Bible Questions & Discussion PAGE 380

Leviticus Chapter 23

This chapter explains the 7 feasts that the Israelites are to celebrate from year to year.

the Jewish calendar year begins with the month of Aviv (Abib0 (Nissan) which is in March - April. The new moon of begins in this time frame begins the new year. The first full moon designates the time the Passover is celebrated followed by the feast of Unleavened Bread and the feast of the first-fruits. These feasts are all in the month of Aviv.

The Passover is in remembrance of the way God delivered the Israelites hastily out of Egypt after the tenth plague came upon the Egyptians (the death of the firstborn). The Israelites were instructed to kill an unblemished lamb, anoint their doorframe with the blood, and consume all of the meat that night. In the morning they fled Egypt with Moses leading them by the guidance of YHWH. This event delivered the Israelites out of the bondage of slavery in Egypt by the hand of God. Each year on the fifteenth day of the first month of the year they were commanded to celebrate this feast to commemorate this deliverance. They were to slaughter and eat the meat of the lamb, along with bitter herbs, unleavened bread, and wine. This is the supper that Jesus celebrated with His disciples on the night He was betrayed. Prophetically, this feast foreshadowed the sacrifice of Jesus, the Lamb of God, who delivered those who were chosen by God out of the realm of sin and death into eternal life. The bitter herbs represented the hardships that the Israelites endured in Egypt and foreshadowed the sufferings of Jesus for us. The unleavened bread brings to remembrance the fact that they fled Egypt in such a haste that they did not have time to leaven their bread. And they traveled quickly night and day for seven days until they came to the Red Sea They could not stop and wait for their bread to be leavened and rise. The Passover meal included three pieces of unleavened bread. It was flat bread with stripes and holes pierced in it

Hi, One eighty.

Jesus during his earthly life had a true physical human body. After His resurrection, He was seen with a physical body by His disciples and the women who went to the tomb. He ascended to heaven with a physical body and the angels said He would return in this same physical body. The church through the centuries has affirmed that He is in heaven in a physical body also and refuted all the ideas that came forward that denied these things, including the Gnostics, Donatists and others who denied that He came and lived in a physical body.

1 John 4:1-3

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confessed that Jesus Christcame in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this itsthe spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard was coming, and is now already in the world.

Dear Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus, we lift up Julie's dad to You and ask that You will restore him to life and health by healing his heart damage from these attacks. Amen.

Hello again Richard,

While it is true that each of us will commit sins, I was pointing out that it is our corrupt sinful nature that makes us unacceptable to God as well as our sins bringing judgment upon us.

The statutes in Leviticus show us that only those who have been made holy by God can stand and serve in His presence. Our corrupt and sinful nature makes if so that every person is conceived and born alienated from God, enemies of God, and spiritually dead to God. We cannot make ourselves acceptable to Him. It takes an action on His part to regenerate us and impute the righteousness of Christ for any person to stand in His presence, whether as a priest, petitioner, or creature. He is too pure to look upon anything that is corrupted, imperfect, affected by sin.

This does bring up the idea of infants in the womb and young children who die before the age of accountability. I believe that these persons are as I said, corrupted and sinful from conception. But the Bible from Genesis to Revelation shows us that God made the way for Himself to be able to interact with sinful humanity. His grace brought to humanity through His Son reaches all the way back to Adam and Eve and is applied to those too young to yet have moral knowledge of their sinfulness.

I believe that babies in the womb, infants, and young children are covered by the blood of Jesus, but at some point they are held accountable for their sin and need to turn to Jesus for salvation. This is somewhat of a mystery, the workings of grace without the consent of the ones it is being bestowed upon. But we do know that God is loving, merciful, and gracious to all. When we become willful against Him, we need further grace by the working of the Holy Spirit to bring us to repentance and faith.

So, the mystery is how God works in this population of young persons to keep them from damnation. We do know how He works in those of us who know we are sinners against Him to bring us from death to life.

Hello once again Richard, In response to the person who was struck dead for touching the ark, we do not know his judgment.

