7 Feasts That Point to Christ – Leviticus 23

Posted on August 5, 2025 by dkoop

Did you ever read the “Where’s Waldo?” book.  Many children eagerly sifted through the pages, searching for Waldo hidden within the chaos of a crowded scene.

Sorting through prophecies and symbolisms of the Old Testament can feel similar, like an intricate game of “Where’s Jesus?”

But the richness of God’s Word is that it often reveals a deeper truth if you know where to look.

Jesus often pointed to the “beginning” (Genesis), the Law of Moses (first five books) and the prophets (Jeremiah through Malachi) to reveal God’s plan for mankind and clues to recognize the Savior.

For the Jews of His time, understanding the Old Testament was key to discovering that Jesus is their promised Messiah.

And if you have heard the Good News from the New Testament and received Jesus as your Savior, Old Testament prophecies and symbolism provide further proof and assurance that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

  1. Passover — Leviticus 23:4-8

This feast remembers the last plague in Egypt, when the angel of death “passed over” the children of Israel who applied the blood of the lamb to their doors. The Israelites took a bundle of hyssop and dipped it into the blood in the basin at the threshold.

Going up, they put it up on the lintel, then touched the two sides of the frame (Exodus 12). Can you see the imagery? Bottom to top, side to side: the motion formed a cross.

When John the Baptist said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29, NLT), he understood the Old Testament reference.

And in the New Testament we see that Jesus — born in a stable, visited by shepherds and led to the slaughter — is that Lamb sent for us. His death allows the judgment we deserve to pass over us.

When we accept Christ, we accept the loving gift of a second chance — because of His death on the cross, we have a clean slate!

 2. Unleavened Bread — Leviticus 23:6

This seven-day feast begins on the day following the start of Passover. In the haste of the Israelites to leave Egypt, there was no time to add leaven (yeast) to their bread.

During this time, remembering the hardships in Egypt and how God freed them from captivity, the Jews eat nothing leavened.

Leaven often represents sin and decay in the Bible. Once incorporated, yeast becomes an inseparable part of the bread; the same is true for sin’s effect on our lives.

The Jews were constantly sacrificing unblemished animals to temporarily atone for sin. Only the Messiah, the perfect sinless sacrifice, could offer a permanent solution.

The unleavened bread represents Jesus’ sinless life; He is the only perfect sacrifice for our sins.

In John 6:35, Jesus boldly states that He is the Bread of Life. Not only does He remove our sins, He nourishes our souls!

That is the life-changing power of Jesus, the Bread of Life. Just as unleavened bread reminds us of Christ’s sinless sacrifice.

  1. Firstfruits — Leviticus 23:10

The Feast of Firstfruits is one of three Jewish harvest feasts to thank and honor God for all He provided. Although they didn’t know it at the time, the children of Israel were celebrating what would become a very important day.

The priests sacrificed Passover lambs on the 14th day of the month of Nisan, and the first day of Passover was the 15th. The Feast of Firstfruits was celebrated on the third day, the 16th of Nisan. This “third day” celebration was the same day that Jesus resurrected from the dead.

In 1 Corinthians 15:20 Paul refers to Jesus as the firstfruits of the dead. He represents the first of the great harvest of souls — including you — that will resurrect to eternal life because of the new covenant in His blood (Luke 22:20).

  1. Feast of Weeks or Pentecost — Leviticus 23:16

This feast is the second of the three harvest feasts. It occurs exactly seven weeks after the Feast of Firstfruits, so it’s also called Pentecost which means “50 days.”

Traditionally, people were expected to bring the first harvest of grain to the Lord including two leavened loaves of bread.

God’s plan to save souls included more than the Jews. Through Jesus, this plan was revealed. In Matthew 9:37 Jesus tells His disciples that “the harvest is great, but the workers are few.”

Then He put the plan into place: In Acts 1:4 He tells them to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit.

That arrival was the day the Church was born — Pentecost — and the harvest began with 3,000 souls. The message spread to both Jews and Gentiles (the two leavened loaves of bread), extending the harvest to us!

Pentecost reminds us of God’s plan to reach every person and nation.

