God's Willingness To Forgive Sin

This is the seventh post from Chapter 4 of Friends With God: Living The Life Of Jesus In Us. This is a much longer post than normal as it needs to address some complex issues that can’t be broken up.

In the previous post from this chapter, we looked at the necessity of repentance in order to be forgiven. This post continues with this theme, showing that even in the Old Covenant God forgave sin on repentance alone, without any requirement for animal sacrifice.

Sacrifice For Sin Not As Common As Sin

While many animal sacrifices were sin offerings, it needs to be realized (and when you think about it, it’s rather obvious) people were not required to provide a sacrifice every time they sinned. If that were the case, then they would have to go to the temple in Jerusalem every time they committed a sin, as that was the only place animal sacrifices could be offered. (Deut 12:11-27)

An Israelite walking home from the Temple in Jerusalem stubs his toe and swears in pain. “Oh no” he groans “I have to walk back to the temple and offer another lamb!” If it took a few days to walk home then he would never get there due to his continual sin, and subsequent need to offer yet another animal sacrifice!

Obviously, it was never like this. Offerings were a sign that, since the time they were previously at the temple, they had committed sins and repented of them and asked for forgiveness. These sacrifices were a token of their thankfulness for God’s forgiveness.

Please take the time to read the prayer by Solomon at the dedication of the temple in Jerusalem, in 1Kings 8:22-53. In this long prayer, it’s evident that God forgives sin upon repentance as the only requirement. No mention of requiring people to give sacrifices, or offerings, is made in order for them to be forgiven, no matter how grievous their sins.

Despite this, thousands of animals were sacrificed following this prayer, during the dedication of the temple. They were sacrificed for the purpose of rejoicing before God, as they were eaten by the people during the seven days of dedication. (1Kings 8:62-65)

Those giving sacrifices had to be in a repentant attitude. They had to have asked for their sins to be forgiven in order to give sacrifices. Yet they also had to give sacrifices in order to fulfil the law. So, in this sense people had to offer sacrifices in order to be forgiven.

We see that sacrifices were linked to forgiveness in Leviticus 4:20, 4:26, 4:35, 5:10, 5:13, 19:22 and Numbers 15:25. Despite this, there are plenty of other places where sacrifice is not required in order for God to forgive sin.

What is required to have one’s sins forgiven, in every instance, is repentance. Sacrifice was offered after the sinner had asked for forgiveness and repented of his sin.

As sacrifice was a requirement of the law, then it, too, needed to be done in order to fulfill all righteousness. For if someone was repentant, but did not offer a sacrifice, as was required by the law, then that was a sin. So, sacrifice was a physical expression of the spiritual repentance that had already occurred. Such a physical demonstration was required by the Law, and to not do so would therefore be a demonstration that the sinner was not actually repentant.

Overcoming Sin

We, as Christians today, are to admit our proclivity to sin by continuing to grow in understanding and wisdom:

But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. (2Peter 3:18)

Grace means favour, so when we grow in grace, it means God favours us more, and therefore God likes us more, because we are more like him. If we are growing, then we demonstrate we are not perfect yet.

Over time, as we become aware of the various aspects of sin in our lives, and as we develop greater knowledge of how we are to live the life of Christ in us, we can become more like God. We thereby become more friendly toward God, such that God gives us more favour, or grace. This is the process of change that enables us to be more like him over time.

The sacrifices of the Old Covenant were a sign of the repentance and forgiveness of the believer. In the same way, Christians are told that God is willing to forgive our sins if we repent, which means we must accept, and eat of, the sacrifice of Christ- which is to live his way of life.

We show we believe God by doing what God tells us to do: The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent, and believe the gospel. (Mark 1:15) Repentance is the first step, then eating of the sacrifice of Christ in the form of believing the gospel.

The Old Covenant sacrifices were to enable the sinner to demonstrate to God how sincere his repentance was. As these sacrifices were done at the public temple, they also demonstrated their faith in God in front of the congregation of Israel. Yet some used this occasion to exalt themselves in their offerings, which simply showed how unrepentant they actually were! (Mark 12:41-44)

Yet God always looks on the heart, not on the value of the sacrifice, or offering. This is evident by the fact that the sacrifice was often relative to the financial means of the individual - poor people sacrificed a dove, rich sacrificed a sheep. (Lev 12:6-8) Jesus emphasised this point, when he said that the poor widow gave more than all the rich, though she gave only two copper coins. (Mark 12:41-44)

So, why therefore should God require a penalty for sin that is “worth more than all the people’s sins who have ever lived”? God will look on our heart to see our desire and willingness to accept the sacrifice of Christ as the example that we will live by. The monetary value of the sacrifice is of no importance. It’s the sincere motives and repentance of the individual that God has always required, not the monetary value of the sacrifice.

