Sacrifice and Offering

“In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and

without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”

-Hebrews 9:22

                The book of Leviticus is full of laws that God told Moses to give to His people. It draws its name from the Levites. The tribe of Levi was one of the twelve tribes of Israel and they performed the religious functions in ancient Israel. After the people of Israel were led out of Egypt, the firstborn of all men and animals were turned over to God.  The Levites were in charge of offerings. When the Promised Land was divided among the tribes, the Levites did not get a whole territory but received cities in each territory to maintain the tabernacle.  The first religious laws set down in Leviticus are the giving of offerings to God through priests. They were designed to bridge the gap between a holy God and a sinful man.  There were five main types of offerings.

                The burnt offering (Leviticus 1; 6:8-13; 8:18-21; 16:24) is the first offering mentioned, was a sacrifice for wrongdoing. The price was a male bull, lamb or goat, or a young pigeon or dove. The animal had to be perfect without defect. If the person could not afford an animal he could offer tenth of an ephah of fine flour. After presenting the animal, the sinner would place his two hands on the animal and therefore, it was accepted as a sin offering. This act, in essence, transferred the sin from the human to the animal. They would kill the animal and then the priest took over. The priest would bleed the animal and cut it up ceremonially. They sprinkled the blood on the altar and then they washed the internal organs and legs. The whole animal would be burned on over wood on the altar and the aroma was said to be pleasing to the Lord. 

“He washed the inner parts and the legs with water and burned the

whole ram on the altar as a burnt offering, a pleasing

aroma, an offering made to the Lord by fire, as the Lord commanded Moses.”

-Leviticus 8:21

                The grain offering (Leviticus 2) was meant for voluntary worship and thanks. The grain was ground into flour and it could be put into bread or cakes. Olive oil and incense were added to it by the priests and yeast and honey were forbidden. The grain baked grain offerings had to be sprinkled with salt and a small portion was burnt on the altar.

                The fellowship offering (Leviticus 3; 7:11-34) was a voluntary at of worship, thanks, and fellowship. Any clean, perfect animal, male or female, could be offered. If it was an offering of thankfulness, then cakes and bread both with and without yeast and mixed with oil were also to be offered. This offering was to be eaten as well. The offering was presented at the gate of the tent and the blood was sprinkled on all sides of the offering. The internal organs, fat, and liver were burned as a food offering. Whatever was left after two days that wasn’t eaten was to be burned, or else the offering wasn’t accepted.

                The sin offering (Leviticus 4:1-5:13; 6:24-30; 8:14-17; 16:3-22) was for when some unintentionally sinned and then recognized that sin. There were different rules for a priest, a whole community, a leader, and a member of the community. There were also different rules for different sins. If you were guilty of premeditated transgression and infraction, the offerings didn’t help you. Priests and whole communities had to bring a young bull while a leader had to offer a male goat. A member of the community had to bring a female goat or lamb without defect. If the people could not afford the animals, they could offer two doves or pigeons-one for a sin offering and one for a burnt offering-or a tenth of an ephah of fine flour. The blood was sprinkled on the altar and at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. The fat, kidneys, and liver were burned on the altar. The hide, flesh, head, legs, inner parts, and offal were burnt outside of the camp in a place ceremonially clean.

                The guilt offering or repayment offering (Leviticus 5:14-6:7; 7:1-6) was for doing something against God, like holding back your tithe, or in regards to someone else’s possession. A ram or lamb was brought to be sacrificed and the debt would be paid, plus an additional twenty percent.

                Eventually, these offering were no longer enough. They would give these offerings but then continue to live their sinful ways. You see, it’s like how it’s not enough to go to church on Sundays but then live sinfully the rest of the week. Or even to just pray to God when we need something and then forget Him the rest of the time. We’re supposed to give God 100 percent of us-not 80 percent or 50 percent or 20 percent.

“The multitude of your sacrifices-what are they to me?’ says the Lord. ‘I have more than

enough burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I have no

pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats…stop bringing meaningless

offerings!...Your hands are full of blood; wash and make yourselves cleans. Take your evil

deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong, learn to do right!”

-Isaiah 1:11…13…15-17

                God gave His people a chance to repent and change their ways. They still chose to disobey His decrees and commandments. Therefore, He separated himself from them and when they cried to Him, He did not listen.

“But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so

that he will not hear. For your hands are stained with blood, your fingers with guilt.”

