Discovering the Gospel in Leviticus - Tim Keller

In the third episode of the Gospel in Life series "Discovering the Gospel in Every Book of the Bible", Tim Keller looks at the book of Leviticus.
Each episode from this series will highlight themes that point to the Gospel and help you discover the overarching narrative of God’s Word in every book - Christ coming into the world to save us from our sins and reconcile us to God the Father.
To receive a free book written by Dr. Timothy Keller, you can make a donation here: gospelinlife.c...

[@Cait-s6h]

Just two days ago I had a dream. Mind you I have never read the Bible and I have not gone to church regularly in my entire life. In my dream I was running and came to a pavilion with a bunch of people and looked up to the sky and it said look to Leviticus. I looked it up when I I got up for the day and the chills I got. Just wanted to share why I’m here.

[@WhyAmIHere-nx3ke]

😮

[@Revheadrev]

Yep. That’s a legit God thing to do. Welcome home.

[@salizme68]

Amen! Start with the new testament

[@TheMarkuskus211]

God bless you Tim. I can’t understate how much you have helped me understand Jesus and the Gospel ✝️

[@taceyanne1]

Same.

[@emilyscharen119]

No kidding! I'm convinced the Lord used Tim and Kathy in precise moments in my life to know, see, and love Jesus more. ❤️

[@4470greg]

Absolutely.

[@carolmills5422]

A lifetime. of unanswered questions have been so cleared up. Especially given in such an easy, non condemning easy to follow manner. So grateful.

[@Act_maybe]

Cleared up how? 🤔

[@SharonLewis-m7k]

I'm so thankful for this series. I actually have an appreciation for the book of Leviticus that I doubt I'd have been able to come to on my own. Praise God for Bible teachers like you.

[@gabrielevollkammer2496]

7 kinds of sacrifice, 7 hours on the cross, 7 seals to be loosened. It is finished. He did it all.

[@She_Builds_Kingdom_Marriages]

RIP Timothy Keller. Thank you for everything. "Influential church leader Timothy Keller has died at the age of 72"

[@jurater.907]

Thank you so much for sharing the gospel so clearly and explaining how its revealed in the books of the Bible. Cannot wait for the next upload. Blessings all the way from South America!

[@lator1941]

Sin offering Guilt offering Thanksgiving offering Peace offering Jesus paid it all. Salvation is by grace alone. There are about 613 laws in the Torah and it would be incredibly difficult to keep up with them all. It shows the weakness of the flesh but through Jesus and the Holy Spirit in us, we are able to live a consecrated life.

[@mitsuya33]

Thank you, Tim Keller! Learning from you brings more peace into my life, but the fact, that we are all equal before Him and our sins can only be forgotten by His grace brings ultimate joy.

[@OpalCross]

I was one of those who didn’t get pass Leviticus last year, but found such needs to understand the New Testament better by knowing the Old Testament later on. Thank you so much for this series you are providing us, as I am so encouraged to study each book with pastor Keller this year❤Praise be to God!

[@hjlydia]

No worries, you are not alone. I also got stuck in Leviticus 😅 after celebrating my Exodus from Egypt (the place where many acquaintances gave up). I suppose I fared better by grace alone!

[@robertjasso6673]

The book itself was not called Leviticus in ancient Israel it was know as ‘ And He Called ‘ , Leviticus simply refers to the work of the Levite’s who of course are the key players in the book. The phrase , and he called , called me to really study this book and apply it to Jesus, and personal sanctification.

[@rebanelson607]

Yes! "God called to Moses from the tabernacle." Moses is a type of the Lord Jesus and Jesus took on a body as a temporary "tabernacle" and fulfilled the law. The Gospel is amazing! God bless you.

