1. The True Purpose of Worship
God commanded worship not as a mere formality, but so that people could build an intimate relationship with Him and be cleansed from sin. In the Old Testament, God forgave sins when people offered sacrifices in the temple. However, if someone who had sinned tried to enter the temple without going through the sacrificial process, they would not survive. This sacrificial procedure was an essential way to transfer (atone for) sin to another and restore the relationship with God. Both Old Testament sacrifices and the Sabbath were means to approach God, and we must remember that God’s presence in the temple was for the forgiveness of His people’s sins.

2. The Principle of the Temple and Sacrifices in the Old Testament
If You Sinned, You Went to the Priest
If an Israelite sinned, they selected a clean animal (lamb, goat, or dove) and brought it to the temple.

Transferring Sin to the Priest (Laying on of Hands)
The priest laid his hands on the animal, symbolically transferring the person’s sin to the animal.

Killing the Sacrifice and Offering it on the Altar
The priest killed the animal, sprinkled its blood on the altar, and burned the meat as an offering to God.

As it is written, “The life of the flesh is in the blood” (Leviticus 17:11)—the idea was that blood makes atonement for sin.

The Day of Atonement Sacrifice
Once a year, on the tenth day of the seventh month (Jewish calendar), the “Day of Atonement” sacrifice was offered.

On that day, the high priest entered the Most Holy Place (the innermost room of the temple), confessed all the sins of the people, and symbolically transferred the sins to a scapegoat (Azazel), sending it into the wilderness.

Through this process, not only were the people’s sins forgiven, but the temple was also cleansed.

3. Jesus’ Fulfillment: The Completion of Redemption (Atonement)
The Sacrificial System Foreshadowed Jesus

The apostle Paul said that the Old Testament sacrificial system was a shadow pointing to what Jesus would do (Hebrews 8:4-5).

Jesus Forgave All Sins in One Act

Jesus became the sacrificial offering on the cross. As it is written, “Not with the blood of animals, but with His own blood, He obtained eternal redemption” (Hebrews 9:12). The blood of Jesus was the one perfect and sufficient sacrifice.

Therefore, the need to repeat animal sacrifices as in the Old Testament was eliminated.

Jesus’ Sacrifice Is the Completion of Redemption

The greatest possible sacrifice for the forgiveness of all sins is the blood of Jesus, and through this, the bridge between God and humanity was perfectly established.

4. The Heavenly Temple and Jesus’ Ascension
The Earthly Temple Was a Model of the Heavenly Temple

The Old Testament temple was a model patterned after the real throne of heaven. The Ark of the Covenant in the Most Holy Place symbolized God’s heavenly throne.

As it says in Isaiah 66:1, “Heaven is My throne”—the true throne of God is in heaven.

Jesus’ Ascension

On the fortieth day after His resurrection, Jesus ascended to heaven before His disciples. This means Jesus entered the Most Holy Place of the heavenly temple.

Revelation 12:7–9 describes how, through Jesus, Satan was cast out of heaven. This symbolizes Jesus’ victory over the power of Satan.

All of this is the fulfillment of the Old Testament Day of Atonement ritual, where the scapegoat (Azazel) was sent into the wilderness to remove sin—now completed by Jesus’ victory.

5. Worshiping in Spirit and in Truth
Now That Forgiveness Is Complete, Ritual Becomes Commemoration

Because Jesus has forgiven all our sins, animal sacrifices are no longer necessary. Hebrews 10:18 says, “There is no longer any sacrifice needed for sin.”

Repentance and Good Works Are Worship

True worship is to remember Jesus’ sacrifice and to practice God’s will—loving our neighbors as ourselves in our daily lives.

When we believe in Jesus and the Holy Spirit comes into our hearts, living a good and upright life itself becomes worship to God.

Conclusion
The Meaning of the Old Testament Sacrificial System

Every animal sacrifice and the sprinkling of blood was a process of atonement for sin.

The Day of Atonement was the ceremony to cleanse all of Israel’s sins in the temple.

The Complete Atonement of Jesus

Jesus forgave all sins with one perfect sacrifice.

There is no longer any need for repeated animal sacrifices—His blood provides eternal atonement.

The New Shape of Worship

Living each and every day according to God’s good will is true worship.

May you remember the redemptive work of Jesus, worship in spirit and truth, and walk in close fellowship with God.