The sin offering brings up an important question: what is sin? I think God defined it for the Israelites: “If a person sins unintentionally in any of the things which the LORD has commanded not to be done, and commits any of them…” (Lv 4:1; emphasis mine). And, since God does not change (Ml 3:6), it is still God’s definition. While this definition may not sit well with us today, it is the definition God himself put on it. Sin is anything God has commanded not to be done. It doesn’t matter if we can rationalize it. God’s definition still stands. Also, we see that sin may be either ignorant or willful; active or passive. This means we can sin even when we don’t intend to. Ignorance was not punished, but revelation of one’s ignorance required action.

Why was this so important to God? Sin results in defilement. God stated there were sins which Israel committed which were said to defile the people, the land, and even the dwelling place of God: sexual immorality (Lv 18:24-30); bloodshed (Nu 35:29-34); occult practices (Lv 19:31; 20:6); infant sacrifice (Lv 20:1-5); divorce (Jr 3:1); false worship (Jr 16:18). These are things we still commit today. We may have tweaked them and made them more sophisticated, but we still commit them. God still sees them as sin.

Sin is exceedingly costly. The people had to sacrifice their livelihood and be dependent upon God for their survival. Bob Deffinbaugh, Community Bible Chapel, Richardson, TX, made the following statement: “When you think of what it would cost an Israelite who wished to maintain his walk with God, it would have been a religion almost too costly to be able to afford. No wonder God promised to prosper this people greatly!” If this practice of worship was still in existence today, would people even dare obey it?

The only solution for the guilt of sin was blood atonement. Sin led to guilt which led to blood sacrifice. By offering fat and sprinkling blood and then destroying the rest, God made it clear it was the blood that made atonement. The death of Christ, who died once and for all, has made atonement for man’s sin, and assures forgiveness.

Ignorance is not bliss. Bob Deffinbaugh also stated the following, “The Israelites were held accountable for the sins they committed ignorantly. Many contemporary Christians seem to think that if they don’t study their Bibles, if they don’t familiarize themselves with the standards and principles God has given in the Bible, they will not be responsible for their sins committed in ignorance. Not so! The Sin Offering strongly suggests that we had better become careful students of the revealed Word of God, for it is disobedience to His word that constitutes sin.” And as was already stated, we don’t define sin, God does.

So, what’s the answer? What is our hope? Christ is our answer. “But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!” (Hb 9:11-14).

In addition, Peter tells us the following: “Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’ Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed form the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with this previous blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified them, and so your faith and hope are in God” (1Pt 1:13-21).

Although God hates sin, he loves us. That is why he paved the way for us. He did for us what we could not do for ourselves. We just have to accept. Will you? Take that leap of faith. Your only regret will only be why you didn’t do it even earlier.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

Probably the best way to understand atonement is to separate it into its parts: at•one•ment. It is the making for ourselves to be at one with God. Although Leviticus seems complicated, this is its main thrust. Let’s see if we can break it down into understandable chunks. There are four main elements of atonement. Let’s look at each of them

Propitiation: This sounds like a complicated word, but it simply means, “the appeasement of God’s wrath.” Mankind cannot appear before God in his current condition and live. God told Moses, “Tell your brother Aaron not to come whenever he chooses into the Most Holy Place behind the curtain in front of the atonement cover on the ark, or else he will die” (Lv 16:2). He also told Moses, “No one may see me and live” (Ex 33:20). I know that sound kind of harsh, but God was really trying to protect them and keep them safe. Remember, God sets the standard, not ourselves.

This brings us to the function of the Mercy Seat, or Atonement Cover, which would appease this wrath of God because of the blood placed on the Mercy Seat. It allowed Aaron, the High Priest, to appear before God once a year. If you recall, the Ark of the Covenant was in a separate part of the Tabernacle by itself in a place called the Holy of Holies. This is where the Shekinah glory of God would meet with the High Priest once a year for national atonement. The Mercy Seat was set over the ark. It is really a symbol for Christ. Paul tells us Christ presented himself as a sacrifice of atonement (i.e., propitiation) (Ro 3:25), and John stated Christ is the atoning sacrifice (propitiation) for our sins (1Jn 2:2), and God sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice (propitiation) (1Jn 4:10).

Reconciliation: This is a word meaning the reestablishment of friendship between God and mankind. God stated that if the atonement before God and the Mercy Seat was made, “then, before the Lord, you will be clean from all your sins” (Lv 16:30). This is a representation of what Christ’s death did for us. He reconciled us to God: “God reconciled us to Himself through Christ, does not count our sins against us, and gave us the ministry of reconciliation” (2Co 5:18-19); “the death of Christ reconciles both Jews and Gentiles – there is no longer a barrier (balustrade) between the two” (Ep 2:16). Therefore, he has reconciled all of mankind to Himself.

Justification: This is a word that means, “Declared righteous by God.” We can never earn our right standing before God. As we have seen in a previous post, God’s standard is perfection—something we cannot attain ourselves. Because of Christ’s reconciliation, we are then justified, or declared righteous, by God. Because of the act of the high priest on the Day of Atonement, God said, “Then, before the Lord, you will be clean from all your sins” (Lv 16:30). The sacrifice made pointed to something much deeper: “God does not delight in sacrifice but in a broken and contrite heart” (Ps 51:16); “by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many” (Is 53:11); “the righteous will live by his faith” (Hk 2:4). What we could not do, God did for us. We only need to believe and put our faith in His actions. “We are justified by faith through Christ: since we have been justified (declared righteous) through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ro 5:1).

Cleansing: This is a term meaning to be made acceptable and useful in service to God. Cleansing was an important part in Old Testament worship: various requirements for becoming clean were required (Lv 11-15), and even the elements of worship needed to be cleansed: “make atonement for the Most Holy Place, for the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and for the priests and all the people of the community” (Lv 16:33).

This requirement of cleansing is likely one of the main reasons for why sacrifices will be required during Christ’s Millennium Kingdom. Sinful man will live in the presence of a holy God. Again, elements for worship must be cleansed, especially the altar for sacrifice (Ek 43). Even today, even if we accept Christ through faith, we do not lose our sin nature. John tells us, “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify (cleanse) us from all unrighteousness” (1Jn 1:9).

As you can see, although God sets a high standard, he knows our shortcomings and loves us enough to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves. Isn’t that like a Good Father. Are you expressing your thanks to Him?

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens