Chapter 4 of WHEN WE AWAKE
OFFERINGS IN THE OUTER COURT
(Repentance)
{1} 'If a person sins in hearing the utterance of an oath, and is a witness, whether he has seen or known of the matter; if he does not tell it, he bears guilt. {2} 'Or if a person touches any unclean thing, whether it is the carcass of an unclean beast, or the carcass of unclean livestock, or the carcass of unclean creeping things, and he is unaware of it, he also shall be unclean and guilty. {3} 'Or if he touches human uncleanness; whatever uncleanness with which a man may be defiled, and he is unaware of it; when he realizes it, then he shall be guilty. {4} 'Or if a person swears, speaking thoughtlessly with his lips to do evil or to do good, whatever it is that a man may pronounce by an oath, and he is unaware of it; when he realizes it, then he shall be guilty in any of these matters. {5} 'And it shall be, when he is guilty in any of these matters, that he shall confess that he has sinned in that thing; {6} 'and he shall bring his trespass offering to the LORD for his sin which he has committed, a female from the flock, a lamb or a kid of the goats as a sin offering. So the priest shall make atonement for him concerning his sin."
Leviticus 5:1-6
"When I saw West-wind I was neither glad nor afraid (at first). I felt ashamed."
"But what of? Psyche, they hadn’t stripped you naked or anything?"
"No, no, Maia. Ashamed of looking like a mortal--ashamed of being a mortal."
"But how could you help that?"
"Don’t you think the thing people are most ashamed of are the things they can’t help?"
Faces
, p. 111Psyche felt ashamed in the presence of her god. She understood that she was a mere mortal, made of flesh. This speaks of understanding one’s own sinful nature and of needing to depend upon God to someday change that nature. Leviticus chapter 5 deals with the trespass offering and it is interesting that the Hebrew word for the trespass offering is the "āshām" offering. The trespass offering literally turns out to be the offering one made because he was ashamed of his sins. According to Leviticus 5:5 the offeror had to confess explicit sins before the offering was presented to God. The āshām offering corresponds to our need for the daily repentance that God requires.
The Bronze Metal
The bronze altar of the Tabernacle, upon which all of the sacrifices were offered, speaks of sanctification, the "salvation of the soul." It also reveals God’s judgment upon the flesh, or sinful nature, of man, a sinful nature that lasts even after one comes to faith in Christ and remains until glorification. The bronze metal of the altar symbolizes God’s judgment on sin. This is perhaps most clearly seen in the passage from Numbers 16 where "fire came out from the LORD and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were offering incense" on bronze censers. (Number 16:35) These men were leaders of Israel and co-conspired with Korah, Dathan, and Abiram against the authority of Moses and Aaron. Their rebellion against God’s delegated authority meant that they had, in fact, "rejected the Lord." (vs. 30) Thus they were consumed by His fire for this "sin against their own souls." (vs. 38) Afterwards, Aaron took the two hundred and fifty bronze censers, hammered them out, and made them into a "covering" for the bronze altar. (vs. 39)
Remember that Korah and his followers all partook of the Passover lamb when they came out of Egypt with all Israel. They, therefore, were "saved" individuals regarding their spirits. They prefigure Christians who believe in the efficacy of Jesus’ blood for forgiveness of sins. Yet, they still "rejected the Lord," and were judged severely for this rejection. We understand from this that Christians, too, may reject the Lord in a similar fashion. This rejection often takes the form of disobedience to His explicit commands so clearly given us in His Word.
Consider also the snake that Moses lifted in the desert:
{5} And the people spoke against God and against Moses: "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread." {6} So the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many of the people of Israel died. {7} Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, "We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD and against you; pray to the LORD that He take away the serpents from us." So Moses prayed for the people. {8} Then the LORD said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live." {9} So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.
(Num 21:5-9)All of Israel stood in the position of spiritual salvation at this point. They had believed in God. They had offered the Passover lamb and the angel of death had passed over them. Their spirits were "saved," but their soul loathed "this worthless bread." What was this "worthless bread?" It was the manna that fell from heaven, or food from heaven. The manna itself was natural food, but it typified spiritual food. It represented the Lord Jesus Himself, the Bread of Life. By speaking against the manna, Israel showed that they rejected the very God that led them. In consequence, God judged some of them with immediate death.
