March 10, 2022 - Leviticus 16-18

Before I accepted Christ as my Savior, I did many things that fit right in with the group of friends around me. I did not see any reason to live or speak differently, as we were comfortable with one another. I soon recognized, after becoming a believer in Christ, I had old habits and lifestyles I needed to put away and not practice anymore.

 Moses had gone through a list of cleansing and ceremonial functions to bring a person from alienation and sin to a restored relationship with God. The bull and the scapegoat were killed and the blood from those sacrifices were applied to the altar. Subsequently, blood was sprinkled seven times on the altar to cleanse and consecrate the altar from the uncleanness of the children of Israel (16:14-15).

A second goat had hands placed upon it and the sins of the people were transferred to the goat which was then released into the wilderness. Afterwards the priest, handler of the scapegoat and the servant handling the remains of the sacrifices, were all to wash with water and be cleansed of defilement before returning to the camp.

The significance of blood sacrifices that were spilt and presented to the Lord at the door of the tabernacle, represented a covering or atonement for individual sin. The life of everything was in the blood and this offering permitted the people access to God. No matter who brought the bull to the priest, they were cleansed from their sin before the Lord (Leviticus 16:30).

The Lord then spoke and challenged the people to be holy, unlike how they had been in Egypt. The acts and attitudes were to be different because of their relationship to the Lord. They were also not to imitate the Canaanites, with whom they dwelt (18:3).

In the New Testament, Paul challenged the believers to be a distinct and changed people. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17). Whether it was the old covenant, or the new, true followers of God are to live and act differently than the world around them. Can people tell we are followers of Christ by our words, works and attitudes?