Why Animals Aren’t Enough

What’s The Difference?

After our discussion earlier this week, I think it is important that we take some time to discuss the importance of sacrifices in the Bible. In our last post, we asked the question, ‘Did Jesus really have to die?’ This question of course has multiple paths we can take to answer it, but ultimately, the answer is yes. One of the biggest aspects we discussed as well was why we couldn’t continue the sacrifice of animals as they did in the Old Testament. And while I think you all agreed with me when I mentioned how all animals would be extinct today if that were the case, there is a bigger picture here with a better answer. Animal sacrifices are all throughout the Old Testament and we get a very clear picture of this practice in the book of Leviticus. However, even if it meant that more and more animals would need to be sacrificed in our day to atone for sin, wouldn’t this still be better than killing the perfect Son of God? Doesn’t God’s Word say that we are higher than the animals in the first place since we are made in His image? Why aren’t animal sacrifices enough then? The answer comes down to two theological terms regarding sacrifices. Those terms are ‘temporary atonement’ and ‘permanent atonement’. Once we understand these two points and aspects of sacrificing in the first place, we’ll see just how crucial it was to have a sacrifice for mankind apart from animals. As John Piper graciously reminds us, “God regards sin as so evil and so destructive that in order to set things right there must be a death.” Let’s see how this all comes together. 

Temporary Atonement

First, let’s view what temporary atonement really is. As you can probably guess by its name, temporary atonement was a practice that took place to atone for sin temporarily and not permanently. This was the method that God set in place to cover the sins of His people so that He may dwell among them. Look specifically at Leviticus chapter 16 to see this more clearly. This chapter alone shows us how God views sacrifices and how they are necessary in order to cover the sins of His people. When we look at the end of Leviticus 16 in verse 29, we see how serious this practice of animal sacrifice was. It says, “29 “This shall be a permanent statute for you: in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall humble your souls and not do any work, whether the native, or the alien who sojourns among you;” This practice wasn’t just a statute that was to take place every time someone remembered that they did something wrong, this was a practice that had annual rituals take place in case some sins of Israel had not been atoned for. Think about this for a second and put yourself in the shoes of the Israelites. It is your responsibility to bring animals to sacrifice to the temple every time you sin. You would think this chore alone would encourage people enough to stop sinning. Yet, not only do you still have to sacrifice animals because of your sin, but you have to participate in a nation-wide annual ritual of sacrificing, just in case you or someone else among you forgot a sin to atone for. That is abysmal!! Animal sacrifices were so temporary that an annual ritual had to take place in case the 150 bulls you had already killed earlier that year weren’t enough. The sacrifice of animals, while atoned temporarily for sin, did atone for our sin permanently. 

Permanent Atonement

This is where permanent atonement enters the picture. Look at what David says about animal sacrifices in Psalm 51:16-17 “16 For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; You are not pleased with burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.” There came a point in Israel’s history where animal sacrificing no longer made God’s people repentant or ashamed of their sin, but rather, they sacrificed animals because it was just what they were taught to do. This is not the goal that God wanted the shedding of animal blood to accomplish. If death is required for the forgiveness of sin, and the death that atones for us is not our own, there should be some type of remorse and repentance. And yet, there was often none. But not only did animal sacrifice not change the heart of mankind, but it couldn’t permanently forgive them either. Look at what Hebrews 9:11-12 says, “11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; 12 and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.” 

The blood of Christ was greater than any sacrifice that has ever taken place to atone for sin permanently. If this is the case, why even offer animal sacrifices to begin with? Why not just bring Jesus onto the scene as soon as Adam and Eve sinned? The answer to this great question is the answer to why everything else exists in the Bible. And that reason is to point others to Jesus. When we look at how many sacrifices, rituals, and statues were put in place in order for mankind to dwell with God, it could never be accomplished. We didn’t need a temporary sacrifice, we needed permanent atonement. When all is said and done, your sin is greater than the sacrifice of any animal. Your sin is not greater, however, than the blood of Jesus Christ. As Piper beautifully puts it, “Christ’s sacrifice was so complete, so glorious, so full, so decisive that it secured an eternal redemption.” Friends, Christ was not just a better option, He’s the only option. 

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Sources

[1] “Access Your Bible from Anywhere.” BibleGateway.Com: A Searchable Online Bible in over 150 Versions and 50 Languages., www.biblegateway.com/. Accessed 2023.

[2] Piper, J. (2023, December 8). Did Jesus disregard the sacrificial system? Desiring God. https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/did-jesus-disregard-the-sacrificial-system