Sacrifical animals in OT foreshadows Christ in NT

Purpose of sacrificing animals in the OT

During the Old Testament times God commanded Israel to offer animal sacrifices for sin in order to establish symbols pointing to the true and ultimate sacrifice for sins, the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. Just as animals, typically a lamb without blemish

" Exodus 12:5
Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: "

was offered as a sin offering in order to appease God's wrath upon man, in the fullness of time Jesus Christ Himself came as the true sacrifice for mankind. Jesus is the lamb without blemish because he was the only man who has ever lived without sin, He was indeed perfect and thus was also the perfect sacrifice. The blood of bulls, goats and rams were shadows and symbols pointing to the reality that was to come, they in themselves *cannot* take away sin.

Hebrews 10:1-4

1For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

2For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.

3But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.

4For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

God used animals as symbols for a short period in history in order to demonstrate to mankind what His salvation plan would be.

Jewish Passover and the symbolism of blood

In the book of Exodus chapter 12 we read about the Jewish Passover. In order for the Israelites to escape the last plague God would send upon Egypt they needed to sacrifice a lamb and put the lamb's blood on the doorposts of their homes. When the angel of death would come and kill every first born in Egypt, anyone who had the lamb's blood on their houses was spared from the calamity. After this final plague, Israel was released from Egypt and freed from their bondage to Pharaoh. God commanded Israel to remember that day and so this became the celebration of the Jewish Passover which the Jews have celebrated for many many centuries.

His salvation plan - The 'Lamb' of God : Jesus Christ

Christ came as the true Lamb of God, the true sacrifice in order that mankind might be spared from eternal death and released from their bondage to sin and to Satan. Notice also that Christ was crucified on the exact day of the Jewish Passover celebration! What beautiful fulfillment of the scriptures we have here!

Ultimately Jesus Christ is called the Lamb of God because He was crucified on the cross so that all mankind may be free from bondage to sin and Satan. He is the only one we can put our trust in for our eternal salvation and the only one that can forgive us of our sins. The payment for sin is eternal death which means that in order for Christ to save anyone and be the perfect sacrifice He Himself would have to pay the price and spend and eternity under God's wrath for sinners! No animal sacrifice can do what is equivalent to the work Christ has done on the cross which is why Jesus is called the Lamb of God. If we have not been forgiven by God through the blood of Jesus Christ, the Lamb, we will have to pay the punishment for our sins in an eternity of suffering and torment.

Romans 3:23
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 5:8
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 10:13
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

All those that believe and trust on Jesus will be saved from the last and final plague to hit mankind, eternal death. What final plague you ask?

2 Corinthians 5:10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Matthew 25:45-46
Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

In the end, after our physical deaths, our soul will come before the judgment seat of Christ, two paths come after that, for those who reject Him, the judgment is everlasting punishment, for those accept Christ as saviour, they will be granted God's promise of eternal life. What path will YOU take?

Romans 10:9 -10
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

John 5:24
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."

God calls out to each and every one of us to believe on the Lamb that was crucified and to put our faith and trust in Him and in the Word of God for our salvation.

If we will acknowledge our sins, believe on Christ and the Word and repent of our sins God will save us!

John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.


Ending notes:
The above is extracted from the below source and slightly edited. Credits goes to the original author 'Spirit Sword'.

Source: http://en.allexperts.com/q/Bible-Studies-1654/blood-sacrifice.htm