I think as you do on this, but we could be wrong. I think that God executed capital punishment on some of the Israelites not so much because what they did was exceedingly evil, but to make the point that they must view Him as truly holy and be mindful of interacting with Him with reverence.

It reminds of what Jesus said about the people on which the tower of Siloam fell or the Galileans whose blood Pilate mingled with their sacrifices were worse sinners than others ( Luke 13:1-5) as He admonished those hearing Him to repent or they would likewise perish. Jesus spoke against the judgmental and self-righteous spirit of the Scribes and Pharisees who thought they were qualified to tell the degree of sinfulness of others due to their infirmities, malformations in their bodies and other imperfections.

They looked at the outside, but Jesus was concerned about the inward aspects of a person, calling them whitewashed sepulchers full of death even though these men thought that they were pure and holy because of their outward works.

Hello again Richard,

While it is true that each of us will commit sins, I was pointing out that it is our corrupt sinful nature that makes us unacceptable to God as well as our sins bringing judgment upon us.

The statutes in Leviticus show us that only those who have been made holy by God can stand and serve in His presence. Our corrupt and sinful nature makes if so that every person is conceived and born alienated from God, enemies of God, and spiritually dead to God. We cannot make ourselves acceptable to Him. It takes an action on His part to regenerate us and impute the righteousness of Christ for any person to stand in His presence, whether as a priest, petitioner, or creature. He is too pure to look upon anything that is corrupted, imperfect, affected by sin.

This does bring up the idea of infants in the womb and young children who die before the age of accountability. I believe that these persons are as I said, corrupted and sinful from conception. But the Bible from Genesis to Revelation shows us that God made the way for Himself to be able to interact with sinful humanity. His grace brought to humanity through His Son reaches all the way back to Adam and Eve and is applied to those too young to yet have moral knowledge of their sinfulness.

I believe that babies in the womb, infants, and young children are covered by the blood of Jesus, but at some point they are held accountable for their sin and need to turn to Jesus for salvation. This is somewhat of a mystery, the workings of grace without the consent of the ones it is being bestowed upon. But we do know that God is loving, merciful, and gracious to all. When we become willful against Him, we need further grace by the working of the Holy Spirit to bring us to repentance and faith.

So, the mystery is how God works in this population of young persons to keep them from damnation. We do know how He works in those of us who know we are sinners against Him to bring us from death to life.

Thank you, Indeed Paul often refers to the statutes and ordinances in Leviticus in his writings to illustrate how Jesus fulfilled all that these fore-shadowed.

Hi again Richard, I think that you are referring to what I said about sinning. "We are not sinful because we commit sins, We sin because we are sinful." This is referring to the depraved state of our human nature due to the sin of Adam. Our flesh, mind, soul, heart, are all corrupted and sinful instead of innocent and sin-free as Adam and Eve were before their disobedience. It is this sinful nature that leads us to sin. This nature is an integral part of us. We cannot get rid of it. It is not an entity apart independent of us. It is the state of our moral nature to not be perfectly holy as Adam and Eve were before their sin. We cannot nullify it, change it.

But once we are in Christ Jesus, we have anew nature born in us. This new nature is supernatural, not natural to us. It is created by God in us. This new nature is pure and holy. It is the life of Christ in us. So, then when we are regenerated we then have two natures, one that is corrupt and sinful, and one that is holy and righteous. They war against each other, as Paul states in Romans 7. But through the power of grace, we can choose to live according to our new nature and subdue the sinful nature. It is only when we die and are resurrected that this corrupt sinfulness will be removed from us once and for all. We will then forever have only the resurrected life of Christ in us and His human nature that is pure and undefiled and able to not sin for all of eternity.

Does this help?

Why is it that people do not read the beginning of the chapter 3 and obey what Jesus said? John 3:16 is true but we must read the beginning first. Especially John 3:3-7.

Sorry, but water baptism IS most certainly in the new testament. It is about water baptism AND being spirit filled w the Holy Ghost, as we live a holy life for Christ with love.

