Leviticus: Seedbed of NT Theology

[angellous_evangellous]

What are some of the things you like to grow?

Cheese, cats, possum, shotguns, ammo, toenails, corned beef, and plum jelly.

 

[Breathe]

Cheese, cats, possum, shotguns, ammo, toenails, corned beef, and plum jelly.

You have a possum plant?

 

[outhouse]

corned beef

AH HA SPAMS close cousin!!!!!

its a conspiracy!!!!!!!!

 

[angellous_evangellous]

You have a possum plant?

Try harvesting cats sometime.

 

[smokydot]

Try harvesting cats sometime.

Herding them is bad enough!

 

[smokydot]

Introduction:
Leviticus can be called the seedbed and plumbline of NT theology, because in it are so many "patterns (prefigures) of things to come" (Heb 10:1) in Christ.
But the seeds are buried in the details. . .and are given to store up your heart, not just your head.
These OT prefigures fill out the picture of Christ's nature and work, as well as the nature of sin, the nature of holiness, and the nature of grace.
It is helpful to read the chapter in Leviticus first, then review the post.
Chp 1 = post #1 and #14. . .Chp 2 = #16. . .Chp 3 = #28. . .Chp 4 = #65. . .Chps 5-7 = #140. . .Chp 8 = #141. . .Chps 9-10 = #142. . .Chp 11 = #215. . .Chp 12 = #216
_______________________________________________

In Chp 13 are the regulations for skin diseases, which are a good picture of defilement (sin) because they all show visible defects,
the skin is disfigured and marred (spiritual effects of sin).

1. skin disease (Lev 13:2) was not true leprosy (Hansen's disease), symptoms are not those of Hansen's disease, and we read of no one dying of leprosy in the Bible,
as they do of Hansen's disease.

2. symptoms of permanent uncleanness (Lev 13:2-44)
---white swelling, rash, bright spot (vv.2,10)
---hair turns white (v.3)
---hair turns yellow and thin (v.29)
---more than skin deep (v.3)
---rash spreads with time (v.8)
---pink, red raw flesh (vv.10,14,16-17)
---reddish-white sore (v.19,43-44)

3. test for uncleanness - (Lev 13:4-8)
---isolation for 7-14 days
---if it spreads - unclean
---if it fades - clean

4. disease which was only skin deep was not leprosy (Lev 13:4)
---picture of sin in the believer
---does not penetrate to the soul, because the mind still serves the law of God and the inner man delights in God (Ro 7:22-25), but which still
---must be taken seriously and radically dealt with (Mk 9:43-48)

- - - -BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE: As God requires OT physical blemishes to be taken seriously, so he requires NT moral blemishes to be taken seriously. (1Co 5:6-7)

5. "show yourself to the priest" (Lev 13:9) - Lk 5:14 - the priest could only diagnose leprosy, but he had no power to take it away
---picture of the Law, which
-------can only diagnose sin, it has no power to take it away
-------Christ does what the Law cannot do, he cleansed the lepers, to show that he cleanses sin (Mt 11:2-6)

6. skin disease covering the whole body was harmless (Lev 13:13), a sign of a healthy body throwing off infection (like chicken pox)

7. diagnosis of skin disease was a living death sentence (Lev 13:45-46)
---must adopt posture of mourner
---live outside the camp, with no hope of returning
---cut off from spiritual fellowship in the Temple and with the covenant people
---in a natural sense, without hope and without God, in the world
---picture of fallen mankind's spiritual condition--cast out and cut off from God, "without hope and without God in the world" (Eph 2:12-13), in living (eternal) death

8. "Unclean! Unclean!" (Lev 13:45) - this is all the Law could teach the leper to say
----Gospel teaches the leper (sinner) to make another cry - "Jesus, have mercy on us!" (Lk 17:11-14)

- - - -BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE: The Law only shows us our disease (sin). The Gospel shows us our healing (foregiveness) in Jesus Christ, our High Priest.

