Merely a Pointer to Christ?
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In computer programming, a pointer does nothing by itself, but merely
points to the actual, real thing of interest. We often hear that the
Levitical system of sacrifices, which included both animal and grain
sacrifices, was merely meant to teach us something, that it was a mere
pointer to Christ. Is that what thousands of years of animal death at
the hands of priests was really all about? Nothing in itself, but
merely pointing us to the real, actual thing of interest, that being
Christ and His sacrifice?
We should note first of all that this does not even make sense under
its own terms, because if animal and grain sacrifices achieved
nothing, in what way could they teach us anything? What would be the
lesson, actually? That Christ's sacrifice achieved nothing also??
So, some say that the Levitical sacrifices were merely an
instructional device to "point us" toward Christ, and that the blood
of sacrifices can never result in forgiveness of sins, but /*God's*/
/*Word contradicts them*/. Not only is forgiveness of sins the result
of Levitical sacrifices, but the blood thereof also purges the Temple
of sin or impurity, and this will be /in the future/.
Leviticus 4:20 And he shall do with the /*bullock*/ as he
did with the /*bullock*/ for a sin offering, so shall he
do with this: and the priest shall make an atonement for
them, and it shall be /*forgiven*/ them.
Leviticus 4:26 And he shall *burn all his fat* upon the
altar, as the fat of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and
the priest shall make an atonement for him as concerning
his sin, and it shall be /*forgiven*/ him.
Leviticus 4:31 And he shall /*take away all the fat*/
thereof, as the fat is taken away from off the sacrifice
of peace offerings; and the priest *shall burn it upon the
altar* for a *sweet savour unto* *Yahweh*; and the priest
shall make an atonement for him, and it shall be
/*forgiven*/ him.
Leviticus 4:35 And he shall *take away all the fat*
thereof, as the fat of the *lamb* is taken away from the
sacrifice of the peace offerings; and the priest *shall
burn them* upon the altar, according to the offerings made
by fire unto Yahweh: and the priest shall make an
atonement for his sin that he hath committed, and it shall
be /*forgiven*/ him.
Leviticus 5:10 And he shall offer the second for *a burnt
offering*, according to the manner: and the priest shall
make an atonement for him for his sin which he hath
sinned, and it shall be /*forgiven*/ him.
Leviticus 5:13 And the priest shall make an atonement for
him as touching his sin that he hath sinned in one of
these, and it shall be /*forgiven*/ him: and the remnant
shall be the priest's, as a *meat* *offering*.
Leviticus 5:16 And he shall make amends for the harm that
he hath done in the holy thing, and shall add the fifth
part thereto, and give it unto the priest: and the priest
shall make an atonement for him *with* *the ram* of the
trespass offering, and it shall be /*forgiven*/ him.
Leviticus 5:18 And he shall bring *a ram without blemish*
out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass
offering, unto the priest: and the priest shall make an
atonement for him concerning his ignorance wherein he
erred and wist it not, and it shall be /*forgiven*/ him.
Leviticus 6:7 And the priest shall make an atonement for
him before Yahweh: and it shall be /*forgiven*/ him for
any thing of all that he hath done in trespassing therein.
Leviticus 19:22 And the priest shall make an atonement for
him *with* *the ram* of the trespass offering before
Yahweh for his sin which he hath done: and the sin which
he hath done shall be /*forgiven*/ him.
Numbers 15:25-28 And the priest shall make an atonement
for all the congregation of the children of Israel, and it
shall be /*forgiven*/ them; for it is ignorance: and they
shall bring their offering, *a* *sacrifice made by fire*
unto Yahweh, and their sin offering before Yahweh, for
their ignorance: And it shall be /*forgiven*/ all the
congregation of the children of Israel, and the stranger
that sojourneth among them; seeing all the people were in
ignorance. And if any soul sin through ignorance, then he
shall bring *a she goat* of the first year for a sin
offering. And the priest shall make an atonement for the
soul that sinneth ignorantly, when he sinneth by ignorance
before Yahweh, to make an atonement for him; and it shall
be /*forgiven*/ him.
