Has sacrifices and offerings been abolished

 

Before drawing any conclusion which might prove to be false at the end, it is imperative that the following considerations be diligently scrutinized.

1. The earthly tabernacle with its earthly service was actually a copy and a shadow of the heavenly things, because when Moses was about to make the tabernacle, he was divinely instructed saying, “See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain” (Exodus 25:40; Hebrews 8:5).

2. The sacrifices and offerings which were offered in the earthly tabernacle were symbolic to what is taking place in the heavenly tabernacle. It was an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. They were only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings – external regulations imposed until the time of reformation.’ “It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices” (Hebrews 9:9-10, 23).

3. There is an eternal objective for sacrifices. Therefore, although the method of application has been reformed, the objective remains the same, it has not changed. The earthly sacrifices were not able to meet the objective which is, to clear the conscience of the worshiper, because the law (of sacrifices) which was only a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, could never make perfect those who draw near to worship. Otherwise, they would not have ceased to be offered. (Hebrews .9:9; 10:1-4).

4. The heavenly sacrifices on the other hand, are far superior to the earthly sacrifices in that, when Christ who is the bread of God, the food for his offering came into the world he said, “Behold, I have come to do your will, O God.’ He takes away the first that he may establish the second; by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Heb.10:9-10).

5. This offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all, is not a one time offering which requires no more presentation of sacrifices and offerings for sin. But rather, once for all there is an offering which can clear the conscience of the worshiper, and present him perfect, holy, blameless, and irreproachable in the sight of God. The body of Christ represented by the unleavened bread is the new and living way to God’s presence (Col. 1:22; Heb.10:20).

6. The reformation which abolished and replaced the blood of bulls and goats which could not take away sins, is not restricted only to the one time sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, but it is extended to the Cup of the New Covenant which was instituted by Jesus Christ before He was led to be crucified. For thus He said, “This is My blood of the New Covenant which is shed for the remission of sins.” And became in force after the death of Jesus Christ: For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives.

The blood of Jesus Christ has a three-fold application.

A. Universal salvation of all humanity from the death penalty incurred by the sin of the first Adam. As it is written; “Just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men” (Romans 5:18).

B. Remission of individual’s sins committed prior to conversion. As it is written; “Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth to be a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:24-26).

C. Sins committed after conversion. It is written; “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense – Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins: and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:1-2).

To be continued

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph