Judaism: Problems
Problems:
Trinity
God is one, but He exists eternally in Three Persons
Jesus is called God in the Old Testament, and claimed to be God Himself.
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Is 9:6).
“Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.’” (Jn 8:58)
Man
People think of themselves as being good, but the Old Testament also teaches that man is by nature evil
“God looks down from heaven on the children of man to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.” (Psalm 53:2,3)
“Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.” (Eccl. 7:20)
“But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.” (Isa. 59:2)
And when the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, the Lord said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done.” (Gen 8:21).
The idea that man has evil and good inclinations with a free will that simply chooses between them is contrary to experience. People make choices based upon their desires and feelings, which means their will is continually influenced by their inclinations.
Atonement
“For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.” (Lev. 17:11)
“He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows5 and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Is 53:3-6).
“Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.” (Ps 2:12).
The reason atonement is not necessary today (and that God could overlook sin during the exile when the temple did not exist) is that animal sacrifices were merely a picture of what Jesus Christ would do in paying for sin with His blood.
“For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” (Heb 10:4).
“And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God.” (Heb 10:11-12)
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” (Ro 3:23-26).
Afterlife
“And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” (Da 12:2).
Conclusion
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”(Mt 11:28-30).