GoD's WorK - God's Puzzle Solved

Purpose Of God’s Temple39God’s mercy seat was located there. What God wanted from Israelwas repentance - a change of mind and heart. The mercyseat was established as God’s throne of forgiveness. As longas Israel had a heart of stone and were unrepentant, then Godwould not forgive their sins (II Corinthians 3:7). Without theirsins being forgiven, God would not dwell with them and be theirGod. He, therefore, remained as their judge, without mercy. Ifthey didn’t keep the entire Law, He would not accept them, butrather had them put to death. That is, also, what Paul told Timothy(I Timothy 1:8-9).The Law was needed only for the unrepentant, unrighteous andthe unforgiven sinners. That is why The Law was put into the sideof “the ark” - and not inside “the mercy seat.” Mercy or forgivenesscould only be given if one’s heart was fleshly (repentant)and not made of stone. God wanted Israel to keep His Ten Commandmentsin their hearts (Deuteronomy 5:29). Then, and onlythen, would God give them mercy or forgiveness.Read Christ’s answer when He gave a parable about the temple(Luke 17:9-14). Christ said that those who think they are righteousbecause they have the truth - and look down on others- were compared to the two men who went up to the temple topray (Prayer is talking to God to make your feelings and requestsknown). One man was a Pharisee who kept The Letter of The Law,but did not understand The Spirit of The Law. The Pharisee whodid not know or understand The Letter of The Law, was bringinghis request to Christ (Galatians 3:24). The Publican, who was asinner and guilty according to The Letter of The Law, knew hewas a sinner. What did The Pharisee pray? The Pharisee said, “Ifast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess” (Luke18:12). He made sure that he kept The Letter of The Law. ThePublican merely said, “God be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke