This week we are viewing another video that will help in making our case for Christianity. In academia today, especially the field of science, it is easy to see why a “Divine Footprint” is not allowed in the door, even if the evidence points in that direction. Ray Comfort, and the people from Living Waters Ministry, put this documentary out several years ago, and then it was removed from YouTube. After attempts to get it back up, they updated and expanded the video to show how the removal was unwarranted, and also to show the spiritual warfare dimension that is in play against those who are committed to Jesus’ command to go out and share the Gospel. Watch this true and unedited version in its entirety, and I pray it will help empower you to get in the game and share what you believe and why you believe it with those who are lost or seeking the truth! Class discussion and a homework review can be found below.

Watch the updated and uncensored version here:

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 and discuss the video. Can you give an answer to someone who asks why, as Christians, we don’t believe evolutionary theory as it relates to the origin of life?

2.  How can this video help us present the Gospel to those who are questioning the faith?

3.  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

Review from last week’s homework:

We are concluding the book of Leviticus by reviewing some example answers from your reading of chapters 17 through 27 that will conclude #4 and #5-8 from the survey format:

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)

EXAMPLE ANSWERS FROM LAST WEEK’S DISCUSSION:

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)

Chapter 17: Blood for Atonement

This is an important chapter as it focuses on the importance and meaning of the blood as it relates to the life of the individual and sacrifice. Of particular importance is verses 10-14 as it speaks the atoning power of the blood, and the command to not eat blood.

Note: In verses 7-9 there is an important command, and warning, not to sacrifice to the goat demons. This seems to indicate a pagan practice that the Israelites were performing and had not given up since their time in Egypt.

JF = The whole chapter focuses on the importance of the atoning property of the blood sacrifice. Jesus will give His blood as the final atonement for all.

Chapter 18: Standards for the People; Laws on Immoral Relations

This chapter is the beginning of laws that are related to the people’s behavior, and here we get a detailed account of how not to act morally in comparison to the pagan nations, specifically in verse 27, the people who were in the land before them. The emphasis again is on holiness, and the importance of not defiling themselves because the LORD is their God, and He is holy.

Note: They are His representatives to the nations, and therefore role models for Him, as we are to be for Jesus today. When we have questions about morality, we should first ask ourselves: Is it honoring God; is what I’m doing honoring God?

Chapter 19: Idolatry Forbidden; Sundry Laws

This chapter focuses again on the importance of being holy before the LORD and an emphasis on revering your parents, not making idols and keeping the Sabbath. It then goes on to give a list of sundry laws (a mixture of various things) all related to the way a person should, and should not, interact with others. There is a specific command in verse 31 (and again in Ch. 20 v. 6, 27) to not seek out mediums or spiritists, as later in the history books we find King Saul doing just that, and paying the price, in his continued defiance of the LORD.

Note: In verse 18 we see the all-important emphasis that the Law and then Jesus makes in the Great Commandment: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Chapter 20: On Human Sacrifice and Immoralities

In this chapter we get an all-important emphasis on not performing any form of human sacrifice. This was a practice of pagan nations. This chapter goes on to give commands about adultery and other forms of immoral sexual practices and relationships. There is an emphasis from God in verses 22-26 to keep His commandments as they go into the Land, and to not take on the practices of the other cultures because God “abhorred them” (v. 23).

Note: In pagan cultures we see a practice of sacrificing humans, and specifically babies, to “gods” like Molech. This is an abomination to God. In our culture today, this has to bring to mind abortion, and what human life means to God, the one that we are made in His image.

Chapter 21: Rules for Priests; Regulations Concerning Priests

This chapter focuses on the higher expectations and perfection of behavior of the people who are in the role of priest. This expectation is because of the responsibility they have to mediate between God and the people, and therefore must be above and beyond reproach at all times and at all levels.

JF = Many of the commands about a person or animal with defect or disease, whether priest or sacrifice, give the picture of the need for a perfect and sinless servant (priest) and sacrifice who could approach the Holy Place of God, and who could forever take-away the sins of the world.

Chapter 22: Sundry Rules for Priests; Flawless Animals for Sacrifice

This chapter continues with sundry rules for the priests, specifically the descendants of Aaron. This chapter includes specific guidelines for the type of animal to be sacrificed, again focusing on the holiness through the perfection of the animal.

JF = Verse 19 gives a command that foreshadows Jesus as the perfect male sacrifice.

Chapter 23: Seasons and Festivals; Laws of Religious Festivals; The Day of Atonement

This chapter reviews the commands and importance of observing and remembering the seasons and festivals: Passover, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits, Pentecost, Trumpets, Day of Atonement, Booths (Tabernacles). All of which, at least in part, picture the promise of salvation through Messiah.

JF = In this chapter we get a reemphasis on the festivals, many of which foreshadow the person of Jesus, Messiah. In verses 5-8 The Passover; and In verses 19-20, 27-32 the Day of Atonement and the importance of preserving this in remembrance (until the time Jesus fulfills it all!)

