Offerings, His and Ours

Some might think that the descriptions of Israel’s sacrifices are boring, or old stuff that has nothing to do with now. As I read my Bible along with Recalling the Hope of Glory, my heart is thrilled at how much these rituals are relevant to worship, not only then but for me today.

Leviticus describes the major offerings. The first one required was the purification or sin offering. This was required for sins committed and involved a dramatic ritual with blood and fire. The blood represented the life that had been forfeited because of sin and points forward to the ultimate sacrifice of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. The fire demonstrated that God accepted the offering. This offering was brought with confession of sin and in genuine repentance as preparation for worship. Otherwise, sinners could not approach God.

However, sometimes the sins confessed were of such a nature that things had to be made right before the sin offering could be made. In other words, if the worshiper had harmed another or defrauded God in some way, they must make a trespass or reparation offering. This showed the need for reconciliation between sinners and those sinned against. Jesus said, “If you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift” (Matthew 5:23-24).

While some sins cannot be made right, I am to do my best. Neglecting this can hinder worship, never mind what it does to my relationships with other people.

Besides offerings for removing the guilt of sin, there was an important atoning sacrifice called the burnt offering. This one was completely burnt on the altar and signified that the worshiper had totally yielded their life to God, and God accepted them.

These three offerings were given by God to provide a way for worshipers to have and maintain a right relationship with Him. They signified that He removed the barriers of sin and guilt to those who genuinely repented of their sin and came to Him seeking mercy. This also involved faith that God would someday provide a Messiah who would give them total redemption.

In the church today, these sacrifices are fulfilled by the offering of Jesus Christ on our behalf. His shed blood has been accepted by God as our full atoning sacrifice. We are set apart or sanctified at salvation, and are continually set apart and sanctified because of His blood.

Of course no one earns or deserves His incredible mercy. In gratitude, Israel wanted to give something back—to repay God—but this is impossible. So God provided another offering, the dedication or grain offering. It involves food, not blood, and is called the “memorial” meaning “to remember.” This offering was the worshipers way of saying that all he has and does and is belongs to God.

In the New Testament, it is reflected by Paul’s call to Christians, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship” (Romans 12:1) and other verses that speak of wholehearted commitment to Jesus Christ.

The fifth offering is the one that blessed me this morning. It is called the peace offering and was given not to make peace with God but celebrated because those who truly worship Him already have that peace. It is a communion with God, not to establish or renew it but simply to enjoy it. It is sitting down with God for a meal.

Some tried to do this without repentance and the other things involved in a true relationship with their God. They had sin that was not covered by blood, therefore, eating this offering was also a sin, and it resulted in being “cut off” from His people, even by death.

In the New Testament, this ritual is paralleled by Holy Communion. In 1 Corinthians 11, Paul gives instruction that believers do this properly. The regulations are almost identical to those involving the peace offering.

“For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep (a biblical euphemism for death). For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.”

The peace offering was a sacrificial meal shared between God and His people. Anyone could participate as long as they had a right relationship with Him because that is what this meal signifies. Those who partake must first experience His forgiveness and redeeming power, but also be keeping short accounts, confessing their sin, making things right with others, and be wholly dedicated to Him. Otherwise participation is a sham and a mockery of all God has done.

Further, as Paul said, those who tried to participate in this wonderful and special meal would face judgment and possibly death.

Yesterday a few people described their struggles with the woes of this world and their inability to cope with life. I sit here in silence, overwhelmed at the grace of God. Yes, I’ve had my share of struggles and certainly know that inability to cope with any of it, yet at the same time, with God in the middle of everything, the cares and concerns of this life seem like nothing.

Paul said, “We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body . . . . Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (1 Corinthians 4).

During my own difficulties, God keeps giving me a vision of the eternal. In time and back then, His people celebrated with a peace offering. Today I can celebrate in Holy Communion, but there is more. Jesus said of that ritual, “For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”

This is what overwhelms me. He makes life rich, but someday, because of His great grace, I will be totally free of not only the penalty and power of sin, but also its presence. When that great day comes, we will sit down together, me and Jesus, at the marriage supper of the Lamb and celebrate all He has done as we eat together in eternity!