The Sacrificial System

In the Old Testament, atonement was something that had to be done over an over again because the blood of animals could cover but could not take away sins of the people. The priest, while carrying out his sacred duties under the Mosaic law, was commanded to look not at the sinner but at the sacrifice. If the sacrifice was acceptable, then the believing sinner was also acceptable. Yet, the atonement effected in the Old Testament was in reality only a stopgap measure. The thousands of animal sacrifices offered then pointed to the coming Redeemer of mankind who would serve as the one true atonement: Jesus Christ and Him Crucified. His sacrifice on the Cross of Calvary would take away the sin of the whole world one and for all.