Abel was totally consumed, becoming the first martyr for faith. Likewise, when we are called to God, we can expect to be used until we are consumed.

We must consider ourselves cooperating with a great cloud of witnesses, who had to jettison the weights that encumbered them, making them less vulnerable to sin.

As we are liberated from the bondage of sin, we are now free because we are slaves of righteousness, ironically the only true and lasting liberty.

The tares and wheat must coexist until the harvest when the fruit will become clearly seen, at which time a separation and judgment will take place.

As God tests His people, He desires that they test and prove His Laws to demonstrate that they invariably work, to prove these principles by following them.

Abel offered his sacrifice in obedience to God's instructions. We must worship Him in a spirit of truth, bringing about a profound change in heart.

The letter to the church in Sardis reads like an obituary, warning us who are alive but lacking zeal to repent and become serious about our calling.

Man's estrangement from God is wholly man's fault. Atonement denotes the way harmony is achieved, making the entire world at one or reconciled with God.

Jesus and Abraham rose above their emotional pulls by exercising living faith—a faith built on acts of obedience. Faith can never be separated from works.

God does not love everybody equally. Nowhere does He tell us to prefer the ungodly world. Though He tells us to love our enemies, but not to be affectionate.

We may do the right thing toward a neighbor but not do it with the exact, perfect attitude that God does it in. Thus, our 'good' work contains corruption.

The leavening indicates that the wave loaves speak to this life rather than the resurrection. It is accepted by God only because of the other sacrifices.

The peace offering symbolizes the abundant life that results from complete devotion to God (the burnt offering) and service to others (the meal offering).

The sacrifices were neither insignificant nor barbaric, but a teaching tool for us. In the burnt offering, we see Christ in His work for the already redeemed.

The meal offering represents the intense self-sacrifice required in service to man. Our service to man must be done for God's sake rather than man's appreciation.

The burnt offering is completely consumed on the altar. This type of offering teaches us about Christ's total dedication to God—and how we should emulate it.

If we want to follow Christ, we must sacrifice, take up our cross, and follow His example of service to God and others.

The New Covenant sacrifices are far more demanding than the Old Covenant sacrifices. But there are poignant lessons to be learned from animal sacrifices.

God gives conditions for acceptable sacrifices and offerings, differentiating the holy and authentic from the defiled, unclean and strange.

Jesus redeemed us with His shed blood from the penalty of our sins, but He also works as our High Priest, continually redeeming us until we are resurrected.

Simeon's life serves as a precursor to that of God's called-out ones, demonstrating the elements necessary to bring a person to spiritual maturity.

As Christ sacrificed for us, we are called to sacrifice for others. Love is an action, a behavior, rather than an emotion, described in I Corinthians 13.

Jesus' perfect offering of Himself for us fulfilled the sin offering of Leviticus 4. Our acceptance of His offering for atonement puts us under obligation.

Various animals were used in the burnt offering—bullocks, lambs, doves, and goats. Each depicts some characteristic of Jesus that we must emulate as we serve God.