Why Animals Sacrifices in the Old Testament?

Humans believe that we are the center of the universe, thus the selfie, the arguments, the fights, and the wars. We think our way, thoughts, ideas, etc. are what is best. If only everyone would agree with us.

When God had Moses write Leviticus, the sacrificial animals are mentioned frequently. Some feel this is because the Judaism of those days was based on the pagan religions around them, but why would God have Moses write Leviticus to remove mankind away from paganism when the ideas themselves come from paganism?

The sacrificial animals are a reminder that forgiveness of sins, getting right with God, and pleasing God cannot be done by ourselves. No human can atone for their unrighteous deeds. We may think our way is best. Cain thought this when he offered the best of his garden. Leviticus reminds us that our way, for once, is not the right way. Sin must be punished. We have been humiliated that we cannot do this for ourselves. Good works do not pay for past sins. This is part of the intention of God—to show us what we cannot do.

The true sacrifice, of course, was Messiah Jesus. He is the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. We cannot atone for our own sins.

1. "For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins." (Hebrews 10:4, EMTV).
   
2. "But Christ came as a High Priest of the good things to come, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered once for all into the Holies, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling those having been defiled, sanctifies for the purity of the flesh, by how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works in order that we might serve the living God? And on account of this He is the Mediator of the new covenant, so that, since a death has occurred for redemption of the transgressions at the time of the first covenant, that those having been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. (Hebrews 9:11-15, EMTV)
   
3. For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the image itself of the things, can never with the same sacrifices, which they offer continually every year, make those approaching perfect. Otherwise they would not have ceased to be offered, because the worshippers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. But in them there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. (Hebrews 10:1-4, EMTV)
   
4. Which was a symbol pointing to baptism, which now saves you. It is not the washing off of bodily dirt, but the promise made to God from a good conscience. It saves you through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, (1 Peter 3:21, GNB92)
   

Resource referenced to in this article: "This the Law of the Burnt Offering" from the 27 Mar 15 Temple Institute Newsletter. The Temple Institute.

How is God Good?

What is "good," and what is "bad?"

We can only know what is good or bad by God's interaction with creation. God is totally consistent. We sees God's goodness in God sending the rain on the just and unjust. We see God's goodness in that He sent His only begotten son, Jesus Christ, to be the savior of whosoever will. Now, it must be said, we are not born "good." We are evil to the core. We have original sin which is we choose our own way and thoughts as being the best, the ultimate, and our own comfort is first. Nor, is there some spark in us that in our own strength we can see God. We do not seek God! "

What then? Are we any better? Not at all. For we previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin. Just as it is written: "There is none righteous, no not one. There is none who understands; there is none who seeks God. All have turned aside; together they became unprofitable; there is not one doing kindness, there is not so much as one." (Romans 3:9-12, EMTV)

Salvation is initiated by God Himself. If God did not initiate salvation, no one would ever be saved, forgiven, or go to heaven.

I know what evil is, because God shows us His character, which is good. The opposite then is bad, evil. God has a way of life:

1. "For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice, that the LORD may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him." (Genesis 18:19, NKJV)
   
2. Who is wise? Let him understand these things. Who is prudent? Let him know them. For the ways of the LORD are right; the righteous walk in them, But transgressors stumble in them. (Hosea 14:9, NKJV)
   
3. He said, "O full of all guile and all craft, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? (Acts 13:10, EMTV)
   

Sinners (all of us) have a different way of life.

1. Who in the generations gone by permitted all the Gentiles to walk in their ways. (Acts 14:16, EMTV)
   
2. For we have spent enough of our past lifetime to accomplish the will of the Gentiles—having walked in wantonness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. (1 Peter 4:3, EMTV)
   

Dr. Roger Olsen penned an article on his Patheos blog that is a very worthy read.

C. S. Lewis Said It: God's "Goodness" Cannot Be Wholly Other

For years now I have been insisting that the main reason I am not a Calvinist (or any kind of divine determinist) is that, taken to its "good and necessary consequences," Calvinism makes God morally monstrous. I fully realize and understand that many Calvinists do not see this and disagree. Of course they do. In my opinion, most simply close their eyes to the fact that if God creates some people, created in his image and likeness, for hell or even merely "passes over some" when he could save them (because election is unconditional and grace irresistible), then God is not good in any meaningful sense. If God does this, then "God is good" means nothing other than "God is God"—a tautology. "Good" tells us nothing about God in addition to "he is God."

