The Sin Offerings

by Edwin Neely, Brantford, Ontario | Category: Christ In Type And Shadow | Jun 1989

Sin blinds the eyes, fouls the conscience, and separates between man and God. With its close relatives, iniquity and transgression, it has its origin in Satan, runs rampant through the total depravity of man, and comprises anything and everything that is contrary to the character of God.

The Lord Jesus Christ in His one sacrifice for sins for ever made purification of sins, put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself, and enabled God never more to remember the sins and lawlessness of His New Covenant people. Until the sacrifice of Christ at Calvary, sin was covered over through the various offerings appropriated and offered for the purpose according to the will of God. These sin offerings and the great Sin Offering of whom they speak are the subject of this article.

It must be remembered that the Levitical offerings were commanded for a people already redeemed, and were compulsory if fellowship with God was to be maintained. These were ordained for individuals who might sin in coming short of God's standard (Lev. 4); or who incurred guilt through certain specific unwitting offences (Lev. 5:1-13); or unintentional faithlessness in the types of trespasses that caused loss and demanded restitution as well as sacrifice (Lev. 5:14-6:7). They were also compulsory for the sin and trespass of God's people. Both then and today a collective people might sin. The nation might fall into idolatry, rulers might lead them astray, teachers through sinning themselves might cause the people to sin. Wherever, whenever, and however sin is committed, sin is sin, and must be dealt with that there might be reconciliation with God:

He made Him ... to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Cor. 5:21).

The value of the sacrifice varied according to the position of knowledge and responsibility of the one sinning: high position - high responsibility. The sin of a priest was equal to the sin of the whole people and required a bullock; a ruler needed a male goat; and the common people were to offer a female kid or lamb. In every case there was identification with the offering. In the case of the people, the elders acted by placing their hands on the head of the bullock involved.

On behalf of the people or a priest the blood was apportioned according to the area of service in the house that was affected by the sin. For the nation

or priest - before the Lord, before the veil, on the altar of incense and at the base of the copper altar. For the ruler or one of the people, the blood remained outside the holies, on the horns of the copper altar and at its base. The blood that went in was applied on the way out and not on the way in. Expiation was from God, not man.

The study of the application of blood, wider than the parameters of this article, is an important inquiry. The blood of Christ has also done what the blood of animals could never do in that it took away sins (Heb. 10:4). However, the blood of these animals does teach us about the effects of His sacrifice. The teaching differs according to the place and way in which the blood was applied.

The blood of the passover spoke redemption for the people of God (Ex. 12:23). In the wilderness in front of Sinai, it sealed the covenant (Ex. 24:8), and in the Levitical offerings and especially on the day of atonement it atoned for sin (Lev. 17:11). The blood of Christ, of which the blood of these offerings was a shadow, effects justification (Rom. 5:9), procures redemption (Eph. 1:7), reconciles to God (Col. 1:20), brings the believer near to God (Eph. 2:13), and cleanses from all sins (1 John 1:7). On behalf of the collective people of God it was essential for the ratification of the new covenant (1 Cor. 11:25), loosing from sins and redeeming this collective entity to constitute it a holy nation, a kingdom, and priests unto His God and Father (1 Pet. 1:18,19; Rev. 1:5,6). It is His blood too which purges the conscience for collective service (Heb. 9:14), and has inaugurated the new and living access whereby we may enter the holies (Heb. 10:19).

In the cases of both individual and national sin the sweetness of the fat was placed on the altar of burnt offering, just as the appropriate parts of the burnt and peace offerings had been. Though the various sin offerings could not usually be seen as sweet savour offerings of Christ, there was something exceedingly precious to God in Christ's offering of Himself without blemish unto Him. Only God could fully appreciate it.

In the offering for the people, the carcass was borne outside the camp to be consumed by fire. Hebrews 13:11-13 clarifies the teaching of this for us in a very practical way. The body was removed from the presence of God to meet man's need in respect to the judgement of his sin. The blood was taken into the presence of God to meet God's demands for man's reconciliation.

In the event of an individual's sacrifice, after the blood had been applied and God has had His portion, the balance of the sheep or goat was eaten by the priest, for the labourer is worthy of his hire, and the priesthood, affected by the sin of others must also rejoice in its forgiveness. Nevertheless, the priest must then scour and rinse the brazen pot or break the earthenware vessel that had touched the offering. The offerer received nothing of the sacrifice. The grace of God had again triumphed through the death of the innocent. Sin had been forgiven.

It is noteworthy that on the day of atonement, the confession of the sins of the people over the head of the living goat was made after the slaughter of the goat of the sin offering for the people. The holies had meantime been cleansed by blood, so that the services of the people of God might flow to Him (Lev. 16:15,21).

The uses of the four sides of the copper altar also speak lessons to us worthy of further study. On the north side the burnt offering was slain, showing our acceptance before God (Lev. 1:11). On the east side, the ashes were deposited, perhaps portraying our justification (Lev. 1:16). On the west side the peace offering was slain, speaking of our access and fellowship (Lev. 3:2). And on the south side His future kingdom will flow that river of cleansing and sanctification for the whole world (Ezek. 47:1).

Through the laying on of hands, then, the sin had been laid upon the offering. Through the application of the blood, the righteousness of the offering was imputed to the offerer. Through the cleansing of the holies there was a place for divine service by the people of God, which we also enjoy on the first day of the week in the very presence of Christ and of God.

The Trespass Offering

Trespass grew out of unwitting carelessness:

concealing the truth (Lev. 5:1)

defilement through association (vv.2,3)

not keeping one's promises (v.4)

unintentional dishonesty Godward or manward (v.15).

There was and is no sacrifice for intentional, wilful sin (11eb. 10:26), but even though the matter was unintentional and for a time unrecognized, it was trespass, and when it was known it required sacrifice. There is in this a solemn reminder to all of us that sin renders us unfit for divine service. Failure to return borrowed goods, unfairness in fellowship, coercion, deception and false pretences, and the keeping of things found constitute trespass, even when the action is in no way deliberate.

Robbing man required sacrifice to God because it was a sin against Him also, and it required restitution to the person robbed. Robbing God (Mal. 3:8) demanded sacrifice, and the priest's estimation of damages and restitution to Him. To both God and man the offender must add a fifth part. In both cases there was to be confession of the particular sin involved. Forgiveness by God was guaranteed, and forgiveness by man was demanded where one was involved. If the sin was manward, the offering to God was a female kid or lamb, or two turtledoves or young pigeons, or the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour, according to the financial ability of the offerer. Where the sin was against God only, there must be offered a ram without defect, whether or not the offerer felt he could afford it.

In all cases of animal offering for trespass, the fat, kidneys and covering of the liver went to the altar for God. The priest who made atonement acquired all the rest. The offerer retained nothing. In the case of specific guilt of the very poor the second bird or a handful of flour went to the altar. The priest received the rest of the flour.

Adam's Trespass

In the trespass of Adam both God and man were robbed. Who can contemplate the tremendous payment that must be made to compensate? Isaiah 53 floods our hearts with appreciation: He was cut off out of the land of the living, for the transgression of my people to wham the stroke was die.

The total claims of God and full restitution to man were achieved in the offering of Christ: God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them (2 Cor. 5:19).

And:

When you were dead in your transgressions ... He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having cancelled out the... debt... and He has taken It out of the way, having nailed it to the cross (Col.

2:13,14).

And:

For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many (Rom. 5:15).

God lost through Adam's transgression. But He has received full recompense and more through the sacrifice of Christ, the giver of the "fifth part". Man has lost through the transgression of Adam. But by one offering, the Lord Jesus Christ has procured full restitution and the "fifth part" - more than we in Adam ever lost. Blessed, holy, spotless sacrifice, the complete fulfilment of all God's purposes in Him, and the One through whom we have all our forgiveness, acceptance, peace and fellowship, yes, and all things.

For:

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? (Rom. 8:32).

Sin which blinded, fouled and separated has been done away through His one offering. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

(All Scripture references are from the NASB).

Edwin Neely, Brantford, Ontario | Jun 1989
Christ In Type And Shadow