Leviticus Lesson 2

Leviticus

Lesson 2

Hi! Welcome Back to this series of Studies of the Book of Leviticus.

You will recall from Lesson 1 that the Book of Leviticus is a handbook for the Priests (Levites) and for God's chosen people, the Nation of Israel. In this how-to handbook, God's people (also often referred to as Israelites, Hebrews, Jacobites, and the Jewish Nation) and their priests learn of the various Offerings, Sacrifices, Laws, rules, regulations, prohibitions, and etc. that they are to observe and obey. Specific directions concerning the correct and proper way to approach, to worship, and to walk with their Holy God are enumerated in this book in precise detail.

In this lesson we will look specifically at the Offerings and Sacrifices which are referred to in Chapters 1 through 7 of the Book of Leviticus. Yes, there are many minute details but we will not spend much time on the details. Rather, we will be looking at the underlying principles and truths which these specific Offerings and Sacrifices teach and reveal.

You will recall also from Lesson 1, that the Book of Leviticus can be subdivided into 2 main sections or parts::

Review Lesson 1 and, in the space provided below, write down what those 2 subdivisions were:

Chapters 1-16 ____________________________________________________________

Chapters 17-27 ___________________________________________________________

Also, still looking at that previous lesson, in the space below, write the Key verse of Leviticus: (Hint: see Lev. 19:2)

Finally, what word is used 80 or more times in the book of Leviticus? Write it here: _______________

Hmmmm.

Correct! The word, HOLY (or synonyms such as holiness, sanctify, sanctification, consecrate, consecration, etc.) is used more than 80 times.

And you probably also correctly remembered that the Key verse of Leviticus, the verse that sums up the teachings of this book in an easy to remember form, is: "The Lord said... 'Be holy, because I, the Lord your God, am holy... "

And, if you got those things correct, I am sure you also said that the 2 divisions of Leviticus are:

Part 1 = Chapters 1-16 explain the way a person or nation can approach & worship The Holy God.

Part 2 = Chapters 17-27 emphasize that the walk of Holiness before God is by separation from the world.

Great! Good reviewing and good thinking.

Now, with all that in mind, let's look at Chapters 1-7. Remember, we are in the first section (Chapters 1-16) which teaches about the way to approach and worship God by Offerings & Sacrifices. In Chapters 1-7, we will be studying some of the specific Offerings & Sacrifices that are to be offered by an UN-holy people to a HOLY God.

God is (19:2) ____________ but every person is un-holy, a sinner. Last week we mentioned this and actually listed the 3 ways that man is unholy because of sin. Look back at lesson 1 and, in the space below, write the 3 ways that mankind (and you and I) are or become sinners:

Man is a sinner

1 by

2 by

3. by

Yes, man is a sinner 1. by birth (because of inheriting the sin nature of Adam and Eve), 2. by willful disobedience to God's laws, and 3. by accidentally, unintentionally, or unknowingly doing things which are wrong and contrary to God's commands and laws.

And, the problem with being a sinner is that a sinful man can NOT have access to a Holy God, nor can a sinful man worship a Holy God, and he certainly can not fellowship with a Holy God.

Now this is a major problem because God created man for the specific intention that He (God) and man would be friends and could enjoy each other and fellowship with each other. However, sin has marred this relationship! And, as a result of sin, access to God and fellowship with God was broken. Man can not even worship God when there is unconfessed and unrepented sin in the life of the worshipper!

WHY?

Because God is HOLY and a Holy God can NOT fellowship with, look upon, approve, tolerate, or countenance sin in any form or fashion! Period. God has no favorites; therefore, no one can sin and "get away with it." There must ALWAYS be punishment for sin. There must be atonement for ALL sin. No sin can be overlooked. No sin can go unpunished. Some one or some thing must pay the sin penalty. And the penalty for sin is DEATH! So, either the individual who sinned will pay the penalty or a SUBSTITUTE can pay the penalty, but the penalty must and will be paid, sooner or later, in its time. You may think you are "getting away with your sin", but, in the long run, you will not! God knows! And a Holy God requires payment.