John 3:3-5 & Matthew 28:19 is fulfilled in Acts 2:38.

Alex 1939...Hiya Benjamin...Good question, hope i can help you...But its in the spritual realm...As Faith is the result of his word planted in our hearts...The living word is that good seed that forms Christ in us...In the spiritual realm ....As the scripture says faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word ( the living word ) of God...His voice,...Today if you will hear his voice...Its like a spritual pregnancy the Child is the H.G...The kingdom...Unless you receive the Kingdom as a lil Child you will in no wise enter there in Thats y Hebrews 11:1 tells us Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen....Jesus tells us unless you receive the Kingdom of God as a lil Child you will in no wise enter there in...Thats y he has to know us so he can plant his incorruptible seed in our hearts initiating a spritual pregnancy of Christ in us...But there is a time of gestation thats when we walk by faith and not by sight...We have the substance of things hoped for the Spirit the H.G...But we also have the evidence of things not seen Faith....Faith is truly a spritual pregnancy that preceeds a heavenly birth of Christ in us... Gal 4:19 my lil Children of whom i travail in birth till Christ is formed in you...We cannot see the Child the H.G that Child of Promise he is just a spritual infant that cannot speak for a while...But he is the anointing that spirit of truth that is gona rule all nations As in John 16:13

......But until the Kingdom comes we walk by faith and not by sight...As jesus said the kingdom comes not with observation simply b/c its in the spritual realm.

.....She brought forth a manchild that is gonna rule all nation and her Child was caught up to God and to his Throne... Rev 12:5.....This woman in Rev. 12 is the best example of faith... b/f her Child came she had the subtance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen ISAIAH 66:7..B/F she traviled she brought forth, b/f her pains came she was delivered of aman Child.

Very informative.

The Levites where appointed to prepare the tabernacle, and were in charge of moving it, while the people made their way into the promised land. Aaron, Moses brother would be the high priest, along with His sons, two of whom were devoured at the alter for disobedience. Understanding the different offerings will enlighten the reader into the writings of the Pauline letters, since we know that Paul was a Pharisee of all Pharisee's. All His writings are enhanced and illustrated with the use of this book. His words are interweaved with the sacraments of the alter, enlightening the reader of the true meaning of the blood and its purpose in sanctifying the soul of souls (the congregation) who bring it. How these sacrifices can never make us perfect, while we see Jesus who has become the perfect one from all eternity. The prophesied one. The Messiah, who would come to reconcile His people and those of the gentile nations ,once and for all .

Moses had been given a great responsibility, making sure that Gods will would be done. Sin offerings would be an important part of keeping the congregation( the future church ) in one mind, knowing the importance of the alter and the sinful nature of man! Consecrating the Nation into one!

Hi Alsie,

I believe Christ is not a physical body. So, who is Christ except God's Holy Son as He created Him. And what are you, except the Christ in you. The term "in you" in my opinion, is NOT to be taken as inside your body, for that is a very disgusting place to dwell. He is in your mind in which the Holy Spirit speaks to. It would also be appropriate to use the term "within your heart"; not to be mistaken as a physical heart. Although many names have particular meanings, the name Jesus, like all names, is used for body identification. Jesus APPEARED as a body and His Mind was in complete agreement with God's. And of course, all of us should constantly strive to understand with our whole heart or mind to think like Jesus, whom the Holy spirit speaks to us through.

Blessings

GOD IS

At Gal. 3:11 It is written that the just shall live by faith.

At Habakkuk 2:4. It is written that the just shall live by his faith?

Should the scriptures say: (live by faith). or should it say: (live by his faith)?

I trust that you understand what it is that I'm asking; so if you have an answer, please inform me as to what the true meaning of these Scriptures are?

After God made man on the sixth day, he did not say that it was good? As he said, when he made the light, and the earth and the heavens, the oceans and the fish , and cattle, and herbs, plants and trees and all the growing things that he had made in the first five days. So why did God not say it was good in the sixth day after he had made man?

