Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Speaking of the Old Testament sacrificial system, verses 3 and 4 state, “those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” An annual reminder is certainly not a bad thing—especially when the reminder reminds people of an important reality that needs to be remembered—even if the remembering is not pleasant. The text is underscoring the fact of the insufficiency of the OLD system as compared with the all-sufficiency of the NEW system established by Christ where He Himself becomes not only the Eternal High Priest, but the ONCE-FOR-ALL Sacrifice. Wow! (Please do not allow this to be regarded as commonplace.)

Coming to think of it, our two most popular Christian holidays (holy-days), Christmas and Easter, are really ANNUAL REMINDERS OF SINS—or did we forget? I know our popular worldly environment wants to forget. As is the case with so many other holidays, popular thought does not well remember original intention. But think about it. The sin problem of man really is at the core of the Christmas story. Isn’t that what the angels announced to the shepherds? “Today in the town of David a SAVIOR has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). A SAVIOR from what? A SAVIOR from terminal sin—of course. And in the announcement to Joseph, the angel said, “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will SAVE HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR SINS” (Matthew 1:21). Then the Easter story is clearly the New Testament fulfillment of the Old Testament lamb sacrifice for sins. Jesus Christ is the “Lamb of God, who takes away the SIN of the world” (John 1:29, 35). I suppose it could be said that the sacrifice of Christ would have been just another sacrifice in the chain had it not been for the resurrection where He showed Himself to be triumphant over sin and death. “Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them” (Hebrews 7:25). Let us be reminded that He came to be our SAVIOR FROM SINS. He died and rose again to be our SAVIOR FROM SINS. And He lives to remain our SAVIOR FROM SINS.

May I suggest that you and I are benefited by a DAILY reminder of the sin issue? An annual one just isn’t sufficient. This daily reminder idea is certainly Biblical. It’s all part of remembering who we are, where we’ve come from, and where we’re going. Have you noticed that if we don’t remember stuff, we forget it? Duh. In fact, it’s all part of our ongoing need to maintain this Salvation gift which is significantly dependent on memory. I don’t think anyone can really revel in their Salvation without remembering what it is Salvation from. I have been inspired by a good friend of mine, the late Jim Hance, who demonstrated a healthy balance. He made it a practice every day to express his praise and worship by exclaiming out loud, “Halleluiah, I’m saved!” I judge him as another worthy role model.