Why O.T. Sacrifices At All?
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They weren't saved like you and I. Sacrifices were required for the forgiveness of sins in the Old Testament. Even though sacrifices forgave sins, they could not take away sins completely. Their obedience to the law temporarily forgave their sins, but they were not cleared.
Exodus 34:7 “Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.”
Because the sacrifices of animal blood could not clear sins, upon death, the OT saint would be kept "safe" in Abraham's bosom across the great gulf from hell fire.
Exodus 34:7 “Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.”
Because the sacrifices of animal blood could not clear sins, upon death, the OT saint would be kept "safe" in Abraham's bosom across the great gulf from hell fire.
God did things physically in the Old Testament that He now does spiritually in the New Testament. How could we understand Jesus’ parables if we didn’t first understand the physical side compared to the spiritual side? We have to understand the physical first- that’s why there were physical sacrifices in the Old Testament. They represented Jesus- the perfect sacrificed Lamb of God. It was for our understanding, the blood of animals never saved anyone, but thier obedience in doing so postponed their sin debt till the cross. Christ was sacrificed one time for all who would obey God. Faith is obedience, as are deeds. Faith without physical obedience is voided obedience. Abraham through faith physically put Isaac on the alter to obey God.
Their sins were forgiven but not cleared for the blood of bulls and goats could not TAKE AWAY sins but cover them temporarily until the blood of Christ would clear them. They had no understanding of the cross. Not even Peter and the disciples knew about the cross. It was hid until after the resurrected. If the cross were understood, Satan would have never initiated it to happen. Satan thought he was gaining the victory through the death of Christ.
The terms of the Sinaitic covenant were very clear!
While faith was a crucial aspect of salvation in every era it would be a true mistake to believe that more than a tiny minority of Israelites were ever saved.
Also, in terms of the Sinaitic covenant no one was ever saved by animal sacrifice - animal sacrifice offered only a limited atonement as in only specified sins at a specific point in time were atoned for - that was why they had to be repeated over and over again. No sin offering in terms of this covenant ever offered a blanket unconditional atonement.
As New covenant believers, we now understand the role that animal sacrifice played:
It gave everyone a tangible grip on the consequences of sin - sin cannot be atoned for apart from death and the shedding of blood;
Sin has a price! One cannot atone for sin in terms of the Sinaitic covenant apart from sacrificing (or first buying) the best livestock one has. The cost of losing (or having to buy) livestock for sin offerings was considerable for a largely pastoral population! God knew that the Israelites were a proud and rebellious people (seems not much has changed for all races and groups!) and so sin, and the consequences and price of sin, were decisively implanted into minds of the all Israelites. It was this aspect that Paul references in Romans 7:13 where he says this: "But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful." Rom 7:13.
The Israelites always knew that more was required, that they could not, of themselves, give, in order to access salvation and heaven. We now know that the fulness of salvation is offered by the sin sacrifice and shed blood of Jesus Christ. In this sense the animal sacrifices under the Sinaitic covenant were nothing more that a picture, or shadow, of what was to come in the ministry of Jesus Christ!
Nothing has changed today in the sense that sacrifice for sin and the shedding of blood is STILL required for salvation!
The ONLY difference is that in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, His sacrifice and shed blood allows an offer of once-for-all salvation, not the limited atonement of the Sinaitic covenant. And, just as it was for believing Abraham, this offer of salvation is offered by grace through faith Eph 2:8-10.
While faith was a crucial aspect of salvation in every era it would be a true mistake to believe that more than a tiny minority of Israelites were ever saved.
Also, in terms of the Sinaitic covenant no one was ever saved by animal sacrifice - animal sacrifice offered only a limited atonement as in only specified sins at a specific point in time were atoned for - that was why they had to be repeated over and over again. No sin offering in terms of this covenant ever offered a blanket unconditional atonement.
As New covenant believers, we now understand the role that animal sacrifice played:
It gave everyone a tangible grip on the consequences of sin - sin cannot be atoned for apart from death and the shedding of blood;
Sin has a price! One cannot atone for sin in terms of the Sinaitic covenant apart from sacrificing (or first buying) the best livestock one has. The cost of losing (or having to buy) livestock for sin offerings was considerable for a largely pastoral population! God knew that the Israelites were a proud and rebellious people (seems not much has changed for all races and groups!) and so sin, and the consequences and price of sin, were decisively implanted into minds of the all Israelites. It was this aspect that Paul references in Romans 7:13 where he says this: "But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful." Rom 7:13.
