Episode 41 discusses the early pagan beliefs in salvation by human sacrifice, the advanced teachings of Melchizedek, and the Old Testament assurances of salvation through faith.

 

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Transcript
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I Am a Son of God

14. Salvation before Jesus–The Advance of Melchizedek

(Ep 41)

          Definition. My Webster’s dictionary lists the first two major definitions of salvation as “1: the saving of man from the power and effects of sin [and] 2: liberation from clinging to the phenomenal world of appearance and final union with ultimate reality.”

         Four elements in the salvation taught by Jesus. The salvation taught by Jesus embraced four major elements. These four elements are mentioned or implied in the Webster’s definition above. The first element is salvation from sin. In this regard we may note that people have sought salvation from numerous things, such as deliverance from difficulties, danger, oppression, and enemies.  But true religious salvation is salvation from sin. The second major element is the requirement that we let go of our attachment to the passing realities of the material world. The third element is the requirement that we unite with ultimate spiritual reality, with a reality that survives the death of our body. The fourth major element in the salvation taught by Jesus and implied by the Websters definition above is that we not only survive mortal death–we also attain eternal life.

         History–salvation from sin. Primitive man regarded himself as being born in debt to the spirit world. The soul was looked upon as coming into the world under forfeit–original sin. On top of this there was the constant fear of offending the Gods by acts that ran counter to the will of the spirit world, or by failure to observe rituals and actions favored by the Gods. The soul stood in need of redemption; it must be ransomed. A scapegoat, which is defined by Websters as, “a person or thing bearing the blame for others,” must be found. In this regard it is interesting to note that the original meaning of scapegoat was “a goat upon whose head are symbolically placed the sins of the people after which he is sent into the wilderness in the biblical ceremony for Yom Kippur.” (Webster’s) Early humans held to the belief that to attain salvation from sin the soul must be ransomed, the Gods must be appeased, must be compensated for the sinful nature and actions of man.

         Salvation by blood sacrifice. Thus, the concept of salvation from sin made its appearance on earth long before the knowledge of revealed religion. Primitive man believed that something special must be done to win the favor of the Gods. They early on accepted the pagan idea that the Gods could not be appeased except by the sight of blood. Many early tribes practiced human sacrifice. In fact, at one time human sacrifice was virtually universal, and it long persisted in the customs of many religions.

         Blood sacrifice by the Hebrews. This idea of human sacrifice, as shocking as it is to the modern mind, was not a strange idea in past ages and was still practiced by the early Hebrews. Hebrews 9:22 affirms that, “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin.” In a related matter it was long a prevalent practice among many tribes for fathers, at times of great emotional stress, to sacrifice their first-born sons. An example of this practice was the spectacle of Abraham feeling constrained to sacrifice his first-born son, Isaac. (Gen 22:1-12)

         Jephthah and Moses’ substitution of animal sacrifice. A more tragic example of the practice of human sacrifice is found in the story of Jephthah and his only daughter, which is recounted in Judges 11:30-39. He made a foolish vow that, if God would give the Israelites victory over the Ammonites, he would sacrifice whoever came out of his door first to meet him returning from the battle. He probably assumed this would be one of his slaves, but it was his only daughter who came out first to meet him. And after two months she was sacrificed in keeping with the vow he had made to God. This was done in the face of Moses’ stringent rulings against the offering of human sacrifices. Moses had made a distinct advance when he taught the Hebrews to substitute animal sacrifice for human sacrifice. Unfortunately, human sacrifice had long been practiced, and Moses’ directions were not always followed.

         Melchizedek. A critical advance in the understanding of what is required for salvation was made by the teachings of Melchizedek. Melchizedek was a divine being who dwelt on earth at the time of Abraham. As the writer of Hebrews recounts, “He is without father or mother or genealogy, and has neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the son of God he continues a priest forever.” (Heb 7:3; my italics) In fact, Melchizedek was such a high and divine being that Hebrews 7:17, compares Jesus to Melchizedek, proclaiming of Jesus that, “Thou art a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.” Even though the writer of Hebrews reversed their roles, since Melchizedek is actually a high son of Jesus, this passage demonstrates that Melchizedek was recognized as a being of divine origin like Jesus.

         Melchizedek and Abraham. The writer of Hebrews describes the relation of Melchizedek to Abraham as follows: “For this Melchizedek, king of Salem [which is modern Jerusalem], priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him; and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is king of peace…. See how great he is! Abraham the patriarch gave him a tithe of the spoils.” (Heb 7:1-2, 4; my brackets and italics)

         Melchizedek and the faith covenant. Melchizedek was “the messenger of the covenant” referred to by Malachi in 3:1: “and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.” (my italics) Melchizedek was Lord to Abraham; he was the “priest of God Most High.” (Gen 14:18) Abraham recognized him as God’s representative on earth, and conversations between the divine Melchizedek and Abraham were referred to in the Bible as between God and Abraham. It was Melchizedek, the divine son of God, who brought to the earth the message of God’s covenant with humanity: If man will believe God’s promises and follow His instructions he may trust in God for everything. The first confirmation of this covenant involved Abraham’s desire for a son to succeed him as ruler of his kingdom. Soon after Abraham accepted the faith covenant to “trust and obey” God, Isaac was born in fulfillment of the covenant. Further, Melchizedek prophesied to Abraham: “Look toward heaven, and number the stars if you are able to number them…. So shall your descendants be.” (Gen 15:5).

         Melchizedek brought revealed religion, salvation through faith in God.  Melchizedek brought revealed religion to Abraham. Before this time the Semitic tribesmen believed that salvation could only be achieved through sacrifices and atonement for sin. Melchizedek, as part of the divine covenant with Abraham, revealed the good news that salvation, favor with God, is to be had by faith alone–not by works.

         The teaching of salvation through faith in God. Many of Abraham’s descendants found this doctrine of salvation through faith in God too simple and advanced to rely on. They reverted to their olden practices of salvation through sacrifices and offerings. However, their great leaders and prophets, such as Isaiah, continued to teach Melchizedek’s doctrine of salvation through faith. Following are a few examples from the Old Testament that teach salvation from sin is freely available to those who have the faith to trust in God:

Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! (Is 45:22)

         Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation. (Is 12:2)

I wait for thy salvation, O Lord. (Gen 49:18)

         I rejoice in thy salvation. (1 Sam 2:2)

         Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the House of the Lord forever. (Ps 23:6)

Sing to the Lord, all the earth! Tell of his salvation from day to day. (1 Chr 16:23)

my deliverance will be forever, and my salvation to all generations. (Is 51:8)

  I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall exult in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, (Is 61:10)

         Summary.  In summary, salvation was available to men and women before the time of Jesus through the Melchizedek covenant to trust in God and obey his commandments. But it was little realized and practiced. It was still widely believed that salvation could only be secured by works–sacrifices and offerings, rituals, priests, fasting, poverty, celibacy, and mortification of the flesh. It fell to Jesus, to once and for all, make clear both by his teaching and his demonstration of life after death on the cross, that salvation is real and attainable through faith in God, our loving heavenly Father.

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