What does Leviticus 19:22 teach about God's expectations for holiness and repentance? Zooming In on Leviticus 19:22 “And the priest is to make atonement for him with the ram of the guilt offering before the LORD for the sin he has committed, and he will be forgiven for the sin he has committed.” Key Movements in the Verse • Sin is named: “the sin he has committed.” • A substitute is presented: “the ram of the guilt offering.” • A mediator acts: “the priest is to make atonement.” • God’s verdict follows: “he will be forgiven.” God’s Unchanging Standard of Holiness • Leviticus 19 opens with, “Be holy, because I, the LORD your God, am holy” (v. 2). • Holiness covers every arena—including sexual conduct (vv. 20–22). • The verse teaches that holiness is not flexible; sin must always be addressed, never excused. Repentance and Atonement—Two Sides of the Same Coin • True repentance brings the sinner out of hiding and into God’s light (1 John 1:9). • Atonement shows that repentance is more than words; a price must be paid (Hebrews 9:22). • The petitioner’s willingness to bring a costly ram signals personal ownership of guilt and desire for restored fellowship. God Provides the Path to Forgiveness • The offerer supplies the animal, but God supplies the system. He longs to forgive, yet never at the expense of His righteousness (Isaiah 53:5). • By ordaining a “guilt offering,” He makes forgiveness attainable without lowering His standards. Foreshadowing the Perfect Sacrifice • Every ram laid on the altar whispers of “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). • Jesus, both Priest and Offering, fulfills what Leviticus 19:22 sketches in shadow (Hebrews 10:10, 12). Living Out Leviticus 19:22 Today • Treat sin as seriously as God does—no minimization, no rationalization. • Confess quickly and specifically; rely wholly on Christ’s finished work, the once-for-all guilt offering. • Aim for practical holiness in daily choices, remembering, “just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do” (1 Peter 1:15-16). |
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