Sin has a Price

Read Leviticus 4-7.

Sin has a price.  Wrongdoing, intentional or unintentional, by a leader, a nation, or an individual requires a redemptive payment.  These are outlined in detail for Israel so that the leaders could teach the people what God expected and the people would know how to make things right.

The truth about sin is sometimes too obvious.  When one Sunday School teacher asked her young learner how to get forgiveness, the little boy replied, "First of all you have to sin."

Humans are born into this world spiritually dead and sin comes naturally.  The Apostle Paul wrote, "...among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind."  (Ephesians 2:3)

Without an acknowledgement of sin there is no repentance.

Without a payment for sin there is no redemption.

It is difficult to imagine the amount of animal sacrifices that were offered continually, for centuries, as the people came making atonement for sin.  The guilty presented themselves and their need, along with their sacrifice.  The animal was viewed as a substitute.  The guilty were saying by this act, "It is I who deserve to die for what I did wrong."  Once the offering had been properly cared for by the priest, the sin was covered until the next time of need.  

Praise God that the Old Covenant is no longer in effect!  "But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ-by grace you have been saved." (Ephesians 2:4)

Jesus' death on the cross was the once and for all sacrifice for sin.  Our substitute has died for us.  The eternal payment has been made.  This does not make us perfect.  Even followers of Jesus sin.  That is why the Apostle John wrote, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9).  Today, we can live clean, forgiven, holy lives!