- Sacrifices and offerings
The
least understood and most neglected aspect of the reformation is the part which
has to do with sacrifices and offerings which were symbolic, a copy and shadow
of the reality.
Despite
the fact that we have been duly instructed saying; “For the law, having 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.”
“For
then would they 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 10:1-4).
Here
we see clearly that the rationale or objective for the sacrifices and offerings
was to present the worshiper, those who approach the throne of grace in a holy,
perfect and in an irreproachable state before God for as it is clearly written,
it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins, because
if this was possible they would not have ceased to be offered.
Signifying
that, in order to present oneself before God sins have to be forgiven because,
God does not co-exist with sin and if we say that we have no sin, we deceive
ourselves, and the truth is not in us. And if we say that we have not sinned,
we make Him (God) a liar, and His word is not in us” (1John 1:8, 10).
And
so, for anyone to have access to the presence of the Father all sins have to be
confessed and cleansed and so we have been duly instructed saying; “If we
confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse
us from all unrighteousness.”
This
cleansing and forgiveness has to be effected in order for anyone to have
fellowship with the Father and even with one another. For this reason we have
been duly admonished by the apostle Paul saying:
“Therefore,
my beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to wise men; judge for your-selves
what I say. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the
blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body
of Christ? For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake
of that one bread” (1Corinthians 10:14-17).
Therefore,
the reformation did not make obsolete or redundant the offerings for sins in
order to have fellowship with the Father, but rather gave us a new and living
way and a better hope by which we draw near to the throne of grace.
And
so now, instead of having an offering which cannot present the worshiper holy,
perfect and irreproachable before God we now have the reformation where we have
a perfect offering which can present the worshiper holy, perfect and blameless
before God, as confirmed by the apostle Paul who wrote; “Therefore, brethren,
having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living
way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and
having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart
in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience
and our bodies washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10: 19-22).
The
second part of the reformation therefore, is the abolition of animal sacrifices
which could not present the worshiper holy, perfect and blameless before God
and replaced it with the perfect sacrifice and offering of the body and blood
of Jesus.
And
it is for this reason that Jesus Himself 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).
Unfortunately,
there are people who have some misunderstanding with the “once for all”
phenomenon, interpreting this to mean that, the death of Jesus Christ settled
everything and there is nothing else one has to do and ignoring completely the
rationale and objective of the offering which is the medium or the new and living
way by which we come to the Father.
The
phraseology once and for all in this context simply means that, once and for
all we have a perfect sacrifice that can present the worshiper holy and perfect
in the presence of the Father by which the second established will of God is
fulfilled.
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To be continued
Lucius Joseph
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