⁴ It was in terms of these sacrifices that Jesus Himself, as well as the early church, understood His atoning death. The Levitical sacrificial system provided the theological model for their understanding.

⁷ The significance of the Levitical sacrificial system is seen in the fact that there is no other book in the Bible that contains more of God’s very words than the book of Leviticus. It is also interesting to note that Leviticus was the first book studied by Jewish children in the synagogue. Oh, that this book would be as highly valued in the church today!

¹⁰ God is not bound by time. He is outside of time; He created time. Thus, God could apply the benefits of Jesus’ death before it happened historically.

¹¹ Contrary to the teaching that says our sins are not “covered” by the blood of Jesus, but rather “cleansed,” the Bible teaches that our sins are both “covered” and “cleansed” by His precious blood.

¹⁹ It was not necessary for Jesus to die spiritually. He only had to die physically (like the Old Testament animals) to pay the penalty for our sins. See Chapters Three and Four.

²⁸ This means Jesus died physically. His body bore the punishment of our sins. He shed His blood to redeem us. The life of the body is in the blood (Lev. 17:11). When Jesus shed His blood He gave His physical life. The death of His body redeemed us.

³³ The mercy-seat was actually God’s throne where He sat as King in the midst of His people Israel. Cf. Ex. 25:22; Num. 7:89; Lev. 16:2; 1 Sam. 4:4; Ps. 99:1; Is. 37:16.

³⁴ The blood was also brought into immediate contact with the tables of the covenant, signifying that the object of the sacrifice was to reinstate God’s people to full covenant privilege with Him, and also signifying that the Atonement was guaranteed, because it was based upon covenant promise.

⁴⁵ Interestingly, the cognate of kipper in Arabic means “to cover, or hide”; and the Aramaic cognate means “to wipe away.

⁵² See Appendix Two for a more detailed consideration of the fact that the Old Testament saints were born again.

⁶¹ Rom. 3:23-26: if God didn’t punish sin, He wouldn’t be “just.” Thus the sacrifice of Jesus “declared His righteousness” and God was shown to be just in His dealings with sin, as well as able to justify (and treat as righteous) fallen, wicked men.