Holiness

I'm starting in Leviticus this week. (I'm also in 2 Peter, but I'll blog about the NT later. I think I will finish Lev. then jump over to the NT. Let me know if you have a preference.)

On another note, Sunday's service was awesome. I am so thrilled to begin this new worship journey. One of the things I want most for the Freedom Life experience at Live Oak is holiness, which is what Leviticus is really all about.

In Exodus the tabernacle was completed and in Leviticus God establishes how the people are to be sanctified (i.e., set apart) and approach Him in His holiness. Then and now, we must approach God in one way, His way.

Today I only want to point out one verse, Lev. 1:4, "Then he shall put his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him."

What is this all about? Essentially it is a personal identification with the sacrifice being offered on behalf of the sinner. There were five offerings acceptable for the burnt offering; 1) bull, 2) lamb, 3) goat , 4) turtledove, or 5) a young pigeon. Laying one's hands on the animal about to be killed and burnt was a tangible way of identifying with the blood about to be shed in atonement for sins. Their blood instead of our blood.

Now we know that the sacrifice of all the bulls, lambs, goats, turtledoves, and pigeons in the world were not acceptable to cover sins. That's why these offerings were repeated over and over again. These offerings were in fact merely sign pointers to the one perfect sacrifice, which was Jesus Christ.

Now picture this. Christ is about to be sacrificed on the cross. Imagine yourself walking up to Him and laying your hands on His head. I want you to identify with Him, with His death, with His blood about to be shed.

Would you do it? Would you place your sins upon Him as your atoning sacrifice? If not, you cannot be saved. No sacrifice you may offer is good enough. It is in Him only that atonement, the covering of sins, is found.