Fulfillment of the Sin Sacrifice

Did Jesus fulfill the role of the asham, “guilt-offering,”?

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However, by His death, Jesus Christ removed "the sins of many people. A permanent sacrifice for sin is needed to deal permanently with our sin problem. The Levitical sacrifices could not deal permanently with our sins; however the once-for-all perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross dealt with our sins permanently. There will never be a need for another sacrifice for sin. The blood of Jesus Christ wipes the record clean forever. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sins?

But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins" Hebrews The law and its offerings were only a "shadow" skia or a vague reflection, a silhouette of the real thing to come. However, the "form" eikon is the "image. It is the appearance of the reality itself.

Jesus casts His shadow over the whole Old Testament in preparation of His coming to fulfill all of the reality of its symbolism, types and shadows. It is His shadow that is seen throughout the Old Testament. He is the real object that produces the shadow.

The reality is Jesus Himself. The author of Hebrews has already spoken of copies and shadows in Hebrews 8: Now he draws out the comparison between the sacrifices offered by the priests under the Law and the one perfect sacrifice of Christ. The Law and its sacrifices was a constant daily reminder of the reality of sin. If the sacrifices under the old covenant could have permanently dealt with sin the sacrifices would not have been terminated. The sacrifice in view at the opening of chapter ten is the Day of Atonement. The constant repetition of the daily and annual sacrifices only proved that the Levitical sacrifices could not satisfy the righteousness of God.

They were imperfect and could never "make perfect those who draw near. The high priest could never declare to the worshipers this is the final sacrifice; there will never be another sacrifice because this sacrifice has removed all your sins, once for all. Moreover, the constant repetition of the sacrifices kept before the eyes of the people their human depravity. It is was a constant reminder that they were sinners and in the need of the atoning sacrifice for sin. They could never get away from the idea that they were sinners.

They were under the judgment of God. The Day of Atonement reminded them that the one final payment for sin had not been made. The full perfect, never to be repeated, all sufficient payment by the Lamb of God was still in the future. The Day of Atonement was a shadow of the real thing to come. It reminded the people they were sinners, and at the same time pointed to God's appointed Lamb. It was a reminder of sin, the sacrifice, and the Savior. The Mosaic system with its laws and sacrifices were by nature preparatory because they reminded the people of the reality of sin, the righteousness of God and the necessity for atonement for sin.

They looked forward to the sacrifice of the Lamb of God. They pointed to expectation, not fulfillment in themselves. We look back upon the perfect fulfillment of the expiation of our sins. The sacrifice on the Day of Atonement did not possess the power to cover the sins of the past year. They simply called to mind the divine pardon which would come with the death of Christ, the Lamb of God. What does the atoning death of Christ cause us to remember, but that we are depraved sinners in need of the atoning sacrifice of Christ? It reminds us of the remedy God has provided in the blood of Jesus.

When Christ offered the perfect sacrifice for sin the inadequate sacrifices were terminated at the Temple. Christ dealt with our sins once for all, never to be repeated. There was no need for another sacrifice. Jesus paid it all. He fulfilled the requirement of the law that declared, "The wages of sin is death.

This passage also reminds us of the new covenant.

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In Christ, we inherit the good things to come. Though God remembers sins that have not been propitiated, He forgets the sins for which atonement has been made. If we have come by faith believing in the all sufficient sacrifice for sin made by Jesus Christ it is great comfort to know God remembers them no more. He is a God who "remembers" and "forgets" our sins based on the atoning sacrifice of Christ. One of the clear messages that has been repeated in Hebrews is the fact that only a perfect man, without sin, could stand in the place of another man and make perfect atonement Heb.

No animal could ever make that decision. The old covenant could not accomplish cleansing and forgiveness. We have already been told in Hebrews 9: For both the Old and the New Testament believers there is only one propitiatory sacrifice for sin. It is the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. The Levitical sacrifices only pointed to a future expiation. They satisfied the requirements of the law, but they could not deal with the heart of the problem of sin.