Moses interceded for the rest and God commanded him to fashion a bronze "fiery serpent" and raise it up on a pole. God did not remove the serpents immediately, but provided a remedy for their poison. Israel had to look upon the bronze serpent so that judgment would be abated. Again we see bronze standing in the place of judgment and thus we conclude that this metal symbolizes God’s judgment upon sin and, in particular, of sin within the believer. Similarly, God has not yet removed the serpent from our flesh. He has covered our sin, yes, but he has not yet removed our sin nature. Until then we must confess and repent of our sins, looking to Jesus on "the pole" for the forgiveness of our sins. Jesus took the sting of the serpent for us. This is the prophetic significance of the bronze metal.
The Trespass (āshām) Offering
The trespass offering, the fifth of the offerings introduced in Leviticus, demonstrates typologically1 the very first works of a newborn Christian, repentance of known sin. Detailed instructions for the trespass offering are found in Leviticus 5 through 7. The primary aspect of trespass offerings deals with atonement for intentional sins committed after salvation. According to Leviticus 5:5, the offeror must confess that he has sinned in a particular thing. This typifies or symbolizes the place where every Christian should begin his pilgrim walk in this world, repentance from sin. This corresponds to the first elementary teaching of Christ found in Hebrews 6:1.
Before one begins such a walk, though, he first believes upon the Lord Jesus for salvation from the effects of his sins. Christ’s blood establishes the expiation (atonement) or propitiation (conciliation with God) for our sins. His blood provides our justification before God and results in new spiritual life. The angel of spiritual death thus passes over us. The Passover sacrifice typifies all of this. (Remember, a Biblical type is an historical thing or event that prophetically pictures a future spiritual thing or reality)
After initial faith in Jesus one begins (or should begin) to learn the ways of the Lord. He should learn God’s law so that he will know what God considers to be sin for, as John tells us, "Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness." (1 John 3:4) When one commits a sin after coming to faith he is convicted by the law as a lawbreaker and must make atonement for that sin. Many Christians believe that their initial belief in Jesus already atones for these intentional and unintentional sins that they commit after salvation, but the Bible does not teach this. The trespass offering shows the continuing necessity to come to God for forgiveness of sins, even after salvation. Many writings from the New Testament reveal this same truth.
The Purpose of Jesus Christ’s Sacrifice
The initial purpose of Jesus’ sacrifice is to establish peace with God through Him. (Romans 5:1) Jesus’ death reconciles alienated mankind to his Creator. (Romans 5:10; 2 Cor. 5:18) Hebrews also tells us that this great offering cleanses our conscience from dead works (sins) in order to enable us to serve the living God. (Hebrews 9:14) Paul teaches that once we have faith in Christ’s work of reconciliation with God we shall be (future tense) saved by His life. (Romans 5:10) God purposed that our reconciliation with Him would provide the basis by which we might "reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:17) But, this speaks of potential positions of rule available to Christians in the coming Kingdom of God; He does not guarantee a position of rulership with Christ . It is available to all who believe, but it will only be achieved by those who receive (actively take hold of) Christ’s abundance of grace and gift of righteousness. (Romans 5:17) Paul thus instructs us to work out our own salvation in fear and trembling. (Phil. 2:12) If we desire to see God’s face, then we must also desire the character that goes with it.
Repentance from Sin, the First Christian Work
The Book of Hebrews places repentance first in its list of elementary doctrines in the following passage:
{1}
Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, {2} of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. {3} And this we will do if God permits. (Heb 6:1-3)Unless we learn this primary lesson well, the writer says, we can never "go on unto perfection." (Hebrews 6:1) The normal Christian life, according to John, is life without sin, but "if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." (1 John 2:1) From the very beginning, God provided a means by which the one who does sin may once again become clean before Him. That way is the trespass offering, and its theological equivalent, repentance. Now that the one offering of Jesus Christ has been made we no longer have to sacrifice animals to God, but we do need to pray to our Advocate for continuing forgiveness.
