In revelations it says that all that were judged by there works are condemned. Only if you were exclude from judgement by having your name written in the book of life are you saved. Yes, the sacrifice of Jesus covers all mankind, but only if you choose to accept it. The book of life is the list of those that accepted the sacrifice of Jesus and are forgiven.

When you are reading leviticus keep in mind that the laws are a part of the covenant that God entered into with Israel. See exodus 24
www.biblegateway.com/passage/

The word sin means to miss the mark. Paul outlined the mark that we often miss in 1 Corinthians 13...love. That is why he follows up in 1Corinthians 14:1 by saying "make love your highest goal" (new living translation).

We sin when we break the new covenant..the royal law of love written on our hearts.

Hebrews 8:7-13 says:
For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. 8 Because finding fault with them, He says: “Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— 9 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the LORD. 10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 11 None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. 12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds[b] I will remember no more.”[c]
13 In that He says, “A new covenant, ” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

Hopefully this helps. I will try to clarify a little bit later this week. I am a tribe addict in recovery so I try not to spend as much time here as I used to. Feel free to send me a message directly if you do not here from me ;0)

I believe that we are having a differentiation of terminology.

First, none are claiming that following the Torah gains salvation. Salvation is by faith in the Creator and His promises alone. (Jesus is the Creator.)

Second, there seems to be a confusion between the Law of God and the Mosaic Covenant. The Mosaic Covenant was conditional and temporary and with the tribes of Israel. The Law of God is permanent, unchanging, holy, pure, and righteous. The Mosaic Covenant included the Law of God in written word along with the conditional covenant. Under the New Covenant of Jesus, the Law of God is written in our hearts, in our minds, and on our tongues. But the Law of God is still permanent, unchanging, holy, pure, and righteous. (Note, I make this claim because the Law of God is part of God and God is unchanging. Therefore the Law of God must be unchanging as well.)

Therefore, we should - as followers of Jesus - want to know what the Law of God is in its entirety. Do we recognize the entirety of the Law that is in our hearts or is there still some that we have not learned. Is our belief backed up by action or is it words only? What actions perform the Law of God? So, since we have the Law of God both in our hearts and in the written word of the Torah - why would we choose to ignore the Torah?

The question that is left and remains is to determine what of the Torah is the Law of God and what is the conditional covenant. And if we are honestly seeking the Law of God in the Torah, then our hearts should sing when it recognizes in the written word what is within our own hearts. And thereby we may just learn a little more.

Sorry for the ramble of some of the thoughts in my mind. I just think that we as Christians are just slightly too ambivalent of the Torah. I know that in the last few months I have been earnestly reading it and my heart sings as it has not sung in a long time... (The exceptions being when I accepted Jesus, and a few times of conviction since then.)

Geppy,

<I've started reading Leviticus, and beyond there been portions of it that just seem totally irrelevant anymore (as Jesus has made the once-for-all atoning sacrifice) it does give what I think is a clue.>
The Levitical priesthood is innactive. There has been a change of priesthood as well as a change of law. Jesus is not a Levitical priest. Jesus was appointed the One High Priest, to offer Blood Sacrifice, in the true Holy of Holies.

“If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should arise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
For he of whom these things are spoken of pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.
For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchizedec there ariseth another priest,
Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
For he testifieth, thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedec.
For there is verily a disanulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.
For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God” (Hebrews 7:11-19).

In part, this is a conversation concerning two priesthoods, and two covenants, AND TWO LAWS. "For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law." Jesus was never a priest of Levitical law or the Mosaic covenant. He is the one and only Eternal High Priest after the order of Melchezidic.
“But if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.
For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.
Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:
And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:
But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same veil untaken away in the reading of the old testament: which veil is done away in Christ.
But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart.
Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away” (2 Corinthians 3:7-16).

Apart from Christ, the mind and heart of the greatest of Pharisees was/is veiled. To this day, what Moses was given remains as it was, a shadow, and a veil upon the heart. Grace and Truth come by Jesus Christ.

<Elohim provided sacrifice to make atonement for sins done in ignorance of Torah, thus showing there was sin in ignorance to the Law that needed atoning for.>
The Mosaic Covenant states that the Levitical High Priest only sheds blood for those who are ignorant of the Mosaic Laws. All other Levitical lawbreakers are to be put to death. This only applies to those who are under that covenant (i.e. non-Jews were not stoned for gathering sticks on the Sabbath). Jesus did add to, or take away from, Levitical Law or the Mosaic Covenant. Jesus was not given authority to offer a blood sacrifice as a Levitical priest. Jesus acted and acts as the Eternal High Priest of another Order.

Covenant is not simply a matter of faith. It is also a matter of blood. No blood, no covenant. The covenant of Moses and the Levites is an animal blood covenant. That covenant no longer sheds animal blood. That covenant has no active priesthood, tabernacle, or ark. The Covenant of Moses is gone! Man cannot pick and choose pieces out of that Covenant, and declare that God must honor the blessing that was declared upon the whole of that Cavenant.

It is of utmost importance to remember that what was revealed to Moses was an earthly shadow. It is a pattern reflecting that which is heavenly, and that which was yet to come in the future (Hebrews 8:5).
“For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect” (Hebrews 10:1).

<The first 13-14 chapters deal with sacrifices for sin that must be made once we recognize we did it. The sin is still sin even if we do not know that it was at the time and judgement is due for that sin.>
Knowledge of shadows is not knowledge of light. The Levitical priesthood judged according to ignorance and knowledge of the LAW. Christ (the Mechizedec priesthood) judges according to ignorance and knowledge of the TRUTH.
“For if we sin wilfully ater that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.
But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
He that despised Moses law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
For we know him that hath said, Vengence belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people” (Hebrews 10:26-30).

The heart that turns to Christ becomes enlightened to truth. The Melchezidic priesthood does not minister according to earthly material shadows.
“Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded” (I Peter 2:5-6).

“Buy ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy” (I Peter 2:9-10).

Many speak of the "priesthood of believers." But, what is your Order?
If you do not know, how can you minister as a priest of God?

Some desire to rebuild an earthly temple and reinstitute the Levitical priesthood with its sacrifices. Even if shadows remain on earth, God is light and in him is no darkness at all (I John 1:5). The Lord knows them that are his. The Lord shall judge his people in Righteousness and Truth.

Peace,
Peter