Lesson 6

BURNT OFFERING 

Reading: Lev.1, 6:8-13

Memory verses: Eph. 5:1-2

Theme: Let us offer ourselves as sacrifices for God just as Jesus Christ, the substance of all sacrifices offered Himself as burnt offering on the altar of the cross.

 Introduction: We have learned that all sacrifices were shadows of the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. In the first chapter if Leviticus, we read about the burnt offering. It is also called an offering made by fire. It is pointing towards Jesus who offered Himself completely to God through His spotless life and through His death. God requires of us a complete surrender.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.  Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1,2)

1. IT IS TO BE OFFERED VOLUNTARILY 

Both the sin offering and the trespass offering must be offered by all compulsorily. But the burnt offering which is a sweet savor offering is brought before the Lord voluntary. Jesus Christ came down to this world of His own accord to do God's will and make us righteous before God.

 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, (Philippians 2:5-9)

2. SACRIFICIAL ANIMAL

The worshiper is allowed to offer any one of the following according to his capability:

Bullock, sheep, goat, turtle, dove or young pigeon. All these animals and birds represent various characteristics of Christ.

    a) Bullock:

Obeys its master completely and is willing to suffer any hardship for that purpose. Jesus Christ took the form of a servant and suffered at the hands of His own creation. Book of Mark describes Christ as the servant. He is referred to as servant in Isaiah 42:1,2

Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. (Isaiah 42:1,2)

He obeyed His Father like a servant and worked among men also like a slave. Do we have that attitude?

so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. (John 13:4,5)

b) Sheep:

Out Lord suffered affections quietly like a sheep before the shearers.

He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. (Isaiah 53:7)

We must suffer persecutions patiently.

c) Goat:

A goat carries the sin of the others

He is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites—all their sins—and put them on the goat’s head. He shall send the goat away into the wilderness in the care of someone appointed for the task. The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a remote place; and the man shall release it in the wilderness.  (Leviticus 16:21,22)

"Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree". Christ became a curse for us.

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”   (Galatians 3:13)

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Goat represents Christ who bears the sins and curses of mankind.

d) Turtledove and young pigeon 

These birds are offered by the poor

 But if she cannot afford a lamb, she is to bring two doves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for her, and she will be clean. (Leviticus 12:8)

Christ became poor for our sake.

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9)

Jesus was born in a manger and lived in this world without a placeto lay His head. Moreover, Like a dove, He cried in pain without anyone coming to help Him. In Gethsemane, " He offered prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears" 

During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. (Hebrews 5:7)

He cried out on the cross "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me"

3.CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SACRIFICAL ANIMAL 

a) Without blemish: The animal must be without blemish. Jesus who became a burnt offering for us was without any blemish. He was proved guiltless before God, before the courts, and before the crowd. Father God, Pilate, Thief on the cross, Roman Soldier and others bear witness to this fact.

b)Male animal: The meaning is that it must be strong and brave. Jesus Christ is mighty to save

4. METHOD OF OFFERING

a) The worshiper places his hand on the head of the animal. By this act, he admits that he deserves death for his sins and identifies himself with the animal which is going to die on his behalf. We, too, identify ourselves by faith with the death of Jesus Christ. 

b) The animal is killed. Christ suffered death which was the wages of our sin.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

c) The animal is skinned. it thus loses its own color. Jesus was counted among trespassers and crucified with thieves. Believers have to forsake their own glory and offer themselves as sacrifices in the presence of the Lord.

d) The animal is cut into pieces and placed on the altar. All the members of our body must be offered totally as Jesus offered Himself for us. Head (intelligence, thoughts), fat (strength, energy), inner portions (emotions, desired), feet (walk, way of life) and everything else must be offered to God.

 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. (Romans 6:13)

e) Everything is burnt in fire. Fire does mainly three things:

     i) It fulfills the judgment of God. For example Sodom and Gomorrah, Hell. There is no condemnation for us because Christ became a burnt offering on our behalf.