Failure to repent of sin is one of the most telling signs that we stand at the very end of the age. Lawlessness and unrepentance mark today’s Laodicean Christians and their institutionalized "form of godliness." The Book of Revelation tells us about the Laodiceans:
{14} "And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, 'These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: {15} "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. {16} "So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. {17} "Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'; and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked; {18} "I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. {19} "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. {20} "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. {21} "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. {22} "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."' "
(Rev 3:14-22)The Laodicean and Revelation’s other six churches actually existed at the time John wrote his prophecy. It is also true that the seven churches prophetically correspond to different time periods in Church history. Thus they serve as prophetic types in God’s Word. The Laodicean Church is last in John’s list and it characterizes the end-of-the-age church which includes the multitude of today’s denominations and independent churches. Our churches possess huge buildings and vast worldly estates, but in terms of obedience and spiritual revelation they are "wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked." Indeed, lawlessness represents the most telling earmark in many of Christ’s churches at the dawn of the third day (millennium) since His birth. Rarely will you hear a pastor or teacher exalt God’s standards in ways specific enough to convince his people that the lives they live are full of sin and debauchery. Today’s church and world events fulfill Paul’s prophecy to Timothy:
{1} But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: {2} For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, {3} unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, {4} traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, {5} having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! {6} For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, {7} always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. {8} Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; {9} but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.
(2 Tim 3:1-9)If Christians cannot even repent, and thus offer the most basic of the five sacrifices, how will we ever enter into the sanctuary, much less the Most Holy Place of God’s actual presence? John says, "And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming." (1 John 2:28) Yes, even a Christian may "be ashamed" of himself when He comes again! The purpose, then, of the āshām, or trespass, offering was not to bring initial salvation or one’s first forgiveness of sins. It provided a means by which a believer could maintain forgiveness and purity before God for his intentional and unintentional sins and thus remain unashamed before him.
The trespass offering did not represent an Israelite’s initial forgiveness from sin or establish his relationship with God. The Passover sacrifice accomplished that. "Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt." (Ex. 12:13) The Passover sacrifice and its blood on a Hebrew door was "a sign," that is, it was an historic event with specific prophetic implications.
Laodicean Christians, you see, were (and are) rich, at least in a worldly way. Jesus said, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." (Mark 10:25) Surely, most Christians stare in astonishment when they become confronted with Scriptures that warn them that they may well miss participation in the Kingdom of God. So did Jesus’ very own disciples, for the Scripture says, "And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?" (Mark 10:26) Here, once again, we see Scriptures dealing with the salvation of the soul, not one’s initial spiritual salvation. In answer to this question Jesus says, "With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible." (Mark 10:27) So, there is hope for us!
The Prophetic Goal of the Trespass Offerings
The trespass offering of Leviticus 5:1-6:7 dealt with God’s boundaries upon man’s activities. To trespass means to go beyond a point where you have the legal right to go. Webster’s dictionary defines trespass as "an actionable wrong against another’s person, property, or rights." The word "actionable" means that one can be brought into a court of law for conviction and determination of the proper punishment. Another of Webster’s definitions for trespass is "a sin." To trespass the boundaries of God’s Law is to sin. As Paul says, "by the law is the knowledge of sin." (Romans 3:20) Whenever someone mistakenly or knowingly violated God’s Law, he was to bring a trespass offering to the bronze altar that stood in the court of the Tabernacle. Judgment would there be made upon the offering on behalf of the offeror. The offering would atone for the sin of the offeror.
The trespass offering pictures the first steps in our walk with God. It pictures the very first works of a newborn Christian, repentance of both intentional and unintentional sins. God’s first requirement after faith comes is to obey Him with the help of the Holy Spirit. The trespass offering showed God’s provision of forgiveness by repentance from the very beginning. Today we offer prayers of forgiveness to our Advocate, Jesus Christ. This is the "antitype," or prophetic goal, of the trespass offering.
The ultimate goal of all Christians should be to dwell in the presence of God. David cries, "How lovely is Your tabernacle, O LORD of hosts! My soul longs, yes, even faints For the courts of the LORD; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. ... For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God Than dwell in the tents of wickedness." (Psalm 84:1-2,10) Hebrews declares "without holiness no one will see the Lord." (Heb. 12:14 NIV) The trespass offering and its prophetic application, prayers of repentance to Jesus Christ, help us to achieve this goal.