CLEAN AND UNCLEAN GARMENTS:

9. test for uncleanness same as for person (Lev 13:50-57), #3 above

10. symptoms for permanent uncleanness (destructive mildew) - Lev 13:51-57
----spreading mildew (Lev 13:51)
----not affected by washing (Lev 13:55)

Cleansing of Unclean Garments:

11. cleansing included washing only (Lev 13:54, 58)

12. permanent uncleannness (destructive mildew) affected entire article - only solution was destruction by burning (Lev 13:48, 52)
---picture of the sin of our fallen nature which pollutes the entire person
-------and whose only solution is destruction by burning in the lake of fire (Rev 20:15). . .
-------if it is not cleansed by faith in the blood of Jesus Christ (Ro 3:25)

13. garments cleansed of mildew must have contaminated parts torn out (Lev 13:56)
----picture of those who have been cleansed by washing in the blood of Jesus (Heb 9:14; 1Jn 1:7; Rev 7:14), but
----whose sin must still be radically dealt with (Mk 9:43-48)

 

[smokydot]

Introduction:
Leviticus can be called the seedbed and plumbline of NT theology, because in it are so many "patterns (prefigures) of things to come" (Heb 10:1) in Christ.
But the seeds are buried in the details. . .and are given to store up your heart, not just your head.
These OT prefigures fill out the picture of Christ's nature and work, as well as the nature of sin, the nature of holiness, and the nature of grace.
It is helpful to read the chapter first in Leviticus, then review the post.
Chp 1 = #1 and #14. . .Chp 2 = #16. . .Chp 3 = #28. . .Chp 4 = #65. . .Chps 5-7 = #140. . .Chp 8 = #141. . .Chps 9-10 = #142. . .Chp 11 = #215. . .Chp 12 = #216. . .
Chp 13 = #246
______________________________________________________

In Chp 14 we continue with the meaning and picture of sin given in the regulations for personal defilement (skin diseases), its cleansing,
and in the regulations for clean and unclean houses.

1. Priests could not cure permanent skin disease, only God did, but when it was cured, the priest was to cleanse the unclean person. (Lev 14:2)

2. cleansing included sacrifice (applying the blood) and washing (baptism) and purification ceremony (Lev 14: 8,9,12,19)
---as entrance into Holy Place of tabernacle was only by sacrifice and washing, which purify
---picture of Mk 16:16: "Whoever believes (blood applied) and is baptized (washed) will be saved (purified)." --and in right standing with God

SYMBOLS:

3. priest went outside the camp to the leper (Lev 14:3)
---prefigure of Christ, our priest, coming to us from within the heavenly camp

4. leper sprinkled (Lev 14:4), in prefigure of the gospel, with
---scarlet yarn- - -blood of Christ, which was
---cedar wood - - shed on the cross, when
---hyssop- - - - - -applied by faith will
---sprinkling- - - -cleanse of all sin (1Jn 1:7)

5. the above were all dipped (Lev 14:5-7) in
---bloody water of slain bird- - - - -blood of slain Christ, who was
---bird fastened to cedar stick- - - -sacrificed on the cross,
---sprinkled- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -cleanses
---seven times- - - - - - - - - - - - - - completely,
---bird released- - - - - - - - - - - - - taking away sin

6. priest judges the lepers clean or unclean (Lev 14:3) - allows the leper to live in the camp of God's people, or casts them out
---prefigure of our High Priest, Christ, who is the judge of all men (Jn 5:22), admitting into heavenly camp, or casting out (Mt 25:31-34, 41, 46)

