Thursday, August 28, 2025

            Leviticus is the third book of the Bible.  But despite its early place in Scripture, it is not a book of the Bible either frequently read or studied.  The theme for Leviticus is holy or holiness.  The words “holy” and “holiness” occur about 95 times in Leviticus.  If we were to summarize the theme it would likely be “how can sinful humans approach or gain access before a holy God?”  Good question!  In Leviticus, the way that sinful Israel gained access to God was through sacrifices and offerings presented to God.  These early sacrifices were the manner in which God assigned or transferred the sinfulness or guilt of the people to the animals or commodities being sacrificed or offered before Him.  With their guilt assigned to the sacrifice, Israel could gain access to God.
            But there was a problem.  Israel sinned repeatedly!  Over and over and over, the people of Israel sinned and rebelled against God.  Since the wages of sin is death, that atoning offering or sacrifice had to die.  The death penalty for sinning against God had to be paid and satisfied.  But that death of the sacrifice only removed the penalty of sin and human darkness.  It did nothing to create any new light or new life.  More than once in the first three chapters of Leviticus, the instruction from God was to bring an animal “without defect” as a sacrifice (see 1:3, 3:1 and 3:6 as examples). 
            This animal without defect was an early symbol or foreshadowing of the sacrifice of Jesus—who was the perfect Lamb.  The sacrifices of Leviticus are but a momentary glimpse of what came fully and completely at the cross and in the death of Jesus.  The cross is the completion of everything that Leviticus once put in motion years earlier.  The very presence of God became flesh and blood in Jesus to be our sin-bearer.  Jesus is the final atonement.  The cross is the highest and ultimate altar.  He paid the price for our sin and darkness but He also made us forever pure and innocent.  There is no need for any further sacrifice.  The ultimate price has been paid.  The righteousness and innocence of Jesus have been assigned to us while our sin and guilt have been transferred to Jesus and His cross.  In the hymn Christ Alone, we find this theology, “Till on that cross as Jesus died.  The wrath of God was satisfied.  For every sin on Him was laid.”
            Leviticus teaches us some important truths that are every bit as valid today as they were at the time of ancient Israel.  Sin demands punishment and death.  All sin is committed against God.  God has made a way for sin to be forgiven.  God’s solution to sin is the only solution.  We cannot address our own sinfulness or make ourselves holy and righteous before God.  But Christ can and does.  He was the perfect sacrifice.  So, He could bear our sins.  He was “without defect.”  He lived the perfect life and completely kept the law of God.  So, He can provide for us the innocence and righteousness that we lack and can never produce by our best efforts.
            The New Testament book of Hebrews is an excellent complement to read or study alongside Leviticus.  Hebrews presents Jesus as our great high priest who has fulfilled the law and made the ultimate sacrifice for us.  Hebrews says, “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!” (Hebrews 9:11-14).
            The gospel is found in Leviticus—just as it is found on every page of the Bible.  The face and majesty of Christ can be found throughout the Bible.  Scripture is a testimony to the one and only worthy lamb who was slain and rose again.  We can rejoice that by faith in Christ our sins are covered, paid for and forgiven.  We can also rejoice that by faith in Christ His righteousness has become ours.  His death gave us everlasting life.  Have a great Thursday!