Leviticus 4

 Leviticus chapter 4 gets down to the nitty gritty of how to deal with sin and receive forgiveness.  This chapter creates four different sets of people and the specific Absolution Offering that is to be given by each in the event they sin.  First we look at how sin is defined here.  It is interesting that in this chapter it talks about “a person sins unintentionally”.  There are a couple ways we sin in our lives.  One is the sin of commission – where we make a choice to violate God’s law and do something we should not.  A second is the sin of omission – where we fail to do something we should.  Either can be unintentional, and this chapter is dealing with that reality.  In the words of the Message translation – sin is “straying from one of the commandments of God”.  Put another way, it is missing the mark or falling short of God’s law.  God requires perfection and holiness.  Close is not good enough when it comes to meeting God’s requirement.  So not only do we have the issue of known sin when we intentionally choose to disobey, we also have the issue of these unintentional sins.  Sin is a big deal, and there is a significant problem associated with it – the Bible tells us “the wages of sin is death”.  That means eternal separation from God – eternity away from heaven – and forever is a very long time to spend in hell.

 So Leviticus 4 tells us what these four groups of people need to do to “make atonement” for their sin:

Priests – sacrifice a bull

The whole congregation – sacrifice a bull

Ruler – sacrifice a male goat

Ordinary member of the congregation – sacrifice a female goat

 There is a lot we could discuss here.  Obviously the priests are not immune to sin.  Rulers and leaders fall and sin.  There are times when an entire congregation sins together.  Sin is obviously a real problem and it affects all people.  And the reality is that it affects you and me too.  But we don’t have the Absolution Offering as our solution.  What happens when we sin?

 You/Me – Jesus is our only sacrifice

 Have you dealt with the sin in your life?  Scripture is extremely clear – “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”.  That means you and that means me.  There is no answer to sin except the blood of Jesus.  He is our sacrifice of Absolution.  A personal relationship with Him is the only way we have to deal with sin, outside of living a perfect life of obedience to God’s law.  And I know you have already missed that one, so sin is a problem you have to address.  Jesus is the way to address it – the only way.  Have you done that?  Do you know how?  Don’t wait until it is too late to fix the sin problem in your life.  Do it today!  Get right with God through a relationship with His Son!