
LAWS REGULATING VARIOUS SACRIFICES, DCLM YOUTHS SEARCH
Last week, we looked at ‘’the Trial and Crucifixion of Christ’’. In this study, lesson 65, we will learn about ‘’Laws Regulating Various Sacrifices’’
LESSON 66
Memory Verse: “And he shall offer thereof his offering, even an offering made by fire unto the LORD; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards” (Leviticus 3:14).
Text: Leviticus 1:1-17; 2:1-16;3:1-17;4:1-35
As the Children of Israel journeyed to the Promised Land, God gave them some laws and ordinances that would guide them. This study focuses on the different sacrifices and the laws regulating them. The sacrifices in our text are as follows: the burnt offering, the meat offering, the peace offering, the sin offering and trespass offering. These sacrifices became necessary because e God knew that man has the tendency to sin. Therefore, not willing that any should perish, He gave these laws so that their sins could be atoned for. The sacrifices in the Old Testament were just temporary provisions because it was a pointer to the New Testament. The final sacrifice later came through Christ.
Question 1: How can youths appropriate Christ’s atonement for their sins today?
“For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect” (Hebrews 10:1). Just as the children of lsrael had to atone for their sins before God, today’s youths should know that Christ has made final atonement for their sins. “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us” (Hebrews 9:12). Youths need to believe in the sacrificial death of Christ as they confess their sins to Him and turn from their sinful ways.
1.SEVERAL FORMS OF OFFERING IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
Leviticus 1:1-17; 2:1-16;3:1-1 7; Romans 12:1,2
“And he shall cleave it with the wings thereof, but shall not divide it asunder: and the priest shall burn it upon the altar, upon the wood that is upon the fire: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto the Lord” (Leviticus 1:17). God gave the children of Israel several laws guiding their offerings to Him. These include:
(1) Burnt offering: It was a voluntary offering to be offered as dictated by God. It involves offering of male herd at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord. And the sacrifices must be without blemish;
(2) Meat offering: It was an offering offered as a way of showing gratitude to God for His goodness. This was the only bloodless sacrifice (fine flour, oil and salt, frankincense). The offering could be offered as raw, baked or fried flour or at the same time with the burnt offering.
(3) Peace offering: The ritual was closely compared to the bunt offering up to the point of the actual burning where the animal’s blood was poured around the edges of the altar. Whichever animal is to be used should be free from blemish. This often comes last, which is an indication that one can only enjoy peace with God after the atonement for his sins has been made, and he has dedicated himself fully to God.
(4) Sin offering: In this offering, a young bullock that has no blemish shall be offered to atone for sins that are committed ignorantly. You can see from here that ignorance is not an excuse to God.
(5) Trespass offering: This is done to make amend for the harm a man has done in taking a holy thing of the Lord.
Question 2: What can Christian youths offer to God to day?
“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” (Romans 12:1,2). In contemporary times, God does not require animal offering from us. All He needs from us today is our heart, body, talents, time, tithes and offerings and entire life. We should surrender ourselves to Him and serve Him in holiness and righteousness.
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THE NECESSITY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT SACRIFICES
Leviticus 4;1-35; 5:1-19;6:1-7;7:1-38;Hebrews 9:7,13,14
“Speak unto the children of Israel saying, if a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them: If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people, then let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the Lord for a sin offering” (Leviticus 4:2,3). The Lord in His infinite mercies acknowledged the frailty of man. He has made a way for him to receive pardon and reconciliation. “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel” (Genesis 3: 15).
Question 3: Does God delight in these sacrifices today?
“If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fullness thereof. Will l eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?” (Psalm 50:12,13). The demand of God that Israel should offer to Him sacrifices was not borne out of His need for animals because He made all these animals, but because of its necessity of atonement for the soul of man through blood “For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul” (Leviticus 17:11).
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THE SUPREMACY OF CHRIST’S SACRIFICE
Leviticus 16: 34; Isaiah 1:11;John 1:29;Hebrews 9:11-15;1 Peter 1:19
In spite of the various sacrifices ordained by God in the Old Testament for the atonement for sin, they could not grant the children of lsrael total freedom from sin. It was imperfect because it has to be repeated every year. “And this shall be an everlasting statute unto you, to make an atonement for the children of Israel for all their sins once a year. And he did as the LORD Commanded Moses” (Leviticus 16:34). God was weary of their repeated sins and sacrifices. “To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats” (Isaiah 1:11). God saw that the purity and perfection of life He wanted from man was not accomplished through these sacrifices, therefore He gave His only begotten Son as a living sacrifice. “But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot”(1 Peter 1:19).
Question 4: Why is Christ’s sacrifice a better substitute for man?
It was impossible for animal blood to give man the freedom from sin. It takes the blood of Jesus, the Son of God, to make man totally free from sin. His sacrifice was only offered once and it was perfect and acceptable for the salvation of man. “For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Hebrews 9:13,14).
Question 5: How can a sinning youth benefit from Christ’s perfect sacrifice and obtain total freedom from sin?
Christ’s perfect atonement for sin will save a sinning youth (John: 3:16) and grant him justification and sanctification (John 17:17). Meanwhile, to maintain freedom from sin, he must ensure constant study of God’s word, and always fellowship with the children of God.
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