2023_05_10 Insight Post- Rusty Coram
This week’s reading- Deuteronomy 28-30, Hebrews 9
If you look around at Christian sayings (tee shirts, mugs, car stickers, posters, etc.), you see a lot of encouraging statements of hope, love, peace, and faith. Sentiments like this are good reminders for us of the benefits we enjoy as God’s children. However, there is one important, fundamental Biblical truth that I have never seen placed as a stand-alone verse on a poster or coffee cup. This simple but hard truth underlies all the encouraging ones we celebrate and hold fast to. We see it in Hebrews 9:22, “For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.” I can imagine some people saying, “I’m not very comfortable with that!” But the issue isn’t what we are comfortable with, but what is true. Without this truth, we would have none of the encouraging benefits that come with a healthy relationship with God. Throughout our reading this year, we have seen God require animal sacrifices be given as atonement for both individual and corporate sin. Worship in the past was bloody for sure, but the blood of animals wasn’t what God was interested in, though. He wanted all of us to realize that sin is deadly serious and never to be taken lightly or toyed with. The gory practices in the Old Testament were there as a picture and to set the stage for the One to come – the one sacrifice that would pay the price for my sin and yours. Later in the Hebrew letter, we read,
First, Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them” (though they are required by the law of Moses). 9 Then he said, “Look, I have come to do your will.” He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect. 10 For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.” Hebrews 10:8–10 (NLT)
The animal sacrifices set the stage for us to realize the seriousness of our sin so that when Jesus came to offer His life, we would recognize and respect the price He paid. The blood He shed on the cross was the full and final sacrifice, and because of it, we have forgiveness, freedom, and hope – now and forever!
Rusty Coram
Senior Pastor