LESSON 9 Sin Offering
LESSON 9
Sin Offering
Memory Verse: 1 Peter 2:24
Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness by whose stripes you were healed.
Introduction
What is it that keeps man away from fellowship with God? How did sin enter into the world? What happened to mankind through the disobedience of Adam and Eve? Jesus Christ came to this world as a man and took upon Himself the punishment for our sins and suffered death on the cross. The sin offering was instituted for Israel as a shadow of the sacrifice of Christ. Christ was made sin for us (2 Cor. 5:21).
The sin offering is one of the two non-sweet savor offerings. It is the first sacrifice a person has to offer when he comes to the presence of God.
People Who Were Required To Offer Sin Offering
Four types of people were commanded to offer sin offerings: 1. The Priest, 2. The Congregation of Israel, 3. The Elders of the people, and 4. The Ordinary Israelite. These four groups cover the nation of Israel completely. It proclaims the truth that all have sinned and come short of
this sacrifice.
Sacrificial Animals and Method of Offering
People belonging to the above four groups were commanded to offer sacrifices differently. The differences point to different aspects of the death of our Lord.
1. Sacrificial animals offered by the priest and the congregation of Israel
The sacrificial animals offered by the priest and the congregation of Israel were the same type. The animal was a young bullock. The priest would place his hands on the bullock if the offering is for himself, and the elders of Israel would do the same if it were for the whole congregation. The animal is, then killed. The priest takes some blood from the animal, enters the Holy Place in the tabernacle, sprinkles it before the curtain seven times, and smears it on the horns of the altar of incense. The remaining blood is poured at the foot of the altar of burnt offering. Fat, kidneys, and covering of the liver are burnt on the altar of the burnt offering. All the remaining portions of the animal are taken outside the camp to a clean place meant for dumping ash and then burnt on a wood fire.
Christ, who came down in the form of a servant, took our sins and became a sin offering on the cross of Calvary. The sprinkling of blood in front of the curtain signifies that we can enter God's presence (Heb. 9:11-14). The smearing of blood on the horn of the altar of incense points to the privilege that has come to us for worshipping God. It also signifies the intercessory prayer of Christ (John 17). The pouring of blood at the foot of the altar shows reconciliation that we have received individually with God (Rom. 5:9-10). All the remaining portions of the animal are burnt outside the camp of Israel. It points to the suffering that Christ had to undergo outside Jerusalem (Heb. 13:11-13). We must also be prepared to bear His reproach and suffer outside camp.
2. Sacrifices of elders and ordinary Israelite
An elder offers a male goat, while an ordinary Israelite offers a female goat or a lamb. The procedure for the offering was the same in both cases. The worshiper places his hand on the head of the animal and kills it at the entrance to the Tabernacle. The priest dips his finger in blood, smears the blood on the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and pours the remaining blood at the foot of the altar. Blood is not taken inside the Holy Place. The fat and kidneys of the animal are burnt on the altar. The priests cook and eat the remaining flesh inside the court of the Tabernacle. "All the males among the priests shall eat thereof: it is most holy" (Lev. 6:29). This points to the fellowship of the children of God who are priests. Every child of God who has obtained remission of sins through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ must keep themselves continually in fellowship with God and His people. This fellowship also stands for the Lord's Table.
Have you received remission of your sins by accepting Jesus Christ as your Saviour? If so, the Lord requires you to suffer for Him outside the camp, leaving all worldly pleasures. Are you prepared for it? Are you keeping in constant fellowship with God and His children?
Questions
1. What are the various materials used in sin offering?
2. Name the four types of people who are required to offer sin offerings. Which animals are to be offered by them?
3. Describe the procedure when the sacrifice is to be made for the priest and the congregation of Israel. Explain the spiritual meaning of each step.
4. Describe the steps in the offering for elders and the ordinary Israelites and explain their spiritual meanings.
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