  1. Feast of Trumpets — Leviticus 23:24

In a beautiful declaration God commands His people to rest. During this time all regular work is prohibited, and men and women present a food offering to God.

In Leviticus 23:24 God commands His people to gather and to commemorate the decree with trumpet blasts.

On the same front, the sound of a trumpet is also associated with the rapture, or the time Jesus will return for His bride (1 Corinthians 15:52). Once He returns, there will be a wedding feast of celebration. Revelation 19:9 says, “Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb” (NLT). He’s preparing us to celebrate!

This scene of celebration reflects the promise of Revelation 19:9 — the ultimate wedding feast of the Lamb.

  1. Day of Atonement — Leviticus 16, 23:26-32

To make “atonement” is to make restitution for wrongs committed. As a day of humility and repentance to God, it was a time for the Jews to get their hearts, consciences and lives right before Him.

The observance involved the sacrifice of animals as the high priest entered the Holy of Holies. What the high priest did there couldn’t offer more than an annual payment for their sins.

However, hiding in plain sight was the promise of One who could atone for their sins permanently (Hebrews 9:12).

Where is Jesus in these sacrificed animals? The bull and one of the goats were an offering of thanks, but the “scapegoat” took on their sins (Leviticus 16:10). The scapegoat was to be burdened with all the sins of Israel and sent into the wilderness.

The Jewish leaders condemned Jesus, and He — burdened with the sins of all mankind — was led out of the city to be crucified: “He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins — and not only our sins but the sins of the world” (1 John 2:2, NLT).

The necessity of the Day of Atonement was rendered void by Jesus’ death on the cross — our debt has been paid! Yet for this life-changing truth to truly resonate, people must understand it in a language that touches their heart.

The story of Jesus’ sacrifice is the greatest message of hope the world has ever known.

  1. Feast of Tabernacles or Booths — Leviticus 23:34

Celebration always follows the Day of Atonement. The Feast of Tabernacles celebrates God’s provision and protection for the people of Israel during their 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. For seven days, people live in temporary structures, just as the Israelites did in the wilderness.

The Lord Himself was with the Israelites in the desert, in a tented temple called the Tabernacle, so the feast also celebrates His presence as He tabernacles (dwells) with us.

Jesus is called Emmanuel, meaning “God is with us” (Matthew 1:23, NLT). He put on a temporary tabernacle — a human body — to dwell on this earth and offer Himself as a sacrifice for all humanity.

Revelation 7:9 paints a beautiful picture of this truth: “After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb.” This verse highlights the inclusivity of God’s Kingdom — people from every corner of the world united in worshipping Jesus.

This feast also points to the promise of Jesus’ return, when God will rally with His people. On that day, there will be no more death or suffering, and He will wipe every tear from our eyes (Revelation 21:4). What a day of joy and celebration that will be!

In Review: 

  • The four spring feasts focused on the first coming of the Messiah, as they described His death, His burial, and His resurrection, as well as the coming of the Holy Spirit.
  • The three fall feasts focused on His second coming, as they described what He will accomplish in the future, including the rapture of the Church, His victory over sin and Satan and the inauguration of His kingdom on this earth for 1,0000 years, and in the New Heaven and New earth forever, world without end.

The Spring Feasts – The Suffering Savior

The Feast of Passover – Leviticus 23:4-8

  • Commemorated the provision God made for the Israelites when the death angel struck all the firstborn in Egypt and the angel of death passed over the Israelite houses that had been marked by the blood.
  • Fulfilled in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. God’s judgment of eternal death will not affect those who are covered under the blood of Jesus Christ.

 The Feast of Unleavened Bread – Leviticus 23:6-8.

  • Commemorated the night God told the Jews not use any “leaven” in their bread, for they would not have time for it to rise before they left Egypt. Leaven is symbolic of “sin”!
  • Fulfilled as the sinless Lamb of God was buried in the tomb to rise again in three days.

The Feast of First-fruits – Leviticus 23:9-14.