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1)

    ii) It purifies

 But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap.  He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, (Malachi 3:2,3)

When we offered on the altar, we are purified by the divine fire.

     iii) It signifies God's acceptance. The acceptance of Elijah's sacrifice was shown by fire. When we surrender ourselves before God, He shows His acceptance by imparting the Holy Spirit into us. God accepted the supreme sacrifice of Jesus Christ and raised Him from the dead and exalted Him to the highest position. When we surrender ourselves completely, God is pleased in us. As apostle Paul said: Now it is not I who lives, but Christ livesin me.

Lesson 5

SACRIFICES OF ISRAEL 

Reading: Gen. 4: 1-15; Lev. 1 -7

Memory Verses : Heb:1,14

Theme: To learn that worshiper can attain perfection, not through the Old Testament sacrifices which were merely shadows, but only by the sanctification possible through the supreme sacrifice of Jesus Christ. 

Introduction: Sacrifices were prevalent in the world from the beginning of history. The clothing of skin given by God to the first parents after they sinned can be considered as pointing to the redemptive death of Jesus Christ and as the beginning of sacrifices. Later we see sacrifices being offered by faith by Abel, Noah, Abraham, Issac, Jacob, Job and others. It was through the Law given to Moses on Mount Sinai that God revealed the importance and meaning of sacrifices. All sacrifices were shadows of the single most important sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. The study of various sacrifices will lead us to the understanding the sanctification, perfection, and blessings available through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Levite sacrifices: The commandments given by God regarding sacrifices are recorded in the first seven chapters of the book of Leviticus. Hence they are called Levite sacrifices. There are five important sacrifices. They are burnt offering, meal offering, peace offering, sin offering, and trespass offering 

Details of these five offering are found in the first five chapters of Leviticus. The next two chapters give conditions governing the offerings. Apart from these, there are drink offering, free will offering, thanksgiving offering.

Sacrifices: two types: Out of five Levite sacrifices, the first three are sweet savor offerings and the other two are non-sweet savor offering. Sweet savor offering are those in which sweet smelling materials are also added to the sacrificial animals. These are not added in the non-sweet savor offerings. Sweet savor offerings are associated with worship and non-sweet savor offering are associated with remission of sins. Sweet savor offering tells us how God sees Jesus Christ and the other two offerings show what Jesus Christ has accomplished for mankind. Sweet savor offerings are brought by worshiper voluntarily. On the other hand, worshiper is commanded to bring sin and trespass offerings, A sinner must offer sin and trespass offering first. After that, he is entitled to offer the other sacrifices which are thanksgiving offerings.

Meaning of sacrifices:  Various sacrifices were offered continually in the Old Testament age. They were all shadows of the single sacrifice of Jesus on the Calvary.

 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. 14 For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. (Hebrews 10:10-14)

The essence of all the five sacrifices is contained in that single sacrifice. The death of Jesus Christ brought glory and honor to the name of God. Therefore, Jesus Christ became a sweet smelling sacrifice for God. Moreover, His death was sufficient for the remission of the sins of mankind. "In the end of the world, He appeared to 

 For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. 25 Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. 26 Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself..(Hebrews 9:24-26)

1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.(1 John 2:1-2)

Therefore, the substance of all the propitiatory offerings is Christ, Himself.

Jesus Christ was not only the sacrificial animal But also the High Priest who offered the sacrifice and even the altar where the sacrifice was offered, In the Old Testament sacrifices, the alter the sacrifice and the priest were all different. But in the ultimate sacrifice, all these three have merged into one person, Jesus Christ. Let us praise God for the unique sacrificial death of the unique Christ. At the same time let us offer our selves as sacrifices in the presence of God.

Lesson 4

THE CONSECRATION OF THE PRIESTS 

Reading: Exo. 29: Lev. 8

Memory Verses: Rom. 12: 1-2 

Theme: To study the spiritual meaning of various ceremonies performed during the consecration of Israeli priests and offer ourselves totally in the presence of God.

