Truth sets free

Tag: hebrews

  • Should Christians continue to offer sacrifices and offerings for sins?

    Should Christians continue to offer sacrifices and offerings for sins?

    One day I was sitting in a certain Christian gathering in town. There was a preacher speaking about sacrifices and offerings to God’s people. I heard him say that there are certain curses that manifest today. They trouble people because of sins committed by forefathers. According to him, these sins and curses can only be cleansed by offering a sacrifice of animals. Another way is giving a certain high quantified offering in form of money or other specific possessions. God is to get these sacrifices through the man of God. Then they will be free from the said sins and curses. This reminded me of the Levites’ priesthood ministry.

    I know that you know that these kinds of teachings are in many places of worship today. In fact, even right now if you try to search online about this topic. You will be surprised to find some men persuading God’s people. They encourage them to continue giving specific items to receive God’s help through these offerings. Since these practices are found in Old Testament. This makes this topic debatable and controversial.

    To avoid unnecessary arguments and debates, let’s turn to God’s final word. The word of God is proven to be true and addresses every matter related to life and godliness. So, what does the Bible say about sacrifices and offerings practices in quest for sin forgiveness today? Should Christians be forced to continue in these practices?

    We start from Hebrews 10:10 and it reads, ‘‘and by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once and for all.’’ This verse answers our question so clearly. As Christians, we don’t need to offer sacrifices anymore. Our Lord Jesus Christ has already given his body as a perfect sacrifice and offering. He did this once and for all according to the perfect will of God. And by that one sacrifice; death on the cross, we have forgiveness of sins. What does this mean?

    This means that we don’t need to offer sacrifices as it was done before the coming of Christ. But we need Christ and his work alone for our sins to be forgiven. Our holiness is anchored on Christ’s sacrifice alone and not man’s sacrifices. Perhaps, you are wondering why we don’t need sacrifices and offerings of animals’ blood or any other special offering for forgiveness of sins?

    Here are few reasons from the bible that will help us understand why we should not continue in the practices of sacrifices and offerings;

    • Sacrifices and offerings of men makes Christians guilty of their sins every time they engaged in the practices

    We read Hebrews 10: 1– 3, ‘‘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 sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshippers would have been cleansed once and for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins”

    The writer is showing here clearly. Old covenant worshippers felt guilty any time they went to offer their yearly sacrifices. It was a yearly reminder of their sins and that made it impossible to clear their guilt towards sins. Whenever Christians offers sacrifices or special offerings to eliminate a sin or curse, they engage in a futile exercise. They will not do it once. Instead, it will be done repeatedly. In the process, these people will always be reminded of their sins. They will find themselves in bondage of guilt. They will put all their efforts to continue in these things. Nevertheless, the bible says these actions are impossible to take away sins, Hebrews 10:4.

    Good news is that when Christ came. He offered himself as a sacrifice once and for all. It will not be repeated again. If we put our confidence and trust in him, our sins are forgiven. Our consciences are cleansed from the guilt of sins. Hebrews 9:14. This why a Christian must not find himself/herself in these practices in the name of seeking God’s cleansing. For it will not help you. In this age and age to come, God looks at the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross alone. It is not the sacrifice of man’s possessions that forgives sins. This takes us to the second reason.

    • Sacrifices and offerings like animals, possessions etc. does not please God

    Hebrews 10:5-6 reads, ‘‘Therefore when Christ came into the world, he said sacrifices and offerings you did not desire but a body you prepared for me; with burnt offerings and sins offerings you were not pleased. Then I said, ”Here I am – it is written about me in the scroll – I have come to do your will, my God.’’
    The writer confirms what Christ himself testified. Those sacrifices and offerings of men God did not want. But God prepared Christ’s body in order for him to offer as a perfect sacrifice. God wanted Christ’s sacrifice once and for all, and through that one time sacrifice, God was greatly pleased and contented. God’s demands were satisfied as a result.

    This means that no matter how much a person can do his best to please God through sacrifices and offering. It will be utterly impossible. For God has graciously provided his own divine means of pleasing Him. It is through his son alone. Only Jesus Christ was capable of doing the will of God. That’s why God esteems him more than anything else. Through his willingness to go to the cross to satisfy the demands of God and please Him. God has in turn established a better covenant with better promises through him. What exactly does this new covenant entail, and what are these better promises? This takes us to the last point why we should not continue with sacrifices and offerings today.

    • Sacrifices and offerings of animals were anchored in the first covenant which its promises are inferior to the new covenant

    The Lord Almighty declared through Jeremiah the prophet in Jeremiah 31:31-34 about his plan to establish a new covenant. This covenant came with better promises. He had found fault with the first covenant particularly with the people who were co-players in the covenant. The priest and people could no longer bring their sacrifices and offerings as required by the law. This made God to decide to seek another solution because he wanted to have a relationship with his people.

    He then established a new covenant with Jesus Christ as the mediator. Man and his sacrifices and offerings are no longer a means to reach God. This makes the first covenant obsolete in favor of the new covenant we are in today. Thus Old Testament must not be read alone. It should be read in light of the accomplished work of Christ in the new covenant.

    In this new era, it’s not what we can do but it’s all about what God has done through Christ. Am moved by the words of Jeremiah which talks about the in depth look of this new covenant. Indeed, we have all the reasons to end any inferior practices like sacrifices and sin offerings. We should put our complete trust in the promises God has given through his son Jesus Christ. God has assured that he will put his laws in the mind of his people. He will forgive all their wickedness and will not remember their sins any more. What great promises we have in Christ! That we are no longer needed to bring sacrifices and offerings to priests so that they can offer on our behalf, Hebrews 10:18. Instead forgiveness of our sins is anchored in Christ’s sacrifice he did once and for all.