  • Commemorated the beginning of the spring barley harvest.
  • Fulfilled when Jesus rose from the grave, the “firstfruits of those who are asleep”! (1 Cor. 15:20)

The Feast of Pentecost – Leviticus 23:15-21.

  • Marked the end of the spring harvest – observed by offering two loaves of “leavened” bread unto the Lord.
  • Fulfilled 50 days after the ascension of Jesus Christ; the Holy Spirit came and baptized “two sinful loaves” – Jews and Gentiles, into one body; the Church.

The Fall Feasts – the Returning Savior

The Feast of Trumpets – Leviticus 23:23-25

  • Marked the end of the summer harvest with the blowing of the “shofar” (trumpets) a hundred times, with the “last trumpet” a long, extended blast.
  • Will be fulfilled on the day of the Rapture of all of those who received Jesus Christ as their Savior during the Church age, which began on the day of Pentecost.

The Day of Atonement – Leviticus 23:26=32

  • Commemorating a “day of solemnity” – Israelites afflicted their souls for their own sins, and the sin of their nation, a goat was sacrificed and its blood poured out upon the altar, and a second goat was held by the priest and then driven into the wilderness to “take their sins away!”

 Will be fulfilled at the end of the Tribulation period when the Jews stand in awe at God’s grace and they receive Jesus as their Messiah: The One whom God sent to atone for their sins.

The Feast of Tabernacles – Leviticus 23:33-44.

  • Commemorating the 40 years their forefathers dwelled in tents in the wilderness.
  • Will be partially fulfilled when the Jews who are saved during the Tribulation live in the Promised Land with the Lord Jesus for 1,000 years. Zechariah 14:16, Amos 9:11, Isaiah 65:17-20, 2:2-4, 11:11-12, 27:12-13.
  • Will be finally fulfilled in eternity as the “tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people!” – Revelation 21:3-4

 The seven feasts are bound together by “the Sabbath” – which means to “cease work” or to “rest from one’s labor”!

  • When we receive Jesus Christ as our Savior, we can rest from our labor of trying to earn our acceptance with God. This “Sabbath rest” will last for all eternity.

www.Upwards.Church

Message Audio/Video and Outline: https://upwards.church/leander-campus/watch-now-message-videos

Watch Messages: YouTube-Upwards Church

Facebook: Upwards Church

Read Along Daily Bible Reading: YouVersion (https://www.bible.com/organizations/370f8a6e-16bc-464f-8c43-0b7623fd2952)

Posted in Leviticus - Lambs, Levites and Laws | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Holy, Holy, Holy – Leviticus Overview

Posted on July 30, 2025 by dkoop

The overwhelming message of Leviticus is the holiness of God— The word Holy is found over 150 times in Leviticus!  “You must be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy” (19:2).

God is Holy and calls His people to be Holy or Set Apart.

But how can unholy people approach a holy God? The answer—first sin must be dealt with. Thus the opening chapters of Leviticus give detailed instructions for offering sacrifices, which were the active symbols of repentance and obedience. Whether bulls, grain, goats, or sheep, the sacrificial offerings had to be perfect, with no defects or bruises—pictures of the ultimate sacrifice to come, Jesus, the Lamb of God. Jesus has come and opened the way to God by giving up his life as the final sacrifice in our place. True worship and oneness with God begin as we confess our sin and accept Christ as the only one who can redeem us from sin and help us approach God.

God gave clear standards to the Israelites for living a holy life. They were to be separate and distinct from the pagan nations around them. In the same way, all believers should be separated from sin and dedicated to God. God still wants to remove sin from the lives of his people.

In the New Testament, Peter writes in 1 Peter 1:13-16,  believers, “Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’” Peter is quoting from Leviticus 11:44 and Leviticus 19:2.

First, let’s look at God’s holiness. What does it mean that God is holy? Passages like 1 Samuel 2:2 and Isaiah 6:3 are just two of many examples of passages about God’s holiness. Another way to say it is absolute perfection. God is unlike any other (see Hosea 11:9), and His holiness is the essence of that “otherness.” His very being is completely absent of even a trace of sin (James 1:13; Hebrews 6:18). He is high above any other, and no one can compare to Him (Psalm 40:5). God’s holiness pervades His entire being and shapes all His attributes. His love is a holy love, His mercy is holy mercy, and even His anger and wrath are holy anger and holy wrath. These concepts are difficult for humans to grasp, just as God is difficult for us to understand in His entirety.