Trespass Types of Sin
I
. The first sin of the trespass group deals with "hearing the utterance of an [false] oath" and refusing to tell the truth to the civil authorities about the matter even though one is an eyewitness to the truth of the issues involved. (Lev. 5:1) Such refusal to uphold the law in society breaks down the social order, especially in a nation like Israel which was supposed to be based upon God’s perfect law. We have witnessed many examples of this type of sin in recent well-publicized trials of important political and entertainment figures. The refusal to tell the truth in a court of law destroys the entire legal system. It is impossible to reach a just result when witnesses lie under oath. All of society ultimately suffers from this breach. The specific intentional sins mentioned in Leviticus 6 regarding the āshām offering also relate to sins of lying. Lies and deception characterize the lawless time in which we live, and, unfortunately, even many Christians who live in these times.To lie and to deceive exhibit characteristics totally contrary to God’s will for our lives. Deceptive Christians may claim God as their father, but Jesus’ words will condemn them just as they did the Pharisees: "You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies." (John 8:44, NIV) John proclaims that "all liars," including Christians, will have their place in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. (Rev. 21:8) He also declares that liars, including Christians, will have their place outside the Kingdom and City of God. (Rev. 22:15) This is the place of "weeping and gnashing of teeth" and "outer darkness" that Jesus repeatedly warns His people about.
II.
The second type of sins in the āshām (trespass) group relates to mistakenly or unintentionally becoming unclean. (Lev. 5:2-3) The Hebrews were required not to touch certain things, like dead animals. These requirements mainly concerned ritualistic or ceremonial laws that do not usually specifically apply to Christians. Nevertheless, they carry prophetic import and application. God commands Christians to maintain a life of separation from the ways of the world, but sometimes we become unclean unintentionally simply by living in the world. We may see a highway billboard, for example, that provokes lustful or covetous thoughts. We need to learn to take every thought captive to Christ immediately and repent of any uncleanness we allow to enter our souls. Thus we may still apply this aspect of the asham offering to our walk with God.III.
The third type of trespass relates to vows of the mouth "to do evil or to do good." (Lev. 5:4) Jesus teaches us to answer "Yes," or "No," and not to take oaths at all. He says,{33} "Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.' {34} "But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God's throne; {35} "nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. {36} "Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. {37} "But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.' For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.
(Mat 5:33-37)We must learn to control our tongues as James so forcefully warns us. He likens our tongue to a spring that pours forth both fresh and bitter water since we both bless and curse with our mouth. He asks, "Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening?" (James 3:11,) Clearly, the answer is, "No!" Then he asks, "Who is wise and understanding among you?" (vs. 3:13)
And, we have come to a mystery again! James also teaches, "If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a mature man, able also to bridle the whole body." (vs. 3:2) The trespass offering presents us with an additional step toward maturity in that it brings us into an awareness of the importance of our words. Jesus warns us, "I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." (Mat. 12:36-37) We need but remember one command for our speech: "Speak the truth in love." (Eph. 4:15) Or, as David put it, "I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and salvation. I do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly." (Psalm 40:10) When we end this life, let us answer "I am wise and understanding," to James’ last question and before then let us repent of "every careless word." Thus we make our āshām offering.
IV.
The fourth type of sin here involves unintentional sins "regarding the holy things of the LORD." (Lev. 5:15) After all, what is God’s real desire for us? "And you shall be holy men to Me...." (Ex. 22:31) The word translated "holy" above is the Hebrew word "qodesh." It first occurs in the passage where God calls to Moses from the burning bush, saying, "Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground." (Ex. 3:5) To be in the presence of God means to stand on holy ground. Even though unintentional, this was a very serious sin because in addition to the āshām offering the priest imposed a twenty percent fine upon the offender. (Lev. 5:15-16)The penalty seems severe until we realize the goal of our existence, i.e., to dwell in the presence of God continually, beholding His face always. This goal looks forward to the Table of Showbread,, i.e., the "Table of the Bread of Faces that sits before the face of God continually." John puts it this way:
{28} And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. {29} If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him. Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. {2} Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. {3} And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
(1 John 2:28-3:3)Our goal, says John, is to "see Him as He is." However, there is only one way to really see Him. We must purify ourselves, i.e., become holy. We translate the Old Testament Hebrew word "qodesh" as the word "holy." A key verse using the word qodesh is Exodus 26:33, "And you shall hang the veil from the clasps. Then you shall bring the ark of the Testimony in there, behind the veil. The veil shall be a divider for you between the holy place and the Most Holy." The words translated "the Most Holy" are, in Hebrew, "qodesh qodesh." So, we see that the interior of the Tabernacle is a most holy place indeed! And this is our goal, to come into the Most Holy Place, into the qodesh qodesh.