NU 19:1-10 - WATER OF CLEANSING (similar ceremony with red heifer)

v.2-5 - - - -hiefer was not a sacrifice because. . .1) slaughtered outside camp instead of in courtyard. . .2) no laying on of hands. . .3) blood was burned
v.6- - - - - red heifer, cedar wood, hyssop, scarlet wool - symbols of sprinkled sacrificial blood of Christ
v.9- - - - - -ashes of heifer, cedar wood, hyssop, scarlet wool were added to the water to make it cleansing water
- - - - - - - - - -ashes were regularly used as scouring powder
- - - - - - - - - -prefigure of waters of baptism which are the washing of regeneration (Tit 3:5) in the blood of Christ (Rev 7:13-14)

v.10- - - - -ashes both polluted those who were clean (v.9-10) and cleansed those who were polluted (v. 9b, 12-13)
- - - - - - - - - - the Jews said this was a mystery which Solomon himself did not understand
- - - - - - - - - - prefigure of Christ who was both sinless and defiled by our sin which he bore on the cross.
v.8,10- - - -those that burned the heifer (v.8) and those that gathered the ashes (v.10) were made unclean
- - - - - - - - - - prefigure of all those who had a hand in putting Christ to death being made unclean

- - - -BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE: In baptism, the blood of Christ washes away our sin (Ac 22:16) and cleanses our consciences of guilt (Heb 10:22).
___________________

7. leper washes and shaves his whole body clean twice (Lev 14:8-9) - like a new-born baby
---prefigure of the washing of rebirth (Tit 3:5)

8. blood applied to leper from head to toe (Lev 14:14)
---prefigure of atoning blood of Christ (Ro 3:5) which cleanses from all sin (1Jn 1:7)

9. oil applied to leper from head to toe (Lev 14:17)
---picture of healing of sin from head to toe - the healing of sin is the forgiveness of sin (Ps 103:3)

10. oil must also be put on top of the guilt offering (Lev 14:17)
----oil symbolizes healing and sanctification of the Holy Spirit
----water symbolizes cleansing of sin, the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit (Tit 3:5), so
oil (healing, sanctification) applied to leper must have blood under it (#8, above)
----because the blood of Christ is the basis of all healing of sin and sanctification of the Holy Spirit
water (cleansing, rebirth) applied to leper must have blood in it (Lev 14:5)
----because all graces of the Spirit (cleansing, new birth) are due to the blood of Christ applied by faith in his atoning blood (Ro 3:25)

11. ceremony for cleansing of priest by blood (Lev 8:23-24) same as for leper (see chp 8, #12, for symbols) - Lev 14:14-18
----prefigure - we are all lepers in God's sight without cleansing blood of Christ applied by faith

12. sacrifice for the poor (Lev 14:21-22) - two doves or pigeons could be substituted for male lamb and ewe lamb (Lev 14:10)

CLEAN AND UNCLEAN HOUSES:

13. only explanation for the malady affecting houses is that it was from God (Lev 14:34)
----Jews understood both mildew and skin disease to be a judgment on sin because skin disease required the same purification ceremony as a house (#4-5, above)

14. even in the promised land, houses would be infected with mildew (Lev 14:34)
----promised land - prefigure of eternal life on earth
----mildew - prefigure of sin in those possessing eternal life on earth (believers)

15. symptoms of permanent uncleanness (destructive mildew) - Lev 14:37-43
-------greenish-reddish depression (Lev 14:37)
-------spreads with time (Lev 14:39)
-------reappears after removing (Lev 14:43)

16. test for uncleanness same as for person (chp 13, #3) - Lev 14:38-39, 43

Cleansing of Unclean House:

17. curable mildew in the house required infected stones to be torn out and thrown away (Lev 14:40-42)
----picture of sin in the believer which must be dealt with radically (Mt 5:29-30)

18. permanent uncleanness required house to be torn down and removed (Lev 14:43-45)
----picture of destruction of unbelievers (permanently unclean) who are not washed in the blood of the Lamb through faith--it will bring their house down.

19. purification ceremony for cleansed house same as ceremony for cleansed person (#4-6, above) - Lev 14:48-53
----because mildew in the house is like sin in the heart (person); that is,
----it must not just be swept clean (Lk 11:24-26), but washed clean (Lev 14:51) by washing of rebirth (Tit 3:5), because
----swept clean is just reformation. . . . . . .washed clean is regeneration

- - - -BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE: We must not rest in a clean religious life only, but take care that our hearts are truly surrendered to Christ
and indwelt by the Holy Spirit through the washing of rebirth. (Tit 3:5)[/quote][/quote]

 

[Breathe]

Try harvesting cats sometime.

