The way of sanctification under the old covenant we are told; “was
symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered
which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the
conscience ---concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and
fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.”
The animal sacrifices were insufficient to sanctify the worshiper in
that, they were a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of
the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually
year by year, make those who approach perfect. If they were sufficient to
sanctify the worshiper, then they would not have ceased to be offered! For the
worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins.
But in those
sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year: For it is not possible that
the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins” (Hebrews
9: 9-10; 10: 1-4).
And so when Christ came into the world He said; “Sacrifice and
offering You did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me. In
burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. Then I
said, 'Behold, I have come ---In the volume of the book it is written of Me
---To do Your will, O God.' "Previously saying, "Sacrifice and
offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had
pleasure in them" (which are offered according to the law), then
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” (Hebrews 10: 5-10).
This once and for all, signifies that, once and for all there is an
offering which can present the worshiper perfect, sinless, blameless, and
irreproachable in the presence of God. Remember, if animal sacrifices could
present those who approach the presence of God perfect, they would not have
ceased to be offered. But because they could not, God took away the first,
which were the animal sacrifices and established the second, which is the body
and blood of Jesus Christ, and by that will we have been sanctified through the
offering of the body and blood of Jesus Christ.
One important thing that has eluded the minds of many professing
believers especially those who do not follow the protocol for true worship is
that, God’s dealing with the children of Israel was symbolic a shadow and copy
of the reality: When Moses was about to build the tabernacle the Lord
instructed him saying, “And see to it that you make them according to the
pattern which was shown you on the mountain” (Exodus 25:40).
And the apostle Paul echoed a similar sentiment with
regards to the new priestly service, for he wrote; “For every high priest is
appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that
this One also have something to offer. For if He were on earth, He would not be
a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; who
serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely
instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, "See
that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain"
(Hebrews 9:3-5).
What we are to learn from that is, the necessity to appear
before the Lord at His appointed time is still relevant and has not become
obsolete, but has rather been reformed as confirmed by Jesus Christ when He
came into the world, and said; “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and
offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them" (which are
offered according to the law), then 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” (Hebrews 10:8-10).
So, instead of animal sacrifices, burnt offerings and
offerings for sin God prepared a body for Christ as replacement or the real
offering for the atonement of sin, and so, when the Lord spoke to Moses saying:
“Command the children of Israel, and say to them, 'My offering, My food for My
offerings made by fire as a sweet aroma to Me, you shall be careful to offer to
Me at their appointed time' This real offering is the body and the blood of
Jesus Christ, which is in essence what Jesus Christ means when He
says; “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one
comes to the Father except through Me” (Numbers
28:2, John 4:6).
It is therefore imperative that we have a clearer and deeper
understanding of what Jesus Christ meant when He said; “I am the way, the
truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” and how to practically
apply this principle in order to get to the Father.
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To be continued, stay tuned
With brotherly love
Lucius Joseph
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