Leviticus 1:1 - 14:32
In the middle of all the offerings, priestly garments, infectious diseases, and mildew; there was a verse that you could pass over rather quickly and miss its point.
Lev 5:17 "If a person sins and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord's commands, even though he does not know it, he is guilty and will be held responsible."
Man is guilty; even if he doesn't know it. The image of God inside us speaks to the conscience of mankind. The creation of God outside of us calls us to rembrance of the Almighty. The Word of God made flesh reveals to us His glory. Yet mankind still runs away, ignores, or defies the truth of God.
The Brazen Altar represents Jesus as the Sacrifice; the Offering to God. John 1:29 “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world”
The Five Offerings
The Burnt Offering represents Jesus sacrifce to make us right with God. The offeror had to place their hands on the sacrificial animal and identify with the sacrifice. In the same way, we identify ourselves in Christ's death, burial, and resurrection through baptism and our daily walk. Iit symbolizes the covenant between God and man; that if the blood of the sacrifice (Jesus Christ) is applied to you, then you your sins have been atoned for.
The Grain Offering represents our dependence on God for the physical and spiritual necessities of life. A continual offering of thanks and praise to God reminds us of our dependence upon Him.
The Fellowship (Peace) Offering represents that not only is Jesus our atonement, but also the means by which we have peace with God and therefore can fellowship with Him. Ephesians Chapter 2 is a good picture of how we were once in enmity with God, but Jesus is our peace and has reconciled us to the Father.
The Sin Offering was made for specific sins and was made to remind people that sin is costly and the only solution for sin is blood atonement. Not only has Jesus atoned for our sins, but he also provides the capability for forgiveness of sins after salvation if we are faithful to confess them.
The Guilt Offering represents our legal and emotional guilt before the God. Jesus takes away that guilt for those that are sanctified. Heb 10:17 "and their sins and their lawless deed I will remember no more."
The reason for all the detail in the sacrifices is that God is particular in how we approach Him. We can only come to God His way: empty-handed through Jesus. So many sacrfices and so much blood; until Jesus came. Then it only required one.
Heb 10:10 "By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."