Lol, importantly: how do you plant them?

 

[angellous_evangellous]

Lol, importantly: how do you plant them?

Butt first.

 

[smokydot]

Butt first.

:biglaugh:you're killin' me with this cat thing. . .

 

[smokydot]

Introduction:
Leviticus can be called the seedbed and plumbline of NT theology, because in it are many "patterns (prefigures) of things to come" (Heb 10:1) in Christ.
But the seeds are buried in the details. . .which are given to store up your heart, not just your head.
These OT prefigures fill out the picture of Christ's nature and work, as well as the nature of sin, the nature of holiness, and the nature of grace.
It is helpful to read the chapter in Leviticus first, then review the post.
Chp 1 = #1 and #14. . .Chp 2 = #16. . .Chp 3 = #28. . .Chp 4 = #65. . .Chps 5-7 = #140. . .Chp 8 = #141. . .Chp 9-10 = #142. . .Chp 11 = #215. . .Chp 12 = #216. . .
Chp 13 = #246. . .Chp 14 = #247
_______________________________________________

In Chp 15 we come to the end of the third leg, which is holiness, of the "three-legged stool" which constitutues God's remedy for sin.
(Note that a three-legged stool cannot stand, does not work, is ineffective, if one leg is missing.) The final regulations regard the
uncleanness of bodily discharges, and are a picture of the Biblical doctrine of the corruption of man (Ro 3:9-11).​

1. all bodily discharges, without exception, made the man unclean, and his uncleanness made everything he touched unclean, and everthing
that touched what he touched was unclean (Lev15:1-12)
---picture of the contagion of sin, which defiles its host and easily spreads to the practice of others​

- - - -BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE: Openly-practiced sin should not be tolerated in the body of believers,
it should be expelled from among their fellowship. (1Co 5:9-13; 1Tim 5:20)​

2. REMINDER: ceremonial uncleanness was not moral defilement, but was to teach, in symbol and type, the nature of moral defilement (spiritual uncleanness; separates from God; must be cleansed)​

3. sexual intercourse (Ex 19:15; 1Sa 21:4) and childbirth (Lev 12:2, 15:19) were defiling
---to show that we are conceived in sin (Ps 51:5) and born in sin (Eph 2:3)
---picture of the Biblical doctrine of the ORIGIN of man's corrupt nature, he is born in (original) sin - Eph 2:3; Mt 7:11; Ro 7:18; Jn 3:18,36​

4. all bodily discharges, without exception, made the woman unclean, and her uncleanness made whatever she touched unclean, and everything
that touched what she touched was unclean (Lev 15:19-30)​

5. so that everything that comes from within (unregenerated) man is unclean (Is 64:6) - Lev 15:1-30
---picture of the Biblical doctrine of the EXTENT; i.e., total, corruption of man's nature - Ge 6:5-7, 8:20-22; Ro 3:9-12, 7:18, 8:7; Mt 7:11, Jn 2:24-25​

6. cleansing from normal discharges required washing the clothes and bathing the body with water (Lev 15:5-8, 10-13, 16-18, 21-22, 27),
and abnormal discharges also required a sin and a burnt sacrifice (Lev 15:14-15, 29-30)​

7. prinicple, purpose and promise of cleanliness laws: (Lev 15:31)​

PRINCIPLE --- separate yourselves from uncleanness (sin)
PURPOSE -----so you will not die for defiling the presence of God (tabernacle where God dwelt among them, Lev 16:16)
PROMISE ----- and I will dwell among you (2Co 6:17-18)​

SUMMARY: Chps 1-15 answer the question: How does sinful man approach a holy God so as to have fellowhip with him?​

Answer: a prefigure of the GOSPEL:​

Chps. 1-7 -----by sacrifice, substitutionary atonement - accepted on the basis of its perfection
Chps. 8-10 --- through the mediation of the High Priest - accepted on the basis of his performance
Chps. 11-15 --in personal cleanness (holiness - set apart, from sin and to God)​

 

[angellous_evangellous]

Nobody's reading your SPAM, smoky.

