Guilt, Sin, and Shame

Guilt, Sin, and Shame

Old Made New: Pt. 4

Leviticus Chs. 4, 5, and 6

Pastor Tim Brisson

Intro

What was created when Adam and Eve were created?

Just them?

What about their relationship to each other

What about Their relationship with God

there’s at least three other things, those bond are real things in God’s creation

what happened when they sinned?

bonds of relationships were broken

shame enters the world

they hid from each other and from God

the consequence?

the Lord made garments of skins to clothe them

God has to kill something from His own creation to provide covering for our sin

one of God’s very first acts after the fall is to cover our sin and shame through a sacrifice

sin, guilt and shame distance us from God

we hide from each other

we hide from him, just like Adam and Eve

we are not at one with God anymore

Atonement = at-one-ment

Relationship healed, at least temporarily, we are temporarily at one with God

But wait there’s more

What about the temple, that place where God dwells

Adam and Eve were kicked out of the garden

and in Revelation we are back in the garden

God’s pan of redemption is get us back into the garden

it too is affected by sin

God is grieved by sin

there will be blood tonight again

but it is used to purify the altar

watch were the blood is applied tonight

always keeping mind that everything tonight points to us as the temple

Leviticus 4 (NRSV)

1 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 Speak to the people of Israel, saying: When anyone sins unintentionally in any of the Lord’s commandments about things not to be done, and does any one of them:

3 If it is the anointed priest who sins, thus bringing guilt on the people, he shall offer for the sin that he has committed a bull of the herd without blemish as a sin offering to the Lord. 4 He shall bring the bull to the entrance of the tent of meeting before the Lord and lay his hand on the head of the bull; the bull shall be slaughtered before the Lord.

5 The anointed priest shall take some of the blood of the bull and bring it into the tent of meeting. 6 The priest shall dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle some of the blood seven times before the Lord in front of the curtain of the sanctuary. 7 The priest shall put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of fragrant incense that is in the tent of meeting before the Lord; and the rest of the blood of the bull he shall pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering, which is at the entrance of the tent of meeting.

8 He shall remove all the fat from the bull of sin offering: the fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is around the entrails; 9 the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins; and the appendage of the liver, which he shall remove with the kidneys, 10 just as these are removed from the ox of the sacrifice of well-being. The priest shall turn them into smoke upon the altar of burnt offering.

11 But the skin of the bull and all its flesh, as well as its head, its legs, its entrails, and its dung— 12 all the rest of the bull—he shall carry out to a clean place outside the camp, to the ash heap, and shall burn it on a wood fire; at the ash heap it shall be burned.

13 If the whole congregation of Israel errs unintentionally and the matter escapes the notice of the assembly, and they do any one of the things that by the Lord’s commandments ought not to be done and incur guilt; 14 when the sin that they have committed becomes known, the assembly shall offer a bull of the herd for a sin offering and bring it before the tent of meeting.

22 When a ruler sins, doing unintentionally any one of all the things that by commandments of the Lord his God ought not to be done and incurs guilt, 23 once the sin that he has committed is made known to him, he shall bring as his offering a male goat without blemish.

27 If anyone of the ordinary people among you sins unintentionally in doing any one of the things that by the Lord’s commandments ought not to be done and incurs guilt, 28 when the sin that you have committed is made known to you, you shall bring a female goat without blemish as your offering, for the sin that you have committed. 29 You shall lay your hand on the head of the sin offering; and the sin offering shall be slaughtered at the place of the burnt offering. 31 Thus the priest shall make atonement on your behalf, and you shall be forgiven.

when you are aware = bill is due

whatever bill you think you owe should not keep you from coming to the cross

my brain is really good at keeping track of all the bad things that I have done

and that can turn to shame

guilt = i have done bad

shame = i am bad

shame has no place in the bible

no place in creation

there was no shame in the garden

look who is included in this passage

Priest

The whole congregation - compare this with individuality today

a ruler

ordinary average guy

all of these people each bring a sin offering as an atonement

and as a result are forgiven

the duty to do this arises when they become aware of their unintentional sin

this offering is for a personal unintentional misstep of the Law

they may not even know they did it, but it might be pointed out to them

but what about sin to others in society

Good samaritan law example

Leviticus 5 (NRSV)

1 When any of you sin in that you have heard a public adjuration to testify and—though able to testify as one who has seen or learned of the matter—do not speak up, you are subject to punishment. 2 Or when any of you touch any unclean thing—whether the carcass of an unclean beast or the carcass of unclean livestock or the carcass of an unclean swarming thing—and are unaware of it, you have become unclean, and are guilty.

