Church School Highlights - Sunday, February 21, 2016

by Tonya Jackson Calhoun |  February 19, 2016

 
HOME DAILY BIBLE READINGS
 
Passover
Monday, February 15: “Perfect Atonement” – Hebrews 2:10-17
Tuesday, February 16: “Appointed for Atonement” – Hebrews 3:1-6
Wednesday, February 17:  “Complete Atonement” – Romans 3:21-26
Thursday, February 18:  “Preparation and Atonement” – Exodus 30:1-10
Friday, February 19:  “Obedience and Atonement” – Leviticus 8:30-36
Saturday, February 20:  “Sin Offering for Atonement” – Leviticus 16:1-10
Sunday, February 21:  “Day of Atonement” – Leviticus 16:11-19
     
Atonement:      reparation or expiation for sin; the reconciliation of God and humankind
                          through Jesus Christ.
 
The scene in Chapter 16 took place in the tabernacle at the Ark of the Covenant, or mercy seat, which was considered the place where God dwelled.
 
In the book of Leviticus, God tells the Israelites and their priests how to make offerings in the Tabernacle and how to conduct themselves while they were camped around the holy tent (sanctuary).  In the today’s lesson God gives Moses specific instructions to tell his brother Aaron how to come into the Most Holy Place behind the curtain, in front of the atonement cover, or the Ark.  If Aaron did not follow the instructions specifically, he would surely die (16:1-10).
 
The Day of Atonement was performed once a year; and was a day of worship and sacrifice, but it was also a day of sorrow, repentance, and humiliation over the sins committed before God. The ritual could only be performed by the high priest and conducted exactly as God himself had instructed. Although Aaron was the high priest for all of Israel, he had to cleanse himself first and then cleanse his family, before he could enter into the presence of the Lord (verses 11-14).  All the animals that were being used as the sacrifices were to be unblemished/perfect/without defect.
 
God wants our best at all times.
 
Conclusion
God is a good and merciful God.  HE is a God of love, patience, kindness, caring, and He is a forgiving God.  He is a God who loves us and He knew all about us before we were created.  He knew that we were not going to make it by way of the law.  He knew that the high priest was not going to be able to stand in the gap for the people forever.  He made a way.
 
Yes God made a way for us to be reconciled back to Him.  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believed in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).  Thank God for Jesus.  Jesus was the Supreme Sacrifice.  He was the Perfect Sacrifice – unblemished, no defect.  Jesus was a once and for all sacrifice.  He did it “God’s” way.  He was obedient to the very end.  Now we are able to go to Him for ourselves for forgiveness of our sins.  He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1John 1:9).
 
What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and grief to bear.  What a privilege to carry everything to Him in prayer.  He says we can come as we are.  We have to perform any rituals to come before His presence in the sanctuary.  We can be in His presence wherever we are because as beliers, He is in us and we are in Him.
 
Let us continue to grow in our relationships with the Lord, trust.
 
This week’s highlights were submitted by Dea. Gerald Green, Teacher –Youth Department