We also know that EVERY person is a sinner, even from the time of birth because we all inherited the sin nature from our ancestor, Adam! Therefore every person is born a sinner and then, through "living" adds to this sinful state by adding addition sins of our own devising and committing.

So, what to do?

Well, fortunately there IS a remedy for sin! There is a way for an unholy person to have his sin atoned for, so that he can regain his access to God, have the desired fellowship restored between God and man, and so that he can worship and serve The Holy God of the Universe..

In the Book of Leviticus, the Holy God of the Universe reveals, as a shadow (through the use of types, pictures, and illustrations revealed, pictured, and illustrated in the various offerings and sacrifices ), what that remedy is.

The Offerings and Sacrifices described and depicted in Leviticus are NOT the final acceptable remedy required by God. Rather, they are only temporary coverings for sin and serve as a type or illustration, a picture, in a shadow form, of how sin will ultimately be atoned for.

Yes, the Sacrifices and offerings observed in Leviticus and throughout the Old Testament were important and necessary but, since they only provided temporary coverings for sin, their underlying (shadow) purpose was to point to and foretell the final and permanent covering which would be provided by the sacrificial death and blood of the Lord God Jesus Christ.

The Lord God Jesus Christ died, as the perfect and once for all sacrifice, to pay the penalty for sin. Jesus' death and blood provided the required (atonement) payment of the required death penalty for sin. Then, as pictured in the Levitical sacrifices, with the identification of the sinner with the sacrifice, a repentant sinner, by identifying with the sacrifice of Jesus, has his access and fellowship with God restored and may and will worship and serve his Holy God.

The Sacrifices and Offerings in Leviticus, therefore, are prophetic illustrations picturing (as a shadow of the substance of Jesus Christ) that final and acceptable sacrifice of Jesus Christ..

Wow!

The shadow of the final and ultimate payment for the death penalty required to atone for sin, is portrayed by the Offerings and Sacrifices of the book of Leviticus!

So, since the sacrifices and offerings which we will be studying are not the CURE in themselves, (but, instead, provide temporary covering and atonement for the sins of the Jews, while pointing to and explaining the real, final, and once for all remedy, cure, and atonement for all sin,) then, the main emphasis of this lesson will be to discover what the shadows of the various sacrifices and offerings are revealing -- as they point to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as the ultimate and final remedy for sin.

Well, with all of that in mind, let's look at these Offerings and Sacrifices described and taught in the first 7 Chapters of Leviticus.

And, you guessed it, it is time for an assignment. Your assignment now is to get your own Bible and read the first 7 chapters of Leviticus. If you do not have a Bible and have access to the internet, you can find many sites with Bibles that you can read or from which you can print specific passages such as required for this assignment. One such site is goshen.net

Anyway, read the first 7 Chapters of Leviticus, and, as you read, in the space provided below, list the 5 main Sacrifices and or Offerings which are being discussed and taught in these chapters. Don't get carried away looking for any details at this point, just simply list the names of the offerings.

Finished? Great! And, I assume that you had no trouble discovering the names of these offerings. Depending on what version of the Bible you were using, some of the names vary slightly, but basically, the main 5 are the: Burnt Offering, Grain (Meal, Cereal) Offering, Peace (Fellowship) Offering, Sin Offering, and Guilt Offering.

Oh, and by the way, It is interesting to note that there is a typographical error in the KJV version concerning the Grain (Meal, Cereal) Offering. The KJV refers to this as a Meat offering, but actually it should be Meal, as you can easily determine from the context of what is said about it. But, not to worry, it is not the end of the world if your Bible calls it a Meat offering. Just correct it in the margin and carry on. And, it is usually offered with another offering which is usually some type of an animal offering, anyway.

But, continuing on.

Now that you have the big picture of what the 5 main offerings are, let's look at each one a little more closely and individually, one at a time. But, not to panic, we are not going to go into great detail. After all, these are no longer done today and the shadow of what these offerings are referring to and explaining has now been fulfilled (in Christ's death sacrifice on the cross almost 2000 years ago.). So, in this next assignment, we are more interested in knowing how these offerings pointed to their final fulfillment.

