No Defects

Today’s Bible readings are Leviticus 4:1-5:19, Mark 2:13-3:6, Psalm 36:1-12, & Proverbs 10:1-2

Leviticus 4:32

³² “If the people bring a sheep as their sin offering, it must be a female with no defects.

As we begin to read through the book of Leviticus, we begin to see the system that God put into place under the Law that was in place to deal with sin. There was specific instruction that had to be followed in order to atone for specific sin. The one thing that stands out to me is that is that in many of the offerings that required animals being offered we see these words—“with no defects”.

I find it interesting that the priest only inspected the sacrifice that was being given. He was to make sure that the sacrifice was without blemish. He didn’t inspect the one offering the sacrifice to make sure they were without blemish. It didn’t matter if they had many defects; the sacrifice is what mattered most. It had to be perfect.

We fail to realize the importance of this small detail. Remember, everything in the OT is to point us to Christ. All of the sacrificial system was there to point to the Lamb who would take away the sin of the world. These things were intended to train us so that when Messiah would come we would be able to receive the gift He would offer, forgiveness of sin.

Many people wrestle with the fact that they are flawed. They know about all of their weaknesses & they think that those things will keep God from receiving them. They pay much mind to things like:

1.      Their drug addiction

2.      Their alcohol problems

3.      Their past failures

4.      The abortion they had

5.      They adultery they once committed

6.      Their violent past

7.      The sexual issues they wrestle with

 

The more they think about & are reminded of these things, the less they think that they can approach God. They begin to suffer from the same thing that the leper suffered from in the gospel.

Matthew 8:1-3

Large crowds followed Jesus as he came down the mountainside. ² Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached him and knelt before him. “Lord,” the man said, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.”

³ Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared.

This man didn’t know if Jesus would want to help him because he was so hung up on his weakness. He was inspecting himself. He was focusing on his failures, his sin, & his righteousness.

This is exactly what happens to us. We fail to realize that it is not about us. We begin to inspect ourselves & come to the conclusion that we aren’t good enough. We fail to learn & connect the lesson of the OT to the blessing in the NT. Remember, the high priest didn’t even make one glance at the person with the sin that needed atoned for. The high priest didn’t begin to inspect them to see if they were worthy to offer the sacrifice. He didn’t check their background to make sure it was flawless. He simply looked at the animal that was being offered. If it met the requirements that God set forth, it was accepted & they were cleansed & atoned.

Let that sink into your heart. You are not the sacrifice. The High Priest is not concerned with you or your tattered background in the least little bit. He only cares that the sacrifice that is offered is without blemish. Your sacrifice is Jesus! He is the perfect lamb.

1 Peter 1:18-20

¹⁸ For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. ¹⁹ It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. ²⁰ God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but he has now revealed him to you in these last days.

God Himself has inspected Jesus. He has declared Him to be a Lamb without sin, blemish, or defect; worthy to be presented for the payment of sins.  He has accepted the sacrifice. The payment has been made once & for all. Jesus presented His Own blood to the Father after His death. That blood has taken away your sin. God is not interested or concerned about the flaws & past that you may have. You ARE NOT the sacrifice. Jesus was. He is accepted. As a result, you are:

1.      Forgiven

2.      Healed

3.      Delivered

4.      Brought near to God

5.      Accepted

6.      Part of the team

7.      A new creature

8.      Filled with His Spirit

9.      Holy

10.   Examined & declared NOT GUILTY

Stop agreeing with the things that the enemy suggests. He wants to keep you in confusion when it comes to this matter. This is what he uses to keep you feeling inadequate & hiding from God. It is time to step into the light & live as the redeemed of the Lord. Your sins are gone. You must stop bringing them up. The blood of the Lamb has washed them away!

Pastor Richard Schlotter