the ot sacrifices were shadows of the ultimate sacrifice Christ.
hebrews 10
the animals they sacrifice were a foreshadowing of the Lamb of God
that will take away the sins of the world.
Question2 What about those animal sacrifices they made, what was
their purpose?
Answer: Those sacrifices did not take away any of their sins
the
sacrifices they made were only symbols that point forward to the
sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Those sacrifices served only as shadows
of the real sacrifice, who is Jesus Christ. In themselves they can
never take away sins. Like any good teacher God used symbols,
visual aids if you may, to teach them about the real thing.
Hebrews10: 1 Since the law has only a shadow of the good things to
come and not the true form of these realities, it can never, by the
same sacrifices that are continually offered year after year, make
perfect those who approach.
10:2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased being offered, since the
worshipers, cleansed once for all, would no longer have any
consciousness of sin?
10:3 But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sin year after
year.
10:4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take
away sins.
The sacrifices made in the Old Testament did not and cannot take
away sins, it serves only as a reminder to them that they are
sinners. It serves as a visual aid to them of the coming sacrifice
that can really once for all take away sins. The Lamb of God who
takes away the sin of the world, Jesus Christ.
An Old Testament worshipper might have said these words in his
heart while offering a sacrifice: Lord God, I know that I am a
sinner in need of forgiveness, I make this sacrifice of a lamb to
you, but you know Lord that my trust and confidence that my sins
will be forgiven is not on this lamb but on a coming Savior that
this sacrifice of mine only symbolize. I know He will come, I dont
know when, but I know He will come, I dont know what He will look
like but I know what He will do; He will make the ultimate
sacrifice for my sins past, present and future. And in Him alone
Lord I trust.
