What does Leviticus 16:3 teach about the necessity of atonement before entering God's presence? The Immediate Context • Leviticus 16 outlines the Day of Atonement—the one day each year when the high priest could pass beyond the veil into the Most Holy Place. • Before Aaron even thinks about stepping inside, verse 3 commands: “Aaron is to enter the Holy Place in this way: with a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering.” (Leviticus 16:3) • God Himself prescribes the offerings. No priestly creativity, no shortcuts, no entrance without blood. Key Observations from Leviticus 16:3 • “Is to enter … in this way” — Approach is not optional or negotiable; it is divinely mandated. • “A young bull for a sin offering” — Sin must be dealt with first; guilt cannot coexist with God’s holiness. • “A ram for a burnt offering” — Total consecration follows forgiveness; the worshiper is wholly given to God after atonement. • Sequence matters: sin offering precedes burnt offering, teaching that cleansing comes before communion. Why Atonement Is Necessary Before Entering God’s Presence • God’s holiness consumes sin (Exodus 33:20; Hebrews 12:29). A mediator bearing blood averts judgment. • “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for your souls.” (Leviticus 17:11) • Blood symbolizes substitution—innocent life for guilty life—making fellowship possible. • Attempting to bypass atonement invites death; Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu are sobering precedents (Leviticus 10:1-2). How the New Testament Develops This Truth • The yearly sacrifice foreshadows a once-for-all offering: “He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption.” (Hebrews 9:12) • Jesus fulfills both offerings: – Sin offering: “God presented Him as the atoning sacrifice through faith in His blood.” (Romans 3:25) – Burnt offering: “Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Ephesians 5:2) • Now, “through the blood of Jesus, we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place.” (Hebrews 10:19) Living It Out Today • Approach God only on the basis of Christ’s finished work, never self-merit. • Confess sin quickly; cleansing remains the doorway to intimacy (1 John 1:7, 9). • Worship flows from forgiveness: hearts set free respond with total consecration—our lives become “living sacrifices” (Romans 12:1). Conclusion Leviticus 16:3 anchors an enduring principle: access to God demands atonement first, then consecration. The prescribed bull and ram point ahead to the perfect Lamb whose blood forever opens the way into the Father’s presence. |
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