Holy means “separated” or “devoted.” God removed his people from Egypt; now he was removing Egypt from the people. He was showing them how to exchange Egyptian ways of living and thinking for his ways.

We too must devote every area of life to God. God desires absolute obedience in motives as well as practices. Though we do not observe all the worship practices of Israel, we are to have the same spirit of preparation and devotion.

  1. What does it mean to be Holy? 

“Holy” (Hebrew: qādôsh) – “pure” and “devoted. (Greek: hagiazō) denotes “to set apart to God” Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old Testament and New Testament Words

Being Holy is made far too complicated in this day and age.

There is a really easy, visible illustration of what being defiled means. It uses the “holiest” item in your house, or in mine.

A toothbrush is an everyday item, but when dedicated to personal hygiene, it becomes “holy” in the sense of being set apart and not used for other purposes.

  • Not about performance:

Just as a toothbrush doesn’t become holy through its own actions, holiness isn’t achieved through personal effort or religious rites. It’s about being set apart for God’s purposes.

  • God’s declaration:

When God declares something holy, it is set apart for His service and is not to be used for common purposes.

Just as you would be protective of your toothbrush and not want it used for cleaning the toilet or  shoes or other tasks, God’s holiness is something He sets apart and protects.

This concept can be used to explain that Christians, though not perfect, are called to live lives that are set apart and dedicated to God, reflecting His holiness in their actions and choices

What does it mean for us to be holy? When God told Israel to be holy in Leviticus 11 and 19, He was instructing them to be distinct from the other nations by giving them specific regulations to govern their lives. Israel is God’s chosen nation and God has set them apart from all other people groups. They are His special people, and consequently they were given standards that God wanted them to live by so the world would know they belonged to Him. When Peter repeats the Lord’s words in 1 Peter 1:16, he is talking specifically to believers. As believers, we need to be “set apart” from the world unto the Lord. We need to be living by God’s standards, not the world’s. God isn’t calling us to be perfect, but to be distinct from the world. First Peter 2:9 describes believers as “a holy nation.” It is a fact! We are separated from the world; we need to live out that reality in our day-to-day lives, which Peter tells us how to do in 1 Peter 1:13-16.

2. How Can I be Holy? 

  • Christ Blood Makes Us Holy

11 The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. 12 And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. Hebrews 13:11-12 (NIV)

How can we become holy? Holiness only results from a right relationship with God by believing in Jesus Christ as Savior (accepting His gift of eternal life). If we have not placed our faith in God’s Son alone to save us from our sins, then our pursuit of holiness is in vain. So, we must first make sure we are born-again believers (see John 3). If we truly are believers, then we recognize that our position in Christ automatically sets us apart from the world (1 Peter 2:9). After all, we have a relationship with the living God! Then we must daily live a set-apart life, not trying to “blend in” with the world, but instead living according to God’s Word as we study the Bible and grow in it.

www.Upwards.Church

Message Audio/Video and Outline: https://upwards.church/leander-campus/watch-now-message-videos

Watch Messages: YouTube-Upwards Church

Facebook: Upwards Church

Read Along Daily Bible Reading: YouVersion (https://www.bible.com/organizations/370f8a6e-16bc-464f-8c43-0b7623fd2952)

Sources:
Life Application Bible Notes (Tyndale, 2007), 158-159
Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old Testament and New Testament Words
https://www.gotquestions.org/holiness-Bible.html
Posted in Leviticus - Lambs, Levites and Laws | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Which Old Testament Laws Apply to Us Today? – Leviticus

Posted on July 21, 2025 by dkoop

It’s controversial and often confusing, but we’re getting in it:  the book of Leviticus.  It’s full of laws, (up to 613 according to Jewish Rabbis) regulations and religious language that seems outdated or is it?