The idea that God would require a penalty for sin, worth more than sins of all the people who have ever lived, shows complete misunderstanding of what real repentance and forgiveness are about. By putting a legalistic and punitive value on the sacrifice of Christ, it displays a profound misunderstanding of the meaning of the sacrifice of Christ.

Animal Sacrifices Not Required For Forgiveness Of Sin

Forgiveness is free, if we accept the sacrifice of Christ. To “accept his sacrifice” means that we understand that he was God, and his sacrifice was to lower himself to become a man, born of a woman, to live on Earth, in order to show us how to live. If we accept this as true, and we then commit our lives to following his pure example of how to live, then we have accepted the sacrifice of Christ.

That is what it means to drink the blood and eat the flesh of the son of God.

God needs nothing from us, except our desire to be like him, such that we follow him, as seen in the example of Christ. If we live the way that Christ showed us, then he is willing to “abundantly pardon”. (Isaiah 55:6-7)

It was well understood by the Jewish religious leaders at the time of Christ, that even in the Old Covenant, physical animal sacrifices were, in themselves, not an act of repentance required for forgiveness. They were symbolic of the repentance that had already occurred.

One religious leader told Jesus, And to love him (God) with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is (of) more (value) than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. (Mark 12:33)

While this statement of the scribe appears to downplay the role of animal sacrifices, there is no doubt that they were still required at the time of Christ. If you didn’t offer various sacrifices according to the law, then you were sinning. Christ told those who were healed by him, to give offerings to God as required in the Law. (Matt 8:3-4)

However, an animal sacrifice was never meant to be the way to please God. We are told clearly that what the Lord requires is not sacrifices but for you to do justice and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8) This simple requirement is repeated often in scripture: To do righteousness and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than (animal) sacrifice. (Prov 21:3) 

Without repentance, righteousness, and love toward God, there is no value in animal sacrifices. (Prov 21:27, 15:8) We also see the necessity of mercy, or loving-kindness, and truth in the process of atonement:

By mercy and truth, atonement is provided for iniquity: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil. (Prov 16:6)

God expects us to show mercy to others and to fear him in awe and love, so that we understand how to depart from evil.

Eating A Meal With God

Animal sacrifices were not a burden that God forced on Israel, as some kind of restitution to Him. While some sacrifices were completely burnt, (Exo 29:18, 42) the vast majority were eaten, either by the priest and his family, (Lev 29:32-33, Lev 10:12-14) or the person and his family who were offering them. (Deut 12:5-12)

Sacrifices were generally a time for having a meal with God, symbolizing God’s acceptance of repentant believers.

To think that animal sacrifices were some kind of payment to God for the affront of sin against him, is to totally misconstrue the relationship that God wanted with those who believed in him.

The idea that an animal sacrifice was some kind of penalty upon the sinner is just a fanciful, legalist and punitive misrepresentations of the law and scripture. Sacrifices were a time for rejoicing before God, most often at his festivals. There was a cost to the believer, but it was a meal that he participated in with God, so it showed God’s acceptance of the individual.

What each of the individual sacrifices mean would take a very detailed study, and it is not something that I think is necessary to understand at this time, as we don’t actually have a temple to sacrifice at. The sacrifices are mostly associated with the festivals, so they would presumably have a meaning specific to those festivals. All these sacrifices point to the necessity to participate in the sacrificial example of Christ, such that we too are a living sacrifice who follows the example of how Christ lived on Earth.

Old Testament Forgiveness

Without a good understanding of the role of sacrifices, many people assume that it was necessary for God to have a penalty paid, in the form of a sacrifice being given, before he was willing to forgive sin in the Old Testament.

Yet the scriptures tell us something very different: “Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, (repentance) And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.” (Isaiah 55:6-7) No mention of animal sacrifice here. Repentance alone produces forgiveness from God. There is no requirement for any sacrifice being made, nor any penalty being paid or removed.

Animal sacrifice was a sign that repentance had already happened, but God did not require it before forgiveness was given. On the other hand, if you were willing to offer a sacrifice then you had to be repentant before giving it, or such a sacrifice was seen as an insult to God.

