Through the Bible: LeviticusSample

Overcoming Sin

The Lord said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites: ‘When anyone sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands— “ ‘If the anointed priest sins, bringing guilt on the people, he must bring to the Lord a young bull without defect as a sin offering for the sin he has committed.’”

In this way the priest will make atonement for them for the sin they have committed, and they will be forgiven.

Leviticus 4:1-3, 35b (NIV)

Leviticus can be described as the laws given to the Levites, as they stood in the gap between God and man. In the garden of Eden, sin separated man from God. Leviticus describes laws which help man to restore the relationship by living a life apart from sin.

How is Leviticus applicable to us today? In Jesus, our sins are forgiven. He bore our sins on the cross. Leviticus helps us to understand the sin of man and the sacrifice of Christ on the cross.

Leviticus 4:2 talks about an offering for sins committed unintentionally. It also describes sin as doing those actions forbidden according to the Lord's command. Unintentional can also mean we may not realize that we have sinned. However, it needs to be taken care of. In the Old Testament, a sin offering was given to remove the sin that separates us from God. In the New Testament, Christ's sacrifice on the cross bridges this gap, for His body is the best once-and-for-all offering we can ever have to live a victorious life that overcomes sin.

Prayer:

Father, we thank You for Jesus and His death on the cross for our sins. Through Christ, the broken relationship is restored. Help us to live intentional lives apart from sin, in Jesus’ name, amen.