Why is obedience to God's sacrificial instructions crucial for believers today? Setting the Scene • Leviticus 4:30 shows a sinner bringing a purification offering. “the priest shall take some of the blood…put it on the horns of the altar”. • Every detail—blood, altar, priest—comes straight from God. None are negotiable. What Leviticus 4:30 Teaches About Obedience • God defines the way sin is handled; we do not. • Partial compliance is disobedience. If the priest skipped a step, forgiveness was forfeited. • Blood at the altar reminds us that sin costs life (cf. Hebrews 9:22, “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness”). • Obedience is an act of trust: following instructions because He knows what satisfies His justice. How Sacrificial Obedience Points to Christ • Old-covenant blood was temporary: Hebrews 10:4, “it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” • The pattern prepared Israel to recognize the perfect sacrifice—Jesus, the Lamb of God (John 1:29). • Christ fulfilled every requirement precisely (Matthew 5:17). Our salvation rests on His flawless obedience, not our best guesses. Implications for Believers Today • Moral authority still comes from God’s revealed Word, not culture or preference. • Obedience authenticates love: John 14:15, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” • Worship is now whole-life sacrifice: Romans 12:1, “offer your bodies as living sacrifices.” • Selective obedience undermines lordship (Luke 6:46). 1 Samuel 15:22 reminds us, “to obey is better than sacrifice.” Living It Out 1. Read Scripture attentively—look for God’s instructions, not suggestions. 2. Submit specific areas (time, money, relationships) to His stated will. 3. Confess quickly when you fall short; trust Christ’s finished sacrifice for cleansing (1 John 1:9). 4. Celebrate the freedom to obey out of gratitude, not ritual fear. 5. Encourage fellow believers to pursue the same wholehearted response—His design, His glory, our good. |
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