With the coming of the expiation of sin by Christ these old sacrifices ceased because they were not truly propitiations.

Christ provided the true propitiation. His sacrifice cast the shadow over the old that pointed to Him. His sacrifice declared, "It is finished! The apostle Paul declared this same great truth: This is true because Christ is the end of the old Mosaic covenant sacrifices. Christ brought to an end the Mosaic Law, Levitical priesthood, sacrifices and offerings. Perfect Obedience of Jesus Christ Hebrews The writer of Hebrews puts the words of Psalm He writes as if they are the words of Christ at His incarnation.

It is as if Christ is speaking in verses The writer is fond of taking Old Testament passages and applying them to the person and work of Christ. What did God want? He desired perfect obedience, and He found perfect obedience to His will in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Jesus came to do the will of God. He stated this clearly the night before His death in the Garden of Gethsemane Matt.

To accomplish the will of God, the Son needed "a body. Only as a man could He fulfill the will of God by dying as a bloody sacrifice. God provided the Son with a perfect body to fulfill His eternal purpose. He assumed that body when He became flesh and dwelt among men John 1: That is why the virgin conception is so important to Biblical theology. Athanasius said, "At one and the same time as man He was living a human life, as Word He was sustaining the life of the universe, and as Son He was in constant union with the Father.

The old animal sacrifices were not capable of making atonement once and for all, but there was one sacrifice that answered to the demands of the will of God. Christ sacrificed His body once for all to atone for the sins of His people. Remember the words of Jesus when He spoke to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus?

Christ fulfilled the demands of the first covenant and terminated it. But He also established the second covenant when He came to do the will of God. The incarnate Son of God abolishes the "first in order to establish the second" v. It was by His will that "we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all" v. The passive obedience of Christ is observed in His fulfilling the Aaronic priesthood. Moreover, His active obedience is seen in the priesthood of Melchizedek in the new covenant. Christ is involved in the fulfillment of both covenants in Hebrews with the termination of the old and the inauguration of the new.

The author's use of the word "sanctification" in Hebrews is the cleansing from sin and reconciliation to a holy God. Our redemption has been accomplished by the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Why the Old Testament Sacrifices?

The sacrifice of Christ is absolutely adequate to deal with our sins and restore our relationship with God. It is an all sufficient sacrifice for sin. Results of the One Sacrifice of Christ Hebrews The work of the Levitical priest was never finished. Rivers of blood flowed daily from the Temple of Jerusalem as one animal sacrifice after another was slain for the sins of the people. The High Priest could never sit down because his job was never completed. The writer of Hebrews draws out the contrast with the Priesthood of Jesus and His one sacrifice for all time.

Christ's work was finished, and He sat down!

What was the purpose of the Old Testament sacrifices?

In fact, Christ sat down in everlasting rest and blessedness at the right hand of the Majesty on High. Our redemption was completed and the Levitical priesthood was terminated. Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time onward until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet.

For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying, 'This is the covenant that I will make with them After those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws upon their heart, And on their mind I will write them,' He then says, 'And their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.

We have been sanctified by the blood of Jesus. Again in verse 14 he writes, "For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. The verb is in the perfect tense and speaks of an act completed in the past with present results. We have been deemed from the moment we believed on Christ perfectly holy, yet making someone holy is a process. We are progressively throughout this life being sanctified. The fire that consumed the offering was from God Lev 9: Fire is used to refine and purify precious metals Rev 3: Jesus Christ learned obedience by suffering Heb 5: In all his trials, Christ pleased God, not himself Rom All that are called to become sons of God can expect a fiery trial to prove and perfect godly character and faith Acts The burnt offering was offered as a voluntary offering to become accepted by God Lev 1: An important point is that it was offered for God's acceptance and not man's.

