Q5. Sacrifice as Mercy

[saricha1130]

God amazingly allowed the Israelites to sacrifice animals in their place to make them right again with God. As this is still not a worthy cause, how amazing and mercifrul is our God?!?

[paulcrf]

Q5. In what sense is God's provision of animal sacrifice for forgiveness of sins an expression of his mercy? Were animal sacrifices actually adequate to atone for human sin?

By allowing and accepting animal sacrifices to get rid of their sins, knowing that the fully adequate sacrifice for sins is coming.

Animal sacrifices were not adequate to take away the sins since a lesser animal cannot substitute a greater human being. Somebody much greater than humans can purge our sins, which is Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

[dawnp63]

Q5. In what sense is God's provision of animal sacrifice for forgiveness of sins an expression of his mercy? Were animal sacrifices actually adequate to atone for human sin?

God could have justly required the death of each person for their sin, as the curse from the Garden of Eden foretold. Instead, He allowed each person another day to draw closer to Him, or further from Him, and accepted animal sacrifice for sin.

[sanditui]

Q5. In what sense is God's provision of animal sacrifice for forgiveness of sins an expression of his mercy? Were animal sacrifices actually adequate to atone for human sin?

The punishment for sin was death. Yet how could God kill man who was made in His image and likeness. Man made in God's image was a disgrace to Him, yet God loved mankind deeply. I think that God was therefore extending mercy to us by allowing animals to be sacrificed in place of us as a sign that through the shedding of an innocent's blood , sins were forgiven. However, animal sacrifices could never adequately atone for human sin. Only a human made in God's image and likeness could really atone for human sins. Hence Jesus, the unblemished one, had to come to fulfil this atonement and cleanse humanity. Through Jesus' faithfulness, He was able to redeem all of humanity so that we can now be called children of God through our faith in Him. Praise be to God for His loving kindness and compassion for us.

[Delivered]

Q5. In what sense is God's provision of animal sacrifice for forgiveness of sins an expression of his mercy?

God who loved Israel, set up a way that they may have a relationship with Him, it is God

[tjackson]

God's mercy allows these sacrifices to purge our sins until the adequate sacrifce comes. Animal sacrifices were not an adequate atone. Animal sacrifices did not cleanse you from sin nor did God owe forgiveness because of a ritual sacrifice.

[sturdy to be approved]

Q5. In what sense is God's provision of animal sacrifice for forgiveness of sins an expression of his mercy? Were animal sacrifices actually adequate to atone for human sin?

1. when he look at the blood he will pass over the siner

2. yes

[Marloes]

Because of His mercy, we don't have to burn ourselve.

Yes but only because out of mercy He said so.

[HeidiW]

Q5. In what sense is God's provision of animal sacrifice for forgiveness of sins an expression of his mercy? Were animal sacrifices actually adequate to atone for human sin?

God desires us to be with Him. He gives us life in Himself, but we are dead in sins and cannot be near Him or with Him. So, in His mercy and love for us, He provided a way for us to be near Him. That is, He commanded His people to bring animals and sacrifice them, offering their blood. This atoned for one year of sins, but the sacrifice must be made again the following year, over and over again.

Because it had to be repeated every year, it is clear that animal sacrifices did not atone for human sin. If animal blood could do the job, no need 1) to ever sacrifice again or 2) for the Lord to offer Himself.

The book of Hebrews says "It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins" Pastor Ralph mentioned something that I'd never gotten from Hebrews before. That is, that because animals are lesser than humans, their blood is insufficient for our sins. It had to be one who was higher than us, that is Jesus the GodMan, the Lamb given by God. And someone on this board, in a previous study, pointed out that we human beings are made in His image, therefore it had to be a Human Being's blood that would suffice for humanity's sin. This just bolsters the point that the sacrificial system in place from the day of Moses was simply a picture. It portrayed the ugliness and horror of sin, and pointed to the need of an Innocent Sacrifice...but the sacrificial system was NEVER enough to cleanse from sin. It had to be the blood of a pure and perfect Human Being to cleanse the sins of sinful human beings.

this is a new insight for me into the book of Hebrews. Thanks for bringing that out so well.

[Stan]

Q5. In what sense is God's provision of animal sacrifice for forgiveness of sins an expression of his mercy? Were animal sacrifices actually adequate to atone for human sin?