3 Or when you touch human uncleanness—any uncleanness by which one can become unclean—and are unaware of it, when you come to know it, you shall be guilty. 4 Or when any of you utter aloud a rash oath for a bad or a good purpose, whatever people utter in an oath, and are unaware of it, when you come to know it, you shall in any of these be guilty. 5 When you realize your guilt in any of these, you shall confess the sin that you have committed.

6 And you shall bring to the Lord, as your penalty for the sin that you have committed, a female from the flock, a sheep or a goat, as a sin offering; and the priest shall make atonement on your behalf for your sin.

7 But if you cannot afford a sheep, you shall bring to the Lord, as your penalty for the sin that you have committed, two turtledoves or two pigeons, one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. 8 You shall bring them to the priest, who shall offer first the one for the sin offering, wringing its head at the nape without severing it.

1 When any of you sin in that you have heard a public adjuration to testify and—though able to testify as one who has seen or learned of the matter—do not speak up, you are subject to punishment.

WE HAVE A PUBLIC DUTY TO HELP MAINTAIN SOCIAL ORDER

INCLUDING NOT DEFILING THE TEMPLE, EVEN ACCIDENTALLY

example of a sin by omission

2 Or when any of you touch any unclean thing—whether the carcass of an unclean beast or the carcass of unclean livestock or the carcass of an unclean swarming thing—and are unaware of it, you have become unclean, and are guilty.

3 Or when you touch human uncleanness—any uncleanness by which one can become unclean—and are unaware of it, when you come to know it, you shall be guilty.

ANYTHING UNCLEAN COULD DEFILE THE TEMPLE, EVEN ON ACCIDENT

4 Or when any of you utter aloud a rash oath for a bad or a good purpose, whatever people utter in an oath, and are unaware of it, when you come to know it, you shall in any of these be guilty.

DON’T GO MAKING PROMISES YOU CAN’T KEEP

DID YOU REALIZE WHAT SAID IN YOUR LITTLE TEMPER TANTRUM RANT

ANGER - WE WILL SEE WHAT JESUS HAS TO SAY ABOUT THAT IN A MINUTE

LET’S LOOK CLOSER AT VERSE 5

5 When you realize your guilt in any of these, you shall confess the sin that you have committed.

6 And you shall bring to the Lord, as your penalty for the sin that you have committed, a female from the flock, a sheep or a goat, as a sin offering; and the priest shall make atonement on your behalf for your sin.

16 And you shall make restitution for the holy thing in which you were remiss, and shall add one-fifth to it and give it to the priest. The priest shall make atonement on your behalf with the ram of the guilt offering, and you shall be forgiven.

WHEN YOU REALIZE

Confess -> atonement -> restitution -> forgiveness

WHAT DOES THIS SOUND LIKE?

CONFESS

MAKE AMENDS

WHAT ABOUT MORE RECKLESS BEHAVIOR

ACCIDENTALLY ON PURPOSE

INTENTIONAL TORTS

felonies were capital crimes, we will see those later

Intentional sins

Leviticus 6 (NRSV)

1 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 2 When any of you sin and commit a trespass against the Lord by deceiving a neighbor in a matter of a deposit or a pledge, or by robbery, or if you have defrauded a neighbor, 3 or have found something lost and lied about it—if you swear falsely regarding any of the various things that one may do and sin thereby—

4 when you have sinned and realize your guilt, and would restore what you took by robbery or by fraud or the deposit that was committed to you, or the lost thing that you found, 5 or anything else about which you have sworn falsely, you shall repay the principal amount and shall add one-fifth to it. You shall pay it to its owner when you realize your guilt.

6 And you shall bring to the priest, as your guilt offering to the Lord, a ram without blemish from the flock, or its equivalent, for a guilt offering. 7 The priest shall make atonement on your behalf before the Lord, and you shall be forgiven for any of the things that one may do and incur guilt thereby.

