Commentary on "The Second Generation: Admonitions"

STEVE PITCHER

 

Day 4: Tuesday, December 15, 2009

 

The first half of today’s lesson on the sacrificial system contains a very simple and important truth. In Israel a sacrifice was continually before the Lord. The lesson author then states:

This sacrifice represented the constant availability of God’s forgiveness and acceptance through the Redeemer prefigured in the sacrifice.

This is a wonderful and true teaching. The forgiveness available from God through Christ is constantly available. As Hebrews points out, an important difference is that although the sacrifices in Israel had to be repeated over and over again, the one sacrifice of Christ was sufficient to deal with sin and offer forgiveness forever more.

The lesson then asks you to read Romans chapter 5. If you have not yet done so, please read Romans 5. This is one of the most incredible chapters in all of Scripture and shows the relationship between the first and second Adams, the results of their acts in this world, and the benefits to those who have been redeemed by the sacrifice of the second Adam (Christ.)

There is one item in today’s lesson that must be addressed. An Ellen G. White comment is included from Selected Messages, book 1, page 107. Here is the comment for your reference:

Every dying victim was a type of Christ, which lesson was impressed on mind and heart in the most solemn, sacred ceremony, and explained definitely by the priests. Sacrifices were explicitly planned by God Himself to teach this great and momentous truth, that through the blood of Christ alone there is forgiveness of sins.

She is correct in saying that every dying victim was a type of Christ. However, there is no record in the Old or New Testaments that indicate neither that the priest “explained definitely” nor that these sacrifices were planned to teach that “through the blood of Christ alone there is forgiveness of sins.” The sacrifices of the animals were a painful reminder that the result of sin is death. It was not the role of the priest to explain the sacrifice and ceremony; it was his role to conduct the sacrifice and ceremony. According to New Testament teaching, the fullness of the message of Christ was a mystery to Israel. Although the sacrifices pointed to their great need of a savior, it was not until Christ came that it was made clear that there would be only one all-sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the people.

This mystery is spoken of in numerous passages in the New Testament. Ephesians 3:4-5 is very clear about this mystery being hidden from previous generations.

By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit.

Here are a few of the other passages that mention the mystery of Christ, his gospel and the church.

Rom. 16:25-26 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith.

1 Cor. 2:6-7 Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory.

Eph. 1:9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him.

Col. 1:25-27 Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

These and other passages indicate that the gospel of Christ and his church were mysteries hidden for ages past in God only to be revealed at their proper time. The proper time was not in ancient Israel, but through Christ and his apostles as revealed in his word.

Let us thank God that we live in the fullness of time when Christ, his gospel and his church have been revealed by Jesus and his apostles through his word in the New Testament.

 

Summary

1. Sacrifices were continually before the people of Israel. There was never a time when they were not reminded daily of their great sin and its results.
2. Romans chapter 5 provides a wonderful explanation between the first and second Adams, the results of their acts in this world, and the benefits to those who have been redeemed by the sacrifice of the second Adam (Christ).
3. Through the sacrifices in ancient Israel, the priests did not instruct the believers on how the details of the sacrificial system would be fulfilled in Christ; these were mysteries only to be revealed through Christ and his apostles.
4. Numerous New Testament passages explicitly state that these things were hidden from ages past only to be revealed to us in Christ.
5. Let us praise God for the joy of living in the fullness of time when we can look back to the sacrifice of Christ and see it clearly, rather than looking at shadows and having faith that, one day God would finally and completely deal with sin.

 

GO TO DAY 5

 

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