Sweet Water of Life
Exodus 15
The LORD delivered the children of Israel out the bondage in Egypt with His mighty hand. What a demonstration of His sovereign power as Israel walked on dry land across the Dead Sea with the waters held back like a wall on either side.
After they had crossed the Red Sea, they broke forth singing the first recorded song of redemption in the Bible (Exodus 15). The result of God's deliverance was fear of the Yahweh and great rejoicing in Him. Three days later in the wilderness "the people grumbled at Moses". Who led them to Marah? They were led there by the Pillar of Cloud. Their murmuring against Moses was, in reality, murmuring against Yahweh! What was the cause of their murmuring? Their eyes were no longer upon God.
Three days into the wilderness they found no water. And when they came to Marah, the water was so bitter that they couldn't drink it. God uses the "marahs" in our lives to remove all our false securities one by one so we will trust in Him alone. Sin also makes our waters in life become bitter as gall. What makes your experiences so bitter and distasteful, blasted and filled with broken promises? Do you experience wounds that ache, and injuries that fester and infect the memory? Do you find yourself in the midst of a hot desert and the bitter waters of Marah will not sooth your parched life? The people in the wilderness of Sin grumbled at Moses, saying, "What shall we drink?" They failed to reason that if Yahweh can hold back the walls of water in the Red Sea can He not provide water. Moses "cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree; and he threw it into the waters, and the waters became sweet.
God revealed Himself at Marah as Yahweh Ropecha, "I the LORD, am your healer." The word for "healer" means "to restore, to heal, to cure, or a physician." He not only heals physically, but morally and spiritually. "The LORD your God heals." The word means "to mend," like the mending of a torn garment. It has the idea of repairing as being reconstructed and to cure as a diseased person is restored to health. "The LORD is the physician."
We all come to life with a need of healing. Our waters become bitter as gall. Is there one who can bring healing to our broken lives? Have we learned how to make the bitter waters in our lives sweet? What changes the bitter experiences of your life in to the sweet fragrance of life?
Jesus is both the tree and the waters. "He (Christ) bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed" (1 Peter 2:24). Jesus alone brings spiritual healing to our broken lives. The tree of the cross is the only balm that can sooth our broken hearts and cleanse us from our sins. The cross of Christ sweetens the Marah's of life. He turns the cross into the tree that gives life.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Christ, Abraham’s Final Element of Blessing
When God called Abraham in Genesis 12:1–3, he received several promises. The final element of the blessing is found in these words: "And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed" (Genesis 4:12b). It reaches back into the families being divided by sin in Adam's fall (Genesis 3), the deluge and the confusion of the languages at Babel. The curse of sin will be replaced by blessings. It will be a blessing so great that its effect will extend to "all the families of the earth."
This blessing can be thought of only in connection with the promised Savior. This promise to Abraham is definitely messianic and determines that the Messiah is to emerge from the line of Abraham. Only in the idea of the Messiah does the depth of the thought adequately display itself. All of the promises that followed in the Hebrew Scriptures were merely expansions, closer definitions and identifications of the salvation held out to the whole human race in this promise.
The Gospel writer Matthew, writing to Jewish people, began with these words from "The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham" (Matthew 1:1).
When the Messiah arrived He declared to a group of teachers of the Law, "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day: and He saw it, and was glad" (John 8:56). Abraham was overjoyed to see the fullness of time when the Messiah would indeed be a spiritual blessing. That day came when He died on the cross to take away the sins of every individual who will believe on Him as their personal Savior. Have you received the joy of our father Abraham? The LORD God of Abraham is ready to bless you right now.
Abraham was the first of a great remnant who believed God's promises regarding the coming of the Messiah. The writer of Hebrews says, "All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth" (Hebrews 11:13).
You can't find a better summary than the following by the Apostle Paul in Galatians 3:6–9:
Even so Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as Righteousness. Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham. The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "All the nations will be blessed in you." So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.
Paul's whole point to the Jewish people is that the real spiritual sons of Abraham are those who believe as he did, "they which be of faith" (Rom. 3:26; 4:16; 14:23). The are not God's people out of blood ties with Judaism. "Abraham believed and it was reckoned to him as righteousness." Our father Abraham was justified by faith alone. God chose him out of His rich grace. Abraham did not earn it. He did not merit it. Yahweh reached down to Abraham and called him to be the father of His chosen people. Abraham believed the promise. He took God at His word and God reckoned Abraham as righteous.
We who have come to know Christ by faith are blessed with Abraham. God's blessings are limitless, and they are ours just like they were Abraham's. This is part of Paul's whole argument of justification by faith. Salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone. God reckons us as righteous by our faith in Christ.
The physical seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is Christ, and the spiritual seed of Abraham includes every true child of God who receives Jesus Christ by faith. Abraham's blessings have become our blessings. "And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."
While preaching in the Temple complex Peter brought a message to a dramatic conclusion with these powerful words: "And likewise, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and his successors onward, also announced these days. It is you who are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ For you first, God raised up His Servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways" (Acts 3:24–26). There weren't any questions in the mind of the Apostles as to who this person was.
The most astounding mystery in the Bible is found in Colossians 1:26–27. Paul writes of "the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." A Jewish God residing in a Gentile heart! That was revolutionary to Peter and Paul. It is still the most revolutionary message in the entire universe.
That is how much the Lord God loves you and me. "For God so loved the world" (the families of the earth), that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God" (John 3:16–18, italics mine).
If you have never put your trust in Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, please do so right now. The very moment that you believed on Christ you fulfill the great promise God gave to our father Abraham centuries ago!
Isn't it wonderful being a part of God's history? If you are a completed Hebrew, you have a double blessing! However, God's blessings are not just for our Jewish friends, it includes us non–Jews, too. "And in you" Abraham, "all the families of the earth shall be blessed!" Oh, praise the LORD God!
When God called Abraham in Genesis 12:1–3, he received several promises. The final element of the blessing is found in these words: "And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed" (Genesis 4:12b). It reaches back into the families being divided by sin in Adam's fall (Genesis 3), the deluge and the confusion of the languages at Babel. The curse of sin will be replaced by blessings. It will be a blessing so great that its effect will extend to "all the families of the earth."
This blessing can be thought of only in connection with the promised Savior. This promise to Abraham is definitely messianic and determines that the Messiah is to emerge from the line of Abraham. Only in the idea of the Messiah does the depth of the thought adequately display itself. All of the promises that followed in the Hebrew Scriptures were merely expansions, closer definitions and identifications of the salvation held out to the whole human race in this promise.
The Gospel writer Matthew, writing to Jewish people, began with these words from "The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham" (Matthew 1:1).
When the Messiah arrived He declared to a group of teachers of the Law, "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day: and He saw it, and was glad" (John 8:56). Abraham was overjoyed to see the fullness of time when the Messiah would indeed be a spiritual blessing. That day came when He died on the cross to take away the sins of every individual who will believe on Him as their personal Savior. Have you received the joy of our father Abraham? The LORD God of Abraham is ready to bless you right now.
Abraham was the first of a great remnant who believed God's promises regarding the coming of the Messiah. The writer of Hebrews says, "All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth" (Hebrews 11:13).
You can't find a better summary than the following by the Apostle Paul in Galatians 3:6–9:
Even so Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as Righteousness. Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham. The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "All the nations will be blessed in you." So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.
