I know it is/was required as stated in the Old Testament.  But I am looking for why God asked for it?
136757
From the very beginning of sin in the Garden of Eden, the consequence for sin is death.  God gave Adam and Eve a graphic reminder of that when He killed animals and clothed them in the skins.  God gave us another reminder of that when He gave Noah and his family the animals to eat (before that, God had not given humanity permission to eat animals).  When you eat a hamburger, that's a God-ordained reminder that something has to die so that you can live.  The Old Testament sacrifical system is another reminder.  Every year on the Day of Atonement, sacrifice would be made for the sins of the nation for that year -- another reminder that because people sinned, an innocent animal had to die.  God used these reminders to ingrain in human consciousness that death is the penalty for sin, so that we would understand the magnitude of what Christ did for us on the cross.
226491
Good question but no contradiction here.\n\nFirst you are dealing with two different covenants. In the Old Testament to not keep the law was a curse. Jesus came to fulfill the law so those who accept Jesus are under the New Covenant in His blood and therefore are not under the law any longer. Read on in Galatians 3 and you will see the purpose of the law was to bring people to Jesus. \n\nSecond Jesus was cursed on the cross as He took our sin and as He hung on a tree. This curse He took to free us who were cursed by our breaking of God's law. By Jesus dieing on the cross for our sin He fulfilled every sacrificial law in the OT including every law that needed to be kept in order to be right with God. Does this mean we don't keep the law as Christians? Nope. It means as Christians we are saved because Jesus saved us and now we keep the law in obedience to Him but it does not save us as we are already saved in Jesus. Jesus perfectly fulfilled the law (See Romans 8) because we could not so now we place our faith in Him to be saved. \n\nRead all of Galatians 3 then check out Romans 8 and you'll get some further clarification and you'll see that there is no contradiction between what Jesus says and what Paul says. Especially since Paul was inspired by the Holy Spirit. \n\nIn short Jesus fulfilled the law in becoming a curse for us so we would no longer be under the curse of the law. \n\n2 Corinthians 5:21, "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."
373468
The Old Testament, was transcended by the New Testament.  Hence the terms, old and new.  The Old Testament is about works and law, the New Testament is about grace and mercy.\n\nJesus says he desires mercy, more than sacrifice.\n\nAlso, He states that the 2 "laws" that fulfill all the others are to love the Lord with all the heart, mind, soul, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself.\n\nThe rest of the ten commandments would most likely be ways we would act in loving our neighbor as ourself.  But it would not be because it was a rule, it would be because of love.\n\nI think because the first "Christians" had no written New Testament, and were Jews, the Old Testament remained as a teaching tool in the services.  Also, they used the OT prophesy to prove to others that Jesus was the Messiah.\n\nAs instruction in the way of life and faith, the teachings of Jesus supercede it, and the study of Jesus teachings alone, are beyond sufficient.
432655
yep because the jews were trying to say this in acts 15\n\n5Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses...\n\n& 11 says this 11No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."\n\nand its summed up with what you say in the Question\n\n19& 20 19"It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God20Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.
163242
Because we have the Bible now. God speaks specifically to us and confirms it in His Word. There is nothing more that God wants to say to us beyond what Jesus already said. That is, to not ignore your eternal destiny and take advantage of His free gift of salvation through His Son.
443962
it really depends on which god you're speaking of. the god of the jews and christians (being one in the same) is an all knowing god and hardly needs to ask us anything. war being the current political issue on the books i guess the ? could be something in the neighborhood of "why is oil so important to you when i've offered you other alternatives?" spiritually speaking i'm guessing the ? could be "you see the miracle of life all around you every day and still you question my existance.  what don't you understand?" as a mere mortal i can hardly speculate as to the wonderings of a diety. as your fellow human i have to ask "if god were real?" be you pagan, christian, jew, or muslam, you simply cannot question the existance of at least some supreme being.
621567
When the bible talks about killing animals as a sacrifice in the old testament, God instituted this practice as a means of atonement for the sins of the people ( this was a foreshadowing of the death and sacrifice of Jesus for the sins of the world)--this was pleasing to God at that time because the whole purpose of it was for the good of His people.  God instituted the 10  commandments and they are perfect and without a flaw-i think you would agree with that.  When He said "thou shall not murder" this means you shall not kill with PREMEDITATED MALICE, which is a big difference compared to killing with a malicious intent.\nWhen God ordered that if any of the people of Isreal commited incest, homosexuality, etc. be put to death, He did not viewed this as sin but as a way of keeping morality and not allowing that sin to spread among the people because He knew that was not healthy and helpful for them nor for His plans for them.\nGod DOES love every one of us who are sinners, from liars, to homosexuals, to the most evil person on the face of this earth.  If He doesn't, He would have never bother to come as a man ( Jesus ) to die and take it upon Himself OUR sins; that's what the bible refers to as the grace of God, the BEST free, undeserving gift anyone can ever get.\nGod DOES NOT order Christians to hate, judge nor to murder homosexuals because we have to remember that we are sinners saved by grace.  God's "arms" are extended out to all and when a person who is homosexual accepts Jesus Christ as savior, that person is supposed to strive to live and become more like Christ each day-they need to put on "the new man" and live according to the Spirit and not according to the flesh,and this can only be done through the help of the Holy Spirit.\nSince we are now living under grace( the new covenant), the statutes institued by God in the old testament (the old covenant) becamed nulled.  Today, they are no animal sacrifices for atoning of sins nor is killing of those who practice incest, homosexuality allowed. So, God is not a big, hairy hippocrite like you said, He is the opposite-a big, loving God who only wants the best for us.  Now, all of this won't make any sense to you if you don't read the bible and ask God for understanding.  If you have any more questions I ask you to email me at heavencallingu2@aol.com. May God Bless You and I'll pray for you to get understanding!
