How does Leviticus 4:15 connect to Christ's sacrifice as our sin offering? Spotlight on Leviticus 4:15 “Then the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands on the head of the bull before the LORD, and the bull shall be slaughtered before the LORD.” What Happens in the Verse • Elders represent the whole community. • Laying hands symbolizes transfer of the people’s guilt onto the innocent animal. • The bull is killed as the sin offering so the congregation may be forgiven (see vv. 20, 26, 31, 35). Themes That Point Forward • Representation – leaders stand in for everyone, just as one Man would later stand in for all (Romans 5:18–19). • Substitution – the innocent bears the penalty of the guilty (Isaiah 53:5–6). • Atonement by blood – “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Hebrews 9:22). Foreshadowing Christ the Sin Offering • Christ is the true Representative: “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5). • Transfer of guilt: our sins were laid on Him—“The LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). • Perfect substitution: “God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). • Final sacrifice: “We have been sanctified through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:10). New Testament Echoes • Hebrews 9:11–14 contrasts bulls and goats with Christ’s own blood, which “obtained eternal redemption.” • 1 John 2:2 calls Jesus “the atoning sacrifice for our sins.” • John 19:30 records His cry, “It is finished,” signaling that no further sin offering is needed. Practical Takeaways • Confidence: our sin has been fully transferred and paid for. • Gratitude: the cross fulfills what every Old Testament sacrifice only pictured. • Holiness: just as Israel sought cleansing after the offering, we walk in the cleansing Christ secured (1 John 1:7). |
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