Paul's whole point to the Jewish people is that the real spiritual sons of Abraham are those who believe as he did, "they which be of faith" (Rom. 3:26; 4:16; 14:23). The are not God's people out of blood ties with Judaism. "Abraham believed and it was reckoned to him as righteousness." Our father Abraham was justified by faith alone. God chose him out of His rich grace. Abraham did not earn it. He did not merit it. Yahweh reached down to Abraham and called him to be the father of His chosen people. Abraham believed the promise. He took God at His word and God reckoned Abraham as righteous.
We who have come to know Christ by faith are blessed with Abraham. God's blessings are limitless, and they are ours just like they were Abraham's. This is part of Paul's whole argument of justification by faith. Salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone. God reckons us as righteous by our faith in Christ.
The physical seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is Christ, and the spiritual seed of Abraham includes every true child of God who receives Jesus Christ by faith. Abraham's blessings have become our blessings. "And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."
While preaching in the Temple complex Peter brought a message to a dramatic conclusion with these powerful words: "And likewise, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and his successors onward, also announced these days. It is you who are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ For you first, God raised up His Servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways" (Acts 3:24–26). There weren't any questions in the mind of the Apostles as to who this person was.
The most astounding mystery in the Bible is found in Colossians 1:26–27. Paul writes of "the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." A Jewish God residing in a Gentile heart! That was revolutionary to Peter and Paul. It is still the most revolutionary message in the entire universe.
That is how much the Lord God loves you and me. "For God so loved the world" (the families of the earth), that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God" (John 3:16–18, italics mine).
If you have never put your trust in Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, please do so right now. The very moment that you believed on Christ you fulfill the great promise God gave to our father Abraham centuries ago!
Isn't it wonderful being a part of God's history? If you are a completed Hebrew, you have a double blessing! However, God's blessings are not just for our Jewish friends, it includes us non–Jews, too. "And in you" Abraham, "all the families of the earth shall be blessed!" Oh, praise the LORD God!
Saturday, September 26, 2009
THE FIRST WORSHIP SERVICE
Genesis 4:4
Genesis 4:4 describes the first worship service and God’s acceptance of a sacrifice in worship. "Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and for his offering" (Genesis 4:4, NASB 1995).
The theme of the lamb begins in this passage and is developed throughout the Scriptures until the grand climax in Revelation. The great crimson thread is woven throughout the following passages: Genesis 22:8; Exodus 12; Leviticus 16; Isaiah 53; John 1:29, 36; Acts 8:26ff; I Peter 1:18-20; Revelation 5:9, 12; 6:15-17; 7:9-17; 17:14; 19:11-21; 21:7-9, 22, to name just a few.
The ultimate fulfillment is found in the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Abel's offering involved the sacrifice of a lamb and with it the shedding of its blood. It testified to the death of a substitute. By faith Abel presented his bloody offering to God.
God accepted Abel's offering, but He rejected Cain's.
Abel brought his offering "of firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions." It was a sacrificial lamb. Cain's offering was far more attractive than Abel's was, but Abel's was what God wanted. Cain offered sacrifices that were the labor of his own hands. Abel's offering anticipated the coming of the Lamb of God. There is only one way for a sinner to approach a holy God and that is through shed blood. "Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins" (Hebrews 9:22). It is an echo of Leviticus 17:11. "For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls: for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement." If you have a problem with Abel's sacrifice read what the same Jewish writer says a little later, " . . . Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel" (12:24). While the blood of Abel was prophetic and pointed forward to that which was to be, the blood of Jesus, on the other hand, declares the whole work of salvation finished. The blood of Abel asked for atonement to be made, the blood of Jesus declared that the atonement had been made (Genesis 4:9–10). Abel's testimony is recorded for us in Hebrews 11:4. It says, "By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks."
In the fullness of time, the LORD God sent His Son Jesus Christ to make atonement for sin once for all. What begins as a small ray of light in Genesis shines forth in full noonday sun in the Gospels. Jesus died for our sins, yours and mine. God made Him sin for us in order that we might become righteous in God's sight. I Peter 1:18–21 says, "knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God."
How did Abel know about animal sacrifices? God made Adam and Eve "coats of skin" (3:21). We cannot read that without seeing behind those coats there had been sacrifice and death. Adam must have been the source of Cain and Abel’s knowledge of sacrifices. Yes, attitudes and faith were involved in the first worship, and Abel had the right attitude toward sacrifice and faith in God. Behind that fact some instruction had been given, some method declared, some way indicated by which they were told to worship Him. Worship demands the approach based upon sacrifice. We can never come to God to worship save by way of the Cross. God accepted Christ's offering of Himself for our sins. There is no other way for us to come to God. Are you clothed in the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ? The fig leaves of religion, good works, church membership, baptism, high moral standards, and etc. will not cover our sin and guilt. "There is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).
Make the Lord Supper the memorial of Christ death on the Mt. of Calvary. Without His sacrifice our worship has no significance and no value whatsoever.
Genesis 4:4
Genesis 4:4 describes the first worship service and God’s acceptance of a sacrifice in worship. "Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and for his offering" (Genesis 4:4, NASB 1995).
The theme of the lamb begins in this passage and is developed throughout the Scriptures until the grand climax in Revelation. The great crimson thread is woven throughout the following passages: Genesis 22:8; Exodus 12; Leviticus 16; Isaiah 53; John 1:29, 36; Acts 8:26ff; I Peter 1:18-20; Revelation 5:9, 12; 6:15-17; 7:9-17; 17:14; 19:11-21; 21:7-9, 22, to name just a few.
The ultimate fulfillment is found in the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Abel's offering involved the sacrifice of a lamb and with it the shedding of its blood. It testified to the death of a substitute. By faith Abel presented his bloody offering to God.
God accepted Abel's offering, but He rejected Cain's.
Abel brought his offering "of firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions." It was a sacrificial lamb. Cain's offering was far more attractive than Abel's was, but Abel's was what God wanted. Cain offered sacrifices that were the labor of his own hands. Abel's offering anticipated the coming of the Lamb of God. There is only one way for a sinner to approach a holy God and that is through shed blood. "Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins" (Hebrews 9:22). It is an echo of Leviticus 17:11. "For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls: for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement." If you have a problem with Abel's sacrifice read what the same Jewish writer says a little later, " . . . Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel" (12:24). While the blood of Abel was prophetic and pointed forward to that which was to be, the blood of Jesus, on the other hand, declares the whole work of salvation finished. The blood of Abel asked for atonement to be made, the blood of Jesus declared that the atonement had been made (Genesis 4:9–10). Abel's testimony is recorded for us in Hebrews 11:4. It says, "By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks."
In the fullness of time, the LORD God sent His Son Jesus Christ to make atonement for sin once for all. What begins as a small ray of light in Genesis shines forth in full noonday sun in the Gospels. Jesus died for our sins, yours and mine. God made Him sin for us in order that we might become righteous in God's sight. I Peter 1:18–21 says, "knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God."
How did Abel know about animal sacrifices? God made Adam and Eve "coats of skin" (3:21). We cannot read that without seeing behind those coats there had been sacrifice and death. Adam must have been the source of Cain and Abel’s knowledge of sacrifices. Yes, attitudes and faith were involved in the first worship, and Abel had the right attitude toward sacrifice and faith in God. Behind that fact some instruction had been given, some method declared, some way indicated by which they were told to worship Him. Worship demands the approach based upon sacrifice. We can never come to God to worship save by way of the Cross. God accepted Christ's offering of Himself for our sins. There is no other way for us to come to God. Are you clothed in the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ? The fig leaves of religion, good works, church membership, baptism, high moral standards, and etc. will not cover our sin and guilt. "There is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).