The fact that Christians no longer follow many of the obscure laws God gave to Israel at the time of Moses is a regular point of confusion and contention for non-Christians.  Commands not to eat certain types of meat (Leviticus 11:7-12), tattoo your body (Lev 19:28), trim your hair or beard (Lev 19:27), or wear clothing made of mixed fabrics (Lev 19:19) are prime examples. Why do Christians not follow these laws?

Misinformed unbelievers often pull these little-known verses out of context in an attempt to smear Christianity.  They present these verses as “evidence” that Christians are hypocrites, picking and choosing what Scriptures they want to follow or ignore.

In reality, we know these faulty arguments are based entirely on Scripture that’s misinterpreted and/or pulled out of context.  The writings of any author can be misconstrued if a few sentences are plucked from their books without reading the rest, but many skeptics ignore this obvious detail.

Unfortunately, Christians are not always prepared to respond to questions about the Old Testament laws – it’s a deep and somewhat confusing subject.

If Christians say they’re not required to follow ALL the Old Testament laws, is this an inconsistency in Christianity or the Bible?

No!  The Bible is God’s inerrant Word to us.  However, Scripture is not simply a list of black-and-white commands.  The Bible records and recounts hundreds of years of history.  We don’t just open the Bible to a random page in the Old Testament, point to a verse, and conclude that it’s a directive for life as a Christian today.  Scripture must always be interpreted properly and put into its correct context — and the Bible clearly teaches that some of God’s laws for modern-day believers changed with the finished work of Christ.  Let’s unpack this.

3 You must not do as they do in Egypt, where you used to live, and you must not do as they do in the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you. Do not follow their practices. 4 You must obey my laws and be careful to follow my decrees. I am the LORD your God. Leviticus 18:3-4 (NIV)

We see that one purpose of the Law is the help the people live and be different than the worldly cultures around them.  “As they do in Egypt…as they do in Canaan… Do NOT follow their practices”  As Christians, we too are “called out” of the world.  The word church or “ecclesia” means “called out ones.

“You must obey my laws”    It sounds like we need to obey the laws God gives right?

But what about when Jesus says that he fulfills the Law?

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. Matthew 5:17 (NIV)

When we observe Communion or the Lord’s Supper we acknowledge the Old Covenant and Law are fulfilled by Jesus in a New Covenant, in His blood.

  • The Law is Fulfilled in Christ

Are ALL the laws  fulfilled or  some of them?

Why do Christians pick and choose which laws to follow in Leviticus?  How can someone wholeheartedly affirm one passage that says declares one sin an abomination and then flat out ignore another that forbids eating shellfish?

One of the misconceptions in understanding how to read the Bible is that people often simply say, “I read the Bible literally.”  That’s not true, even by the people who claim it.   Most of the people who might say something like that actually don’t literally believe that the poetic language of Psalms should be taken literally.  Or when Jesus claims “I am the gate,” believes that Jesus is literally a fence that opens and closes.

A better description for the proper way to read the Bible is: read the Bible as it was literally intended to be read. This means that some books are intended to be read as history, others are intended to be read as poetry, others as apocalyptic and so on.  When we read the bible we have to consider, who wrote the book and what was the author’s intention behind what we read.

So how does this translate to the book of Leviticus?

The book of Leviticus is a book full of laws.  And as we read the book of Leviticus it is important to understand how we should understand the book we are reading.  Because the book is full of so many laws we have to consider, should we be following these laws?  And if not, why don’t we follow them?

When you read the book of Leviticus you cannot automatically assume that every law you read still applies today.

But at the same time you cannot automatically ignore every law that is found in the book of Leviticus.

You have to discern, is this a law that was for a particular time and place or was it timeless?

The 3 Types of Laws in Leviticus

1) CEREMONIAL

The ceremonial law was given to the nation of Israel for a particular purpose.  Ceremonial Laws dealt with the Sacrificial System at the Tabernacle and later the Temple. If you see words like, “blood, altar, lambs, goats, doves, grain offerings, burning, fat, priests and garments.”  Also, these laws were given to the nation of Israel for the purpose of separating them from their Gentile neighbors.

