What were the Old Testament ceremonial pictures limited to until the time of the Reformation?
The Old Testament ceremonial pictures were limited to meats, drinks, washings (baptisms), and carnal ordinances. Hebrews 9:10 says these symbolic practices—the sacrificial lamb, sprinkling of blood, and approaching a holy God—were imposed on them until the time of the Reformation.
Les teaches that Hebrews 9:7-10 rehearses the Day of Atonement, when the High Priest entered the Holy of Holies once a year with blood. He explains that the entire Old Testament sacrificial system was a figure, symbol, or illustration for the time then present. The sacrificial lamb, the sprinkling of blood, and the approaching of a holy God on holy ground were all symbolic. These practices did not take away sin; the blood of animals could not perfect the conscience. They stood only in meats, drinks, washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed until the time of the Reformation. The Greek word translated “washings” is baptism, indicating a cleansing, though water itself could not remove sin.
Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
More Questions
What did the writer of Hebrews say about the Old Testament ceremonies being symbolic and temporary?
The old-covenant sacrificial lamb, blood sprinkling, and the approach to a holy God were symbolic practices that consisted only of meats, drinks, washings, and carnal ordinances imposed until the time of the Reformation.
Were the Old Testament sacrifices and rituals symbolic?
The Old Testament pictures—the sacrificial lamb, the sprinkling of the blood, and approaching a holy God—were symbolic, not the real thing.