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SACRIFICES AND SACRAMENTS
TUESDAY, MAY 19
Hebrews 8:1-13
Colossians 2:16-17
 
“Which are a shadow
of things to come.”
 
SACRIFICES AND SACRAMENTS
 
The Old Testament sacrifices were “sacraments” in that they were fully equivalent to the New Testament sacraments in their spiritual efficacy. “The sacraments of the Old Testament, in regard of the spiritual things thereby signified and exhibited, were, for substance, the same with those of the New” (Westminster Confession 27:5). In and of themselves as outward actions, the Old Testament sacrifices accomplished nothing, but in their significance they represented the atonement which Christ was to accomplish on the cross. They are described as “shadow” (Col 2:17).
 
The Old Testament sacrifices are called the “copy” and “shadow” and “pattern.” The Old Testament priests are said to “serve unto the example [copy] and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount” (Heb 8:5). The Old Testament sacrifices are the “copy” of the things in the heavens, and the atonement accomplished by Christ on the cross is said to be the actual sacrifice pertaining to the heavenly reality itself (Heb 9:23).
 
There is a clear analogy between the Old Testament and New Testament “sacrifices” or “sacraments.” Paul himself made such a comparison in 1 Corinthians 5:7-8. And it is the same analogy of the Old Testament ritual to the New Testament sacraments which Paul has in mind when he writes, “ye are circumcised... by the circumcision of Christ [or Christian circumcision]: Buried with him in baptism” (Col 2:11-12).
 
We must conclude then that in the Church, since the incarnation and the historical accomplishment of the atonement, there are but two sacraments, baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and that these two sacraments embody all the meaning and all the efficacy of the divinely ordered system of worship previously ordained by the Lord.
 
THOUGHT: Which is better — a photo or the person himself?
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I thank Thee for Thy Son who came in person, in the flesh, to fulfil the Old Testament types and prophecies.

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