Pastor Bryan Walmer

Then the LORD spoke to Moses: “Tell the Israelites: When someone sins unintentionally against any of the LORD’s commands and does anything prohibited by them— If the anointed priest sins, bringing guilt on the people, he is to present to the LORD a young, unblemished bull as a sin offering for the sin he has committed. He is to bring the bull to the entrance to the tent of meeting before the LORD, lay his hand on the bull’s head, and slaughter it before the LORD.” Leviticus 4:1-4 CSB
“But the hide of the bull and all its flesh, with its head and legs, and its entrails and waste— all the rest of the bull—he must bring to a ceremonially clean place outside the camp to the ash heap, and must burn it on a wood fire. It is to be burned at the ash heap.” Leviticus 4:11 CSB
“Now if the whole community of Israel errs, and the matter escapes the notice of the assembly, so that they violate any of the LORD’s commands and incur guilt by doing what is prohibited, then the assembly must present a young bull as a sin offering. They are to bring it before the tent of meeting when the sin they have committed in regard to the command becomes known. The elders of the community are to lay their hands on the bull’s head before the LORD and it is to be slaughtered before the LORD.” Leviticus 4:13–15 CSB
“When a leader sins and unintentionally violates any of the commands of the LORD his God by doing what is prohibited, and incurs guilt, or someone informs him about the sin he has committed, he is to bring an unblemished male goat as his offering. He is to lay his hand on the head of the goat and slaughter it at the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered before the LORD. It is a sin offering.” Leviticus 4:22-24CSB
“He must burn all its fat on the altar, like the fat of the fellowship sacrifice. In this way the priest will make atonement on his behalf for that person’s sin, and he will be forgiven. Now if any of the common people sins unintentionally by violating one of the LORD’s commands, does what is prohibited, and incurs guilt, or if someone informs him about the sin he has committed, then he is to bring an unblemished female goat as his offering for the sin that he has committed.” Leviticus 4:26-28 CSB
“Or if someone touches anything unclean—a carcass of an unclean wild animal, or unclean livestock, or an unclean swarming creature—without being aware of it, he is unclean and incurs guilt. Or if he touches human uncleanness—any uncleanness by which one can become defiled—without being aware of it, but later recognizes it, he incurs guilt. Or if someone swears rashly to do what is good or evil—concerning anything a person may speak rashly in an oath—without being aware of it, but later recognizes it, he incurs guilt in such an instance. If someone incurs guilt in one of these cases, he is to confess he has committed that sin.” Leviticus 5:2-5 CSB
“Now many have become Levitical priests, since they are prevented by death from remaining in office. But because he remains forever, he holds his priesthood permanently. Therefore, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, since he always lives to intercede for them. For this is the kind of high priest we need: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He doesn’t need to offer sacrifices every day, as high priests do—first for their own sins, then for those of the people. He did this once for all time when he offered himself.”
Hebrews 7:23–27 CSB

How do we as unholy people live in the presence of a holy God? Leviticus 4:1-5:13 shows us the answer.

Sin matters.

Sin is rebellion against God as our King, and it defiles us/makes us impure. This keeps us from God’s holy and pure presence.

Sin is individual and corporate.

Sin is intentional and unintentional.

Sin equalizes us.

Sin matters, so God makes a way.

God makes it possible for us to draw near to Him despite our sin through atonement. Atonement in Leviticus means both cleansing and ransom.

Jesus is the ultimate sin offering because He cleanses and forgives us forever.

Two ways this affects our lives:
We can live cleansed from sin.

Through surrender to Jesus - He is the only way.

Through external acts of repentance, like baptism and seeking forgiveness. 

We can help others live cleansed from sin.

Through graciously pointing out each other's sin, as we invite others to do the same.

Through granting forgiveness to each other.