When I push this "button" on Calvinism to a Calvinist he or she usually retreats…

The difference between a Calvinist (full TULIP) and Classical/Reformed Arminian is wide. This article definitely is worthy of 5 minutes of your time.

Success

What is the Christian's method of success?



Being in the Scriptures. The promise to Joshua was not just to him; we can also apply it to us. "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." (Joshua 1:8 NKJV)

1. Memorize--Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. (Psalms 119:11 NKJV)


2. Study--I will meditate on Your precepts, and contemplate Your ways. (Psalms 119:15 NKJV)


3. Think about it--Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. (Psalms 119:97 NKJV)


4. Meditate--I have more understanding than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation. (Psalms 119:99 NKJV)

Memorize will give instant recall to situations we face every day.

The "meditate" for point two is the idea of study. For the Psalmist it was studying God's rules (precepts) in the Old Testament of which there are 613. Contemplate would be to think deeply. It is an active thinking, not passive. God's ways are the ways the He lives, the rules He lives by, and the things He does.

The "meditate" for point three is a different word indicating stopping and thinking about how God's ways and rules can apply to the situation that I'm facing. It would be facets of application. Again, this is active, not passive. Passive would be to blank the mind or even go into a trance.

Meditating in the fourth verse is the same word as point three and deals with how study, thinking, and applying God's rules and ways make us wiser than any other teacher we have ever had.

If we would follow this, we would truly be successful in life. Successful does not necessarily mean financially well off, but successful in relationships between all.

Calvinism: Blunt reality

Trials

Colossians 4:2-6

Chapter 4:2-6 Conversation


 




 

A1 Scripture

B1 Be devoted to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving; praying at the same time also for us, that God would open a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, because of which I am also in chains, that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, to know how you ought to answer each one. (Colossians 4:2-6, EMTV)

B2 Be persistent in prayer, and keep alert as you pray, giving thanks to God. At the same time pray also for us, so that God will give us a good opportunity to preach his message about the secret of Christ. For that is why I am now in prison. Pray, then, that I may speak, as I should, in such a way as to make it clear. Be wise in the way you act toward those who are not believers, making good use of every opportunity you have. Your speech should always be pleasant and interesting, and you should know how to give the right answer to everyone. (Colossians 4:2-6, GNB92)

A2 Outline

B1 With God (Colossians 4:2-4)

B2 With nonbelievers (Colossians 4:5)

B3 With everyone (Colossians 4:6)

A3 Notes

B1 With God--Prayer

C1 Be devoted

C2 Be alert

C3 Be thankful

C4 For us to preach true Gospel

B2 With nonbelievers--witnessing

C1 Witnessing

D1 By word-preaching

D2 By life-godly

C2 With wisdom

D1 Don't talk too much

D2 Do be timely

C3 With grace

C4 With salt

B3 With everyone (giving a wise answer)

Contradiction Galatians 6:2 and 6:5?

Bear one another's burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2, EMTV)

For each one shall bear his own load. (Galatians 6:5, EMTV)

Is there a contradiction?

The Skeptics Annotated Bible says "yes."

When I am faced with a problem, I am not to seek people to tell them my problems. You know, seek lots and lots of people—spread the news. We are to bear our own problems.

Yet, when if someone sees me and thinks that I am burdened, then they are to step up and listen, help, or encourage me.

Adam Clarke's comment on this verse:

" Verse 5. Every man shall bear his own burden.] All must answer for themselves, not for their neighbours. And every man must expect to be dealt with by the Divine Judge, as his character and conduct have been. The greater offences of another will not excuse thy smaller crimes. Every man must give account of himself to God."

 

College Press's comment on this verse:

""Burdens" (baros—BAR oss). At first glance there seems to be a contradiction between Gal. 6:2 and Gal. 6:5. First we are to "bear one another's burden," and then, each man is to "bear his own burden." The solution lies in the two different Greek words for "burden." The burden of Gal. 6:2 which must be shared is baros, which means "heavy, having great weight." The burden of Gal. 6:5 which each one must carry for himself is phortion (for TEE on), which is a common word for freight or cargo.

Thus, we must all help one another in the oppressive burdens of life, but we also each have certain things for which we alone are responsible.

Thus the first would deal with sympathy and the other responsibility. We need to help each other, yet we cannot pass the blame or excuse ourselves to others.