-Isaiah 59:2-3

“You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created until wickedness was

found in you. Through your widespread trade you were filled with violence, and

you sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, O

guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones.”

-Ezekiel 28:15-16

                You might think that this means that God does not love. This doesn’t mean that God didn’t love them still though. What He wanted them to do was repent and bring glory to His name. You may say God is selfish, but He’s not. He created all things-He created you. He has every reason to be praised and glorified. You wouldn’t be sitting where you are right now reading this if it weren’t for Him. Because God loved us, He sent His son to earth to pay for our sins on the cross (John 3:16; Isaiah 53:5). He wants us to have a way to have a relationship with Him and that was possible only through Jesus.

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

-John 14:6

                Through Jesus we were reunited to God. He is the bridge we needed to draw closer to God. He was the final blood sacrifice for all mankind, covering all generations (Hebrews 9:26-28). He is worth more than any animal sacrifice or the annual blood sacrifice that the priests would offer. They offered blood that was not theirs, which was meant to be a reminder of how they should live. Jesus came through a holy place (Hebrews 9:11-12).

“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 out consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!”

-Romans 9:13-14

                His crucifixion brought an end to the blood sacrifices that were once required. Hebrews 10:5-7 says that God didn’t desire sacrifices and offerings nor was He pleased with burnt offerings and sin offerings. There is only one sacrifice that we can give to Him, and that is our bodies as His temple. We are to give our time and our will to God so that we can find everlasting life.

“…and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.

Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

-Matthew 10:38-39

The Sabbath

                Today, many people continually work on Sundays. Some people actually have to in order to pay for bills and support families. When you work on the Sabbath, you are breaking the fourth commandment, and a covenant that the Lord made with His people. That’s right. The Sabbath was a covenant made by the Lord so that His people could remember Him and revere Him.

“This will be a sign between me and you for the generations

to come, so you may know that I am the

Lord, who makes you holy.”

-Exodus 31:13

“There are six days when you may work, but the seventh day

is a Sabbath of rest, a day of sacred assembly. You

are not to do any work; wherever you live, it is a Sabbath to the Lord.”

-Leviticus 21:11

                The Lord had created the earth in six days, and on the seventh day He rested and declared it a holy day. In the book of Exodus, the Lord tells Moses to inform the Israelites to observe the Lord’s Sabbath. The Law says that anyone who works on the Sabbath shall be put to death and be separated from their people. Whoever works on the Sabbath has broken the covenant and is an outlaw. They shall not receive the privileges that everyone else receives. The Sabbath day, recognized as Saturday by the Jews and Sunday by the Christians, should not just be seen as another day of the week. It should be seen as a holy day to revere the Lord and to respect the covenant that God had made for rejuvenation and rest.  

                But does this law still apply? Jesus and his disciples worked and performed many miracles on the Sabbath day, receiving criticism from the Pharisees and teachers of the law. Some say that according to Paul, in a letter to the Colossians, it is not punishable if someone does not observe the Sabbath; it is their own choice. Christ has made them complete, not their observance of a holy day.

“Therefore, do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink,

or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.”

-Colossians 2:16

                There is no evidence from this passage that he would teach that there was no obligation to observe any holy time, for there is not the slightest reason to believe that he meant to teach that one of the Ten Commandments had ceased to be binding on mankind. If he had used the word in the singular term - "the Sabbath," it would then have been clear that he meant to teach that the commandment had ceased to be binding, and that a Sabbath was no longer to be observed. But the use of the term in the plural number, and the connection, shows that he had his eye on the great number of days which were observed by the Hebrews as festivals, as a part of their ceremonial and typical law, and not to the moral law, or the Ten Commandments. No part of the moral law - not one of the Ten Commandments could be spoken of as "a shadow of good things to come." These commandments are of perpetual and universal obligation. It can never be superseded but by the final termination of time. As it is a type of that rest which remains for the people of God, of an eternity of bliss, it must continue in full force.

Do You Believe?

                 Christians, to this day, still face persecution and mockery from non-believers, those dead in the spirit who have not yet seen the joy that only the Lord can pour upon them. This often intimidates us and causes us to fade into the background and not disclose to many our beliefs. So what if they call me a Jesus freak? That’s right, I love Jesus and I am a Jesus freak! Just remember the reward you have waiting for you if you remain faithful. But we are not to fear men.

“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.

Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”

-Matthew 10:28

                I know sometimes there might be that urge to say that you are not a believer. The students at Columbine who were shot for their belief in God can be an inspiration to others. They knew they were in danger but chose to continue to pray and confess their belief when asked by the shooters if they believed in God, only to be shot. We cannot deny Jesus to the world. We will be punished for it.

“Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also

acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.

But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him

before my Father in heaven.”

-Matthew 10:32

                Most of us do not face the possibility of death for our belief. All we face is mocking, which is nothing in comparison. We should be proud to bear this mockery for believing in something good and holy.

“Do not be surprised at the painful trials you are suffering,

as though something strange were happening to you.

But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so

that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because

of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the spirit of glory

and of God rests on you…However, if you suffer as a Christian, do

not be ashamed but praise God that you bear that name…”

-1 Peter :12-16

“So, do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord,…but join with me in

suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has

saved us and called us to a holy life-not because of anything we have done but

because of his own purpose and grace…yet I am not ashamed, because

I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able

to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.”

-2 Timothy 1:8-12

                We need to persevere through these moments. They are just trials and with God guiding us we are safe. How much greater our life in Heaven will be! All we have to do is live by God’s word and have faith in him that we will have everlasting life. How much more grace can there be? He has an abundance of grace for you and for me. No other man can give you the same grace or the same love. The scoffers are just men and cannot give you salvation.

“Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves

also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered

in his body is done with sin.”

-1 Peter 4:1

                Now mind you, this does not mean that we are no longer sinners or perfect. For it is even said:

“Therefore, no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law;

rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.”

-Romans 3:20

                All that means is it is God’s discipline for our earthly body to remain faithful and obedient.

“So then, those who suffer according to God’s will

should commit themselves to their

faithful Creator and continue to do good.”

-1 Peter 4:19

                So, remember, there will always be those who choose to mock believers of God. But, don’t let them distract you and keep you back from living a holy life and spreading God’s word.

“In the last times there will be scoffers…

But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy

faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God’s

love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord

Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.”

-Jude 18-21

                Is what one man says on Earth more important to you than what God has in store for you? Will you give up eternal life just because you want to be accepted here on earth? Jesus was not accepted; therefore the world will not accept you. But you always have a friend in Jesus and in fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. We are the body and need each other to build up one another. We were not placed on this earth to please those who love the world but rather to live for God and earn a place in heaven.

 "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.

What can man do to me?"

-Hebrews 13:6

Are you Really Saved?

                What if you died today? Would you go to heaven or hell? Many people want to avoid the topic of death but it’s something we should think about on a daily basis. People die every day; many are sudden or unsuspected like a car accident. The fate of every man is death.

“Man’s fate is like that of the animals; the same fate

awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other.”

-Ecclesiastes 3:18-19

                Many people who are unbelievers think that if God is so merciful he would not condemn a man to hell. However, the bible states:

“For all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God;”

-Romans 3:23

“For the wages of sin is death…”

-Romans 6:23

“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable,

and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters,

and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which

burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

-Revelation 21:8

                However, you can escape this punishment only through God’s grace. He sent a savior, Jesus Christ, to pay for your sins. He was the final and most precious human sacrifice. To save humans, a human sacrifice had to be made so God sent his only son to suffer for us. But through his suffering we were offered peace and a way to God. Sin could no longer attack us but man loved his desires so we need to confess with our mouths that Christ is Lord and that we believe in him. 

“…the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

-Romans 6:23

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever

believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

-John 3:16

                The only way to receive this great Salvation is through Christ, not through any human or through any church. The church is just a place for fellowship and spiritual growth and guidance.

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is no other name under heaven given

among men, whereby we must be saved.”

-Acts 4:12

                You may think you are a good person but that does not mean you have received everlasting life in God’s kingdom.

“For by grace you are saved through faith; and not that of yourselves; it

is the gift of God; Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

-Ephesians 2:8-9

“He that believes on the Son shall have everlasting life; and he who doesn’t

believe shall not see life; but the wrath of God is over him.”

-John 3:36

                You must first repent of your sins.

“Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts:

and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him;

and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”

-Isaiah 55:7

                Then you must confess with your mouth that you believe.

“If one confesses with his mouth that he believes in the Lord Jesus, and believes that

God raised him from the dead, he shall be saved.”

-Romans 10:9

                You must be willing to turn from your sin and accept God’s will for you.

                Have you confessed that Jesus is Christ? If not, I urge you to do it now. God is calling out to you and the time is near for his second coming. No one knows the exact time so be prepared!