First Baptist Church . 3 Hedge Street . Simpsonville, SC 29681 . phone: (864) 967-8591 . Class Location: Main 210
Our Prayer
Our Prayer
Heavenly Father, I know that I have sinned against You and that my sins separate me from You. I am truly sorry. I now want to turn away from my sinful past and turn to You for forgiveness. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that Your Son, Jesus Christ, died for my sins, that He was raised from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become my Savior and the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send Your Holy Spirit to help me obey You and to convict me when I sin. I pledge to grow in grace and knowledge of You. My greatest purpose in life is to follow Your example and do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
We live in a culture that tells many lies
about what faith should be. One prevailing lie about faith in our time is that
faith should be kept private. Culture tells us that faith should be kept to
yourself. It’s not something that should impact our lives.
God has a different idea of what faith should
look like. Our relationship with God should impact every single part of our
lives. Faith should be at the center of our lives, determining what the rest of
life looks like. In Deuteronomy 6, Moses instructs how faith should be dominant
in our lives.
Moses clarifies that what we believe is the
most important thing about us. Thus, he delivers the “Shema,” the cornerstone
of the Old Testament theology. “Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is
one.” The declaration, though simple, is earth-shattering in its theological
implications. Moses clarifies that there is only one God, the Lord over all
things.
What is the response to such a serious
theological statement? As the people of God, we should love the Lord with all
our hearts, souls, minds, and strength. Later, a Jewish Rabbi will teach His
followers that this is the greatest commandment in the faith.
Believers should have a faith that is so
serious that they love the Lord more than they love anything else in the entire
world. That Rabbi’s name was Jesus. Listen today as we hear the
long-established words of our faith. Look at the Shema, and you will see that Jesus
is here, even in the Shema.
Bottom Line:
Your love for God determines your life for
God.
Sermon Recap:
Deuteronomy 6 is foundational to the
Israelite people and to us today. The “Shema” helped Israelites understand who
God was and understand their response.
One of the best ways to love God is by
remembering the Lord for who He is and what He has done for us.
Loving God requires us to love with
everything we have. This is a lifelong commitment.
Deuteronomy 6 teaches us that another way to
love God is by raising up the next generation to love the Lord.
Deuteronomy 6:1-15
“Now this is the commandment — the statutes
and the rules — that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you, that you may
do them in the land to which you are going over, to possess it, 2 that you may
fear the Lord your God, you and your son and your son’s son, by keeping all his
statutes and his commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life,
and that your days may be long. 3 Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to
do them, that it may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly, as
the Lord, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with
milk and honey. 4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You
shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and
with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on
your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk
of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you
lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and
they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the
doorposts of your house and on your gates. 10 “And when the Lord your God
brings you into the land that he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac,
and to Jacob, to give you—with great and good cities that you did not build, 11
and houses full of all good things that you did not fill, and cisterns that you
did not dig, and vineyards and olive trees that you did not plant—and when you
eat and are full, 12 then take care lest you forget the Lord, who brought you
out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 13 It is the Lord your
God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear. 14 You
shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are around you — 15 for
the Lord your God in your midst is a jealous God — lest the anger of the Lord
your God be kindled against you, and he destroy you from off the face of the
earth
The
Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Dt
6:1–15.
Discussion Questions:
Deuteronomy 6:4 says, ‘The Lord our God, the
Lord is one.’
How does recognizing God’s oneness shape the
way you prioritize Him in your daily life, especially when other ‘gods’ (like
work, hobbies, or relationships) compete for your attention?
In verse 5, we’re called to love God with all
our heart, soul, and might.
Which of these areas do you find easiest to
give to God, and which is hardest? What’s one step you could take to grow in
the harder area?
Verses 6-7 urge us to keep God’s words on our
hearts and teach them diligently to our children.
How have you seen faith passed down (or not)
in your own family or community? What’s one way you could be more intentional
about sharing God with the next generation?
Deuteronomy 6:10-12 warns against forgetting
God when life gets comfortable.
What’s a blessing in your life (like a home,
job, or family) that could tempt you to rely less on God? How can we keep
gratitude alive in those moments?