[@lesacook1970]

I’ve prayed and prayed for a church that has small bible groups and a church that will have unity between brothers and sisters who love Jesus Christ. And their eager to teach me about the greatest gift God gave us which is and who is a person Jesus Christ the Messiah, God himself the father Son and a Holy Spirit in one, our Redeemer, and love, and who takes our shame and guilt away and is the most precious person my Lord. he is the best Gift and having this relationship with that we could ever ask or imagine having. I’m still learning the Bible and used to have terrifying anxiety and panic attacks, that I was so fearful of God our Lord bc I didn’t know him. Yes as a child I believed in him. But growing up I had family that went to church, but my family were the outcast you could say, bc my father dad didn’t like the church. It was very legalistic. Now looking back. And I hold no one in judging, I was a small child. My aunt Mary my moms sister was a Sunday school teacher. If I didn’t have a dress I couldn’t go to church. I’d cry my grandma couldn’t even wear pants. But I had a very messed up way of seeing Jesus and then religion. It was so scary and confusing bc I seen him as a score keeper, or disciplining me like my dad, would. and I was very naïve , and married a catholic. But had a beautiful marriage that started out w/ just him and I only being with one another then married. And divorced. After 21yrs and three children. I went through so much. But searched God for over 31 yrs after my second child I ended up w/postpartum depression. And had ,a panic attack at the hospital . So when I was home one day, while, checking to see if she was breathing . The doctors said to watch me if it got worse. I kept thinking about our friends that had just lost their baby to Sid’s. Everything was planned the baby’s nursery was ready but I was so sick, and was watching tv and seen this show where This a man that had a NDE and went yo hell. I was only 22yrs old. I had severe anxiety attack and all I could think about was My whole childhood trauma came flooding back. And I knew that I hadn’t had a relationship w/ Jesus. I was so scared , and felt very sick I felt so dark and like darkness was all around me. And couldn’t understand why my beautiful baby and her room meant nothing but this horrifying moment of thinking I was going to hell. And cried snd cried but was so desperately seeking God. For 6 months my ex didn’t take me back to my gynecologist to get help for 6 months. But i analyzed everything. I was so afraid of the Bible. Bc of of things that were told to me as a child. I didn’t even understand Who, what or how I could be loved by someone like Jesus. All I felt was condemnation . My aunt would talk to me but I was so very sick but in 2017 I had been w/my boyfriend of 13 yrs. And had a new phone and found this podcast about Jesus it was the family from duck dynasty, with Phil Robertson. But I didn’t know who they were. they were talking about his love.and how people aren’t marrying anymore. I knew and had told him that we needed to be married. I felt so convicted, and found out that this podcast was called the unashamed podcast. When he came home I told my bf that if he didn’t marry me I was gone. And I didn’t care what happened. I told him until your married to me your not touching me or coming near me. And That I loved God more. he agreed and didn’t believe they’d email us. And after3 wks they said they’d marry us and baptize us both. The Robertson family baptized us and then had us for dinner and married us in their home. I’d never heard of Grace, and didn’t even know what that meant. But they said my past present and future sins are redeemed. But back to being alone and not having ppl to do bible study. I’m so thankful I found Jesus and Tim kellers page. I’ve learned so much from him. I know that he’s w/Jesus and I thank God for finding this wisdom in knowledge. I have his books and love how he explains so well. And that his truth lives in me. I’m so thankful for Our Lord Jesus Christ he is So Good. Please pray that il find a church where I can meet and have unity w/ Christ followers. 🙌🏻✨🕊️♥️✝️♾️

[@iquintani]

Amazing! Thank you so much Looking forward to the next one

[@alexandreleal7911]

Tim Thanks for helping us by preaching the gospel in a very interesting way. Man, the concept of holiness that you quotes in the video is very new for me. So When the Bible says: But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." In what sense God is holy and what part of it we should imitate?

[@deuspronobis6112]

I just started reading Leviticus. I have read or more precise "quickly scanned" before due to the book being a "weird, non-relevant", but this time around I wanted some understanding and deeper insight. Tim Keller did not disappoint. This time with the insights from Tim, i will be looking for clues pointing to Jesus. Thank you! God bless!

[@P-CROZIER]

Thank You So much Lord Jesus for giving Us such a great and Wonderful, Informative Man as Tim Keller and his messages that are So important and informative for All of Us as we learn more about Our Walk in Him ❤ ❤️

[@chr.v.rasmussen3478]

Greetings from Denmark. Thank you for the video!

[@CaitlinJoelRhodes-Karahadian]

Will Gospel In Life be creating an accompanying discussion guide? This would be so good to use in groups! I've looked around at the website but I can't figure out where I would find that resource, if it exists!

