Correspondence: James 5:14; Lev. 1:4; Luke 18:22

Narrator: Chris Genthree
 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 6
Ans. James 5:1414Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: (James 5:14) may be used in faith now. If a child of God recognizes God's hand upon him in chastening, he may ask those whom he has confidence in, as men of God, to take up his case in prayer before the Lord, and count on God's forgiveness and restoration.
Ques. 144. Lev. 1:44And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him. (Leviticus 1:4). What should we learn by the offerer laying his hand on the head of the burnt-offering, and why is atonement mentioned here? Is it sin-bearing? M. L. E.
Ans. The laying on of the offerer's hand expressed identification with the victim.
In the burnt-offering it is the question of glorifying God in the place of sin itself-Christ "made sin" to glorify God there. Christ was made sin of His own voluntary will, and yet it was obedience. He was perfect in obedience and devotedness unto death, and that the death of the cross; it is all a sweet savor to God and for us. A man's bringing a burnt-offering is as good as coming to the Lord, and saying, "I have no devotedness to bring; but all is due to the Lord, and I bring it in the person of my sacrifice." We have nothing of our own but what is bad, but we are accepted in all the value of what Christ has done. The burnt-offering has more to do with the nature; the sin and trespass offerings with offenses. The great thing with the burnt-offering is that it, meets all of God's holy requirements, and glorifies Him, and in the place of sin.
Ans. It is for us figurative language, but easily understood. Our blessings are heavenly and spiritual. These are "our own" things and the "true riches". (Luke 16:11, 1211If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 12And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own? (Luke 16:11‑12); Eph. 1:33Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: (Ephesians 1:3).) We are stewards of all the Lord has entrusted to us; if our hearts are taken up with them as if they were our own possessions, we are, worldly. (1 John 2:1515Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (1 John 2:15).) We are then living in them instead of the things of Christ. Luke 12:1515And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. (Luke 12:15), (new trans.); Luke 12:3333Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. (Luke 12:33); and 18:22, put things in their right places. Selling is getting rid in our hearts of what would keep us from Him. 1 Tim. 6:17-1917Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 18That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; 19Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. (1 Timothy 6:17‑19), with 1 Cor. 7:30, 3130And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; 31And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away. (1 Corinthians 7:30‑31) (new trans.), help us to see how we can use the world without counting it our own. We are to let nothing hinder us from following Christ.