13/01/2022
Q: In a world of religious pluralism where adherents of different absolutes claim the supremacy of their respective deity, if there was to be a standard list against which the absolutes were to be compared, how would it look like and how would they respond?
A: Honestly I see this as a better approach towards the debate on the supremacy of the absolutes. Comparing an absolute against another absolute might be offensive in some quarters, but comparing an absolute against the standard list will offer the adherents of the absolutes the opportunity to present their case in the defense of their absolute. In my thought and observation, 3 critical things should make the standard list, however on how the absolutes would respond, I think that is beyond me as the only moral obligation I have is to compare my absolute against the standard list. In the case of an objection against the standard list from adherents of other absolutes, I feel the logical thing for them to do is to add to the list and demand response rather than disprove it. The truth is, this list is already a challenge that needs a response.
1. Submit yourself for investigation.
If this whole process is about searching out the truth, then it will be involving probing, so that what is not clear can be made clear and what is hidden can be revealed. For any absolute to be the valid absolute, then the absolute must be investigated. He must be subjected to investigation and willingly permit us to investigate Him and ask Him questions as an absolute who forbids investigation is afraid of something. How can we establish a claim if the claim will not be verified?
Any investigation aims to discover what had hitherto been hidden or not known and also to verify claims made. Thus, for an absolute to be the absolute, the claims must be investigated and discoveries made, hidden things revealed and truth established. Embarking on the investigation of an absolute is not a big deal as the absolute throwing the challenge of investigation at us.
The God of the Bible has no phobia for investigation rather, He throws the challenge at us to summon Him and He will respond. He will not only respond to summon, but He will tell us great and unsearchable things we do not know.
“Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” Jeremiah 33:3.
As far as the God of the Bible is concerned, investigating Him is not an issue, He challenged us to ask Him questions, and He will respond. This puts our mind at rest that He is more than willing to cooperate with us as we get set to question Him and the threat of sentencing us for the crime of treason for daring to investigate Him will not rise.
An absolute who refuses to be investigated has failed the first test on the standard list. Though we need to be careful so as not to mix things up here. Questioning him as it appears on the standard list is not the same as questioning His authority. His authority cannot be questioned as He is not accountable to anyone because He is morality and justice personified, however, His magnanimity to allow us to ask Him questions to clarify doubts and shed more light on our understanding of Him should be seen as one of His distinguishing qualities.
2. Basis of authority.
In a case where authority is derived, the one in authority cannot be said to be the final authority as there is another higher level of authority. Thus final authority is never subjected to any other authority as it is the final authority in itself and it is never derived.
If man was created and his authority derivative, it will only be logical to conclude that man has a Creator Who created him and from Whom he derived his authority. It will also be logical to conclude that the One Who created man and gave him his authority has the power to create. Thus for an absolute to be the absolute, He must possess the power to create and not only possess the power to create but must create or must have created.
“Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens. He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion.”
Jeremiah 10:11,12.
The God of the Bible did not make a long list of His basis of authority; the only real basis of the authority of any absolute is creation, and that is exactly what the God of the Bible laid claim to in establishing His absoluteness and His absolute authority over all creatures, whether man or so-called gods. If there is no creation, then nothing will exist and since life and matters exist they must have been created by the Creator God Who in this case is revealed as the God of the Bible. Genesis 1:1. Isaiah 40:22. Isaiah. 51:13.
3. Comprehensive package of redemption.
This is going to be the last on the standard list as frivolities will only cause distraction. It is not impossible for other absolutes to respond to all these three on the standard list but obviously, the way and manner they respond will help us understand them better and know where and how to place them.
The comprehensive package of redemption may just be the deciding factor as the eternal state of humanity depends on how the issue of redemption is addressed. An absolute that has no comprehensive package of redemption cannot claim to be the absolute as the real absolute must address the depravity of man, as that is one thing man cannot counter on his effort. Let the absolutes present us with their comprehensive package of redemption while an absolute without one has finally lost his chance to arguably establish his authenticity and authority.
The problem of sin is a universal one and all religions deal with it in one way or another. Sacrifices, purifications or atonements in the different religions are different ways of handling the problem of sin. However, a comprehensive package of redemption will enable us to know how an absolute regards this problem, its implications and the way out.
People will not seek a cure until they know they are ill. The God of the Bible appreciates this fact, so He had to first point out to man his depraved state and the consequence of his sin; death (separation from God).
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23.
“For the wages of sin is death…” Romans 6:23a.
His solution for sin can only make sense after man has acknowledged he faces an eternal condemnation as a result of his sin.
The God of the Bible did not just condemn sinners to eternal damnation; He provide a way of escape. He did not ask man to seek out on his own the way of redemption, He showed the Way to man.
