Bearing in mind that the Bible is a book of progressive revelation, one’s understanding and appreciation of the Scriptures is dramatically enhanced. And what do we mean by “progressive revelation?” Principally, just this: Doesn’t it seem only logical that since the Bible was compiled over a span of 15plus centuries, it was gradual in its making? Think of it this way: From the first year that Scripture was inspired of God, enabling those beginning writings to be recorded, until its conclusion 1500 years later, there was involved a gradual, increasing disclosure of what God wanted revealed. And, since the Bible is an accurate historical account of God and His dealings with man, we may surmise that God is revealed to man in more and more, shall we say, “up-to-date ways” than when originally begun. As the Bible unfolds chronologically, an increasingly clearer revelation of God is made known to man. This means the apostles Peter, James, and John had a fuller revelation and understanding of God than did Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob simply because the latter three lived 1500 years after the former three. A most obvious example of how God’s revelation progressed was in the divine requirement of animal sacrifice imposed upon mankind in man’s earliest years. But with the revelation of God and His requirements progressing more and more, century by century, we arrive at the time when animal sacrifices have fulfilled their purpose and are no longer required. Clearly, they were at an earlier time, and clearly the need for them was discontinued. Why so? Because the purpose of animal sacrifice had been completed by the ultimate, final sacrifice that was made in the person of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, God’s own Son.
God’s requirement and demand from man progressed from that of mere animals to the supreme sacrifice of the One who was incarnated in human flesh. Quite a dramatic step forward, wouldn’t you say? Progressive to be sure.
God used the principal of animal sacrifice to instill in the nation of Israel the very idea of substitution; that is, the innocent dying in the place of the guilty. This is the very essence of Christianity – that of substitution. Christ died for our sins. This was not nearly so well understood when only animals were required for sacrifice, as it was later understood following the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, thus, putting it into the sacrificial system. It was very much in vogue before Christ died. Then, animal sacrifices became outmoded.
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