📖 Biblical Definition
The sacrifice system established in Leviticus was God's ordained means for dealing with sin under the Old Covenant. It was built on the principle that "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins" (Hebrews 9:22). The various offerings taught Israel fundamental truths: sin is deadly serious, atonement requires substitution, and only innocent blood can cover guilt. Yet the system was always temporary and typological — "it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins" (Hebrews 10:4). Every sacrifice pointed forward to Christ, "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). His once-for-all sacrifice on the cross fulfilled and abolished the entire system.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
SACRIFICE: An offering made to God on an altar; anything consecrated and presented to God as an expiation of sin.
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SAC'RIFICE, n. [L. sacrificium.] 1. An offering made to God on an altar; anything consecrated and presented to God as an atonement for sin, or as a return of thanks for his favors. 2. The thing offered to God. 3. Anything destroyed or suffered for the sake of something else. Note: Webster understood sacrifice as an offering to God for atonement — the fundamental logic of the Levitical system fulfilled in Christ.
📖 Key Scripture
• Hebrews 9:22 — "Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins."
• Hebrews 10:4 — "It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins."
• John 1:29 — "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"
• Hebrews 10:10 — "We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
The sacrifice system is either dismissed as primitive barbarism or re-enacted in the Roman Mass.
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Liberal theology dismisses the entire sacrifice system as primitive blood religion that an enlightened age has outgrown, effectively denying the necessity of substitutionary atonement and the seriousness of sin. If sacrifice is barbaric, then the cross is barbaric — and the gospel collapses. On the other side, Roman Catholic theology teaches that the Mass is a re-presentation of Christ's sacrifice — that Christ is sacrificed anew each time the Eucharist is celebrated. Hebrews explicitly rejects this: Christ offered Himself "once for all" (Hebrews 10:10). The sacrifice system is fulfilled and finished in Christ. To repeat it is to deny the sufficiency of His one offering.
Usage
• "The sacrifice system was God's blood-soaked classroom, teaching Israel for centuries that sin requires a substitute — until the true Lamb appeared."
• "Every lamb on every altar whispered what John the Baptist finally shouted: Behold, the Lamb of God."