Repentance is only done by FAITH. It was done precisely the same way it’s done now; by Faith. People were required to have faith in the Messiah before Jesus was born, during His earthly lifetime, and after He was raised to live in the Spirit WHEN HE RETURNED TO GOD’S GLORY.
Romans 1:16-17 “For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. IT IS THE POWER OF GOD AT WORK, SAVING EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES—the Jew first and also the Gentile. This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “IT IS THROUGH FAITH THAT A RIGHTEOUS PERSON HAS LIFE.”
Animal sacrifice was NOT Repentance. It was ATONEMENT for sin.
Repentance means turning away from sin; it’s a change of heart.
Animal sacrifice was not effective in changing people’s hearts because it was only a physical ritual, not faith.
Exodus 26:34 “Then put the Ark’s cover—the place of atonement—on top of the Ark of the Covenant inside the Most Holy Place.”
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- atonement means reparation for a wrong or injury, making amends.
Hebrews 9:9-10 “This is an illustration pointing to the present time. For the gifts and sacrifices that the priests offer are NOT ABLE TO CLEANSE THE CONSCIENCES OF THE PEOPLE who bring them. For that old system deals only with food and drink and various cleansing ceremonies—physical regulations that were in effect only until a better system could be established.”
Romans 4:11–15
“CIRCUMCISION WAS A SIGN THAT ABRAHAM ALREADY HAD FAITH AND THAT GOD HAD ALREADY ACCEPTED HIM AND DECLARED HIM TO BE RIGHTEOUS—even before he was circumcised. So Abraham is the spiritual father of those who have FAITH but have not been circumcised. They are counted as righteous because of their FAITH. And Abraham is also the spiritual father of those who have been circumcised, but ONLY IF THEY HAVE THE SAME KIND OF FAITH ABRAHAM HAD BEFORE HE WAS CIRCUMCISED. Clearly, God’s promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was based not on his obedience to god’s law, BUT ON A RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THAT COMES BY FAITH. If God’s promise is only for those who obey the law, then faith is not necessary and the promise is pointless. FOR THE LAW ALWAYS BRINGS PUNISHMENT ON THOSE WHO TRY TO OBEY IT. (The only way to avoid breaking the law is to have no law to break!)”
Galatians 5:22-23 “BUT THE HOLY SPIRIT PRODUCES THIS KIND OF FRUIT IN OUR LIVES: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”
1 Kings 8:46–51
“If they sin against you—and who has never sinned?—you might become angry with them and let their enemies conquer them and take them captive to their land far away or near. But in that land of exile, THEY MIGHT TURN TO YOU IN REPENTANCE AND PRAY, ‘We have sinned, done evil, and acted wickedly.’ IF THEY TURN TO YOU WITH THEIR WHOLE HEART AND SOUL in the land of their enemies and pray toward the land you gave to their ancestors—toward this city you have chosen, and toward this Temple I have built to honor your name— then hear their prayers and their petition from heaven where you live, and uphold their cause. Forgive your people who have sinned against you. Forgive all the offenses they have committed against you. Make their captors merciful to them, for they are your people—your special possession—whom you brought out of the iron-smelting furnace of Egypt.”
- It is clear that repentance is a matter of FAITH which involves whole HEART AND SOUL, and not a physical body and rituals. It is still true today.
Isaiah 45:21
“Consult together, argue your case. Get together and decide what to say. Who made these things known so long ago? What idol ever told you they would happen? WAS IT NOT I, THE LORD? FOR THERE IS NO OTHER GOD BUT ME, A RIGHTEOUS GOD AND SAVIOR. THERE IS NONE BUT ME.”
- God, our SAVIOR was born in human flesh; as Jesus Christ, while remaining in Spirit at the same time.
- Jeremiah 23:23-24 “AM I A GOD WHO IS ONLY CLOSE AT HAND?” SAYS THE LORD. “NO, I AM FAR AWAY AT THE SAME TIME. CAN ANYONE HIDE FROM ME IN A SECRET PLACE? AM I NOT EVERYWHERE IN ALL THE HEAVENS AND EARTH?” SAYS THE LORD.” 🥰