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The Offerings of Leviticus (Part Seven): The Sin and Trespass Offerings
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughSin separates us from God, creating a barrier that must be overcome to restore access to Him. The offerings for sin and trespass, as detailed in the ceremonial system, illustrate the means by which this breach is healed. When the high priest sins, communication with God is completely shut off for the entire nation, necessitating the ceremonial cleansing of the incense altar with the blood of the sin offering, as it represents communication through prayer. Similarly, when the whole nation sins, the same process is required to mend the separation from God. For a private individual, whether a ruler or commoner, the sin affects only themselves and those directly involved, so the blood of the sin offering is placed on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and poured at its base, reflecting a less severe impact on the community. The distinction between these offerings highlights the relative seriousness of the sins committed. The high priest's sin carries far greater consequences, affecting the entire nation's relationship with God, while an individual's sin remains more contained. Under this system, the brazen altar represents earth, and the incense altar symbolizes heaven, with the blood serving as the means to reunite God and man. Additionally, the trespass offering embodies the principle of extending grace, reflecting God's willingness not only to forgive but to go above and beyond by offering additional gifts to the sinner. This high standard encourages us to emulate God's nature, learning to give grace and super-abound in our actions, even towards those who wrong us, as a way to develop the mind of God.
The Offerings of Leviticus (Part Six): The Sin Offering
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughIn the study of offerings, a clear distinction emerges between the sweet-savor offerings and the sin and trespass offerings. Unlike the sweet-savor offerings, which are presented for God's acceptance based on the worshipper's devotion and not due to sin, the sin and trespass offerings are directly tied to the presence of sin. These offerings are not a sweet savor to God, for He takes no satisfaction in sin, though He mercifully forgives through the sacrifice they represent, which points to Christ's ultimate offering. The sin and trespass offerings signify a legal obligation to an authority, with God as the ultimate Authority whose law has been broken. Sin demands a payment in blood, a life given to expiate the debt, as the wages of sin is death. In the ritual, the offerer brings an animal before the priest, lays hands on its head, symbolically transferring the sin, and the animal's death represents the penalty paid, breaking the power of the law over the sinner. This act portrays the vicarious death of Christ, to whom our sins are transferred, atoning for and redeeming us. Though not sweet savors, the sin and trespass offerings require an animal without blemish, mirroring Christ's sinlessness. Any imperfection, whether visible or hidden, disqualifies the animal, just as Christ remained unmarred by any moral or spiritual flaw throughout His life, qualifying Him as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. His sinless life, spanning over three decades, stands as the foundation for the sin offering made in a few hours at His crucifixion. The sin and trespass offerings also reveal the inadequacy of animal sacrifices to fully pay for human sin. No animal, regardless of its perfection, can equal the value of a human life, let alone satisfy the debt of all mankind. God, in His boundless grace, provided a payment beyond measure through Christ, whose life and death cover the total indebtedness of humanity for all time. In this act, Christ became sin for us, bearing our sins as His responsibility, suffering rejection and death to satisfy justice, thus freeing us from the penalty of sin. The ritual of carrying the sin offering outside the camp to be burned further illustrates this rejection, paralleling Christ's suffering outside the gate to sanctify us with His blood. This underscores the gravity of sin and the immense cost of our redemption, emphasizing that even the Creator Son was subject to the unyielding demands of God's law. Through these offerings, we are granted access to fellowship with God, a profound gift sustained by the spiritual food from His altar, where we, as a spiritual priesthood, offer sacrifices acceptable through Christ.
Offerings (Part Six)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughThe sin offering was for sin in general deals with our evil nature, while the trespass offering deals with the fruits of that nature.