    Perhaps you think that some sins and curses must require sacrifice to be broken. Or you may have been told the same thing. Remember what we have seen; our sure help is in Christ and not sacrifices and offering. Run to him. He died as a ransom for those that are called in order for them to be free from the sins committed. This is so that they may receive the promised eternal inheritance, Hebrews 9:15.

    In conclusion, it is clear that God in Christ has established a better way for forgiveness of sins. It is only through the one time sacrifice of Lord Jesus Christ’s body on the cross. It’s the sacrifice that clears the conscience from guilt of sins. It’s the Lord’s sacrifice alone that pleased God once and for all. Its Jesus Christ’s sacrifice that makes us partakers of the better promises of the new covenant.

    We must put our complete trust and hope in this already given sacrifice of Christ for our forgiveness of sins. Otherwise, we will revert to other meaningless, inferior practices like sacrifices and offerings that are propagated by a few individuals pursuing their selfish gains. The choice is yours to obey God’s word as revealed in Christ. My plea is that you obey him and his word so that you don’t subject Jesus Christ to public disgrace.

  • How did God Speak in the Past? How Does He Speak to us Today?

    How did God Speak in the Past? How Does He Speak to us Today?

    These are two interesting questions to start with in today’s discussion. When not carefully understood, it leaves a person in a state of confusion. We are living in a world where many voices are speaking to us from all directions. Information is at the fingertips. Yet not all this information is true and beneficial. This makes people especially Christians to be in a tight corner wondering what really is the truth. In many conversations today, you will never miss the above question, how does God speak to us today?

    People are lost in between questions like; is he speaking to us directly by appearing perhaps in dreams or visions? Is he speaking to us through his creation such as some selected special people? Please spare some time to read this article to the end to get answers to the above questions.

    How Did God Speak in the Past?

    The writer of Hebrews in Hebrews 1:1-2 interestingly begins his letter with this topic. It seems like the same question was a problem for that generation as it is for us today. He confirms that God is the creator of all things. God had not gone mute for the past generation. He also has not gone mute for this current generation. The writer says that long ago, in those many years right after creation was finished, God spoke through people. These people were chosen and called by him. It is clear that God spoke to that generation through prophets. He did this, not once but many times. He visited many of his prophets at different times to communicate his message. Someone might want to ask, how did he do that?

    Well, it is clear in our bible text that he spoke through them in many ways. For instance, the word of the Lord came through visions. This is evident in Genesis 15:1, Isaiah 1:1, Ezekiel 1:1, Nahum 1:1, Micah 1:1, Obadiah 1:1, etc. And to other prophets, it was through the appearing of the angels of the Lord. God spoke to Moses through an angel, Exodus 3:1-3. We can go on and on through the bible. One clear thing is that God spoke mightily through his prophets at different times. He spoke in many ways which we can’t exhaust now. He sovereignly chose that way. And his messages were delivered as intended. But what about now, how is God speaking to us?

    How Does He Speak to Us Today?

    Is he still passing his intended message through certain special people through one-on-one encounters, visions, or appearing angels? Certainly not. The writer of Hebrews ensures that this matter is understood without any cases of contradictions. He says that in the past, God communicated in that manner to his people. In these last days, period between Jesus Christ’s first and second coming, he has spoken to us by his son whom he has appointed heir of all things and through him also created the universe. I ask you to pay attention to the choice of words in this text as we proceed.

    God in these days meaning now, is speaking to us, not through any created being. Not even through a prophet. Not even through angels. Not even through visions and dreams seen by a person. He makes it clear; that God has already spoken by his son. It is important to note that God has already given his final word, his son. He has spoken of things that happened before the earth’s foundation was laid. He has also spoken about what will happen at the end of the age. All these he has done by and through his son, Jesus Christ; the word that came from God which became flesh and dwelt among his people.

    Thus, the only way we can listen to God now is through his word alone. It is clearly laid bare in the Holy Scriptures. The word which is so powerful and alive, Hebrews 4:12 and in them are stored all things pertaining to life and godliness. All hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge are only found in the written word of God, Colossians 2:3. We surely need to get this truth in our hearts. Why?

    We are living in times of desperation and hopelessness. Truth is fought from all corners. Even in the church, some people have crept in unnoticed. They present themselves as the current God’s mouthpiece. They claim that God is speaking through them new things concerning people’s lives. This is totally contrary to what we have seen in our bible text.

    God in these times does not speak through men new things. But remember our Lord Jesus Christ forewarned about the emergence of false prophets and teachers, Matthew 24:24. Apostle Peter clearly states that these false teachers are in the church. They are secretly introducing perverted teachings that are destructive. The worst is that they are denying the Lord who bought them, 2 Peter 2:1. They aim to lure people away from the truth. Even the chosen of God are at risk of falling victim to their swift destruction. The question then comes, how can a believer escape this trap?

    The only escape route for the elect of God is to decide to lovely cherish and believe in what God has said in Hebrews 1:2 without adding or taking away any word. Believing and proclaiming that God has spoken in his written word. And his word is enough and final. No need for any other fine-packaged-sounding arguments. The choice is for every individual to make. As Paul reminded a young leader in Ephesus church, Timothy needed to make a decisive choice. He was to carefully watch out for his life. Timothy was to take precautions on what teachings he believes in and shares with others. For by that, he would save himself and others also, 1 Timothy 4:16.

    Therefore, let no one take you captive by things that have no value. For they put your eternity at stake. God has spoken in his word. If you want to hear God loudly, take your bible and read it loudly. That’s the voice of God for us today.