Click or Tap Icons to Share! Thank you!

Authored By  :
Published On :
Last Updated :

NOTE: This article or series has not been updated recently. As such, it may possibly contain some outdated information, and/or ideas and beliefs which I no longer embrace, or which have changed to some degree.



In response to the Urantia Book advocate's previous remarks, I then told him the following:

If you haven't understood by this time, then I suppose that you never will; at least not from listening to me. It seems to me that your mind is so spiritually darkened, that you would not see the truth if it smacked you in the face. Jesus is the Savior of humanity. His Blood on the Cross washes us clean of all unrighteousness. This truth is made so clear by so many verses in the Bible, such as the following. There is nothing ambiguous about these verses. Unless we accept Jesus' Sacrifice on the Cross, there is no remission of our sins:

"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."


"And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins."


"And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body. And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it. And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many."


"And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you."


"After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me."


"But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ."


"Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;"


"And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission."


"Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;"


"Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate . . . Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen."


Following are some additional verses which discuss how faith in Jesus' Sacrifice on the Cross is the only means by which we can be resolved -- or propitiated -- of our sins, and thus regain favor with our Heavenly Father:

"Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied . . . Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,"


"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."


"And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."


"Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."


"And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,"


"And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."


In contrast to the truth which is clearly revealed in the previous verses, Dr. Weeks totally denies this in his 1996 letter. What Weeks teaches is nothing short of an antichrist doctrine. It is what the Apostle Peter refers to in one of his Epistles as a "damnable heresy", as we see here:

"But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction."


At this point the Urantia Book advocate again quotes from my article "The Urantia Book : A Dangerous New Age Doctrine!" with the following:

----- Begin Quote -----

As will be seen by Mr. Week's letter below, the "Urantia Papers" strike at the very heart of Christianity; that is, at the Cornerstone of our faith, which is the redemptive Blood of Jesus Christ which was shed on the Cross at Calvary.

----- End Quote -----

His misguided response to my above comments is to then deny the necessity of the atoning Sacrifice of Jesus Christ, just as Dr. Weeks has done, as we see here:

----- Begin Quote -----

Yes, it is true that the Urantia Book does say that Jesus did not come here to "die for our sins". Really, why should the Father require his Son to be murdered horribly so that the Father could forgive our sins? Think about that. Here's what the Bible says God requires of us in order to have our sins forgiven:

"For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:"


----- End Quote -----

My response to him was the following:

There are certain things in the Bible which we have to take by faith, even if we cannot fully understand them with our minds at this current time. How can you possibly expect to understand God's whole plan of Salvation in the Bible just by taking a single verse out of context? The truth is that you can't. This is exactly what you have done so far in this message. Instead of quoting just one verse which at first "appears" to support your argument, I urge you to read the whole chapter, or even the entire book. If you really want to do yourself a favor, trash the Urantia Book and start studying the whole Bible instead.

Matthew 6:14 -- which you quote above -- means exactly what it says. As with a number of other verses that are found in the four Gospels, Jesus was teaching us about the reciprocal nature of God's Kingdom. In other words, the basic message of this particular teaching is this: How can we expect God to forgive us for our sins and mistakes, if we are not even willing to do the same with others? Through your darkened understanding, you are endeavoring to use that one verse to try to negate Jesus' Sacrifice on the Cross, while at the same time you choose to ignore many other key verses which address this same topic. It just doesn't work that way.

At this point in our email discussion, this misguided New Age advocate really reveals how little he has actually read the Scriptures, which would explain why he apparently does not understand the necessity of Christ's Sacrifice. Either that, or he purposely denies what he already knows to be the truth in his heart. Referring to Matthew 6:14, he writes as follows:

----- Begin Quote -----

Don't you believe that, from the Bible? You know, the Master was here for over 30 years and spoke to many large crowds, and NOT ONCE did he ever tell them, "Yo, people, I have come to earth to die for your sins". The most important cornerstone of Christianity, and Jesus NEVER said it. Sadly, Christianity is not really a religion OF the teachings of Jesus, but is a religion from PAUL about Jesus.

----- End Quote -----

Needless to say, my jaw dropped when he made the previous, obviously misguided comments. In addition to erroneously claiming that Jesus never spoke of His coming Death which would atone for the sins of the world, this deceived man resorts to another strategy which is commonly used by Bible haters: He claims that Christianity is the invention of the Apostle Paul. Thus, I responded to him with the following:

As Jesus said to the Sadducees -- who likewise lacked a clear understanding of the Scriptures -- in the Gospel of Matthew:

"Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God."


