Holiness is the major theme of Leviticus. “Be holy for I am holy,” says the Lord in Leviticus 19:1. We may struggle to relate to much of what is contained in Leviticus, but the theme of holiness is one we can all consider. It is important throughout Scripture, including in the New Testament.

As Christians, we are called a holy people (1 Peter 2:9) and Peter reminds his readers of the command to “Be holy” from Leviticus 19. To be holy means to be called out and set apart for God. Christians have been set apart in this way, just as Israel was.

But how does this holiness work itself out in our daily lives? If we are holy, we are to live like holy people, demonstrating daily in our choices and our actions that we belong to the Lord and serve him. For Israel, this meant obeying the Law. For Christians, it means turning our backs on sin (Hebrews 12:1) walking by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16) and surrendering ourselves to the Lord (Romans 12:1).

So, while the specific instructions found in Leviticus may not be meant for us to follow as Christians, the principles and ideas that they are based on are just as relevant today as they were when Moses led God’s people. The system of sacrificial worship described in Leviticus is the teaching that would have helped the disciples and all Jewish followers of Jesus to understand how, by his death, he could bring atonement for sin.

As we study Leviticus, we will be studying the same framework for worship and a right relationship with the Lord that Jesus studied and followed. Let us walk in his footsteps and see what we can learn about how we can honour our holy God.

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NEWBOLD COMMUNITY CHURCH