Jesus quotes the Shema in Mark 12:29-30 as
the greatest commandment.
How does His life and sacrifice deepen your
understanding of what it means to love God fully? How might that inspire you
this week?
Closing
Applying the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-9) to
daily life begins with anchoring our routines in the truth that “the Lord our
God, the Lord is one,” letting His singular authority shape our priorities.
Practically, we can love God with all our heart, soul, and might by starting
each day with prayer or Scripture, aligning our desires and energy toward Him —
perhaps reciting the Shema itself as a reminder. Throughout the day, we weave
His commands into ordinary moments: discussing a Bible verse over breakfast
with family, listening to worship music during a commute, or pausing to thank
Him before bed. For those influencing others, like children or friends, we
model this love by sharing what God’s teaching us — maybe explaining a faith
lesson during a walk or praying together at night. It’s not about perfection
but consistency, letting God’s Word dwell in us richly (Colossians 3:16) so
that our lives, from sunrise to sunset, reflect a wholehearted devotion to Him.
When many people think about the Bible, they
think about a book full of rules, a bunch of thou shall, and thou shall nots.
Most don’t realize that the Bible is much more than that. The Bible is the
story of how God is always working for the salvation and redemption of His
people. However, God, in His grace, doesn't leave us without any clue how to
live.
In the Ten Commandments, we have God’s rules
for how to live in a relationship with Him. Many people see these rules as
restrictive. God intends them to be anything but restrictive. God intends the
Ten Commandments to be freeing. When we walk in accordance with the Ten
Commandments, we experience the freedom of life in God's way. The Ten
Commandments function as boundaries that provide a safe space for us to run.
The Ten Commandments function as guard rails that keep us from catastrophe.
The problem with the Ten Commandments is that
we don’t have any power, in and of ourselves, to keep those rules. We know the
commandments, but so often, our hearts long for things outside of the
commandments, things the commandments forbid. The Christian does not just need
a list of rules, we need a Savior who can forgive us when we break the rules.
We need a Savior who can give us a new heart, a heart that wants to follow the
rules. Jesus does both things. Jesus forgives our sins when we break His law.
Then, Jesus gives us a heart that obeys the law because it loves the law. Jesus
is here, even in the Ten Commandments.
Bottom Line:
Our relationship with God leads
to our obedience
to His commands.
Deuteronomy 5:1-21
The Ten Commandments
Revisited
5 And Moses summoned all Israel and said to
them, “Hear, O Israel, the statutes and the rules that I speak in your hearing
today, and you shall learn them and be careful to do them. 2 The Lord our God
made a covenant with us in Horeb. 3 Not with our fathers did the Lord make this
covenant, but with us, who are all of us here alive today. 4 The Lord spoke
with you face to face at the mountain, out of the midst of the fire, 5 while I
stood between the Lord and you at that time, to declare to you the word of the
Lord. For you were afraid because of the fire, and you did not go up into the
mountain. He said: 6 “‘I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land
of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 7 “‘You shall have no other gods before
me. 8 “‘You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of
anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is
in the water under the earth. 9 You shall not bow down to them or serve them;
for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers
on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 10 but
showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my
commandments. 11 “‘You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain,
for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain. 12 “‘Observe
the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you. 13 Six
days you shall labor and do all your work, 14 but the seventh day is a Sabbath
to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter
or your male servant or your female servant, or your ox or your donkey or any
of your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates, that your male
servant and your female servant may rest as well as you. 15 You shall remember
that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you
out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore, the Lord
your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day. 16 “‘Honor your father and your
mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and
that it may go well with you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. 17
“‘You shall not murder. 18 “‘And you shall not commit adultery. 19 “‘And you
shall not steal. 20 “‘And you shall not bear false witness against your
neighbor. 21 “‘And you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. And you shall not
desire your neighbor’s house, his field, or his male servant, or his female
servant, his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.’
The
Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Dt
5:1–21.
Sermon Recap:
God gives rules to follow only after he has
delivered His people. This makes clear that the 10 Commandments do not function
as our path to earn God’s approval. Rather, these are how we maintain our
relationship with the God who rescued us.
