Sanctuary and Temple of God-5 quotes

"LET THERE BE LIGHT" Ministries

home | Sermon Quotes

THE SANCTUARY AND TEMPLE OF GOD, Part 5 quotes

1) The Sin Offering (Leviticus 4:1-35). The Sin Offering was offered “If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them” (Leviticus 4:2).

-- The Trespass Offering (Leviticus 5:1-19, 6:1-7, 19:1-22). The Trespass Offering was offered either “If a soul commit a trespass, and sin through ignorance, in the holy things of the LORD” thus being unintentionally committed, or “If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the LORD” which was intentionally committed.

-- The Burnt Offering (Leviticus 1:1-17). The Burnt Offering could be offered to atone for any personal sins, but it could also be offered to atone for group or corporate sins (Leviticus 9:7).

-- The Drink Offering (Exodus 29:40; Leviticus 23:13). The Drink Offering was always to be unfermented grape juice which was connected with the Burnt Offering, being poured out over it and fully consumed along with it.

-- The Meat or Food Offering (Leviticus 2:1-15, 23:13). The Meat or Food Offering was always wheat grain that had been crushed, bruised and ground into flour under the weight of a mill stone and offered either uncooked or baked into bread or wafers. It was offered mixed with salt and frankincense, and was also connected with the Burnt Offering and consumed along with it.

-- The Peace or Thanksgiving Offering (Leviticus 3:1-16). This offering was given in gratitude to God for this plan of salvation providing a way for sin to be forgiven and peace made with God. It was also given in gratitude for God’s many blessings, or in connection with a particular vow, and could be offered at any time.

2) All these sacrifices were grouped into two different classes: 1) those that were connected in giving thanks to God, such as the Peace Offering, or 2) those that were connected with some sin being committed, which included most all the rest. But each individual that was bringing any kind of offering or sacrifice was to “offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord” (Leviticus 1:3) into the Outer Court.

1) No one was forced to part with or sacrifice any of their possessions in following God’s will, as it was all voluntary. Thus the Lord God Michael was again seeking to teach His followers that they had the freedom of choice in following Him, and all would be held responsible for their own choices made. Those who chose to follow God’s instructions obtained a good reward, and all who disobeyed would suffer His displeasure and obtain a bad reward. Yet none were forced to obey like slaves. This helped to dispel rebellion and stubbornness among His followers, while promoting peace, love and contentment. It also encouraged His people to take responsibility for their actions instead of blaming others, which helped to build self-reliance, independence, and nobility of character.

2) Each of these sacrifices cost the giver something. For those sacrifices connected with Peace or Thanksgiving offerings: God was encouraging His followers to show their appreciation for the plan making possible their salvation, and for all the merciful kindnesses and blessings He had freely bestowed upon them. This helped to discourage an attitude of stinginess and selfishness or of thinking that all these blessings were somehow deserved by them.

For those offerings connected with sin: God was teaching His followers that all sin will cost something to have it forgiven and the guilt removed! This cost connected with each and every sin committed was an effective deterrent against committing sin in the first place, which then led the people to be careful in all that they did, and to not just give loose reign to passion or thoughtless actions.

Also the cost of the offering increased depending on what rank or position of responsibility the person had when they committed sin. For instance, if a priest committed sin then he was to “bring for his sin...a young bullock [ox], without blemish...for a sin offering” (Leviticus 4:4). If “a ruler hath sinned” then he was to bring “a kid of the goats, a male without blemish” (Leviticus 4:22-23) for his sin offering. Or “if any one of the common people sin” (Leviticus 4:27), then they could bring either “a kid of the goats, a female without blemish” (Leviticus 4:28) or “a lamb for a sin offering...a female without blemish” (Leviticus 4:32).

An ox was much more expensive than a goat or a lamb; a male goat was more expensive among the goat family, and a female lamb was less expensive than a ram. Thus God was teaching His people that the more responsibility a person had when they committed sin, then the more costly the sacrifice was for removing that sin. This was because the greater the rank or office held, the greater the influence exerted among the people; and the greater the influence exerted, the more likely people will be to follow their example of either doing good or doing evil. Thus this more expensive offering for sin required from those holding positions of influence led them to be much more careful and circumspect in all that they did and how they wielded their influence while in office. As greater responsibility required a more costly sacrifice for sin, and as less responsibility required less, then this revealed that God was completely just and fair in His requirements.

