Leviticus
chapter 5, describes additional occasions requiring a sin offering.
We are forced to accept the fact that God’s standard for
righteousness is beyond our human ability to maintain. The chapter
begins, “If
a person sins because he does not speak up when he hears a public
charge… regarding something he has seen or learned about, he will
be held responsible“.
This goes beyond just avoiding wrong, it is a requirement to do the
right thing. We must live our lives engaged with the world around us
or the world will not know of God’s standards. Romans 3:20 puts it
this way, “Through
the Law comes the knowledge of sin“.
Most people think they are pretty “good” until they
contrast their goodness with God’s holy righteousness. It is this
awareness that drives us to seek the Savior. The chapter repeats one
phrase after each broken requirement, “He
is guilty“.
“If
a person touches something that is ceremonially unclean… he is
guilty“.
If a person, “thoughtlessly
takes an oath… he will be guilty“.
We are told, “even
if he is unaware”
of his sin, it does not change God’s standard. It is not until we
realize we are guilty that we can take the next step, “When
anyone is guilty of any of these ways, he must confess… his sin“.
Until we confess our sin, we cannot be forgiven from our sin. Psalm
86:5 reminds us of the merciful God we worship, “For
thou, Lord, are good and ready to forgive, and abundant in
lovingkindness to all who call upon thee“.
Next
we read, “and
as a penalty for his sin… he must bring a female lamb from the
flock; and the priest shall make atonement for his sin“.
And again we see God’s desire to forgive, “and
if he cannot afford a lamb… two doves… If he cannot afford
doves… a tenth of an ephah of flour“.
Again, it is the ATTITUDE of confession, not the ceremony. True
confession will produce repentance; the outward change in behavior is
caused by the inward change forgiveness brings. The Holy Spirit
always changes us from the inside- out. And after the priest makes
the offering, “he
will be forgiven“.
What a wonderful promise!
Finally
we read, “When
a person commits a violation and sins unintentionally in regard to
any of the Lord’s holy things, then he shall bring to the Lord as a
penalty, a ram from the flock, without defect“.
As believers, all of our things are dedicated to God as holy things.
What ‘holy things’ are you holding back from God? The “guilt
offering”
required additional restitution for what he “failed
to do“.
We read, “Add
a fifth… and give it to the priest and he will make atonement…
and he will be forgiven“.
We continue to see the cost of our sin is too great for us to pay.
The weight of our sin forces us to our knees, but by God’s grace, our
forgiveness is free. Jesus Christ paid the entire penalty for our
sin. Romans 10:9 gives us our only requirement for salvation, “if
you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe with your
heart that God raised him from the dead, you shall be saved“.
May you experience freedom from all your burdens as you celebrate
the resurrection of our Savior this Easter.