The physical sense in that a lamb dies and its blood is shed as a sacrifice. God said that without the shedding of blood there is no redemption. In the spiritual sense that God's grace is poured out like the shedding of the blood for our forgiveness and salvation. Animal sacrifices were not adequate because that they are not equal in importance to God a human life would need a human life as a sacrifice. God provided Jesus to be our human sacrifice.

[Pearl]

Q5. In what sense is God's provision of animal sacrifice for forgiveness of sins an expression of his mercy? Were animal sacrifices actually adequate to atone for human sin?

God allowed these sacrifices to purge man of his sins.

Yes, at the time animal sacifices were adequate to atone for human sin, because when man laid his hand on the animals head, this was an act of transferring the sin to the animal.

[dgc1957]

He has allowed for us to substitute that for ourselves. We are the one that has sinned, but He lets us substitue. The animal was only adequate because God allowed it to be.

[esther414]

Q5. In what sense is God's provision of animal sacrifice for forgiveness of sins an expression of his mercy? Were animal sacrifices actually adequate to atone for human sin?

God's provision of animal sacrifice for forgiveness of sins is an expression of his mercy because then there was no way for atonement other than animal sacrifice. Animal sacrifices are no where near adequate for atonement for out sin.

[janel]

Q5 Animal sacrifice for forgiveness of sins is to teach the Jews about sin, holiness,

confession, forgiveness, sin's costliness and sin's horror. In His mercy, God

allows these sacrifices to purge their sins.

No, animal sacrifices are not adequate to atone for human sin. Jesus is the One

Perfect and great enough to actually atone for sins once and for all.

[Craig]

Q5. In what sense is God's provision of animal sacrifice for forgiveness of sins an expression of his mercy? Were animal sacrifices actually adequate to atone for human sin?

God's provision for animal sacrifice was an expression of mercy in that He was allowing the Jew's to perform the animal sacrifices and accepting them for the atonement of sin. However, animal sacrifices were not adequate for the atonement of human sin.

[JanMary]

Q5. In what sense is God's provision of animal sacrifice for forgiveness of sins an expression of his mercy?

Sin results in guilt and unless relieved life can be torture at worst, and very uncomfortable at best. God's merciful provision of animal sacrifice satisfied His requirement for covering the sin with shed blood. The process involved the sinner's participation in killing the animal which taught the lessons God was after (confessing out loud to another, it's costly, you're responsible for taking responsiblity, only the shed blood of a sinless innocent victim can remove the stain of sin, and that God is merciful and will forgive sin when we ask and repent.)

It also shows His mercy in that the process gave hope and a sense of starting fresh after the cleansing from sin. It gave the sinner a way back to God and His fellowship, without the cloud of guilt causing the sinner to want to hide from God, as Adam and Eve did in the garden after they sinned....

Were animal sacrifices actually adequate to atone for human sin?

A man, Adam, brought sin into the world, and for sin to be completely atoned for, it took a man who is God, and without sin, to deal with fallen mankind's sin, and sin nature. So no, animal blood does not adequately atone for human sin, but it covered sin.

God was preparing the Israelites to be able to recognize the Messiah Jesus when He came and died for them and for the whole world at just the right time. Until then, from the first animal's blood shed "to cover" Adam and Eve's sin, until that day on Calvary, animal blood mercifully covered sin.

[ReconJos]

I think giving the Jews a means of "atoning" for their sin allowed them to see God's mercy because 1) they realized He could have demanded THEIR lives; 2) it provided them with a means to satisfy His laws and cleanse their consciences; 3) it gave them a means to make a heartfelt offering - a real sacrifice - and return as often as needed to seek His help in turning from sin in the future.

In actuality, though, the animal sacrifices were NOT sufficient to atone for sin. They served only to teach the Jews that there were real, just, legitimate consequences for their sin, and perhaps to draw them closer to God in appreciation of His mercy in not exacting judgment on them at the exact moment they committed a sin.

[ReconJos]

I think giving the Jews a means of "atoning" for their sin allowed them to see God's mercy because 1) they realized He could have demanded THEIR lives; 2) it provided them with a means to satisfy His laws and cleanse their consciences; 3) it gave them a means to make a heartfelt offering - a real sacrifice - and return as often as needed to seek His help in turning from sin in the future.