3) But it was not just the rich that could be forgiven, while those who were poor and that were unable to bring a lamb for their sin offering were to remain with unforgiven sins to eventually suffer destruction.

“And if he be not able to bring a lamb, then he shall bring for his trespass, which he hath committed, two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, unto the LORD; one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering....and the priest shall make an atonement for him for his sin which he hath sinned, and it shall be forgiven him. ” Leviticus 5:7, 10.

So God, who is ever merciful, recognized that there would be many people who were too poor to be able to bring a lamb as an offering for their sins. And for the sake of these dear believers He made provision that even these poor were not to be left without a way to have their sins forgiven.

But what if they were just too poor and could not even bring two turtledoves or pigeons for their sins? God, ever merciful, even made provision for these poorest of the poor to have their sins forgiven.

“But if he be not able to bring two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, then he that sinned shall bring for his offering the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering; he shall put no oil upon it, neither shall he put any frankincense thereon: for it is a sin offering....And the priest shall make an atonement for him as touching his sin that he hath sinned in one of these, and it shall be forgiven him...” Leviticus 5:11, 13.

Wheat flour, the most common and inexpensive of food items, that even the poorest of the poor would have to subsist on, was allowed by God to be brought as an offering for their sins so that they could rest secure in the faith that their sins were forgiven and that they would escape from destruction!

All these things plainly revealed that no one was exempt, not even the poorest of the poor, from having to offer up something of value to them to be consumed as a sacrifice if they committed sin.

3) In order to be benefitted by such an amazing cleansing and salvation from sin and its penalty, you had to follow a step by step process. First, you had to choose the proper innocent animal victim to become your own sacrifice, and then bring it to the Sanctuary at the entrance door into the Court. All these chosen sacrifices had to be “without blemish”, meaning that the animal had no defect. The sinner would then “lay his hand upon” the animal’s head, confess their sins over it, thus in symbol transferring their sins to this innocent victim. Then the sinner would take a knife and with their own hand kill this substitute and spill its blood. This meant that the sinner watched as this innocent animal died for their sins. This solemn and very visual occurrence impressed the fact of truth that all sin brings the penalty of death, and that it would be the innocent who would suffer for the guilty.

The blood of this substitute and sacrificial victim was then taken and placed on some of the sacred furniture, such as the altar of burnt offering, or upon the altar of incense before God as atonement for their sins. Then all “the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards, And the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys” was searched for, discovered and then removed and separated by the sinner themselves from being connected with the sacrificial body, and then it was placed and burnt in the fire “upon the altar of the burnt offering” (Leviticus 4:8-10, 7:30-31). Then either the whole body or just specific parts of this sacrificial animal were placed upon the fire of the altar, then the Drink Offering of grape juice and the Meat or Food Offering of wheat was added, and all remained upon the altar until it was burnt to ashes. Then these ashes were taken outside of the Sanctuary and “without the camp”, and deposited in “a clean place” in the wilderness (Leviticus 4:12, 6:11).

4) What did all these steps in this sacrificial process mean?

– All these sacrificial victims symbolized Jesus Christ becoming our sacrifice for sin.

– The reason all these animals had to be without blemish symbolized that Jesus Christ must absolutely be a perfect and sinless sacrifice without any character defects.

– For the sinner having to choose their sacrificial victim and then lay their hands upon the animal’s head and confess over them all their sins, thus transferring their sins onto this substitute victim, symbolized that we must personally choose Jesus Christ to be our Sacrifice for sin and then confess our sins to Him, thus transferring our sins onto Christ.

– For the sinner then having to personally kill this innocent substitute victim and spill its blood, symbolized that it was your and my sins that actually killed Christ and spilled His blood, the innocent spotless Lamb of God suffering for us guilty sinners.

– The spilt blood of this substitute and sacrificial victim being taken and placed before God, symbolized Christ pleading His spilt blood before God as atonement for our sins.

– The offering of all the fat with the two kidneys and the caul: what does this mean? Fat symbolized sin (Psalms 37:20). The two kidneys, as well as the caul – which was part of the liver, were organs that purified the blood from all impurities, and thus were connected with these impurities. As the sinner themselves had to first search for, discover and then separate all the fat and these purifying organs from being connected with the body, symbolizes that we ourselves must be willing to search for, discover and then separate all sin and impurities from being connected with ourselves, allowing it to be totally consumed and not to return back.

