines that a human sacrifice is permissible)
would, if he fulfilled the Law, have had to satisfy
the Mosaic Law's requirements in order to be a valid
atonement sacrifice.
Jesus' death was alleged to be an essential part of
his fulfillment of the Law. Therefore, it was at the
exact moment of his death that the requirements of the
Mosaic Law were supposedly fulfilled in their entirety.
Yet, the death of the New Testament's Jesus does not
conform to the Mosaic Law's requirements for offering
a blood atonement sacrifice.
According to the New Testament: (1) Jesus supposed
atoning death for sin was the culmination of his fulfillment
of the Law (Colossians 2:14-17), (2) Jesus' death was
the final atoning sacrifice under the Mosaic Law (Hebrews
7:27; 10:10, 12). Thus, only after the exact moment
of death would the requirements of the Mosaic Law be
nullified.
According to the New Testament's own information,
Jesus' death cannot be considered as an atonement sacrifice.
Generally, he did not fulfill the requirement of Matthew
5:17-18. There is no indication that he fulfilled the
Torah's commandments in their entirety. Furthermore,
even if he did, this would not have any bearing on anyone
else's obligation to fulfill the Law. Specifically,
Jesus' death did not fulfill the New Testament contention
that under the Mosaic Law "without shedding of blood
there is no forgiveness" (Hebrews 9:22). Jesus did not
shed his blood to the extent that it would constitute
a blood sacrifice.
Following the New Testament conditions for the nullification
of the Law through perfect fulfillment and sacrifice
it is obvious that Jesus changed nothing; the Mosaic
Law is still in effect. |