THE
EXTREME EXTENT OF GOD'S LOVE FOR YOU!
PART
3
A BRIEF RECAP
Just
to briefly recap. In the first segment, we saw that God is holy and
separate from sinners. For it is sin, that separates us from our holy
Creator-God. Then, in the second segment, we saw that God's rules
show us
that we are sinners. Just like a mirror reveals that we have dirty
faces, so the ten commandments show us that we are stained with sin.
We saw too, that “the tree of knowing the rules,” could not give
life. Still further, we saw that the ten commandments could not give
life either! In fact, they both brought about death – separation
from our holy Creator-God. So we realize then, that a mirror cannot
clean one, it only reveals our dirty faces – so God's laws do the
same. So, where do we turn for deliverance then? That is exactly what
we want to look at today! Let's check it out!
AN ANIMAL PICTURE
So,
back to the garden we go again. This time we want to look at the
second tree, the tree of life. This tree offered its eaters “eternal
life.” Yet, Adam and Eve chose not to eat from it. After there sin,
God would clothe them with animal skins. This meant that there was
death. So, as we saw earlier, this showed that there had to be a
substitute for Adam and Eve. It also showed that the payment for sin
was death. Lastly, it showed that the
remedy had to come from God,
not us. This shows, as a picture, what it would take for a person to
be restored to fellowship with God.
However,
God would continue to underline, and reunderline this picture through
the course of the Old Testament. We would see Abel bring an animal
from the flock to sacrifice. Again, the same thing was being pictured
– a substitutionary death. Later, we would see Abraham place his
son Isaac on an altar and a ram taking Isaac's place. Same picture
again – substitution! Still later, we would see the Israelites kill
the passover lambs in Egypt before their departure. Same picture
again! Yet, in this instance, we're given more details. The lamb had
specific requirements and eating regulations. It had to be perfect, a
year old, a male, some of its blood had to be put on the person's
door frame, and it had to be roasted, eaten in the home, and so on.
However, this was only the beginning of God using this picture. We
discover the Israelites killing tens of thousands of animals for
sacrifices throughout the Old Testament, but, when we arrive in the
New Testament they stop. Ever wonder why? Ever wonder what all those
sacrifices were about? Why all the death?
GOD'S REMEDY
These
questions begin to be answered, when we hear John the Baptist say,
“Behold, the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.”
(John 1:29) You see, back in the garden again, God had promised that
He would send a deliver to save humankind from their sin. Now, John
announces that this deliver has finally arrived, by announcing,
“Behold, the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.”
Understand then, that all the Old Testament sacrifices of animals
could not remove sin, it only showed us, as in a picture, what
it would take for
our sin to be removed and fellowship restored with God. So, who was
this deliver? None other than the Lord Jesus Christ! Notice, He is
called, “the Lamb of God.” See then, that He would be the
ultimate sacrifice for us! He would be the fulfillment of the Old
Testament picture of the sacrificed animals! He would be your and my
Substitute! The One who would pay by death the penalty for your and
my sin! He would be our Savior! This is the reason why there would be
no further need of sacrifices. Jesus had paid the the sin-debts of
everyone! For it is written, “It is impossible for the blood of
bulls and goats to take away sins.” Then, further, we read, “We
have been sanctified through the body of Christ once
for all.”
(Hebrews 10:4, 10)
IT'S PERSONAL
Think
of the Passover again. Think how it had to be a male – Jesus. That
there could be no blemish – sinless Jesus, and so on. Then, during
the Passover, the home with the blood applied would be “passed
over.” There would be no death in
the
home. However, in the Egyptian's home, there would be death – there
was no blood applied. Yet, in the Israelite homes there was no death
because a
death had already
taken
place – the lamb had died. However, the Egyptians had no lamb.
Hence, the Egyptians had to pay the price themselves. In the case of
the Israelites, judgment had already fallen, but in the case of the
Egyptians, it was still outstanding. What a contrast!
So,
what about you, do you have “a lamb,” or will you have to pay
your own sin-debt yourself?
Make
sure to check back for the next critical puzzle piece in the big
picture!
Victor
J. Reimer
*All
Scripture taken from the ESV.
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