This week we look at the blood stained pages of Leviticus. 86 references to blood with phrases like, "and the blood shall pour out around the altar" (Lev. 5:9) drive home the gruesomeness of the biblical doctrine, "Without shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sin." (Leviticus 17:11, 14; Hebrews 9:12)
God was training a people to abhor sin and to connect their sin to the brutal sacrificies and shed blood of their sacrificial offerings. These images are so foreign to our antiseptic, polished and carpeted worship experiences in the modern western church.
May the Lord help us to see them more clearly so that we might be trained to abhor sin and love his forgiveness as we meditate on the gracious profession of Christ that ended the need for slaughter. (Romans 6:10; Hebrews 7:27, 9:12, 10:10; 1 Peter 3:18)
2 comments:
Not exactly. All believers (Old and New Testament) are saved on the basis of Lamb of God's sacrifice (Jesus' atoning sacrifice on the cross). Old testmanet believers look forward to God's sacrifice in Christ. New Testament believers look backward to God's sacrifice in Christ.
The sacrifice of the priest on the Day of Atonement symbolized the need for an atoning sacrifice. But all sacrifices made with human hands could only point to but not accomplish the perfect sacrifice of the cross.
Spend some time in Hebrews 8-9. These two chapters depend heavily on the actions and symbols of the Day of Atonement. And the discoveries you make in personal study will be better than a predigested answer from me.
Good question. You encourage my heart.
What was the phrase you used in church on Sunday that was the answer to all problems?
It included the answer to all
problems can be solved by loving God more?
I can't remember exactly, but like the way you worded it.
Post a Comment