Lesson 9

SIN OFFERING

Reading: Lev. 4, 6:24-30

Memory verse: 1 Pet. 2:24

Theme: To lead a holy life after obtaining remission of sins by faith in Jesus Christ who became a sacrifice on the cross bearing sins of all mankind.

Introduction: What is it that keeps a man away from fellowship with God? How did sin enter into the world? What happened to mankind by the disobedience of Adam and Eve? Jesus Christ came to this world as a man and took upon Himself the punishment for our sins and suffered death on the cross. Sin offering was instituted for Isreal as a shadow of Christ's sacrifice. Christ was made sin for us.

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)

Sin offering is one of the two non-sweet savour offerings. A person was required to offer sin offering at first when he comes to the presence of God. 

PEOPLE WHO WERE REQUIRED TO OFFER SIN OFFERING 

Four types of people were commanded to offer sin offering. 

1) Priest

2) Congregation of Isreal 

3) Elders of the people 

4) Ordinary Israelite

All people are covered by these four groups. It proclaims the truth that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:14)

As all are sinners every one needs remission of sins. Even by birth, man is a sinner and with the nature of sin. Every sin committed, whether inadvertently or not needs remission.

SACRIFICIAL ANIMALS AND METHOD OF OFFERING 

People belonging to the above four groups were commanded to offer sacrifices differently. The differences point to different aspects of the death of our Lord.

1. Sacrificial animals to be offered by the priest and congregation of Isreal were of the same type. The animal was young bull if the offering is for himself and the elders of Isreal would do the same if it is for the whole congregation. The animal is, then killed. The priest takes some blood of the animal, enters the Holy Place in the tabernacle, sprinkled it before the veil seven times and smears it on the horns of the altar of incense. The remaining blood is poured at the foot of the altar of burnt offering. Fat, kidneys and covering the liver are burnt on the altar of burnt offering. All the remaining portions of the animal are taken outside the camp to a clean place meant for dumpling ash and then burnt on a wood fire. 

Christ who came down in the form of servant took out sins and became a sin offering of Calvary. The sprinkling of blood in front of the veil signifies that we can enter into the presence of God.

 But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean.  How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! (Romans 9:11-14)

The smearing of blood on the horn of the altar of incense points to the privilege that has come to us for worshipping God. IT also signifies the intercessory prayer of Christ. Pouring of blood at the foot of the altar shows reconciliation that we have received individually with God. All the remaining portions of the animal are burnt outside the camp of Isreal. It points to the suffering the Christ had to undergo outside Jerusalem. We must also be prepared to bear His reproach and suffer outside the camp.

2. Sacrifices of elders and ordinary Israelite: An elder offers a male goat and an ordinary Israelite offers either a female goad or a female lamb. The procedure for the offering was the same in both cases. The worshiper places his hand upon the head of the animal and kills it at the entrance to the tabernacle. The priest dips his finger in the blood, smears the blood on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and pours the remaining blood at the foot of the altar. Blood is not taken inside the Holy Place. Fat and kidneys of the animal are burnt on the altar. The remaining flesh is cooked and eaten by the priests inside the court of the tabernacle. "All the males among the priests shall eat thereof: it is mot holy". This points to the fellowship of the children of God who are priests. Every child of God who has obtained remission of sins through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ most keep themselves continually in fellowship with God and His people. This fellowship also stands for the Lord's Table. 

Have you received remission of your sins by accepting Jesus Christ as your Saviour? If so, the Lord requires you to suffer for Him outside the camp, leaving all worldly pleasures. Are you prepared for it? Are you keeping in constant fellowship with God and His children?

Lesson 8

PEACE OFFERING 

Reading: Lev. 3, 7: 11-37

Memory verses: Eph. 2: 14-17

Theme: To experience the peace that Jesus Christ gives.

Introduction. Many kinds of conflicts are seen in the world. What is the reason? Conflict begins in the life of individuals and spreads into society. Therefore the solution to conflicts in society will come about if individuals enjoy peace. Individual must experience peace with God and then with fellow men. The peace offering was the shadow of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ which alone can provide peace to man abundantly.

 SACRIFICIAL ANIMAL 

A blemishless animal from among cattle or sheep can be offered as a peace offering. It is different from burnt offering in one aspect that the animal can either be male or female. Each animal (Bullock, goat, sheep) point to a particular character of Jesus Christ as we have already learned.  Although God is pleased and His righteousness is fulfilled through peace offering also, the emphasis there is on the worshiper. His infirmity or weakness is acknowledged in the female animal which may also be offered as a peace offering.

METHOD OF OFFERING

The worshipper brings the animal to the entrance of the tabernacle and places his hand on its head. The animal is then killed and the priest sprinkles its blood on the altar, Its fat and kidneys are burned on the altar. The breast of the animal is waved by the priest as a wave offering and its portions set apart for the priests. The remaining flesh is eaten by the worshipper with his family inside the court of the tabernacle. It should not be eaten outside and by an unclean person.

Meaning of the sacrifice. We are reconciled to God by the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. We were once far away from God, in enmity with Him and children of wrath. Jesus Christ suffered in His body the chastisement for our peace. He is our peace. 

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace,  and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.  He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.  For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. (Ephesians 2:13- 18)

By making peace it is not only that the enmity is removed, but also that an active fellowship with God and the inheritance of sonship are restored. God is pleased with the peace offering and the worshiper and his family become its partakers deriving happiness and satisfaction. Peace offering can also be considered as pointing towards the observance of the Lord's Table which symbolises our fellowship with God and His people. Devine peace fills and overflows in the heart of the person who has obtained peace with God and man. This is the peace of God that passes all understanding. This is the same peace which Jesus gave to his disciples.

