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Leviticus - Christoph
Sermon Summary
God longs to dwell with us, and holiness comes from drawing near to Him—made possible through Leviticus' sacrificial system whose blood cleanses from death, fulfilled in Jesus as we walk in the light by confession and faith, awaiting the day when God will be all in all.
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Leviticus invites us into the heart of God’s desire to dwell with us. From Genesis through Exodus, the story moves from Eden—where humanity walked with God—to exile, slavery, and then to Sinai, where God’s presence comes to rest in the tabernacle at the centre of the camp. But even with the tent built and God’s glory present, Moses can’t enter. Leviticus answers that problem: how outsiders become insiders, how a holy God lives with an unholy people. The book’s centre of gravity is this: Yahweh is holy, and to live close to Him we must become holy. Holiness in Scripture is not mainly about avoiding the “bad stuff,” but about drawing near to the God who is “other,” the living fire whose nearness consecrates.
Holiness is about proximity. The closer you move toward God, the “hotter” it gets—like the gradations from outside the camp (unclean), to inside the camp (clean), to the holy place, to the Holy of Holies. This is why Moses had to remove his sandals at the burning bush; you don’t carry the markers of death and decay into holy space. Leviticus gives Israel a system—offerings, priestly mediation, purity practices—so the stain of mortality and moral corruption can be covered and cleansed. Blood, in Scripture, represents life. Applied as God commanded, it “atones”—it covers death the way light overcomes darkness. The surprising point is that sacrifice is not a mere moment of slaughter; it is a process culminating in the application of blood. That framing helps us understand the cross: Jesus’ blood gives life to cleanse us, but we still must come, confess, and receive.
So what now? In Christ, God’s presence has come to dwell with and within us. Salvation is pure grace, but faith is an engaged response—walking into the light, confessing, receiving ongoing cleansing. As we abide in Jesus, His life purifies and His holiness changes us. Leviticus’ call stands: “Be holy, for I am holy.” God Himself makes us holy as we remain near. We come to the tent—to the Lord—by the blood of Jesus, and we keep coming, until the day God is all in all and dwelling is complete.
Key Takeaways
1. Holiness is about proximity before it’s about performance.
Like heat from a fire, holiness radiates from God; we are transformed by nearness, not merely by avoiding wrongdoing. The invitation is to draw near—to remove our “sandals,” the marks of death—and let His presence consecrate us. Nearness is the pathway; obedience is the fruit.
2. Blood cleanses because blood is life.
In biblical logic, death contaminates and life conquers death; that’s why atonement “covers” corruption and restores access. Modern distance from sacrifice can dull how visceral grace is: cleansing is costly, embodied, and given by Another’s life. Jesus’ blood isn’t poetry; it is life poured out to make us alive.
3. Sacrifice is a process, not a point.
In Leviticus, cleansing doesn’t occur at the kill but when the blood is applied after obedient steps of approach; participation matters. This reframes the cross: grace is finished in Christ, yet we step into it by faith, repentance, and ongoing reception. Salvation is free; formation still costs us our consent and our nearness.
4. Walking in the light is the New Covenant way of sacrifice.
We can still be contaminated by darkness, and the way back is confession and fellowship in His presence. The blood of Jesus “purifies” in the present tense as we keep bringing truth into the light. Ongoing cleansing is not doubt of salvation; it’s the rhythm of communion.
5. God commands holiness and supplies it.
“Make yourselves holy…for I am the Lord who makes you holy” holds together our response and His action. Our part is to come, remain, and receive; His part is to purify, enliven, and transform. Abiding nearness is how His holiness becomes our lived reality—and our hope until He is all in all.
Daily Hope Devotionals
Day 1: The life-giving power of Jesus’ sacrifice in the ongoing journey
Scripture:
Ephesians 4:23-24
'to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. '
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/EPH.4.23-24
Devotional:
Christoph notes in his sermon that Jesus’ sacrifice is supremely sufficient, yet the New Testament also shows that cleansing and sanctification are ongoing processes. Faith is a journey, not a one-time act, and we live in the tension of grace and responsibility: we receive forgiveness by grace, but we cooperate with God as He makes us holy “as we abide in Him.” The blood of Christ remains the life-giving means by which we are cleansed, renewed, and empowered to live in holiness.
Reflection:
What habit do you need to ask God for help with to stop doing – to grow more in holiness?
Is there something that the Holy Spirit is prompting you to change – how can you surrender more to Him?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for being the perfect example of holiness for me. I surrender my life into Your hands and I pray for the Holy Spirit to guide me in all I should be doing and what I need to let go of. Amen.
Day 2: Without cleansing, we cannot enter God's presence
Scriptures:
Exodus 3:5 (NIV)
'“Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” '
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/EXO.3.5
Exodus 40:34-35 (NIV)
'Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. '
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/EXO.40.34-35
Devotional:
God longs to dwell with His people, yet unaddressed impurity keeps us on the outside looking in—just as Moses could not enter the tent when God’s glory filled it. The good news is that God provides a way from “outside” to “inside,” moving from hearing Him “from the tent” to being “in the tent,” but that approach requires cleansing and preparation. Today, name honestly what keeps you standing at a distance—shame, apathy, hidden sin, or spiritual numbness—and bring it before Him as you begin. He invites you nearer, but not casually; approach Him with reverence and readiness to be made clean. Perhaps pausing to take off your shoes like in Exodus 3:5, an act of coming closer to God and entering into His Holy presence.
