Christ Our Sin Offering

Christ O= ur Sin Offering

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Leviticus 4:1-12

Introduction

Blaise Pascal= stated:

God is none other than the Savior of o= ur wretchedness.

So we can o= nly know God well by knowing our iniquities . . .

Those who have known God without knowing their wretchedness have not glorified him,

but have glorified themselves.

The cross is “the wisdom of God”

&nbs= p; We can never fully comprehend it!=

The cross is “the power of God”

&nbs= p; We can never exhaust its accomplishmen= ts!

In Leviticus 1 &= nbsp; The Burnt Offering = ; Holy Passion

In Leviticus 2 &n= bsp; The Meal Offering = Holy Perfection

In Leviticus 3 &n= bsp; The Peace Offering = ; Heavenly Priest

All of those were sweet aroma offerings, pleasing to G= od.

Their significance was primarily directed at God.

The Sin Offering is NOT a sweet aroma offering.

Its significance is NOT directed primarily at God.

Its significance is directed to SINNERS!

1. Its General Application

Universal Sin – v. 2

&nbs= p; An all-encompassing atonement

&nbs= p; A general atonement for all sin

&nbs= p; “unintentional sins”=

Psalm 19:12

Who perceives his unintentional sins? Cleanse me from my hidden fau= lts.

Heb. word means:

“to err”

“to go astray”

“to wander”

Isaiah 53:6

All of us, like sheep, have gone astray.

We have turned each one to his own way.

And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of all of us.<= /i>

Man often sins without even planning to,

And sometimes without even= being aware of it.

Man is a sinner by nature = – it is natural to us.

This “sin offering&#= 8221; covers those sins that are even beyond our conscience and conviction and in= cludes all sins.

2. Its Essential Significance=

    Substitution – v. 4<= o:p>

      Due to God’s inflexible justice, our sin was judged in Christ on the Cross.<= /p>
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      Christ beca= me our Substitute, bearing the penalty of our sin.=             &nb= sp;     2 Cor. 5:21

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      A blemishle= ss sacrifice was required,

not in this case for the pu= rpose of pleasing God,

but because it was required= for a satisfactory substitute!

Martin Luther:

Jesus became the greatest liar, perjurer, thief, adulterer and murderer that mank= ind has ever known – not because he committed these sins but because he w= as actually made sin for us.

3. Its Ultimate Consequence

&n= bsp;    Acceptance & Access – v. 6

   &nbs= p; The blood is sprinkled before the veil of the Temple 7 times.

This expresses access to G= od as the ultimate consequence of the “sin offering.”

Hebrews 10:1= 9

Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy pla= ce by the blood of Jesus

Seven times indicates the perfection of the access we have to God.

4. Its Continuous Effect=

    Intercession – v. 7a=

The Incense Altar represen= ts the ministry of prayer and priestly intercession.

The fragrance represents i= ts pleasantness to God.

The horns on the Incense A= ltar represent the power of prayer or intercession.

To sprinkle the blood on t= he horns of the altar represents the power of Christ’s intercession for us due= to the sin offering he made for us on the Cross.

From Charles Wesley’s hymn:   Arise, My Soul, Arise

Five bleeding wounds he bears =     Received on Calvary.

They pour effectual prayers; &= nbsp;       They strongly plead for me.

Forgive him, O forgive, they cry!

Forgive him, O forgive, they cry!

Nor let that ransomed sinner die!

5. Its Complete Adequacy=

    Expiation – v. 7b=

The remainder of the blood= – all of it is poured out at the base of the Altar.

This illustrates the fulln= ess of the sacrifice that was made – the fullness of the sin offering.

The fat represented Christ= ’s absolute perfection that overcame sin – it represented the very best = and richest part of the sacrifice itself.

The kidneys represented th= e seat of affection and passion.

He gave himself as a sacri= fice or sin offering willingly and passionately for sinners.

The liver represented stre= ngth and vigor.

He gave himself as a sin o= ffering with all his strength to save sinners!

Conclusion

herefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless y= ou believe that I am He, you will die in your sins." &n= bsp;            = ;            &n= bsp;            = ;            &n= bsp;            = ;            &n= bsp;            = ;            &n= bsp; - John 8:24

The “Sin Offering” does you and me no good apart from personally and actively<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> believing in who Christ is and in = what he did for us on the Cross in giving himself as a sacrifice for our sins. <= o:p>

Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God.

-      =     John 3:19

Let the fact o= f what our Lord suffered for you grip you,

and you will n= ever again be the same.    &= nbsp;       - Oliver B. Greene