We cannot but see that teaching of the most important character is to be gathered from these facts; and is it not clear that while the need of forgiveness and cleansing is never to be lost sight of, it is _not_ intended that a sense of the presence and defilement of sin should be the prominent feature of the service of GOD? On the great Day of Atonement Israel's sin was confessed _and put away_; and thenceforward the daily and the Sabbath worship was that of whole burnt-offering. At the special festivals a he-goat was sacrificed for sin; but, as we have seen, the burnt-offerings, which speak of acceptance by, and devotion to, GOD were the principal features. It is the purpose of GOD that in the present dispensation His people should have and enjoy _full assurance_ of salvation through the offering of JESUS CHRIST once for all; and more than this, should know that He who "died for their offences, and was raised again for their justification," henceforth "liveth unto GOD;" _in order_ that His people may likewise "reckon themselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto GOD, in JESUS CHRIST our LORD." In JESUS CHRIST there is no condemnation. In JESUS CHRIST, the law of the SPIRIT of life hath set me "free from the law of sin and of death." By the will of GOD "we are sanctified, through the offering of the body of JESUS CHRIST once for all;" and by "that one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." THE BURNT-OFFERING. To return to the order of enumeration: the burnt-offering is always mentioned first, because it is the highest in character, and gave most pleasure to GOD. It was wholly the LORD'S; no part of it was eaten by the priest who offered it, nor by the offerer who presented it, it was all and only for GOD'S satisfaction. When Noah offered his burnt-offering, the LORD smelled a sweet savour, and blessed him and his posterity. When Abraham in purpose offered up his son Isaac, GOD said, "By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, ... that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed; ... and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed." The burnt-offering tells us of the perfect and accepted righteousness of CHRIST, in virtue of which the imperfect believer and his imperfect service are accepted by GOD. But it also reminds the believer of his privilege to _surrender himself_ as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto GOD, which is to be the reasonable (intelligent) service (that is, ritual or worship) of each day and hour. THE SIN-OFFERING AND THE PEACE-OFFERING.