Make the Lord Supper the memorial of Christ death on the Mt. of Calvary. Without His sacrifice our worship has no significance and no value whatsoever.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
God’s Sacrifice
Genesis 2:15-17
The tragic story of man’s disobedience is told in Genesis chapter three. Adam and Eve were warned out of the loving heart of the LORD God not to partake of the forbidden fruit (Genesis 2:15-17). Immediately after they disobeyed God’s command they both realized their guilt (3:6-8). Adam and Eve tried to cover their guilt and shame from God, but they chose a poor cover up (v. 7).
God in grace provided skins to cover Adam and Eve (v. 21). “And the LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them.”
God killed the animals to provide the skins. The animals were God’s gift, and not the work of man. The LORD furnished the skins to cover Adam and Eve. They did nothing, absolutely nothing to satisfactorily cover themselves. The only sacrifice God will accept will be His work and His gift. God did it all! That is the way grace operates.
Adam and Eve must have looked on with horror when God killed the animals and used their skins to cover the naked pair. Sin is a terrible thing and always results in death for the sinner. They must have been surprised when they did not die immediately (Gen. 2:17; Ezek. 18:20; Rom. 6:23). However, God in grace demonstrated that it was possible for an innocent victim to die in the place of the guilty party.
The animal would be an innocent substitute. It was an innocent victim. God could not obtain the skins of the substitute without putting it to death and shedding its blood.
Throughout the Scriptures garments are symbols of righteousness, either God’s all sufficient righteousness or man’s self-made righteousness (cf. Isa. 61:10; 64:6; Job 29:14).
The Hebrew word for “garments” or coats of skins signifies a complete covering from head to foot. The same word is used for the high priestly rob, which covered the whole body. Adam’s leaf covering was sufficient only to cover his loins, but God’s provision was sufficient to cover his whole body.
It should be noted the Hebrew word for “atonement” means covering. Their physical covering was bought at the price of the death of some animals, and symbolized the need for a sacrifice to cover the sinner.
The coats of skin with which the LORD clothed Adam and Eve represented righteousness provided by Him so they could stand in His holy presence. The skin God provided to cloth Adam and Eve perpetually reminded them of God’s provision. Moreover, these coats of skin are a type of what God provided for us in the imputation of His righteousness through Jesus Christ. Behind those garments that God made for Adam and Eve is sacrifice and death. No doubt, God had given instructions of some kind about sacrifice. We do not have any exact word regarding this instruction, however, from the context of chapters three and four in comparison with the book of Hebrews I think it is quite logical to accept there is an incipient idea of the sacrifices which will follow in the Hebrew Scriptures. Since a life had to be sacrificed before Adam and Eve could have been clothed with “coats of skin,” there was a substitutionary death. God must always provide adequate covering for man to stand before Him clothed in righteousness. Only in Christ is man ever properly clothed. We look back upon these Scriptures from the perspective of progressive revelation of God with the realization that it was not the blood of the slain animals that took away the sins of Adam and Eve. The deaths of animal sacrifices do not attain forgiveness. The killing of these animals and their coverings of skin pointed to the death of Jesus, the Lamb of God. These animal deaths looked forward to the only death that could possibly cleanse from sin which is the death of Jesus. The only blood that can cleanse from sin is His precious blood.
In the fullness of time, God provided His own perfect sacrifice to cover our sins and provide us His righteousness (Rom. 3:2-26). As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we are clothed with His perfect righteousness. How tragic that we go around trusting in inadequate coverings for our sins, when only the perfect all sufficient sacrifice of Jesus Christ will do.
Jesus had to die in order for us to be clothed with the righteousness of Jesus Christ, which was symbolized by the skins. "And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness" (Hebrews 9:22, NASB 1995). "The next day he [John the Baptist] saw Jesus coming to him and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!’" (John 1:29, NASB 1995) "He [God] made Him [Jesus Christ] who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21, NASB 1995).
Genesis 2:15-17
The tragic story of man’s disobedience is told in Genesis chapter three. Adam and Eve were warned out of the loving heart of the LORD God not to partake of the forbidden fruit (Genesis 2:15-17). Immediately after they disobeyed God’s command they both realized their guilt (3:6-8). Adam and Eve tried to cover their guilt and shame from God, but they chose a poor cover up (v. 7).
God in grace provided skins to cover Adam and Eve (v. 21). “And the LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them.”
God killed the animals to provide the skins. The animals were God’s gift, and not the work of man. The LORD furnished the skins to cover Adam and Eve. They did nothing, absolutely nothing to satisfactorily cover themselves. The only sacrifice God will accept will be His work and His gift. God did it all! That is the way grace operates.
Adam and Eve must have looked on with horror when God killed the animals and used their skins to cover the naked pair. Sin is a terrible thing and always results in death for the sinner. They must have been surprised when they did not die immediately (Gen. 2:17; Ezek. 18:20; Rom. 6:23). However, God in grace demonstrated that it was possible for an innocent victim to die in the place of the guilty party.
The animal would be an innocent substitute. It was an innocent victim. God could not obtain the skins of the substitute without putting it to death and shedding its blood.
Throughout the Scriptures garments are symbols of righteousness, either God’s all sufficient righteousness or man’s self-made righteousness (cf. Isa. 61:10; 64:6; Job 29:14).
The Hebrew word for “garments” or coats of skins signifies a complete covering from head to foot. The same word is used for the high priestly rob, which covered the whole body. Adam’s leaf covering was sufficient only to cover his loins, but God’s provision was sufficient to cover his whole body.
It should be noted the Hebrew word for “atonement” means covering. Their physical covering was bought at the price of the death of some animals, and symbolized the need for a sacrifice to cover the sinner.
The coats of skin with which the LORD clothed Adam and Eve represented righteousness provided by Him so they could stand in His holy presence. The skin God provided to cloth Adam and Eve perpetually reminded them of God’s provision. Moreover, these coats of skin are a type of what God provided for us in the imputation of His righteousness through Jesus Christ. Behind those garments that God made for Adam and Eve is sacrifice and death. No doubt, God had given instructions of some kind about sacrifice. We do not have any exact word regarding this instruction, however, from the context of chapters three and four in comparison with the book of Hebrews I think it is quite logical to accept there is an incipient idea of the sacrifices which will follow in the Hebrew Scriptures. Since a life had to be sacrificed before Adam and Eve could have been clothed with “coats of skin,” there was a substitutionary death. God must always provide adequate covering for man to stand before Him clothed in righteousness. Only in Christ is man ever properly clothed. We look back upon these Scriptures from the perspective of progressive revelation of God with the realization that it was not the blood of the slain animals that took away the sins of Adam and Eve. The deaths of animal sacrifices do not attain forgiveness. The killing of these animals and their coverings of skin pointed to the death of Jesus, the Lamb of God. These animal deaths looked forward to the only death that could possibly cleanse from sin which is the death of Jesus. The only blood that can cleanse from sin is His precious blood.
In the fullness of time, God provided His own perfect sacrifice to cover our sins and provide us His righteousness (Rom. 3:2-26). As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we are clothed with His perfect righteousness. How tragic that we go around trusting in inadequate coverings for our sins, when only the perfect all sufficient sacrifice of Jesus Christ will do.