Introduction:  A person who is volunteering for any service should dedicate himself to the same. Although all the sons in Aarons family were called for priestly service, they still had to be consecrated for it. Seven steps were required for consecration. In a similar way, believers who are called to be priests in the New Testament age must also go through the experiences of consecration for the priestly service. The seven steps associated with the consecration priests were shadows of the spiritual experiences of a consecrated believer.  

1. Washing with water (Exo. 29:4; Lev 8:6)

Then bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the tent of meeting and wash them with water. (Exodus 29:4)


Then Moses brought Aaron and his sons forward and washed them with water. (Leviticus 8:6)

On the day of consecration the priest is brought to the Tabernacle and washed with water and cleansed. This points to the requirement of being born again by the Word of God. Word of God is compared to water in the Bible.

He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. (James 1:18)

For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. (1 Peter 1:23)

Above stated verses clearly, say the rebirth is by the Word of God. Jesus taught that a person is born again by the water and the Spirit.

 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. (John 3:5)

Here water refers to the Word of God. Holy Spirit convicts a person of his sins through the Word of God and leads him to Jesus Christ. thus the person is born again. A person who is not born again cannot be a priest and worship God. Although a person is not born again by baptism, his born-again experience is proclaimed through baptism.

2. Putting on the garments (Lev. 8: 7-9)

He put the tunic on Aaron, tied the sash around him, clothed him with the robe and put the ephod on him. He also fastened the ephod with a decorative waistband, which he tied around him. 8 He placed the breastpiece on him and put the Urim and Thummim in the breastpiece. (Leviticus 8:7,8)


We have seen that the garment of the high priest shows the divine glory of Jesus Christ. God has called us to HIs salvation in order that we may also receive the glory of Christ.

He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 2: 14)

Therefore all believers must strive to attain the glory represented by the high priestly garments. The white coat signifies the garment of righteousness that we receive through Jesus Christ. Let us serve our Lord wearing the girdle of truth, the mitre of salvation ect...


3.Anointment with oil (Lev. 8:12,13)

The priest who is cleansed with water and dressed in official garments is then anointed with oil. Oil is poured on his head. Anointing oil represents Holy Spirit. A child of God who is born again and given the robe of righteousness has to be anointed by the Holy Spirit. The priesthood is confirmed only by the anointing oil. 

Take the anointing oil and anoint him by pouring it on his head. (Exodus 29:7)

Anointing of the Holy Spirit is the earnest for our inheritance.

When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,  who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:14)

In the Old Testament days priests, prophets, and kings used to be anointed with oil. Christ our High priest was also anointed by the Holy Spirit. Therefore all believers must also be anointed with the Holy Spirit.

4.An offering of sacrifices (Lev. 8:14 -28)

A sacrifice of consecration is offered after a sin offering and a burnt offering. The fat portions from inside and the right thigh of the sacrificial animal, an unleavened cake, a cake of oiled bread and a wafer are kept in the hands of priests and waved in the presence of God. The right thigh represents our strength, the fat from inside represents our innermost being and the other articles represent our material possessions. We have to present ourselves totally as a living sacrifice.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12: 1,2)

5. Cleansing of members of the body by blood (Lev 8: 23,24)

Blood of the ram is put on the tip of the right ear and the thumb of the right hand. This act points to the dedication of our ears to hear the voice of God and our hands for His work by the blood of Jesus Christ.

Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.  (Romans 6: 13)

6. Cleansing of the garments (Lev 8: 30)

Garments of the priest are sanctified by the blood and anointing oil. Garments of the saints are their works of righteousness. These must also be sanctified by the blood of Christ and the Holy Spirit.

 Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. 8 Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.).  (Revelation 19: 7,8)

7. Eating bread at the door of the Tabernacle (Lev 8: 31)

The priest stays at the door of the Tabernacle for seven days sustained by bread from the basket and the flesh of the ram. Believers must remain in the presence of God and be in fellowship with the Lords and his people. The food at the door of the Tabernacle also points Lord's Table which commemorates our Lord's death.

 Moreover, it points to the great feast in the kingdom of God.

Believers must spend all the days of their lives in the temple which is the church and renew their consecration continually.