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But you have not addrresed the Torah issue. That my friend is foundational. Not an opinion, but a problem for the Jew.
Not a problem: no Temple, no animal sacrifices; when the Moshiach comes and the Third Temple is built, there will be animal sacrifices in the Third Temple.
1. reading for understanding is my goal. I have heard of people who read over the course of a year or two, bit by bit, and come away with a solid knowledge base of understanding what they've just read. I know it's not any old book I can fly through and comprehend just by reading it non-stop.
2. I guess I don't understand how the Bible is organized, other than the things I've heard in common talk: Old & New Testaments, gospels, books, psalms, though I don't know where these fall in the Bible...but I've seen a few posts saying read the 'books' (which I believe are those such as John, Matthew, etc.?) before reading others. Is the Bible organized in this manner? Are the books "first"? Or is it something that just makes sense once you start reading?
In the New Testament, it starts with the gospels, or accounts of Jesus' life. Then come the Acts of the Apostles, or the beginning of the church. After that are letters written by disciples of Christ to local churches or other believers; men such as Paul, Peter, John, and even Jesus' brother James. Again, as a long-time student of the Bible, I highly encourage you to start here.
In the OT, I think the Psalms could be very helpful to a seeker like yourself.
Not a problem: no Temple, no animal sacrifices; when the Moshiach comes and the Third Temple is built, there will be animal sacrifices in the Third Temple.
So how do you atone for sins? The Torah is clear.
And what is this view based on? The Temple was destroyed-allowd by G-d. Not some kind of a Get Out of Jail free card theologically. I think G-d was saying the Old Covenant was finished. Why else would the System of Sacifices be ended? Jesus came and a generation had time to make the choice. Is G-d so weak that the Romans had the power to destroy the Temple and negate the Law of Moses? I think not.
Point: we Christians look forward to the Third temple also.
I think G-d was saying the Old Covenant was finished.
According to one of the greatest rabbinic sages, Maimonides (Rabbi Moses ben Maimon, otherwise known by the acronym Rambam, 1135-1204 C.E.), "The Written Torah (first 5 books of the Bible) and Oral Torah (teachings now contained in the Talmud and other writings) were given to Moishe (Moses) and there will be no other Torah. (Source: Rambam's thirteen principles of faith)
According to one of the greatest rabbinic sages, Maimonides (Rabbi Moses ben Maimon, otherwise known by the acronym Rambam, 1135-1204 C.E.), "The Written Torah (first 5 books of the Bible) and Oral Torah (teachings now contained in the Talmud and other writings) were given to Moishe (Moses) and there will be no other Torah. (Source: Rambam's thirteen principles of faith)
All well and good. When was your last visit to the Temple to do what is written in the Torah? The commandments to offer your sacrifices? As it is written?
All well and good. When was your last visit to the Temple to do what is written in the Torah? The commandments to offer your sacrifices? As it is written?
As I already wrote, when the Moshiach comes and the Third Temple is built.
The closer you get to the original Hebrew and Greek the better off you will be. So, that being the case I would most definitely suggest the Concordant Literal New Testament and Old Testament. The CLNT has cleared up many troubling issues I had over the years.
original NIV, NASB, NKJV. All the others I'd avoid. If there are some very good, why bother with the junk.
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