“And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him” (Leviticus 1:4)
TEXT — Leviticus 1:1-9
Message
Oliver Cooke has written the lyrics and music for a modern chorus entitled, “I Know a Fount.” Its simple direct words express a powerful truth: “I know a fount where sins are washed away; I know a place where night is turned to day. Burdens are lifted; blind eyes made to see. There’s a wonder-working power in the blood of Calvary.”
When the book of Leviticus opens with the burnt offering of the Mosaic dispensation, we immediately see the acceptable sacrifice for the atonement of man and his reconciliation with the Father. In the typology of a sacrificial offering in Leviticus, we see the elements of the true Lamb of God that John later decried. First, the lamb must be slain and the blood poured at the altar for forgiveness or atonement. Second, it had to be perfect and without blemish. Third, for acceptance to God, the offerer identifies with the lamb by placing the hands on it which is obligatory. This, on one hand, is the personal acceptance of guilt, and on the other hand, a desperation for pardon and substitution.
Each of these principles foreshadows Christ. His blood was shed to atone for our sins. He is without sin yet He died for the sins of humanity. He took our place, for we owed the penalty of death. And when He offered Himself, He made it possible for us to be forgiven and drawn near to God. He was the only person in history who is perfect and without blemish.
Interestingly, Christ did not parade these excellences for the sake of it. He did so “that He might sanctify and cleanse it …that he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having spot, …but that it should be without blemish”. We should, therefore, step out and meet Him “outside the gate” to stamp His image on our hearts and accomplish a deeper work of grace that will fill our hearts with love divine and free us of every inbred sin.
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Thought for the day
Christ’s atonement is comprehensive and available to those who are willing
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
3 comments
I must confess that daily manner has been my favourite devotional study over the years. With the help of a young sister that dedicated herself to sharing to me always.
Christ has willingly offered himself for our sacrifice, and we need to willingly as individuals accept that offering and surrender ourselves totally. He will impact himself into our heart and we will be like him, and live like him.
I must confess that daily manner has been my favourite devotional study over the years. With the help of a young sister that dedicated herself to sharing to me always.
Oh Lamb of God, wash my sins away. Amen.
Christ has willingly offered himself for our sacrifice, and we need to willingly as individuals accept that offering and surrender ourselves totally. He will impact himself into our heart and we will be like him, and live like him.