May 6, 2007

Where do we first find sacrifices mentioned in the Bible? [Genesis 4: the sacrifices of Cain and Abel.] Now, the Bible doesn't record how sacrifices came into being or when or even if God commanded Adam and Eve to do this. But it does seem that these sacrifices had something to do with gaining God's favor. Listen to the words of Genesis 4: 4- 5.

Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, ⁵but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

Although people of different religions had different reasons for offering sacrifices, most often those reasons had included appeasing a god or the gods happy, so they would bless the worshipper.

But why would people believe that burning some grain or incense or killing an animal would bring God's favor? Certainly different religions had different answers to that question. But, why did God command his people to do this?

An important answer to that question is found in our scripture in Hebrews 10 In verse 1 we read,

The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming-not the realities themselves.

This verse refers to the law. In a broad sense what it says applies to many of the Old Testament laws, but in this chapter it refers especially to the laws regarding animal sacrifices.

The verse calls the law a shadow: What do you think of when you think of a shadow? I remember in grade school that our teacher traced our shadows on a piece of paper and then told us to draw and color in the details-- our hair, ears, eyes. etc. We had to provide detail. Unlike pictures shadows don't have detail- They merely provide an outline of something or someone. But what are Old Testament sacrifices shadows or outlines of?

Look at what the rest of verse 1 says .

For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship.

"to make perfect those who draw near to worship. Those words are very important. God takes our sin and rebellious acts very seriously. Sin and rebellion pollute us to our very core. And God cannot accept polluted sinful people into his presence. Much less can he accept their worship. Thus, in Old Testaments times God provided this way for worshipers to come into his holy presence: They had to kill an animal and bring it as an offering to the Lord. Even the type of animal they brought symbolized that the holy God did not accept pollution or sin of any kind. According to Lev 1: 10, "If the offering is a burnt offering from the flock, from either the sheep or the goats, he is to offer a male without defect." The sacrifice had to be without defect. In fact, later in history prophets like Malachi condemned the people for disobeying this law and offering lame or otherwise defective livestock. And he told them that because of this God would not accept their sacrifice or their worship.

These laws regarding sacrifice should inform our worship and our service to the Lord today. Sadly, many people today believe that God is under some obligation to accept them, their prayers, their worship, or their good deeds. But the truth is that he is not. God is a holy God. He does not accept anything from sinful polluted people- anymore than we would accept blood from a donor who had AIDS.

But, in love, God provided a way for his OT people to come into his presence and worship him. He provided a way for them to serve him in spite of their sins. That way was through sacrifice. These sacrifices were a way by which people would be reminded of their guilt and unworthiness, and by which they could show that they trusted in the grace and mercy of God. That's why as our scripture points out they continually had to offer sacrifices. So that they might continually know that they were unworthy to be accepted by God and that they must continually trust his mercy and grace to make them acceptable.

But, the people of Old Testament didn't know how this mercy and grace would come. They had the form, but not the substance. They had the shadow, but not the reality. For the truth was that it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

According to verse 5, these unblemished animals pointed to the perfect sacrifice of God's Son Jesus.

⁵Therefore, 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, O God.'

Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He is the one who perfectly obeyed his Father's will. In the words of Philippians 2: 8,

he humbled himself and became obedient to death- even death on a cross!

In a general sense, all the laws of the Old Testament pointed to Jesus. We are not accepted by God because we follow the way of the law. For we know that these laws were shadows that pointed to Jesus. We know that we are accepted by God only through Jesus and through him alone. So it is irrelevant for us to use any law in the Old Testament to help us become accepted by God. There is no other sacrifice, no law, no path of obedience that can bring us God. In the words of Jesus himself,

"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me

Think again about all those pictures of altars and sacrifices we saw a few moments ago. The people who engaged in such things had the right idea. They were not automatically acceptable to God. But, what they didn't understand was that nothing they sacrificed brought them any nearer to him. Indeed nothing they did could satisfy him. Some non Christian people are so dedicated that it puts us to shame. A few years ago you couldn't fly out of a major airport without young adults from some cult or religion attempting to talk with you. That happened to me several times. Moonies, Hare Krishna's and others-- these folks were the scourge of the airport. People would try to igonore them, or they would cuss them out, or tell them to get lost. But these young followers of false religion were so dedicated. I remember speaking with a young woman from the Hare Krishna religion. She told me all about their programs to help the poor. Of course, she wanted me to give her money to help. But she had already given everything she had as did many members of cults like hers. They had given up everything they owned. Many had estranged themselves from their families. Yet, nothing they sacrificed brought them any closer to God. In fact, because they were proselytizing for a false god they only increased that gap.

