My morning Bible readings brought me to Leviticus 1 today. Leviticus! Oh boy!
The LORD’s “tent of meeting” has been finished, Aaron and his sons consecrated. The Lord has promised He would continue to dwell with His people and bring them into the land of promise. Yet God is holy, He requires that His people be holy. But they are not. How can they dwell in His presence or even approach Him? How can He accept them!?!
Leviticus 1 gives us the answer through the shadows and types of the Old Testament, i.e., the bulls and goats and birds. Acceptance comes through sacrifice by substitution:
- “A male without defect.”
- “Slain.”
- “A whole offering.”
- “A soothing [pleasing] aroma.”
The animal is offered that the offeror “may be accepted before the LORD” (v. 3). The offering is “accepted for him to make atonement on his behalf” (v. 4). “Atonement” is rich word, loaded with mercy. It signifies almost everything a sinner needs to be accepted with God: remission of sin, cleansing, removal of wrath, ransom from bondage, reconciliation, restoration. The sacrifice of the substitute secures it all!
The offeror “lay[s] his hand on” the offering in order to be accepted. He identifies with the substitute which will be offered on his behalf.
How may we be be made acceptable to approach and live before God? By bulls or goats or birds?
No, the writer to the Hebrews tells us “it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” (Heb. 10:4). Animals cannot truly answer for the guilt and defilement of man. The Old Testament offerings were “provisional” and “imperfect” pointing to a once for all offering of a perfect and blameless sacrifice. “Now once at the consummation of the ages He [even Jesus Christ our Lord] has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself” (Heb. 9:26). By this sacrifice “we have been sanctified” and “perfected for all time” (Heb. 10:10, 14). Set apart and set right . . . freely . . . forever . . . by grace through Christ, sacrificed for us!
We are accepted before God on account of the substitutionary sacrifice of His sinless Son who is wholly acceptable to the Father for our sake. Because He is “well-pleased” with the Son, the Father is well-pleased to accept His obedience unto death on the Cross on our behalf. “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21).
Accepted by His substitutionary sacrifice for sin for us. Hallelujah! what a Savior!
Lay the hand of your faith everyday on this blessed Substitute and thank God for His marvelous grace!
Blessings in the name of the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