The 10 Commandments express how to best
relate to God and to others. Commandments 1-4 show how to best love God.
Commandments 5-10 show how to best love others.
The 10 Commandments allow humans to walk in
freedom. When we do life as God intended, life goes better.
The 10 Commandments leave us in despair.
Though we know we should obey these commands, we fail in obedience repeatedly.
The 10 Commandments reveal one great truth: we need a savior to forgive our sin
and empower our obedience.
Discussion Questions:
God’s Identity and Our Response (vv. 1-6):
"Verse 6 reminds us that God introduces
Himself as the One who brought Israel out of Egypt before giving the
commandments. How does knowing God as our rescuer — not just our rule-giver — change
the way we approach His commands in our lives today?"
Exclusive Devotion (vv. 7-11):
"The first three commandments call us to
worship God alone, avoid idols, and honor His name. In our modern world, what
are some ‘other gods’ or ‘idols’ that compete for our attention, and how can we
refocus on God instead?"
Sabbath as Gift (vv. 12-15):
"The Sabbath command ties rest to God’s
deliverance, setting it apart from just a day off.
How do you currently practice rest, and what
might it look like to make it a time to celebrate God’s freedom in your
life?"
Relationships and God’s Heart (vv. 16-21):
"The last six commandments protect our
relationships with others — family, neighbors, even enemies. Which of these
feels most challenging to you right now (e.g., honoring parents, avoiding
envy), and what’s one step you could take to align with God’s heart in that
area?"
Law and Grace Together (Whole Passage):
"Jesus said He came to fulfill the law,
not abolish it (Matthew 5:17). How do you see these commandments pointing us to
Jesus, and how does His grace help us live them out in a way the Israelites
couldn’t on their own?"
END
Teacher Notes:
Click Play to Watch
Mom - remember how it started, I was 5 years old,
and I stole my brother’s sweets? You didn’t correct me, and I remember when I
was 7 - the day I stole my neighbor’s toy and hid it at home, you said nothing.
And remember when I was 12 and I hid my cousin’s ball in the garage, when he came
to play with us at home and you said you didn’t see it, but you did.
Do you remember the day I was expelled from
school at 15? Dad wanted to punish me, but you said no and that very day you
had a big argument with dad because you were defending me. You said I was still
young, you said the teachers were wrong to say that I was not attending class. You
defended me, you said I was right, yet you knew I was wrong. Mom, do you remember
when you saw me steal our neighbor’s bicycle when I was 17, you didn’t tell
anyone I stole it, no – mom you were silent? You loved me so much, yes, you
loved me, but you didn’t correct me, instead you spoiled me. That is how it started,
and it graduated slowly until today when I will be executed for bank robbery
and murder.
Mom, I was just a kid and I needed guidance.
By the time you read this I will be gone. Yours truly, your loving son.
The people of Israel have come a long way
since the Red Sea. After God delivered the people from Egypt, God began
bringing them to their new home, the promised land. On their way there, God
begins to give the people a new way to live in relationship with Him.
The problem is that the people of God can’t
seem to stop messing things up. Right after God delivers them from Egypt, the
people start grumbling and complaining. A few chapters later, the people build
an idol in the form of a golden calf. Repeatedly, the people of God show one
default tendency: rebellion against God.
A holy God, a perfect God, a sinless God
cannot tolerate continual rebellion. Since God is infinitely good, every sin
against Him is infinitely heinous. Someone must pay for this kind of treachery.
God cannot overlook this kind of injustice. There must be blood. Nevertheless,
God, in His grace and love toward us, doesn’t want to make us pay for our sins
with our own blood. So, God makes another way.
The Old Testament sacrificial system was
established in the book of Leviticus as a way for sinful humans to be able to
live in and maintain a relationship with a holy God. God understands that human
beings are continually sinful. So, God established a system of continual
payment for sin. Sin would be paid for with the blood of a sacrifice. Repeatedly,
a sacrifice would be offered, and the blood of the sacrificed animal would
forgive the sins of the people.
