Numbers 19:1-10 prescribes a unique purification offering (so-called “sin offering”). It is performed outside the Israelite camp, a reddish cow is entirely burned, and its ashes are stored for future use in purifying individuals from severe physical ritual impurity incurred by contact with or proximity to (under the same roof) dead humans (cf. vv. 11-22).

This week’s study is probably the most important concern facing the Seventh-day Adventist Church today! “The Benefits of Christ’s Atoning Sacrifice” have been understood by Adventists, in at least two different ways since 1957, unfortunately.

Seventh-day Adventists tend to think of the biblical sanctuary/temple primarily as a place for dealing with sin and atonement. But its primary function was to make God's presence accessible within human space and time (Exod. 25:8; compare Heb. 4:14–16), given the constraint that his presence was like a nuclear force that would consume faulty people unless they were shielded (Exod. 33:20).

Why did the Israelites offer millions of sacrificial victims in order to find forgiveness? How did the blood that was shed and applied to the sanctuary on a daily and yearly basis glorify God? With limited space to deal with this enormous topic, I have decided to devote it to one aspect—sacrificial blood.

The ancient worldview held that there were many gods, some good, some bad, and many between.

Monotheism as introduced by the Israelite nation stood in contrast to this pantheon of gods. But monotheism had a problem. If there is only one god from whence comes evil?

Follow me
Where I go,
What I do,
And who I know.
Make it part of you to be a part of me.

Older readers will immediately hear the voice of John Denver singing these words, which speak the essence of friendship, of the willingness to join oneself into the life and experience of another. In the upper room, Jesus said to his disciples, “Abide in me, and I in you. No longer do I call you servants, but I call you friends” (John 15:4, 15).

Mel Gibson’s film, The Passion of the Christ took the world by storm, big time. I did not see it, preferring not to want a gory Hollywoodized spectacular to get imprinted on my mind. The response wherever shown, however, may have exceeded even Gibson’s expectations—the gripping focus on suffering, brutality, and human madness.