Bible Reading: Leviticus 1-3; Matthew 24:23-51
“Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock.”– Leviticus 1:2 (KJV)
Bringing offerings to the Lord in the times of Moses promoted personal responsibility and accountability to God. Personal offerings to God and national sacrifices for sin kept the need to be holy to the Lord, at the forefront of Israel’s collective mind. All these sacrifice became a pointer to Christ and a reminder of the need for redemption and righteousness.
Today, we do not have to sacrifice any animal to redeem ourselves, obey God or honour His name. But we are equally accountable to Him, for He created us and purchased us with the precious blood of His dear Son, Jesus Christ. Not only did the shed blood of Christ bring forgiveness of sin and eternal life, but returns us into fellowship with the Father, when we confess our sins – for He is our Mediator and great High Priest, Who intercedes for us in the presence of God.
The central idea of the burnt offering was entire consecration to God since the fire consumed the animal. It symbolized self-surrender of the whole person to God. Because of personal sin, it was necessary for the individual to die spiritually. There was no reservation since the sacrifice was yielded to the LORD via burnt offering on behalf of the individual.
Jesus Christ came to do the will of His father. He demonstrated that fact in the total consumed offering of Himself on the cross. Christ our consecration was wholly consumed on the altar by the fiery judgment of God. He was totally consumed by the will of God in order to obtain our justification.
Hebrews places the emphasis on the one sufficient sacrifice of Christ to atone for sin in Hebrews 10:10-12(KJV), “By which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God;”
This was a once-for-all sacrifice, never to be repeated like the animal sacrifices that could only point to the coming of the perfect sacrifice for sin. Every sacrifice was a constant reminder of the sins of the people. “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.” Hebrews 10:4 (KJV). However, “For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.” Hebrews 10:14(KJV).
Because of Christ’s sacrifice we can now be what God originally intended us to be. We can live to righteousness as Paul expressed it in Romans 12:1-2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Prayer: Father thank you for the once and for all sacrifice of your dear Son, Jesus to grant me access into your presence.
Pastor Alfred Samuel