Leviticus- A foreshadow of a true need for a savior

As I was reading Leviticus last week I was once again reminded of how much we need a savior. The theme of Leviticus is holiness. The term "holy" (set apart to God) is the key word of the book. Moses uses this word over and over again in Leviticus. Leviticus 19:2 is the key verse and states the theme of the book: "You shall be holy, For I the Lord your God am holy." The book is full of how to "atone" or cover sin (Exodus 30:10) and to "sanctify" (set apart to God). They used specific animal sacrifices and procedures to do this. Sacrifices were offered so the sinner might have access to God. The sacrifice was a substitute; it died in the place of the sinner.

It says in Romans 3:10 "There is no one righteous, not even one." It is impossible to be completely righteous and holy. The laws that the Israelites had were still not good enough to take sins away. In Hebrews 10:4 it says "For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take sins away."

Only one can take away the sins of the world. John 1:29 "The next day John saw Jesus coming and he said, Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world."

We can't pay for our salvation. I Peter 1:18  "For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect."

We can't earn our salvation. Some say that you do the best you can do and then God does the rest. NOT TRUE! Don't give yourself the credit. It is fleshly and sinful to want to take pride in what we did. We can't make ourselves holy and righteous only God can. Ephesians 2:8 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God,  not by works, so that no one can boast" 

Overall I am so glad that I don't have to sacrifice animals with lots detailed steps in becoming holy enough for me to even come before God. Hebrew 10:10 "For God's will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time."