This week’s class will focus on presentations by J. Warner Wallace on the topic of God’s existence. Over the past few weeks we have been looking at the evidence for God’s existence with several tactical ways to answer that question. In this series of presentations Wallace shows us the need to look at the evidence “outside the room” just as he does when investigating cold-case homicides.

In academia today, the tendency is to eliminate any evidence that points to a Creator, or anything supernatural, even if that is what the evidence shows. How do detectives, investigating crimes, handle evidence? J. Warner Wallace is a Christian Apologist who uses his expertise as a cold-case homicide detective, and by the way has never lost a case, to help us follow the evidence for God’s existence wherever it leads! He is the author of best selling books such as “Cold Case Christianity,” “God’s Crime Scene,” “Forensic Faith,” “Person of Interest,” and his newest book “The Truth in True Crime.” You can also go to his website coldcasechristianity.com for additional articles, videos and more.

Watch this week’s recommended class video on the topic of God’s existence, with J. Warner Wallace (this is a 10 minute video from a 13 part YouTube playlist that you can continue watching, all are about 6-11 minutes in length):

A CASE FOR CHRISTIANITY:  

FOUNDATIONAL TRUTHS

The truth claim in Christianity

REVIEW AND REFLECTION

Prayer cards: Take a minute and write your name on the index card provided, and add any special prayer request you might have. Exchange cards at the end of the class this evening.

At your table groups, do the following:

1.Review the tactics we covered last week for the question: Q3: How do we know God exists?

2.Recite the Memory Verse(s):

“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NASB)

BIBLE STUDY

THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS

Discussion time from last week’s homework:

This week we are beginning the book of Leviticus and from the survey format below discuss #1 through #3. Then, from your reading of chapters 1 through 16 discuss the titles or topics of each those chapter to begin #4 of the format. Keep in mind the things to focus on while reading and studying Leviticus (from last week’s homework directions):

Bible Study Survey Format

Old Testament

Category:         Torah                                

Book:                 Leviticus                             

1. Author: Who wrote the book and when? (Include anything you can find about the author and when it was written)

2. Audience: Who was it written to? (Include anything you can find about the people, the culture or societal norms, of that time period)

3. Purpose: Why was it written? (Include anything you can find about their circumstances and what was, or had been, going on)

4. Content: What is in each chapter? (Include chapter by chapter titles and a short summary – no more than 3-5 sentences – Keep in mind #5 and #6 and mark a chapter accordingly)

5. Going Deeper: What are the major Covenants found in this book? (Include new ones or ones that relate back to Genesis and mark (C); you can also include any major events here)

6. Finding Jesus: Where is Jesus? Include any appearances (JA), foreshadows (JF) or prophecies (JP)?

7. Application: How can this book and its teachings apply to us today? (Answers will vary, but can include personal, cultural or timeless teachings for us today)

8. The Shelf: What questions or comments do you have about this book? (Answers will vary, but can include things you didn’t understand or things you want to learn more about)

REVIEW FROM LAST WEEK:

Here are some example answers for the conclusion of the book of Exodus for the survey format #5-8:

5. Going Deeper: What are the major Covenants found in this book? (Include new ones or ones that relate back to Genesis and mark (C); you can also include any major events here)

• In the book of Exodus, we find the continuation of the Genesis 3:15 Covenant Promise as we follow the seed line (genealogy of Jesus) through the growth of the Nation of Israel.
• We also find the unfolding of that Promise, and the Abrahamic Covenant which included a promise of a people group (the Nation of Israel); a land (the Promised Land in Canaan); and a blessing (that the Nation would be a blessing to the other Nations, ultimately in Jesus as the Promised Messiah.
• Beginning in chapter 15 and continuing on through the rest of Exodus (and into the rest of the Torah) we get the Mosaic Covenant, which is a conditional Covenant that will show, not only the Nation of Israel but the rest of the Nations, that God’s perfect and holy Law can only be fulfilled by a perfect and holy Messiah, Jesus.