Sin is a spiritual matter and its consequence will have an eternal effect, thus believing that some physical religious acts of self-righteousness will be enough to atone for sin can only be an exercise in futility. In some religions, the adherents believe that they will attain salvation by their religious acts as their absolutes seem not to initiate a plan of salvation. In such religions, their condemnation or salvation on the day of judgement will be based on the number of good works weighed against their sins committed while alive. However, the God of the Bible takes exception to this kind of redemption plan. Isaiah 64:6.
The way and manner sin is considered and dealt with can go a long way in helping us discover the true absolute. Sin is a major problem in the world today and man has been finding it difficult to effectively deal with it on his own
Man (please note this does not indicate the male gender but humanity in general) has fully proven his inability to counter his sin and elevate himself to the level where he becomes acceptable to the God of creation, as the price of redemption from sin is what man can never pay as a sinner. Some engaged themselves in acts of piety by seclusion and denying themselves food and the basic things of life including pleasure for days just to appease for their sins, but yet they are never free from the guilt of sin.
This inability of man to pay his debt of sin is the reason why those who believe they can atone for their sins by some acts of righteousness only get more engaged in sinful acts once those religious activities are over.
The solution to sin can never come from man but God. To be accepted by the God of creation, the standard will be determined by Him and not by man. The philosophy of right standing with God as taught by man is based solely on work while on the other hand, the philosophy of right standing with God as established by God Himself is based solely on grace.
COMPREHENSIVE PACKAGE OF REDEMPTION
The comprehensive package of redemption according to the God of the Bible consists mainly of 3 key things; atonement, reconciliation and redemption.
ATONEMENT
The procedure of reconciling sinners to God.
When the God of the Bible first addressed the issue of sin on a national scale, He made it clear that for there to be atonement for sin, blood must be shed. Leviticus 16:14,18. Hebrews. 9:19-22.
God did not ask His people to shed the blood of animals because He was bloodthirsty; blood must be shed so that substitutionary sacrifice can be offered because the life of the animal is in the blood.
The God of the Bible tied forgiveness of sin to the shedding of blood, an act that shows how God regards sin. Salvation is not cheap as life must be sacrificed because the consequence of sin in the first instance is death. If blood must be shed and life sacrificed to give salvation to man, it is simply because the price of salvation is life sacrifice. Leviticus 4:13-20. Leviticus 5:5-10.
Those who could not afford to sacrifice goat or lamb were allowed to sacrifice turtle doves or pigeons just to ensure that blood is shed and life was sacrificed. It seems that to the God of the Bible, redemption from sin is not possible without the shedding of blood and sacrifice of life. So, to Him salvation from sin is beyond good works and performing religious rites, it is a matter of blood sacrifice.
A twist was, however, added to this substitutionary sacrifice when a prophecy was given that a time would come when the substitutionary sacrifice would no more be an animal but a man. It means that the sins of the people would no more be atoned for by the blood of animals but by a man whom God would offer as a sacrifice who would have to shed his blood, die and atone for the sins of men. Isaiah 53:4-8.
This prophecy became very important, as the people are required to come to terms with the fact, that the sacrifice of animals was just a pointer to the ultimate sacrifice for sin. If the understanding of this prophecy could be very clear to them, they would eagerly look forward to the time when this perfect sacrifice for sin would be made. The fact that this man of substitutionary sacrifice would have to be killed and die once, which would settle the problem of sin once and for all unlike the killing of animals that was repeated over and over again could not be overemphasized.
The God of the Bible is not oblivious of the guilt of sin, so He asked the people to transfer their guilt of sin to the substitute. A rehearsal of a final future event. Leviticus 1:3-4. Leviticus 16:21-22.
“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” II Corinthians 5:21.
The God of the Bible provided a substitute for us who became sin by becoming the bearer of our sin so that we could be declared not guilty as his righteousness become transferred to us. This might not make sense in some quarters as the sinner is believed and expected to bear the consequence of his or her sin. Unfortunately, man does not have what it takes to atone for his sin, as the sacrifice for atonement by divine order must be without blemish, a standard that automatically disqualifies man.
This alone is an indictment on those who believe acts of religious service can atone for their sin and not the sin-bearer God gave to mankind.
According to the God of the Bible, the atonement will grant forgiveness. Leviticus 4:26,31,35.
If we take a closer look at the model of sacrifices as the LORD outlined it in the book of Leviticus, we will see clearly how this model was pointing to the mission of Jesus Christ on earth. The offerings fell into three broad types. The trespass and sin offerings were usually offered first: they cleansed people from sin. Then came the bunt offerings in which whole animals were burnt to ashes: these sacrifices evidently expressed complete dedication to God. The final sacrifice was the peace offering, essentially a family meal shared in the presence of God. A clear understanding of the sequence of the offerings – forgiveness of sins, then total dedication, then fellowship – will reveal that their goal was fellowship with God. To reach that goal of fellowship with God, forgiveness of sin and complete dedication to God was necessary. Thus, according to the God of the Bible, it is only through the atonement that sin can be forgiven.
