Constantly Making AtonementLeviticus 1-10

In seminary I studied the Old Testament sacrificial system

It was painfulComplicated

Right up there with going to the dentist

Leviticus 1The Lord called to Moses and spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting. He said, 2 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When any of you brings an offering to the Lord, bring as your offering an animal from either the herd or the flock.

3 “ ‘If the offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he is to offer a male without defect. He must present it at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting so that it will be acceptable to the Lord. 4 He is to lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him.

5 He is to slaughter the young bull before the Lord, and then Aaron’s sons the priests shall bring the blood and sprinkle it against the altar on all sides at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 6 He is to skin the burnt offering and cut it into pieces. 7 The sons of Aaron the priest are to put fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire.

8 Then Aaron’s sons the priests shall arrange the pieces, including the head and the fat, on the burning wood that is on the altar. 9 He is to wash the inner parts and the legs with water, and the priest is to burn all of it on the altar. It is a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.

Burnt offeringsBull

Sheep/goatPigeon

Reason: To atone and be accepted before God

Leviticus 2“ ‘When someone brings a grain offering to the Lord, his offering is to be of fine flour. He is to pour oil on it, put incense on it 2 and take it to Aaron’s sons the priests.

Grain OfferingsFlour

Cooked flour Reason: To acknowledge God

as provider

Leviticus 3“ ‘If someone’s offering is a fellowship offering... 2 He is to lay his hand on the head of his offering and slaughter it at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. Then Aaron’s sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood against the altar on all sides. 3 From the fellowship offering he is to bring a sacrifice made to the Lord by fire:

all the fat that covers the inner parts or is connected to them, 4 both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the covering of the liver, which he will remove with the kidneys. 5 Then Aaron’s sons are to burn it on the altar on top of the burnt offering that is on the burning wood, as an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.

Fellowship offerings(Thank or Peace)Animal sacrifice

Reason: To give thanks, acknowledge the covenant

Leviticus 4The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Say to the Israelites: ‘When anyone sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands—

13 “ ‘If the whole Israelite community sins unintentionally…

22 “ ‘When a leader sins unintentionally…

Sin offeringsBullGoat

Blood sprinkledDifferent for priest, leader and

communityReason: To confess and be restored

Leviticus 515 “When a person commits a violation and sins unintentionally in regard to any of the Lord’s holy things…

17 “…even though he does not know it, he is guilty and will be held responsible.

Leviticus 6The Lord said to Moses: 2 “If anyone sins and is unfaithful to the Lord by deceiving his neighbor about something entrusted to him or left in his care or stolen, or if he cheats him…

Guilt OfferingsLamb or goat

Blood sprinkledPlus restitution

Plus 1/5 of valueReason: To confess and atone,

restore and be restored

Leviticus 77 “ ‘The same law applies to both the sin offering and the guilt offering: They belong to the priest who makes atonement with them. 8 The priest who offers a burnt offering for anyone may keep its hide for himself.

If you were wondering what happened to all that meat…

It belonged to the priests

Leviticus 8The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Bring Aaron and his sons, their garments, the anointing oil, the bull for the sin offering, the two rams and the basket containing bread made without yeast, 3 and gather the entire assembly at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.”

Ordination offeringBull

Two ramsBread without yeast

Anointing oilReason: To consecrate

Leviticus 98 So Aaron came to the altar and slaughtered the calf as a sin offering for himself. 12 Then he slaughtered the burnt offering.

15 Aaron then brought the offering that was for the people.

17 He also brought the grain offering, took a handful of it and burned it on the altar in addition to the morning’s burnt offering.

22 Then Aaron lifted his hands toward the people and blessed them.

Aaron began his active ministryHe is now the mediator

Leviticus 10Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, contrary to his command. 2 So fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord.

After the ordinationThe first casualties are two of

Aaron’s sonsBecause in the Old Testament some sins cannot be atoned

The offerings that were offered depended on…

The reason for you offeringYour ability to give

Your status in the community

The problemSacrifices and offerings do not save

They acknowledge God as GodThey only atone for willful sins

The priests served as the mediators for the people to approach God

The problemThe priest were also human,

selfish and sinnersThey were the first to fail at

their tasksThe priests were only able to

mediate for one day

As a result both the law and the sacrifices…

Point to a greater needA messiah

A true mediatorA perfect lamb

These rules and regulations are like a tax code for the religious

Because of the Messiah, Jesus ChristWe no longer offer the blood of bulls,

lambs, goats and pigeonsThe blood of the perfect Lamb, Jesus

Christ, takes away our sins

We no longer make those daily sacrificesCautions for us today

1. We cannot take Christ’ gift for granted We must be grateful

2. We cannot assume we are free to sinWe must be vigilant

3. We cannot live our lives without being apologetic to God and people

We must be remorseful4. We must strive to please God the best we can with His help

We must be worshipful

Hebrews 727 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.

As New Testament peopleWe are called to be

Be gratefulBe vigilant

Be remorsefulBe worshipful

We are the Federated Church.Our Mission is to…

Seek Christ, Serve Christ and Share Christ.