So, with that in mind, your next assignment is to read Chapters 1- 7 again, this time looking specifically for the following 3 things:

The Purpose of the Offering

What the Offerer (sinner) did

What the Priest did

As you find the answers, record them in the space provided on the chart below. I will do the first one for you as an example.

Wow! Quite an assignment, wasn't it! And, very instructive. And very detailed. I am sure glad we don't have to do these things now! And, why don't we have to do these things now?

Well, before you answer that question, let's think for a minute.

Surely, as you did this assignment, and saw and thought about the various items and things that happened, you probably read words such as BLOOD and said, hmmmm, I wonder if blood is a shadow that is referring to Jesus and His Blood? And, you saw references to DEATH and Sacrificial animals which were spotless and without blemish, and you wondered, is this a shadow of Jesus Christ, who was also a sacrifice for me and He was spotless and without blemish and had NO sin! Yes, I am sure you did.

And, you know what? That is exactly what you were supposed to think. That was God's intention when He instituted these sacrifices. Yes, they did provide a temporary remedy for sin. But their ultimate purpose was to point to and prophesy and illustrate the final and permanent remedy for sin, Jesus Christ!

So, yes, God gave all of these Sacrifices and Offerings to His people, the nation of Israel, to provide temporary covering, remedy, and atonement for their sins. But, God also intended for these Offerings and Sacrifices to point them toward the future final and one-time permanent covering, remedy, and atonement for ALL sins!

So, with that in mind, let's do another assignment:

Look back at the chart you just made (or re-read Chapters 1-7) and, in the space provided below, write down all the things (in the 5 offerings) that point to Christ and / or illustrate (picture as a shadow) the substitute sacrifice of Christ for sin. Again, let me begin this list for you as an example of how to do this. If there is not enough space (and there probably won't be) to write down all that you see, please feel free to continue this list on a separate page or pages. Take your time. Don't rush. This assignment is the heart of the lesson.

How the Offerings and Sacrifices

point to and picture Jesus Christ

as the final fulfillment of their temporary purpose

of appeasement and atonement for sin

and of restoring a person to

access to, fellowship with, and ability to worship a Holy God

Wow! What awesome concepts are revealed in these Sacrifices and Offerings! How clearly they picture and prefigure the future substitute sacrifice of Jesus as the final and ultimate sacrifice to atone for sin!

We said that this assignment is the heart of the lesson. Indeed, it is. And, even more than that, it reveals the heart and the intent of the entire Book of Leviticus. Indeed, it reveals the very heart of God!

These Offerings and Sacrifices were observed for centuries as a ritual and a form and they provided temporary atonement and appeasement for sin. But these sacrifices were only shadows of what was really needed. Yes, they provided temporary forgiveness and covering from sin but they were incomplete in that they could not provide a permanent solution for sin. A final and one time complete and permanent covering for sin was still necessary!

How do we know this? And what was that final, complete, and permanent atonement sacrifice? Well, to find out, it is time for another assignment, sooooo.... your next assignment is to:

Read the following scriptures and, as you read, underline or highlight (in red) any words or phrases which name or identify the final, complete, and permanent atonement sacrifice Also, in a separate color, underline or highlight any words or phrases which specifically refer to the "temporary and incomplete" nature of the Offerings and Sacrifices which were observed in the book of Leviticus and in the following centuries until the final ultimate Sacrifice was provided.

Hebrews 1: 3 The Son (Jesus) is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down a the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

Hebrews 2:17 For this reasons He (Jesus) had to be made like His brothers in every way, in order that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that He might make atonement for the sins of the people.

Hebrews 7:25-27 Therefore, He (Jesus) is able to save completely those who come to God through Him because He always lives to intercede for them. Such a high priest meets our need -- one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, He does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He (Jesus) sacrificed for their sins once for all when He offered Himself.

Hebrews 9:9-15 This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts (offerings) and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings -- external regulations applying until the time of the new order. When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, Who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that led to death, so that we may serve the living God! For this reason, Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance -- now that He has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.