The Israelites always knew that more was required, that they could not, of themselves, give, in order to access salvation and heaven. We now know that the fulness of salvation is offered by the sin sacrifice and shed blood of Jesus Christ. In this sense the animal sacrifices under the Sinaitic covenant were nothing more that a picture, or shadow, of what was to come in the ministry of Jesus Christ!
Nothing has changed today in the sense that sacrifice for sin and the shedding of blood is STILL required for salvation!
The ONLY difference is that in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, His sacrifice and shed blood allows an offer of once-for-all salvation, not the limited atonement of the Sinaitic covenant. And, just as it was for believing Abraham, this offer of salvation is offered by grace through faith Eph 2:8-10.
Leviticus 19:21-22
21 And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the Lord, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, even a ram for a trespass offering.
22 And the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering before the Lord for his sin which he hath done: and the sin which he hath done shall be forgiven him.
Again, under the OT law, a man's sin could be forgiven but not cleared. Under the blood of Jesus, a man's sin is forgiven and cleared.
21 And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the Lord, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, even a ram for a trespass offering.
22 And the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering before the Lord for his sin which he hath done: and the sin which he hath done shall be forgiven him.
Again, under the OT law, a man's sin could be forgiven but not cleared. Under the blood of Jesus, a man's sin is forgiven and cleared.
Revelation 13:8
And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
The Lamb of God was slain from the foundation of the world. Therefore, the forgiveness of God has been available to mankind; past, present and future.
As I understand the faith of God, when Jesus was on the cross he by his faith took hold of all who have faith in the word of God.
I think the diversity of sacrifices in the Old Testament served God by presenting the diversity of applications that the blood of Jesus deals with.
So, for example, we learn in the Old Testament that the blood of Jesus sanctifies as by its application to the right ear, right thumb and right toe.
Whereas, in the New Testament we learn that the blood of Jesus is sprinkled everywhere in our hearts by the ministering of the Holy Ghost.
So, God by use of the old diversity of sacrifices reveals a peculiar truth that isn’t as easily discerned in the New Testament.
This shows us that God laid his foundations in the beginning so he could teach mankind the many things about eternal righteousness that are hidden.
And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
The Lamb of God was slain from the foundation of the world. Therefore, the forgiveness of God has been available to mankind; past, present and future.
As I understand the faith of God, when Jesus was on the cross he by his faith took hold of all who have faith in the word of God.
I think the diversity of sacrifices in the Old Testament served God by presenting the diversity of applications that the blood of Jesus deals with.
So, for example, we learn in the Old Testament that the blood of Jesus sanctifies as by its application to the right ear, right thumb and right toe.
Whereas, in the New Testament we learn that the blood of Jesus is sprinkled everywhere in our hearts by the ministering of the Holy Ghost.
So, God by use of the old diversity of sacrifices reveals a peculiar truth that isn’t as easily discerned in the New Testament.
This shows us that God laid his foundations in the beginning so he could teach mankind the many things about eternal righteousness that are hidden.
The Old Testament sacrifices pointed to the fact that sin could only be forgiven by the shedding of blood by one on behalf of another. By this alone could atonement be made. The sacrifices were a type. The New Testament showed the true nature of the sacrifice required by God which was partly 'for sin done aforetime'
Well....the sacrifices obviously pointed to Christ and for sure never forgave one sin before God....it seems that the sacrifices temporarily covered them and satisfied the law because Christ had not yet ratified the New Covenant....in a sense the blood of the innocent, pure animal pointed to Christ and temporarily satisfied the requirement of death found in the law......
God started out with a plan for the Jewish People and a plan for the Gentiles in eternity past. The people of the OT has to shed the blood of an innocent, (animal in this case) to alleviate their sins. If they follow as close as possible the 630 something Laws God placed on them, He placed them in Paradise (Abram's Bosom) when they died.
I would be of the same Mind that they were saved by the GRACE of GOD.... vs. Jesus Died on the Cross for the World's sins IF and I say IF the people accepted HIM as their Savior, acknowledge their sinful nature and repent (turn around in a different direction.). There are commandments recounted by Jesus through PAUL, YES, and John and the other Apostles.
