Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Leviticus 18

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

This morning, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - starting chapter sixteen - Law, Grace, and Sexuality - covering Leviticus 18:1-30, looking specifically at the first theme for the chapter - Gods People Submit to God's Authority. The commentary for the first theme, starts by examining how people establish authority.  One way via personal opinion - individuals, reflecting modern culture, decide what is right and wrong for themselves. Another way is via opinion of the majority or law, and Nazi Germany in the 1940s as used as an example, of course an example that we can all agree was destructive.  Of course both ways are destructive and for believers - God is our "transcendent authority"  as stated by the commentary - it is "transcends societal changes and personal changes" and is "settled".  Believers can understand why God's has authority over all things, and specifically sexuality, because:

• He created us and He created sex - Genesis 2:24
• He owns us - Psalm 24:1, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
• God's Word is true, powerful and effective - Hebrews 4:12

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and mercy for me - thank You Jesus!  Yet I am undeserving.  My sins of harshness and worry continue, as well as many other sins.  Please forgive me 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.

But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

Leviticus 17

But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Hebrews 9:11-14

This morning, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - continuing chapter fifteen - Laws of Worship Prefiguring Christ - covering Leviticus 17:1-16, looking specifically at the third theme for the chapter - God Commands Us to Worship through Blood.  In Leviticus 17, God commands Aaron and his sons, and all the Israelites, to offer sacrifices only to the Lord, and not to goat demons (v17:7). Any sacrifices not offered to the Lord will result in "bloodguilt" (v17:4), and being cut off from the people (v17:4,9). God also warns the Israelites to avoid eating blood to avoid similar punishment (v17:10,14). The commentary theme for today contrasts the Old Testament sacrificial system as described in Leviticus and how Jesus abolished (see post yesterday) and superseded this system.  We are referred to Hebrews 9:12-14 as the scriptural basis for this comparison.  The commentary also highlights the Westminster Confession of Faith, where it states in section XIX. Of the Law of God: "...God was pleased to give to the people of Israel, as a church under age, ceremonial laws, containing several typical ordinances, partly of worship, prefiguring Christ, His graces, actions, sufferings, and benefits[.]"  This section of the Westminster Confession of Faith provides a number of additional scriptural references to unpack how the OT laws of worship prefigure Christ and according to the commentary "this is why we worship Jesus" - because of:

• His grace - 2 Corinthians 8:9
  
• His actions - John 10:17-18
  
• His sufferings - 1 Peter 3:18
  
• His benefits - Romans 5:9
  

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who died for me and You never leave or forsake me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love.  I worry and have other sins.  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.

Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

 Leviticus 17 

Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. Hebrews 13:15-16

This morning, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - starting chapter fifteen - Laws of Worship Prefiguring Christ - covering Leviticus 17:1-16, looking specifically at the second theme for the chapter - God Commands Us How to Worship Him.  Here, the commentary, as the theme explicitly states, focuses on how God wants us to worship Him.  In the Old Testament, specifically in Leviticus, God lays out the the sacrificial system, and here in Leviticus 17, God lays out the place and manner in which sacrificed animals were to be offered.  The commentary states "God did not allow His people to offer personal sacrifices any way they wanted to offer them, any place the wanted to offer them.  God still expects us to worship Him according to His Word, not according to our desires." The commentary then pivots to the new covenant believers have with Jesus Christ, and how "God has abolished His old covenant laws about worship....However, God gives worship commands in the new covenant too."  The commentary provides the following scriptural examples in the New Testament for how God commands us to worship Him:

• Hebrews 10:25: meet together for corporate worship
• John 4:24: worship Him in spirit and truth (based on God's Word)
  
• Psalm 95:1: worship through songs of praise
• Hebrews 13:15-16: worship through words of praise and through sacrifice of time, talents, and money; gifts that glorify Him

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God and You are worthy of my worship and praise - non stop!  My white hot worship!  You do so much for me and of course You died for me!  I am not deserving of such blessings - not by a long shot.  My sin continues - grumbling and complaining, 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 today and every day.