 

[Breathe]

I thought I'd continue my trend of asking questions to make the thread a bit more.. productive (and yes, nobody's been reading the "introduction" things for a while now). AE, what is your opinion on the "Jesus prophesied in the OT!" claims? Do you believe they are bogus, or do you believe that there may be a hidden teaching or message that is in the OT that hints at the future plan of God to descend and whatnot?

 

[fallingblood]

Nobody's reading your SPAM, smoky.

Ohhh. I'm pretty sure this requires Smoky's most repeated post here:

Looks like someone is trying to extend "authority" as a "staff" member to "authority" over the Scriptures and orthodox Reformed NT theology. . .on both of which he is abysmally ignorant, and exhibits gross theological ineptitude. . .as can be seen in responses on this thread.

I'm really not sure what is the control issue of this respondent. . .in trying to police your understanding of the Biblical presentations here. . .as though you are too ignorant
to evaluate them for yourself. . .one wonders what is his invested interest here. . .my guess is, since he doesn't believe Scripture is the Word of God,
he doesn't want anyone presenting it without the imprimatur of his personal unorthodoxy, and is using his staff "position" to lend authority to his ignorance.
So, first cracker outa' the box, I've had to deal with what I had hoped to avoid on this thread. . .his red herring above, one of the elements of his admitted gamey MO.

That MO is documented in, and a very brief summary of it is provided after this link: http://www.religiousforums.com/forum/2337583-post1376.html.
Depending on how much you cross reference in it, it's a long read, covering six months of his admitted gamey MO, abysmal ignorance of Scripture and gross theological ineptitude. . .so pop up some corn, pour up your favorite beverage, and have a read.
And, in addition, you'll get to evaluate his knowledge of Scripture in the responses made on this thread.
_____________________________________

To all readers: Please note that this respondent:

(1) has admitted his gamey MO in response to my posts on Scripture;
(2) manifests gross theological ineptitude. . .for this is normative orthodox Reformed Christian theology from the NT letter to the Hebrews, going all the way back to the 1600's, and of which, in his gross theologocial ineptitude, he is completely ignorant. . .he knows zip about Scripture and orthodox (Reformed) Christian theology;
(3) holds to many unorthodox latter-day speculative notions, which have no basis in Scripture, and are only his sophomoric conjectures. . .2000 years after the fact;
(4) does not believe the orthodox Reformed Christian tenet that Scripture is the Word of God written, but contrary to Jesus and the apostles, says the tenet is heresy;
(5) believes that Paul's theology is just a rationale for leaving Judaism to keep the law more painlessly in the "Jesus movement," demonstrating gross ignorance
even of the gospel itself; i.e., of free grace, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ;
(6) denies the revelation in the NT letter to the Hebrews of the OT's "shadows of things to come" (Heb 10:1) in Christ, as well as the letter's many explanations of the prefigures (types) of Jesus in the OT. See some of the types here ---> http://www.religiousforums.com/forum/2320006-post527.html.

I will not be refuting in detail his gamey MO of ridicule, red herrings, false charges, sidetracks, scorning, mocking, etc. which has gone on for six months now,
and will assuredly continue here, in lieu of making a substantive theological argument from Scripture, of both of which he is abysmally ignorant.

I trust the reader can evaluate the Biblical evidence for himself, and make his own decision regarding its accurate correspondence to the Scriptures.
I will present it. . .the reader gets to decide its truth for himself. . .and to deal with the attempted control of the thought police.

Ha. I beat Smoky to it. I am the master.

