3:1 The peace-offering. The whole work of Christ in relation to the believer's peace is here in type.
He made peace, Colossians 1:20
proclaimed peace, Ephesians 2:17
and is our peace, Ephesians 2:14
Colossians 3:15 draws together both aspects of the peace offering which was also a thank offering - see Revised Version margin.
3:2 'lay hands' a mark of association with the sacrifice.
3:6 That the offering from the flock could be male or female shows that either a man or woman can be at peace with God.

4:2 If a soul sin through ignorance
4:3 If a priest that is anointed sin
4:13 If the whole congregation sin through ignorance
4:22 When a ruler hath sinned through ignorance
4:27 When any one of the common people sin through ignorance
Notice that of the five categories covered in this chapter the priest is singled out as different. It seems that he is unable to sin through ignorance. This is because he was the mouthpiece of God as far as the law was concerned. He should know what was required. Therefore he could not sin through ignorance. We are a 'holy priesthood' 1 Peter 2:5 so we cannot plead ignorance for our sins. It is our obligation, as it was the priests, to know the law of Christ and apply it.
4:21 'without the camp' Jesus suffered 'without the camp' Hebrews 13:13 showing that 'without the camp' actually is signifying that these things portray the future work of Jesus outside the scope of the Law of Moses.

ch 3 - There were different peace offerings that could be offered. They are listed as:
:7 a lamb
:12 a goat.
The basic instructions are contained in vs1-5 and then the specific details for the different animals are listed under the heading for the animal.

ch 4 - Consider the different types of sin categories that are listed in this chapter and reflect on how the categories might fit into our way of living today. It is not that we have different offerings but it is valuable to think about the different situations that we might find ourselves in and the different types of sin that we may commit.

3:7 & 12 Often the offerer is given a choice as to what he offers. Likewise with us. We do not all have to do the same things in service to our God. We can all make our own sacrifice in service - but whatever we do it has to be perfect.

4:2 The ignorant sin was when the person did not realise what they had done. It maybe answers to those times when we on the spur of the moment do something wrong and then immediately repent - in contrast to the sin which is carefully planned and executed.

3:17 In saying that the burning of the animal sacrifice was a ‘perpetual statute’ we learn that destroying our flesh is not a ‘one off event’ it has unchanging principles which determine that our will must be changed to that of the Father.

4:13 The offering of sacrifice for sins of ignorance by the people has it’s counterpart in Solomon’s prayer at the dedication of the temple.  Solomon prayed asking that when the people turned to God He would hear (1Kin 8:34)

Lev. 3 deals with the peace offering, while Lev. 4 addresses the sin offering.
 
Yesterday, we read about the burnt offering (the only offering, incidentally, in which non-Jews could participate).

Some commonalities between the burnt, peace, and sin offerings are that various animals (bullock, sheep, goat), fowl (pigeon, turtledove), and grain (flour) could be used.
The best of the produce had to be used in all cases.
 
The peace offering could either be public or private.  They were used for giving thanks, dedicating a vow, or just as a freewill gesture.  Public offerings took place as a matter of voluntary communal celebration or by command (see Lev.23). Private offerings could occur at any time.
 
The sin offering was made on behalf of either the community at specific times (New Moon, Passover,  Day of Atonement, Pentecost, Feast of Trumpets, Feast of Booths (Succot)), or for an individual. In the case of the individual, it addressed specific sins.
 
Christ is central to all these offerings.  We tend to dwell on the animal sacrifices when we think of Christ, but let us not forget that the offerings of fowl (Psa 74:19) and grain (John 6:35) are also indicative of Him.

Sins had to be covered.  God did not allow sinners to ignore their sin. They had to make the prescribed offering, so that the atonement, or covering, then covered over their sin.  The blood of animals could not take away sins (Heb 10:4).  But the blood of Jesus Christ did. "We are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."
Heb 10:11

3:12     For a sacrifice to actually be a sacrifice – that is that it actually caused a loss to the person making the sacrifice – the animal offered had to have a practical use to the offerer. Lamb was used for food and for clothing. The same was true of the goat.  Likewise we can hardly say we have given God something unless it has ‘cost’ us something. Now this is not necessarily money.

