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The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Vol 1 - Predestination

The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Vol 1 - Predestination

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punishment <strong>and</strong> prolonged life, but brought good,<br />

even <strong>the</strong> final redemption to Israel <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> world at<br />

large. It surpassed <strong>the</strong> observance <strong>of</strong> all <strong>the</strong><br />

comm<strong>and</strong>ments, <strong>and</strong> was as meritorious as if one<br />

had restored <strong>the</strong> Temple <strong>and</strong> Altar, <strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong>fered all<br />

sacrifices.^ One hour <strong>of</strong> penitence <strong>and</strong> good works<br />

out- »vayyik. weighed <strong>the</strong> whole world to come.<br />

<strong>The</strong>se are only a few <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> extravagant statements<br />

by which Babbinism extolled repentance. But,<br />

when more closely examined, we find that this<br />

repentance, as precede ing <strong>the</strong> free welcome <strong>of</strong><br />

invitation to <strong>the</strong> sinner, was only ano<strong>the</strong>r form <strong>of</strong><br />

work-righteousness. This is, at any rate, one<br />

meaning' <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> saying which conjoined <strong>the</strong> Law<br />

<strong>and</strong> repentance, <strong>and</strong> represented <strong>the</strong>m as preceding<br />

<strong>the</strong> Creation.^ Ano<strong>the</strong>r would seem derived from<br />

•fm.m*; a kind <strong>of</strong> Manichssan view <strong>of</strong> sin.<br />

According to it, Qod Himself was really <strong>the</strong> author<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Yetser haRay or evil impulse ' Q <strong>the</strong> law in<br />

our members *), for which, indeed, <strong>the</strong>re was an<br />

absolute necessity, if <strong>the</strong> world was to continue.* •<br />

Hence,' <strong>the</strong> penitent' was really' <strong>the</strong> great *Tom»<br />

9$ »» one,' since his strong nature had more in it <strong>of</strong>

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