That's a great question, Alsie. I sort of take the middle road on that. Though the Book of Revelation has a lot of imagery in it, which was what was revealed to John so he could comprehend or make sense of it, there are also real people & real events depicted in it which have to be accepted factually. When I read Revelation 1:13-16, clearly we have the Person of Jesus before John, Who both looked at John and touched him. Jesus had a garment on with a chest sash and His Voice had a tone & pitch unlike anything he had heard. Although, certain aspects were possibly hid from John, so that Jesus' Hair, Eyes, Feet, & Countenance could only appear as unusually radiant, sufficient for mortal man to see. Maybe the heavenly beings see the Father & Son in some other way; the Father Who is Spirit & Jesus, the Man, God's Word made flesh, now glorified.

When we all get to heaven,

What a day of rejoicing that will be!

When we all see Jesus,

We'll sing and shout the victory!

Hallelujah.

My question is concerning the image of Christ that is described in Revelation chapter one. Some people take this description literally as this being what he really looks like. I have always believed that since John was having a vision that was a spiritual image that was not what he would necessarily look like in the flesh. What is your opinion on this matter?

Thanks, Alsie Florence

Hi Richard. I am not trying to be a pastor or teacher over men or anything like that. I am just sharing my thinking as I am considering what I am reading. But I am glad you are finding my posts useful. I learn so much from reading the ideas of others who also think deeply about portions of Scriptures. Thus my understanding is expanded and when I share my thoughts, they are not totally my own. I do incorporate what I learn from others in my posts by rephrasing some of their points, but much of what I write originates with me. I guess I just have been blessed with good teachers in my life that helped me form a solid foundation. I am thankful for that.

As to your points you brought up, thanks for your input. I am not quite sure of what you were pointing out. But I will give it some further thought. Maybe you could rephrase it a bit. God bless you.

I'm now just starting to read thou bible and it is great

Whew. I must say you have the most detailed discussions particularly on the O.T. laws in the Pentateuch. Assuming of course that you're not trying to be a Pastor or something in authority over men..I must say that I commend these efforts and certainly would recommend others read your stuff. That; of course entirely seperately from my appreciation of having you as my number one feedback responder; as it were....

Anyway; I had two thoughts here. The first is when you say that committing sin isn't causing it (sorry can't turn to your other post to see exact wording). I would say; in some sense that for someone to reach the "age of accountability" then their nature of sin expresses itself; in that sense it then is judged. I also would say that in hell there are various degrees of punishment to the crime; as well as a statement "not to pray for a sin leading to death" which I interpret as something God may allow someone to die from so (as Corinthians states) their soul may be saved (or perhaps what is given a death penalty here on earth; in other words we shouldn't stop that from occurring). Just thinking here. In other words to the aforementioned topic even though our sin nature is the cause of us not being able without Christ to avoid sin; it is our sin itself not the fact we were born with it the reason we are judged. I suppose you won't disagree with that concept or else we all would be damned; Christ of course gives us a NEW nature.

As to the ceremonial statement of course I can't disagree (but love commenting). I would say that true holiness MAKES us clean rather than the external ceremony. I would say that the priest who picked up the ark and was struck dead wasn't necessarily sent to eternal judgment for it (I'm not sure if there was a set law in regard to that you probably know). Moses couldn't look on His full glory and we can't. I find it interesting thinking of being in His presence in our new bodies. We need the fear of the Lord!!!

Thank you Duncan.

:-)

I am prayerfully considering all the wise counsel from the brethren and am grateful.