So they shall no more sacrifice their sacrifices to goat demons, after whom they whore.

Leviticus 17 

So they shall no more sacrifice their sacrifices to goat demons, after whom they whore. Leviticus 17:7

This morning, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - starting chapter fifteen - Laws of Worship Prefiguring Christ - covering Leviticus 17:1-16, looking specifically at the first theme for the chapter - God Commands Us to Worship Only Him.  The introduction to this chapter of the commentary states the Leviticus 17 "begins a new division in [this book of the Bible]."  The first 16 chapters or division focuses on doctrine of worship, while the the second division starting here in Leviticus 17 looks at application or how to "demonstrate holiness in every day life."  Leviticus 17 specifically looks at application in the context of how to worship, which according to the commentary is "central" for all of God's people - and this is true today for believers just as it was true for the Israelites.  The first theme of the commentary for Leviticus 17 looks more closely at idol worship, and zeroes in on Leviticus 17:7 where God offers strong, some would say profane, language to condemn those who pursue idol worship. The commentary then pivots to how believers today fall prey to idol worship by pursuing idols of the following types:

• possessions (wealth, things of this world)
• people
• pleasure
• promotion/status

Of course, I am now different than anybody else and I have pursued such idols in my life and even today if one examines my life one will find idol worship in some form or another - I cannot claim to be without sin. I am grateful for the sanctification process through which God helps me turn away from sin - I know this process continues.

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me, is patient with me, is full of grace for me, and who sanctifies me - thank You for these blessings and I know You bless me and so many more ways!  I am not deserving of these blessings.  My sin of harshness towards others and worry continues.  Please forgive me. 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.

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Leviticus 16

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16

This morning, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - continuing chapter fourteen - God Forgives and Removes Sin - covering Leviticus 16:1-34, looking specifically at the sixth and final theme for the chapter - We Confess and Come to Jesus for Reconciliation with God.  Here, the commentary looks at the role of the scapegoat in Leviticus 16:21 and how for believers, Jesus serves as the once and for all (final) sacrifice for our sins.  The commentary then focuses on the role of confession in the life of believers.  We all sin, and God urges all people to repent of their sins and accept Jesus. Confession, the commentary writes, is a core requirement to address the most important question people ask - "what do we do to be reconciled to God?" Those in attendance at The Coming of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost asked Peter that question in Acts 2:37 and Peter responded without hesitation:  

“Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Acts 2:38

We confess not only because God asks us to, but also because, out of humility and reverence for God, we know that only God can forgive and take away our sins.  He does so because He is full of grace for us - amazing grace. 

The commentary wraps for this theme by contrasting the Old Testament priest (as described throughout Leviticus and elsewhere) who served as a mediator on behalf of the Israelites, to Jesus.  We are referred to Hebrews 4:14-16, where we read that with the sacrifice of Jesus, believers can approach Him with boldness and confidence so "that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who forgives my sin - thank You Jesus!  Amazing grace indeed!  I am not deserving of such grace - my sin continues - harshness towards others, 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. 

In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Leviticus 16

In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4:10

This morning, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - continuing chapter fourteen - God Forgives and Removes Sin - covering Leviticus 16:1-34, looking specifically at the fifth theme for the chapter - Jesus is God's Offer of Atonement and Removal of Sin.  Here, although one might believe the commentary is stating the obvious, it is nonetheless important to see how the commentary uses New Testament scripture to demonstrate how Jesus's death on the cross represents the perfect sacrifice that has no equal relative to the sacrificial system laid out in Leviticus.  The commentary first points us to Hebrews 7-10, where we see how, "in detail how Jesus' death on the cross supersedes the Day of Atonement and all the old covenant sacrifices":

• Hebrews 9:12: because Jesus is eternal, His death on the cross represents an eternal redemption, not something that must be done repeatedly as described in Leviticus
  
