Trinity Baptist Church of Athens, Greece: English language Bible study notes
Instructions concerning false worship, forbidden food, and family issues
I. Sacrifices outside God’s approved system are prohibited (Leviticus 17:1-9)
II. Consuming blood is prohibited (Leviticus 17:10-16)
III. Egyptian practices contrasted with God’s ways (Leviticus 18:1-5)
IV. Laws of consanguinity (Leviticus 18:6-18)
V. Sex sins of Canaan described (Leviticus 18:19-24)
VI. Consequences of disobedience (Leviticus 18:25-30)
Meditation Points:
- When we say that we don’t need to go to church, we are declaring our independence from God and our intent to worship that which is not God.
- By proscribing the ingestion of blood, God was emphasizing the greater reality that only a blood sacrifice can atone for sin.
Matthew 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Romans 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
Hebrews 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
- In God’s wisdom and grace, the blood ordinance passed away with the Christ’s completed sacrifice at Calvary–long before men discovered blood transfusions for medical purposes.
- The ways of the Egyptians and Canaanites may have been widespread, popular and enticing; but they were contrary to the will of the holy God. Let us not be conformed to our world either. “When in Rome, do as the Romans do” is NOT a divine commandment!
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
- Marrying close relatives may have been the norm when the human population was small; but as men spread across the globe, God forbad such relationships. One may argue that this was the right decision from a geneticist’s point of view. But we must examine this from God’s point of view. Nakedness is a sign of sin (remember Adam and Eve?). By forbidding marriages to close relatives, and even half-relatives and in-laws, God is teaching us that we must not intentionally expose the sins of our families. This is not an order to deny such sin; but rather instruction on recognizing the human condition–our condition.
- Just what was the abomination mentioned in Leviticus 18:22 if it wasn’t homosexuality?
- Religious sex orgies were prohibited (18:21).
- Nations fall because of sin (18:24-30)
Proverbs 14:34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.
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