[@angeliapelawi5936]

Thank you Dr. Tim. You have helped me so much in understanding the gospel..the grace. God bless your ministry.

[@iansisoev9676]

No notes on the table, no prompter in the front, just Jesus and His Gospel in the heart and the mind of this dear Bible teacher! so, so sorry we "lost" such a guide through the Gospel....

[@banmas4058]

Thank you so much for these great lessons....God bless you✌️💙

[@jordandupont1706]

Thank you Pastor !! Keep um coming!

[@robertjasso6673]

Before we all feel so deeply accomplished if we do read Leviticus, or even read an entire commentary on Leviticus realize one thing- Leviticus was the first book any Hebrew child studied .

[@elspeth8476]

Thank you so much. These book of the bible introductions spurred me on to go through the bible in a year, which I have not done in several years. And yes, a few times I started a plan to read through the bible and stopped at either Leviticus or Numbers….

[@docstory1767]

Didn’t Jesus come only for the lost sheep of the house of Israel? Not the Jews which are only one tribe / 3 of 12 . ? Where in the scripture does it say we are good to sin which is transgression of the law .

[@TheJohnCalvinPodcast]

Ahhh I miss Tim. Brilliant and so insightful in his own inimitable style. Grateful for him

[@hugoguerra7918]

Amen. And thank you for this great explanation👍🏽

[@JohnBrown-zv6yb]

Excellent again

[@karenkuo9531]

Praise the Lord being our sacrifice, priest and the Temple! We are so very blessed! Thank you for the message.

[@davidlious7951]

Hello Karen and how are you doing?

[@Leviticus_is_fun]

❤ Tim. But i’m not sure any sacrifice “paid” a ransom

[@poppopp9893]

God bless you TK

[@tjclark5900]

Amen

[@JB-it7ns]

I. LOVE. THIS!!!!

[@jessewallace12able]

Thank you Tim Keller. Your mission helps me so much.

[@davidlious7951]

Hello Jesse and how are you doing?

[@余仕崴]

Halleluya🎉🎉🎉. Praise the Jesus.

[@howardjohnston7376]

I appreciate your considerable knowledge and perspective on this subject. One item I felt compelled to request clarification of is the following; what did Messiah specifically about now following or being cognizant of regarding observance of the commandments? Thank you for your answer.

[@cecbeaston1265]

Were the temple God lives in us.

[@teddymugambi]

❤

[@cedricgist7614]

Decades ago, I was taught that the 66 books we call the Bible - the "Canon" - each expresses the Gospel message in some way. I listened to a message by Dr. W. Herbert Brewster in which he identified the Gospel message in every book. I wish I had recorded it. Yet, there's a time for everything. I just finished Numbers in this my third or fourth attempt to read from Genesis through Revelation. I only managed to get through Judges my last try. However, this go-round, it struck me in Leviticus that I should track the Gospel in each book - identify a key passage that expresses the Good News of God's invitation and provision for us to become members of His eternal family. I got Genesis 3:15 - years of exposure - but Exodus and Leviticus (in particular) have escaped me so far. So, I've been blessed to be led to this series. Thank you - and may God bless....

[@gmax4332]

You make it so clear. Thank you

[@d.s.lpeiris6243]

Yes.Pas.Tim makes the Gospel so clearly- encouraged. Grateful Thanks from.Sri Lanka.

[@kellymathews2721]

Thank you Tim for teaching with such compassion and grace. I appreciate how you deliver the Word of God with love. I’m grateful for you! ➰🙇🏽‍♀️💜✝️💜🙇🏽‍♀️➰

[@melissapiontek3886]

He is the God who came to get us! We don’t have to grope around in darkness, in ignorance trying to figure out how to have relationship with God. Tom Bradford teaches how the ancient world was in so much confusion about the ‘gods’ and how to please them. Tim sheds new light on how loving our Good Shepard is. 🕊️🤍 also while some of the law has been fulfilled, more fulfillment will come in the millennial kingdom as Ezekiel and Messiah Christ Jesus told us: ““Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Till ALL is fulfilled is key here. He gave us life and freedom that we might be obedient because of and through His loving kindness and unmerited favor (grace). Nothing can be accomplished with legalism, likewise nothing can be accomplished without obedience to God’s Nature and Character, revealed in His Torah. 🤍🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️

[@carolmills5422]

A lifetime. of unanswered questions have been so cleared up. Especially given in such an easy, non condemning easy to follow manner. So grateful.

