mike helbig

I believe that God wanted to teach us about sin, holiness, and about God's nature through animal sacrifices: about sin that it was no small problem He couldn't just let it slide or just brush it under the carpet as Hebrews 9:22 says without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. Sin had to be judged mysteriously 2 Cor 5:21 says God made Christ to be sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him About holiness, that God's absolute pure holiness is in total contradiction to sin and the severity of death to atone for and forgive sin shows us how offensive it truly is to God. But the awesome thing is that it also shows us at the same time God's nature of love and mercy. Although God is perfectly Holy His merciful heart longs to have relationship with us even though we've been so ensnared by sin, and the sacrifice shows us that though we deserve death He longs to forgive us and embrace us and substitute another in our place. The absolutely mind blowing thing is that the one who bears our just penalty is our God Himself in Christ that we may live Oh please Lord open our eyes and hearts to know your awesome love.

God's provision of animal sacrifices was an expression of His mercy in that it was the means then present that people through their faith in God could find forgiveness. Although the animal sacrifices themselves were not sufficient to take away human sin they served God's purpose in foreshadowing His Son's ultimate sacrifice. So these animal sacrifices didn't really take away their sins completely because Hebrews 9:15 says For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under the first covenant. So ultimately only the blood of Christ the only sinless man shed for sinful mankind can bring true absolute forgiveness of sins.

The basic elements needed for forgiveness of sins depicted in Lev 4:32-35 and 5:5,6 are the sheep, laying their hand upon its head, slaughtering it, then sprinkling the blood and pouring it out, also removing the lamb/sheep's fat and burning it upon the alter. Also confession of the sin is required. As Hebrews 10:1and 2 declare,"The old system in the law of Moses was only a shadow of the things to come, not the reality of the good things Christ has done for us. The sacrifices under the old system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship. If they could have provided perfect cleansing the sacrifices would have stopped, for the worshippers would have been purified once for all time, and their feelings of guilt would have disappeared. Every aspect of these things points to a superior reality in Christ His body His blood Him bearing our sins upon His own body on the tree(1pet 2:24) I suppose the fat being burned up could possibly stand for God's judgement consuming the sin and of course our confession of sin is vital as we look in faith to Christ's sacrifice. If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.(1Jn1:9) Oh that God would open our eyes to His great salvation!

Anger is an appropriate response to sin in the fact that sin brings injury, harm, defilement and many other terrible effects, it destroys and breaks down relationships, and seperates us from God(Is 59-1,2) James declares in 1:20 that the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God and usually when man gets angry it is usually because someone steps on his toes and he vents his anger by losing his temper. But not so with God He is slow to anger and His wrath doesn't contradict His love, He never suspends one of His attributes to exercise another. His righteous judgements remove everything that hinders love. In His longsuffering He will plead with sinners to turn to Him for mercy and forgiveness, but ultimately His Glory and nature will be established in His creation and the oppressed will be delivered from their sinful oppressors and in His righteous anger God will judge the world in righteousness. Praise Him for His tender mercy and forgiveness that through Christ we can experience His favor. An awesome verse in Psalm 30:5 reads,"His anger lasts for a moment but His favor lasts a lifetime!"

Hi everyone I am an undergraduate student at Missouri Baptist University. I am eager to learn about the cross of Christ and long to experience the fullness of all that Jesus has done for us. This study will be exciting, and I pray that the Lord opens the eyes of our heart to receive revelation of His word that we may know Him in a greater way. God Bless everyone Mike Helbig