BY DR. JOHN SULLIVAN
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR-TREASURER
FLORIDA BAPTIST CONVENTION

Christ was fulfillment of Old Testmaent sacrificial law

For the past two weeks, I have been giving an overview of the atonement and its significance to the Christian believer.

“Atonement” means reconciliation and refers to sacrificial offerings given to remove the effects of sin. In the Old Testament, animals were sacrificed to remove sins, individually and corporately. In the New Testament, the atonement refers specifically to the reconciliation between God and mankind that occurred with the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.

But to fully understand Christ’s sacrifice for mankind’s sins, atonement must be interpreted in light of Old Testament preparation. The atonement of Christ was not the fulfillment of any one particular sacrifice. It was the fulfillment of all the Old Testament sacrificial system.

The atonement was made not by the presentation of the animal, but the blood of the animal that represents its life. The slaying was absolutely essential. Although it was to be an unblemished animal, the perfection did not constitute sacrifice—the slaying constituted sacrifice.

Every priest entered behind the veil with blood, which he sprinkled, as a requirement on the mercy seat. The blood symbolized suffering unto death. To simply kill the lamb would be useless without the sprinkling of blood.

Throughout the New Testament, Jesus is referred to as the “lamb of God.” The purpose is His coming was to give His life in ransom for man.

It was not sufficient for Christ to come to earth as a great prophet and teacher—or as the Messiah. His spilt blood on the cross provided the sacrifice that cleansed the believer of sins. His shed blood was necessary to salvation.

We should always consult Old Testament history as background material when we consider the cross as atonement. The law was intended to be good for us. The law reveals how we should live. Because of weakness of the flesh, the law became a curse.

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law having become a curse for us.” (Galatians 3:13)

“God has done through Christ what the law could never do. God has enabled us in Christ to fulfill the law as we live according to the Spirit.” (Romans 8:3-4)

Because we see His works, we know who He is. When John the Baptist was apparently trying to bring peace and satisfaction to his soul about Jesus, he sent his disciples to Jesus.

“Are you the Christ or do we look for another?”
Jesus said, “Tell John the Baptist what I am doing. He will know who I am.” John the apostle validates it in Revelation 5, “Behold the Lamb of God.”

The cross is historical and eternal. It is a divine necessity.

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