Part
Three: What sins does our death pay
for?
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Our
discussion will take the form of a simulated conversation
between a Jehovah's Witness named Joe and a Christian named
Chris.
Joe:
Chris, I don't understand why you Christians believe that
Jesus died for your personal sins. The Bible
says that when we die we are acquitted of our
sins. You see the wages of sin is death. When we die
our personal sins are completely wiped out, they are paid
for. When we are resurrected our sins will never be
accounted again to us because our death has dealt with the
payment for our sins.
Chris:
Joe, I think that we might be having problems understanding
each other when we use the word "sin". What does the word
sin mean to you?
Joe:
I have always been taught in the Watchtower that it means
missing the mark in the sense of not reaching a goal. Sin is
like shooting an arrow and missing the
target.
Chris:
Joe, now that I know your definition of sin, I can
understand why sin doesn't seem like a big deal to
you.
Joe:
Well, it really isn't as big a deal as you think. We just
keeping trying. If we miss the target we just try again.
Everyone will get a second chance in the resurrection
anyway.
Chris:
Did Adam get a second chance at the target?
Joe:
Well no... Adam deliberately sinned. Jehovah God did not
give him a second chance.
Chris:
Did Adam's death pay for his sin?
Joe:
No. He had no payment for his sin.
Chris:
Well, if our death acquits us of our sins, then why didn't
Adam's death pay for his sin?
Joe:
To tell you the truth, I'm not really sure.
Chris:
Joe, in the Old Testament, what kind of sacrifice for sins
did Jehovah require?
Joe:
Jehovah required a perfect sacrifice one that was spotless,
blameless and pure.
Chris:
Are you spotless, blameless or pure?
Joe:
Well, no. Of course not. I've sinned just like everyone has.
I am trying my best, but I am not perfect.
Chris:
Then how can your death pay for your sins? The payment that
brings acquittal of sins must be spotless and holy. Can you
show me in scripture where an impure sacrifice was
acceptable by Jehovah as a payment for sin?
Joe:
No. Jehovah rejected a sacrifice that wasn't spotless or
pure.
Chris:
Your right Joe. That's why each one of us is
incapable of paying for our own sins. God's
target is perfection. But instead of a bow and arrow type of
target, God's target is so far past us that it is like a
long jump contest where the target is the far side of the
Grand Canyon. All of humanity stands at the edge and each
tries to jump as far as he can to reach the target.
Everyone from the weakest jumper to the best
world class jumper misses the end of the target because
no one is able to jump far enough on his
own. You see that's why Jesus death is so important
to us today. He was the only man who by his completely
sinless nature was capable of jumping that canyon
and by having the very nature of God has the
power to take us with him to the
other side.
Joe:
Well, Jesus did die for our sin.
Chris:
If Jesus died for our sin, then why does the Watchtower say
that your death pays for your sins?
Joe:
Jesus died for our Adamic sin. It is up to us to strive
diligently to overcome sinful tendencies. Our death would
pay for our failure to hit God's mark.
Chris:
But if Jesus died for some of your sins, those you inherited
from Adam, but not for your own personal sins, then you are
lost. You will never be acceptable to
Jehovah.
Joe:
Why do you say that?
Chris:
Because it would be a serious problem if Jesus only took us
half way to God. It is like Jesus taking you half way across
the Grand Canyon. You would be grateful that he took you
that far and you are much farther ahead of
everyone else who doesn't believe in Jesus. But you are now
on your own at the half way mark. Do you think
that you could jump the rest of the way yourself?
Joe:
That's ridiculous!
Chris:
Is it really? It is about as ridiculous as saying that Jesus
paid for part of the price and then you as an
imperfect corrupted sacrifice are necessary to pay the rest.
Either Jesus paid the entire price for you or he
didn't pay it at all!
Joe:
But I am not responsible for my sins. They are a result of
Adam's sin.
Chris:
The Bible says in Ezekiel 18:4 that the soul that sins shall
die. Joe, you are responsible for your own
personal sins. You cannot blame Adam for those
sins.
Joe:
But Jehovah just forgives me when I sin and when I confess
my sin.
Chris:
He forgives only when there is a payment made for that sin.
The Bible says in Hebrews 9:22 that without the shedding of
blood there is no remission (forgiveness) of sins. If Jesus'
death only covered a sinful act by Adam thousands of years
ago and is not relevant for the sin that you committed
yesterday or one that you will commit tomorrow, then your
death will never be acceptable as payment or as an acquittal
for those sins.
Joe:
But I do many good works. I attend all five meetings of the
Society each week and I spend many hours preaching door to
door. Surely Jehovah will accept me for the good works that
I do.
Chris:
Joe, let's discuss your good works next week.
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