How is Jesus sacrifice different from the sacrifices of the Israelite sacrifices?

Answer: The Old Testament sacrifices looked forward to what Christ would do on the cross for us, whereas, what we have in the Communion or Lord's Supper is by way of remembrance. In other words, nothing that we do today in the Communion service, adds to Christ's sacrifice on the cross. Nor are we still sacrificing Christ every time we have the Communion.

The Old Testament saints sacrificed animals, but these were only a temporary covering until Christ could die for our sins. They could not even enter heaven until this work by Christ was done on the cross. When Jesus died and rose again he took those that were in ‘Abraham's Bosom' or Paradise to heaven, because the sacrifice for sins was accomplished.

The area we disagree with in the Mass is that it is presented as a further sacrifice of Christ, but we do not see this in the New Testament. “I recall my school days, and how each day began with a half-hour of religious instruction. ‘The Holy Mass is one and the same sacrifice with that of the Cross, inasmuch as Christ, who offered Himself, a bleeding victim, on the Cross to His Heavenly Father, continues to offer Himself in an unbloody manner on the altar, through the ministry of His priests.' (A Catechism of Christian Doctrine (London: Catholic Truth Society, revised edition, 1985), p.

‘If anyone says that in the mass a true and real sacrifice is not offered to God…let him be anathema sent to hell (Canon 1). ‘If anyone says that by those words “Do this for a commemoration of me,” Christ did not institute the Apostles priests, or did not ordain that they and other priests should offer his own body and blood, let him be anathema (Canon 2). ‘If anyone says that the sacrifice of the mass is one only of praise and thanksgiving; or that it is a mere commemoration of the sacrifice consummated on the cross but not a propitiatory one, let him be anathema (Canon 3).

Stott, The Cross of Christ (England: I.V.P., 1986), pp. ‘Pius XI in Ad Cathoiici Sacerdotii (1935) described the mass as being in itself “areal sacrifice…which has a real efficacy.” Moreover, “the ineffable greatness of the human priest stands forth in its splendor,” because he “Has power over the very body of Jesus Christ.”

He first “makes it present upon our altars” and next “in the name of Christ himself he offers it a victim…” (John R. Stott, The Cross of Christ, (England: IV.P., 1986). “First, is the Mass a real sacrifice that is offered daily?

The Roman Catholic Church says it is. ‘On our altars,' Pope Pius said, ‘Christ offers himself daily for our redemption.' In contrast to this pronouncement, the Scriptures teach that the sacrifice of Jesus is a onetime offering, occurring only as often as the death of man occurs—namely, once! “For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people's, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.

“Second, is the Mass a propitiatory sacrifice? The Roman Catholic Church says that it is. The word ‘propitiation' means ‘satisfaction' and refers to the sacrifice of Jesus satisfying the divine justice of God.

“The proof that the Father accepted the one sacrifice of Jesus is seen in that the Father raised Him from the dead and seated Him at his own right hand. Now that our sins have been forgiven by the one sacrifice of Jesus, what purpose would a continual sacrifice serve? “And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.

But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. The real meaning of the Communion or Lord's Supper is not a continual sacrifice, but a remembering what Jesus did Once and For All on the cross for us. He took away the sins of all those who would believe in Him and He wants us to share this good news with others.

“For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.' In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood.