Leviticus
chapter 4 describes the “Sin
Offering“.
The chapter begins, “when
anyone sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the
Lord’s commandments…”
Numbers 15:30 seems to help define this “unintentional sin”,
by contrasting it with a continuous pattern or lifestyle of sin. It
is less the act itself as it is the attitude. Those that are sinning
defiantly are to be “cut
off from the people“.
When we stumble and come to Christ in repentance, He is quick to
forgive us. As our society becomes more secular, we no longer call
sin by it’s name. Unrepentant sin is now called a lifestyle choice.
Individually we can become hardened to our sin as well. How thankful
we are for the gentle nudging of God’s Holy Spirit in bringing us to
repentance!
Next,
we are given the procedure for restoration. “If
an anointed priest sins, bringing guilt on the people, he must bring
a young bull without defect as a sin offering“.
The priest is to present the bull at the entrance of the Tent of
Meeting, “before
the Lord“.
He is then to, “Lay
his hands on the head and slaughter it before the Lord“.
The anointed priest is then to take the blood into the Tent of
Meeting and dip his finger into the blood and sprinkle it seven times
before the in front of the “curtain
of the sanctuary“.
The priest is then to put some of the blood on the “horns
of the altar of incense“.
“The
rest of the blood shall be poured out at the base of the altar of
burnt offering“.
Next, he must remove all of the fat and burn it before the Lord on
“the
altar of burnt offering“.
Everything else, the hide and the valuable parts, along with the
worthless parts, are to be taken outside the camp to the place where
the ashes are thrown, and burned on the ash heap. Interesting
symbolism for us. Our sin can separate us from fellowship with God
(blood on the curtain), hinder our prayers (blood on the altar) and
prevent us from enjoying our peace (burnt as the fellowship
offering). Also note, there is no gain in sin, everything is counted
as rubbish. In comparison to the joy of restoration, all the worlds
pleasures are junk.
The
rest of the chapter gives similar procedure for, “If
the Israelite community sins unintentionally“,
“When
the leader sins unintentionally“,
and “If
a (individual)
member sins unintentionally“.
All have similar steps and in every case, “the
priest will make atonement for him and he will be forgiven“.
Before
I accepted Christ as my Savior, I was living according to the worlds
standards. The moment I prayed the prayer of repentance, I received
the atonement paid by Jesus on the cross. We receive this atonement
by faith and we are given complete forgiveness and restoration with
God. Like the apostle Paul in Philippians 3:8, all of my efforts to
be good enough for God on my own, “I
count them as rubbish in order that I may gain Christ“.
Jesus became our sin offering, one time for all time. Call on His
name and receive the restoration that is waiting for you.