And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Hebrews 10:10
This afternoon, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - continuing a review 1:1-7, looking at the theme Jesus is the Final and Perfect Means of Atonement. Here, my commentary seeks to reinforce the takeaways from the previous five days of my study of Leviticus with this commentary (all looking at different aspects of v1:1-7). The commentary writes:
- "the sacrifices [required by God] were physical acts, but they pointed to spiritual realities"
- "they [the sacrifices] pointed to the holiness of God-sin must be removed in order for people to be in God's presence"
- "they pointed to the mercy of God--He provided the means for sin to be taken away, and He invited people into His presence"
- "they pointed to the desire of the worshipers to be right with God--they were obeying God's requirements for reconciliation"
The commentary then emphasizes how the sacrificial system required by God "pointed forward to Christ" and that God had already (in Genesis 3:15) prophesied how "the seed of Eve would strike the head of the serpent." It then describes a distinction between Old Testament sacrifice - how God taught sacrifice - and New Testament sacrifice - how God, through Jesus, provided sacrifice for sin.
Here, in Leviticus, we have a path to reconciliation with God as it describes the sacrificial system required by God to remove sin. We are urged to see how God has always desired us to be in union with Him through sacrifice (to remove sin), and how Jesus' death on the cross serves as the perfect and final means of atonement.
Comment and discuss this post here.
My Prayer: Lord Jesus, I love You and I am grateful that You provide a path to remove my sin and You of course have saved me and I am part of Your family - thank You Jesus! I am not deserving of such a gift - the greatest gift of all time. My sin continues, worry, etc. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior. Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.
