12.1.8.2 God’s patience—the sacrificial service in the Old Testament

God commanded the Old Testament's sacrificial service (Leviticus 19: 22). Through the sacrifices offered by the priests, the people sought after God's grace. Nevertheless, these offerings could not erase any sins. They merely had a postponing effect until the sacrificial death of Jesus. Up until then, the sinful human beings of the old covenant were covered by God's patience (Romans 3: 25-26). Prophets proclaimed that a forgiveness of sins would one day come that would do more than merely cover sins, but rather erase them completely (Isaiah 1: 18).