| Lambs | Bulls | Rams | Goats | Total |
| 1093 | 113 | 37 | 30 | 1273 |
| $218,600 | $565,000 | $14,800 | $9,000 | $807,400 |
So, all these sacrifices were offered; all these animals were killed, day after day, year after year. With all of these sacrifices happening, we could assume that forgiveness for sin was happening, right? Well, there's a bit of a problem with that. In Hebrews 10:4, it says this; “It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins”. In fact, animal sacrifices are simply a reminder of the fact that we all are guilty of breaking God's laws.
So what hope of salvation did these early Israelites have? If the animal sacrifices were not capable of taking away their sin, then how could they find forgiveness? The answer to that question is actually simple, though it seems complex. The death of Jesus bought forgiveness for everyone who has ever sinned, from Adam and Eve, all the way down to those of us ask God's forgiveness today. As I have mentioned before, one of the attributes of God is the fact that He exists outside of the universe. Because he exists outside of the universe, He is not bound by time, as we are.
As it reminds us in 1 Peter, 1:18-20, this is the way that we are saved; it is not with perishable things such as silver or gold, with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world to be the sacrifice for all the sins of humanity. This is why in Isaiah 53:6, the writer can truthfully say that “the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”
What a powerful statement this is; there is no person who has ever lived that was beyond the power of forgiveness, if only he or she asked for it. How many of us needlessly carry around burdens of guilt, over sin that we can be forgiven for. Though there was an incredible cost for our freedom, we need pay nothing for it. For us, the cost of freedom is $0.
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