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What Did The Sacrifice of Jesus Accomplish? (Looking At Leviticus) Introduction: God is teaching his people, not just the priest, how to worship Him. God is revealing His worship plan. It was not up to the people to decide how to worship Him. There is in the first 5 chapters of Leviticus 5 sacrifices required. We want to see the connection between the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and those sacrifices. In doing so we will see some of what Jesus accomplished by dying on the cross. I) The Burnt Offering of Leviticus 1 A) The instructions 1. The worshipper was to bring a male without blemish, v. 3 a. Later on we see where the poor was to bring a turtle dove or a pigeon. In other sacrifices we see a substitution was allowed by God due to being poor. b. The lesson is that God was removing obstacles some may of had in worshipping Him. 2. The purpose of sacrifice is to make "atonement", v. 4. a. Atonement is at-one-ment. To bring man back into God's fellowship. b. Notice that the worshipper was to lay his hand on the animal, he was to skin the animal and cut it up. c. He was to get his hands bloody. 3. The priest would offer the offering, sprinkle the blood on the altar. 4. In this sacrifice all of it was to be burned up. In other sacrifices a portion was to be kept for the priest. B) Lesson 1. Offerings to God was to be the best and complete. Nothing was held back. 2. The offering of Jesus was to make atonement for mankind, to bring reconciliation between man and God. 3. His offering was a total offering. What more could He offer to God than Himself? II) Grain Offering of Leviticus 2 A) Grain offering comes from the Hebrew word "minha" which is used to describe the giving of gifts. 1. This is a sacrifice recognizing what God had given to them. 2. Fine flour mixed with oil, and frankincense Notice they did not just offer grain and olives but fine flour (the grain was ground), oil (the olives were crushed). 3. The priest shall burn it as a memorial on the altar. 4. A baked grain offering, baked in a pan, unleavened. Aaron's sons would receive a portion. 5. It was unleavened for no sacrifice was to be offered to God with leaven, v. 11 5. Tied in with the first fruits. Lev. 2.14 6. Seasoned with salt, v. 13. Salt was represented the strength of a covenant. B) Christ as our grain offering 1. He was given as our propitiation. 1 John 2.2, Romans 3.25, Hebrews 2.17. God as us the gift for us to sacrifice on our behalf. 2. Leaven came to represent sin and the influence of sin, 1 Corinthians 5.6. 3. He was sinless, unleavened sacrifice, 1 Corinthians 5.7. III) Peace Offering in Leviticus 3 A) Peace of fellowship offering 1. Worshipper is to bring a male or female, lamb or goat, without blemish. 2. Worshipper is to lay their hand on the animal and kill it at the door of the tabernacle. 3. Aaron and his sons were to sprinkle the blood all around on the altar, v. 2. 3. To be burned on the altar was the "fat" around certain organs. The fat was considered the best part of the animal. v. 9-10 4. Peace between God and the worshipper is not free but contains a cost. The cost of blood, the life of that being sacrificed. B) Jesus as our peace offering 1. Came to bring peace between God and man, Romans 5.1 2. To reconcile all of mankind in one body, in Christ, Ephesians 2.14-17, Colossians 1.19-20 IV) Sin Offering in Leviticus 4.1-5.13 A) Understanding the sin offering 1. Sin means to miss the mark or the stray, to wrong, etc. 2. However sometimes a sin offering was given without a direct connection to a "sin." a. A woman after giving birth was to give a sin offering, although having a child was not sinful. b. She was unclean and the offering was a way of purification. Therefore it was a purification process. B) The sin offering was for those who sinned unintentionally, v. 2 1. Different groups who sinned unintentionally. a. Priest v. 3 see this point made in Hebrews 7.26-28 b. The whole congregation, v. 13 c. A ruler, v. 22 d. Common people, v. 27 (kind of a goat or a female lamb, v. 28) 2. A young bull without blemish, v. 3 3. In the case of the priest he would kill the animal and then the "anointed priest" would take the blood. 4. The priest would dip his finger in the blood, sprinkle it 7 times in front of the veil of the sanctuary. v. 6 5. Blood placed on the horns of the altar; the rest of the blood poured at the base of the altar. v, 7 6. Burned on the altar of meeting, v. 10 7. Ashes to be taken outside of the camp, v. 12 8. Also required a confession of sin, Lev. 5.5. C) Jesus as our sin offering 1. He was taken outside of the camp, Jerusalem, to be sacrificed, Hebrews 13.10-16. 2. He did not need to offer a sin offering for Himself, but He was offered for our sins, 2 Corinthians 5.21. V) Trespass (Guilt) Offering in Leviticus 5.14-6.7. A) Also called the restitution offering -- recognizing the cost of sin 1. A trespass against the holy things of the Lord, v. 15 Perhaps miscalculating the tithing, eating part of the first fruits, etc. a. A ram without blemish, v. 15 b. To make restitution for the harm he has done, v. 16 2. Sin against a neighbor, 6.2 3. Read verses 4-7 4. The point being that in many situations something can be done to right a wrong. B) Jesus shows us the cost of sin 1. He is our restitution offering, Isaiah 53.10 2. We may wonder why God sent Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. He was sinless but also the Son of God. Conclusion: The death of Jesus removed the debt we owe to God as the price for our sins has been fully paid. Jesus is the payment of our debts for the wrong committed. Jesus is our offering of restitution back to God for our evil and sinful ways. |