Jesus had to die in order for us to be clothed with the righteousness of Jesus Christ, which was symbolized by the skins. "And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness" (Hebrews 9:22, NASB 1995). "The next day he [John the Baptist] saw Jesus coming to him and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!’" (John 1:29, NASB 1995) "He [God] made Him [Jesus Christ] who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21, NASB 1995).
Saturday, September 12, 2009
JESUS CHRIST: OUR HIGH PRIEST
Hebrews 5:10
Paul declared there is "one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all" (I Tim. 2:5-6). Part of the Old Testament economy was the ministry of the priest. He served in mediatorial fashion for Israel. Most important among the priestly family of Levi was the high priest, a descendent of Aaron. He had the responsibility to bear upon his shoulders and over his heart the sin and spiritual needs of the people of God before the mercy seat of God. He stood before God on behalf of the people. If God accepted him and his sacrifice, then the people were accepted before God. So intimately enveloping was the mediatorial relationship that the whole of the people of God were represented in the high priest. Their spiritual standing depended upon his success in the exercise of his office as high priest. Yet in reality, everything the high priest did had no lasting value. He was a foreshadowing of the great high priest, our Lord Jesus Christ.
The writer of Hebrews intentionally contrasts the high priests of ancient Israel with the high priestly ministry of Jesus Christ. As they were appointed, so was He-as eternal high priest. As they offered sacrifices, so did He-the sacrifice of his own life's blood. As they were to deal fairly and gently with the people, so did He-for he sympathizes with our weaknesses and knows our temptations. But here the comparison stops. For the high priests of Israel needed a high priest themselves! They were sinners. They had no edge before God in spite of their noble office. While offering sacrifice for the sins of the people, they first had to offer sacrifice for their own sins (v. 3).
The existence of the office of high priest presupposes the existence of the sinfulness and helplessness of man. If man were not a sinner then he would have no need for a high priest to mediate the way to God for him. He could approach God in the nakedness of his humanity without fear of wrath or judgment. But such is not the case. "No creature is hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare before the eyes of Him with whom we have to do." Every secret sin we harbor, every defiling habit we consider sanctified to ourselves, every rebellious thought and attitude, God sees-and with him we have a day of reckoning.
Such condition of every human heart pleads for God to provide the priestly mediator worthy in his own being and nature to open the way to God for us. Not that we assert this need for God on our own! For the bent of our natures is contrary to the ways and will of God. Every man does what is right in his own sight-not right in the sight of God. But in the richness of divine mercy and for the sake of his own glory, God has shown kindness to sinners by providing the one high priest who can fully identify with us in our weakness and at the same time satisfy all of the righteous requirements of God.
Christ's high priestly work stands at the center of his redemptive activity. It is as a sinner recognizes that Jesus Christ is his very own high priest that he believes unto salvation. Martin Luther pointed out, "It is not enough for a Christian that Christ was instituted high priest to act on behalf of men, unless he also believes that he himself is one of these men for whom Christ was appointed high priest" [quoted by P. E. Hughes, The Epistle to the Hebrews, 175]. As we understand that Christ alone is qualified as high priest, then we will keep our faith focused upon him. How is he your high priest?
The New Testament writers make much of the person of Christ; and rightly so, for the whole of our salvation hinges on his qualification for the divine offices of Prophet, Priest, and King. As this writer has shown in the first and second chapters, it was not an angel or a host of angels that took on the infirmity of a human nature nor did they bear the judgment of God on behalf of the undeserving. But it was the Son, declared by the Father, revealed in the incarnation, and made glorious in his death and resurrection that "by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone" (2:9).
For the writer stresses that while the Jewish high priests were appointed divinely in the order of Aaron to serve their office, the appointment of Jesus Christ supercedes all of them. His appointment is unique in that he has no claim to the high priesthood humanly speaking since he was from the tribe of Judah, not the tribe of Levi. The high priesthood was not up for grabs or given to the highest bidder. It was a sacred trust of Aaron's sons. But Christ was appointed as the only high priest whose mediatorial work would have eternal value. All of the others were mere shadows of Him who would be appointed by God as Mediator. Without a mediator we have no way to God. We have seen that time after time in analyzing our sinful condition. Only one has been appointed. Only one has been accepted by God: the Son whom he declared, "a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek."
Hebrews 5:10
Paul declared there is "one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all" (I Tim. 2:5-6). Part of the Old Testament economy was the ministry of the priest. He served in mediatorial fashion for Israel. Most important among the priestly family of Levi was the high priest, a descendent of Aaron. He had the responsibility to bear upon his shoulders and over his heart the sin and spiritual needs of the people of God before the mercy seat of God. He stood before God on behalf of the people. If God accepted him and his sacrifice, then the people were accepted before God. So intimately enveloping was the mediatorial relationship that the whole of the people of God were represented in the high priest. Their spiritual standing depended upon his success in the exercise of his office as high priest. Yet in reality, everything the high priest did had no lasting value. He was a foreshadowing of the great high priest, our Lord Jesus Christ.
The writer of Hebrews intentionally contrasts the high priests of ancient Israel with the high priestly ministry of Jesus Christ. As they were appointed, so was He-as eternal high priest. As they offered sacrifices, so did He-the sacrifice of his own life's blood. As they were to deal fairly and gently with the people, so did He-for he sympathizes with our weaknesses and knows our temptations. But here the comparison stops. For the high priests of Israel needed a high priest themselves! They were sinners. They had no edge before God in spite of their noble office. While offering sacrifice for the sins of the people, they first had to offer sacrifice for their own sins (v. 3).
The existence of the office of high priest presupposes the existence of the sinfulness and helplessness of man. If man were not a sinner then he would have no need for a high priest to mediate the way to God for him. He could approach God in the nakedness of his humanity without fear of wrath or judgment. But such is not the case. "No creature is hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare before the eyes of Him with whom we have to do." Every secret sin we harbor, every defiling habit we consider sanctified to ourselves, every rebellious thought and attitude, God sees-and with him we have a day of reckoning.
Such condition of every human heart pleads for God to provide the priestly mediator worthy in his own being and nature to open the way to God for us. Not that we assert this need for God on our own! For the bent of our natures is contrary to the ways and will of God. Every man does what is right in his own sight-not right in the sight of God. But in the richness of divine mercy and for the sake of his own glory, God has shown kindness to sinners by providing the one high priest who can fully identify with us in our weakness and at the same time satisfy all of the righteous requirements of God.
Christ's high priestly work stands at the center of his redemptive activity. It is as a sinner recognizes that Jesus Christ is his very own high priest that he believes unto salvation. Martin Luther pointed out, "It is not enough for a Christian that Christ was instituted high priest to act on behalf of men, unless he also believes that he himself is one of these men for whom Christ was appointed high priest" [quoted by P. E. Hughes, The Epistle to the Hebrews, 175]. As we understand that Christ alone is qualified as high priest, then we will keep our faith focused upon him. How is he your high priest?
The New Testament writers make much of the person of Christ; and rightly so, for the whole of our salvation hinges on his qualification for the divine offices of Prophet, Priest, and King. As this writer has shown in the first and second chapters, it was not an angel or a host of angels that took on the infirmity of a human nature nor did they bear the judgment of God on behalf of the undeserving. But it was the Son, declared by the Father, revealed in the incarnation, and made glorious in his death and resurrection that "by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone" (2:9).
