The real problem with the Old Testament sacrificial system was that it held no permanence. Yes, it allowed a person to address the sins of the moment, but that’s where its value ended. One could not rely on old sacrifices for the forgiveness of new sins, and so the sacrifices had to keep coming on a continual basis. When the writer of Hebrews said, “For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins,” (10:4) he indicated that the old system appeased God’s justice in a judicial sort of way, but the guilt that accompanies sin couldn’t be removed by such sacrifices. Each year on the Day of Atonement when sacrifices were made on behalf of the community, people were reminded that their sins were covered but that they still weren’t cleansed; judgment was postponed, but it was not canceled. And then Jesus came. He came as both the priest and the sacrifice – performing both functions in one fell swoop as he offered himself as the sinless sacrifice for sins that God demanded so that His justice might be appeased. In offering this once-for-all sacrifice, Jesus effected what the blood of bulls and goats couldn’t do: he removed our guilt. No longer do we need to despair over our sins if we have placed our trust in Him because we are forgiven, and our guilt is gone forever!
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