Lesson for April 9, 2025

The Mosaic Law

Lesson 7

The Ordinances

Offerings

Salvation Offerings

The first salvation offering was the Burnt Offering, which portrayed the work of Christ, the doctrine of Propitiation (complete satisfaction). It portrayed the death of Christ on the Cross as the full payment for man’s sin and God’s satisfaction with it.

The Burnt Offering demonstrated the perfect Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, as our substitute (the guiltless for the guilty). There were three kinds of animals that could be used for this offering: 1) a male from the herd of oxen 2) a male sheep or goat 3) a male bird. Just as the sacrificial animal that was brought as the burnt offering was innocent, Jesus Christ was innocent (sinless).

A believer was to bring an animal without spot or blemish to represent Christ’s perfection. The priest, as an illustration of what Jehovah (Jesus Christ) would accomplish for them in the future, would lay one hand on the individual and one on the offering, symbolically transferring the sin of the person to Christ. (Leviticus 1:2-17; Isaiah 53:9; Matthew 26:39-42; John 1:29; Romans 3:25; Hebrews 9:14; 10:1-14; I John 2:2)

The second salvation offering was the Meal Offering. This offering portrayed the Doctrine of Impeccability, the sinless nature of Christ. The substitutionary spiritual death of Christ was in view here, with the emphasis on His Person. The fact that Christ was uniquely qualified to go to the Cross and make the payment for mankind’s sin was demonstrated by the fine flour used to make this meal offering. Fine flour represented the holy character of Christ. Oil (probably olive oil) was poured on the offering, representing the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Frankincense was also put on the offering, God’s complete satisfaction with the Person of Christ. There was to be no honey used in the preparation; the absence of honey representing the bitterness of Christ’s death. 

The fine flour had no leaven (leaven represents sin); Christ was sinless. And salt was added for flavor and preservation, representing the quality of Christ’s sacrifice and His ability to keep secure forever those who He saves. Finally, the meal offering was put into fire, representing judgment. (Leviticus 2:1-16; II Corinthians 5:21; Mark 9:49; Colossians 4:6)

The third salvation offering was the Peace Offering. This offering portrayed the Doctrine of Reconciliation. A sin barrier separates God from mankind, called Adam’s original sin. This sin is passed down to everyone at birth. Once this barrier is removed, the possibility exists for peace/harmony between God and mankind. The barrier was removed by Christ’s payment for sin on the Cross. 

This offering was different from the burnt offering, which required the sacrifice to be a male animal, which portrayed Christ. For this offering the sacrifice could be a male or female animal, which portrayed all of humanity. God doesn’t need to be reconciled to mankind, but mankind does need to be reconciled to God. This offering spoke of a permanent relationship with God (positional sanctification and ultimate sanctification), which can never be broken. (Leviticus 3:1-17; Romans 5:1-8; II Corinthians 5:17-20; Ephesians 2:14-17; Colossians 1:20)

Fellowship Offerings

The final two offerings had to do with confession of sin for fellowship with God. (experiential sanctification). Remember that confession means to name, admit, or acknowledge your sins. In the Age of Israel, confession was often done before a priest from the tribe of Levi, who acted on behalf of believers. 

The first of these offerings was the Sin Offering. This was an offering for unknown sins or sins done in ignorance. From time to time a believing Israelite would bring an offering of a bull, goat, bird, or meal, to be sacrificed for any sin they had committed. It must be remembered that “sin is sin” regardless, if it is committed in ignorance or cognizance and must be dealt with in accordance with God’s system (Rebound) (Leviticus 4:1-35)

The second of these offerings was the Trespass Offering. This was an offering for known sins. When a believer knowingly sinned, they were to bring an offering of a bull, goat, bird, or meal to be sacrificed for that sin. In the same manner, believers in the Church Age are to keep “short accounts” by confessing, admitting, or acknowledging their sins immediately in order to spend a maximum amount of time in fellowship with God. The Trespass Offering parallels I John 1:6-9 in the Church Age, the Rebound Technique. (Leviticus 5; 6:1-7)

The Rebound Technique is a non-meritorious system of naming, admitting, or acknowledging your sin directly to God and then moving forward in your Christian life. The Rebound Technique is God’s recovery system from personal sin after salvation, which assures believers that they will be able to successfully live the Christian Way of Life. 

The Greek word for confess is “homologeo,” and means to name, admit, acknowledge, or cite (as in a courtroom). Rebound is a word used to describe confession because it means to bounce back. We rebound after sinning by naming, admitting, or citing a particular sin directly to God. All believers in this age are priests and represent themselves before God. We are not to confess our sins to another human being. Another human being, regardless of religious title, has no authority to forgive sin. Only God can forgive sin. The Greek word for “confess” literally means “same name.” In other words, call it what God calls it. If it’s resentment, call it resentment, if it’s being judgmental, call it being judgmental, etc. 

The second part of the Rebound Technique is to isolate your sin, put it behind you and forget it. This should eliminate any feeling of guilt for past failures. Remember that God casts our sins as far as the east is from the west and remembers them no more. (Psalm 103:12; Hebrews 8:12) We need to learn to do the same. The final part of Rebound is to resume your spiritual life – move on under the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Rebound means to be restored to fellowship with God, which results in being filled with the Holy Spirit. Confess it, isolate it, forget it, and move on! (I John 1:6-9; Hebrews 10:17; 12:1-2; Philippians 3:13-14)

Failure to utilize God’s recovery system results in a life of reversionism, where a believer is in a state of continued carnality. As a result, a believer who is out of fellowship for a prolonged period of time is one of the most miserable people on the face of the earth. Why? Because this person is under divine discipline and is experiencing the concept of “reaping what you sow” (self-induced misery).

Using the recovery system from God restores fellowship with God and restores the filling of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit Who provides the supernatural power necessary to fulfill God’s supernatural plan. (I Corinthians 11:31-32; Hebrews 12:3-15; Galatians 6:7; I John 4:18)