Do You Take Sin Seriously?
Machelle McDowell
March 12, 2024
Leviticus 8-
I am not going to lie! I was dreading the day in which our Bible reading plan for the year brought us to the book of Leviticus. The book of Leviticus becomes mundane and boring very quickly…so I thought!
I find myself intrigued. Chapter 8 prompted me to consider just how serious God looks at sin in our lives and how it effects our Christian walk. The whole book reeks of forgiveness and stresses holy living and spiritual growth!
In chapter 8, Aaron and his sons become much more than men & servants of our God. They become consecrated Holy Priests. Ironically enough, we are all a part of the royal priesthood if we claim Jesus as our Savior, (I Peter 2:9). All believers will one day participate in God’s kingdom!
I find a strong correlation in this chapter of Aaron and his son’s being set aside to serve as Priests very similar to what God does in our lives through Jesus:
We too are set aside for His purpose and will in our lives.
We too walk through life in a constant state of sanctification, being holy because He is holy is part of our calling as Christians.
It makes me wonder? What was Aaron’s true calling? He left Egypt to be Moses’ right hand man and help lead the Israelites across the wilderness, but in Leviticus 8, he receives his true calling to the holy priesthood.
The tabernacle has been built! Now, it is time to set Aaron and his son’s aside for the purpose and will God had for their lives. There is a lot for us to learn about ourselves through this word, consecrate.
Aaron and his sons stood before the people at the door of the tabernacle and was washed by Moses before they entered in. A humble act of being cleansed of their sins before entering God’s Holy presence.
Praise God, we have been blessed with a New Covenant! Jesus’ work on the cross cleanses us of our sin! He stood in our place and paid the price for our sin.
Reading through Leviticus 8 gives a lengthy step by step process of what it took for Aaron and his sons to become consecrated before they began their Priestly duties. Sanctification is a lifelong process for all of us.
Not only did Aaron and his sons experience the humbling act of being washed of uncleanliness but they had to dress the part.
They were dressed in Priestly attire. This was putting on a garment that consisted of layers of hand sewn beautiful ornate tunic/robe and turban specifically designed for their role. They were to be worn to glorify God.
We experience this symbolism when we accept Christ as our Savior and proclaim it through baptism. 2Cor 5:17- “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are made new.” Take off the old and put on the new!
Moses then took anointing oil and sprinkled it on the things inside the tent but poured it on Aaron and his boys. This was to symbolize God’s spirit being placed upon them. This act sealed their calling in a sense.
When we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior something incredible takes place. His Spirit comes to dwell within us and we are filled with His power to be set apart for His work on earth! The moment we receive Christ, we receive the Holy Spirit,
(I Cor 12:13).
Praise God we no longer have to participate in sin offerings (found in Leviticus 2:14-17) as part of becoming consecrated. Aaron and his sons presented a sin offering by sacrificing a bull! The had to lay their hands on the bulls head to symbolize the transference of any sin they had in their life. It gets more bizarre- Moses then puts blood on the horns of the altar. This was the process of making the altar holy.
Friends, Jesus took our sin upon His body and bled and died for payment of our sins-all our sins- past, present, and future. He made a way that we can come directly to God and not have to go through any other means. HE was the perfect sinless sacrifice. He conquered death and He is alive and well! We wait patiently for him to come back and take his saints to heaven to dwell there forevermore.
God leads Moses step by step with specific detailed instructions on the process of consecration and sanctification in this chapter. Nothing was to be omitted.
This convicts me. I feel like we have watered down the seriousness of sin in our lives and service to God. Christianity without sanctification is nothing but a title.
We misstep when we come before His tabernacle. We enter the sanctuary week after week carrying the guilt of sin in our lives. We enter powerless due to that sin and are confused as to why God is not working in our lives. And further still leave the tabernacle unchanged with quenched spirits.
What would have happened to us if we had lived during the days prior to Jesus’ birth?
Something to think about??