Tim Maas Supporter Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

By my understanding, after the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans in AD 70, there was no longer a divinely mandated or approved location for such sacrifices. Instead, the rabbinical community declared that prayer, study of the Torah, and acts of lovingkindness now fulfilled the purpose of the sacrifices (although such practices did not involve the shedding of blood).

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Jack Gutknecht Supporter ABC/DTS graduate, guitar music ministry Baptist church

Superb question, Stuart! 

The Romans destroyed the Temple, the only place allowed by halakha for sacrifices. 
--halakha is the Jewish legal system that governs religious practices and daily life. It's a combination of written and oral laws that have evolved since biblical times. 

Jesus' sacrifice
The sacrifice of Jesus was so complete that it secured eternal redemption. Hebrews 9:12 says that Christ's blood-shedding secured an eternal redemption, and that animal blood-shedding has ceased. 

The blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins (NOG)
because blood contains life. I have given this blood to you to make peace with me on the altar. Blood is needed to make peace with me.
Hebrews 10:4 says that the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins. 

The purpose of sacrifices
The purpose of sacrifices was to motivate the Jewish people to come close to God. 

Leviticus 17:11
This verse says that blood CAN serve as an atonement. (But you must accept Jesus' sacrifice as the ONLY ATONEMENT for your salvation). I have always loved Leviticus 17:11 --
“For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.”

But perhaps a more understandable translation would be this:

NOG (The Names of God Bible (NOG)
"[because] blood contains life. I have given this blood to you to make peace with me on the altar. Blood is needed to make peace with me."

Hosea 6:6
This verse says that God desires steadfast love and the knowledge of God rather than sacrifice. So then a life of good works done for God after you get saved would be a kind of "Thank You, God," for Jesus's sacrifice on the cross for my sins. But loving others and having a knowledge of God are not how we get saved; they are the result (the fruit) of salvation.

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