In the Old Testament, the Israelites offered sacrifices to be forgiven. However, God required more than merely killing animals. He required faith. And still does.
Faith is like taking medicine prescribed by your doctor. It involves both trust and action. Animal sacrifice demonstrated faith in God’s promised forgiveness.
Faith is central to obedience. Hebrews 11 lists several prominent Old Testament characters and stories, emphasizing that faith enabled God’s people to accomplish anything. There we learn that genuine faith requires belief-based action.
James 2 teaches the same concept. James asks, “What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?” Look at his answer . . .
Here we learn that faith alone cannot save. God also requires “works” (actions of obedience and devotion). Verse 24 plainly states, “You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.”
Over my past several articles, I’ve covered numerous foundational principles in the Old Testament—blood, redemption, sanctification, mercy, grace, holiness, etc. In my next article, we’ll begin exploring how these principles were fulfilled in Jesus.