Q&A 39 - LIVELY STONES

Q - If we are to adhere to the Old Testament as being valid, why do we no longer sacrifice as they did in Old Testament days?

A - II Peter 2:5-6 speaks of Believers as "lively stones". Now we know people are not literally hunks of rock. Strongs verifies that "stones" here can refer to precious gems. In I Corinthians 3:11-15 when the Bema Throne judgment occurs, we have our works being tried by fire and yielding precious stones. Thus we see that a part of our being can be manifested as jewels IF we have developed the character and traits to warrant it. In conjunction with the word "stones" in this II Peter passage, we have the word "lively". It means living or quickened. You see, as Believers, we are quickened by the Holy Spirit in a manner unknown in Old Testament Days. This could not happen until the precious blood of our Savior had been spilled. It reversed the cyclic curse upon man and brought our redemption and our restoration to our Father. As a result of the fall of man, Hebrews 9:22, tells us that there could be no remission of sins without the shedding of blood. The Old Testament sacrificial system was put in place to provide for temporal cleansing and remission of sins. However, the blood of animals was only a temporary resolution to the sin problem, and continual "updates" had to be performed. It would take the undefiled blood of a man to provide for permanent atonement, ending the need for animal sacrifice. Hebrews 9:12-14 confirms that Yeshua achieved for us this once and for all atonement. It states: "12) Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 13) For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14) How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"

You see the offering Yeshua made for us was intended to purge our conscience from dead works in order to SERVE the LIVING GOD! When we believe upon the Holy Spirit, we are given the POWER to overcome. We have only to draw upon it and put our selfish soul in its place in order to begin to develop the character that will one day manifest into precious stones before the Bema Throne. Our works are no longer to be DEAD WORKS (as mentioned in verse 14) which would produce the wood, hay, and stubble of I Corinthians 3:12, and be burned up. Our works as Believers are to be LIVELY works - works to befit our quickened nature after the arrival of the Holy Spirit. As such, verse 5 of II Peter 2 tells us we perform the role of a holy priesthood, offering up SPIRITUAL SACRIFICES, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. You see, it is through our dependence upon the sacrifice of Yeshua (BY JESUS CHRIST per verse 5) that we are allowed to substitute SPIRITUAL SACRIFICES, acceptable to God rather than the Old Testament sacrifices. These new spiritual sacrifices are acceptable to God because the atonement has been sealed. This in no way EXEMPTS us from our obligation to provide sacrifices to God. They are merely of a different nature. It is AS we offer these spiritual sacrifices to God through righteous living and works befitting "lively stones" that we attain the gem nature which can one day be manifested at the Bema Throne. It is here that our sacrifices will once and for all be presented in more material form. It would behoove us all to examine what sacrifices we might have to present at that time! If there are no gold, silver, or precious stones to be offered by a Believer, there may be a recompense which that Believer will not be expecting! Don't risk it Believer! Be about the business of creating the gold, silver, and precious stones in the here and now so they can be offered before the throne very soon. Time may be of the essence!