Hebrews 9:22 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

(Hmmmm..... "nearly everything be cleansed with blood"..... Name the offering that you studied that is NOT a blood sacrifice offering: ________________________

Yes, the Grain (meal, cereal) offering is bloodless. Does it seem that this passage in Hebrews is alluding to that offering? Hmmmmm..... yes, it does seem so. Interesting. I had always wondered what that passage meant. Now, I know. Wow.)

Hebrews 9:24-28 For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; He entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence. Nor did He enter heaven to offer Himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself. Just as man is destined to die once and after that to face the judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him.

Hebrews 10:1-15 The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming --not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. If it could, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Therefore, when Christ came into the world, He said: "Sacrifice and offering You (Father God) did not desire, but a body You prepared for Me (Jesus); with burnt offerings and sin offerings were You not pleased. Then I (Jesus) said, "Here I am -- it is written abut me in the scroll -- I have come to do Your will, O God." First He (Jesus ) said, "Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings You (Father God) did not desire, nor were You pleased with them (although the law required them to be made). Then He (Jesus) said, "Here I am, I have come to do Your will." He sets aside the first (covenant, the old covenant) to establish the second (the new covenant). And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest (Jesus) had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God (the Father). Since that time He waits for His enemies to be made His footstool, because by one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

Hebrews 10:19-23 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is His body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He Who promised is faithful.

Hebrews13:11-14 The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through His own blood. Let us then go to Him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. For we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.

Hebrews 13:20-21 May the God of peace, Who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to Whom be glory for ever and ever, Amen.

Well, we have seen in the book of Leviticus, that access to God was through sacrifices. And specifically those sacrifices consisted of the death and blood of ________________________________ and in some instances through the offering of ________________________ .

But, were these blood sacrifices of perfect and unblemished animals (bulls, goats, sheep, birds, etc.) and the sacrifices of Grain (meal, cereal) sufficient to totally and permanently remove the stain of sin and to clear a person from the required death penalty for sin? Circle your answer:

YES

Why were the blood sacrifices of animals or meal and grain offerings not satisfactory? (Briefly explain in the space below. You may quote scriptures or summarize in your own words.)

Then, what was the ultimate purpose of the Sacrifices and Offerings in the Book of the Leviticus?

Yes, they served as types, pictures, and shadows of the future coming of the Son of God, the Lord God Jesus Christ.

Since the blood sacrifices of animals and the grain offerings are only symbolic and temporary and do not and did not provide the permanent atonement that is necessary for appeasement of the sin penalty, what is the ONLY substitute sacrifice that IS acceptable to God for permanent and total forgiveness and atonement for sin (including that of yours and mine)? __________________________________________________________________

Correct! Jesus' sacrifice of His life as a substitute for sin was the ultimate and ONLY sacrifice that was and is acceptable to God the Father.

The Sacrifices and Offerings, described in the Book of Leviticus, served as types, pictures, and shadows of the future coming of the Son of God, the Lord God Jesus Christ, a Jew, and a descendant of the tribe of Judah, the One Who would be the final and ultimate blood sacrifice to pay for sin.

Jesus is the final and perfect sinless sacrifice and His death and blood atones for "the sins of his brothers (the Jewish people)" and of anyone (inclusing you and me) who will accept Him as the One upon Whom all their sins are placed.

So, just as the Jews would put their hands on the head of the animal who would bear their guilt and pay their sin debt, in the same way, we can put our sins on Jesus and He bears and pays our death penalty.

Imagine that! Jesus is our substitute! Jesus is willing to bear our guilt (yours, mine, anyone who will let Him). If we will confess our sins, and ask forgiveness for them, and place them on Him. Then, bears those sins Himself and His death and blood sacrifice pays the penalty to atone for our sins!

Wow! Thank You, Jesus!

Truly, the heart of a Holy Loving God is revealed in these Old Testament sacrifices, sacrifices which, yes, provided temporary appeasement, atonement, and coverings for sin. But, this Holy God also provided in these sacrifices a shadow, a picture, of His ultimate and final plans for redemption from sin. And, that final sacrifice was the Sacrifice of Jesus!!!

God the Father loves us so much that He was willing to let His Son die in our place and then to accept that Sacrifice as a substitute for sin (yours / mine / of anyone who will let Him be the the Substitute)!