The fat portions of the animal (e.g. 3:9-11) were Yahweh's.  This is the bread (food) that He designated for Himself (Num 28:2).  Fat is synonymous with richness, and, therefore, only the richest parts were good enough for Him.  The organs are the portions with the most fat.  Yahweh seeks the fatness of the inner man to please Him.  David implored Yahweh to examine his reins (kidneys) and heart (synonymous with heart and mind) (Psa 26:2).  And so when we offer ourselves as living sacrifices (Rom 12:1), we are offering the fatness (richness) of the inner (spiritual) man. 

4:15    Notice that if the ‘whole congregation sin’ 13 – then the elders, ones presumes all of them, put their hands on the head of the sacrifice. This demonstrates that the elders are responsible for the education of the nation.

3:1 ‘without blemish’ is a phrase we read so often when dealing with the sacrifices that we almost take it for granted. However it is a fundamental thing about that which we offer to God. Malachi rebuked the leaders after the exile -Mal 1:8 - with a suggestion that they reflect upon how their governor would respond to the offering that they were asking if it was something that he required of them. We should do likewise.

4:1 That an offering had to be made when a sin was done ‘through ignorance’ highlights the fact that we must know clearly what the will of the Father is. It is not good enough to say ‘I didn’t understand that was wrong’. Therefore it behoves us to familiarise ourselves with the character of God. So if a situation rises to which we do not know the answer we should investigate Scripture fully before acting.

Above the mountains Genesis 7:19
At thy rebuke Genesis 8:1
Cover the earth Genesis 9:11

This psalm is a testament to the creative genius and sustaining power of Yahweh.  Creation is a witness of Himself for all to see (Rom 1:19,20).
 
Yahweh has a dwelling place (2Chron 6:21) but travels throughout His creation (v.3).  Because of the brilliance of His light, which no one can abide, He covers Himself with dark clouds.  He did this when he visited Mt. Sinai (Deut 4:11).  He did that when He visited His dying son (Psa 18:9,10, Matt 27:45).

There are those who are not willing to accept the creative evidence that God exists.  They would rather believe that all the beauty and intricacy of the natural world appeared by some cosmic chance.  The Bible comments on these people (Psa 14:1).

104:24             Having spoken at length about creation and then man’s position in it and his work the Psalmist extols God for His ‘wisdom’. His wonderful wisdom is to be seen in the fact that salvation has been offered to mankind who deserves nothing more than death because of sin and disobedience.

V.31-34 While God could equally glorify His power in destruction, that He does it in preservation is of His goodness and mercy, so that we may spend our lifes in grateful praise, honoring Him (Psa 147:1) until that day when the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.

104:4The earlier part of the Psalm has spoken abut how God manifests Himself and work in the world. This comment about the work of the angels, as it is expounded in Heb 1:7,14 shows that all this activity is for those who are the ‘heirs of salvation’.

104:10 In this description of the activity of God in the way that the countryside is formed we are caused to realise that the landscapes that we see are not haphazard events where ‘nature’ is the thing that produces the things we see. God is claiming, through the Psalmist, that the very layout of the ground around us is God’s making.

12 -So, following on from last year's comment, we see that rather than developing unity in the ecclesia the spirit gifts generated envy and dispute. This was because they had their own estimation of the worth of different gifts based on their own wisdom.

13 - So Paul addresses the problem of dispute and human wisdom by saying that the gifts are of no value without the manifestation of Christian 'love'

12:8-10 There are many spirit gifts mentioned here:

-wisdom
-knowledge
-faith
-healing
-miracles
-prophecy
-discerning of spirits
-speaking foreign languages
-interpreting foreign languages
 
Those who claim to have spirit gifts today seem to either speak in nonsense utterances or attempt to heal the infirm.

12:28 Notice that apostles, prophets, and teachers rank higher than any of the gifts mentioned in 12:8-10. That means, the preaching and teaching of the Word are more important than healing and speaking foreign languages etc.

13:9,10 The spirit gifts were eliminated when their purpose was fulfilled.  That was when the work of the apostles was completed (their witness, preaching, and completion of the New Testament). The gifts could only be passed on by the apostles through the laying on of hands (Acts 8:18).  When the apostles died, and their work completed, then the spirit gifts ceased.

