My, Devotion to Him #303
Before the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus, the Jewish people practiced animal sacrifice to cover their sins. It was not until the sacrifice of Christ that our sins were entirely paid for and settled.
- God required animal sacrifice to cover sin
Verse Passage: Genesis 3:21 “And the LORD God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.” – ESV
Nakedness was not wrong, no matter what people may express and assert. It was honest, innocent, and proper. This is because they had not known the knowledge of good and evil. However, becoming in possession of this knowledge and the transformation that followed in our eyes, thoughts, and hearts made this now wrong. We had come to terms with this a long time ago. But of course, there are reasons why this would be acceptable, but in general terms, nudity is not. Thus, they were clothed.
- Mosaic Law required animal sacrifice to cover sin
Verse Passage: Matthew 5:17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” – NIV
Jesus was not going to abolish the rule of law. God is a God of order, but Christ did come to fulfill the law.
- Animal sacrifice only covered sin.
Verse Passage: Hebrews 10:4 “It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” – NIV
We are shown here that animal sacrifices never took away sin. Instead, it merely covered it up. The blood offering was so unsatisfactory to the blood of Christ that offerings were made yearly.
Verse Passage: Hebrews 10:10 “And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” – ESV
Once and for all! We will no longer sacrifice and make offerings of blood because Jesus has taken care of it forever. This doesn’t just cover us for a year, a decade, or our lifetime. His blood went further than a covering. The blood took away that cover and washed what was underneath. He washes away sins and makes us white as snow. Indeed there is none like Him. We can see He did not abolish the law because there was still a sacrifice to be made, but He would make sure it would be the last.
- Direct access is now available
Jesus always goes beyond, in which case it always benefits us. He wasn’t prideful but instead was showing us fulfillment. Not only is He changing us into His image, but the law is now transformed into His image as well. He came to fulfill the written law because it is the Word that has been written in which He is that living Word.
Verse Passage: Matthew 27:50-53 “And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.” – ESV
The veil that for so long disconnected God and man was ripped in half upon Jesus’ death. He did not abolish anything but instead transformed it into something astonishing. He would now be the bridge between God and mankind. Everyone would have access every day without needing a priest, offerings, or anything else. Just you.
- The righteousness obtained through Jesus enables us to receive rewards
Verse Passage: Revelation 22:12-13 “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” – ESV
Jesus tells John that He comes quickly to give every man and woman their reward in heaven. Jesus’ last sacrifice frees us from sin. It enables us to live a life pleasing to the Lord, which will continue to go over and beyond our imagination!
God bless,
Copyright © 2022 by Jacob Olinger
Spirit Warrior Ministry 