While you may not realize it, by your very statements, you reveal what little knowledge you have of the Scriptures. The truth of the matter is that the Apostle Paul only repeated what many of the Old Testament Prophets had said through the Spirit of Prophecy hundreds and thousands of years earlier. It was these very same prophecies which Jesus' own Disciples finally came to understand following the Lord's Resurrection from the dead. Furthermore, the more I delve into the things that Paul wrote, I realize how much of it is a paraphrased version of Jesus' very same teachings. After all, as Paul informs us in his Epistle to the Galatians:

"But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ."


It is for this reason that Paul's Epistles so closely mirror what Jesus Himself said and taught in the four Gospels. I don't think you can begin to understand the wonderful plan which our Heavenly Father put into motion thousands of years ago, unless you truly become a serious student of the Bible. However, for your personal edification, allow me to briefly share the following with you. As I explain in such series as "Is Jesus the Only Begotten Son of God?", Jesus Christ is the sacrificial Lamb of God who came to take away the sins of the world. This becomes quite evident in verses such as the following:

"He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth."


"The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world . . . And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God . . . And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!"


"The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:"


"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,"


"And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth . . . And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints . . . Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever."


"And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see . . . And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:"


"After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb . . . And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb . . . For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes."


"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death."


"And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world."


"And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads . . . These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb . . . The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:"


"And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints."


"These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful."


"Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready . . . And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God."


"And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife . . . And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof . . . And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life."


"And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:"


As I amply explain in the aforementioned series, the Bible reveals that as a continuation of the Old Testament practice of animal sacrifice, Jesus offered up Himself as the final Blood Sacrifice for the sins of the entire world. The fact that actual lambs and goats were slain upon the altar of the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem, and later upon the altar of the Second Temple as well, was symbolic, and a foreshadow, of what Jesus would eventually come to do. If you take the time to study God's Word in its entirety, you will hopefully come to understand that the ancient sacrificial rites of the Levitical priests are full of heavy symbolism; all of which reflect the truths which Jesus came to fulfill on the Cross of Calvary. It is for this reason that following the Lord's miraculous Resurrection from the Dead, Jesus made these comments to His two companions on the road to Emmaus:

"Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself."


Is it possible that you are also "slow of heart" as were the two men who met up with the Resurrected Christ on the road to Emmaus? Later, that same evening, or possibly the very next morning, we also find Jesus saying the following to His Apostles:

"And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things."


As I noted a moment ago, whereas the high priest of the Old Testament period had to make an annual sacrifice for sin, we are told in the Scriptures that Christ died once, and only once, for the sins of all men. Consider the following group of verses which confirm this truth:

"Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin ONCE: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God."


"But this man, [Jesus] because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did ONCE, when he offered up himself."


"But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in ONCE into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us."


"For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now ONCE in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself . . . So Christ was ONCE offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation."


"By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ ONCE for all."


"For Christ also hath ONCE suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:"


Thus we can clearly see that Jesus Christ offered up Himself once, and only once, as the ransom price for our sins. It is for this reason that the Scriptures inform us that we are in fact bought with a price; that price being the very Blood of Jesus Christ. Again, consider the following Scriptures which confirm this Biblical truth:

"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."


"Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men."


"Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."


"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time."


While you erroneously claim that Jesus never said that He came to die for the sins of the world, please carefully note what we read in Matthew 20:28 above. What did Jesus come to do? The answer is "to give his life a ransom for many". In other words, He purchased us with His own Blood. The truth cannot be any clearer than that. Let me again refer you to the previous verses where we are clearly informed that our sins are washed clean by the Blood of Jesus Christ. Because Jesus so willingly gave His own life on the Cross for our sakes, the Scriptures inform us that He has in fact become the Author of the New Covenant -- or New Testament -- our only Mediator, our High Priest, and our holy Intercessor who represents us before the Throne of His Father. Following are additional verses which fully confirm these various points:

"But now hath he [Jesus] obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away."


"And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance."


"And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel."


Please go to part four for the continuation of this series.

⇒ Go To The Next Part . . .

Click or Tap Icons to Share! Thank you!

---

---

Please avail yourself of other areas of the Bill's Bible Basics website. There are many treasures for you to discover.