TRESPASS IS AN INFRINGEMENT ON SOMEONE ELSE’S RIGHTS

USUALLY PROPERTY

BUT COULD BE CHATTEL

OR COPYRIGHTS

So here are the actions listed

TRESPASS,

PLEDGE, LIKE A SECURITY DEPOSIT,

ROBBERY, TAKING SOMETHING THROUGH FORCE,

FRAUD,

OR PLAYING FINDERS KEEPERS

restore what you took, PLUS 20%

restoration

WHY?

we are restoring our relationships that have been broken by sin

intentionally or unintentionally

WHEN?

You shall pay it to its owner when you realize your guilt.

Confess -> restoration -> atonement -> forgiveness

LET’S SEE JESUS PUT THIS INTO ACTION

Jesus on resentments and the Temple

Matthew 5:21–26 (NRSV)

21 “You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’; and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire.

23 So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.

25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.

LIKE A CROSS WE MAKE AMENDS, WE RECONCILE

VERTICALLY WITH GOD

HORIZONTALLY WITH OTHERS

Jesus is teaching that the vertical is hindered if the horizontal was broken, and he instructed the worshiper to make the necessary amends no matter who was ultimately at fault

Among other important implications of this truth is that there was no distinction in Israel between a crime (a civil, “secular” wrong) and a sin (a wrong against the “sacred”). When a person harms another, he also attacks God.

BUT THE FIRST STEP IN MUCH OF THE TEACHING TONIGHT IS CONFESS

A Psalm of Forgiveness

Psalm 32 (NRSV)

Of David. A Maskil.

1 Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2 Happy are those to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

3 While I kept silence, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah

5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not hide my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah

6 Therefore let all who are faithful offer prayer to you; at a time of distress, the rush of mighty waters shall not reach them. 7 You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with glad cries of deliverance. Selah

8 I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. 9 Do not be like a horse or a mule, without understanding, whose temper must be curbed with bit and bridle, else it will not stay near you.

10 Many are the torments of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds those who trust in the Lord. 11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart.

so we confess our sins to God

I will confess my transgressions to the Lord

And he will forgive the guilt of my sin

all the faithful are called

and that’s what we are going to do

not all of these sins may be yours

but they are all ours

take note of those that convict your heart

circle it, and write it down,

because you will have an opportunity to nail it to the cross

Litany of Penitence

Lord, have mercy upon us: People For we have sinned against you.

For all our unfaithfulness and disobedience; for the pride, vanity, and hypocrisy of our lives;

Lord, have mercy upon us: People For we have sinned against you.

For our self-pity and impatience, and our envy of those we think more fortunate than ourselves;

Lord, have mercy upon us: People For we have sinned against you.

For our unrighteous anger, bitterness, and resentment; for all lies, gossip, and slander against our neighbors;

Lord, have mercy upon us: People For we have sinned against you.

For our sexual impurity, our exploitation of other people, and our failure to give of ourselves in love;

Lord, have mercy upon us: People For we have sinned against you.

For our self-indulgent appetites and ways, and our intemperate pursuit of worldly goods and comforts;

Lord, have mercy upon us: People For we have sinned against you.

For our dishonesty in daily life and work, our ingratitude for your gifts, and our failure to heed your call.

Lord, have mercy upon us: People For we have sinned against you.

For our blindness to human need and suffering, and our indifference to injustice and cruelty;

Lord, have mercy upon us: People For we have sinned against you.

For our wastefulness and misuse of your creation, and our lack of concern for those who come after us;

Lord, have mercy upon us: People For we have sinned against you.

For all false judgments, for prejudice and contempt of others, and for all uncharitable thoughts toward our neighbors;

Lord, have mercy upon us: People For we have sinned against you.

For our negligence in prayer and worship; for our presumption and abuse of your means of grace;

Lord, have mercy upon us: People For we have sinned against you.

For seeking the praise of others rather than the approval of God;

Lord, have mercy upon us: People For we have sinned against you.

For our failure to commend the faith that is in us;

Lord, have mercy upon us: People For we have sinned against you.

Prayer

Show favor to your people, O Lord, who turn to you in weeping, fasting, and prayer. For you are a merciful God, full of compassion, long-suffering, and abounding in steadfast love.

You spare when we deserve punishment, and in your wrath you remember mercy. Spare your people, good Lord, spare us; in the multitude of your mercies, look upon us and forgive us; through the merits and mediation of your blessed Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Communion