King David was called a man after GOD's heart, GOD loved & honored King David even after his adultery & muderous cover-up, attempt. 2Samuel 11, 1Kings 11:4, Acts 13:22,

Psalms 38, Psalms 40, Psalms 51, David sought after GOD

However, David didn't get away with anything, without consequences: 2Samuel 12, because of the severity of his sin as stated by Nathan in 2Samuel 12, the "sword did not depart" from his house._._

The punishment for adultery Old Testament was death 2Samuel 12:13, but GOD spared David's life

GOD doesn't take delight in death but that everyone should turn from unrighteousness! Ezekiel 33:11, Ezekiel 18:32, 1John 1:9,

Malachi 2:13-16, Proverbs 5,

Hopefully these are helpful

Story of Job 1, was encouragement to me after loss of worldly riches. I was amazed after he suffered so much loss he (Job) was able to say: Job 1:21,

Also Proverbs 23:4,5, Hebrews 12:27, Psalms 12:5,

I hope these are helpful

Your words are taken serious with God and when you bind them in the name of Jesus it will be establish. You need to understand that we Christians are like the ambassador of a nation.

our home is not here but we are here for a short stay while representing our kingdom with full authority. ( Matthew 28:19-20)

And so, while we are here all authority has been given to us by Jesus and so when we speak and agreed on matters especially concerning the church of Jesus Christ it will be bind here on earth as well as in heaven.

A good example has been given to us in the book of Ecclesiastes 5:4

4When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow.

5It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it.

6Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, "My vow was a mistake." Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands?

7Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore fear God.

Here you see God takes the word which you speak using your mouth seriously, so when you agree on something according to it his will God will also agree in heaven.

So, i will leave you with That to ponder and be in prayers ask God for understand for wisdom is the principal thing and therefor in all your getting get understanding. (Provers 4:7)

Lawrence,

The Bible does not give us an answer to that but we know the number was at least 6. We know the names of the four brothers, but we are not given the names of the sisters (plural), so there had to be at least two. So it was at least 6 or more.

Leviticus Chapters 21 and 22 HOLINESS IS FROM THE LORD

God sovereignly chose to set apart the priests from the others in order for them to perform special tasks. He wanted them to know that in order for them to perform these special tasks before God they had to remain undefiled because of God's innate holiness. God had a higher standard for the priests because He had sacred tasks for them to do-making sacrifices and offerings for the people and for themselves because of man's innate sinfulness. This is the reason they had a higher standard to avoid defilement. not because they were more righteous than any other Israelite, but because God is holy and both the sacrifice and the offerer must be holy before the LORD.

The Scribes and the Pharisees did not conform themselves to the Word of God. They, instead, conformed the Word of God to their liking. Rather than being aware of their persistent sinfulness and their ongoing need for a sacrifice to remove their sin, they saw themselves as having made themselves holy and were deserving of God's blessing. Rather than see themselves put in a position of privilege by God, they saw that they had this position by right. Rather than seeing their ministry as a service to God and the people, they saw it as their right to have a higher status. We are in the same way when we do not allow Scriptures to convict us but rather use Scriptures to elevate ourselves.

Both priests and sacrifices had to be perfect. Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ was both the perfect high priest and perfect sacrifice that these Levitical laws foreshadowed. Unlike the religious leaders in Jesus' time and us at times, He fulfilled these sacred roles and tasks perfectly, effectually, and comprehensively. His priestly sacrifice of Himself once and for all made holy all who trust in His work on their behalf. We add nothing to our holiness and right standing before God. But Jesus supplies everything for it. And we can be ever thankful to Him.

Matthew 25:31-46, Matthew 7, James 2, 2Peter 1, 2Peter 1:10 "wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things ye shall never fall:"

James 5:9, "brethren" "lest you be condemned" James 5, in context

Points out, these for-sure think they are 'saved' entitled" to enter they even boast of the Religiousness, Matthew 7:21-24, "Many will say in that day Lord, Lord, have we not ._._." & those who actually feel unworthy, were/are welcomed. Matthew 25:37-40. When anyone starts thinking they're all deserving we need beware by being aware! Because pride comes before a fall'' Proverbs 16:18,

Matthew 7:21 "._._. but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven" Micah 6:8, James 1:27,

2Timothy 2:15,

With much study there indicates the treatment of "the least of these" is a major weight to GOD ALMIGHTY throughout the scriptures, Old & New Testament. Luke 12:45-47, note (abusive treatment towards people having less authority,) "._._ will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers" context Luke 12, indicating these are "believers"

Please notice

James 2:13-19, "For he shall have judgement without mercy, that hath showed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgement. What doth it profit my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say thou hast faith, and I have works: Show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; Thou doest well: The devils also believe and tremble." James 2 in context

Hopefully these are helpful

Leviticus Chapters 21 & 22 Legalism continued

Having come to this false conclusion, then one could reason, like the Scribes and Pharisees that it was one's own works that made himself righteous. It was this attitude that the Lord said characterized His opponents. Jesus used the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector praying to God to illustrate that the attitude of self-righteousness does not justify anyone.