For the writer stresses that while the Jewish high priests were appointed divinely in the order of Aaron to serve their office, the appointment of Jesus Christ supercedes all of them. His appointment is unique in that he has no claim to the high priesthood humanly speaking since he was from the tribe of Judah, not the tribe of Levi. The high priesthood was not up for grabs or given to the highest bidder. It was a sacred trust of Aaron's sons. But Christ was appointed as the only high priest whose mediatorial work would have eternal value. All of the others were mere shadows of Him who would be appointed by God as Mediator. Without a mediator we have no way to God. We have seen that time after time in analyzing our sinful condition. Only one has been appointed. Only one has been accepted by God: the Son whom he declared, "a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek."
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
THE LAMB OF GOD
Exodus 21:5; John 1:29
Today’s meditation on the cross is taken from Exodus 12::5 “Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year, ye shall take it out from the sheep. Or from the goats.”(KJV). In John 1:29 it says, “…Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.” (KJV). Notice the two terms in these verses, “Your lamb” and the “Lamb of God”. The first, "your lamb", is a lamb that belongs to man, while latter, the “Lamb of God”, obviously belongs to God. Both lambs were slain to save a people. The first “lamb” was slain to save the first born of Israel from the angel of death by sprinkling the blood of the lamb on the door posts of the Israelites’ houses. The marks of blood saved the Israelites. Only those without the marks of the blood were slain by the angel of death, in this case, the Egyptians. The “Lamb of God”, on the other hand, the “Lamb of God” was slain to save a kind of people, the sinners. The first “lamb” is limited to the Israelites, the “Lamb of God” includes the whole world because the whole world is under the condemnation of sin. The first “lamb” is limited in power and scope – to save the children of Israel from physical death. The “Lamb of God” has unlimited power – to save all those who believe in Him from spiritual death. Unlike the first lamb, the power of the blood of the “Lamb of God” is not bound by time and space. It transcends time and space because His blood was shed only once and its effect is for all the peoples of the world and for all time – that includes us.
John, the Baptist as well as John, the Evangelist identify Him. He is Jesus, the Lamb of God. We now remember His sacrifice every Sunday through the Lord Supper. This is one of the confessions that believers have to make that Jesus died for our sins.
Exodus 21:5; John 1:29
Today’s meditation on the cross is taken from Exodus 12::5 “Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year, ye shall take it out from the sheep. Or from the goats.”(KJV). In John 1:29 it says, “…Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.” (KJV). Notice the two terms in these verses, “Your lamb” and the “Lamb of God”. The first, "your lamb", is a lamb that belongs to man, while latter, the “Lamb of God”, obviously belongs to God. Both lambs were slain to save a people. The first “lamb” was slain to save the first born of Israel from the angel of death by sprinkling the blood of the lamb on the door posts of the Israelites’ houses. The marks of blood saved the Israelites. Only those without the marks of the blood were slain by the angel of death, in this case, the Egyptians. The “Lamb of God”, on the other hand, the “Lamb of God” was slain to save a kind of people, the sinners. The first “lamb” is limited to the Israelites, the “Lamb of God” includes the whole world because the whole world is under the condemnation of sin. The first “lamb” is limited in power and scope – to save the children of Israel from physical death. The “Lamb of God” has unlimited power – to save all those who believe in Him from spiritual death. Unlike the first lamb, the power of the blood of the “Lamb of God” is not bound by time and space. It transcends time and space because His blood was shed only once and its effect is for all the peoples of the world and for all time – that includes us.
John, the Baptist as well as John, the Evangelist identify Him. He is Jesus, the Lamb of God. We now remember His sacrifice every Sunday through the Lord Supper. This is one of the confessions that believers have to make that Jesus died for our sins.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Christ, Our Better Sacrifice
Hebrews 9:24-26
The author of Hebrews shows how great an absurdity follows, if we do not count it enough that an expiation has been made by the one sacrifice of Christ. For he hence concludes that he must have died often; for death is connected with sacrifices. How this latter supposition is most unreasonable; it then follows that the virtue of the one sacrifice is eternal and extends to all ages. And he says since the foundation of the world, or from the beginning of the world. This sentence is not to be taken strictly in its literal meaning; for the world was founded and all things were set in due order before sin entered into it. The phrase is used in a similar way in Luke 11:50. It is a popular mode of speaking intelligible to common readers though not suitable to over-nice and hair-splitting critics.
The truth implied, is, that sins since the beginning of the world have alone have been expiated by the blood of Christ, the virtue of which extends to all sins, past and future. The effects of his sufferings being perpetual and the same as to all ages, from the beginning to the end of the world, there was no necessity of having them repeated. As to their retrospective influence, see verse 15, and Romans 3:25, 26 for in all ages from the beginning there were sins which needed expiation. Except then the sacrifice of Christ was efficacious, no one of the fathers would have obtained salvation; for as they were exposed to God’s wrath, a remedy for deliverance would have failed them, had not Christ by suffering once suffered so much as was necessary to reconcile men to God from the beginning of the world even to the end. Except then we look for many deaths, we must be satisfied with the one true sacrifice.
And hence it is evident how frivolous is the distinction, in the acuteness of which the Papists take so much delight; for they say that the sacrifice of Christ on the cross was bloody, but that the sacrifice of the mass which they pretend to offer daily to God, is unbloody. Were this subtle evasion adopted, then the Spirit of God would be accused of inadvertence, having not thought of such a thing; for the Apostle assumes it here as an admitted truth, that there is no sacrifice without death. I care nothing that ancient writers have spoken thus; for it is not in the power of men to invent sacrifices as they please. Here stands a truth declared by the Holy Spirit, that sins are not expiated by a sacrifice except blood be shed. Therefore the notion, that Christ is often offered, is a device of the devil.
He calls that the end of the world or the consummation of the ages, which Paul calls “the fullness of time,” (Galatians 4:4;) for it was the maturity of that time which God had determined in his eternal purpose; and thus cut off is every occasion for men’s curiosity, that they may not dare to inquire why it was no sooner, or why in that age rather than in another. For it behooves us to acquiesce in God’s secret purpose, the reason for which appears clear to him, though it may not be evident to us. In short, the Apostle intimates that Christ’s death was in due time, as he was sent into the world for this end by the Father, in whose power is the lawful right to regulate all things as well as time, and who ordains their succession with consummate wisdom, though often hid from us
This consummation is also set in opposition to the imperfection of past time; for God so held his ancient people in suspense, that it might have been easily concluded that things had not yet reached a fixed state. Hence Paul declares that the end of the ages had come upon us, (1 Corinthians 10:11;) by which he means that the kingdom of Christ contained the accomplishment of all things. But since it was the fullness of time when Christ appeared to expiate sins, they are guilty of offering him an atrocious insult, who seek to renew his sacrifice, as though all things were not completed by his death. He then appeared once for all; for had he done so once or twice, there must have been something defective in the first oblation; but this is inconsistent with fullness.
”To put away, or to destroy sin, “ Literally it is “for the abolishing of sin,” . The word occurs only in one other place, chapter 7:18, and is rendered “disannulling;” and, taking “sin” in the sense of sin-offering, “He hath been manifested to abolish sin-offering by the sacrifice of himself.” But this is inconsistent with the drift of the passage. To remove or abolish sin is doubtless what is meant. To “take away sin,” and “to remove the punishment due to sin,” This agrees with Daniel’s prophecy, in which the sealing up and the abolition of sins are promised, and in which it is also declared that there would be an end to sacrifices, (Daniel 9:24-27;) for to what purpose are expiations when sins are destroyed? But this destruction is then only effected, when sins are not imputed to those who flee to the sacrifice of Christ; for though pardon is to be sought daily, as we daily provoke God’s wrath; yet as we are reconciled to God in no other way than by the one death of Christ, sin is rightly said to be put away or destroyed by it.
