EV 8:14{Before the hands of the priests could be filled with the emblems of consecration, they had to be laid upon the emblem of atonement (Lev. 8:14,14And he brought the bullock for the sin offering: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the bullock for the sin offering. (Leviticus 8:14) etc.). That came first. So the transference of guilt to our Substitute, typified by that act, must precede the dedication of ourselves to God.
My faith would lay her hand
On that dear head of Thine,
While like a penitent I stand,
And there confess my sin.
The blood of that Holy Substitute was shed "to make reconciliation upon the altar." Without that reconciliation we cannot offer and present ourselves to God; but this being made, Christ Himself presents us. And you, that were sometime alienated, and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblamable and unreprovable in His sight.
Then Moses "brought the ram for the burnt offering; and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the ram, and Moses burnt the whole ram upon the altar; it was a burnt-offering for a sweet savor, and an offering made by fire unto the Lord." Thus Christ's offering was indeed a whole one, body, soul, and spirit, each and all suffering even unto death. These atoning sufferings, accepted by God for us, are, by our own free act, accepted by us as the ground of our acceptance.
Then, reconciled and accepted, we are ready for consecration; for then "he brought the ram, the ram of consecration; and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the ram." Here we see Christ, "who is consecrated for evermore." We enter by faith into union with Him who said, "For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.”
Wounded for my transgression, stricken sore,
That I might "sin no more";
Weak, that I might be always strong in Thee;
Bound, that I might be free;
Acquainted with grief, that I might only know
Fullness of joy in everlasting flow.
Thy cross and passion, and Thy precious death,
While I have mortal breath,
Shall be my spring of love and work and praise,
The life of all my days;
Till all this mystery of love supreme
Be solved in glory—glory's endless theme.