And, God, Jesus, loves us so much that He was willing to BE the SUBSTITUTE for sin (yours / mine / of anyone who will let Him be the the Substitute)!

Now, Today, All that the individual sinner has to do is

1. confess their sin

2. place that sin upon the substitute sacrifice

(not a bull, goat, lamb, or bird -- but on Jesus, the only acceptable sacrifice)

3. and let Jesus pay the death penalty for the sins.

Have you confessed your sins and placed your load of sin on Jesus and accepted His free gift of salvation by letting Him become your substitute sacrifice for your sins? Has he saved you from your death penalty by paying that debt Himself in your place. (Circle your answer)

YES

If you answered "Yes" to that question, When did that transaction take place? When did you place your sins on Jesus and accept Jesus' gift of salvation by His dying in your place? (Write the date in the space below)

day / month/ year _________________________

If you have never done this, do you want to? Do you see the necessity of doing this? Do you understand that your works and efforts and "hope so's" will NOT provide the sin covering and salvation that you need? Do you understand that Sacrifices and Offerings of anything OTHER than the substitute sacrifice of Jesus will not gain you your salvation? Do you understand that ONLY Jesus can save you? (Circle your answer)

YES

If you want to accept Jesus' gift of Salvation and if you will place your sins upon Him and if you will let Him pay the blood / death penalty for you in your place and if you will make Him God and Lord of your life from this point forward, then you can do that NOW by praying this prayer or one like it:

Jesus, I know that I am a sinner! I have done so many wrong things, some of which were unintentional, but many of which were just willful disobedience to your Laws! I am so sorry and I ask your forgiveness for doing these things ...

Stop now and name ALL of those sins and specifically confess them individually and ask God for forgiveness. Agree with God that these are sins and are worthy of your death as punishment. Then, place those sins on Jesus, just as the Israelites placed their sins on the bulls, lambs, goats, or birds and let Jesus' death pay the death penalty for you, just as the Israelites let the animals provide the death penalty payment for them. Take as long a time as you need to do this. Do not rush. Your eternal destiny is at stake!

Thank you, Jesus, for paying the death penalty for me! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! And now, Jesus, I give you my life and ask you to be The Lord of my life. I desire to serve You and You only from this point on. Because You have paid my death penalty and have redeemed me from an eternity in hell and have allowed me to be a child in God the Father's family to live with Him and You in Heaven forever, I now give you my life and ask you to be my Lord, God, Master, and Savior. I desire to serve, worship, and obey only You now and forever. Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, or one like it, sign and date it here:

Signed _____________________________

Date ______________________________

Welcome to Family of God! And I will be looking forward to meeting you on the streets of Gold in heaven one day.

In the meantime, tell others of this wonderful salvation and introduce them to Jesus.

And spend time, lots of time, with Jesus. You can do that now because the blood sacrifice of Jesus has atoned for your sins, made you Holy, and has provided you access to God!

Now that your sins have been forgiven and covered over by the atoning blood of Jesus, you have been declared HOLY and RIGHTEOUS in the sight of God. You now have access to The Holy God and can worship and fellowship with the Holy God of the Universe, the God Who created you and Who loves you so much that He died in your place in order to restore you to Holiness and to enable you to fellowship with Him and to Serve Him.

Wow! What an awesome God! What an awesome salvation. What forgiveness!

In the Book of Leviticus, we saw the institution and observance of Offerings and Sacrifices. We now understand that these were only temporary and incomplete solutions for sin. We now understand that, in the Offerings and Sacrifices, God was actually revealing to His Chosen people, the Jews, (and to us) the shadow of what is required for complete and permanent cleansing from sin and for eternal salvation.

Now that shadow has become substance! Jesus has been revealed! We now see the complete picture and understand that Jesus' death and blood is the only acceptable sacrifice for the sins of the Jews (and us) and that Jesus' death and blood is the only means by which they (and we) can be declared Holy and have access to God!

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is His body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He Who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:19-23

and

May the God (Father) of peace, Who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to Whom be glory for ever and ever, Amen. Hebrews 13:20-21

'Nuff said.

See you in the next lesson as we continue this wonderful study of the book of Leviticus.

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