 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27)

TWO TYPES OF PEACE OFFERING 

1. Thanks giving offering : Lev. 7:12-15

2. Vow or voluntary offering: Lev. 7:16-19

Unleavened cakes and wafers baked with oil are offered with peace offering as Thanksgiving. Besides, leavened bread is also permitted. This is quite significant. The emphasis in peace offering is on the worshipper who is weak and with infirmities if the flesh. Although the worshiper is reconciled with God, he is still living in this body where there is constant warfare between flesh and spirit. The part of victory is to mortify the deeds of the body by the spirit continually and burn them on the altar.

 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. (Romans 7:21)

The portions of flesh set apart for the worshipper in the thanksgiving offering must be eaten on the same day. As our blessings through Christ are new every day. we must praise Him in the newness of Spirit with new songs.

The worshipper portions of the vow offering can be eaten on the same day and the next day. This points to the fact that vow we take with God and its joy are not temporary, but enduring.

Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Hence we must observe peace with all men and seek after holiness.

Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. (Hebrews 12:14)

Let the peace of Christ reign on our hearts.

 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.(Colossians 3:15)

Lesson 7

MEAT (MEAL) OFFERING 

Reading: Lev. 2, 6:14 -23

Memory Verses: Eph 1:4-6

Theme: To consecrate ourselves to holiness keeping in mind the significance of meal offering and the example of holy life that Jesus Christ offered in the presence of God.

Introduction: It is sin that separates man from God. What is it thatGod desires from man?

 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;  for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” (1 Peter 1: 15,16)

We see the example of a holy life in the life of Jesus Christ. Meal offering represents the holy and consecrated life that Jesus presented before man and God.

MATERIALS FOR THE OFFERING 

Meal offering is a sacrifice without blood and three types of materials can be used for the offering.

1. Fine Flour

It points to the purity and meekness of Jesus Christ whose nature does not contain any anger or guilt.

To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

 “He committed no sin,

    and no deceit was found in his mouth.”

 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.(1 Peter 2:21-23)

2. Unleavened cakes and wafers baked with oil

The cakes and wafers are made with fine flour. Fine flour represents purity if nature and oil represent Holy Spirit. There should not be any leaven (guilt or wickedness) in the offering.

2. Green ear of corn dried by fire.

Jesus Christ, the good corn was baked in the fire of the wrath of God and became a sweet savor offering.

MATERIALS TO BE ADDED 

1. Oil

Olive oil was poured on the material being offered. In case of cakes and wafers, they were baked in oil and cut into small pieces. Oil was then poured on them. In other words, the offering should be covered with oil. Oil represents the Holy Spirit. Jesus was born of the Holy Spirit

This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 

Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. (Mathew 1:18-20)

He was filled with the Holy Spirit before His public ministry. His ministry was in the Holy Spirit. His death and His resurrection were by the Holy Spirit. Lives of believers also must be like this. We must imbibe the purity of Jesus Christ in our lives. Just as the meat offering was soaked in oil, our lives and services should be filled with the Holy Spirit.

2. Frankincense 

Frankincense is sprinkled on the sacrificial material. When it is burned in fire sweet smell fills the air. Jesus Christ walked through villages and towns and preached the gospel and healed all manner of sickness. His fame spread fast all over Galilee. He spread the sweet savour of Joy and healing all over the land. God's children should disseminate sweet savour of God in their surroundings, too. Paul declares in 2 Corinthians 2: 14-15)

But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.(2 Corinthians 2:14,15)

3. Salt 

Salt is a symbol of the covenant. Moreover, salt is a purifier and a preserving agent. One of the main attributes of salt is that it adds flavour. Jesus Christ cleansed many sinners and made them acceptable to society. For example, Samaritan woman, Sinner woman, Zacchaeus, He gave comfort and joy to many by His sweet words and loving actions. All believers must endeavour to add flavours to others by their words and deeds. Remember the words of Jesus: You are the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13).

MATERIAL WHICH ARE FORBIDDEN FOR USE

1. Leaven 

Wickedness, hypocrisy and false doctrines are equated to leaven in the Word of God.

 Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (2 Corinthians 5:8)

There was no trace of any such leaven in Christ. Children of God must observe holiness in their lives. We must be examples to others in our words deeds love faith and purity. Hypocrisy should not have any place in us. We must hold fast to the true doctrines of the Word of God.

2. Honey 

Honey represents the natural sweetness. When Jesus lived on the earth, He had no form nor comeliness and no beauty to be desired, He was despised and rejected by men and a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Let us mont desire external comeliness, but let our inner beauty be pleasing as a meal offering before God.

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. (1 Peter 3:3,4)

SPECIALITIES OF THE MEAL OFFERING

1. Meal offering was a bloodless sacrifice. Sacrifices with blood show that Jesus Christ has done for us through His death. But the bloodless meal offering shows what He has done for us before His death through His pure life. It shows the blessing that flows towards us from his spotless life. 

2. Materials offered for this sacrifice are made from fine flour. Produced by labour of man. Hence meal offering points to the necessity of making a diligent effort towards holiness in life. 

3. Only a part of meal offering is burned while the remaining is eaten by the priest. The worshipor does not eat out of his offering. God pleased by the meal offering presented by the our life of Jesus Christ and the redeemed believers who are priests also become partakers of the offering.

Meal offering teaches us many spiritual lessons touching our practical lives. We have to present ourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God. Let us crucify our fleshly and selfish desires. Let us dedicate ourselves in the presence of God to live a life filled with the Holy Spirit, spreading the sweet savour of Christ in the world and imparting flavour to other people. Let our lives also be a sweet savour offering to God as the life of Jesus Christ.