Wow! There’s a lot of blood in the Old Testament! Today’s reading delved into burnt offerings, sin offerings, guilt offerings, ordination, and peace offerings. One phrase that stood out was “…you must admit your guilt.” I also noticed a related phrase: “…you must confess your sin.”
Another thing that stood out was the distinction between sinning unknowingly and sinning knowingly. Even when Israel obeyed where they knew to obey, there were times they sinned unknowingly and only realized it later. In both cases, they were guilty. Both instances required confession and a sacrifice. Both could be forgiven!
Israel was an imperfect people. But that didn’t stop a perfect God from wanting to dwell among them! When Israel sinned, they could be made right with God through sacrifice. Yes, blood had to be shed, but God accepted it! Guilt and fear did not need to define them; forgiveness could! Their imperfections did not need to define them; the goodness of God could!
As believers, we, too, sin, and we, too, have the same God!
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:8–9, KJV)
As believers, do we sin? Yes! Do we, at times, sin and only realize it later? Yes! Are we going to bear the guilt of that sin? Are we going to let fear and guilt define us? Must we accept defeat? Do we have to worry that God won’t forgive us? Do we have to let failure destroy our joy? Do we have to let the devil discourage us by planting thoughts like, “There you go again! You blew it! You’re worthless! You’ll never measure up! God is mad at you!”
We have a simple yet powerful answer to all of those things! Like Israel, we admit our guilt and confess our sins to God. A faithful God will forgive and cleanse us of our sins and all unrighteousness! Why? Because Jesus is our sacrifice! And God accepts Jesus!
A perfect God still wants a relationship with us imperfect people! Let’s live in the joy of being made right with God!
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