Hope For The Nations, Lesson 4, Fall 2006

Jesus says He is the only way to God the Father (John 14:6)

Peter says Jesus is the only One who can save people (Acts 4:12).

Paul says Jesus is the only way to be saved (1 Corinthians 3:11-15) and the only way to come to God the Father (1 Timothy 2:5).

WHY were these three (and others) so bold to proclaim Jesus as the ONLY WAY to God and salvation?

Day of Atonement – Leviticus 16

  • In Old and New Testament, “blood” is used in connection with the idea of atonement probably over a hundred times (see Leviticus 17:11)

Day of Atonement – A day specifically for the atonement of Israel’s sins (instituted around 1400 years before Christ was born).

  • Leviticus 16:15 – sin offering was offered publicly in court of tabernacle
    • FULFILLED: Jesus was crucified publicly (Hebrews 13:11-12)
  • Leviticus 16:14-15 – Blood taken from the sin offering and brought into the Most Holy Place
    • FULFILLED: Jesus, as our High Priest, offered His own blood to God in Heaven (Hebrews 9:11-12)
  • Leviticus 16:17 – Only High Priest could enter, even though it’s for forgiveness of all the people
    • FULFILLED…only through Jesus’ blood can we come to God (Hebrews 9:7,11-12 (John 14:6))
  • Only act of High Priest was presenting the blood before God
    • Transaction was only between God and High Priest
      • Happened in the Sanctuary…away from the eyes of the men who were to benefit by it
  • Leviticus 16:20-22 – after God saw the blood, the sins of the people went away
    • Symbolized by a scapegoat running to the wilderness
    • Romans 5:8-9
      • “justified” (v. 9) = Just-as-if-I’d never sinned
  • What were the people required to do for their sins to be cleansed?
    • Leviticus 16:29-31 – REST IN THE PRIEST’S FINISHED WORK

Jesus is our Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7)

Passover Feast – Exodus 12

*  Feast instituted around 1400 years before Christ was born

  • Exodus 12:5-8,12-13 –
    • Blood was shed in Egypt so that Israelites could be saved (v. 13)
    • Blood was put on lintel and door-posts (v. 7)
      • The flesh of the lamb was eaten inside the house (v. 8)
    • “When I see the blood, I will pass over you” (v. 13)
      • The blood was first for God to see 
      • Those feasting inside never saw this transaction
        • Their only job was receiving into their bodies the dead lamb.
      • Romans 3:25
    • Israel’s firstborn were spared because of the blood (vv. 12-13)
      • Firstborn represents new life, being born again
        • For new life to happen, God must first see blood

Every Levitical Offering Needs an Unblemished Sacrifice

  • Leviticus 1 – Burnt Offering = Crucifixion (cf. Genesis 22:2 and Hebrews 11:17-19)
  • Leviticus 2 – Grain Offering = Resurrection (see John 12:24)
  • Leviticus 3 – Peace Offering = Peace with God (see Romans 5:1)
  • Leviticus 4 & 5 – Sin Offering and Trespass Offering = Removing all of our sins 
  • All offerings mentioned in Scriptures show different aspects of Jesus’ work on the cross.  And every offering required an unblemished animal (see Leviticus 1:3; 2:1; 3:1; 4:3; etc.).
  • Jesus is the ONLY perfect Man, and the only true “lamb without blemish and without spot.” (1 Peter 1:19).