The book of Leviticus is filled with the rules and regulations of the Sacrifical system that the Jews were to be under commanded by God. We see in Chap 16:11-14 what is called the Day of Atonement. This was a most Holy Day in all of Israel. This was the day that atonement was made for their sins of all Ithe Nation. This system was instituted to kill animals, instead of themselves for the sin commited by them. They needed to have their sins completly covered to remain in good standing before God. The shed blood of the animals served the purpose of covering their sin. The priest would first cleanse himself and then he would sprinkle blood on the altar before he would place symbolically all the sins of the people on a live goat that would be sent away outside the camp carrying away all the sins of the people. Sound familiar?
This all was suppose to point to Christ. This act did not really "take" away their sin but was a symbolic act to help them understand the importantance of the coming sacrifice that would be the very last sacrifice. Atonement is basically an OT word and means to "cover." You may remember John saying that Christ came to "take away" the sin of the world.
The writer to the Hebrews makes a connection between the OT and the NT when he said this in 10:11-14:
"And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. "
This one sacrifce had to be made and is now over. It's all His work. There is nothing we can do. It is finished.
The last definition for the word "tetelestai" (it is finished) is:
3) To pay a debt; to discharge (PAID IN FULL)
This word actually has been found on ancient payrus usually a bill of sale showing a debt was paid in full. No more payment needed.
So if the great accuser Satan accuses us, he'll be shown "PAID IN FULL" and know that we are no longer his to manipulate. We see the word "redeemed" many times in scripture. We know that God redeemed the Nation Israel from the Egyptians. Later he redeemed them from the Babylonians and now we can say that for all those who believe, He has redeemed us from sin and death forever.
Paul said this:
"In whom we have redemption thru his blood the forgiveness of sin, according to the riches of His grace" Eph 1:7
Peter said this:
"knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." 1 Peter 1:18-19
Today the Jews are looking to reinstate the sacrifical system. They don't understand the finality of it all, because they haven't believed in the last sacrifice given. God made this all clear when he tore the veil of the temple in two and then later destroyed the Temple. All the records were lost. Who now would serve as the priests in this system? The connection to the 12 tribes has been forever lost. This was done for a purpose. God is done with the sacrificial system. No more would animals need to die for the sins of the people when the one who totally met all the requirements for sin went to the cross once and for ALL.
He paid a debt we couldn't pay. But what is our response? How many say...."I've got to." "I need to." We need to understand no further work is necessary for salvation. We hate that don't we? We cringe at getting something for nothing....gotta get baptized, gotta get confirmed, gotta have communion, gotta be prayed over before I die or I'm damned to hell...gotta have a bunch of good deeds to get into heaven. These are all wrong. There is nothing we can do but to believe on Jesus Christ and you will be saved. Just as Adam and Eve could do nothing about their sin in the Garden but to accept the gift of covering so too we can only accept the free gift of the covering of Christ. But a free gift can be hard to receive. Paul recognized this and says in Romans 4:4-5.
"Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness,"
I have a story for you:
Some years ago a Christian farmer was deeply concerned over an unsaved carpenter. The farmer sought to set before his nieghbor the Gospel of God's grace, and to explain how that the Finished work of Christ was SUFFICIENT for his soul to rest upon. But the carpenter persisted in the belief that he must do something himself. One day the farmer asked the carpenter to make for him a gate, and when the gate was ready he carried it away to his wagon. He arranged for the carpenter to call on him the next morning and see the gate as it hung in the field. At the appointed hour the carpenter arrived and was surprised to find the farmer standing by with a sharp ax to his hand. "what are you going to do?" he asked. "I am going to add a few cuts and strokes to your work" was the response. "But there is no need for it." replied the carpenter, "the gate is alright as it is. I did all that was necessary to it." The farmer took no notice, but lifting his ax he slashed and hacked at the gate until it was completely spoiled. "Look what you have done!" cried the carpenter, "you have ruined my work!" "Yes, said the farmer, "and that is what you are doing to the work of Christ."
Is that what we're doing? Ok, so what are we supposed to do?
1-Stop working for our own salvation.
2- Repent, believe and commit
3- Praise Him
4- Serve Him
We need to be honest with ourselves. We are all sinners and we need to maybe re-commit our lives to God. We need to do the will of God as Christ showed us. We need to praise him for what He's done for us and realize we can't improve on it. Our heart should be filled with thanksgiving and we need to serve him. Listen to what Paul said from prison at the end of his career to Timothy in 2 Tim 4:6-7.
"For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."
Does this describe me? You? Are you even in the race? Or are you a bystander? Can we be perfect about this race? No, but we can be puposely running this race. It's not about perfection but about purpose. We need to remember we do not earn salvation but having obtained salvation as His gift to us, we work for him in gratefullness for what he's done on the cross already. Are we sold out? Are we so grateful and thankful that we are willing to pour out our own lives for Him? Are we willing to pour out our life what what God has called us to do?
Let's get in the race. Let's all just meet at the FINISH line.
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