The Scribes and the Pharisees were wrong on two accounts. First, they were wrong to think that they were righteous ( Mt. 5:20; 7:15). Secondly, they were wrong in attributing righteousness to their own efforts. They thought their righteousness was the results of their efforts to obey the commands of Leviticus Chapters 21 and 22.

Then what did God intend to teach the priests by giving them these commands to avoid any outward corruption or defilement in these chapters? He was teaching them that He is the one who makes them holy. " I am the LORD who sanctifies you?" God said this 6 times. It was God who set the priests apart, sanctifying them. The priests did not sanctify themselves. God commanded the priest to avoid outward defilement because He had already made them holy. They were told to avoid the things that would make them unclean not that avoiding these things would make them clean.

Salvation-cleansing from sin-is a work of God alone. Keeping ourselves pure is our duty enabled by the Holy Spirit so we do not defile what God has cleansed. That is why the Apostle John tells us that if we sin, we are to confess our sin, and God is faithful and just to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ( 1 John 1:9). We are to seek to stay clean, not to make ourselves clean. Only God can do that.

Holiness is not contagious. We don't acquire it from others. It cannot be transmitted by us to others nor by contact with "holy things". But defilement can be caught, and this God warns the priests about coming in contact with unholy. Holiness only comes from God.

Repentance is the way to start for God has said. in proverbs 28:13

13Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper,

but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

You also need to take up the whole armor of God. for this way by his word, you will be able to with stand when your being tempted.

Remember his words is a light to our path and God has said if you obey and incline to his word. the word will keep you from stumbling.

This is done by praying without ceasing by reading his word and by fasting humbling yourself through fasting.

Ephesians 6:13-24

13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Lastly God is merciful, and he cares for you. Remember Jesus took your place at the cross so that you might receive his righteousness.

2 Corinthians 5:21

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

So don't give up but kneel down and call to HIM and repent your sins for He who began a good work in you will see it to completion.

Sin has no dominion over you. amen

Leviticus Chapters 21 & 22 continued..

As spiritual leaders they should have been even more sensitive to the exemplifying the mercy and love of God towards their kinsmen, at the least. Humility, not pride, was the mark of God's leaders. The commands of Leviticus 21 and 22 was given to assure a greater sensitivity to sin and corruption on the part of the priests, not to promote a sense of pride and arrogance, as though they were better people because God had required more of them.

The second error they made was that of Externalism. The things that contaminated the priests in chapter 21 and 22 and thus were to be avoided were not flaws of character or even conduct (sins) but were ceremonial defilement. It would be easy to falsely equate ceremonial purity (holiness) for ritual cleanness. the Scribes and the Pharisees thought that holiness was largely a matter of keeping away from defilement and, especially, sinners. Jesus taught that defilement comes not from without, but from within, from the heart. ( Mk 7:14-15, 20-23). Evil attitudes lead to evil actions.

We must search for meaning in O. T. that goes past the concrete, external, and literal to the heart of the matter. The Scribes and Pharisees failed to do this. This is precisely where they went wrong. They did not take the Law far enough, stopping at the level of concrete (don't touch) the obvious, and the observable. They stopped and the external without pressing in to the internal issues of the heart. God gave the law to deal with man on both of these levels, but primarily to lead to the internal. The Scribes and Pharisees stopped short of getting to the wickedness within themselves.

Their third error was that of Legalism. They had a mindset of works righteousness. One might conclude like the Scribes and Pharisees did that if one was able to avoid the defilements of Leviticus chapters 21 and 22 that he would then be holy.