In actuality, though, the animal sacrifices were NOT sufficient to atone for sin. They served only to teach the Jews that there were real, just, legitimate consequences for their sin, and perhaps to draw them closer to God in appreciation of His mercy in not exacting judgment on them at the exact moment they committed a sin.

[Lion of Grace]

God's provision of animal sacrifice for sin was an expression of mercy in that without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness for sin. By providing sacrifice, He also granted a way to be forgiven of sins. God's mercy was shown in this provision to reconcile the people back to Himself, for they were separated from Him by sin.

Were animal sacrifices adequate for atoning for sin? Yes, I believe so. In Hebrews 9 we learn that under "the law" (that the Old Testament was under) it was required that nearly everything had to be cleansed with blood. (Put into practice by Moses. For without the shedding of blood there was no forgiveness of sin. So at the time, the offering of sacrifices was acceptable by God for the forgiveness of sin. This though was only a "copy" of Heavenly things to be purified, for the "Heavenly things themselves" (not under law) had a better sacrifice than these. Christ Jesus. He fulfilled the law. Blood still atoned for sin, but Jesus did not enter a man made sanctuary, but Heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence. He didn't enter again and again like the priest did, but once and for all to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself. He was still a blood sacrifice. And though the blood of continuous animal sacrifice will no longer atone for sin, our faith in Christ Jesus, the lamb of God, the perfect atoning sacrifice does!

[Josephine Koh]

Q5. In what sense is God's provision of animal sacrifice for forgiveness of sins an expression of his mercy? Were animal sacrifices actually adequate to atone for human sin?

God taught man in OT how to atone for their sins. It just shows that He is a forgiving God; He is merciful and willing to forgive. It is not as if, if you sin, you will be condemned forever. God knew our weaknesses, so He provided man how to seek forgiveness of sins. He provided the means, the methods, and the procedures - only if we follow.

Of course, such animal sacrifices would definitely not be enough. In what way could a meek small lamb (which is used on our food table) be good enough to atone for our sins, especially to our great Lord ?

That's why God is to be called merciful, He loves us so much, yet He can not tolerate sins because He is holy, so He accepts the blood of the animal to atone for our sins. He just wants so much for us to be re-connected back with Him.

[debbi]

Q5. In what sense is God's provision of animal sacrifice for forgiveness of sins an expression of his mercy? Were animal sacrifices actually adequate to atone for human sin?

it was a way for God to allow us to be forgiven, but it was not adequate for human sin, but it was a way for people to realize that they had sin and to atone for the sin.

[Laura Mae]

Q5. In what sense is God's provision of animal sacrifice for forgiveness of sins an expression of his mercy? Were animal sacrifices actually adequate to atone for human sin?

God from the beginning did not require that man give up his life for his sin. He provided a way for him to bypass the ultimate sacrafice in the form of an animal. This process was not only costly, but man was shown a grafic picture of just what his sin cost and what it took to completely blot out his sin and bring him back to a right relationship with God.

[Kerneydr]

Q5. In what sense is God's provision of animal sacrifice for forgiveness of sins an expression of his mercy?

The sacrifice of animals was not at all adequate to forgive or cleanse our sins, but God in His mercy accepted it.

Were animal sacrifices actually adequate to atone for human sin?No, animal sacrifices were not adequate at all. They were only symbolic to teach us about awfulness of sin and the drastic measure for the cleansing of sin. Animals which are much lower than humans cannot atone for humans and bring cleansing.

[Jubilee]

Q5. In what sense is God's provision of animal sacrifice for forgiveness of sins an expression of his mercy? Were animal sacrifices actually adequate to atone for human sin?

The blood of lambs, goats, and bulls cannot remove the sin of man therefore God has to provide the perfect and necessary lamb that can accomplish the job.

God's provision of animal sacrifices for forgiveness of sins is a way of preparation for the perfect lamb to finish the job. That perfect and blameless lamb is Jesus.

By sacrificing those animals the Israelite are acting in obedience to the command of God.

No. Animal sacrifices were inadequate to atone for the sin of man. Period.

[IvoryEagle]

Q5. In what sense is God's provision of animal sacrifice for forgiveness of sins an expression of his mercy? "It could have been me.

Were animal sacrifices actually adequate to atone for human sin? No.