If you are a sinner, come to Jesus. There is no better sacrifice for your sins but Him.
Hebrews 9:24-26
The author of Hebrews shows how great an absurdity follows, if we do not count it enough that an expiation has been made by the one sacrifice of Christ. For he hence concludes that he must have died often; for death is connected with sacrifices. How this latter supposition is most unreasonable; it then follows that the virtue of the one sacrifice is eternal and extends to all ages. And he says since the foundation of the world, or from the beginning of the world. This sentence is not to be taken strictly in its literal meaning; for the world was founded and all things were set in due order before sin entered into it. The phrase is used in a similar way in Luke 11:50. It is a popular mode of speaking intelligible to common readers though not suitable to over-nice and hair-splitting critics.
The truth implied, is, that sins since the beginning of the world have alone have been expiated by the blood of Christ, the virtue of which extends to all sins, past and future. The effects of his sufferings being perpetual and the same as to all ages, from the beginning to the end of the world, there was no necessity of having them repeated. As to their retrospective influence, see verse 15, and Romans 3:25, 26 for in all ages from the beginning there were sins which needed expiation. Except then the sacrifice of Christ was efficacious, no one of the fathers would have obtained salvation; for as they were exposed to God’s wrath, a remedy for deliverance would have failed them, had not Christ by suffering once suffered so much as was necessary to reconcile men to God from the beginning of the world even to the end. Except then we look for many deaths, we must be satisfied with the one true sacrifice.
And hence it is evident how frivolous is the distinction, in the acuteness of which the Papists take so much delight; for they say that the sacrifice of Christ on the cross was bloody, but that the sacrifice of the mass which they pretend to offer daily to God, is unbloody. Were this subtle evasion adopted, then the Spirit of God would be accused of inadvertence, having not thought of such a thing; for the Apostle assumes it here as an admitted truth, that there is no sacrifice without death. I care nothing that ancient writers have spoken thus; for it is not in the power of men to invent sacrifices as they please. Here stands a truth declared by the Holy Spirit, that sins are not expiated by a sacrifice except blood be shed. Therefore the notion, that Christ is often offered, is a device of the devil.
He calls that the end of the world or the consummation of the ages, which Paul calls “the fullness of time,” (Galatians 4:4;) for it was the maturity of that time which God had determined in his eternal purpose; and thus cut off is every occasion for men’s curiosity, that they may not dare to inquire why it was no sooner, or why in that age rather than in another. For it behooves us to acquiesce in God’s secret purpose, the reason for which appears clear to him, though it may not be evident to us. In short, the Apostle intimates that Christ’s death was in due time, as he was sent into the world for this end by the Father, in whose power is the lawful right to regulate all things as well as time, and who ordains their succession with consummate wisdom, though often hid from us
This consummation is also set in opposition to the imperfection of past time; for God so held his ancient people in suspense, that it might have been easily concluded that things had not yet reached a fixed state. Hence Paul declares that the end of the ages had come upon us, (1 Corinthians 10:11;) by which he means that the kingdom of Christ contained the accomplishment of all things. But since it was the fullness of time when Christ appeared to expiate sins, they are guilty of offering him an atrocious insult, who seek to renew his sacrifice, as though all things were not completed by his death. He then appeared once for all; for had he done so once or twice, there must have been something defective in the first oblation; but this is inconsistent with fullness.
”To put away, or to destroy sin, “ Literally it is “for the abolishing of sin,” . The word occurs only in one other place, chapter 7:18, and is rendered “disannulling;” and, taking “sin” in the sense of sin-offering, “He hath been manifested to abolish sin-offering by the sacrifice of himself.” But this is inconsistent with the drift of the passage. To remove or abolish sin is doubtless what is meant. To “take away sin,” and “to remove the punishment due to sin,” This agrees with Daniel’s prophecy, in which the sealing up and the abolition of sins are promised, and in which it is also declared that there would be an end to sacrifices, (Daniel 9:24-27;) for to what purpose are expiations when sins are destroyed? But this destruction is then only effected, when sins are not imputed to those who flee to the sacrifice of Christ; for though pardon is to be sought daily, as we daily provoke God’s wrath; yet as we are reconciled to God in no other way than by the one death of Christ, sin is rightly said to be put away or destroyed by it.
If you are a sinner, come to Jesus. There is no better sacrifice for your sins but Him.
Christ our Sacrifice
Hebrews 9:23
The Old Testament is full of sacrifices in which an innocent animal was killed. These were substitutionary sacrifices meaning that the death of the animal was in the place of someone else.
Why was there such an emphasis in the Jewish writings? The holiness of God reveals that everyone who has ever lived has sinned. We have all failed to live up to God’s expectation of us. We have “all sinned and come short of the glory of God.” We have failed the test of God for a righteous person.
The penalty for breaking the laws of God is separation from Him throughout eternity. We deserve the death penalty. “The wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). “The soul that sins will die” (Ezekiel 18:4). As a consequence of our sins we deserve to spend an eternity in hell.
Jesus Christ redeemed us from the law. He chose to die in our place. It was His free volitional choice. We deserved to die and He stepped in and voluntarily chose of His own free will to die in our place. Jesus took our death in His sacrifice for sin. He experienced both physical and spiritual death in our place on the cross as our substitute.
Every Easter is a vivid reminder of our sinfulness, and the penalty of our sins was laid on Christ.
God conducted the first ever sacrifice for sin. He chose the animals to sacrifice for Adam and Eve, and then He clothed them with the skins of the animals (Gen 3:21). Adam and Eve saw the first death anyone had ever witnessed. God slay the animals and in that event taught man that he deserved to die for His disobedience, and that it was possible for another to die in his place. The animals that were shed for their clothing paid the price of their sin debt. Those coats of animal skins were a constant testimony of the price of sin.
The greatest substitutionary sacrifice ever paid for sin was carried out at Calvary when Jesus died on behalf of another. Why Jesus? “For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sin” (Heb. 10:4). Those sacrifices in the Jewish tabernacle were a constant reminder of sin and the wages of sin. They symbolized that God would one day provide His own Lamb to do what animals could never do. They were a symbol of how man’s sins had to be dealt with, but symbols cannot lift up and take away our sin.
Jesus Christ accomplished the only effective sacrifice for sin. His death was a substitutionary sacrifice that accomplished precisely what had to be done to gain our salvation. We deserved to die for our sin, but Jesus Christ chose to die in our place. When Jesus cried out from the cross, “It is finished,” He paid our debt in full.
Christ is the “better sacrifice” (Heb. 9:23) because His blood alone cleanses of all sins (1 John 1:6-9). He entered into the presence of God in heaven for us, once for all and offered the perfect sacrifice for sin. He is more valuable than even thousands of animals. “He put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself” (Heb. 9:26). Christ has been offered by God “once to bear the sins of many.” What was impossible for bulls and goats to accomplish Christ did on our behalf.
By coming to do the will of God, “We have been sanctified through the one offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Heb. 10:10). Christ “having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God. . . For by one offering He perfected for all time those who are sanctified” (Heb. 10:12-14).
Have you accepted the one perfect sacrifice that lifts up and takes away every sin? Have you responded by faith and thanked Him for being your substitute? In His sacrificial death He gives you His life. Believe in His saving death and He will give you eternal life today.
