Salvation in the Old Testament - Online Christian Library
Salvation in the Old Testament - Online Christian Library
Salvation in the Old Testament - Online Christian Library
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
John S. Fe<strong>in</strong>berg, “<strong>Salvation</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Old</strong> <strong>Testament</strong>” Tradition and <strong>Testament</strong>. Essays <strong>in</strong> Honor of Charles LeeFe<strong>in</strong>berg. Chicago: Moody Press, 1981. Hbk. ISBN: 0802425445. pp.39-77.9:13; 10:4, 11-14). If <strong>Old</strong> <strong>Testament</strong> sacrifices had actually made a full and f<strong>in</strong>al objectivepayment for s<strong>in</strong>s so as to remove <strong>the</strong>m totally, <strong>the</strong>n it could not be said that Christ’s sacrifice paidfor such s<strong>in</strong>. Of course, that would contradict <strong>the</strong> fact that Scripture teaches that Christ’s sacrificedid pay for <strong>the</strong> s<strong>in</strong>s of all men (Heb. 2:9; 7:27; 10:10; Rom. 6:10; 1 Pet. 3:18). In fact, such aposition would even contradict a passage <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Old</strong> <strong>Testament</strong> itself, i.e., Isaiah 53:6. If all s<strong>in</strong>s<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Old</strong> <strong>Testament</strong> economy are completely removed by animal sacrifice, <strong>the</strong>n it makes nosense for an <strong>Old</strong> <strong>Testament</strong> prophet to write that <strong>the</strong> Lord laid on Him (<strong>the</strong> Messiah) <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>iquityof us all. Even if one refused to <strong>in</strong>terpret <strong>the</strong> passage messianically and chose to see it fulfilled <strong>in</strong>Israel, for example (that is, one claims that “him” is Israel), <strong>the</strong> passage still would make no senseif s<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Old</strong> <strong>Testament</strong> were ultimately be<strong>in</strong>g removed by animal sacrifice. Because Christ’ssacrifice was not <strong>the</strong> first act <strong>in</strong> human history does not mean that its efficacy does not extend toevery s<strong>in</strong>ful act of history. <strong>Old</strong> <strong>Testament</strong> sacrifices were, so to speak, <strong>the</strong> down payment for s<strong>in</strong>,whereas Christ’s sacrifice was <strong>the</strong> full and f<strong>in</strong>al payment. Why, once <strong>the</strong> sacrifice of Christ pays<strong>the</strong> debt <strong>in</strong> full owed for s<strong>in</strong>, cont<strong>in</strong>ue to make “down payments” on s<strong>in</strong>? The sacrificial systemmust be done away with.The <strong>Old</strong> <strong>Testament</strong> sacrifices po<strong>in</strong>ted to (typological function) <strong>the</strong> sacrifice of Christ, whichwould fully handle s<strong>in</strong> (even if <strong>the</strong> Jew did not understand <strong>the</strong> typology of <strong>the</strong> sacrifices). On <strong>the</strong>ground of His sacrifice to which <strong>the</strong> <strong>Old</strong> <strong>Testament</strong> sacrifices po<strong>in</strong>ted, <strong>the</strong> <strong>Old</strong> <strong>Testament</strong> believerwho <strong>in</strong> repentant faith brought a sacrifice could be assured that God would cover, cleanse, andforgive such s<strong>in</strong> (soteriological function). But <strong>the</strong> objective deed, from God’s standpo<strong>in</strong>t, thatwould completely pay for and remove s<strong>in</strong> was only offered on Calvary.Ano<strong>the</strong>r reason that <strong>Old</strong> <strong>Testament</strong> sacrifices are not to be cont<strong>in</strong>ued is that we can see that <strong>the</strong>scope of <strong>the</strong> respective sacrifices greatly differs. Under <strong>the</strong> <strong>Old</strong> <strong>Testament</strong> system, <strong>the</strong> generalrule was that when a sacrifice for s<strong>in</strong> was made, s<strong>in</strong> was actually forgiven, but only <strong>the</strong> s<strong>in</strong> forwhich <strong>the</strong> sacrifice was made was expiated. Of course, <strong>the</strong> sacrifice made on <strong>the</strong> Day ofAtonement covered more than just one s<strong>in</strong>, but even so, it did not cover all s<strong>in</strong> of all time. On <strong>the</strong>contrary, <strong>the</strong> word of Scripture <strong>in</strong> regard to Christ’s sacrifice is that it is all-<strong>in</strong>clusive, once for all,never to be repeated (Heb. 10:12, 14). Certa<strong>in</strong>ly, if Christ’s one sacrifice pays for all s<strong>in</strong>, <strong>the</strong>re isno need to go back to <strong>Old</strong> <strong>Testament</strong> sacrifices. What could <strong>the</strong>y possibly add, s<strong>in</strong>ce Christ’ssacrifice already provides atonement for all s<strong>in</strong>?There are many misunderstand<strong>in</strong>gs and seem<strong>in</strong>g contradictions about <strong>the</strong> subject of <strong>Old</strong><strong>Testament</strong> sacrifices. Someone might state that everyth<strong>in</strong>g that has been said is contradicted byHebrews 10:4: “It is impossible[p.73]for <strong>the</strong> blood of bulls and goats to take away s<strong>in</strong>s.” Moreover, <strong>the</strong> problem seems to becomemore complicated by Hebrews 9:13, which <strong>in</strong>dicates that <strong>the</strong> blood of bulls and goats did cleansefrom s<strong>in</strong>. There seems to be a tremendous contradiction between <strong>the</strong> two passages as well as with<strong>the</strong> content of <strong>the</strong> preced<strong>in</strong>g discussion. The seriousness of <strong>the</strong> problem can be seen <strong>in</strong> that onecould <strong>in</strong>correctly assume that Hebrews 10:4 means that no one <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Old</strong> <strong>Testament</strong> period wasactually saved, that <strong>Old</strong> <strong>Testament</strong> believers had to await <strong>the</strong> sacrifice of Christ before <strong>the</strong>ir faith