Sprinkled by the Blood

As we continue our study of 1 Peter, let's look at some of the texts that may help explain what we read. Today, read Leviticus 5:1-10.

Context: This is a continuation of the rules for the Israelites about what to do if they sin (starts at the beginning of chapter 4)

Text:
1 " 'If a person sins because he does not speak up when he hears a public charge to testify regarding something he has seen or learned about, he will be held responsible.

2 " 'Or if a person touches anything ceremonially unclean—whether the carcasses of unclean wild animals or of unclean livestock or of unclean creatures that move along the ground—even though he is unaware of it, he has become unclean and is guilty.

3 " 'Or if he touches human uncleanness—anything that would make him unclean—even though he is unaware of it, when he learns of it he will be guilty.

4 " 'Or if a person thoughtlessly takes an oath to do anything, whether good or evil—in any matter one might carelessly swear about—even though he is unaware of it, in any case when he learns of it he will be guilty.

5 " 'When anyone is guilty in any of these ways, he must confess in what way he has sinned 6 and, as a penalty for the sin he has committed, he must bring to the LORD a female lamb or goat from the flock as a sin offering; and the priest shall make atonement for him for his sin.

7 " 'If he cannot afford a lamb, he is to bring two doves or two young pigeons to the LORD as a penalty for his sin—one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. 8 He is to bring them to the priest, who shall first offer the one for the sin offering. He is to wring its head from its neck, not severing it completely, 9 and is to sprinkle some of the blood of the sin offering against the side of the altar; the rest of the blood must be drained out at the base of the altar. It is a sin offering. 10 The priest shall then offer the other as a burnt offering in the prescribed way and make atonement for him for the sin he has committed, and he will be forgiven. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

In 1 Peter 1:2, Peter says that his readers have been "chosen according tot he foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood." If you read through Leviticus 4-16 (not highly recommended if you are tired!), you will find many references to the required offerings if one has sinned. In almost all cases (unless you are too poor to own an animal), you must sprinkle the blood of a bull, lamb, goat, dove, or pigeon on the altar in order to receive atonement.

At the time Peter wrote these words, most likely every one of his Jewish readers had taken an animal or bird to be slain for his or her sin. After all, the list of sins was long and complicated...and it included unintentional sin. Many times the sacrifice required that the sinner watch the priest dip his or her fingers in the blood, getting them wet enough to sprinkle the blood onto the altar. The animal was actually taking the place of the sinner, who deserved death for the sin. But once this was done, the sin was considered gone.

As we know, Jesus' death on the cross took the place of these sacrifices, but Peter wants to remind us that He has taken our place. Let's rejoice in this fact as much as all the lambs, bulls, goats, and birds!