Reflection:
Ask God to reveal how He wants you to come to Him for cleansing.
Seek God's insight and forgiveness for any ways that you are keeping Him at a distance through sin or spiritual numbness.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, cleanse me of my sin and help me to have a posture of reverence and awe as I approach You - King of Kings! Lord I want to be inside with You - closer to You now. Remove all that is between You and me. Amen.
Day 3: You are pursued by a loving and personal God
Scriptures:
Leviticus 1:1 (NIV)
'The Lord called to Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting. He said, '
https://www.bible.com/bible/11...
Psalms 139:7-8 (NIV)
'Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. '
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/PSA.139.7-8
Devotional:
The message reminded us of God’s passionate pursuit of each person. God initiates the pursuit by moving toward relationship, not leaving us to climb up to Him. We’re reminded that Yahweh spoke to Moses from the tent of meeting, crossing the boundary that once kept God and people apart and moving insiders closer to His presence. This marks a shift from outsider to inside access as God’s pursuit becomes personal and relational.
Reflection:
What does it mean to you that God's desires a personal relational connection with you?
How can you respond to His passionate pursuit of you?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for passionately pursuing me! I am in awe of You and Your abundant love! I surrender to Your presence and open my heart and mind to You now. Amen.
Day 4: Blood represents life that cleanses death's contamination
Scripture:
Leviticus 17:11 (NIV)
'For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life. '
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/LEV.17.11
Devotional:
Leviticus teaches that blood represents life, and life covers death; that is why blood makes atonement—it is God’s gift to overcome the stain of mortality and corruption that we inevitably pick up in a fallen world. Unclean is not always the same as sinful, but contact with death’s reality still requires cleansing, and God has provided it. In Jesus, the true life-giving blood cleanses and enlivens; come to Him today and ask His life to wash what death has touched in you—fear, despair, bitterness, or guilt—so you can draw near without dread.
Reflection:
Identify one place where “death” has touched your week (grief, shame, cynicism, hard-heartedness); will you ask Jesus specifically to cover that place with His life today, even praying aloud, “Jesus, cleanse this with Your blood”?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for the gift of Your life as the perfect atonement for my sinfulness and uncleanness. I pray for Your cleansing blood over my life and the places that have been overshadowed by death. I ask for Your life to fill me anew through the presence of Your Holy Spirit. Amen.
Day 5: Holiness as proximity, not performance
Scripture:
Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/MAT.11.28-30
Devotional:
God welcomes us to come to Him with all our brokenness, needs, and the things we cannot fix ourselves. He desires for us to reach out, ask for His help, and trust Him with the outcomes. Even when we are in a season of waiting or confusion, He invites us to experience His presence and peace, knowing that He is the ultimate fixer who cares deeply for us. We don’t have to carry our burdens alone; God is ready to share them with us and work in ways we may not expect.
Reflection:
What burden or area of brokenness do you need to bring honestly to God today, trusting Him to carry it with you?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I come before You with all my weakness and brokenness. You see the parts of me that are weary, hurting, and in need of Your healing touch. I lay down every burden, every fear, and every failure at Your feet. Amen
Day 6: Confession brings us into the light for cleansing
Scripture:
1 John 5:5-9 (NIV)
'Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. '
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/1JN.5.5-9
Devotional:
Walking with God is not automatic; the blood of Jesus “purifies us” as we walk in the light by naming reality, confessing sin, and refusing the secrecy of darkness. Confession is the God-ordained way to bring contamination into His presence so His life can cleanse; it is an ongoing process for those who belong to Him. Come into the light today: tell the truth to God, and if needed, to a trusted believer, and receive—not earn—His faithful forgiveness and purification.
Reflection:
What is one specific sin or secret you have kept in the dark—will you write it down, confess it to God, and then tell a trusted Christian today so you can tangibly step into the light and receive cleansing?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I confess that I am a sinner and there are times that I seek the darkness instead of Your light. Lord give me the courage to seek others for support and confession of sin so that I may stay in the light. I pray for Your cleansing as I confess my sins to You now.
Day 7: Be holy by drawing near the Holy One
Scriptures:
Leviticus 19:2 (NIV)
'“Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy. '
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/LEV.19.2
Holiness is not achieved by avoiding bad things but by drawing near to the Holy God whose presence makes places and people holy—like fire that warms more intensely the closer you come. In Israel’s camp, “outside” was unclean, “inside” was clean, and the centre was holy; proximity mattered, and so did removing what carried death’s contamination—symbolised by sandals made from leather. Choose to come close today: set aside time to be with God, strip away distractions that rake death across your soul, and let His nearness remake you.
Reflection:
What specific distraction, habit, or “sandals of death” will you remove for 15 minutes today so you can sit quietly with God and invite His holiness to reshape you?
Prayer:
Gracious God, I come before You and seek Your presence. I remove all things that are a distraction or an impediment to my closeness to You. I pray You would reveal all that is between us and any sandals of death that I may need to remove. I draw near to You now Lord God.
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