| OT Theology #8 The Sacrifices [message #12415] |
Sat, 20 January 2018 22:12  |
 Mark L
Messages: 590
Registered: October 2006
Location: Canada |
Senior Member |
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The Moral and Ethical nature of the Sacrifices
The view of the liberals is that it was only ceremonial and effective only for ceremonial defilement. Effective only for ritual defilement.
The answer to that is that it would make the sin and trespass offerings superfluous. Why have a blood atonement if it is only concerned with external defilement.
The ritual of atonement in these offerings speaks of moral and ethical considerations. Often when one is reading books on these matters you will find an unwarranted distinction between the levitical (ceremonial) and the prophetic (spiritual).
The Israelite didn't think of sacrifice just as ritual because he obtained forgiveness of sins and right relationship with God through it. The ritual was the means of Gods grace and forgiveness coming to him. The Hebrew didn't look at the sacrifice as something tempory and passing away or typical. Sacrifice was then the only sufficient means by which they could stay in right relationship with God. Therefore it was sufficient for the dispensation it was intended to serve.
This is not saying the levitical sacrifices were sufficient to take away sin or that they were equal to the sacrifice of Christ. Nor is it saying the blood of animals can take away sin but it is recognizing that it was the appointed means to stay in fellowship.
The ritual and sacrifice were the means by which the Hebrew obeyed the revealed will of God. To understand the OT sacrifices you have to look ahead from their point of view. You can't look back from the book of Hebrews.
The liberal view is that the primitive revelation was given to Moses. ie sacrifice and ritual. Then later a more perfect and deeper revelation came to the prophets and they preached against ritual.
Ps. 40/6-10, Is.1, Micah 6/6-8, Amos 521-24, 1Sam. 15/22, Jer.7/21 They did preach against mere ritual.
Ps.51/16-17,19 After a broken heart is come then the sacrifice is pleasing to God.
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| Re: OT Theology #8 The Sacrifices [message #12418 is a reply to message #12415 ] |
Sun, 21 January 2018 16:17  |
Mark L
Messages: 590
Registered: October 2006
Location: Canada |
Senior Member |
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The Problem of the Book of Hebrews
Heb.9/8-14, 10/1-12
From the worshipers standpoint in the OT the levitical sacrifices were effective in a two fold way
1. It restored him to fellowship with God
2. the sacrifices effected the actual forgiveness for sin
The Twofold Purpose in Sacrifice
1. The revealed Purpose. The covenant relationship between God and Israel was sustained through ritual and sacrifice. He was forgiven his sin and remained in fellowship with God through it. Which means the sacrifice didn't symbolize forgiveness apart from the actual realization of it. That would rob it of its immediate meaning to the Israelite. Forgiveness was obtained through the act of sacrifice.
2. The Hidden and future purpose as revealed in the Book of Hebrews
Every sacrifice that God accepted and gave them forgiveness for was validated in the mind of the Father on the basis of what he knew he would do with the all sufficient sacrifice of his own lamb.
Heb. 10/4 It can't take away sin but then nothing in the OT says that it does. What he promised was forgiveness and restoration to covenant standing. God himself in the OT promised forgiveness.
There is an apparent contradiction to some people which is explained in the fact that the OT sacrifices were efficacious only with respect to forgiveness and not with respect to purging away sin.
The point here is that only the sacrifice of Christ could purge away sin and without that forgiveness doesn't mean anything. Rom.3/25-26
Conclusion
Through the self sufficient sacrifice of Christ for sin Gods righteousness was at last vindicated. While the OT sacrifices provided forgiveness for sins yet those sins were never purged away. (he just in his grace passed them by) They were passed over by the forbearing grace of God until purged away by the sacrifice of Christ. On account of the eternal purpose of God to punish sin and provide an atonement in his son God pardoned people in the OT. He did not actually purge sins away until covered with the blood of Christ.
Owing to the forbearance of his grace God accepted animal substitutes to cover sin and propitiate his wrath until the fullness of time and with his own lamb he would validate all the forgiveness granted through the animal sacrifice.
All of this means That Christs sacrifice was already accepted in the counsels of God and by his foreknowledge before the foundation of the world.
Rev.13/8, 1Peter 1/19-20,
Rom.3/25 i the key to all of it.
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