Hebrews 9:23
The Old Testament is full of sacrifices in which an innocent animal was killed. These were substitutionary sacrifices meaning that the death of the animal was in the place of someone else.
Why was there such an emphasis in the Jewish writings? The holiness of God reveals that everyone who has ever lived has sinned. We have all failed to live up to God’s expectation of us. We have “all sinned and come short of the glory of God.” We have failed the test of God for a righteous person.
The penalty for breaking the laws of God is separation from Him throughout eternity. We deserve the death penalty. “The wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). “The soul that sins will die” (Ezekiel 18:4). As a consequence of our sins we deserve to spend an eternity in hell.
Jesus Christ redeemed us from the law. He chose to die in our place. It was His free volitional choice. We deserved to die and He stepped in and voluntarily chose of His own free will to die in our place. Jesus took our death in His sacrifice for sin. He experienced both physical and spiritual death in our place on the cross as our substitute.
Every Easter is a vivid reminder of our sinfulness, and the penalty of our sins was laid on Christ.
God conducted the first ever sacrifice for sin. He chose the animals to sacrifice for Adam and Eve, and then He clothed them with the skins of the animals (Gen 3:21). Adam and Eve saw the first death anyone had ever witnessed. God slay the animals and in that event taught man that he deserved to die for His disobedience, and that it was possible for another to die in his place. The animals that were shed for their clothing paid the price of their sin debt. Those coats of animal skins were a constant testimony of the price of sin.
The greatest substitutionary sacrifice ever paid for sin was carried out at Calvary when Jesus died on behalf of another. Why Jesus? “For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sin” (Heb. 10:4). Those sacrifices in the Jewish tabernacle were a constant reminder of sin and the wages of sin. They symbolized that God would one day provide His own Lamb to do what animals could never do. They were a symbol of how man’s sins had to be dealt with, but symbols cannot lift up and take away our sin.
Jesus Christ accomplished the only effective sacrifice for sin. His death was a substitutionary sacrifice that accomplished precisely what had to be done to gain our salvation. We deserved to die for our sin, but Jesus Christ chose to die in our place. When Jesus cried out from the cross, “It is finished,” He paid our debt in full.
Christ is the “better sacrifice” (Heb. 9:23) because His blood alone cleanses of all sins (1 John 1:6-9). He entered into the presence of God in heaven for us, once for all and offered the perfect sacrifice for sin. He is more valuable than even thousands of animals. “He put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself” (Heb. 9:26). Christ has been offered by God “once to bear the sins of many.” What was impossible for bulls and goats to accomplish Christ did on our behalf.
By coming to do the will of God, “We have been sanctified through the one offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Heb. 10:10). Christ “having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God. . . For by one offering He perfected for all time those who are sanctified” (Heb. 10:12-14).
Have you accepted the one perfect sacrifice that lifts up and takes away every sin? Have you responded by faith and thanked Him for being your substitute? In His sacrificial death He gives you His life. Believe in His saving death and He will give you eternal life today.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Christ, Our Passover Lamb
Exodus 12:21-28
The passover was to be kept every year, both as a remembrance of Israel's preservation and deliverance out of Egypt, and as a remarkable type of Christ. Their safety and deliverance were not a reward of their own righteousness, but the gift of mercy. Of this they were reminded, and by this ordinance they were taught, that all blessings came to them through the shedding and sprinkling of blood. Observe, 1. The paschal lamb was typical. Christ is our passover, #1Co 5:7|. Christ is the Lamb of God, John 1:29; often in the Revelation he is called the Lamb. It was to be in its prime; Christ offered up himself in the midst of his days, not when a babe at Bethlehem. It was to be without blemish; the Lord Jesus was a Lamb without spot: the judge who condemned Christ declared him innocent. It was to be set apart four days before, denoting the marking out of the Lord Jesus to be a Saviour, both in the purpose and in the promise. It was to be slain, and roasted with fire, denoting the painful sufferings of the Lord Jesus, even unto death, the death of the cross. The wrath of God is as fire, and Christ was made a curse for us. Not a bone of it must be broken, which was fulfilled in Christ, Joh 19:33, denoting the unbroken strength of the Lord Jesus. 2. The sprinkling of the blood was typical. The blood of the lamb must be sprinkled, denoting the applying of the merits of Christ's death to our souls; we must receive the atonement, Romans 5:11. Faith is the bunch of hyssop, by which we apply the promises, and the benefits of the blood of Christ laid up in them, to ourselves. It was to be sprinkled on the door-posts, denoting the open profession we are to make of faith in Christ. It was not to be sprinkled upon the threshold; which cautions us to take heed of trampling under foot the blood of the covenant. It is precious blood, and must be precious to us. The blood, thus sprinkled, was a means of preserving the Israelites from the destroying angel, who had nothing to do where the blood was. The blood of Christ is the believer's protection from the wrath of God, the curse of the law, and the damnation of hell, Romans 8:1. 3. The solemn eating of the lamb was typical of our gospel duty to Christ. The paschal lamb was not to be looked upon only, but to be fed upon. So we must by faith make Christ our own; and we must receive spiritual strength and nourishment from him, as from our food, see John 6:53,55. It was all to be eaten; those who by faith feed upon Christ, must feed upon a whole Christ; they must take Christ and his yoke, Christ and his cross, as well as Christ and his crown. It was to be eaten at once, not put by till morning. To-day Christ is offered, and is to be accepted while it is called to-day, before we sleep the sleep of death. It was to be eaten with bitter herbs, in remembrance of the bitterness of their bondage in Egypt; we must feed upon Christ with sorrow and brokenness of heart, in remembrance of sin. Christ will be sweet to us, if sin be bitter. It was to be eaten standing, with their staves in their hands, as being ready to depart. When we feed upon Christ by faith, we must forsake the rule and the dominion of sin; sit loose to the world, and every thing in it; forsake all for Christ, and reckon it no bad bargain, Hebrews 13:13,14. 4. The feast of unleavened bread was 1 CorinthiansChrist Jesus the Lord, we must continually delight ourselves in Christ Jesus. No manner of work must be done, that is, no care admitted and indulged, which does not agree with, or would lessen this holy joy. The Jews were very strict as to the passover, so that no leaven should be found in their houses. It must be a feast kept in charity, without the leaven of malice; and in sincerity, without the leaven of hypocrisy. It was by an ordinance for ever; so long as we live we must continue feeding upon Christ, rejoicing in him always, with thankful mention of the great things he has done for us.
That night, when the first-born were to be destroyed, no Israelite must stir out of doors till called to march out of Egypt. Their safety was owing to the blood of sprinkling. If they put themselves from under the protection of that, it was at their peril. They must stay within, to wait for the salvation of the Lord; it is good to do so. In after-times they should carefully teach their children the meaning of this service. It is good for children to ask about the things of God; they that ask for the way will find it. The keeping of this solemnity every year was, 1. To look backward, that they might remember what great things God had done for them and their fathers. Old mercies, to ourselves, or to our fathers, must not be forgotten, that God may be praised, and our faith in him encouraged. 2. It was designed to look forward, as an earnest of the great sacrifice of the Lamb of God in the fulness of time. Christ our passover was sacrificed for us; his death was our life.