Some helpful notes from studying Exodus and the Mosaic Law:

As Christians we are not under the Mosaic Law because it was given directly and specifically to the Nation of Israel for three purposes:

• Ceremonial Laws (sacrifices and offerings)
• Governmental/Civic Laws (to guide and keep the Nation from chaos and to set them apart from all the other Nations)
• Moral Laws (to keep them pure and Holy as representatives of God to the other Nations).

Note: Anything Jesus taught that repeated something in the Law we are obligated to follow (not for salvation) as we are His. All who believe and trust in Jesus, including the Jewish people, are free from the penalty of the Law because Jesus gave His life, and then resurrected in defeat of death and Satan, for the very purpose of covering us, so that we do not have to do anything works based to attain forgiveness and eternal life. It is then a gift of grace we receive by faith, not of ourselves, so that no one can boast. (See Ephesians 2:8-9).

We must read the Old Testament in light of its ancient culture:

For example: Family groups, including servants/slaves, were important for survival, keeping in mind the rough environment and living conditions at that time. God’s Law regulated the treatment of people, unlike the harsh treatment seen in other cultures; and God was gracious, yet just, in that the laws and rituals He gave were for the people’s protection, including women and slaves, and required fair and just treatment in various situations, which was not common in the other cultures of that day.

6. Finding Jesus: Where is Jesus? (Include any appearances (JA), foreshadows (JF) or prophecies (JP)?

JA (Jesus Appearances): Ch. 3 Jesus’ appearance in the burning bush; In verse Ch. 14 – 19 we read that it was “the angel of God” that moved behind the Israelites as they crossed, and held back the Egyptians and separated them from each other, Jesus is this Angel of the LORD because, as the second person of the Trinity, He is the physical manifestation of God; Ch. 23 – verses 20-23 The promise of the Angel of the LORD to go before them into the Promised Land (only Jesus who is God, could pardon their transgressions – v. 21); Ch. 24 – verse 10 “they saw the LORD which could only be Jesus as this was in the form of a man, because we know that no one can see the LORD in all of His glory and live (not even Moses experienced that). Ch. 33 – verses 9, 11 Moses met face to face with God (Jesus is the physical representation of God); Ch. 34 – verses 34-35 Moses meeting with the LORD.

JF (Jesus Foreshadowing): Ch. 2 – Moses near death as a baby pictures Jesus when Herod commanded the same; Ch. 4 – The importance of the firstborn son (an often-used reference to Jesus, Messiah); Ch. 12 – The Passover Lamb pictures the person of Jesus, what He would do and why He would do it; Ch. 13 – Consecration of the Firstborn v. 1-16 foreshadows Jesus; Ch. 16 concerning the manna – Jesus said that He is the bread of life that came down out of Heaven (John 6:31-58); Ch. 17 – Jesus is the Rock (Romans 9:33; 1 Corinthians 10:4), and with Moses’ hands up we get a picture of Jesus on the cross – those that look to Jesus (pictured here by Moses) will be saved (will prevail); Ch. 23 – verses 15-19 The Feasts and the regulation of blood in the offerings foreshadow Jesus and the blood of His sacrifice for us; Ch. 24 – verse 8 This sprinkling of blood represents the Old Covenant and pictures the shedding of Jesus’ blood, that would cover sins, in the New Covenant fulfillment; Ch. 25-26 – The Tabernacle itself is seen as a picture of Jesus in many ways (Jesus is the Tabernacle with you – see Revelation 21:3), and many of the items and structures within are pictures, such as the door/entry way (Jesus said “I AM the door”), and we know that in the end, we will be with Him face to face in His eternal presence and home; Ch. 27 – Jesus said “I AM the light” and we see this picture in verses 20-21 with the Oil for the Lamp that was never to go out; and there are many references Jesus Himself makes in the Gospels and then in Revelation 22); Ch. 29 – We see a foreshadowing of Jesus in the offering of innocent and perfect lambs (We are told in the New Testament that Jesus is the Lamb of God). Also, in the blood sacrifices and in the position of priesthood. Then the priests would sacrifice to God, and be the mediator between God and the people. Now we have Jesus as our final High Priest and mediator between believers and God (see Hebrews chapters 4-9); Ch. 30 – This “Day of Atonement” again points to Jesus Christ, the perfect atonement, who could remove sins forever; Ch. 32 – verse 34 God tells Moses “Behold, My angel shall go before you;” Ch. 37 – The Tabernacle and all of the key pieces in some form or another, point to the person of Jesus, the Messiah who fulfills all that is pictured and promised; Ch. 39 (also 28-29) – Jesus is the fulfillment of the Priest’s role, and many of the garment pieces foreshadow something about Jesus, where He comes from and what He will ultimately do.

