AND THEN THERE WAS ONE

As modern evangelicals we are arrogant.

There is a contingency amongst believers, a large contingency, that is of the opinion that God needs us to be a part of redemption. That Christ's atoning work on the cross is somehow empty without action from us. Is by grace alone through faith alone really too much to understand?

I don't think it would be reaching to suggest this ideology stems from a certain level of ignorance, though I would admit much of the responsibility rests on the shoulders of the teachers they sit under. For too long pastors have catered to a congregation, avoiding hard truths and sticking to a style of preaching which affirms congregants egos rather than their soul. Because of this a body of believers is left with a theological foundation that can hardly withstand the least of tests and leaves many feeling the need to act of their own accord.

Not surprisingly, this has Biblical roots tracing back to the sacrificial system of the Old Testament and Tabernacle. The sacrificial system was instituted by God as a prefigure to Christ. Though not atoning for sin specifically, it acted as a transfer of guilt to an innocent animal who was then "punished" for the sins of the people through slaughter or being driven out of the land. There were hundreds of priests in the Tabernacle, chosen by God through the line of Levi. Priests would work in the Tabernacle performing sacrifice for the sins of the individual who came with an offering. Because of this constant performance of sacrifice there was no place to be seated within the Tabernacle, symbolizing the priestly duty never being finished.

Of these hundreds of priests there was one High Priest who on the Day of Atonement would make a sacrifice for the sins of all of Israel (in some sense, I may clarify in a future blog). Under the cover of blood the High Priest would enter into the Holy of Holies and offer sacrifice for his sins and for Israel. This ceremony would be performed once a year and would be followed by great celebration and feast.

This system was flawed.

Hebrews 10: 1-4 says:

'For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.'

Further down in verse 10 it says:

'by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.'

The writer of Hebrews makes clear argument that there is nothing we can offer to cleanse ourselves of unrighteousness. The old sacrificial system is useless! Through the propitiating work of Christ alone are we saved.

Why then do we continuously try and offer "sacrifices" to God in exchange for sin? It's undeniable. We attempt to barter with God on an almost daily basis, trying to exchange good works for forgiveness of sin. Do we really think that much of ourselves? 

Now, this is key.

Earlier I mentioned that there were no seats within the Tabernacle for any priest to sit, symbolic of the work of a priest never being finished. In Hebrews 4:14 we are told that 'we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God' and 'when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God (Heb. 10:12)'.

He. 

Sat. 

Down.

Christ has done what no High Priest before him could do. He finished his work. We should rejoice in His redemptive work, and instead we proudly proclaim we can do better.

We are indeed an arrogant Bride.


c.