How does Leviticus 20:15 connect with New Testament teachings on sin? The Old Testament Statement of the Law Leviticus 20:15: “If a man lies with an animal, he must surely be put to death, and you are also to kill the animal.” What This Command Reveals about Sin • Sin is not merely a mistake; it is moral rebellion against God’s created order. • Certain acts are condemned because they distort God’s design for sexuality (Genesis 1:27-28; 2:24). • The death penalty under the Mosaic Law highlights sin’s seriousness and God’s holiness (Leviticus 19:2). Consistent New Testament Witness • Sin’s severity carries into the New Testament. Paul calls bestiality and other unnatural sexual acts “shameful” and “contrary to nature” (Romans 1:26-27). • 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 lists sexual sins that exclude people from God’s kingdom apart from repentance, showing continuity with Leviticus. • James 2:10 teaches that breaking even one point of the Law makes a person guilty of all, reinforcing the equal gravity of every sin before God. The Unchanging Moral Character of God • God’s standards do not shift between covenants (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8). • Moral laws in Leviticus reflect God’s character, which the New Testament upholds (1 Peter 1:15-16). The Universal Need for Redemption • While the Old Covenant prescribed death, the New Covenant provides atonement through Christ’s death (Hebrews 9:22, 26). • Romans 3:23-24: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” • 1 Corinthians 6:11: “And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” Living Out Holiness Today • Reject cultural pressures that normalize sexual immorality; pursue purity of heart and body (1 Thessalonians 4:3-5). • Show compassion without compromise—offering the hope of the gospel while affirming God’s moral standards (John 8:11; Jude 23). • Depend on the Holy Spirit for power to overcome sinful desires (Galatians 5:16-17). Key Takeaways • Leviticus 20:15 exposes the depth of human sin and the holiness of God. • The New Testament echoes this seriousness, declaring that sin still brings death but offering life in Christ. • God’s moral law remains relevant, and His grace empowers believers to live set-apart lives. |
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