[@philipbenjamin4720]

Let me begin by making an overall point - and then demonstrate how it is the case. Tim thinks of Exodus and now Leviticus as each revealing part of the gospel - not each being the entire gospel. He describes them as if they are a two parter. Now let me prove that. In interpreting Exodus (see my comments below that video) he says that the Israelites being freed is God giving grace to the Israelites. He says that Exodus starts out with grace - God saving the Israelites - followed by the law - followed by a focus on the temple. In the Exodus video he leaves invisible the fact that the Israelites remained in captivity for four hundred and fifty years - during which time God did nothing - leaving us able to think (consistent with Tim’s Calvinism) that the Israelites were in no different a state before God in the last year of captivity as they were in the first - that they are offered sovereign grace while still unrepentant - while God arbitrarily slaughtered the Egyptian first born - not because of any difference between the two - not because the Israelites turned to him in faith - reflected in repentance - but for no known reason. I don’t understand how anyone with knowledge of all of scripture can think this - why they do not consider themselves required to explain how if God is unchanging (He 13:8) - and therefore unchanging in mercy and grace - and therefore merciful and gracious to all people and in all events - it’s possible to interpret God’s actions in saving the Israelites and slaughtering the Egyptian first born the way Tim allows people to. So then - for Tim - Exodus is about irresistible grace. But now in Leviticus we get Tim’s part B of the gospel - the Christian life if you will. He says that while we are saved by grace we must also live holy lives. The saved life according to Tim is about the Israelites being required to obey a pile of rules consistent with being God’s followers (which Tim says they aren’t able to follow - which is a strange confession if being a believer is supposed to be freedom - liberation) - and obey the rules just because they must. Tim says: “What is it about? It’s about holiness. And especially for us it’s rather strange. It is about how God laid out the rules so that the Israelites could be holy - and therefore they could worship and come into his presence”. Really? Doesn’t the gospel justify people before God by faith? Doesn’t faith see us declared holy - before and without having to obey any laws? What then Tim is the relationship of these rules to being considered holy by God? I’ve already revealed that I believe all of the gospel is in Exodus. Here is how all of the gospel is in Leviticus. We should think of the regulations in two categories - there are sacrifices which when offered in faith enable a person to be forgiven - they weren’t gratitude for irresistible grace - see Lev 4:20 for proof that they are required for someone to be forgiven. (Tim doesn’t explain how the sacrifices relate to being justified - he only says that they point to the future sacrifice). And then there are rules designed to keep people who are forgiven mindful of God - keep people in him. However it isn’t that the latter rules are required to ensure someone is holy enough to approach God - it is the opposite - it is that the person who is truly justified by the sacrifices they offered - will keep the rules - not through fleshly diligence but because they possess the necessary heart - a heart that is transformed so as to be able to obey God. Or if this wasn’t the case - if the law is supposed to be God’s system for torturing pre-Jesus believers - then that makes God unfair - he treats those before Christ differently to how he treats those after. (People write long complicated articles about whether people have the in dwelling Spirit in the Old Testament - however with the points I have made about the ONLY way that we can interpret the laws of Leviticus - there must be a means of ensuring that a person is changed so that they are able to obey - and with the fact that God’s trinity doesn’t change by covenant - it must be by the in dwelling Spirit. The only difference then between the two covenants is that in the old covenant people don’t have revelation concerning the Spirit - they instead have revelation of God through the law - which is supposed to lead them to turn to God in faith. The revelation of the law is inferior because as Hebrews explains it causes people to continue to remember - instead of leave behind - sin. Tim instead interprets the rules this way. “Leviticus shows us that holiness is something absolutely required. That even though God was a God of grace and he overlooks our sin constantly and he forgives us for our sin constantly that does not mean he says you can live anyway you want”. Tim thinks of the law as something that must be kept having received grace - when instead he should be thinking of people’s keeping the law as a sign that they have come to God in faith. Just as works are now a sign of saving faith for a New Testament Christian. Finally let me point out that Tim is saying that with each video he will be showing how that particular bible book is about ‘salvation by grace’. But that phrase - salvation by grace - is a Calvinist summary of salvation - not a biblical one (as I have just explained). Salvation IS grace - salvation IS the undeserved presence of God. The question - not addressed - or wrongly addressed by Tim in both the Exodus and Leviticus videos - is how we come to be united with God. Romans 5:2 says that we are only able to access grace through faith - not the reverse - not irresistible grace leading us to have faith. There is therefore no such thing as salvation BY grace - only salvation by God’s mercy - through faith - into the grace in which we stand (Romans 5:2). PS The Calvinist is saying that God changing the location of the Israelites is salvation - without pointing to ANYTHING AT ALL which relates to a change OF HEART in the Israelites - it is salvation by change of location! Which is actually a type of self-actualisation gospel ("God deliver me from my circumstances").