The fourth aspect of the āshām, then, deals with unintentional mistakes regarding a sacred relationship with a holy God. This speaks of growing in the grace and knowledge of God. Clearly, when the person first committed his error he did not know it. At some point, perhaps through the instruction of the priests or clan elders, he did become aware of his sin. At that time he confessed his sin and brought his trespass offering "to the Lord" as "a sin offering." Then the priest made "atonement for him concerning his sin." (Lev. 5:5-6)
To repent of and to confess one’s sins means the same thing. Often we learn that we should only confess positive statement about ourselves, but this would often mean that we deny truth and reality. Biblically, "to confess" means "to speak the same thing as." Thus when a sinner confesses his sin it means that he speaks the same thing as God. This, too, defines the meaning of "to confess Christ." Those who truly confess Christ speak the same word that Jesus speaks. Their words, doctrines, and actions agree with His commands.
The opposite of confess, however, is to deny. Jude, in verse four of his book, tells us that "certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ." The Greek word translated "deny" here is the word arneomai and means "to contradict." (Strong’s) Thus the mark of a false prophet or false teacher of the last days is that his teaching contradicts, or denies, the very words of Christ. To be a false teacher or prophet does not mean that one does not believe in Christ. In fact, most false prophets certainly do believe that Jesus died for their sins. Why do you think it is so hard to find good, true Biblical teaching these days? It is because false teachers and prophets who believe in Christ, yet deny Him, fill our churches. Unfortunately, we do not know how to recognize these false teachers. This is a sign of the times.
We see, then, that the goal of the trespass offering, like repentance for us, was to prepare one to stand unashamed in the holiness, or presence, of God. His thoughts regarding certain matters had come into agreement with God’s and he repented of his old ways.
V.
The fifth āshām offering involves any unintentional violation of any of God’s laws. The Scripture says, "If a person sins, and commits any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the Lord, though he does not know it, yet he is guilty and shall bear his iniquity." (Lev. 5:17) This is where the common law precept "ignorance of the law is no excuse" comes from. Mankind is presumed to know the law, even God’s Law. When an Israelite discovered he had violated God’s Law, he had to make amends for "he is guilty and shall bear his iniquity."The same is true of us. Rather than denying the Royal Law and declaring it to be worthless, void, and mere legalism, we need to esteem and live according to its precepts. Jesus declared,
{20} "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. {18} "For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. {19} "Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. {20} "For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven."
(Mat 5:17-20)The āshām offering teaches us to honor God’s law in all its fulness. Thus we will fulfill the law of Christ and speak the same Word that He speaks even today.
VI.
Intentional sins comprise the sixth, and final, group within the āshām category. (Lev. 6:1-7) The specific acts mentioned here relate to lying, robbery, extortion, and coveting (keeping what another has lost or given to him for safekeeping). Paul declares that "neither thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God." (1 Cor. 6:10) Clearly, the sins mentioned here are very serious sins. They are so serious, in fact, that in addition to the āshām offering the offender must return the stolen property to the victim and pay him an additional twenty percent of the stolen item’s value. Further, he must pay the treasury of Lord the "valuation" that the priest determines as punishment for his deceit. (Lev. 6:5-6), which was probably an additional twenty percent of the stolen item’s value. See Leviticus 5:16.The Trespass Offering’s Relationship to Truth
The list of sins requiring the āshām offering begins and ends with sins of deception. Prophetically, this means that repentant doers of Christ’s Word will dwell with Him, but unrepentant liars will be cut off from His people. John blesses and warns,
{14} Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. {15} But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.