Christ was accepted by God but not by man John 1: Carnal men seek to be accepted and esteemed of men and not God Gal 1: Jesus Christ, as man's offering, was accepted by God to make atonement for us. To make atonement is to satisfy the requirement of the law. Jesus, as our offering, makes us acceptable, justifies us, before God by his perfect obedience Rom 5: God sees us as Jesus Christ, perfect and without sin. The types of burnt offerings acceptable to God are represented by the animals offered. An offering of fowls Lev 1: The dove represents a harmless or simple Matt Without God's holy spirit represented by the dove, none can please God Rom 8: Jesus set the example of harmless innocence John He mourned and wept over Jerusalem Matt The offering of a fowl was not cut up into its various parts and it had to be presented by the priest, indicating that very little of a positive nature was required on the part of the offerer other than controlling human nature and to be cleansed of sin and without guile Psa An offering of the flock Lev 1: Sheep represents one who follows the good shepherd as Christ followed God.

A kid or goat is representative of one who leads as Christ leads us or as a leader in the community. A lamb, represents a willing submission without complaint or murmur Isa Jesus Christ, as the lamb of God John 1: God has no pleasure in the self willed Tit 1: Jesus suffered all unrighteousness against himself without a murmur Matt The offering of the flock is killed by the offerer even as Jesus willingly gave up his own life John The offering was then cut up into various parts to represent the different aspects of ones life required to fulfill the law in obedience to be accepted by God.

The offering represented one's life being yielded to God Eccl The priest, representing Christ, is the only one sanctified to prepare and present the offering and sprinkle the blood or life Lev King Saul presumptuously took upon himself that responsibility to present an offering, only to be rejected by God I Sam A burnt offering of the herd Lev 1: A bullock is a beast of burden representing untiring service. The bullock is strong to labor Psa The work and service of God is to believe and follow the example of Jesus Christ John 6: Jesus commanded his people to go and teach all nations Matt The harvest is plenteous, but laborers are needed Matt 9: The offering of the herd was flayed and cut into pieces.

Jesus disciples didn't recognize him after he had been beaten and flayed John The pieces of the offering represent the various aspects of a man's life which are to be dedicated completely to the love of God Lk The head identifies the man - the offerer put his hand upon the head indicating that the offering was to represent him taking his place Lev 1: Christ is also the head of the church Eph 1: The head also represents the mind and thoughts. To be acceptable and pleasing to God, every thought must be brought into control into captivity to the obedience of Jesus Christ II Cor However, with our natural mind and human spirit I Cor 2: It is only with God's Holy Spirit in our mind witnessing with our spirit Rom 8: The legs of the offering represent the way in which we walk.

The law requires man to walk in God's ways Ex The way of man is not in himself to direct his own steps Jer If we acknowledge God in all our ways, then he will direct our paths Prov 3: We ought therefore to walk even as Jesus walked I John 2: To walk is to work doing the work of God which takes effort. The inwards are symbolic of the deep feelings and affections of the heart II Cor 7: God will put his law in our inward parts and write it in our hearts Jer We ought to be moved with bowels of compassion when seeing others in need I John 3: Jesus was moved with compassion seeing the people fainting having no shepherd Matt 9: He never judged or condemned people John 3: God desires mercy more than sacrifice Hos 6: The inwards and legs were washed in water Lev 1: Once cleansed, the inward man is renewed day by day II Cor 4: The fat of the offering represents the energy and well being that the animal draws upon for strength.

It also represents the blessing of health and abundance Gen We are to love God with all our strength Lk Jesus could do nothing of his own self John 5: Likewise his disciples Acts 1: All our strength, which comes from God, is to be used in God's service as part of our offering as a sweet savour Lev 3: The burnt offering was part of the daily sacrifice Ex This is the law of the burnt offering Lev 7: The meal offering reveals, in type, a sweet savour or a pleasing offering acceptable to God in the form of man's love to man in fulfillment of the 2nd great commandment: It is the offering of the fruit of one's labour rather than a life.

God gave the fruit of the earth to man as his portion from his labour Gen 1: The meal offering is always offered with the burnt offering Ezra 7: This would be a form of idolatry or lead to self righteousness as in Job's case Job Cain's offering of the fruit of the ground without a brunt offering was not acceptable Gen 4: A portion of the meal offering was burned upon the altar to God and the rest was given to the priests which is typical of the tithes and offerings and firstfruits and firstlings to provide meat and pleasure for God's priests Num It pleases Jesus Christ, our high priest, greatly when we give of our fruits to his little ones Matt The meal offering was presented in several different forms.