– The sacrificial victim being placed on the fire of the altar and then burnt to ashes, symbolized that Jesus Christ was not only willing to have His blood spilled to forgive our sins, but was also willing to pay our penalty for sin as a complete sacrifice, by tasting the second death of the lake of fire for all sinners. The ashes symbolizes that in the end all sin, as well as all those who cling to their sins instead of Christ, will be completely consumed by fire until nothing remains except ashes.

– The Drink Offering of grape juice being poured out over this substitute sacrificial victim on the altar symbolized that Christ was willing to pour out His soul unto death.

– The Meat or Food Offering of wheat flour or bread, symbolized that Christ was willing to be bruised and crushed under the weight of our sins in order to provide salvation for us.

– The ashes of this completely burnt offering for sin being removed from the Sanctuary and the camp of God’s followers and taken out into a clean place in the wilderness, symbolized that once sin and sinners are completely destroyed in the lake of fire, God’s entire universe will be forever cleansed, and that sin would never again “rise up the second time” (Nahum 1:9). Thus only peace, joy, unity, contentment, happiness and love would forever more dwell among all the unfallen and redeemed inhabitants of God’s entire universe.

5) “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” Isaiah 53:3-12.

6) The greatest truth which these sacrificial offerings for sin pointed to was the fact that without the shedding of blood, there is no remission or forgiveness of sins (Hebrews 9:22). This was the reason why the Sanctuary and Temple of God was sprinkled with the shed blood of an innocent victim (Leviticus 16; Hebrews 9:21), and even the book of the covenant and the people themselves were sprinkled with blood (see Exodus 24:5-8; Hebrews 9:18-20). And this is also the reason why both apartments of the earthly Sanctuary were covered over with rams’ skins dyed red!

But there is no forgiving virtue in the sacrificed body and shed blood of any or all of these slain animals combined! These were just symbols pointing towards the future sacrificed body and shed blood of Jesus Christ – which does indeed provide forgiving virtue!

“For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a [human] body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first [covenant based upon animal sacrifices], that he may establish the second [covenant based upon Christ’s sacrifice]. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” Hebrews 10:4-10.

“And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.” Hebrews 12:24.

Jesus Christ has brought in a new and “a better covenant, which was established upon better promises” (Hebrews 8:6).

7) “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” Matthew 26:28.

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:7-9.