That brings us to verse 19- 20,

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body,

Originally the writer to Hebrews wrote these words to Jews who believed in Jesus to explain them how privileged they were when compared to Jews who did not believe. But, as non Jews, who live in 21^st century, we should also see how privileged we are when compared to all those around us who work so hard to be acceptable to God, but don't really trust Jesus alone for their salvation. The reason God accepts us is not because we are any better and more sincere or because we do greater deeds. Some of these people put us to shame.  And yet God accepts us out his grace-- his love we don't deserve-- a grace that sent his only Son to cross to sacrifice himself for us. And we can't even claim the credit for trusting in that grace.

⁸For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this [faith] is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-⁹not by works, so that no one can boast

What a privileged people we are indeed! As such a privileged people, we cannot but help to respond. And how should we respond? Look at verses 22- 25.

Verse 22- Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

How many of us take advantage of our privileged status to spend time with God in prayer. Jesus suffered being forsaken by his Father, so that we could be accepted by him. But what are we doing with the privilege? Mumbling a few words before dinner or bedtime. Or do we advantage of our privilege and spend significant time with our God. If we had ticket to Super Bowl, would we just pop in for 5 minutes or so to see what's going on. We have a far greater privilege than anybody with Super Bowl tickets. How well are we using that privilege?.

But, maybe some here this morning may not be using that privilege all that much, because you are concerned about the life you've been leading. Maybe there is a particular sin in your life or a memory of sins. You wonder whether God really hears your prayers. After all, doesn't the Psalmist say in Psalm 66:19,

If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened

And you are worried that the Lord will not hear your prayers. If that's you, think back to your baptism. Way back when many of us were babies, before we could do one thing, God publicly claimed us as his own. Our heads were sprinkled with water, showing to all that that Jesus bloody sacrifice paid for our sins and made us clean and acceptable to God. Because of this, we can know that if we confess our sins he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. So we can boldly come before him, knowing that he hears us and will bless us.

How else should we respond to the privilege we have been given. Verse 23-- Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

There are many things in life that can shake our faith. Many things can happen to us. As privileged people, God calls us to remember that we have the hope of the new heaven and earth. We are called to hold unswervingly to that wonderful hope. We are called to trust, even when it's hard. For in the words of Romans 8:35- 37

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

As a privileged people, we know God accepts us and accepts our works, so we are also called to obedience and good deed and to help spur other Christians to good deeds. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

While working as a journalist for the Chicago Tribune, Lee Strobel was assigned to report on the struggles of an impoverished, inner-city family during the weeks leading up to Christmas. A devout atheist at the time, Strobel was mildly surprised by the family's attitude in spite of their circumstances:

"The Delgados-60-year-old Perfecta and her granddaughters, Lydia and Jenny-had been burned out of their roach-infested tenement and were now living in a tiny, two-room apartment on the West Side. As I walked in, I couldn't believe how empty it was. There was no furniture, no rugs, nothing on the walls-only a small kitchen table and one handful of rice. That's it. They were virtually devoid of possessions.

In fact, 11-year-old Lydia and 13-year-old Jenny owned only one short-sleeved dress each, plus one thin, gray sweater between them. When they walked the half-mile to school through the biting cold, Lydia would wear the sweater for part of the distance and then hand it to her shivering sister, who would wear it the rest of the way.

But despite their poverty and the painful arthritis that kept Perfecta from working, she still talked confidently about her faith in Jesus. She was convinced he had not abandoned them. I never sensed despair or self-pity in her home; instead, there was a gentle feeling of hope and peace.

They had peace despite poverty, while I had anxiety despite plenty; they knew the joy of generosity, while I only knew the loneliness of ambition; they looked heavenward for hope, while I only looked out for myself; they experienced the wonder of the spiritual, while I was shackled to the shallowness of the material-and something made me long for what they had. Or, more accurately, for the One they knew."

How many of us live lives that make others long to know Jesus?

Finally, as those who know God will accept us in his presence, we are called to make use of every opportunity to come into the presence of God in public worship.

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

As a privileged people, we have the promise that someday we will go to be in the presence of God forever in heaven. As those who are living for day, why don't we make better use of our opportunities to worship God in his presence today. What in this world could be more important? What could better prepare us for our future?

As we think about how the Old Testament laws relate to us today, we cannot help but be amazed at the goodness God has shown to us, creating us to live here in this time after Jesus came and then by his Word and Spirit bringing us to faith in Jesus. The real question that we are left with is what are we doing with that great privilege. AMEN!