• Hebrews 9:24: versus the Old Testament priests who entered an earthly tent to meet with God, Jesus offered Himself in the presence of God Himself
• Hebrews 9:7, 7:26-27: the Old Testament priests offered sacrifices for their own sins, but Jesus had no sin, so no sacrifice was necessary for sins that were not committed
• Hebrews 9:25-26, 10:11-12: Jesus died once and for all, eliminating the need for repeated sacrifices
• Hebrews 10:1, 8:13, 10:9: Jesus fulfilled the law and abolished the Old Testament sacrifices that were only a "shadow of the good things to come"

The commentary also refers us to 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 Peter 3:18, and 1 John 4:10 as additional scriptural examples of how Jesus serves as God's perfect offer of atonement and removal of sin. 

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who died for my sins - even though You led a perfect sinless life.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a sacrifice - the greatest gift of grace.  My sin of harshness towards others continues as do other sins.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sins 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.

“And when he has made an end of atoning for the Holy Place and the tent of meeting and the altar, he shall present the live goat. And Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the people of Israel, and all their transgressions, all their sins. And he shall put them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is in readiness. The goat shall bear all their iniquities on itself to a remote area, and he shall let the goat go free in the wilderness.

Leviticus 16

“And when he has made an end of atoning for the Holy Place and the tent of meeting and the altar, he shall present the live goat. And Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the people of Israel, and all their transgressions, all their sins. And he shall put them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is in readiness. The goat shall bear all their iniquities on itself to a remote area, and he shall let the goat go free in the wilderness. Leviticus 16:20-22

This morning, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - continuing chapter fourteen - God Forgives and Removes Sin - covering Leviticus 16:1-34, looking specifically at the fourth theme for the chapter - God Offers Removal of Sin.  Here, the commentary zeroes in on v20-22 and the offering of the live goat, which is described as a sacrifice unique to the Day of Atonement as "[i]t appears only here in Leviticus 16."  The commentary starts with a brief examination of "azazel" (which appears four times in Leviticus 16), and while we cannot walk away with anything definitive regarding the definition of azazel, we are encouraged to see how the live goat sacrifice served as a scapegoat - a term first used by 16th century Bible translator William Tyndale.  The goat, according to the commentary in its discussion of v20-22, "would bear the sins of others....all of [the Israelites sin] was placed on the scapegoat when the priest laid his hands on his head."  Of course, for believers Jesus is the perfect sacrifice for our sins. The commentary wraps today by referring us to Psalm 103:12 as one of many scriptural examples of how Christ removes sin:

...[A]s far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:12

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who was a perfect sacrifice - taking all of my sin from me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such amazing grace.  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.  

And the priest who is anointed and consecrated as priest in his father's place shall make atonement, wearing the holy linen garments. He shall make atonement for the holy sanctuary, and he shall make atonement for the tent of meeting and for the altar, and he shall make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly.

Leviticus 16

And the priest who is anointed and consecrated as priest in his father's place shall make atonement, wearing the holy linen garments. He shall make atonement for the holy sanctuary, and he shall make atonement for the tent of meeting and for the altar, and he shall make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly. Leviticus 16:32-33

This morning, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - continuing chapter fourteen - God Forgives and Removes Sin - covering Leviticus 16:1-34, looking specifically at the third theme for the chapter - God Offers Atonement for Sin.  Here, the commentary starts by stating that "atonement" appears fifteen times in Leviticus 16.  Atonement is required by God for our sin - it is, according to the commentary, "doing what God says is necessary to reconcile us to Him."  The commentary also talks about the role of judges in God's justice.  It first describes the role of judge in Israel's history (see Exodus 23:6-8 and Deuteronomy 1:16-17).  It then discusses how sin must be punished by the judge and it states that "[a] judge who lets a guilty person go free with no punishment for his wrongdoing is not a good judge; he is not upholding justice."  The commentary then moves to how God solves the "tension between His justice and mercy.  However, God must let guilty people go free if He is going to save guilty sinners like us.  God is merciful and loving, so He doesn't want us to perish for our sin....God expressed His justice against sin in the death of the sacrifice, and God expressed His mercy to the sinner by allowing the sacrifice to substitute for the sinner....The old covenant sacrifices atoned for sin, they taught the world the meaning of sacrificial atonement, and they prepared the world for the sacrifice of Jesus."  See also this post from DesiringGod.com.

