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Numbers 19:2 & 9-10 speaks about the sacrifice of a red heifer as a cleansing sin offering to remain as a statute forever. Be advised that those first covenant writings have ceased to apply today, because that "forever statute" has expired! There will be people who insist that mentioned scripture still applies today; however our current intent is not to discuss why said mentioned scripture no longer applies, but to go forward into examining the New Covenant and the construction of God's temple with sacrifices!

Building a new temple in Jerusalem in not necessary! Our Creator and does not need a physical temple built for Him! He is seeking humble people who hear and obey His Word. Isa 66:1-2, "Thus says the LORD, 'The heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool. Where, then, is the house that you build for Me? And where is the place of My rest? 2 For all these things My hand has made, and these things came to be,' says the LORD. 'But to this one I will look, to him who is of a poor and contrite spirit and who trembles at My Word.' " Act 17:24, "He is the God Who made the world and all things that are in it. Being the Lord of heaven and earth, He does not dwell in temples made by hands." Neither is God pleased with animal sacrifice! Heb 10:4 & 6, "Because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins." & 6 "You did not delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin."

Some people will tell you that a temple and alter must be built in Jerusalem, however read: Rom 1:22, "While professing themselves to be the wise ones, they became fools." Heb 8:13, "In speaking of a new covenant, He has made the first covenant obsolete. Now that which has become old and obsolete is about to disappear." Heb 9:10-11, "These {old covenant} services consist only of meat and drink offerings, and various washings and physical ordinances, imposed until the time of the new spiritual order. 11 But Christ Himself has become High Priest of the coming good things, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made by human hands (that is, not of this present physical creation)."

Jesus said in: Joh 6:44-45, "No one can come to Me unless the Father, Who sent Me, draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught by God.' Therefore, everyone who has heard from the Father, and has learned, comes to Me." Have you personally taken the time to read, study, and meditate upon the Word of God? Consequently has your faith and belief in God been established? When you heed the calling, God through the power of His Holy Spirit, the word of truth, begins to shape us into living stones for use in His spiritual temple. The Father plants and Christ builds the church: Mat 16:18, "And I {Jesus Christ} say also to you … I will build My church, and the gates of the grave shall not prevail against it." There are those who, in their vanity, think they are planting churches for God, Mat 15:13, "But He {Jesus} answered and said, 'Every plant that My heavenly Father has not planted shall be rooted up.' "

Many people who do not understand the spiritual, but only focus on the physical; as such they are "walking zombies." Rom 8:5-10, "For those who walk according to the flesh mind the things of the flesh; but those who walk according to the Spirit mind the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace, 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God; neither indeed can it be. 8 But those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 However, you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if the Spirit of God is indeed dwelling within you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. 10 But if Christ be within you, the body is indeed dead because of sin; however, the Spirit is life because of righteousness."

God is building a spiritual temple and a holy priesthood: 1Pe 2:1-10, "Therefore, having put away all wickedness, and all deceit, and hypocrisies and jealousies, and all slanders, 2 As newborn babes, yearn after the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow, 3 If you yourselves have indeed tasted that the Lord is gracious. 4 To Whom coming, as to a living Stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God, and precious, 5 You also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house—a holy priesthood—to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For this reason it says in the scripture, "Behold, I place in Zion the Cornerstone, chosen and precious; and the one who believes in Him shall never be put to shame." 7 The preciousness is to you, therefore, who believe; but to those who disobey, the Stone that the builders rejected has become the Head of the corner, 8 And a Stone of stumbling and a Rock of offense; especially to those who stumble at the Word, being disobedient, unto which unbelief they also were appointed. 9 But you are a chosen stock, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for a possession of God, that you might proclaim His excellent virtues, Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 Who once were not a people, but now are the people of God; who had not received mercy, but now have received mercy."

Peter calls Jesus Christ a living stone because of prophecies in the Old Testament. Jesus Christ has become the Living Head Stone of the Corner (Isa 28:16); but Old Testament builders rejected Him! A cornerstone is called a head stone, which sets the location and standard for the entire structure of the building (Psa 118:22-23). As we walk with God, we become a spiritual temple: 1Co 3:16-17, "Don't you understand that you are God's temple, and that the Spirit of God is dwelling in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God shall destroy him because the temple of God is holy, which temple you are." Worldly "spiritual" friendships can defile your body, which is the temple of God. Such friendships should be avoided: Jas 4:4, "You adulterers and adulteresses, don't you know that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Therefore, whoever desires to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God."