	"LET THERE BE LIGHT" Ministries home \| Sermon Quotes THE SANCTUARY AND TEMPLE OF GOD, Part 5 quotes 1) The Sin Offering (Leviticus 4:1-35). The Sin Offering was offered “If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them” (Leviticus 4:2). -- The Trespass Offering (Leviticus 5:1-19, 6:1-7, 19:1-22). The Trespass Offering was offered either “If a soul commit a trespass, and sin through ignorance, in the holy things of the LORD” thus being unintentionally committed, or “If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the LORD” which was intentionally committed. -- The Burnt Offering (Leviticus 1:1-17). The Burnt Offering could be offered to atone for any personal sins, but it could also be offered to atone for group or corporate sins (Leviticus 9:7). -- The Drink Offering (Exodus 29:40; Leviticus 23:13). The Drink Offering was always to be unfermented grape juice which was connected with the Burnt Offering, being poured out over it and fully consumed along with it. -- The Meat or Food Offering (Leviticus 2:1-15, 23:13). The Meat or Food Offering was always wheat grain that had been crushed, bruised and ground into flour under the weight of a mill stone and offered either uncooked or baked into bread or wafers. It was offered mixed with salt and frankincense, and was also connected with the Burnt Offering and consumed along with it. -- The Peace or Thanksgiving Offering (Leviticus 3:1-16). This offering was given in gratitude to God for this plan of salvation providing a way for sin to be forgiven and peace made with God. It was also given in gratitude for God’s many blessings, or in connection with a particular vow, and could be offered at any time. 2) All these sacrifices were grouped into two different classes: 1) those that were connected in giving thanks to God, such as the Peace Offering, or 2) those that were connected with some sin being committed, which included most all the rest. But each individual that was bringing any kind of offering or sacrifice was to “offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord” (Leviticus 1:3) into the Outer Court. 1) No one was forced to part with or sacrifice any of their possessions in following God’s will, as it was all voluntary. Thus the Lord God Michael was again seeking to teach His followers that they had the freedom of choice in following Him, and all would be held responsible for their own choices made. Those who chose to follow God’s instructions obtained a good reward, and all who disobeyed would suffer His displeasure and obtain a bad reward. Yet none were forced to obey like slaves. This helped to dispel rebellion and stubbornness among His followers, while promoting peace, love and contentment. It also encouraged His people to take responsibility for their actions instead of blaming others, which helped to build self-reliance, independence, and nobility of character. 2) Each of these sacrifices cost the giver something. For those sacrifices connected with Peace or Thanksgiving offerings: God was encouraging His followers to show their appreciation for the plan making possible their salvation, and for all the merciful kindnesses and blessings He had freely bestowed upon them. This helped to discourage an attitude of stinginess and selfishness or of thinking that all these blessings were somehow deserved by them. For those offerings connected with sin: God was teaching His followers that all sin will cost something to have it forgiven and the guilt removed! This cost connected with each and every sin committed was an effective deterrent against committing sin in the first place, which then led the people to be careful in all that they did, and to not just give loose reign to passion or thoughtless actions. Also the cost of the offering increased depending on what rank or position of responsibility the person had when they committed sin. For instance, if a priest committed sin then he was to “bring for his sin...a young bullock [ox], without blemish...for a sin offering” (Leviticus 4:4). If “a ruler hath sinned” then he was to bring “a kid of the goats, a male without blemish” (Leviticus 4:22-23) for his sin offering. Or “if any one of the common people sin” (Leviticus 4:27), then they could bring either “a kid of the goats, a female without blemish” (Leviticus 4:28) or “a lamb for a sin offering...a female without blemish” (Leviticus 4:32). An ox was much more expensive than a goat or a lamb; a male goat was more expensive among the goat family, and a female lamb was less expensive than a ram. Thus God was teaching His people that the more responsibility a person had when they committed sin, then the more costly the sacrifice was for removing that sin. This was because the greater the rank or office held, the greater the influence exerted among the people; and the greater the influence exerted, the more likely people will be to follow their example of either doing good or doing evil. Thus this more expensive offering for sin required from those holding positions of influence led them to be much more careful and circumspect in all that they did and how they wielded their influence while in office. As greater responsibility required a more costly sacrifice for sin, and as less responsibility required less, then this revealed that God was completely just and fair in His requirements. 3) But it was not just the rich that could be forgiven, while those who were poor and that were unable to bring a lamb for their sin offering were to remain with unforgiven sins to eventually suffer destruction. “And if he be not able to bring a lamb, then he shall bring for his trespass, which he hath committed, two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, unto the LORD; one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering....and the priest shall make an atonement for him for his sin which he hath sinned, and it shall be forgiven him. ” Leviticus 5:7, 10. So God, who is ever merciful, recognized that there would be many people who were too poor to be able to bring a lamb as an offering for their sins. And for the sake of these dear believers He made provision that even these poor were not to be left without a way to have their sins forgiven. But what if they were just too poor and could not even bring two turtledoves or pigeons for their sins? God, ever merciful, even made provision for these poorest of the poor to have their sins forgiven. “But if he be not able to bring two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, then he that sinned shall bring for his offering the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering; he shall put no oil upon it, neither shall he put any frankincense thereon: for it is a sin offering....And the priest shall make an atonement for him as touching his sin that he hath sinned in one of these, and it shall be forgiven him...” Leviticus 5:11, 13. Wheat flour, the most common and inexpensive of food items, that even the poorest of the poor would have to