#238 The Law of Atonement

The Lord called to Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting. He said,2 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When anyone among you brings an offering to the Lord, bring as your offering an animal from either the herd or the flock.

3 “‘If the offering is a burnt offering from the herd, you are to offer a male without defect. You must present it at the entrance to the tent of meeting so that it will be acceptable to the Lord. 4 You are to lay your hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted on your behalf to make atonement for you. 5 You are to slaughter the young bull before the Lord, and then Aaron’s sons the priests shall bring the blood and splash it against the sides of the altar at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 6 You are to skin the burnt offering and cut it into pieces. 7 The sons of Aaron the priest are to put fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire. 8 Then Aaron’s sons the priests shall arrange the pieces, including the head and the fat, on the wood that is burning on the altar.9 You are to wash the internal organs and the legs with water, and the priest is to burn all of it on the altar. It is a burnt offering, a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.

10 “‘If the offering is a burnt offering from the flock, from either the sheep or the goats, you are to offer a male without defect. 11 You are to slaughter it at the north side of the altar before the Lord, and Aaron’s sons the priests shall splash its blood against the sides of the altar. 12 You are to cut it into pieces, and the priest shall arrange them, including the head and the fat, on the wood that is burning on the altar. 13 You are to wash the internal organs and the legs with water, and the priest is to bring all of them and burn them on the altar. It is a burnt offering, a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.

14 “‘If the offering to the Lord is a burnt offering of birds, you are to offer a dove or a young pigeon. 15 The priest shall bring it to the altar, wring off the head and burn it on the altar; its blood shall be drained out on the side of the altar.16 He is to remove the crop and the feathers and throw them down east of the altar where the ashes are. 17 He shall tear it open by the wings, not dividing it completely, and then the priest shall burn it on the wood that is burning on the altar. It is a burnt offering, a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord. Leviticus 1

We move now from the moral law that presents the offense, delusion and wandering of our hearts, to the sacrificial law, that outlines, by way of type, our atonement. The moral law stands always, affirming the transgression and our need. It's speaks to a holy God, who is just, but whose mercy is revealed by way of the sacrifice. It is with the blood and body of animals that we come to understand sins wages and for that it is effective, but most ineffective to the carrying out of our atonement and sanctification. 

To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices." Mark 12:33

The animal must be valued, without defect, and so reflect the offering of He, who knew no sin. When Christ came He fulfilled all prophecy, and so the moral law would stand, but not against him. He would willingly take upon Himself the judgment of this law by carrying the weight of sinful man to the cross. He would be despised for revealing men's depravity and the arrogance of all human systems. Yet, to those who believe, who beat their chest and cry, have mercy on me, a sinner, He has become the power of their salvation. They are told to convict the world of sin, and be known for their love. Paul said, "I have set aside to know nothing among you, except Christ, and Him crucified and risen from the dead." It is scripture and the Holy Spirit that is our guide and teacher to the moral, sacrificial and ceremonial laws. God is infinite and so infinitely opposed to sin. Christ said that he did not come to destroy the law or the prophets, but rather to fulfill. You ask why we no longer sacrifice goats, well that is a simple matter, the goats and lambs pointed toward the true sacrifice, they were our teachers till the fulfillment had come. It is not a faith in goats, but a faith in Who they represent, when the perfection of this is the reality, then the imperfection is done away. 

The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. 2 Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. 3 But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. 4 It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

5 Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said:

“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,

but a body you prepared for me;

6 with burnt offerings and sin offerings

you were not pleased.

7 Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll—

I have come to do your will, my God.’”[a]

8 First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”—though they were offered in accordance with the law. 9 Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. 14 For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

15 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says:

16 “This is the covenant I will make with them

after that time, says the Lord.

I will put my laws in their hearts,

and I will write them on their minds.”[b]

17 Then he adds:

“Their sins and lawless acts

I will remember no more.”[c]

18 And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary. Hebrews 10:1-18