Monday, January 5, 2009

J. Sidlow Baxter said, regarding the book of Leviticus...It is referred to over forty times in the New Testament. All that follows it in the Scriptures is coloured by it; and, therefore, a clear knowledge of it contributes greatly towards comprehending the message of the Bible as a whole.

How is “all that follows it in Scripture…coloured by it?”

Because the Bible is all about this: How can a sinful man be made right with God? The Scriptural narratives, poetry, prophecy, and instruction address the fact that man cannot do it himself. He does not have it in him to close the gap between the human and divine. He cannot and worse, he will not, be righteous and holy enough to propitiate a righteous and holy God.

From Genesis to Revelation it is clear that a sacrifice MUST be made. In Genesis 3, the first sacrifice was made to cover Adam and Eve’s nakedness. Their own attempts at “covering” had proven inadequate and insufficient. And in Revelation 22, we find the Lamb of God being worshiped as the only adequate and sufficient sacrifice.