Romans directs us to become a living sacrifice: Rom 12:1-2, "I exhort you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and well pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service. 2 Do not conform yourselves to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind in order that you may prove what is well pleasing and good, and the perfect will of God." If you have accepted Jesus as your personal savior then take NOTE: 1Co 6:19-20, "WHAT! Don't you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, which you have within you from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought with a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." God wants us to do all things to God's glory, avoiding offense, so our actions are for the profit of many, so they may be saved: 1Co 10:31-33, "Therefore, whether you eat, or you drink, or you do anything, do all things to the glory of God. 32 Be without offense to both Jews and Greeks, and to the church of God; 33 According as I also seek to please everyone in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, in order that they may be saved."

Spiritual sacrifices are the praises and thanks expressed by God's people; whether alone and in group worship. Heb 13:15-16, "Accordingly, let us offer the sacrifice of praise continually to God through Him; that is, with the fruit of our lips openly professing our faith in His name. 16 Now do not forget to do good and to fellowship, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased."

Sometimes, we should choose to make financial sacrifices to help others. Paul expressed faith even when in need: Php 4:12-13, "For I have experienced being brought low, and I have experienced abounding. In everything and in all things I have been taught both to be full and to hunger, both to abound and to be without. 13 I can do all things through Christ, Who empowers me." and Php 4:16-19, "And when I was in Thessalonica, you sent to supply my need both once and twice. 17 I do not say this because I am seeking a gift, but because I am seeking fruit that may abound to your credit. 18 But I have all things and abound. I am full after receiving from Epaphroditus the things you sent, a sweet-smelling savor, a sacrifice acceptable and well pleasing to God. 19 But my God will supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

Heb 13:1-6, "Let brotherly love be present among you continually. 2 Do not forget to show hospitality; for by this some have unknowingly welcomed angels as guests. 3 Be mindful of prisoners, as if you were imprisoned with them; and think of those who are suffering afflictions, as if you yourselves were in their body. 4 Let marriage be held honorable by all, and the marital union be undefiled; for God will judge fornicators and adulterers. 5 Do not allow the love of money to influence your behavior, but be satisfied with what you have; for He has said, 'In no way will I ever leave you; no—I will never forsake you in any way.' 6 So then, let us boldly say, 'The Lord is my helper, and I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?' "

We, through direct access to the Father and His Word, we are being built into a spiritual holy temple in the Lord: Eph 2:18-22, "For through Him {Jesus Christ} we both have direct access by one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then, you are no longer aliens and foreigners; but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of the household of God. 20 You are being built up on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief Cornerstone 21 In Whom all the building, being conjointly fitted together, is increasing into a holy temple in the Lord; 22 In Whom you also are being built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit."

2Co 6:14-18, "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and lawlessness have in common? And what fellowship does light have with darkness? 15 And what union does Christ have with Belial {worthlessness; Belial, as an epithet of Satan}? Or what part does a believer have with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement is there between a temple of God and idols? For you are a temple of the living God, exactly as God said: 'I will dwell in them and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 17 Therefore, come out from the midst of them and be separate,' says the Lord, 'and touch not the unclean, and I will receive you; 18 And I shall be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters,' says the Lord Almighty."

Revelation warns us to avoid the sins of the world: Rev 18:4-5, "Then I heard another voice from heaven say: 'Come out of her, My people, so that you will not share in her sins or contract any of her plagues. 5 For her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.' " In speaking of the New Jerusalem, John states in: Revelation 21:22, "And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb." and in: Rev 22:14-15, "Blessed are those who keep His commandments, that they may have the right to eat of the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city. 15 But excluded are dogs, and sorcerers, and fornicators, and murderers, and idolaters, and everyone who loves and devises a lie."

If you are a believer, are you practicing righteousness? Do you believe in Christ, yet take His name in vain; thus remaining self-righteous? People claiming to be "Christians" today, reject the commandment of God concerning the Sabbath Day and keep their own tradition of "Sunday Worship" while ignoring multiple clear scripture directing people to observe and keep the Sabbath Day Holy! This was prophesied in Isa 4:1, "And in that day seven women {churches} shall take hold of one man {Christ}, saying, 'We will eat our own bread and wear our own clothing; only let us be called by Your name. Take away our shame.' " There are people who reject the bread of life and "eat their own bread" because they do not believe! They also do not accept the clothes of righteousness, thus they would appear inappropriately dressed at a wedding supper because of their "self-righteousness" (Mat 22:11-12). Willful unbelievers ultimately receive destruction! Jud 1:5 "But I myself want to remind you, though you once understood this, that the Lord, after saving a people out of the land of Egypt, the second time destroyed those who did not believe."

Click on the following link and read our extensive article on "Baptism."

Sacrifices in God's Temple

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