An Acted Parable<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n When\nGod gave the Hebrew people instructions for the Tabernacle and the\nvarious rites and ceremonies that would be done there, it was not\njust for the purpose of occupying their time and seeing how well they\ncould follow complicated directions. There was deep meaning in each\nand every detail. Everything about the system was for the purpose of\neducating them regarding His Plan of Salvation. The sacrifices and\nofferings they brought were all a part of the Gospel acted out, a\nliving parable. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ye\nalso, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy\npriesthood, to <\/em>offer up spiritual sacrifices<\/strong><\/em>,\nacceptable to God by Jesus Christ.<\/em>\n 1 Peter 2:5<\/p>\n\n\n\n Burnt\nOffering<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \n(Lev.\n1; 6:8-13; 7:8, 37; 8:18-21; 22:18-20)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dedication\n\/ Consecration<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A\nperson might voluntarily bring an animal as a burnt offering when\nthey wanted to give a gift totally to God with nothing kept back. \nThe animal was killed and its entire body was burned as a symbol of\nthe person consecrating themselves totally to God. It was a \u201csweet\nsavor\u201d to Him because He appreciated the motive behind it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\nwas also a mandatory, daily, public burnt offering which was a symbol\nof the continual consecration of the entire nation to God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\nbeseech you therefore, brethren, b<\/em>y\nthe mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice,\nholy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be\nnot conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of\nyour mind, <\/em>that ye may prove what is that good,\nand acceptable, and perfect, will of Go<\/em>d.\n <\/em>Romans\n12:1, 2 \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n God\nis looking for those who will give themselves totally to Him every\nday with no reservations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Firstfruits<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \n(Ex.\n23:19; 34:26; Lev. 2:12; Num. 15:17-21; 18:12; Deu. 18:4; 26:1-11)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Giving\nthe First and Best<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \n Bringing\nan offering of Firstfruits symbolized giving God the first and best\nbefore taking any for personal use. The person acknowledged God’s\nblessing and expressed their gratitude for what He had provided.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n And\nnow, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land, which thou,\nO LORD, hast given me. And thou shalt set it before the LORD thy God,\nand worship before the LORD thy God: And thou shalt rejoice in every\ngood thing whic<\/em>h\nthe LORD thy God hath given unto thee, and unto thine house, thou,\nand the Levite, and the stranger that is among you. <\/em>Deuteronomy\n26:10, 11 <\/em>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n God is waiting\nfor us to express our appreciation to Him for all the blessings He\ngives us. We are admonished to give our best to Him in addition to\nthe tithe that already belongs to Him. He doesn’t want merely what\nis left over after we have used His resources for ourselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Peace\nOffering \/ Thank Offering<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n (Lev.\n3; 7:11-21, 29-37; 19:5-8)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Friendship\nand Fellowship<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \n When\na person brought a Peace Offering or Thank Offering, part of it was\nburned on the Altar, certain parts were given to the Priest, and the\nremainder was eaten by the person and their family. This was like\nextending a personal invitation to God to have a meal together in\nfriendship and fellowship, again for the purpose of expressing\nappreciation for what He had done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \nAnd\nif ye offer a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD, ye shall\noffer it at your own will. <\/em>It shall be eaten the\nsame day ye offer it, and on the morrow: <\/em> Leviticus 19:5, 6<\/p>\n\n\n\n Behold,\nI stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open\nthe door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with\nme. <\/em>Revelation 3:20 \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n By\nhim therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God\ncontinually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his\nname. But to do good and to communicate <\/em>(share)\nforget not: for with such sa<\/em>crifices\nGod is well pleased. <\/em>Hebrews\n13:15, 16<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n Sincere\npraise is a sacrifice that God appreciates. We need to recognize His\ngracious hand in our lives and give Him the praise He deserves for\nall the good that He does for us. He is generous in blessing us. \nThough we cannot benefit Him by giving anything back to Him, since He\nowns everything and has no needs, we can be a blessing to Him by our\ngenerous expressions of genuine thankfulness and praise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sin-offering<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \n(Lev.\n4; 6:24-30; 7:37)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Removal\nof Guilt<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If\na person erred and disobeyed God inadvertently, they were required to\nbring an animal as a sacrifice. They confessed their sin on the head\nof the animal, which symbolically transferred their guilt to the\nanimal, then killed it as their legal substitute. Its blood was\nsprinkled on the Altar, its body was burned, and the sinner could\nwalk away pardoned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n .\n. . and the priest shall make an atonement for his sin that he hath\ncommitted, and it shall be forgiven him.<\/em> Leviticus 4:35<\/p>\n\n\n\n Trespass-offering<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \n(Lev.\n5:1 – 6:7; 7:1-7, 37; Num. 5:5-10; 18:9, 10)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reparation\nfor Damage Done<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A\ntrespass offering was presented to God when a person had\nunintentionally done something that caused monetary damage. He was\nrequired to restore the principal plus 20% to the damaged party to\nmake reparation for the damages and then bring a trespass offering to\nGod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n .\n. <\/em>.\nhe shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing\nwhich he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to\nkeep, or the lost thing which he found, or all that about which he\nhath sworn falsely; he shall even restore it in the principal, and\nshall add the fifth part more thereto, and give it unto him to whom\nit <\/em>appertaineth,\nin the day of his trespass offering. <\/em>Leviticus\n6:4, 5 <\/em>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n We should appreciate the forgiving\nattitude God has, that He has laid our guilt on His Son, Jesus, as\nour Substitute, the Ultimate Sin-offering. Since He does not want us\nto die eternally because of our sin, He has granted\nus the opportunity to confess and repent and be pardoned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For\nthe wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord. <\/em>\nRomans 6:23<\/p>\n\n\n\n For\nGod so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that\nwhosoever believeth in him should not <\/em>perish,\nbut have everlasting life.<\/em> John 3:16<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" An Acted Parable When God gave the Hebrew people instructions for the Tabernacle and the various rites and ceremonies that would be done there, it was not just for the purpose of occupying their time and seeing how well they could follow complicated directions. There was deep meaning in each and every detail. Everything about … <\/p>\n