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and You provided the "once and for all" sacrifice for me and for all of humanity!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such an incredible gift of grace.  My sin of worry, etc. continues.  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.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!

Leviticus 16

Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! Psalm 100:4

This morning, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - continuing chapter fourteen - God Forgives and Removes Sin - covering Leviticus 16:1-34, looking specifically at the second theme for the chapter - We Come into God's Presence with Care.  Here, the commentary theme for today highlights God's instructions for Aaron to follow on the Day of Atonement as described in great detail in Leviticus 16. God warns Aaron to follow these instructions to the letter "so that he may (does) not die" (v2, 13). The commentary writes how Aaron, after the death of his two sons as described in Leviticus 10, was surely more motivated to be careful to follow God's instructions. During my study of Leviticus, I've previously posted on the topic of how we are to approach worship carefully and with a right heart - certainly not flippantly or carelessly as we might if we are simply going through the motions. The commentary urges us to see this same application today: "we are not to approach God in a haphazard way or in the way that suits us in the moment.  We submit to what God says in His Word about how to approach Him.  He is God, not man.  He is our sovereign Lord, not our buddy, and we come into His presence with a keen awareness of that fact....We don't come into His presence naming our demands or imposing our opinions; we come into His presence giving Him praise as God and bowing our hearts in reverence out of fear of His holiness and awesome power."  The commentary provides both Matthew 6:9 and Psalm 100:4 as scriptural examples of how we are to approach God. 

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is always available for me - in worship, for prayer and quiet time studying the Word, etc.  Thank You!  Yet I am undeserving of how You bless me and protect me as I have often gone through the motions.  Please forgive me Jesus!  Help me overcome and turn from such sin and turn 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.

Thus he shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleannesses of the people of Israel and because of their transgressions, all their sins. And so he shall do for the tent of meeting, which dwells with them in the midst of their uncleannesses....Then he shall go out to the altar that is before the Lord and make atonement for it, and shall take some of the blood of the bull and some of the blood of the goat, and put it on the horns of the altar all around....And when he has made an end of atoning for the Holy Place and the tent of meeting and the altar, he shall present the live goat.

Leviticus 16

 Thus he shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleannesses of the people of Israel and because of their transgressions, all their sins. And so he shall do for the tent of meeting, which dwells with them in the midst of their uncleannesses....Then he shall go out to the altar that is before the Lord and make atonement for it, and shall take some of the blood of the bull and some of the blood of the goat, and put it on the horns of the altar all around....And when he has made an end of atoning for the Holy Place and the tent of meeting and the altar, he shall present the live goat. Leviticus 16:16, 18, and 20

This morning, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - starting chapter fourteen - God Forgives and Removes Sin - covering Leviticus 16:1-34, looking specifically at the first theme for the chapter - Sin Defiles Us and Our Environment.  Here, in this chapter of Leviticus, which the commentary refers to as perhaps "the central chapter of [Leviticus]," we see a description of Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement for the Jewish religion. The commentary describes how "[o]n that day, the most sacred person entered the most sacred space and performed the most sacred worship ceremonies."  Looking at the theme specifically for today, the commentary focuses on v16, 18, and 20 and God's commands to Moses and Aaron to make atonement for the holy place itself. The commentary responds to the question we might have on our minds: if the holy place - an inanimate object - did not sin, then why is atonement required for the holy place.  The commentary writes that sometimes when we sin in a place, "we associate wrong with that place...and every time we go back to back to the place where we committed that wrong or every time we even think of that place, we feel the guilt all over again....The tabernacle had done nothing wrong.  Nevertheless, the people came there all year with their sins and offered sacrifices in that space to atone for them.  They associated that place with their sin.  It was supposed to be a holy place, but their sin made it dirty....Sin defiles us and our environment."