Any plan of forgiveness from sin that is not based on atonement is not a plan of the God of the Bible, it is nothing but self-help. Such a plan is man’s idea of what redemption from sin should be and not His idea of what redemption from sin is.
Having established from the Scripture that according to Jehovah, the solution to sin is atonement and not religious activities, let us find out how He resolved it. When God began to give the revelation of how the real and actual atonement which will permanently settle the problem of sin would be accomplished, He likened the permanent sacrifice for atonement to a lamb. Isaiah 53:7-8.
At the time this prophecy was given, no one could confidently say this is how this prophecy was going to be fulfilled. After it was fulfilled, we could confidently point to how it was fulfilled in retrospect. Matthew 27:11-14. John 1:29. Revelation 5:6. Hebrews 9:7-28.
Scriptural evidence clearly shows the methodological approach the God of the Bible took in accomplishing the atonement. He started with symbols to prepare the mind of the people pointing them to the real substance; Jesus Christ.
Those who are arguing that Jesus was not crucified don’t know the God of the Bible and His ways. They don’t understand His plan of salvation and no matter the basis of their argument, it runs contrary to the overwhelming evidence in the Bible that Jesus as the atonement for sin, must die and offer his blood as a sacrifice for sin once and for all which he did. Hebrews 9:12,14. Romans 3:24-25. I Corinthians 5:7. I John 2:2.
“In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.” I John 4:10. (NET)
The atoning blood of Jesus accomplishes all. Our sins are forgiven through the blood of Jesus; “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.” Ephesians 1:7.
We are purified from sin through the blood of Jesus. I John 1:7. We are freed from sin through the blood of Jesus; Revelation 1:5. We are redeemed through the blood of Jesus. I Peter 1:18-19. We stand justified before God through the blood of Jesus. Romans 5:9. We are reconciled with God through the blood of Jesus shed on the cross at Calvary when he was killed. Romans 5:10. Colossians 1:20.
If God only recognizes those who approach Him through the blood of Jesus as the only ones reconciled with Him, then what happens to those who refuse to acknowledge the death and resurrection of Jesus and approach God through the blood of Jesus? If they are not reconciled with God, then they remain in their sin declaring themselves as enemies of God. We are made holy through the blood of Jesus. Hebrews 13:12. The power of the devil is destroyed through the blood of Jesus. Hebrews 2:14. Colossians 2:15.
RECONCILIATION
Establishing harmony between conflicting parties.
The beginning of enmity between God and man could be traced to when the first parents sinned against God in the Garden of Eden and instead of fellowshipping with Him, they went into hiding when they heard His voice after they had fallen into sin. Genesis 3:8.
From that time onward, our desires and lifestyles became hostile to God as sinners and all man could think of was sin. Colossians 1:21.
If man became the enemy of God through sin, then reconciliation between God and man became a must or man would remain the enemy of God forever. However, it was not only man that became the enemy of God due to sin, nature was also cursed due to the sin of man. Genesis. 3:14-18.
It is only the divine who can reconcile us to Himself, and the God of the Bible actually took the initiative; “God has done it all! He sent Christ to make peace between himself and us, and he has given us the work of making peace between himself and others.” II Corinthians 5:18. (CEV). II Corinthians 5:19.
REDEMPTION
Freedom obtained through a price paid.
A slave and a free-born obviously will not place the same premium on freedom. While the word will make all the sense in the world to the slave, the word will make no difference to the free-born who has been living free all the days of his or her life. In the context under review, our slavery was not unto man but rather, unto sin. John 8: 31-34. Romans 6:17.
The cost of this freedom is beyond any man. “Certainly a man cannot rescue his brother; he cannot pay God an adequate ransom price (the ransom price for a human life is too high……” Psalms 49: 7, 8. (NET Bible)
Looking at the cost of this freedom, it is only God that can fulfil the requirement and pay the price and the Bible says He did just that. Romans 3:24.
In securing our redemption from sin, God achieved that through His Son Jesus Christ. Colossians 1:13,14. The cost of buying freedom for us from sin is the blood of Jesus. Ephesians 1:7.
“You know that from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors you were ransomed – not by perishable things like silver or gold, but by precious blood like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb, namely Christ.” I Peter 1:18,19. (NET Bible). Revelation 5:9.
The God of the Bible is always willing to reveal Himself to those who seek Him and takes delight in granting unrestricted access to the salvation package. If you truly desire peace from your inner struggles and freedom from the weight of your moral depravity, then swallow your pride, bury your shame and seek help. You don’t know how willing He is to rescue you. He is waiting to embrace you and welcome you into the kingdom of light. All you need to do is, come.
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matt. 11:28
Copyright © 2022
Abiodun Adeleke
Author
Absolute Truth vs Relative Truth
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