Articles
Living up to the Sacrifice
When you come across the book of Leviticus, you might ask yourself, “Why does animal sacrifice and its rules matter to me?” Under the original covenant, the Israelites sacrificed animals because their innocent blood was the price of atonement when they sinned (Leviticus 17:11). The act of animal sacrifice helped the Israelites understand the impact of their sin because it made their sin personal. Leviticus 4:27-28 (ESV) reads, “If anyone of the common people sins unintentionally in doing any one of the things that by the Lord's commandments ought not to be done, and realizes his guilt, or the sin which he has committed is made known to him, he shall bring for his offering a goat, a female without blemish, for his sin which he has committed.”
The Israelites were giving the best of their food and livelihoods back to God. There were also cases where an Israelite had to personally carry out the sacrifice and feel the emotional impact of taking an innocent life for their sin. Even though animal blood was needed to atone the sins of the Israelites, it was never able to cleanse their iniquities (Heb. 10:1-4). God’s children no longer make these animal sacrifices because Jesus Christ became mankind’s sacrificial lamb once and for all. 1 Peter 3:18 reads, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit.” Even though Jesus’ sacrifice was over 2,000 years ago, His death should still be personal to us. Our sin is what put Jesus to death on the cross. Understanding sacrifice is important because that is what God asks of His people.
Since God’s children no longer have a need to sacrifice animals, we submit our entirety to God. Romans 12:1-2 say, “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Accepting His grace by getting baptized signifies our commitment to living obediently to His teachings. Mark 12:29-31 records Jesus saying, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.” Jesus sacrificed His entire being to carry out God’s will. Are you willing to recognize His sacrifice and do the same?