The first is the parts mixed together and not baked. It is the most perfectly understood in all aspects. In the baked cakes, the parts are merged together and are not as distinct. The third form presented as green ears dried by fire is seen more as simply the firstfruits of the ripening harvest. Young tender corn grain is matured by fire, trials Heb 5: The requirements for fulfilling this offering are revealed in its parts.

The fine flour represents the bruising Isa Jesus sacrificed himself completely to feed man as the "Bread of God," the "bread from heaven," the "bread of life" John 6: He was the bread for man John 6: Fine flour is also characteristic of no unevenness. Jesus is perfect in every character and always the same Heb Oil, a symbol of God's Holy Spirit, is always poured upon the meal offering.

His disciples were not able to serve until they had received that power John 5: Zeal and knowledge are useless without the power of God's Spirit Rom Frankincense, a fragrant resinous plant used for incense, was put on the offering to give it an enduring and delightful fragrance Jukes pp. The full fragrance of frankincense is not brought out until it is submitted to the action of fire, significant of fiery trial I Pet 4: The sweetness of human nature is like honey Lev 2: Jesus offering was like frankincense which under trail became more fragrant and precious to God.

Every oblation of the meal offering was seasoned with salt. A seasoning of savour brings out or emphasizes the delightful flavor Matt 5: Even our speech should be in good flavor, seasoned with salt Col 4: The salt of the convenant is God's commanded gift to man Num Salt is also significant as a preservative and as a perpetual reminder against turning back to corruption The covenant of salt was forever Num The world will be preserved because of the elect who are the salt of the earth Matt No leaven nor honey could be used in the meal offering.

Honey stinks when burned in fire and leaven is a symbol of sin and corruption I Cor 5: Leavened cakes were offered to the Lord at Pentecost, but they could not be burnt as a sweet savour Lev 2: These represent the firstfruits Lev We are only acceptable to God through Christ's perfect offering Lev Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God" Mat 5: The peace offering is a sweet savour offering that feeds or satisfies God, the priest Christ , and his children the Church and the offerer and his friends.

It is the only offering that all feast upon and share together in peace. Jesus Christ is the King of Peace Heb 7: His unblemished sacrifice satisfies God Isa Christ himself is then also satisfied John 4: We have true fellowship with God, Christ and one another I John 1: Christ, as our peace offering unites us together as children, brethren, fellowheirs and sons of God John It is an important point that nothing but the precious meat of the altar can sustain and nourish the needs of our new nature and satisfy its cravings John 6: Jesus Christ can be our only grounds for peace with God.

We put on garments of righteousness Rev They also had to be washed in his blood Rev 7: The various aspects of the peace offering are defined in the animals sacrificed - the bullock, the lamb and goat as in the burnt offering. The detail of the parts is not distinguished in the peace offering. The peace offering was offered in two ways to distinguish two aspects of its meaning, as a thanksgiving or praise offering Lev 7: As a vow or offering of voluntary service, it had to be eaten the same day and on the morrow.

Any that remained the third day was burnt with fire Lev 7: As an offering of thanksgiving or praise, it is offered to glorify God John A type of the meal offering love to neighbor was also made with it indicating that God is glorified before men through his people Deut 4: The offering of his people the Church is represented by the leavened bread presented with the animal offering.

