There are several references in the Old Testament which tell us God would prefer men love and appreciate Him enough to obey Him, rather than for them to offer sacrificial sin offerings when they disobey (1 Sam. 15:22; Ps. 50:8-9: 51:16-17; Prov. 21:3; Isa. 11:11-17; Jer. 7:22-23; Mic. 6:6-8). And yet, Israel continued to saturate the ground with the blood of animals until A.D. 70, when the Romans destroyed the temple. There are at least two reasons that the sacrifices continued. For one, the Law was given to reveal that man is a sinner by nature, and therefore needed the sacrifices to continue (Gal. 3:24). The other obvious reason the religious leaders of Israel continued the practice, was that it made them rich and gave them power (Jn. 11:47-48).
The New Testament offers a solution to the problem. Instead of believers offering animal sacrifices every time they sin, God has provided a single sin offering for all men, and for all time! Hebrews says:
"For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore when He cometh into the world, He saith, 'Sacrifice and offering Thou wouldest not, but a body hast Thou prepared for Me: in burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin Thou hast had no pleasure.' Then said I, 'Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of Me,) to do Thy will, O God.' ...He taketh away the first, that He may establish the second. By the which will, we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: but this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God" (Heb. 10:4-12).
The Law, with its animal sacrifices, merely covered sins until they could be permanently removed by the sacrifice of Jesus. It is the Law that reveals man's inability to live a righteous life and hence, a need for the Savior. The Law (the first), has been replaced by Grace (the second) provided by Jesus Christ's death, burial, and resurrection (Heb. 10:9; 1 Cor. 15:1-4). It is ironic that God did not desire the blood of animals, when we realize that He did will that Jesus offer His blood for mankind (Lk. 22:42).
One would think that Christians, having the knowledge that God loved man enough to offer His Son for them, would make every effort to live a life pleasing to Him. But, just as the Jews did as they chose because they had the "out" of offering a sacrifice, many Christians live their lives as they choose believing whatever they do is "covered in the blood." Jesus blood did not cover sins, it removed them. If we are truly born-again, God will not ignore our sinful behavior; He promises to discipline His children (Heb. 12:5-8). In fact, if a person claiming to be a Christian continues to live in sin, and has "gotten away with it" for years, he is not a child of God (v. 8).
Live your life in gratitude to the One Who loves you! He deserves it!
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