subsist on, was allowed by God to be brought as an offering for their sins so that they could rest secure in the faith that their sins were forgiven and that they would escape from destruction! All these things plainly revealed that no one was exempt, not even the poorest of the poor, from having to offer up something of value to them to be consumed as a sacrifice if they committed sin. 3) In order to be benefitted by such an amazing cleansing and salvation from sin and its penalty, you had to follow a step by step process. First, you had to choose the proper innocent animal victim to become your own sacrifice, and then bring it to the Sanctuary at the entrance door into the Court. All these chosen sacrifices had to be “without blemish”, meaning that the animal had no defect. The sinner would then “lay his hand upon” the animal’s head, confess their sins over it, thus in symbol transferring their sins to this innocent victim. Then the sinner would take a knife and with their own hand kill this substitute and spill its blood. This meant that the sinner watched as this innocent animal died for their sins. This solemn and very visual occurrence impressed the fact of truth that all sin brings the penalty of death, and that it would be the innocent who would suffer for the guilty. The blood of this substitute and sacrificial victim was then taken and placed on some of the sacred furniture, such as the altar of burnt offering, or upon the altar of incense before God as atonement for their sins. Then all “the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards, And the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys” was searched for, discovered and then removed and separated by the sinner themselves from being connected with the sacrificial body, and then it was placed and burnt in the fire “upon the altar of the burnt offering” (Leviticus 4:8-10, 7:30-31). Then either the whole body or just specific parts of this sacrificial animal were placed upon the fire of the altar, then the Drink Offering of grape juice and the Meat or Food Offering of wheat was added, and all remained upon the altar until it was burnt to ashes. Then these ashes were taken outside of the Sanctuary and “without the camp”, and deposited in “a clean place” in the wilderness (Leviticus 4:12, 6:11). 4) What did all these steps in this sacrificial process mean? – All these sacrificial victims symbolized Jesus Christ becoming our sacrifice for sin. – The reason all these animals had to be without blemish symbolized that Jesus Christ must absolutely be a perfect and sinless sacrifice without any character defects. – For the sinner having to choose their sacrificial victim and then lay their hands upon the animal’s head and confess over them all their sins, thus transferring their sins onto this substitute victim, symbolized that we must personally choose Jesus Christ to be our Sacrifice for sin and then confess our sins to Him, thus transferring our sins onto Christ. – For the sinner then having to personally kill this innocent substitute victim and spill its blood, symbolized that it was your and my sins that actually killed Christ and spilled His blood, the innocent spotless Lamb of God suffering for us guilty sinners. – The spilt blood of this substitute and sacrificial victim being taken and placed before God, symbolized Christ pleading His spilt blood before God as atonement for our sins. – The offering of all the fat with the two kidneys and the caul: what does this mean? Fat symbolized sin (Psalms 37:20). The two kidneys, as well as the caul – which was part of the liver, were organs that purified the blood from all impurities, and thus were connected with these impurities. As the sinner themselves had to first search for, discover and then separate all the fat and these purifying organs from being connected with the body, symbolizes that we ourselves must be willing to search for, discover and then separate all sin and impurities from being connected with ourselves, allowing it to be totally consumed and not to return back. – The sacrificial victim being placed on the fire of the altar and then burnt to ashes, symbolized that Jesus Christ was not only willing to have His blood spilled to forgive our sins, but was also willing to pay our penalty for sin as a complete sacrifice, by tasting the second death of the lake of fire for all sinners. The ashes symbolizes that in the end all sin, as well as all those who cling to their sins instead of Christ, will be completely consumed by fire until nothing remains except ashes. – The Drink Offering of grape juice being poured out over this substitute sacrificial victim on the altar symbolized that Christ was willing to pour out His soul unto death. – The Meat or Food Offering of wheat flour or bread, symbolized that Christ was willing to be bruised and crushed under the weight of our sins in order to provide salvation for us. – The ashes of this completely burnt offering for sin being removed from the Sanctuary and the camp of God’s followers and taken out into a clean place in the wilderness, symbolized that once sin and sinners are completely destroyed in the lake of fire, God’s entire universe will be forever cleansed, and that sin would never again “rise up the second time” (Nahum 1:9). Thus only peace, joy, unity, contentment, happiness and love would forever more dwell among all the unfallen and redeemed inhabitants of God’s entire universe. 5) “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” Isaiah 53:3-12. 6) The greatest truth which these sacrificial offerings for sin pointed to was the fact that without the shedding of blood, there is no remission or forgiveness of sins (Hebrews 9:22). This was the reason why the Sanctuary and Temple of God was sprinkled with the shed blood of an innocent victim (Leviticus 16; Hebrews 9:21), and even the book of the covenant and the people themselves were sprinkled with blood (see Exodus 24:5-8; Hebrews 9:18-20). And this is also the reason why both apartments of the earthly Sanctuary were covered over with rams’ skins dyed red! But there is no forgiving virtue in the sacrificed body and shed blood of any or all of these slain animals combined! These were just symbols pointing towards the future sacrificed body and shed blood of Jesus Christ – which does indeed provide forgiving virtue! “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a [human] body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first [covenant based upon animal sacrifices], that he may establish the second [covenant based upon Christ’s sacrifice]. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” Hebrews 10:4-10. “And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.” Hebrews 12:24. Jesus Christ has brought in a new and “a better covenant, which was established upon better promises” (Hebrews 8:6). 7) “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” Matthew 26:28. “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:7-9.