Leviticus 4 … Consider His Verdict and Vindication

Originally posted: 05/01/2019

Verdict: a judgment; decision.

Vindication: the act of vindicating: to clear, as from an accusation, imputation, suspicion, or the like: to afford justification for; justify.

The laws of the sin offerings are explicitly laid out and are to be strictly followed. And in these detailed instructions we learn of both His Verdict and His Vindication.

Consider His Verdict and Vindication

• His Verdict…
  • His Verdict: Sin committed unintentionally or without awareness is still sin.
    • If a person sins unintentionally in any of the things which the Lord has commanded not to be done, (4:1; also 4:13, 22, 27).
  • His Verdict: Even when sin is committed unintentionally or without awareness, the verdict is guilty.
    • if the anointed priest sins so as to bring guilt on the people, (4:3; also 4:13, 22, 27).

• His Vindication…
  • His Vindication: Only through the sin offering is atonement made.
    • So the priest shall make atonement for them, and they will be forgiven, (4:20; also 4:26, 31).
  • His Vindication: Forgiveness and justification are provided when faith is placed in the sin offering, (represented symbolically in transferring the sin to the sacrifice through the laying on of hands).
    • He shall bring the bull to the doorway of the tent of meeting before the Lord, and he shall lay his hand on the head of the bull and slay the bull before the Lord... Then the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands on the head of the bull before the Lord, and the bull shall be slain before the Lord... So the priest shall make atonement for them, and they will be forgiven, (4:4, 15, 20; also 4:24-26, 29-31, 33-35).

How do we respond to His Verdict and Vindication?

• We must agree with His Verdict. Pleading ignorance is no excuse.
  • …for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (Romans 3:23).
• We are guilty and deserve the punishment His Verdict has decreed.
  • For the wages of sin is death… (Romans 6:23).

• We must place our faith in His Vindication alone.
  • …and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness, (Hebrews 9:22).
• Only His Vindication brings forgiveness and justification.
  •  …being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; ²⁵ whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith, (Romans 3:24-25).
  • Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, (Romans 5:1).

We cannot refute His Verdict, but sadly, we can refuse His Vindication. We must agree with His Verdict that there is nothing we can offer to vindicate ourselves and atone for our sin. Oh, let us receive His Vindication by faith.

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; ⁹ not as a result of works, so that no one may boast, (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Such a great salvation at such a great cost. How can we do anything but live to praise Him with all that we are?

For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, (1 Corinthians 6:20).

Let’s Grow Together!