[@petrossealexandremassango6813]

Amen,❤️😇

[@mariandtom]

Good talk until the end. The Catholic church has a better answer to "The Priest" question. God is a God of clarity and Jesus started a church of unity in the Catholic Church. Jesus never intended His church to be divided into 45,000 different denominations. Be Bold, Be Catholic

[@salizme68]

This is just one example of what catholicism teaches that's wrong: calling your priests fathers. Home Content Index Catholicism Catholicism and Authority Father in Matthew 23:9 Religious hypocrites will do almost anything for attention. Like the Pharisees of Jesus’ day, they love to be seated in high positions where they will be seen and honored above everyone else. In His final discourse, Jesus dealt with the vain hypocrisy of Israel’s religious leaders and warned His followers not to be like them: “But as for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi,’ because you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. Do not call anyone on earth your father, because you have one Father, who is in heaven. And do not be called masters either, because you have one Master, the Messiah” (Matthew 23:8-10, HCSB). These instructions came on the heels of Christ’s scathing description of the Pharisees (Matthew 23:1-12), condemning their fixation with status, positions of importance, and titles of honor such as Father, Rabbi, Teacher, and Master (verses 5-7). Many of these Jewish leaders flaunted their high appointments. In essence, they made idols of themselves and insisted that others bow down and worship them.

[@salizme68]

And please I pray you don't remain wrapped up in religion. I pray you build a relationship with Jesus your earthly AND heavenly Priest as opposed to your earthly priest.

[@AaronMiller-rh7rj]

Yes! That is what God did through JESUS but I am not so sure that is IN Leviticus.

[@Floverobeach]

Thank you Pastor Keller. Very refreshing seeing our High Priest in Leviticus. Blessings Brother!

[@nancylohe986]

Yes You are Right Tim ,iam stuck in Leviticus Book right now 😊🤗

[@theycallmeglen]

Great series on the many deep connections between Old and New Testament.

[@anthonyshaw8212]

Thank You very much! Loved it.

[@eldennis]

God bless you

[@davidlious7951]

Hello Dennis and how are you doing?

[@HeleneFlame11]

The story you tell in the end spoke a lot to me. I think as christians we should from time to time ask ourselves if we can still say the same to our curious neighbor as that early christian could. It's an important reminder that Jesus is Everything in our non-religion/faith. It is offuly easy to become overly religious because that is "how it is done". May we always dare to be different. Thank you so much for this series, very inspiring.

[@davidlious7951]

Hello Helene and how are you doing?

[@davidlious7951]

@@HeleneFlame11 You are welcome Helene, I'm doing great...nice to meet you where are you from?

[@paulineatem4979]

I have been so blessed by this message this morning

[@davidlious7951]

Hello Pauline and how are you doing?

[@davidcloyd1296]

Awesome! I’ve got my “it’s not a religion, it’s a relationship” T-shirt on.

[@damianwhite504]

Any sacrifice is barbaric

[@mikecain2584]

Hi Damian, do you mean any sacrifice at all? What about sacrificing for family out of love? Or sacrificing time in order to learn to play piano?

[@damianwhite504]

@@mikecain2584 Yes. thats true, my mistake. I should have said animal sacrifice, more specifically, putting our sins onto an innocent animal instead of taking resposibility for them ourselves