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LEVITICUS 1:1-9

"CHRIST OUR SUBSTITUTE"

I. MAN'S ORIGINAL STATE.
        A. Created in image of God.
                1. Walked with God in close communion.
                2. We see-not, the evolution of man but devilution.
                3. We have devolved from the high state in which we were created.
        B. God created and designed man for fellowship.
                1. There is an instinctive homing device built into man drawing him to God.
                        a. You must fight to keep from coming to God.
                        b. The clamant cry within man is for God.
                        c. You cannot be complete without Him.
                2. To maintain fellowship we must walk in harmony with His will.
                        a. "Can two walk together except they be agreed?"
                        b. God warned man of the consequences of sin.
                                1. To Adam in innocence "the day you eat you will die."
                                2. To Moses, in law "the soul that sinneth.."
                                3. To Paul, in grace "the wages of sin is death."
                        c. God was speaking of Spiritual death.
                                1. Physical death is separation of S & S from body.
                                2. Spiritual, death is separation of S & S from God.
                                3. Spiritual death eventually ends in physical death.
        C. Since Adam's original sin and resultant Spiritual death, man has sought to fill
           his inner void.
                1. He seeks to find the way back to God.
                2. Sin bars the door, it must be dealt with.
                3. God has made the way for fellowship.
                        a. Originally in law of sacrifice.
                        b. They were temporary and pointed to Jesus.

II. THE WAY BACK TO GOD IS THROUGH THE COVERING OF SIN THROUGH SUBSTITUTIONARY DEATH.
        A. This was revealed to Adam in garden.
                1. He sewed fig leaves, God gave him coats of skins.
        B. Abel made sacrifices unto God.
        C. Through Moses God gave specific commands.
                1. "Offer it of his- own voluntary will. "(vs. 3.
                        a. Man used his free will to leave.
                        b. God will not force Himself upon you.
                2. "He shall put his hand upon the Head." (vs. 4.
                        a. He would confess his sin and transfer guilt to sacrifice.
                        b. He was thus identified with sacrifice.
                        c. As the animal dies, he dies, thus guilt gone.
                3. "It shall be accepted for him." (vs. 4.
                4. "To make atonement (kaphar) for him." (vs. 4.
                        a. With my sins thus covered free to fellowship.
        D. There were degrees of relationship thus various sacrifices:
                1. Burnt offering - Consecration.
                2. Meal offering - Praise.
                3. Peace offering - peace with God - communion.
                4. Sin offering - Missing the mark - ignorance.
                5. Trespass offering - Willful disobedience.
        E. All of these prefigured and pointed to Christ as our perfect sacrifice.

III. I AM IDENTIFIED WITH CHRIST.
        A. The guilt of my sins transferred to Him.
                1. When He died I died.
                        a. "I am  crucified with Christ."
                        b. "Know ye not that the old man was..."
        B. Christianity is much more than the forgiveness of sins.
                1. Through Christ I have peace with God.
                2. He has made the way for fellowship with God.
        C. That communion with God and completeness of man that was lost by Adam has
           been restored by Christ.