Session Three: Holiness, Sacrifice & Atonement

THE DYNAMIC TENSION OF DEATH & LIFE...

Did you know that the sacrificial system was never actually about the sacrifices themselves?

Understanding the Human Condition requires understanding the consequences of Adam's choices as well as each of our own. This session continues to explore how Adam’s Transgression estranged all the members of Adam’s Covenant Household from God, bringing Death into the Creation; and how the fear of Death in turn drives us each of us to Sin, falling short of God's purposes for us, both individually and communally. Furthermore, in this session we will look at what the scripture teaches us about God's remedy for this in the ritual and rhythm of Sacrifice. 

1) WATCH THIS VIDEO & TAKE NOTES:

• What stands out you from the video?
• What ideas are discussed in the video that are new to you, or interesting to you?
• How does "sacrifice" function to redeem, reconcile, and restore us?   

2) READ & REFLECT: Isaiah 1:1-20 / Isaiah 53:1-12 / Romans 5:1-12 / Ephesians 2:1-22

• How does the Book of Leviticus’ focus on God being with Us connect with the focus of the Garden of Eden and further expand on the Imagery of Exile and Estrangement that you learned about in Session 1?
• How does the distinction between Sin and Impurity connect with what you learned in Session 2 about Sin, Transgression, and Iniquity?
• How does knowing that the word “Atonement”, like  “Propitiation” from Session 2, means to “Cover”, help to connect the Sacrifices in Leviticus to Genesis 2:25 and Genesis 3:7-8 and 21? 
• How does Isaiah 1:1-20, in contrast to God’s commands about bringing Sacrifices in Leviticus, help us understand that the purpose of the Sacrifices was not Death but Faith?
• How does the purpose of the Sacrifices, as an object lesson to teach us the consequences of Sin and lead us to Faith, help us understand Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross?
• How does the Apostle Paul’s juxtaposition of the lives and choices of Adam and Jesus as the Heads of 2 different Households in Romans 5:1-12 and his statements in Ephesians 2:1-22, help us to see that God’s primary concern with the New Covenant is Reconciliation of our relationship with Him and the Restoration of our purpose to be His Image-bears?    

3) ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS: 

• What did you learn about yourself in this session?
• What did you learn about God in this session?
• What questions do you have now, after finishing this session? 
• What will you do next?