Every Sunday at the Lord’s Table we are reminded of Christ, our Passover Lamb who died for us that our sin may be forgiven,
Exodus 12:21-28
The passover was to be kept every year, both as a remembrance of Israel's preservation and deliverance out of Egypt, and as a remarkable type of Christ. Their safety and deliverance were not a reward of their own righteousness, but the gift of mercy. Of this they were reminded, and by this ordinance they were taught, that all blessings came to them through the shedding and sprinkling of blood. Observe, 1. The paschal lamb was typical. Christ is our passover, #1Co 5:7|. Christ is the Lamb of God, John 1:29; often in the Revelation he is called the Lamb. It was to be in its prime; Christ offered up himself in the midst of his days, not when a babe at Bethlehem. It was to be without blemish; the Lord Jesus was a Lamb without spot: the judge who condemned Christ declared him innocent. It was to be set apart four days before, denoting the marking out of the Lord Jesus to be a Saviour, both in the purpose and in the promise. It was to be slain, and roasted with fire, denoting the painful sufferings of the Lord Jesus, even unto death, the death of the cross. The wrath of God is as fire, and Christ was made a curse for us. Not a bone of it must be broken, which was fulfilled in Christ, Joh 19:33, denoting the unbroken strength of the Lord Jesus. 2. The sprinkling of the blood was typical. The blood of the lamb must be sprinkled, denoting the applying of the merits of Christ's death to our souls; we must receive the atonement, Romans 5:11. Faith is the bunch of hyssop, by which we apply the promises, and the benefits of the blood of Christ laid up in them, to ourselves. It was to be sprinkled on the door-posts, denoting the open profession we are to make of faith in Christ. It was not to be sprinkled upon the threshold; which cautions us to take heed of trampling under foot the blood of the covenant. It is precious blood, and must be precious to us. The blood, thus sprinkled, was a means of preserving the Israelites from the destroying angel, who had nothing to do where the blood was. The blood of Christ is the believer's protection from the wrath of God, the curse of the law, and the damnation of hell, Romans 8:1. 3. The solemn eating of the lamb was typical of our gospel duty to Christ. The paschal lamb was not to be looked upon only, but to be fed upon. So we must by faith make Christ our own; and we must receive spiritual strength and nourishment from him, as from our food, see John 6:53,55. It was all to be eaten; those who by faith feed upon Christ, must feed upon a whole Christ; they must take Christ and his yoke, Christ and his cross, as well as Christ and his crown. It was to be eaten at once, not put by till morning. To-day Christ is offered, and is to be accepted while it is called to-day, before we sleep the sleep of death. It was to be eaten with bitter herbs, in remembrance of the bitterness of their bondage in Egypt; we must feed upon Christ with sorrow and brokenness of heart, in remembrance of sin. Christ will be sweet to us, if sin be bitter. It was to be eaten standing, with their staves in their hands, as being ready to depart. When we feed upon Christ by faith, we must forsake the rule and the dominion of sin; sit loose to the world, and every thing in it; forsake all for Christ, and reckon it no bad bargain, Hebrews 13:13,14. 4. The feast of unleavened bread was 1 CorinthiansChrist Jesus the Lord, we must continually delight ourselves in Christ Jesus. No manner of work must be done, that is, no care admitted and indulged, which does not agree with, or would lessen this holy joy. The Jews were very strict as to the passover, so that no leaven should be found in their houses. It must be a feast kept in charity, without the leaven of malice; and in sincerity, without the leaven of hypocrisy. It was by an ordinance for ever; so long as we live we must continue feeding upon Christ, rejoicing in him always, with thankful mention of the great things he has done for us.
That night, when the first-born were to be destroyed, no Israelite must stir out of doors till called to march out of Egypt. Their safety was owing to the blood of sprinkling. If they put themselves from under the protection of that, it was at their peril. They must stay within, to wait for the salvation of the Lord; it is good to do so. In after-times they should carefully teach their children the meaning of this service. It is good for children to ask about the things of God; they that ask for the way will find it. The keeping of this solemnity every year was, 1. To look backward, that they might remember what great things God had done for them and their fathers. Old mercies, to ourselves, or to our fathers, must not be forgotten, that God may be praised, and our faith in him encouraged. 2. It was designed to look forward, as an earnest of the great sacrifice of the Lamb of God in the fulness of time. Christ our passover was sacrificed for us; his death was our life.
Every Sunday at the Lord’s Table we are reminded of Christ, our Passover Lamb who died for us that our sin may be forgiven,
Sunday, July 12, 2009
HE COVERS IT ALL!
In my class in Biblical Theology, one question is always asked by the students. What really connects the Old Testament and the New Testament?” There are more than a dozen answers to this question, but I will mention only one – forgiveness. God’s act of forgiving sinners is found throughout the Old and New Testament. After Adam and Eve have fallen into sin, we read in Genesis 3:7-10, 21,
7. ‘Then the eyes of both of them were opened,and they knew they were naked, and the sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings. 8. They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presene of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9. Then the Lord God called the man, and said to him, “Where are you?”10. He said “I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid myself. . . . 21. The Lord made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.”
God’s command to Adam and Eve was very clear and was completely understood by both of them. So, not understanding the command was not made as a reason for their failure to obey. On top of this, God will not give an unbiguous command. He is full of wisdom and He will never leave his creatures an iota of reference to doubt His command.
Both Adam and Eve knew the terrible consequence of their disobedience – FEAR and DEATH. As sure as they were of the consequence, they tried to remedy the situation by hiding themselves from God and by making coverings made of fig leaves. Maybe they thought that this man-made remedy would be enough to restore their relationship with God. But it was of no effect. Only by God’s grace and His own remedial measure can the relationship be restored. God did not give them up just as He does not give up on us. God made a provision for their coverings. What Adam and Eve have done was not enough to cover their sinfulness. God made a “tunic of skin” of animal to complete the deal. An animal was slain (though not expressly written) to get the skin for coverings. The blood of the animal was shed in the garden to redeem or restore Adam and Eve. Even as early as this stage of human history, He points us to the cross of Christ. God has already made a preview of how the fallen humanity could be saved. Through God’s own work of grace in the blood of His only Son Jesus Christ that was shed on the mount of Calvary. Our own innovative ideas will not do it! Only God can!
7. ‘Then the eyes of both of them were opened,and they knew they were naked, and the sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings. 8. They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presene of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9. Then the Lord God called the man, and said to him, “Where are you?”10. He said “I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid myself. . . . 21. The Lord made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.”
God’s command to Adam and Eve was very clear and was completely understood by both of them. So, not understanding the command was not made as a reason for their failure to obey. On top of this, God will not give an unbiguous command. He is full of wisdom and He will never leave his creatures an iota of reference to doubt His command.
Both Adam and Eve knew the terrible consequence of their disobedience – FEAR and DEATH. As sure as they were of the consequence, they tried to remedy the situation by hiding themselves from God and by making coverings made of fig leaves. Maybe they thought that this man-made remedy would be enough to restore their relationship with God. But it was of no effect. Only by God’s grace and His own remedial measure can the relationship be restored. God did not give them up just as He does not give up on us. God made a provision for their coverings. What Adam and Eve have done was not enough to cover their sinfulness. God made a “tunic of skin” of animal to complete the deal. An animal was slain (though not expressly written) to get the skin for coverings. The blood of the animal was shed in the garden to redeem or restore Adam and Eve. Even as early as this stage of human history, He points us to the cross of Christ. God has already made a preview of how the fallen humanity could be saved. Through God’s own work of grace in the blood of His only Son Jesus Christ that was shed on the mount of Calvary. Our own innovative ideas will not do it! Only God can!
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