 

[angellous_evangellous]

I thought I'd continue my trend of asking questions to make the thread a bit more.. productive (and yes, nobody's been reading the "introduction" things for a while now). AE, what is your opinion on the "Jesus prophesied in the OT!" claims? Do you believe they are bogus, or do you believe that there may be a hidden teaching or message that is in the OT that hints at the future plan of God to descend and whatnot?

Here's what I think:

IF Jesus and the apostles taught that he was prophesied in the OT, Jesus and early believers interpreted the prophets in such a radical way that no one who came before them could have come to the same conclusion.

But I personally don't think that Jesus understood himself as the Messiah, and early believers went back to the OT for justification that they were an extension of Judaism when they lost Jewish support before the NT Gospels were even written. It's not bogus per se, but it's apologetic. Christians were trying to justify themselves by using the OT to do so, but they did it completely divorced from Jewish tradition.

 

[Breathe]

That makes sense to me, thanks for sharing.

How do you think Jesus understood himself? A social-reforming rabbi? Humanistic teacher? Something else?

 

[angellous_evangellous]

That makes sense to me, thanks for sharing.

How do you think Jesus understood himself? A social-reforming rabbi? Humanistic teacher? Something else?

At least a teacher interested in keeping peace with Roman occupation. He was a pacifist who encouraged other Jews to live in the midst of oppression.

I would also like think that he understood himself to have a special relationship with God (like a prophet), but I'm not sure about that. The argument that later writers added this is just too powerful to refuse. But I'm a believing scholar...

 

[outhouse]

But I'm a believing scholar...

heathen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[esmith]

How do you think Jesus understood himself? A social-reforming rabbi? Humanistic teacher? Something else?

I think (yeah sometimes I even amaze myself) that Jesus had a apoplectic view of this time in history and was trying to get the people ready for it.

 

[smokydot]

Here's what I think:
IF Jesus and the apostles taught that he was prophesied in the OT, Jesus and early believers interpreted the prophets in such a radical way that no one who came before them could have come to the same conclusion.
But I personally don't think that Jesus understood himself as the Messiah, and early believers went back to the OT for justification that they were an extension of Judaism when they lost Jewish support before the NT Gospels were even written. It's not bogus per se, but it's apologetic. Christians were trying to justify themselves by using the OT to do so, but they did it completely divorced from Jewish tradition.

Here's what I think:

Jesus said (Mt 12:3, 5, 19:4, 21:16) "Have you not read. . .

Mt 1:21 --" She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sin."

Lk 2:11 -- "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Messiah, the Lord."
Do you not think Joseph and Mary told him these things?

Lk 19:10 -- Jesus said, "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lot."

Jn 3:17 -- Jesus said, "For God sent his Son into the world. . .to save the world through him."

Jn 1:29 -- "John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, 'Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"

Jn 4:42 -- ". . .we know that this man really is the Savior of the world."

Jn 3:13, 6:38, 42, 62 -- Jesus said, "I came down from heaven."

Jn 5:36-30, 10:36, 13:3, 16:28 -- Jesus said, "I was sent by God."

Mt 20:28, 26:28, Jn 10:11 -- Jesus said, "I came to die as a ransom for the sins of many."

Mt 9:2-6 -- Jesus said, "I have power to forgive sin."

Jn 5:22, 27, 8:26, 12:48, Mt 25:31-33 -- Jesus said, "I have authority to judge all mankind."

Jn 14:6, 5:25-26, 6:39-40 -- Jesus said, "I am the exclusive way to the Father, I am the source of all life and truth."

I also think you either do not know the NT. . .or you do not believe it. . .or both. . .which automatically excludes you from truly understanding it.

I think you traffic in latter-day heretical novel speculations 2,000 years after the fact.

I think you are grossly Biblically and theologically inept.

Jesus said: "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God." (Mk 12:24)

Jesus said: "Go and learn what they mean." (Mt 9:13)

And I say: "Stop darkening the counsel of God with your lack of Biblical knowledge, gross theological ineptitude, and heretical novel speculations."