The Law-10

We will now study what it means with the sacrifices for violations of the Law. A term will come up that is not often used or truly understood, which is atonement and propitiation. Propitiation is the act of gaining or regaining the favor or goodwill of someone or something. Atonement is a little different in that it generally means satisfaction for an injury or offense. First, a few general understandings of the severity of sin in the eyes of a holy GOD.

Hebrews 10:1  For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near. 10:2  Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sins? 

:3  But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year. 10:4  For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 

This is a troublesome truth from an Old Testament viewpoint, as GOD required a sacrifice with the killing of an animal of HIS choosing for the forgiveness of sin.

10:5  Therefore, when He comes into the world, He says, "SACRIFICE AND OFFERING YOU HAVE NOT DESIRED, BUT A BODY YOU HAVE PREPARED FOR ME; 10:6  IN WHOLE BURNT OFFERINGS AND sacrifices FOR SIN YOU HAVE TAKEN NO PLEASURE. 10:7  "THEN I SAID, 'BEHOLD, I HAVE COME (IN THE SCROLL OF THE BOOK IT IS WRITTEN OF ME) TO DO YOUR WILL, O GOD.'" 

10:8  After saying above, "SACRIFICES AND OFFERINGS AND WHOLE BURNT OFFERINGS AND sacrifices FOR SIN YOU HAVE NOT DESIRED, NOR HAVE YOU TAKEN PLEASURE in them" (which are offered according to the Law), 10:9  then He said, "BEHOLD, I HAVE COME TO DO YOUR WILL." He takes away the first in order to establish the second. 

These animal sacrifices were only intended to point to the last sacrifice, which is the very body and blood of Jesus.

10:10  By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 10:11  Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; 

10:12  but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, 

10:13  waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET. 

Too often, most people don’t really contemplate HIS sacrifice on their behalf. But, HE came to do the will of the Father. All of these older, animal sacrifices only validated the last one. Something had to die for our sins. Blood had to be spilled and death had to occur.

The ‘church’ doesn’t bring up the cost and penalty of sin very often, yet is is the very essence of the gospel. What is sin?

1 John 3:4  Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. 3:5  You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. 3:6  No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him. 

So it is clear and still relevant, sin is lawlessness. That is if you break the Law, it is sin. Sin needs to be accounted for by someone without sin. We must continually seek to repent and ask GOD for forgiveness for violating HIS Law, all and any part of HIS Law.

More next Saturday.