The height of the Old Testament sacrificial
system was the Day of Atonement. This day came once a year, and the day was
defined by the Great High Priest offering a sacrifice on behalf of all the
people. This day was so significant for the people of Israel because it was the
day on which their forgiveness from God and relationship with God depended. The
sad part is that the ritual had to be repeated every year, year after year, because
the blood of an animal was not sufficient to save the people from their sins. The
Old Testament Day of Atonement is a reminder that we needed something more than
the Day of Atonement. We need Jesus. Jesus is here, even in the Old Testament Sacrificial
system.
Leviticus 16:1-5
16 The Lord spoke to Moses after the death of
the two sons of Aaron, when they drew near before the Lord and died, 2 and the
Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron your brother not to come at any time into the
Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat that is on the ark, so that
he may not die. For I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat. 3 But in
this way, Aaron shall come into the Holy Place: with a bull from the herd for a
sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. 4 He shall put on the holy linen
coat and shall have the linen undergarment on his body, and he shall tie the
linen sash around his waist and wear the linen turban; these are the holy
garments. He shall bathe his body in water and then put them on. 5 And he shall
take from the congregation of the people of Israel two male goats for a sin
offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.
The
Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Le
16:1–5.
Leviticus can feel strange and distant, but
it points to Christ. The civil and ceremonial laws were fulfilled in Jesus,
while the moral laws remain because God’s character does not change.
This chapter is the pinnacle of the Torah,
showing how God provided atonement for sin through sacrifice, foreshadowing
Christ’s ultimate sacrifice.
Leviticus 16 reveals God's holiness through
separation (man cannot approach freely), specificity (God determines how He is
approached), and seriousness (improper approach results in death), emphasizing
the need for reverence and the necessity of Christ’s atonement.
The Day of Atonement is a shadow of the true
substance to come. The shadow is the ceremony we read about in Leviticus 16.
The substance is the cross of Christ were the true sacrifice died for our
atonement.
God’s holiness is such that no sin can dwell
in His presence. That is the entire point of the Day of Atonement: someone must
pay for sin if we are to dwell with God. Thankfully, we have a Great High
Priest who has paid the price for our sins. The blood of Jesus Christ purifies
those who trust in Him. The most significant question in anyone’s life is this:
has Jesus washed away your sin?
Discussion Questions:
God's Holiness (Leviticus 16:2)
God warns Aaron not to enter the Most Holy
Place whenever he chooses, emphasizing the seriousness of God's holiness.
Discussion: Why is God's holiness so
significant in this chapter? How does the restricted access to God's presence
help us understand His nature?
Application: How can we cultivate a greater
reverence for God's holiness in our daily lives?
God's Mercy in Atonement (Leviticus 16:30)
On the Day of Atonement, God provides a way
for the people's sins to be cleansed.
Discussion: How does this act of mercy
demonstrate God's heart toward His people?
Application: How should knowing that God
mercifully provides a way for our sin to be removed impact how we approach Him
in prayer and repentance?
Substitutionary Atonement (Leviticus 16:21-22)
The scapegoat has the sins of the people
placed on it and is sent away into the wilderness.
Discussion: What does the act of the
scapegoat teach us about the seriousness of sin and God's provision for dealing
with it?
Application: How does understanding that
Jesus is our ultimate scapegoat change how we view our sin and God's grace?
(See Hebrews 9:11-14)
Access to God's Presence through Christ (Leviticus 16:15; Hebrews 10:19-22)
The high priest enters the Most Holy Place
with the blood of a sacrifice to make atonement.
Discussion: Why was blood necessary for
atonement, and how does this point to Jesus' sacrifice?
Application: How does knowing that Jesus'
blood gives us access to God's presence shape the way we pray, worship, and
live?
Responding to God's Work of Atonement (Leviticus 16:29-31)
The people were called to humble themselves
and rest on the Day of Atonement.
Discussion: Why were the people commanded to
practice humility and rest as part of this day?
Application: How can we practice humble,
faith-filled rest in the finished work of Jesus, our ultimate atonement?
END
Teacher Notes:
Yom Kippur
Why was access to God restricted?
What does this teach us about God’s Holiness?
How can we cultivate a greater reverence and
awe for God’s Holiness?
Worship Him in spirit and truth.
Live in obedience to His Word.
Approach Him with reverence in prayer.
Honor His name.