This was a heave offering unto the Lord for the priest. The peace offering for thanksgiving had to be eaten the same day, possibly as our food until the resurrection Lev 7: This is one place where the meal offering as part of the peace offering satisfies both the offerer and the priest Jukes pp. Christ also feeds on the leavened offering of his Church and is satisfied. The sin offering represents the price Rom 6: Flesh and blood is corruptible Rom 8: All physical things are temporary and corruptible, they wax old as a garment according to the 2nd law of thermodynamics Heb 1: Man was created in God's image Gen 1: And as it is written, "There is none righteous Because of man's physical nature without God's Spirit, the carnal mind is enmity against God and His law, and may become evil continually Gen 6: Sin defiles the heart and out of the heart precede evil thoughts Matt The carnal mind cannot even understand the things of God I Cor 2: Because of sin it is appointed unto all men once to die Heb 9: God gave the first man Adam the opportunity to take of his Holy Spirit, represented by the tree of life Gen 2: But Adam and Eve and all their progeny after them, under the influence and temptations of Satan, have made the wrong choice, rejecting God's spirit and chose their own ways, to trust their own knowledge and decide for themselves what is good or evil rather then to trust and obey God.

So all mankind have sinned and have earned the death penalty Rom 3: To sin through ignorance Lev 4: Such a mind is only worthy of death Rom 8: Sin can only be cleansed or removed by death of the sinner Rom 6: The sin offering was a constant reminder of the consequences of sin and the need for a Savior Heb The full meaning of the sin offering represented what was required of our Savior to fulfill the penalty required for our disobedience to the law in order to redeem us from eternal death, which we have all earned by our 'works'.

Jesus Christ had to fulfill the requirements for us because we can not redeem ourselves from the corruption of sin Matt 5: Through Him we received the atonement reconciliation. The sin offering was not a sweet savour, it was not pleasing, for God says, "I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live".

The sin offering, except for the blood life-Lev The offerer came not as a worshipper to present himself as something pleasing, but he came as a convicted sinner Psa Even Jesus took on this same corruptible nature Phil 2: The sin offering required to make atonement satisfy the law to fulfill justice to redeem carnal man had to be without blemish.

If it were blemished, it would have to die for its own sin. But since it was to pay for the sins of others, it would have to be without blemish. Jesus was without blemish. He conquered all temptations of wrong desires, thoughts and actions to qualify without blemish Heb 9: Our sins were then transferred onto him and he took our penalty upon himself II Cor 5: An offering for the sin of the priest had to be a bullock.

The golden altar for incense in the holy place represents the heavenly places and their appointed services Heb 9: The brazen altar was in the outer court and represents the earth and God's work done by the Church Ex Sprinkling of the blood was required to approach into God's presence. The veil represents the blindness and separation of man from God as a result of sin Isa The fat was burnt upon the brazen altar to show the offering itself was perfect, without blemish, and acceptable to God.

But the whole bullock, the skin, all its flesh, head, legs, inwards and his dung were burnt without the camp to testify how completely the offering was identified with sin Jukes pp. God's Holy Spirit and his law reveals the sin that is in us Rom 3: The sin offering also reveals how hateful our sin is to God Rom 8: The bullock was used to represent both the priest and the whole congregation which is the Church or the body of Christ Col 1: The willing and untiring labor of the priest and church is cast out when sin is present Matt 7: A ruler is represented by a male kid goat.

The commoner is represented by a female kid goat or a female lamb. Sin offerings for particular sins, such as for the sin of swearing or making an oath, or touching of any unclean thing, are represented by a female lamb or kid, two turtledoves or pigeons or fine flour without the oil or frankincense upon it Lev 5: A ram plus a fifth part of the shekel of the sanctuary to make amends for the harm done was offered for sin in the holy things of God. The level of understanding of Christ's offering is represented by the types.

Let's find out

In one view, Christ is seen as our High Priest Heb 7: The next view is Jesus representing the whole church, or the family of the priest or the congregation of Israel. Others may see Him as the ruler, losing sight of the unity of the Church.

More commonly, He is understood as the sin offering for the individual and often only for the particular sin with the sinful person of the offerer not seen at all Jukes pp. The individual sinner had to slay the sacrifice for sin offering. This was to show recognition of sin in himself and a willingness to lay down his own sinful life Lev 4: The blood of the bullock was sprinkled on the horns of the incense altar, representing the horn of salvation Lk 1: The consequence of the sins of the priests was much greater because it affects not only the priest, but the whole congregation.

Christ had the burden of the whole world on Him. He was accountable for all life.

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