314407
look at the story. Jebhthah never ask God what to do so in a macho way he delivers up this prayer. since you do not seem to mind reading the old testament how many leaders ask God how to overcome their enemies?but Jebhthah never takes the time to find out what God wants to do and does it his own why. is that what God wanted (His Will) very much doubt it since He destroys nations for sacrificing their children. but Jephthah never took time to find out Gods will.if you do not seek Gods will in your life you can justified every sin, such as this one.
494726
Exactly.  Why did Jesus HAVE to die?  Why was it necessary?  Why did God set that rule?  God could've just as easily said "Jesus, if you pick that daisy over there, you will become the redeemer of mankind".  It could've been that easy.  But no.  God had to REQUIRE that his only son let himself be killed in a brutal, excruciating way.
316438
Having grown up in Pentecostal churches I can say that it is a doctrinal statement and NOT a scripture. It is derived from reading of the experiences of the early church and evangelistic successes. The true evidence of having received the Holy Spirt are the fruit as others have mentioned. Certainly we would expect "Holiness" right? And of course Jesus made it an absolute requirement for His disciples.\nWhy? \nI have been working on this for years... I believe we are to wait corporately for a revelation of Jesus as "glorified King". This is what we are to be witnesses of. It was this revelation that transformed common men into "uncommon" men. This is when they really changed. After that event they were unstoppable and filled with power. They were effective and walked in wisdom. I think this is our mandate also. What do you think about my suggestion?
367289
God won't do that.\n\nHe said as much.\n\nIf you were familiar enough with the old covenant (Old Testament) and the new (New Testament), you'd know that God will no longer ask such things of people.
543449
The laws you are quoting are from Levitical law.  We wouldn't understand them in our 21st century culture, but they were necessary is keeping the society that was present more than three millennia ago in check, as all laws do.  If you could see what was permissable in societies surrounding the Israelites, you'd probably be horrified; infant sacrifice, for instance.  \n\nThe New Testament, being composed 1200-1400 years later, takes a different view of the law; as society has changed, it needed more than laws to keep it in check, but someone to embody and fulfil the law; hence Jesus.  Even with that, though, sin is still there and certain practices (homosexuality and witchcraft, for example) are still forbidden.  But they don't have the same command of death as a result.\n\nWhat you're referencing is Levitical law without the presence of Jesus to atone for the sins of the people.  Since I assume you didn't invent this list yourself, I would hypothesize it's actually used as a criticism of Jewish culture; or a particular figure like Dr. Laura.
358143
Not that i can really claim that i speak for God but one of the functions of having a set of laws could very well be to create a necesity for reconcilation. Until there are rules to be broken its hard to really know one is screwing things up isnt it?. Until people realize they are flawed and that they fall short it is a little bit more difficult to understand why exactly we need to change from the course we are on. Also its hard to realize that there may be something different (better?) out there for us. Its hard to understand that there is a God humanity may fall short of and thusly need in their lives without a set of Laws.
382216
The context in Luke is putting anything above God in your life. If you do that you are not worthy of Him. You have to hate everything in your life compared to Him. That's what it is saying. It has no connection with the Law in Exodus....   Jim
30765
This is what Moses wrote after hearing God. God wrote this for the Jews, who were the chosen people. (Later a Jew, Jesus, saved the world) The Jews were chosen to carry on in order to foster the Messiah (Jesus). The Jews had been slaves, and had many enimies. This is His instructions for the Jews, to ensure their survival, while giving them law and order. The Jews must survive, in order to bring about the messiah, and complete the story of man, with a happy ending, after Adams disobedience in the Garden of Eden (heaven). But I am not God, and do not know His reasons, so you must pray and ask Him yourself.
576139
Hmm you bring up an intresting point.. But I would need to search it out my self.. in scripture..  So to answer your question I would say I am not too sure that is true...
518626
Apologies for pasting so many verses, but what better to answer this question then the book that holds the answer?\n\nHebrews 9:16-28 NIV\n\n16In the case of a will,[there is a note here in the NIV that the Greek word "diathēkē" that is translated "will" in both vs. 16 and 17 is the same word used in, for example, Heb. 8:9 that means "covenant"] it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, 17because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. 18This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood. 19When Moses had proclaimed every commandment of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves, together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people. 20He said, "This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep."[Ex. 24:8]21In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. 22In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. \n\n 23It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence. 25Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. 26Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.\n\nAgain, sorry about the length of the pasting, but this should answer your question pretty well.  God bless!