p. 5 | No More Sacrifice for Sins by JOHN N. QUINN

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 26, 1912

“No More Sacrifice for Sins”

By JOHN N. QUINN

“A Certain Fearful Looking for of Judgment”

JOHN N. QUINN

Growing weary of the restraints imposed upon him by the worship of Jehovah, and allured by the service of Baal, in which the passions of the flesh may be fully gratified, a Hebrew decides that he no longer will bring his sacrifice for sin to God’s altar at Jerusalem. Turning away from God and his promises, and joining himself to the idolatrous worship of the sun, he experiences a sense of relief from restraint, and finds enjoyment in practises abhorrent to a God of purity.

Daily the sacrifices continue to be offered at the temple of Jehovah, and sin-burdened hearts find relief as they by faith behold in the sacrifice a type of the Lamb of God one day to be offered, and by which offering God will forever put an end to sin. Yet he who has joined himself to Baal has no part in these sacrifices; for him there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin. When in sober moments he thinks of God and his holiness, there comes to him the conviction that he is a child of wrath, and a “fearful looking for of judgment” overwhelms his soul. He is an adversary of God, an enemy of righteousness. The burden of sin increases as the days go by, and, disappointed and dissatisfied with his experience, he returns to his native land. Providing himself a lamb without spot or blemish, he presents himself at the altar of brass, to which he may come with boldness. Laying his hands upon the innocent offering, he confesses his wanderings and his sins. As the slain lamb is offered, a personal sacrifice for him, God’s peace flows into his life. Sin’s burden and bitterness are gone. For him, the restored one, there remaineth a sacrifice for sin. He shares in the blessing of every offering, and he rejoices that he has passed from judgment to the certainty of eternal existence. The flesh is conquered; no longer does he chafe under the restraint of righteousness, but delights in the law of God after the inner man, the righteousness of the law being revealed in him by the Spirit of God.

To the person who despises the sacrifice of Calvary that sacrifice is unavailing; the future has for him nothing but wrath. If he continues to regard the blood of the Son of God as an unclean thing, and does despite unto the Spirit of grace, he will find it to be a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

One of the most equitable laws of the Mosaic economy was that which established cities of refuge in various parts of the land of Palestine. The person who accidentally took the life of his fellow man, in order to escape the vengeance of the dead man’s relatives must run with all speed to one of these cities, and once inside the gates he was safe. To him there was no wrath so long as he remained in the city; and inside the city he must remain until the death of the high priest, when he was at liberty to return to his former manner of life. Should he despise the law governing the cities, and take his departure immediately, he was doomed. Go where he would, he was in fear and dread, not knowing when judgment would be inflicted upon him. To him there was indeed a fearful looking for of judgment, and this because he despised the law governing his safety.

Christ is the believer’s city of refuge; in him we are safe. The person who departs from Christ and remains away from him is doomed to everlasting destruction. Out of Christ, the future presents only terror, wrath, judgment. To continue to despise Jesus Christ and count his precious blood an unclean thing, is to perish eternally. You who read this, are you in Christ or are you out of Christ? In Christ, you are free from wrath; out of him, you are lost. Just now, ask God for the Holy Spirit, and then receive God’s gift, through which you can enter into Jesus Christ, who only can deliver you from the wrath to come.