Love does not require a sacrifice on the cross because Love simply forgives

 I think somebody will appreciate the invitation to think out of the box (tradition). Let's consider these questions.

Why would 'you' need grace from a God that is love? WHEN would LOVE have ever stopped loving? Are you sure that you have a clear understanding of what grace is all about? Love would simply forgive! NOT require a son on a cross!

These questions raise a pertinent point about grace because "grace" has often been used in a legalistic way in the christian circles. To some preachers, grace is like having a transaction with God, such as "God gives us his grace only when we give God our faith" or "God needs to punish Jesus to fulfill the law in order to give us his grace and forgiveness". That is not grace; that is legalism disguised as grace because the law is always conditional whereas grace is always unconditional.

Teachings that represent God/Jesus as a vindictive and vengeful divinity are actually anti-Christ because revenge and retribution are against his loving, gracious and non-violent nature. Jesus himself taught people not to return an eye for an eye or a tooth for a tooth, but to love their enemies. It is amazing to think how much the mainstream christian teachings that propagate a picture of a judgmental and vengeful Jesus have the gospel upside down that is contrary to his true nature.

The cross simply demonstrates Jesus' love, compassion and forgiveness. He had said "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do". If he had wanted revenge, he would have said something that was condemning.

Since God is love, and love keeps no records of wrong, then it does not make any sense for God to punish or require a sacrifice to atone for people’s wrongs. The “atonement for sin” theology therefore is man’s theology. I think Jesus came to help people repent (change their mindset) about God – that the idea of “an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth” is not compatible with God’s love (which keeps no records of wrong), and that God’s heart is to love one’s enemies. He also came to show us that we are already innocent and perfect/complete, for the kingdom of God (innocence/righteousness, peace and joy) is within each of us.

This also answers the question “If God doesn’t require sacrifice for “sins”, then why did Jesus die on the cross?” because Jesus’ suffering and death was to demonstrate what Jesus himself taught in the sermon on the mount – he did not return an eye for an eye when he was beaten, and instead he blessed those who cursed him, and prayed for those who persecuted him. The cross is a demonstration of the love of God which keeps no records of wrong, and not to atone for so-called sins (which man-made religions have mistakenly taught).

I believe there are people who will appreciate the invitation to think out of the box and question religious traditions, so as to find their own freedom from any kind of bondage of fear and condemnation imposed by organised religions, and experience peace within themselves and with others.

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Once you start seeing The Love of God, Hell Won’t Make Sense ~Dr. Michel W. Jones
Progressive thoughts on why Jesus died on the cross and whether God’s justice is retributive or restorative

1 John 1:9 was written to the Jews, not Us

I understand the context of the verse 1 John 1:9 in terms of John writing to the Jewish audience, so he was only speaking their lingo, since they held on to this sin theology.

For us, there is nothing to confess, because we are not "sinners". I think this sin-consciousness comes from the religious mindset, that mistakenly thinks one has failed to obey a so-called god, and that subscribes to the illusion of separation.

Hence, I don't agree with the popular notion that people are born "sinners" or use the explanation that the world is messed up because of some sin Adam committed. My take is that the world is messed up because people have forgotten who they really are - that we all are already perfect, complete, blameless, innocent and beloved.

I have come to see the bible as a Jewish old covenant book, and while I may learn some truths from it, but many of the things in the bible, such as the sin theology, do not apply to me because I don't belong to the Jewish religious system, which has already been done away in AD70.

Someone may ask, "Then why did John write that 'If you say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us?'"

My answer is: Precisely because John was writing to his Jewish brethren who were under their law system, they were counted as "sinful" simply because their own man-made laws condemned them. We learn that "By the law is the knowledge of sin", so that is how the Jews became sin-conscious. This man-made law system was put to an end by AD70, marked by the destruction of the Jerusalem temple.

We are not under the Jewish law system. When there is no law, there is no transgression of law either. That means there is no such thing as sin.

In short:

No law = No knowledge of sin

No law = No imputation of sin

No law = No transgression of law

No law = No knowledge of sin

No law = No consciousness of sin

What is our conclusion then? When we change our mind (repent) from the law mindset to the grace mindset, we realise that sin is only an illusion - the illusion of separation. Sin doesn't exist in reality.

Jesus' parable of the lost son exemplifies this truth. The younger son returned home, and before he could finish "confessing his sins", his father embraced him and welcomed him home warmly and unconditionally.

What does this tell us? Is God waiting for his children to confess their sins? No. The father did not even bother to listen to the son's rehearsed confession. As far as the father is concerned, the son is always perfect and innocent in his eyes.

Similarly, as far as God is concerned (whom I believe is our highest self), we are perfect and innocent. May we all continue to see ourselves the way our highest consciousness sees us - beloved, complete, innocent and blameless.

"A good Father doesn't think of His children as evil, and His love won't even keep a record of our wrongs. So, He sends us the Comforter to bring us a real sense of security--the very thing that our theology stole from us."- Dr Michael Jones

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