Have a good evening
\
Blade
I would be of the same Mind that they were saved by the GRACE of GOD.... vs. Jesus Died on the Cross for the World's sins IF and I say IF the people accepted HIM as their Savior, acknowledge their sinful nature and repent (turn around in a different direction.). There are commandments recounted by Jesus through PAUL, YES, and John and the other Apostles.
Have a good evening
\
Blade
The Bible tells us that the life of the flesh is in the blood (Lev 17:11) and medical science and biology confirms this. Since the wages of sin is death, blood must be shed in order to pay that penalty and a life must be taken. So it is either the life of the sinner or the life of a sinless substitute. Until Christ -- the Lamb of God -- shed His own precious blood for our redemption, animals without blemish and without spot were sacrificed. Their blood was shed and their life was taken for the sake of sinners. But the blood of bulls and goats could only cover sins temporarily. Therefore there were daily, periodic, and annual sacrifices in Israel. However, all that came to and end with the crucifixion of Christ. His one sacrifice for sins forever was sufficient in the sight of God the Father, since God the Son shed His own blood as the ultimate sinless Substitute for all of humanity.
they learned the Law of sacrifice, so they would recognize the Messiah when He came, and understand what His death Meant. in the Law they are taught " the sacrifice of Blood, is what God said forgives sin." even before this, there is the passover that shos the shedding of a spotless Lambs Blood, causes them to Live, when all who do not Have this Blood covering thier Homes all of thier firstborn children die.
the Blood causes death to passover them without harming thier children or thier animals. this is teaching them about the messiah so they would have undertanding about what He was doing on the cross shedding His blood. then later you Hear john say of Jesus " Look the Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the World" so Blood they Know Before is connected with Mercy, infact Gods Mercy seat was covered in Blood so that the Blood was Between Him and His testament of stone.
the Law is teaching about Jesus so when He came, the People would grasp His Meaning to us. blood is a symbol of Life. the reason Blood is shed is Because God said " if you transgress, you will surely die" so to keep the word "to sin is death" Life has to Be sacrificed, to fulfill the requirement of death for sin. Gods Word is binding so sinners are all sentanced to death its why we decay and die. "the wages of sin, is death"
Gods Word has to Be true, so were taught " you are the Body of Christ" " you died and your Life is hidden with Christ" " I have been crucified and no Longer Live, Christ liveth in Me"
the Idea is His Life, sacrificed, for Our transgression, because to sin, is to die By Gods Word. so God provided One Man to die and those who accept Him, thoier sin is covered By His death, when we say His Blood, its a reference to His Life Being shed for us, He Layed down His Life, thats the Power in the Blood. its the Life that is Given in order to shed the Blood, One dies so that One can Live.
the Ot is teaching to understand the Messiah
i agree with Much here bro, I would say this point to add
the things in the Law, are Made after a pattern God Gave to Moses on the Mount, a pattern of the things in heaven. this pattern is a foretelling of Jesus. the pattern of sacrifice. the sacrifices in the ot never purged the conscience at all, they were a constant reminder of sin to the People, each time they sacrificed they were reminded of thier sins and that the animal was dying on thier Behalf for thier wrong, Life was shed.
its teaching them, about the Messiah and what His sacrifice Meant. they would Not Have understood Jesus, if the Law was Not first Given. i think of we see Gods Plan as a whole, the Law is necessary to prepare One for Jesus. it tells us were sinners and not up to Gods standard, it tells us that sinners cant Be part of the people, it shows us the ugliness of sin people stoning each other, dancing naked to false idols ect. it shows us that God is Merciful to those who follow after Him even when they mess up, But His wrath and sure punishment upon those who will not repent.
all of these things are Necassary to understand what Jesus did for us, How Much He means and How valuable He is. Jesus Blood actually cleanses the conscience Because it comes with the Knowledge of salvation as well. it Not only covers sin, the word takes it away while the Blood is covering sin. the word removes it from the Mind and Heart, " its Knowledge"
Sins were forgiven but not cleared, not taken away. Are you denying Leviticus 19?
Leviticus 19:21-22
21 And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the Lord, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, even a ram for a trespass offering.
22 And the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering before the Lord for his sin which he hath done: and the sin which he hath done shall be forgiven him.
Leviticus 19:21-22
21 And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the Lord, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, even a ram for a trespass offering.
22 And the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering before the Lord for his sin which he hath done: and the sin which he hath done shall be forgiven him.