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God, worthy of full surrender, submission, and white-hot worship.  You died on the cross for me so that I could have not just atonement, but life to the full now and eternal life!  Thank You Jesus!  Yet I am completely undeserving of this and the grace You pour out for me daily. I worry and I have other sins.  Please forgive me.  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.

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison[.]

Leviticus 13-15

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison[.] 2 Corinthians 4:16-17

This morning, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - completing chapter thirteen - Unclean! - covering Leviticus 13-15, looking specifically at the fifth and final theme for the chapter - Followers of Jesus Have a Future with No Sickness.  Here, the commentary focuses on how Jesus provides the greatest hope and source of strength believers have.  Leviticus 13-14 describe uncleanness from skin disease, and over the past several days my posts have discussed the commentary's perspectives on how skin disease, although not a sin, represents a consequence of our fallen and sinful state based on the original sin. This morning, the entry from the commentary more specifically looks at our fallen and sinful state, and how, for believers, although our earthly bodies face decay (including sickness and infirmities and the associated discomfort, pain, and suffering), when we enter Heaven, we will be made new again, and all of the earthly aspects of our bodies and the associated experience goes away.  The commentary refers to the following additional scriptures to emphasize this (and arguably most) important point:

We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.  For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.  For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

“Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 1 Corinthians 15:51-55

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:3-4

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus - thank You!  Thank You and praise God for the hope, peace of mind, strength, and encouragement You provide by promising eternal life!  I know in Heaven I will see a renewed Dustin with no Down Syndrome and I will see my mom there as well - among the many brothers and sisters in Christ I will see - how glorious!  I am not deserving of these blessings and the amazing grace You pour out for me.  My sins of gossip, worry, etc. continue.  Please forgive me Jesus!  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.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us[.]

Leviticus 13-15

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us[.]...John 1:14

This morning, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - continuing chapter thirteen - Unclean! - covering Leviticus 13-15, looking specifically at the fourth theme - Jesus Transforms Access to God's Presence.  Here, the commentary starts by looking at how believers today can apply the teachings in Leviticus (including 13-15).  It starts by stating that, for believers, "God has now established the new covenant in Jesus.  God's old covenant prepared for Jesus' coming and taught us principles that help us understand the person and work of Jesus.  God always knew that when the Messiah came and He initiated the new covenant, the old covenant would become obsolete." The commentary then encourages us to see "three ways Jesus transforms access to God's presence:

• Jesus eliminates ceremonial law" - we are encouraged to review the interactions Jesus had with the Jewish leaders and how they placed emphasis on rituals as an end in of itself vs Jesus teachings, using ritual cleansing as an example, where such ritual cleansings were not a matter of external cleanliness but of internal cleanliness and our heart condition with respect to a right relationship with God; Jesus also pointed out the hypocrisy of the Jewish leaders who observed the ceremonial law but not the moral law; see also John Piper on the extent to which believers are to observe ceremonial law; see also Piper on the extent to which only worship, among all the activities done within the church, is an end in itself.  The commentary refers us to Matthew 15:1-9 and Mark 2:23-28 as a scriptural basis to underscore this point.
  
• Jesus graduates us from symbol to substance" - using Colossians 2:16-17 as a scriptural basis for this point, the commentary highlights how the ceremonial laws were a "shadow" of what was to come with Jesus and the new covenant, and Jesus is the substance.  The commentary writes: "[t]he old covenant law shows us our dirtiness in God's sight, and Jesus came to be the way we become clean--not just clean on the outside, but clean on the inside, and clean forever.  He graduates us from symbol to substance."
  