Isaiah has a long and detailed discussion on this subject, which I have added my own comments to as it is important to get the overview of what is being said:

To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me? says the Lord; I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of he-goats. (Clearly God does not care about animal sacrifices) When you come to appear before Me, who has required this at your hand, to trample My courts? (to simply bring offerings without repentance) Bring no more vain sacrifice; incense (without repentance) is an abomination to Me; (keeping) the new moon and sabbath, the going to meeting; I cannot endure evil and the assembly! (they are evil because they have not repented of their sins) Your new moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates (because of the unrepentant way they were keeping them at the time, God did not consider them his feasts, but theirs); they are a trouble to Me; I am weary to bear them. And when you spread out your hands, (to pray to me) I will hide My eyes from you; yes, when you make many prayers, I will not hear (why not? because); your hands are full of blood. (they had committed murder and not repented of it. Then God tells them what they must do) Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean (repent); put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes; cease to do evil; (repent) learn to do good; seek judgment, reprove the oppressor. Judge (plead for) the orphan, defend the widow. (when you have done this then) Come now (that you have repented), and let us reason together says the Lord; (God wants to talk with you reasonably and logically), though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; (once you have thought about your actions with God’s word guiding you, and you have deeply repented, then you will be forgiven) though they (your sins) are red like crimson, they shall be (white) like wool. If you are willing and obedient (have repented of your past ways), you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel (are unrepentant and stiff necked), you shall be devoured with the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken. (Isiah 1:11-20) 

This long and detailed discussion that God had with his people clearly spelt out that while sacrifice was required in the law, and was associated with forgiveness, of itself it was of no value.

God has always been willing to forgive sin, simply upon real repentance: though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be (white) like wool. Note, however, that God does not then say “and then do the sacrifice before I will forgive your sin”. The point of this entire section is that deep repentance is what God wants. This then results in a change of life- for turning from evil is what repentance means.

In all this we see that in association with repentance being acceptable for forgiveness, there is no mention of a penalty, or sacrifice. In both the Old and New Testaments repentance alone is what God accepts in order for him to forgive sin. Sacrifice was a sign that the person had repented, and the sacrifice was a public admission of their repentance. 

The Sacrifice Of Justice, Mercy and Humility

The sacrificial offering that God wants from us is to do justice, show mercy and to walk in the way of humility, as did Christ:

With what (offering) shall I come before the Lord, to bow myself before God the Most High? Shall I come before Him with (sacrificial) burnt offerings, with (sacrificial) calves of a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of (sacrificial) rams, with ten thousands (sacrificial) rivers of oil? Shall I give (sacrifice) my first-born for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? (None of that is required) He has (already) shown you, O man, what is good (acceptable to God). And what (sacrifice) does the Lord require of you, but to do justice and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:6-8)

Such an offering from our heart is simply not able to be provided by many thousands of animal sacrifices. 

When we “accept the sacrifice of Christ” we accept his humble sacrifice of coming down from heaven to live on this Earth, as a human being, as the living sacrificial example of the way of a sacrificial life in order that we should now also live as he did. (1John 2:3-6)

When we live this way then we demonstrate what Gods will is: that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, …that you may prove (demonstrate) what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Rom 12:1-2)

In the same way that the Passover sacrifice was eaten, we also eat of the Lamb of God- we make Christ a part of our life, so that he lives in us: Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, you have no life in you. (John 6:53-58) His blood was symbolised in the wine, and his flesh symbolised in the unleavened bread.

Why, if the Passover Lamb represented Jesus, did he add the bread and wine? The bread represents his life and the wine his covenant. (Luke 22:19-20, Matt 26:26-28, Mark 14:22-24) Neither of these was available to Israel prior to Jesus’ coming to the Earth. Jesus didn’t do away with the Passover, but added to it with these symbols.

Does God therefore expect Christians to eat a physical Passover lamb today, as well as the bread and wine? This is a very interesting question. But the short answer is no, it’s not necessary as there is no temple at which the Passover Lamb would be killed. However, even if there were a temple it would still not be necessary for Gentiles to sacrifice the lamb. Why it’s not necessary is explained in the final chapter of Friends With God: God’s Relationship With Israel and The Church.

A Light To The World

What God expects of us to do today is to be a living sacrifice, by following the same way of life that Christ exemplified. His life was the perfect sacrifice for us to follow as an example, so that we then should be an example and a similarly perfect, living sacrifice and light for others to see the light of God in:

You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a basket, but on a candlestick; and it gives light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Matt 5:14-16)

God expects us to be perfect, as he is perfect: Be you therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. (Matt 5:48)

If our actions don’t reflect his life in us, then we are taking on his name in vain. Calling ourselves Christians, without following his example, is to blaspheme the name of Jesus and how he lived. God gives us the incredible responsibility of being a light to the world, which we do by our actions, and by pointing to his example for others to follow.

Christ set the example and said “my food is to do the will of him who sent me’. We are to also do the will of Christ and God the Father, by being a living sacrifice for others: This is my commandment, That you love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (we too must lay down our lives for our friends) You are my friends, if you do whatsoever I command you. (John 15:12-14) We must follow Jesus in doing as he commands, and love our friends in the same way that he loved us.