The Holiness of God
10. Leviticus and the Holiness of God
Today we are going to look at the book of Leviticus
At first glance, strange book with strange regulations about strange things
Not the core themes of Leviticus
1. Leviticus is consumed with the holiness of God — separate from sin 18:2-4; 19:18
2. He expects his people to more like him than like the world
3. If fail: God is a forgiving, merciful God
CENTER IN ON THE SACRIFICES
Same basic procedure — 1:3-9 (supply antecedents) — four things
Without blemish — “Pleasing” (Forgiveness is granted, cf. 4:20)
Clear that the one bringing the sacrifice is a participant, not an observer
Sinner hand and kills/skins/hacks / washes the sacrifice
Some sacrifices: blood sprinkled on sinner
Sinner is responsible for his own sin —participant (not meaningless ritual)
Today we are going to look at the book of Leviticus
- Third book in OT
- Instructions given to Moses along with the Ten Commandments
At first glance, strange book with strange regulations about strange things
- Sacrifice animals
- Ox gores someone a second time Special festivals
Not the core themes of Leviticus
1. Leviticus is consumed with the holiness of God — separate from sin 18:2-4; 19:18
2. He expects his people to more like him than like the world
3. If fail: God is a forgiving, merciful God
CENTER IN ON THE SACRIFICES
Same basic procedure — 1:3-9 (supply antecedents) — four things
Without blemish — “Pleasing” (Forgiveness is granted, cf. 4:20)
Clear that the one bringing the sacrifice is a participant, not an observer
Sinner hand and kills/skins/hacks / washes the sacrifice
Some sacrifices: blood sprinkled on sinner
Sinner is responsible for his own sin —participant (not meaningless ritual)
THEME #1: LEARN ABOUT GOD — GOD IS A HOLY GOD
“Does not sin” — separate from sin — nothing contrary to his character
Exodus 3 and Burning Bush
Exodus 19 and not touching Mount Sinai R.C. Sproul, “The Holiness of God”
It is God’s holiness that drives the entire sacrificial system
God is not a cruel God who likes to torture animals
Narcissistic God who wants us to beg for mercy
God is holy — sin separates — something has to be done to reconnect
Say another way: as we grow in our awareness of God’s holiness
We also grow in an awareness of our own sin
Understand that God’s holiness demands punishment for sin (Isa 6:1-7)
Pastor — never preach sin — never preach holiness
THEME #2: SIN
1. Breaking of God’s rules
God alone decides the rules
Nowhere in Leviticus does God ask Moses’ opinion, or ours
This is why sin is always, ultimately, against God
Yes, we sin against people — against my spouse, parents, one-another Deepest level: Joseph; Ps 51:1-4a
When you are cruel to your sister/brother, you are sinning against God Devalue people by excluding them from your clique at school ... Disrespect your spouse ...
Private thoughts/actions are full of lust and anger ...
Why we don’t sacrifice to anyone else — forgiveness ultimately comes from God
“Does not sin” — separate from sin — nothing contrary to his character
Exodus 3 and Burning Bush
Exodus 19 and not touching Mount Sinai R.C. Sproul, “The Holiness of God”
It is God’s holiness that drives the entire sacrificial system
God is not a cruel God who likes to torture animals
Narcissistic God who wants us to beg for mercy
God is holy — sin separates — something has to be done to reconnect
Say another way: as we grow in our awareness of God’s holiness
We also grow in an awareness of our own sin
Understand that God’s holiness demands punishment for sin (Isa 6:1-7)
Pastor — never preach sin — never preach holiness
THEME #2: SIN
1. Breaking of God’s rules
God alone decides the rules
Nowhere in Leviticus does God ask Moses’ opinion, or ours
This is why sin is always, ultimately, against God
Yes, we sin against people — against my spouse, parents, one-another Deepest level: Joseph; Ps 51:1-4a
When you are cruel to your sister/brother, you are sinning against God Devalue people by excluding them from your clique at school ... Disrespect your spouse ...
Private thoughts/actions are full of lust and anger ...