• Jesus incarnates God's presence" - whereas in the Old Testament, the tabernacle, Tent of Meeting, and temple were the places that symbolized the presence of God (even though it also writes about God's omnipresence), the commentary urges us to understand that with the new covenant God is always among and within us - residing in our hearts. We are referred to John 1:14 as the scriptural basis for this takeaway. 

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who lives in my heart - thank You Jesus for walking with me in my journey and for sanctifying and refining me into more of Your image!  I am not deserving of such a blessing - my sins of worry, etc. continue.  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.

...[T]rain yourself for godliness[.]

Leviticus 13-15

...[T]rain yourself for godliness[.] 1 Timothy 4:7

This morning, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - continuing chapter thirteen - Unclean! - covering Leviticus 13-15, looking specifically at the third theme - God Cleanses What We Cannot.  Here, the commentary focuses the ritual cleansing discussed in these chapters of Leviticus; as I have posted the past few days, the Israelites with skin disease needed cleansing because of the sin represented by sickness in general as a reminder of humankind's fallen state since the original sin.  The commentary describes the gradual nature of the cleansing process in Leviticus 13-15 as a number of steps were required and the priest was required every step of the way.  The commentary then moves to the process of sanctification for believers in Jesus Christ, and this process is gradual as well as we grow closer to Jesus through the practice of spiritual disciplines. Key to the sanctification process is confession and repentance.  We must be humble, acknowledge, and admit our sin to God and others as a starting point when we turn to Him.  God can and does cleanse us but we must submit and surrender to Him, and through confession and other spiritual disciplines.

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has sanctified me and refined me - thank You Jesus!  I know there is more work to do in my heart, but I am grateful for the work You have done and continue to do.  And I recognize that I am undeserving of such blessings.  My sin continues.  Help me confess and turn from my sin, such as worry, towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and energy.  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.

[B]ut your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God[.]...Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.

Leviticus 13-15

[B]ut your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God[.]...Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. Isaiah 59:2, Psalm 24:3-4

This morning, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - continuing chapter thirteen - Unclean! - covering Leviticus 13-15, looking specifically at the second theme - Sin Separates Us from God.  Here, the commentary starts by making it clear that "these chapters in Leviticus state people were declared unclean and excluded [from worship] because of a skin disease [and bodily discharge], not because of sin." At the same time, the commentary states "skin disease [and bodily discharge are] an external reminder of sin and the physical deterioration sin causes" (see also post yesterday). The commentary then pivots to an examination of why God focused on skin diseases such as leprosy in Leviticus 13-14; while we don't know for certain, once again (see also post from a few days ago regarding how there are no imperfect laws), we are exhorted to avoid questioning the the validity of any of God's laws as although "[w]e may be unable to understand the reason for every law because God did not supply us with a reason....However, if for some reason we reject God's law or decide it is incorrect, we are least being impertinent, if not blasphemous.  God had a reason for the laws He gave, even though those reasons may not be clear to us.  So when we encounter things in the Bible that don't make sense to us, our impulse should be to give God the right to be God.  Skin disease symbolized sin and separation from God because that is the symbol God chose."  Finally, the commentary postulates that leprosy was as apt a symbol of sin as any as this particular skin disease, at least at the time of the writing of Leviticus, was incurable, visible and progressive - all dimensions of sin we of which believers should be aware. The commentary writes: "[b]oth leprosy and sin are incurable.  Also, leprosy affects the nervous system so that infected people become progressively desensitized to pain.  Most forms of sickness cause suffering by making us hurt; leprosy cause suffering by making its victims incapable of hurting.  Sin affects us in the same way.  The more we sin, the more we are desensitized to sin and its pain." Ultimately, the connection is drawn between not only original sin and the subsequent presence of sickness, pain and death, but also between sin and how it separates us from God as God did not allow anyone unclean to worship as described in these chapters in Leviticus. The commentary wraps by pointing us to scriptural examples of these applications, referring us to Isaiah 59:2 and Psalm 24:3-4.  