12:1 ‘Now concerning …’ like 8:1 is doubtless raising something raised by the Corinthians, or seen by Paul as a matter that requires specific attention.

13:4  Try to put just one of the attributes into practice in daily living. How about ‘Charity suffered long’. Now that is a hard one – how about just applying it in a relationship with someone we love? But of course we have to show this attitude to all!

12:4-9  Notice the recurring ‘the same spirit’. The emphasis is upon unity.

12:18   We have seen that we are ‘God’s building’ – 1Cor 3:9 -  and so the emphasis is repeated here. God is working in the ecclesia to build it.

The lesson of Ch.13 is extremely important.  We might be doing the right thing, but unless it is done in the right way, it is unacceptable.  We might serve Yahweh because we know it is right and, therefore, our duty to do so.  But unless we serve in love, we are wasting our time.  Duty is one thing, love another.  And so, let us examine our motives and our attitudes.  Yahweh gave us the opportunity of life through an act of love (John 3:16).  We are to reciprocate by serving Him in love (Matt 22:37-39).  Part of that service is for us to love one another (John 15:12).  Let us not be guilty of acting by duty and not by love, for we do not want to arrive at the judgement seat to be rejected for the wrong attitude (Matt 7:22,23).

Think of the ugliest, smelliest, in-articulate, unfriendly, boring brother or sister you know. If you don't know any like that, then go ahead and imagine them up. Now, that brother or sister could be the most honourable in the body of Christ (12:22-24).

1Cor 12:14-31 First Principles>Discipleship
We are memers of the body of Christ 1Cor 12:14-31, 1Cor 10:16-17
"ecclesia" is Greek for "called out ones" and is made up of saints Rom 1:5-7
Its members are picked out by God Acts 15:14, 2Thess 2:14, 1Pet 2:9
Called to be saints 1Cor 1:2
To the saints which are at Ephesus Eph 1:1,13
Baptism says that we have come out of the world and must be separate 1John 2:15-17, John 15:19 but not live by hermits John 17:14-15 (speaks of Jesus praying to God)
We must be separate in the following three ways
1. We must be separate politically - go to Heb 11:8
2. We must be separate religiously - go to 1Cor 3:19
3. We must be separate socially - go to James 4:4
4. Union woth Christ involves a life devoted to God's service in love to Him and to one's neighbour - go to Matt 22:37-40
Our helps: The Word of God - 2Tim 3:16-17
Prayer - confess our sins - they will be forgiven
Memorial meeting - Remember whose we are and whom we serve.
First Principles> For more first principle topics, go to Acts 8:12

CONCERN FOR EACH OTHER

The person with a toothache doesn't only have a sore tooth. That person who is normally fit, active intellegent and sociable now just wants to curl up in a corner to nurse their pain. They don't want to talk, can't think, and going to the gym doesn't appeal. Even though the pain is only from one bad tooth, it affects the whole body.

In describing the church, Paul used the illustration of the body. He said that we are the body of Christ. Christ is the head and we are all the different parts of the body: eyes, arms, ears, nose, fingers, feet and toes. Each of us is an indispensible part of the body. As Paul continued his parable, he said, "It's parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honoured, every part rejoices with it." (1Cor 12:25-26)

Just as a toothache makes our whole physical body feel bad, and winning a race gives our whole body a sense of rejoicing, so it should be between Christains. One person cannot be left to suffer alone. Rejoicing should not be done in our private little corner. We need to show the concern for each other that Paul spoke of. We need to share in the triumphs and sorrows of each other. We need to learn to love one another, and like a body, to be come connected to one another.

So let's show the concern, compassion and love we should toward our brothers and sisters as the body of Christ.

12:21 It is all too easy when a group of believers spend time together for us to form into separate little groups and spend little or no time with others or even look down on those with whom we do not regularly associate. Such thinking is a consequence of not understanding how God has put the ‘body’ together. God sees the value of those we might despise. It is our responsibility to see their qualities rather than denigrate them in our minds.

Try reading Chapter 13 vv 4-8 substituting the word "God" for charity/love. Then re-read it substituting the word "Jesus".

Now try putting your own name there..........