As you read about laws like dietary regulations (don’t eat catfish, shell fish, pork, etc.) and other regulations of cleanliness. These laws are not meant for all people or all times.

More importantly, Christ fulfilled Ceremonial and Sacrificial Laws.

Here’s some examples of Ceremonial Law

27 You shall not shave around the sides of your head, nor shall you disfigure the edges of your beard. Leviticus 19:27 (NKJV)

2  ‘A woman who becomes pregnant and gives birth…will be *ceremonially unclean for seven days, just as she is unclean during her monthly period. Leviticus 12:2 (NIV)

*The words, “ceremonial, sacrifice, altar, blood, clean and priest” are all clues that these are Ceremonial Laws.

Here’s some laws that we really care about, Food Laws:

7  And the pig, though it has a split hoof completely divided, does not chew the cud; it is unclean for you.  8  You must not eat their meat or touch their carcasses; they are unclean for you.  (Back then, Pigs carried parasites and worms,  there was no FDA – there was only GOD)
9  “‘Of all the creatures living in the water of the seas and the streams, you may eat any that have fins and scales. …    12  Anything living in the water that does not have fins and scales is to be detestable to you. Leviticus 11:7-12 (NIV)

Thankfully the New Testament addresses this for us:

19 For it doesn’t go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods “clean.”) Mark 7:19 (NIV)

3 (False Teachers) They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. 4 For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5  because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer. 1 Timothy 4:3-5 (NIV)

 16  Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.
17  These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. Colossians 2:16-17 (NIV)

2) CIVIL

The civil laws, like the ceremonial laws, were given to the nation of Israel in their particular culture.   The civil laws were the laws given to the nation of Israel for managing the civil affairs of the people. It gave laws that suggested how to run business, punishment for crimes, such as the death penalty and even the treatment of servants. These laws do not apply to us in our culture.

Christ fulfilled Ceremonial Laws, Governments carry out and legislate Civil laws, and Moral laws such as the Ten Commandments are reinforced in the New Testament.

3) MORAL

The moral law is unlike the other 2 types in that the moral law is not to a particular culture or for a particular time period.  The moral law can also be described as the natural law.  This isn’t because it is natural to obey the law, but because it is the way God created the natural world to function.

The moral law is timeless.  It exists before, during, and after the culture in which it was given.

For example, murder.  When did murder become a sin?  When Cain killed Abel, there was no commandment against murder.  But it was still wrong.

Why?  How can something be a law without having been given as a law?  Murder, I would suggest, is a part of the moral law.  It existed even before the giving of the ten commandments and is still important in our day and age.

This is why we often place such high importance on the Ten Commandments as Christians.  It’s not because the list of 10 is more important because it’s from the book of Exodus instead of Leviticus.  It’s simply because it is the best summary of the moral law.  These are laws that are timeless and that we should hold dearly.

Example:

Sexual Sin:

22  “‘Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable. Leviticus 18:22 (NIV)

Sexual Sins are discussed in the New Testament and all the New Testament writers hold that Christians must not participate in Sexual Sin.  These laws are upheld in the New Testament.

26  Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones.  27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.  28Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30  slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents;  31  they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them. Romans 1:26-32 (NIV)

9  Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10  nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11  And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (NIV)

Beautiful!  We were these things, but in Christ we are not and have been forgiven!

With laws in Leviticus, we must consider what kind of law is this? Is the law mentioned referred to or taught in the New Testament. The New Testament further teaches and upholds the Moral Laws

Also, what is the purpose of the law?

  • The Law Should Lead us to Christ

24 So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Galatians 3:24 (NIV)

The purpose of the Law was to point us to Christ. Galatians 3:24 says, “Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith” (NKJV). No one can perfectly obey all the commandments, no matter how many or few there are (Ecclesiastes 7:20; Romans 3:23). In fact, no one can even perfectly obey the Ten Commandments. The Law makes our sinfulness evident (Romans 7:7). God gave the Law to define sin and demonstrate our need for a Savior. Jesus is the only one who has perfectly obeyed the Law. Through His life, death, and resurrection, He fulfilled all of God’s righteous commands (Matthew 5:17–18).