Study and meditate on His Word.
Repent and seek purity.
Fear the Lord in a healthy way.
Set apart time for God.
Leviticus 16 reveals God's Holiness through
separation (man cannot approach
freely), specificity (God determines how He is approached), and seriousness
(improper approach results in death), this emphasizes the need for reverence
and the necessity of Christ’s atonement.
A Holy God cannot tolerate continual
rebellion.
The Old Testament sacrificial system was
established in the book of Leviticus as a wayfor sinful humans to be
able to live in and maintain a relationship with a holy God. God understands
that human beings are continually sinful. So, God established a system of continual
payment for sin. Sin would be paid for with the blood of a sacrifice. Repeatedly,
a sacrifice would be offered, and the blood of the sacrificed animal would
forgive the sins of the people.
How can we cultivate a sense of reverence and
awe towards God?
Cultivating a sense of reverence and awe
towards God is a profound journey that requires intentionality, reflection, and
a deepening relationship with the Divine.
Understanding the nature of God is
foundational. God is
omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. He is the Creator of the universe, the
Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end (Revelation 22:13).
Reflecting on God's attributes — His holiness, love, justice, mercy, and
sovereignty — can evoke a sense of awe.
Engaging in regular, meaningful worship is another vital practice. Worship is not
just about singing songs; it is about ascribing worth to God through our words,
actions, and attitudes.
Prayer is also a powerful way to cultivate
reverence. When we pray, we are
entering into a conversation with the Almighty. Jesus taught His disciples to
pray with reverence in the Lord's Prayer: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed
be your name" (Matthew 6:9). This opening line acknowledges God's holiness
and sets a tone of respect and awe.
Studying the Bible is crucial for developing a deeper understanding of God
and His ways. The Scriptures are God's revelation to us, and through them, we
learn about His character, His promises, and His works.
Reflecting on God's creation can also inspire
awe. The natural world is a testament to God's
creativity and power. Psalm 19:1 declares, "The heavens declare the glory
of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands."
Living a life of obedience and service to God
is another way to cultivate reverence. Jesus said in John 14:15, "If you love me, keep my
commands." Obedience to God's commands is a tangible expression of our
reverence for Him.
Reading and reflecting on the lives of saints
and other Christian figures who have demonstrated profound reverence for God can also be inspiring.
Silence and solitude are practices that can
help us attune our spirits to God's presence. In our busy, noise-filled lives, setting aside time to be still before
God can be transformative. Psalm 46:10 encourages us, "Be still, and know
that I am God."
Gratitude is another powerful practice that
fosters reverence. When we
intentionally thank God for His blessings, provision, and grace, we acknowledge
His goodness and sovereignty. Cultivating a heart of gratitude helps us
recognize God's hand in our lives and respond with reverence and praise.
We Come into God’s Presence with Care
Aaron the high priest was probably highly
motivated to obey God’s instructions about the Day of Atonement. Verse 1 of
Leviticus 16 says that God gave Aaron the instructions “after the death of two
of Aaron’s sons when they approached the presence of the Lord and died.” The
story of the deaths of Aaron’s sons is recorded in the tenth chapter of
Leviticus. Their names were Nadab and Abihu, and on the altar they offered a
burnt offering that was contrary to God’s command. They disobeyed God in the
way they worshiped Him, and because of their disobedience flames leaped from
the Lord’s presence “and burned them to death before the Lord” (10:2). After
that, when God spoke, Aaron must have been ready to obey, especially when God
said that Aaron was not to enter the holy place “or else he will die” (16:2).
God repeated that warning in verse 13. Aaron knew to take God seriously.
God gave Aaron directions about everything he
was to do on the Day of Atonement. God also told Aaron how and where he was to
do them. God was specific. That illustrates a truth that is expressed in
various ways throughout the Bible — we are not to approach God in a haphazard
way or in the way that suits us at the moment. We submit to what God says in
His Word about how to approach Him. He is God, not man. He is our sovereign
Lord, not our buddy, and we come into His presence with a keen awareness of that
fact. In Matthew 6:9 Jesus taught us to begin prayer by saying, “Our Father in
heaven, Your name be honored as holy.” Holy, revered, be Your name, O God. The
psalmist wrote in Psalm 100:4, “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His
courts with praise.” We don’t come into His presence naming our demands or
imposing our opinions; we come into His presence giving Him praise as God and
bowing our hearts in reverence out of fear of His holiness and awesome power.
