Leviticus 1

Leviticus

Introduction: Leviticus is the book of the laws that god set up for his people Israel. It contains directions for worship, sacrifices, special feast days, dietary laws, moral laws, and the punishment for not following the laws. Many people just pass over this book because of the strictness of god and the severe punishments for some sins. Yet there are many things we can learn from Leviticus. The life set forth by this book would separate the Israelites from all the other people around them. Many of the laws are there because they forbid the following of the practices of the people that surrounded the Israelites. I hope that you will read this book as we go through it and always remember the difference between living in the law and living under grace.

Leviticus starts with directions for six different offerings the people were to make to the lord. Each of the six offerings are very similar in the way they are prepared and carried out. There were offerings to worship god, promote community, and atonement for sin and guilt.

Some of the offerings were completely burned on the altar, while others are partly burned with the rest being divided betweens priest, Levites, the worshiper and friends.

In all cases the worshiper’s hands are placed on the sacrifice and a declaration of worship, confession or praise is made to the priest and all present as the animal is sacrificed. In all cases god demanded perfect sacrifices, the best of the flock or herd, and grain

1. PERSONAL

A. PLACING HANDS ON THE HEAD

B. DECLARATION BEFORE THE PRIEST, AND COMMUNITY

C. PERFECT, THE BEST

D. PERSONAL COST

E. DAVID SAID “I WILL NOT OFFER TO THE THAT WHICH COST ME NOTHING”

2. MOTIVE FOR CHANGE

A. THE PERSONALNESS AND COST

B. MOTIVE FOR CHANGE

C. A WAY BACK TO A RIGHT PLACE WITH GOD

D. NOT AN EXCUSE OR WAY TO MAINTAIN WRONG BEHAVIOR AND HABITS

E. CALLING PEOPLE TO BE THE BEST THEY COULD BE

F. NOT MAKING A WAY TO BE THE WORST PERSON AND STILL BE ACCEPTED

3. GOD’S SACRIFICE FOR YOU

A. RAISED AND WATCHED OVER BY GOD

B. THE BEST OF THE BEST

C. YOUR SIN PLACED ON HIM (ISA 53:5)

D. A WAY BACK TO GOD, NOT AN EXCUSE

E. TO BE TRANSFORMED BY THE (ROOM 12:2)

F. TRANSFORMED INTO HIS LIKENESS (2 CUR 3:18)

G. CONFORMED TO THE LIKENESS (ROOM 8:29)

CONCLUSION: as we remember god’s sacrifice for us, let us not use it as a justification or excuse for our sin but as a way back to god and an opportunity grow and change.