Why we don’t sacrifice to anyone else — forgiveness ultimately comes from God
2. High cost of sin
World belittles sin — Ridicules holiness — Mocks righteousness Purity is only for the weak — Phil 4 is for losers
Sin is so serious that the only acceptable punishment for sin is death
Morbid — Take a butter knife and hold it against Fluffy’s throat,
then tell God that the “little” sins, private sins, really don’t matter. Even for unintentional sins — bulls, goats, and lambs were slaughtered
If a person feels that sin isn’t that bad — haven’t read Leviticus Haven’t come to grips with the holiness of God
THEME #3: FORGIVENESS 1. Forgiving God
Does not have to forgive — nothing forcing him to forgive — Ex 34:6-7a
1. Allows substitution — leads us to the cross
Forgives because of his mercy and grace
2. Forgiveness is not automatic
First impression of reading Leviticus might imply it is all external. Must be accompanied with faith and true repentance — Isa 1:11-17
LEVITICUS PREPARES US FOR THE CROSS OF JESUS CHRIST
Leviticus teaches us that
Our sins have separated us from our holy God — broken his rules Penalty is death — “for the wages of sin is death” (Rom 6:23)
Forgiveness is only through the mercy and grace of God — I don’t earn it In his mercy, he allows a substitute whose death pays the price for my sin
World belittles sin — Ridicules holiness — Mocks righteousness Purity is only for the weak — Phil 4 is for losers
Sin is so serious that the only acceptable punishment for sin is death
Morbid — Take a butter knife and hold it against Fluffy’s throat,
then tell God that the “little” sins, private sins, really don’t matter. Even for unintentional sins — bulls, goats, and lambs were slaughtered
If a person feels that sin isn’t that bad — haven’t read Leviticus Haven’t come to grips with the holiness of God
THEME #3: FORGIVENESS 1. Forgiving God
Does not have to forgive — nothing forcing him to forgive — Ex 34:6-7a
1. Allows substitution — leads us to the cross
Forgives because of his mercy and grace
2. Forgiveness is not automatic
First impression of reading Leviticus might imply it is all external. Must be accompanied with faith and true repentance — Isa 1:11-17
LEVITICUS PREPARES US FOR THE CROSS OF JESUS CHRIST
Leviticus teaches us that
Our sins have separated us from our holy God — broken his rules Penalty is death — “for the wages of sin is death” (Rom 6:23)
Forgiveness is only through the mercy and grace of God — I don’t earn it In his mercy, he allows a substitute whose death pays the price for my sin
Yet in Hebrews, God’s holy demands were satisfied, once for all, on the cross
Cross becomes the ultimate altar
Jesus was the “lamb of God who takes away the sins of the ... ” (Jn 1:29) Jesus is the ultimate sacrifice — why we no longer sacrifice
Hebrews 9:22 (“without shedding “) and 10:4 (“impossible for blood of”)
LEAVE THIS MORNING WITH TWO IMAGES
1. Image of God’s holiness
God is absolutely perfect — not the slightest hint of sin — Isa 6 He does not live in the midst of sin
2. Imagery of sacrifice
We have broken his rules of the relationship
In his mercy and grace, has extended forgiveness through death of another Place on head and kill/skin/ hack / wash
Extend the metaphor
It was our hands that pounded the nails Thomas Blackshear’s “Forgiven”
Leviticus calls us to fall at the feet of the cross and worship him.
Amazed and in awe at his perfections
Sin our sin as a violation of his character Overwhelmed with thankfulness for our forgiveness Out of a desire to please him, pursue his holiness
“Lord come in our midst. We are a stiff-necked people. Please pardon our iniquity and our sin. Thank you for taking us for your inheritance.”
QUESTIONS:
head
Cross becomes the ultimate altar
Jesus was the “lamb of God who takes away the sins of the ... ” (Jn 1:29) Jesus is the ultimate sacrifice — why we no longer sacrifice
Hebrews 9:22 (“without shedding “) and 10:4 (“impossible for blood of”)
LEAVE THIS MORNING WITH TWO IMAGES
1. Image of God’s holiness
God is absolutely perfect — not the slightest hint of sin — Isa 6 He does not live in the midst of sin
2. Imagery of sacrifice
We have broken his rules of the relationship
In his mercy and grace, has extended forgiveness through death of another Place on head and kill/skin/ hack / wash
Extend the metaphor
It was our hands that pounded the nails Thomas Blackshear’s “Forgiven”
Leviticus calls us to fall at the feet of the cross and worship him.
Amazed and in awe at his perfections
Sin our sin as a violation of his character Overwhelmed with thankfulness for our forgiveness Out of a desire to please him, pursue his holiness
“Lord come in our midst. We are a stiff-necked people. Please pardon our iniquity and our sin. Thank you for taking us for your inheritance.”
QUESTIONS:
head
1. have you read the book of leviticus? , what were your general impressions?
Have you thought about God’s holiness being the root cause of the need to punish sin? If not, why did you think sin had to be punished? What are some other reasons why punishment is necessary?
Have you thought about God’s holiness being the root cause of the need to punish sin? If not, why did you think sin had to be punished? What are some other reasons why punishment is necessary?
2. How does a knowledge of the holiness of God and the subsequent necessity of punishment affect how you talk about sin and punishment and judgment to a non- believer?
Heart
Heart
- What it take to really come to an understanding that all sin, ultimately, is against God? How can we so personalizeour sin so that we may flee from it?
- What are we going to do about white lies? Where do we draw the line? Do we shade the truth so as to avoid the consequences? Do we come to a complete stop at a stop sign? What should we do about those times in our lives when we are not “rigorously honest”?
- Okay. So maybe the illustration of “Fluffy” is a bit over the top, but how would you convey to your friends thelessons of the sacrificial system in a way that wouldn’tlessen the horror of sin?
- The Old Testament is full of God’s condemnation of religious rituals done apart from a heart cleansed of sin. It would be foolish, would it not, to assume that this is true of everyone else except our church? How can we come to a deeper and truer understanding that religious rituals undertaken by a heart full of unconfessed sin (gossip, slander, anger, lack of forgiveness, pride, etc.) make God sick to his stomach?
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