Eternal Life and Renewing the Sacrifices

 •  3 min. read  •  grade level: 8
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“A Learner” asks: “If the Old Testament saints had eternal life, what was the object of renewing the sacrifices year by year?”
It could not be then said that they had eternal life (as the New Testament speaks of eternal life in the Son). It was only brought to light through the Gospel (2 Tim. 1:1010But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: (2 Timothy 1:10), Titus 1:22, etc.). We know that they were all born again, but there was no revelation then as to the distinction between two natures. They had the conscience of the “old man” unpurged (Heb. 10:22For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. (Hebrews 10:2)), and the desires of the “new man” (the new nature); but looked at as men in the flesh, they were under tutors and governors until the time appointed by the Father. Under Judaism, they were servants under the law as a schoolmaster, until Christ, and Christian faith, had come (Gal. 3). “When the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son unto your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.” That which the sacrifices pointed to and typified had not come: the continued repetition of the offerings showed this. That of which the brazen serpent was a figure had not taken place. “The Son of man must be lifted up, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life” — now named for the first time. In only two places in the Old Testament is it named; and even there it is in view of the future (Psa. 133:33As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore. (Psalm 133:3), Dan. 12:22And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. (Daniel 12:2)). The Son of God had come and had displayed eternal life in Himself. It “was with the Father, and was manifested unto us” in the Son; a Moses or a David could not display it, and it was reserved for Him to speak first of that which He alone could display. He takes away the typical and oft-repeated sacrifices, unsatisfying to God, and leaving man’s conscience unpurged; establishes the righteousness of God against sin; and God, glorified at what He had done, puts Him, as man, in the glory of God in righteousness. Atonement was made, reconciliation accomplished, and now God in righteousness gives eternal life to every one believing on Jesus. “God hath given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son” (1 John 5). Our whole state as sinners — what we were, and what we had done, was thus dealt with judicially on the cross, once and forever; and Christ, risen out of the judgment, is our life — we are quickened together with Him, having been forgiven all trespasses (Col. 2:1313And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; (Colossians 2:13)).
A new nature, capable of enjoying God, was imparted by the Spirit, through faith in the word of God at any time. The recipient of it was born again. Now, more can be said: we have eternal life in Christ — Christ lives in us; and this eternal life brings us into fellowship with the Father and the Son (John 17:33And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. (John 17:3), etc.), which could not be till the Father was revealed in Him, and the Holy Spirit given by which we enjoy it.