  • The Law is Lived by the Power of Christ

2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. … 4in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:4 (NIV)

Christ helps us live morally as we have the Holy Spirit in our lives! We have Fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness..

Just as the 10 Commandments summarize the Moral Law, Jesus summarizes all the Law into two parts!

 37‘Love the Lord… 39Love your neighbor…40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40 (NIV)

The purpose of the Mosaic Law raises these questions: “Are you trusting in yourself to keep all the Ten Commandments or the Great Commandment of Jesus all the time (which you can’t do)?” OR “Have you made the choice to accept Jesus as your Savior, realizing that He has fulfilled all the commandments all the time for you, even paying your penalty for breaking them?” The choice is yours.

www.Upwards.Church

Message Audio/Video and Outline: https://upwards.church/leander-campus/watch-now-message-videos

Watch Messages: YouTube-Upwards Church

Facebook: Upwards Church

Read Along Daily Bible Reading: YouVersion (https://www.bible.com/organizations/370f8a6e-16bc-464f-8c43-0b7623fd2952)

Posted in Leviticus - Lambs, Levites and Laws | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

You’re Invited! Leviticus Introduction

Posted on July 19, 2025 by dkoop

You’re invited to our new series in Leviticus: Lambs, Levites and Laws.

Description:  Leviticus is one of the most controversial and misunderstood books of the bible. Leviticus is a book about how God’s people can be holy or set apart.  Because the book is full of so many laws we have to consider, should we follow all these laws today?  And if not, why don’t we follow them?  What does it mean to live a life that is “set apart” for God?  We will examine these issues in our series “Lambs, Laws and Levites”

Dates Titles            Scriptures                                                                

July 20 – Which O.T. Laws Apply Today? (intro & overview)

July 27 – Holy, Holy, Holy (Lev. 11, 19 and various)                     

Aug. 3 – Understanding the Feasts and Festivals (Lev. 23)

Aug. 10– Love Your Neighbor as Yourself (Lev. 19)

Introduction: 

“God seems so far away … if only I could see or hear him.” Have you ever felt this way—struggling with loneliness, burdened by despair, riddled with sin, overwhelmed by problems? Made in God’s image, we were created to have a close relationship with him; thus, when fellowship is broken, we are incomplete and need restoration. Communion with the living God is the essence of worship. It is vital, touching the very core of our lives. Perhaps this is why a whole book of the Bible is dedicated to worship. After Israel’s dramatic exit from Egypt, the nation was camped at the foot of Mount Sinai for two years to listen to God (Exodus 19 to Numbers 10). It was a time of resting, teaching, building, and meeting with him face to face. Redemption in Exodus is the foundation for cleansing, worship, and service in Leviticus.
The overwhelming message of Leviticus is the holiness of God—“You must be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy” (19:2). But how can unholy people approach a holy God? The answer—first sin must be dealt with. Thus the opening chapters of Leviticus give detailed instructions for offering sacrifices, which were the active symbols of repentance and obedience. Whether bulls, grain, goats, or sheep, the sacrificial offerings had to be perfect, with no defects or bruises—pictures of the ultimate sacrifice to come, Jesus, the Lamb of God. Jesus has come and opened the way to God by giving up his life as the final sacrifice in our place. True worship and oneness with God begin as we confess our sin and accept Christ as the only one who can redeem us from sin and help us approach God.
In Leviticus, sacrifices, priests, and the sacred Day of Atonement opened the way for the Israelites to come to God. God’s people were also to worship him with their lives. Thus we read of purity laws (chapters 11–15) and rules for daily living, concerning family responsibilities, sexual conduct, relationships, worldliness (chapters 18–20), and vows (chapter 27). These instructions involve one’s holy walk with God, and the patterns of spiritual living still apply today. Worship, therefore, has a horizontal aspect—that is, God is honored by our lives as we relate to others.
The final emphasis in Leviticus is celebration. The book gives instructions for the festivals. These were special, regular, and corporate occasions for remembering what God had done, giving thanks to him, and rededicating lives to his service (chapter 23). Our Christian traditions and holidays are different, but they are necessary ingredients of worship. We, too, need special days of worship and celebration with our spiritual brothers and sisters to remember God’s goodness in our lives.
As you read Leviticus, rededicate yourself to holiness, worshiping God in private confession, public service, and group celebration.

