But Chipan, according to the bible, wasn't it God's intention to become man in the form of Jesus? If God willingly allows his son (himself?) to die for the purpose of atoning for the sins of all mankind (I know it sounds crazy), then didn't God sacrifice his son Jesus (in order to satisfy Himself that humans were worthy of forgiveness)?
In battle if one soldier jumps on a grenade to save his fellow soldiers it would be accurate to say he sacrificed himself. Of course it was the enemy's weapon that actually killed him, but it was the soldier himself who accepted death. In that sense Jesus too was a sacrifice.
Of course sacrificing stuff to the gods was pretty popular back then. But I don't think anyone is saying Jesus was ritually offered up to God by the Jews or the Romans. It was God Himself who sacrificed His son/self in order to convince Himself to cut mankind a break. Again, I know it sounds crazy but that's why I don't like reading the bible.
In battle if one soldier jumps on a grenade to save his fellow soldiers it would be accurate to say he sacrificed himself. Of course it was the enemy's weapon that actually killed him, but it was the soldier himself who accepted death. In that sense Jesus too was a sacrifice.
Of course sacrificing stuff to the gods was pretty popular back then. But I don't think anyone is saying Jesus was ritually offered up to God by the Jews or the Romans. It was God Himself who sacrificed His son/self in order to convince Himself to cut mankind a break. Again, I know it sounds crazy but that's why I don't like reading the bible.