After God sent fire to consume Nadab and Abihu for not treating Him as holy,
God said, “I will show My holiness to those who are near Me” (Lev 10:3). We
come into God’s presence with care.
Why was atonement so important?
How does God's provision of atonement show
His Mercy?
What are some ways we can live in greater
awareness of God’s Mercy?
The height of the Old Testament sacrificial
system was the Day of Atonement. This day came once a year, and the day was
defined by the Great High Priest offering a sacrifice on behalf of all the
people. This day was so significant for the people of Israel because it was the
day on which their forgiveness from God and relationship with God depended. The
sad part is that the ritual had to be repeated every year, year after year, because
the blood of an animal was not sufficient to save the people from their sins.
The Day of Atonement is a shadow of the true
substance to come. The shadow is the ceremony we read about in Leviticus 16.
The substance is the cross of Christ were the true sacrifice died for our
atonement.
What is the significance of the scapegoat?
How does it foreshadow Jesus' work on the
cross?
How does knowing Jesus bore your sins change
how you approach confession and repentance?
This event with the two goats occurred on the
Day of Atonement. The two goats represented the two ways God was dealing with
Israel’s sin:
·He was
forgiving their sin through the first goat, which was sacrificed
·He was
removing their guilt through the second goat; the scapegoat was sent into the
desert.
This was repeated every year. Jesus’ death
replaced this system once and for all. We can have our sins forgiven and guilt
removed by placing our trust in Christ. (Hebrews 10:1-18)
Sin was removed from the community,
demonstrating God's provision for forgiveness.
"He made Him who knew no sin to be sin
for us.” - 2 Corinthians 5:21
Jesus is our scapegoat who bears our sins and
removes them completely (Hebrews 9:28).
Blood symbolizes the cost of forgiveness and
the gravity of sin.
Jesus' blood was shed once for all, making
ongoing sacrifices unnecessary.
How does knowing that Jesus' blood gives us
access to God's presence shape the way we pray, worship, and live?
Why were the people commanded to humble
themselves and rest?
Humility acknowledges our need for atonement,
while rest demonstrates trust in God's work.
We rest in the finished work of Jesus (Hebrews
4:9-10).
Why was atonement so important?
We sin. Therefore, atonement for sin is
necessary for us to be in God’s presence, and being in God’s presence is
important. Atonement is doing what God says is necessary to reconcile us to
Him. In the old covenant period God said to atone for sin through the
sacrifices and ceremonies He prescribed.
Sacrificial atonement for sin is necessary
because of God’s justice. Since God is just, He must punish sin. God
commanded Israelite judges to be just, clearing the innocent and punishing the
guilty (Exod 23:6-8; Deut 1:16-17). In one of King Solomon’s prayers, he
expressed his confidence that God is just, “condemning the wicked man by
bringing what he has done on his own head and providing justice for the
righteous by rewarding him according to his righteousness” (1 Kings 8:32). A
judge who lets a guilty person go free with no punishment for his wrongdoing is
not a good judge; he is not upholding justice. However, God must let guilty
people go free if He is going to save guilty sinners like us. God is merciful
and loving, so He doesn’t want us to perish for our sin. So how can the justice
of God and the mercy of God be reconciled?
Atonement for sin through sacrifice is God’s
answer to the tension between His justice and mercy. God expressed His justice against sin in
the death of the sacrifice, and God expressed His mercy to the sinner by
allowing the sacrifice to substitute for the sinner. The sacrifice died, not
the sinner. God’s penalty for sin was applied, but it was applied to the
sacrifice, not the guilty. The old covenant sacrifices atoned for sin, they
taught the world the meaning of sacrificial atonement, and they prepared the
world for the sacrifice of Jesus. When Jesus died on the cross for our sins,
He provided the final, perfect, once-for-all sacrificial atonement for sin.
Thank God, He offers us atonement for sin!