The Bible tells us that the first covenant had regulations of divine service. That first covenant is the Old Testament. On the Day of Atonement, the high priest took two goats from the people and performed a ceremony to indicate that the sins of the people had been transferred to the animals. When the ceremony was over, one of the animals would be taken out into the wilderness and left there to be devoured by wolves or other beasts. The other animal was slaughtered and its blood was taken into the most holy place where the high priest sprinkled it with his finger before the mercy seat. This was the way in which the people's sins were washed away.

When this ceremony was performed, the Israelites themselves could not enter the most holy place. It was simply that when they heard the sound of the bells that hung on the garment of the high priest, they knew that the sacrifice had now been offered for their sins and God had forgiven them, and their minds were set at ease. Of course, these two goats that were offered as sacrifices symbolize Jesus, who took the sins of mankind upon Himself. (See Leviticus chapter 16.)

Also, in the most holy place, there were the lampstand, the table, and the showbread. The candle on the lampstand was to remain lit at all times. This light symbolized Jesus, as we can see from the verses that say, "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12), and "That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world" (John 1:9). The showbread was also a shadow of Jesus' body as Jesus said, "I am the bread of life
(John 6:35).

All of these, however, as shadows of the new covenant, disappeared when Jesus came and was crucified. They had been mere shadows of the perfect promise that was fulfilled when Jesus said as He died, "It is finished."

Aren't blueprints needed when you are constructing a building? Once the building is completed, however, there is no longer any need for the blueprints.

The temple, the sacrifices, and the methods of worship that appear in the Old Testament are all shadows of matters fulfilled in the New Testament. When the actual object appears, there is no longer any need for the shadow.

As Jesus died on the cross, what did the high priest witness when he went to offer a sacrifice? He saw the veil that hung between the holy place and the most holy place torn from top to bottom. The veil had been there as a shadow until Jesus, the Son of God, said, "It is finished." At that moment, it was torn from top to bottom. Since the entity itself had appeared, there was no longer a need for the shadow.

This veil represents Jesus' body. There was a high wall blocking the way between man and God. The sacrifices, the ceremonies, and the methods of worship are all related to the law of commandments. They are related to the ordinances. But Jesus has abolished these through His flesh. Everything was accomplished through Jesus' death.

Jesus' body was torn in order to open this new and living way. It is only through Jesus that we can find the way to eternal life. The way to salvation can only be found through Jesus, as He Himself said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). Since the veil is no longer in the temple, the temple has been removed.

In Old Testament times, countless animals without spot or blemish were slaughtered in the temple for the forgiveness of the sins of men. All of this was a shadow of Jesus' crucifixion, which was the real sacrifice. Just as all the sins of the people were transferred to the goat and it was killed, Jesus paid the price for the sins of all mankind through His death on the cross. John the Baptist also bore witness of Jesus in this respect when he said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). All of these shadows came to an end and the ancient covenant was completely fulfilled. If people received forgiveness for their sin through the blood of goats and calves, won't the eternal blood of Jesus Christ be able to provide forgiveness for the sins of each one of us and cleanse our consciences? You simply need to believe this with certainty in your heart. It is not enough just to ask or beg for forgiveness. Even making a firm resolution or just repenting will not be of any use. It is a matter of believing the truth that has already
been accomplished.