Bible Survey of Leviticus

Transcription

1 Journey through the Old Testament Bible Survey of Leviticus Theme: God is holy and calls us to holy living. Key Text: Leviticus 19:1-2 The Lord said to Moses, Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy. What does it mean to say God is holy? It means: God is pure. God is dedicated to the things of God. We can see a progression in the books we have studied so far. In Genesis humanity falls into sin. In Exodus God delivers humanity from bondage. In Leviticus God calls his people to holiness, to reflect his image. Ephesians 2:12 remember at one time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants to the promise, without hope and without God in the world. = Genesis Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. = Exodus Ephesians 4:22-24 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. = Leviticus Fall 2010 Scarborough Chinese Baptist Church Page 1 of 5

2 Three Parts To Leviticus 1.0 God is holy and enables us to reflect his holiness (Leviticus 1-9) 2.0 God is holy and calls us to purity (Leviticus 10-22) 3.0 God is holy and calls us to be devoted to the things of God (Leviticus 23-27) 1.0 God is holy and enables us to reflect His Holiness (Leviticus 1-9) Spontaneous Offerings Burnt Offering (Leviticus 1; 6:8-13) Meal offering (Leviticus 2; 6:14-23) Peace Offering (Leviticus 3; 17:11-21) Nature of offering Voluntary Dedicatory Key phrase: it is a sweet aroma to the Lord. Sin Offerings Sin offering (Leviticus 4; 6:24-30) Trespass offering (Leviticus 5; 6:1-7; 7:1-10) Nature of offering Demanded Substitutionary Spontaneous offerings (voluntary) remind us of Ephesians 5:1, 2 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering & sacrifice to God. Sin Offerings (Demanded) Involve Blood Why does God require a blood sacrifice? o Because it is by a blood sacrifice that we are forgiven and thus enabled to reflect His holiness in this way the priest will make atonement for them and they will be forgiven. Leviticus 4:20; 26; 31; 35; 5:6; 10; 13; 16; 18. Atonement means, to make amends for. o Hebrews 9:22 says, In fact the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Fall 2010 Scarborough Chinese Baptist Church Page 2 of 5

3 o We cannot reflect God s holiness without the forgiveness of sin and we cannot have the forgiveness of sin without the shedding of blood. Why Does A Blood Sacrifice Forgive Sins? o God = life. (John 1:4) o Sin = death. (Romans 6:23) o Blood = death. (Leviticus 17:11 the life of a creature is in the blood ) Blood needs to be shed for us to be forgiven because it is payment for sin. Why Does God Punish Sin With Death? o Because sin is separation from God in whom there is life then logically sin has to result in death, blood must be shed. Leviticus 17:11 reads For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one s life. This Helps Us Understand The Day Of Atonement (Leviticus 16) o The law is in the arc of the covenant. When God looks down at the arc he sees the law we have broken. o When the blood is put on the arc, he now sees the blood, the atonement for our sins. What Function Did The Blood Of Bulls And Goats Perform? o They served as a kind of post-dated cheque that covered the sin and looked forward to the day when the payment would be made by Christ on the cross. Fall 2010 Scarborough Chinese Baptist Church Page 3 of 5

4 Atonement for Sins Old Covenant Type of Sacrifice Blood of animals Exodus 12:5 Leviticus 1-7 New Covenant Blood of Jesus Hebrews 9:12, 13:12 I John 1:7 Quality of Sacrifice Not enough Offered over And over Leviticus 1-7 Hebrews 9:7-9, 10:4 One Hebrews 9:12, 26 Quantity of Sacrifice Many Leviticus 1-7 Hebrews 10:1 One Hebrews 9:25, 26 Effectiveness For a day For a year Exodus Hebrews 10:1-4 Forever Hebrews 7:26 27; 9:12-15 Action or Result Temporary Exodus 30:10 Hebrews 9:25 Final Romans 6:10 Hebrews 9:25-28 Fall 2010 Scarborough Chinese Baptist Church Page 4 of 5

5 2.0 God calls his people to purity chapters Why does God kill the two sons of Aaron? (Leviticus 10) Why does God demand that law breakers be put to death? (Leviticus 20) o Because holiness/cleanliness matters to God. o Psalm 24:3-4 Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. o Why is holiness so important to God? o God hates sin (Zechariah 8:17) 3.0 God is holy and calls us to be devoted to God (Leviticus 23-27) Leviticus 24:1-9 The table of showbread I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. (John 6:51) As we allow Christ to have control of our lives he produces the holy life in us. Leviticus 24:7 The priests were to light incense as they ate the bread. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. (2 Corinthians 2:15) For Group Discussion: 1. Does today s discussion of God s holiness help you understand the wrath of God? 2. Christ s death for us was substitutionary. It was my death that Christ died and my penalty that he incurred. Christ s death was satisfactory. God requires nothing more. Any need to take further punishment, to pay a fine, to run around the block ten times immediately undermines the quality of His death and value of his blood. Christ s death is sufficient. There is no sin that is irredeemable. Do you know that you stand justified before God on the basis of the death of Christ alone? Is there something that you seek to add to Christ s death for your salvation? 3. Pray for one another. Fall 2010 Scarborough Chinese Baptist Church Page 5 of 5