Chapter 24: The Lamp and the Bread of the Sanctuary; An Eye for an Eye

In this chapter we find directions for the Lamp and the Bread, picturing Jesus’ statements in the fulfillment of the Old Covenant. There is also an interesting story about a woman’s son who was part Egyptian that got in a fight with an Israelite, and then blasphemed God. In verses 10-16 we see how God commanded the handling (death) of a person who blasphemes. This again points to the importance of God’s commands, and the Holiness of God. We also read about the principle of an “eye for an eye” and how that should be enacted in the Law as seen in verses 17-23.

JF = Jesus said, “I am the light” and “I am the bread of life” both are foreshadowed here.

Chapter 25: The Sabbatic Year and Year of Jubilee; The Law of Redemption; Of Poor Countrymen; Of Redeeming a Poor Man

 This chapter speaks to the importance of letting the land rest every seventh year (a sabbath to the LORD), and every fiftieth year was to be a year of Jubilee where all land would be returned to the rightful original owners, and a return of a family to their original land (that they might have sold or leased because he was poor or in need). The Law of redemption is recorded here for the purpose of taking care of one’s extended family and property in the event of death or certain loss (played out in the book of Ruth). The same goes for laws requiring Israel to take care of their poor and slaves.

Note: Even though slavery is allowed in this culture we can notice God’s intent through the Law for fair and just treatment of said slaves, whether foreign or domestic.

C = The Abrahamic Covenant promise related to the Land is seen in this chapter with laws and regulations for taking care of the Promised Land that they will soon occupy.

JF = The Law of Redemption pictures what Jesus would permanently do for us. In the book of Ruth, Boaz foreshadows Jesus as a “kinsmen redeemer” by following this Law, and he was able to provide for Ruth and her family for the rest of her life.

Chapter 26: Blessings of Obedience; Penalties; Penalties of Disobedience

This chapter focuses on God’s promise of blessings for the Nation of Israel for obedience and the promise of penalties for disobedience.

Note: We will see this play out for the worse in the Nation of Israel’s history upcoming as the people unfortunately (as human nature would have it) will not obey God’s laws and will fall into despair, destruction, captivity and exile. God does promise that if they would turn to Him (repent) that He would forgive. This does happen throughout their history, but ultimately it does not last.

C = Verses 11-12 give us a picture of final Covenant fulfillment in the book of Revelation (chapter 21) where God will make His dwelling among us, and walk among us and be our God and we His people. And in verse 45 God does say He “will remember for them the covenant with their ancestors” and this is part of the final fulfillment in Jesus’ first and second comings.

Chapter 27: Rules Concerning Valuations

This final chapter of Leviticus includes guidelines for how to value property and people, and the responsibility was on the Priests. This included redemption value and the importance of the firstborn and first fruits as holy to the LORD. We also see an emphasis on tithing and the importance of the holiness of the LORD in what they did. The book ends with a statement that “these are the commandments which the LORD commanded Moses for the sons of Israel at Mount Sinai” and this leads us into the book of Numbers.

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)

• The Mosaic Covenant continues here with additions to the Law and the regulations for the priesthood sometimes referred to as the Levitical Covenant (as a part of the Mosaic Covenant). This Covenant is unfolded with the Mosaic Covenant on through the book of Numbers and Deuteronomy.
• The Mosaic Covenant also unfolds the Abrahamic Covenant in the continued promise of the people/descendants for Abraham (Israel), the Law as preparation for life in the Promised Land (Canaan), and the continuation of the blessing which is to come through the people of Israel and culminate in the promise of Messiah, Jesus.

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

See JFs in above chapters…

Especially in chapter 16: Day of Atonement/Yom Kippur

• For believers in Yeshua (Jesus), the scapegoat is a picture of the Messiah, who was sent “as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4:10 NIV).
• Like the scapegoat, Yeshua receives our iniquities and transgressions and takes them from us. Unlike the scapegoat, his sacrifice is good for all time, rather than needing to be repeated from year to year. 
• Many Jewish believers (Christians) view Yom Kippur as a time for identification with their Jewish people, introspection and intercession for loved ones, knowing all the while that Jesus is the One that makes us at one with God.
• Believers in Yeshua who observe Yom Kippur recognize that, although we particularly focus on our need for repentance and forgiveness on this day, we have received ultimate, lasting atonement through Yeshua the Messiah, the Son of God.

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)

Importance today:

• We are not under the Law, or these rituals and regulations, because all has been fulfilled in Christ Jesus (Hebrews 9 and 10); however, studying these laws point to the different aspects of the meaning of Jesus’ sacrifice.
• The Holiness Code shows us the importance of sanctification as we live out our Christian lives (the emphasis on God’s holiness and His holy expectations of His people).
• Worship of the LORD should be wholehearted, demonstrating complete devotion and reverence; and those called to leadership, such as these priests, bear a heavy responsibility.
• Leviticus shows us that humans, by themselves, can never achieve complete purification from sin because atonement is a gift of grace from God, through Jesus.

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)

Answers will vary, but may include: questions about the Jewish practices today; going deeper in the “where’s Jesus” category etc…

Things to focus on and remember from 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.

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

HOMEWORK:

If you want to get ahead for the next class, begin reading the book of Numbers and get familiar with its structure, stories and breaks. There will be specific questions and assignment to come.