Episode 35 — Atonement in an Awkward World

With Pastor George

In this powerful and deeply relevant episode of Berean Devotion, Pastor George walks through some of the most uncomfortable chapters in Scripture — Leviticus 15–18, alongside Psalm 31 and Hebrews 6.

Let’s be honest — these chapters aren’t easy to read.

Leviticus 15 addresses bodily discharges.
Leviticus 18 confronts incest, sexual immorality, and abuse.
And right in the middle stands Leviticus 16 — the Day of Atonement, the theological heartbeat of the entire book.

But these laws were not arbitrary. God was setting His people apart in a pagan culture saturated with sexual brokenness. Israel was called to be different — not strange, but holy. Their distinct way of living would cause surrounding nations to ask, “Why?”

At the center of it all is the Day of Atonement:

• One goat carried the sins of the people away into the wilderness.
• Another was sacrificed, its blood sprinkled on the mercy seat.

Two realities emerge:

1. Sin is removed.
2. God’s wrath is satisfied.

This is the picture of propitiation — and it points directly to Jesus Christ. What those sacrifices symbolized, Christ fulfilled completely. He carried our sins away and satisfied the righteous wrath of God once and for all.

Pastor George then turns to Psalm 31, a personal reminder that when life feels uncertain and relationships feel fragile, God is still trustworthy.

And in Hebrews 6, we’re reminded that Jesus is not only our atonement — He is the anchor of our soul, sure and steadfast behind the veil.

In a world deeply confused about sexuality and truth, this episode reminds us:

• God calls His people to holiness.
• The law exposes our brokenness.
• Only Jesus can cleanse and restore.
• Our hope is not in moral performance, but in Christ alone.

If today’s culture feels unstable, this episode will remind you where true stability is found — in the finished work of Jesus, our atonement and our anchor.

Christ Greater Than Moses — The Final and Perfect Offering

With Anthony Pina

📖 Today’s Reading

• Leviticus 4–7
• Hebrews 3

In this episode, Anthony walks through the continued details of Israel’s sacrificial system and highlights a powerful New Testament truth: what the law required, Christ fulfilled.

🩸 Leviticus 4–7 — Sin Is Serious, and God Provides a Way

These chapters expand on the offerings introduced earlier in Leviticus, with special focus on:

• The Sin Offering (Leviticus 4) — For sins committed in ignorance.
• The Trespass/Guilt Offering (Leviticus 5) — For specific acts of wrongdoing.
• Further instructions regarding burnt, grain, and peace offerings (Leviticus 6–7).

One repeated phrase stands out:

Moses served as God’s conduit to the people, and Aaron and his sons carried out the priestly responsibilities exactly as prescribed.

Key Themes:

• Sin — even unintentional sin — must be addressed.
• Worship must be done God’s way.
• A spotless sacrifice was required.
• Atonement always required blood.

The weight of these chapters reminds us just how serious sin is before a holy God. Yet it also magnifies God’s mercy in providing a way for reconciliation.

Today, we don’t search for a spotless animal to sacrifice — because Christ became our perfect offering, once and for all.

✝️ Hebrews 3 — Christ Is Greater Than Moses

The author of Hebrews continues building the case that Christ is superior.

After establishing that Christ is greater than angels (Hebrews 1–2), chapter 3 makes it clear:

While Moses was faithful as a servant in God’s house, Christ is the Son over God’s house.

Moses:

• A faithful servant
• A leader and mediator
• A testimony pointing forward

Christ:

• The Son
• The fulfillment
• The perfect and faithful High Priest
• The once-for-all sacrifice

Moses was used mightily by God, but he was imperfect. Christ, however, was completely faithful to the mission the Father sent Him to accomplish — giving His life for our sins.

🎯 Main Takeaways

• God takes sin seriously.
• Atonement requires a sacrifice.
• The Old Testament system pointed forward to something greater.
• Jesus is not merely another leader in a long line of faithful men.
• Christ is the greater Moses — the perfect and final offering.
• His sacrifice covers sins past, present, and future.

🙏 Closing Encouragement

Because of Christ:

• We can stand righteous before a holy God.
• We don’t approach through repeated sacrifices.
• We rest in a finished work.

Praise the Lord for the sufficiency of Jesus — our perfect sacrifice and our greater Savior.

Join us next time as we continue walking through Scripture together.

Christ Our Offering, Our Confidence, and Our High Priest

With Anthony Pina

📖 Today’s Reading

• Leviticus 1–3
• Psalm 27
• Hebrews 2

In this episode, Anthony Pina walks through key passages that move us from the sacrificial system of the Old Testament to the superior and personal work of Christ in the New Testament. The central theme? God makes a way for sinful people to relate to a holy God—and that way is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

🔥 Leviticus 1–3 — Worship God His Way

Coming out of the book of Exodus, the tabernacle has been completed. Now in Leviticus, God establishes clear instructions for how His people are to approach Him.

The Three Offerings:

• Burnt Offering (Leviticus 1) – A complete surrender to God.
• Grain Offering (Leviticus 2) – An offering of dedication and thanksgiving.
• Peace Offering (Leviticus 3) – Fellowship and reconciliation with God.

Each sacrifice had to be:

• Without blemish
• Offered exactly as God prescribed
• Given from what the people already possessed

Key Insight:
God demands worship His way. Yet in His grace, He never requires something beyond what He has already provided.

Today, Christ is our ultimate offering—the fulfillment of everything Leviticus foreshadowed.

🌄 Psalm 27 — Confidence in the Middle of Fear

In this powerful psalm of David, we see unwavering trust in God during uncertainty and opposition.

David reminds us:

• God is our covering in trouble.
• God establishes our footing when life feels unstable.
• Waiting on the Lord strengthens the heart.

Application:
When facing fear, loneliness, or opposition, our instinct may be to run—but Psalm 27 teaches us to remain anchored in God’s presence.

✝️ Hebrews 2 — Christ Became Like Us

The book of Hebrews emphasizes one major truth: Christ is better.

In chapter 2, we see:

• Jesus is superior to angels.
• He became fully human.
• He endured suffering and temptation.
• He remained without sin.

Christ took on flesh not to indulge in it—but to redeem it.
He understands our suffering.
He identifies with our temptations.
He is our merciful and faithful High Priest.

Because He endured hardship, we can trust Him in ours.

🎯 Key Takeaways

• God provides a way to approach Him.
• Worship must align with God’s design.
• Confidence in God is the antidote to fear.
• Jesus fully understands our struggles.
• We must not neglect so great a salvation.

🙏 Closing Prayer Focus

• Gratitude for God’s Word
• Strength to apply biblical truth
• Courage in the face of difficulty
• Confidence in Christ’s perfect example
• Praise for our merciful High Priest

If this episode encouraged you, share it with someone who needs to be reminded that:
God provides the sacrifice, the covering, and the strength.

Join us next time as we continue walking through Scripture together.