(Rev 22:14-15)The New Testament clearly shows a continuing accountability to God for our sins. The trespass offering teaches the necessity of staying clean before God. The bronze altar speaks of judgment. When the offeror brought his trespass offering to the tabernacle, the priest would "make atonement for him concerning his sin." (Lev. 5:6) Because of this atonement the offeror himself was not judged. His offering took his place. Several types of offerings could be made by the Israelite sinner depending upon his wealth, but the result was always the same, "The priest shall make atonement for him, for his sin that he has committed in any of these matters; and it shall be forgiven him." (Lev. 5:13) The offering itself, of course, looked to the sacrifice of Jesus in order to effect forgiveness. The result was the same then as it is today, however. When the sinner confessed and repented of his sins, he was forgiven. His sins were covered (though the law of sin was not removed from his flesh), and judgment for sin was averted.
Participation in the trespass offering by true repentance therefore begins the Christian journey to holiness. This journey eventually leads into the Tabernacle’s sanctuary and finally ends in the presence of God in the Most Holy Place. Our review of the specific sins mentioned in Leviticus showed that the purpose of the trespass offering was not to bring initial salvation or our first forgiveness of sins. Instead, the āshām offering provided a means by which a believer could maintain forgiveness and purity before God, even if he sinned. Thus he could continue standing unashamed before Him although he was still not perfect. The offering theologically applies to us through the doctrine of repentance from dead works (sins).
But What Should We Christians Repent Of?
The critical question for us at the end of the age is this: Of what do we repent? Few people, including Christians, even possess a knowledge of sin because they have cast God’s Law out of both their church and their Bible studies. Christians indulge in the most blasphemous of activities and do not even feel a need to repent. They have been trained by their leaders that they have been saved by grace (true) and that their sins will never be counted against them (false). Such teaching is heresy. The immediate result of such doctrinal error is a seared conscience and a mind that does not love the truth. Because they do not love the truth, they become deluded by deceiving spirits. Paul speaks concerning this in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 with respect to the coming of Christ that so many Christians say they wait for. Yes, even Christians can be deluded if they do not love the truth.
The final judgment on one who does not love God’s truth is the perdition, or destruction, of his soul, and this is true even for the Christian. "For," according to Hebrews, "if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sin, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries." (Hebrews 10:26-27) The writer ends his dire warning as follows:
{36} For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: {37} "For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. {38} Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him." {39} But we are not of those who draw back to perdition
[destruction], but of those who believe to the saving of the soul. (Heb 10:36-39)We believe that this critical need to love the truth reveals why most of the specific, intentional sins mentioned with respect to the trespass offering concern acts of lying and deception. Those with a habit of lying clearly do not love the truth.
The Trespass Offering’s Relationship to the Armor of God
The trespass offering also directly parallels the Christian warrior’s first piece of armor, the girdle of truth about his loins. (Ephesians 6:14) The loins represent man’s procreative power and the most vulnerable place on his body. Attack his loins and a man lies helpless. We also note that the other pieces of a knight’s armor were always attached to the girdle. Without the girdle about his loins, the knight stood naked. Similarly, without the knowledge of truth, the believer stands naked before God and will be ashamed before Him at His coming.
Just as the first piece of a knight’s armor protects his loins, truth abides as our first defense to the enemy of our souls. Thus, the Christian’s first responsibility lies in learning and obeying God’s truth. For, if we violate the truth, we sin against God and fall prey to the devil’s wiles. Repentance, of course, answers our sin, but we cannot repent until we know our trespass. This is the first lesson of the Old Testament sacrifices. Many of us never get beyond even this first sacrifice because preachers teach us to despise God’s Law as "legalistic" and never tell us that God’s Law defines sin. We ourselves fail to study His Word to discern this error and, hence, we never learn those things of which we ought to repent. If we do not know the truth, then we cannot progress with God. We cannot advance to the second offering, which, in our approach to God, is the fourth offering mentioned in Leviticus.
Woe, woe, woe unto us who fail to repent of our known sins and who fail to find out what God requires of us. He who has an ear to hear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.