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who gives me a path to cleanse myself of my sin - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You forgive and how You bless me.  I worry and I have other sins.  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 fatih.  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.

To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you.” And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life[.]

Leviticus 13-15

To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you.” And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life[.] Genesis 3:16-17

This afternoon, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - starting chapter thirteen - Unclean! - covering Leviticus 13-15, looking specifically at the first theme - Sickness Exists Because Sin Exists.  The introduction to the this chapter of the commentary starts by stating the main idea we should explore for Leviticus chapters 13-15: "God is interested in every detail of our lives, including our illnesses.  Illness exists because sin exists, but God takes away our sin through Jesus, and God gives us an eternal future in heaven where no sickness exists."  For the commentary's theme for today - Sickness Exists Because Sin Exists - we are reminded that God created a perfect world for Adam and Eve, but because of their disobedience, we have not just the original sin that impacted Adam (Genesis 3:17) and Eve (Genesis 3:16), but sin for all of humanity for the remainder of humanity's time on earth.  While God's hand and design might not provide any comfort for those impacted by illness and pain, it is important to recognize that illness and pain are just as much a part of life as anything else we experience.  Believers can rest in knowing that God is in all things (Colossians 1:15-17), including our illness and pain, and that even though we will have tribulation, we can "take heart; [because Jesus has] overcome the world" (John 16:33).

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who gives me strength to get through difficult times of pain and illness - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You never leave or forsake me.  I worry and I have other sins.  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.     

And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”

Leviticus 12

And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord  (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” Luke 2:22-24

This morning, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - wrapping up chapter twelve - God Rules from Our Birth - covering Leviticus 12:1-8, looking specifically at the final theme - God Offers Salvation to All.  The commentary this morning provides an explicit and direct connection to Jesus from the text in Leviticus 12. V8 describes the offering commanded by God following a new mother's purification (where even the poor have a path to God): "if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering."  The commentary then emphasizes how Jesus offers salvation to all, including the poor - "[f]inancial condition never excludes someone from atonement God provides.  God offers it to every person free of charge."  Key this morning is how the commentary highlights Luke's (Luke 2:22-24) description of how Mary, after the birth of Jesus, offers this same offering as commanded by God in Leviticus 12:8. The commentary also encourages us to know that Jesus Himself became poor so that we can become rich - rich from the grace and inheritance of Jesus!

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God worthy of my white-hot worship and You offer salvation to everyone, and You gave it to me!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a blessing - the greatest gift of all time.  I worry.  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.

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

Leviticus 12

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:1-2

This morning, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - continuing chapter twelve - God Rules from Our Birth - covering Leviticus 12:1-8, looking specifically at the first theme - God Provides the Propitiation for Our Sin.  Here, the commentary focuses on atonement and propitiation where the latter "is the "New Testament word for atonement", quoting the commentary.  The commentary states that atonement and propitiation are appropriate topics in the context of childbirth in Leviticus 12 because of the blood and the resulting uncleanness (see post few days ago), and because children are born sinners, as our sinful nature is part of all of us since The Fall (Genesis 3). The commentary also reminds us that in Genesis 3:16, God specifically states that with childbirth, He "will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children." The commentary then states that "the pain of childbirth reminds us of the presence of sin in the human race because of the original sins of Adam and Eve....When a child is born, we know that child is a sinner, and because sin leads to death that child is born to die.  Ironically, birth is a reminder of our death and our death is because of sin.  Sin leads to death.  Thank God He provides propitiation for our sin."  We are encourage to refer to 1 John 2:1-2 and 4:10. 

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God - You sent Your Son Jesus for me!  Thank You!  I am not deserving such a gift - the greatest gift of all time!  I worry...I know this is sin.  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.