Vital Statistics

Purpose: A handbook for the priests and Levites outlining their duties in worship, and a guidebook of holy living for the Hebrews

Author: Moses

Original Audience: The people of Israel

Date Written:  1450–1410 B.C.

Where Written: In the wilderness during Israel’s wanderings, somewhere in the Sinai peninsula

Setting: At the foot of Mount Sinai. God is teaching the Israelites how to live as holy people.

Key Verse: “You must be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy” (19:2).

Key People: Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, Ithamar

Key Place: Mount Sinai

Special Feature:
Holiness is mentioned more times (152) than in any other book of the Bible.

Outline: 

A. WORSHIPING A HOLY GOD (1:1–17:16)
1. Instructions for the offerings
2. Instructions for the priests
3. Instructions for the people
4. Instructions for the altar
God provided specific directions for the kind of worship that would be pleasing to him. These instructions teach us about the nature of God and can help us develop a right attitude toward worship. Through the offerings we learn of the seriousness of sin and the importance of bringing our sins to God for forgiveness.

B. LIVING A HOLY LIFE (18:1–27:34)
1. Standards for the people
2. Rules for priests
3. Seasons and festivals
4. Receiving God’s blessing
God gave clear standards to the Israelites for living a holy life. They were to be separate and distinct from the pagan nations around them. In the same way, all believers should be separated from sin and dedicated to God. God still wants to remove sin from the lives of his people.

Main Ideas:

Sacrifice/Offering
There are five kinds of offerings that fulfill two main purposes: one to show praise, thankfulness, and devotion; the other for atonement, the covering and removal of guilt and sin. Animal offerings demonstrated that the person was giving his or her life to God by means of the life of the animal.
The sacrifices (offerings) were for worship and forgiveness of sin. Through them we learn about the cost of sin, for we see that we cannot forgive ourselves. God’s system says that a life must be given for a life. In the Old Testament, an animal’s life was given to save the life of a person. But this was only a temporary measure until Jesus’ death paid the penalty of sin for all people forever.

Worship
Seven festivals were designated as religious and national holidays. They were often celebrated in family settings. These events teach us much about worshiping God in both celebration and quiet dedication.
God’s rules about worship set up an orderly, regular pattern of fellowship with him. They allowed times for celebration and thanksgiving as well as for reverence and rededication. Our worship should demonstrate our deep devotion.

Health
Civil rules for handling food, disease, and sex were taught. In these physical principles, many spiritual principles were suggested. Israel was to be different from the surrounding nations. God was preserving Israel from disease and community health problems.
We are to be different morally and spiritually from the unbelievers around us. Principles for healthy living are as important today as in Moses’ time. A healthy environment and a healthy body make our service to God more effective.

Holiness
Holy means “separated” or “devoted.” God removed his people from Egypt; now he was removing Egypt from the people. He was showing them how to exchange Egyptian ways of living and thinking for his ways.
We must devote every area of life to God. God desires absolute obedience in motives as well as practices. Though we do not observe all the worship practices of Israel, we are to have the same spirit of preparation and devotion.

Levites
The Levites and priests instructed the people in their worship. They were the ministers of their day. They also regulated the moral, civil, and ceremonial laws and supervised the health, justice, and welfare of the nation.
The Levites were servants who showed Israel the way to God. They provide the historical backdrop for Christ, who is our High Priest and yet our Servant. God’s true servants care for all the needs of their people.

www.Upwards.Church

Message Audio/Video and Outline: https://upwards.church/leander-campus/watch-now-message-videos

Watch Messages: YouTube-Upwards Church

Facebook: Upwards Church

Read Along Daily Bible Reading: YouVersion (https://www.bible.com/organizations/370f8a6e-16bc-464f-8c43-0b7623fd2952)

Source: Life Application Bible Notes (Tyndale, 2007), 158–159.

Posted in Leviticus - Lambs, Levites and Laws | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment