Presumptuous Sin

Numbers 15:30-41

Committing sin through ignorance, or unwillingly, was handled very delicately by God in ancient times. If a man or woman, who was among the children of Israel, committed an act against the commandment of God, but was unaware of their offense, that particular sin could be forgiven. Fortunately, at the cost of offering an animal sacrifice to the Lord, the priest could make an atonement for all the congregation of Israel. Conversely, in the case where an individual of the congregation of Israel willfully went against the words the Lord had spoken through Moses, that person would be sentenced to death. While some may feel God’s punishment in these instances was too harsh or strict, the simple act of obedience was an easy remedy to avoid certain death.

God takes sin very seriously today, just as He did in time past. When a man knows to do good, yet refuses, this is considered sin, according to James 4:17. Our text mentions a man who was found gathering sticks on the Sabbath day. According to the law, it was forbidden to perform labor on the Sabbath, so gathering sticks was considered work. While there was a law to cover those who sinned through ignorance, those who had knowledge of their actions were deliberately despising the word of the Lord, and broke His commandments. Thus, that soul would utterly be cut off, and their iniquity would forever be upon him. In addition, those who literally defied the commandments of God would be stoned outside the camp.

It’s a privilege and an honor to be covered under the new covenant, because many today (including myself) knowingly commit sin, and go against the commandments of the Lord. But, by the grace of God, we can be forgiven, and set back on the righteous path. Taking advantage of grace to sin willfully, is abusing God’s gift. In this case, God could literally turn you over to a reprobate mind, so be thankful we aren’t condemned when we fall, but are justified and renewed by the blood of Jesus.

A Living Sacrifice

Romans 12:1-8

To sacrifice, in a natural sense, is to give up something you want to keep, in order to get or do something else, or to help someone with a need. People make sacrifices daily, for purpose specific to their situations. From a biblical perspective, sacrificing originally involved killing clean, and unblemished animals, to offer as a means of atonement to God, for man’s sins. Sacrifices were also offered to acknowledge guilt, fellowship, and many other things.

The sole purpose of a sacrifice is, something has to be given up, permanently. Interesting, isn’t it? Based on this fact, how is the believer supposed to be a “living sacrifice”? Are they to walk around as a zombie, like in Walking Dead? No, not at all. Instead, being a living sacrifice involves giving up all things that are contrary to holiness. Our old man has desires that the flesh yearns to fulfill, but the new man puts to death, all those things God despises.

A living sacrifice is witnessed through the lives of those who are holy, and make godly living their standard. It’s common for a Saint to act like Christ did, while in the earth, maintaining all the attributes of the fruit of the Spirit. During His time with His family and disciples, Jesus never conformed to worldly standards. In fact, He stressed vehemently the will of His Father to all who would listen.

To be like Christ, we must experience a total transformation, by first renewing our minds. If satan can trap the mind of a man, he can then easily overtake the soul and body. For this reason, it’s crucial that we guard our minds against all evil and wickedness, and not give in to the temptations that are daily set before us.

To prove God’s perfect will for our lives, we must maintain His holy standard, in all areas of our lives, remembering that we are the salt of the earth, and we were called to season, preserve, and irritate as God’s Spirit directs.

As you continue on your path, guard yourself against the attacks of the enemy, while keeping yourself unspotted from the world. Although we are in this world, we must not allow ourselves to become what it represents. Be that living sacrifice, that’s holy, and acceptable to God, all the days of your life.

“He died for me… I’ll live for Him.” – Ell

Reconciliation through Jesus Christ

Romans 5:6-11

What is it about you, that makes God love you so much? Why is it, that whenever you make a mistake, or turn against God, He gives you countless opportunities to repent, and come back to Him, rather than erase your existence from the face of the earth, like He did nations in the past? The obvious reason God continues to care for His people is, His love is endless, and not expressed based on condition. Love embodies the very nature of God, and this love was exhibited vividly in the form of His only begotten Son, Jesus, the Anointed One.

If God was like men, frail and emotional, there would probably be a handful of people left on the earth today, because He would have zapped everyone who rebelled against Him to smithereens. But, God knows the end, from the beginning, and sent Christ to be the means by which our sins were forgiven, so that the bond man once had with Him, could be reestablished.

Not only is the church justified to God by faith, but we are also justified by the blood of Jesus, and reconciled to God by His death. As the world turns, many continue to ignore the fact that the wrath of God will rain down upon the earth, but those who have been redeemed by Christ, and have accepted God’s free gift of salvation, will be saved from wrath, through Christ. It’ll be a sad day for all who are the enemies of God; those who refused to accept Christ as their Savior, when God’s wrath comes, but Christ died so eternal shame and punishment could be avoided by all who believe on Him.

If Jesus sacrificed His life, while men were yet sinners and enemies to God, imagine how much He’ll do after we’ve been reconciled to the Father. Knowing that we have security in our eternal destination with God, should provoke all disciples to joy in Him, through Jesus, by whom we have received the atonement.

Walk in love,

Ell

The new covenant’s sacrifice

Hebrews 9:11-22

Imagine a world, where God never sent Jesus to fix the mistake the first Adam made. If we still lived under the old covenant system in 2019, what state would the people of God, and the world be in? I’ve already expressed my feelings on animal sacrifices, so I won’t reiterate those thoughts, but I can for certain admit that finding a suitable high priest to atone for the sins of God’s people would be a difficult thing to do. My reasons for assuming such are based on how leaders have become today. Men truly have become lovers of money, rather than lovers of God, and coming before God in sin demanded the life of an unfit priest. Once a year, the high priest went before God with blood sacrifices, to atone for the sins of himself, his family, and the people, so it was important that he first cleanse himself, before he atones for the sins of the people. Men are so evil and corrupt these days, until they’d all probably be convicted and afraid of dying in the holy of holies, and refuse to enter the veil to atone for the sins of the people. If Jesus had not died, then all who weren’t Jews would still be lost, and unable to have their sins forgiven. The law of Moses would also be in effect, and men would remain unrighteous in the eyes of God. But I’m forever grateful for the death of Jesus and all it accomplished including demonstrating God’s profound love for the world, allowing for all men, besides Israel to become children of God, taking away our misery and shame, removing the enmity between God and men, being an eternal atoning sacrifice to God for sin, setting the standard for all disciples to live by, defeating the power of evil, healing us, and reconciling us to one another. While the first Adam sold us out to sin, the second Adam redeemed us back to our rightful place in God.

Walk in love,

Ell

Aaron performs the atoning sin

Leviticus 16:11-19

“And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom” (Mark 15:37-38). In the past, the way into the Holy of Holies in Heaven was only accessed by priests, but after Jesus died, access was made possible to all men through His blood. Now all men can approach God on their own, without relying on priests to go on their behalf.

Priests in the past were to present to God two sacrifices for themselves, one sin offering, and another burnt offering. A young bullock was required for a sin offering, and a ram for the latter. The sin offering for the people required the blood of a goat. Offerings brought to God during these times were extremely detailed in their presentation. Unlike men today who bring God whatever they feel is enough, and drop it in an offering basket, Aaron and the priests of the past were required to follow a strict order, so that their offerings would be suitable and acceptable to God. The detail of the offerings is listed in the lesson text, so I won’t bother mentioning all of it here.

My purpose in this lesson is to simply point out the importance of giving to God from the heart, and not out of simple habit. God gave us EVERYTHING!!!! We have life, health, strength in our bodies, sound minds, and a list of attributes that would take days to write, so when we give to God, it should be our best! Before we approach God with our gift, whether it be monetary, or even our own selves, we must first be sure to ask God to remove any sin that may be nestled away somewhere in our hearts. There are times when we may do things unpleasing to God unawares, and only He has the power to remove it from our lives. After our sins have been confessed and covered by the blood of Jesus, we are then free to present to God our gifts. We give to God, not because He needs it, but to show that we are grateful for all He does for us, and to assist those in ministry who require funds to maintain balance in churches and communities. Take full advantage of your opportunity to come to God freely, and allow Him the chance to pour into you all you need to live a life that is holy, acceptable, and pleasing in His sight.

Walk in love,

Ell