Leviticus 1-10 Repentance

Repentance

Leviticus 1-10

INTRODUCTION: Last week we found that sin is something that offends God and incurs a debt to God. We all sin and that fact does not make committing them ok, nor does it in anyway excuse us from them. In Leviticus 1-10 we see the start of the sacrificial system for the forgiveness of sin, which prefigures the ultimate sacrifice for sin, Jesus.

1. AWARENESS

A. 4:14, 4:23, 4:28 “WHEN THEY ARE MADE AWARE OF IT”

B. AKNOWLEDGEMENT OF SIN

C. THE DANGER OF DENIAL AND REDEFONITION

2. CONFESSION AND REPENTANCE

A. TAKE THE ANIMAL TO THE PLACE OF SACRIFICE 4:28

B. PLACE THEIR HANDS ON IT’S HEAD TRANSFERING SIN 1:4, 4:29

C. RESTITUTION 6:5 PLUS ONE FITH OF THE VALUE

D. THE UNREPENTANT HEART

E. THE DANGER IN ACCEPTING THE UNREPENTANT HEART

3. SACRIFICE

A. BULLS, GOATS, BIRDS AND LAMBS

B. MAKING UP YOUR OWN WAY 10:1&2

C. THE LAMB OF GOD 1:29

D. THE MESSAGE OF JESUS

E. REJOICING IN HEAVEN LUKE 15:10

F. REPENTANCE NOT PERFECTION

CONCLUSION: OUR WORLD SUFFERS FROM A LACK OF TRUE REPENTANCE, WE SUFFER FROM A LACK OF TRUE REPENTANCE. FOR ONLY THROUGH REPENTANCE CAN WE RECEIVE THE SACRIFICE OF JESUS TO CLEANES US FROM OUR SIN AND MAKE US WHOLE AGAIN. THROUGH REPENTANCE WE CAN LEAVE THE GUILT BEHIND AND START AGAIN.

Leviticus 1-10

In Genesis we see the coming of sin into the world and what a sin is, but what do we do about our sin. This section of Leviticus tells how sin is to be dealt with. The offerings as a whole were very elaborate rituals which were meant to deal with specific sins. The elaborateness, ceremony and preparation all served to be steps in the restoration process. You will notice that much of the offering being made ends up as food for the priest and the one bringing the offering and at times the whole group of people gathered at the temple. A ritualized picnic and barbeque. The point of eating with the priest is that it shows restoration has been made.

As you look at the regulations they are initiated by a person when they become aware of their sin. The person through some means has recognized their sin and then take steps to pay for it. The acknowledgement of their sin and the taking the steps of sacrifice are acts of repentance. The steps of repentance are very public things. This is the second big part of our life with God. God not only makes the rules but also wants us to acknowledge our sin. Later on Jesus will put the word repentance to the process which means to turn away from something. The first step in dealing with sin is to acknowledge it and turn away from it.

Chapter 1 vs 3-6

The person who makes the sacrifice brings the animal, transfers their sin to the animal by laying hands on it’s head. The person then kills and butchers the animal. The transfer of sin and the sacrifice prefigure Jesus the ultimate sacrifice for our sin.

From the acknowledgement of sin until the end of the sacrifice the person is deeply involved in the ritual. The whole ritual is not quick, flippant, nor easy, as some would picture sacrifice. It is a public action showing your acknowledgement of sin and your sorrow for it. This action is called repentance. You cannot get from sin to forgiveness except through repentance, a process where you feel and experience the cost of your sin. The ultimate idea being that through the whole process your actions will change and you will attempt to do better.

Note that there is no limit on the number of times a person can bring a sacrifice for any one sin. This acknowledges the fact that we will struggle with the same sins often. The acknowledgement of our wrong actions, the intent of our heart and mind to change is at the heart of the sacrificial system and not perfection.

Not all people could afford to sacrifice a bull so we notice provision for offerings of lesser value. The atonement and personal involvement are still the same.

Parts of some offerings are eaten only by the Priest and their families. Other offerings were eaten by the Priest, their families, the person offering the sacrifice and anyone else around at the time. This is a great symbol of the restoration of the individual through forgiveness.

After the first sacrifices are made in chapters 8&9 the priest begin their service before God. Chapter ten starts with the death of two of Aarons sons because they fill censers and burn incense to it. Perhaps they were adding a pagan ritual to the service or they may have been trying to be creative, but God makes it clear it is unacceptable. We cannot atone for sin on our own terms for doing so is a sin in its self.

When we are finished, the concern for us is the act of repentance. The action of the sinner in the process of forgiveness. Though Jesus is the new, perfect and lasting sacrifice for sin, repentance is still required. There is the acknowledgement of sinful actions that imply the intention of the forgiven to stop those actions.

The overall goal of God is not just forgiveness but also personal growth and change. The New Testament word for repentance means to turn or to change directions

In today’s world many in the church see forgiveness as being detached from repentance. Often no thought of change is ever entertained by people. Many in the church and the world never acknowledge the sinfulness of their actions. They never recognize their debt before God. Some even go to as far as to say that sin does not exist. Actions which God has clearly stated as sin are now approved of or even encouraged.

In the end there becomes two large classes of sin, repentant sin where we acknowledge our offence before God and unrepentant sin, sin where we do not acknowledge our offence before God. Unrepentant sin are sins that we have no remorse for and are not seeking to stop.

The great danger in the church today is the acceptance of unrepentant sin. To somehow deal with sin and define sin on our own terms, just as Aarons sons did, and we will find ourselves just as dead.