Pastor Jonathan Falwell
Genesis 1:31 (CSB) God saw all that he had made, and it was very good indeed.
Genesis 3:21 (CSB) The Lord God made clothing from skins for the man and his wife, and he clothed them.
Genesis 4:3–4 (CSB) In the course of time Cain presented some of the land’s produce as an offering to the Lord. 4 And Abel also presented an offering—some of the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions. The Lord had regard for Abel and his offering
In Leviticus 1 and following, God lays out the “rules” for the sacrifices which should be offered by the people of Israel in order to be made right with God.
- Burnt – daily recognition and worship to God; complete devotion to Him
- Grain – voluntary offering recognizing the goodness of God
- Peace or Fellowship – focused on fellowship with God
- Sin – for sin and uncleanness
- Guilt – similar to sin offering, to atone for doing wrong
Hebrews 10:1–4 (CSB) Since the law has only a shadow of the good things to come, and not the reality itself of those things, it can never perfect the worshipers by the same sacrifices they continually offer year after year. 2 Otherwise, wouldn’t they have stopped being offered, since the worshipers, purified once and for all, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? 3 But in the sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year after year. 4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
1. The purpose of the sacrifice
Leviticus 1:2–3 (CSB) Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When any of you brings an offering to the Lord from the livestock, you may bring your offering from the herd or the flock. 3 “If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he is to bring an unblemished male. He will bring it to the entrance to the tent of meeting so that he may be accepted by the Lord.
- Knowing your place – submission to God
- Knowing your fault – sinfulness
Hebrews 9:22 (CSB) According to the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
Warren Wiersbe said, “It wasn’t the life of the lamb that saved the people from judgment but the death of the lamb.”[1]
2. The perfection of the sacrifice
The Bible states that every animal offered for sacrifice must be without spot, without blemish (Lev 1-5)
- Why? Lev. 22:20 (CSB) You are not to present anything that has a defect, because it will not be accepted on your behalf.
John 1:29 (CSB) The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
- Jesus came as the perfect final sacrifice
Hebrews 10:8–10 (CSB) After he says above, You did not desire or delight in sacrifices and offerings, whole burnt offerings and sin offerings (which are offered according to the law), 9 he then says, See, I have come to do your will. He takes away the first to establish the second. 10 By this will, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time.
3. The work of the sacrifice
1 Peter 1:18–19 (CSB) For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb.
- Christ’s “once and for all” sacrifice is the only necessary act to bring about transformation in the life of man
- Never again we will need the repeated sacrifices of animals because Jesus paid it all
4. The result of the sacrifice
Ephesians 1:3–14 (CSB) Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him., 5 He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace 8 that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ 10 as a plan for the right time—to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him. 11 In him we have also received an inheritance, because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will, 12 so that we who had already put our hope in Christ might bring praise to his glory. 13 In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed. 14 The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory.
[1] Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Delivered, “Be” Commentary Series (Colorado Springs, CO: Chariot Victor Pub., 1998), 53.