JP (Jesus Prophecies): The Passover Lamb prophesized what Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice would be as the final Passover Lamb, and His crucifixion was on the Passover Day. Most of the foreshadows could also be considered prophecies of a coming Messiah, all fulfilled in Jesus.

7. Application: How can this book and its teachings apply to us today? (Answers will vary, but can include personal, cultural or timeless teachings for us today)

• These Laws represent the way God wanted His people Israel (as role models to the other Nations) to love Him first and take care of each other.
• For Christians, this is summed up in the Great Commandment when Jesus tells us to ‘love God, and to love our neighbors as ourselves, and we are expected to be role models, representing Him.
• The Law was also given to show that no one is able to keep God’s Laws perfectly, yet there is a penalty for sin without Jesus. Everything we do in this life has consequences, thus showing the need for a Messiah who could save us and cover us from that penalty (death). Jesus fulfilled that promise from God, (along with the hundreds of prophecies about Him).

8. The Shelf: What questions or comments do you have about this book? (Answers will vary, but can include things you didn’t understand or things you want to learn more about)

The questions and comments here will vary, but could include questions about the Law, sacrifices, roles of the Priests and the Tabernacle. It could also include questions or comments on the many miracles (Exodus contains the most reports of miracles in the Old Testament).

For going deeper in the book of Exodus, from an historical and archeological perspective, check out the Patterns of Evidence website where you can find their series of documentaries that cover, in much detail, many of the people, events, times and locations recorded before, during and after the events in the book of Exodus.

HOMEWORK:

1.  Continue with #4 of the survey format by reading Leviticus chapters 17 through 27 and write out representative titles for each chapter.

2.  Advanced: Write a 3-5 sentence summary, or bullet list, for the content of each chapter.

3.  Discuss #5-8 from the survey format to conclude your study in the book of Leviticus.

4.  Cross-reference reading in the New Testament: Hebrews 9:1-28; and 10:1-25

Overview:

Chapters 1-16 describe various “ritual” regulations

Chapters 17-27 focuses on ethical commands (often referred to as the Holiness Code)

Note: We see a constant calling of the Israelites to “ritual” purity because the LORD was reminding them of their need to seek moral purity – all of this is related to the understanding (or misunderstanding) of God’s holiness – thus the reason they could not enter the “Tent of Meeting” where the Glory of the LORD resided at the end of Exodus.

Things to focus on while reading and studying Leviticus:

1.Remember God’s character (example, Exodus 34): Compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness and truth; forgiving, righteous, fair and just.

2.The people could not come before the LORD’s presence and see His full Glory because of their sinful nature in contrast to God’s perfect HOLINESS, and we must understand the importance of God’s HOLINESS!

3.Because God is holy, righteous and just He cannot let sin go, therefore we find the Laws focusing on “clean” = holiness, versus “unclean” = sinfulness (we also see God’s perfect knowledge of disease prevention and proper hygiene).

4.Note how the entire book of Leviticus is a picture, or foreshadowing, of Jesus (JF), who He would be and what He would do, and demonstrates God’s temporary way to cover sin. Jesus is the permanent and final solution to the problem of sin, as He fulfills the Covenant and Genesis 3:15 Promise to defeat death and Satan, and is to be the only mediator (Priest) between us and God.