How does Leviticus 18:26 connect with New Testament teachings on holiness? Leviticus 18:26 at a Glance • “You must keep My statutes and ordinances, and you must not commit any of these abominations—neither your native-born nor the foreigner who lives among you.” • The verse lands in a chapter that spells out forbidden sexual practices and idolatrous rituals. • Two core ideas surface: – Obedience to God’s revealed standards (“My statutes and ordinances”). – Universal expectation of holiness (both Israelite and “foreigner”). A Thread of Holiness Through Scripture • God’s character anchors every moral command—“I am the LORD your God.” (Leviticus 18:4-5, 30) • Holiness is not merely ritual purity; it is likeness to God’s moral perfection. • The New Testament echoes this thread: – “But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do.” (1 Peter 1:15-16) – “Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14) Shared Themes with the New Testament 1. Same Moral Standard for All Peoples • Leviticus 18:26 unites native-born and foreigner. • Acts 10:34-35; Ephesians 2:13-19 show Gentiles welcomed into one holy people through Christ. 2. Obedience Tied to Identity • Israel obeys because they belong to God (Leviticus 18:2-4). • Believers obey because they are “a chosen people, a royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9). 3. Separation from Pagan Practices • Leviticus 18 warns against customs of Egypt and Canaan. • 2 Corinthians 6:17—“Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord.” 4. Sexual Purity as a Mark of Holiness • Leviticus 18 details sexual boundaries. • 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5—“For this is the will of God: your sanctification, that you abstain from sexual immorality.” 5. A Call Grounded in Grace • Old Covenant: God redeems Israel from Egypt, then calls them to holiness. • New Covenant: Christ redeems believers, then calls them to “present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.” (Romans 12:1) Practical Outworking Today • Examine cultural norms: keep what aligns with Scripture, reject what God brands “abomination.” • Remember holiness is communal—family, church, and even newcomers are invited into the same standards. • Let gratitude fuel obedience: grace never lowers God’s bar; it supplies power to reach it (Titus 2:11-14). Summary of Key Points • Leviticus 18:26 establishes an enduring principle: God’s people, regardless of background, must live distinctly holy lives by obeying His statutes. • The New Testament carries this command forward, rooting it in Christ’s redemptive work and the Spirit’s enabling power. • Holiness remains God’s non-negotiable expectation and gracious gift to everyone who belongs to Him. |
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