FRIDAY July 3, 2020

Hope in God’s Promises

Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many.
Romans 5:14-15

Paul went on to educate people about the first Adam and the second Adam. The first Adam was our father who sinned in the Garden of Eden; the second Adam is Jesus Christ. Remember, Adam and Eve were in a perfect state of innocence––sinless––until they sinned against God. They disobeyed God when He told them not to eat of the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Satan enticed Eve, and she gave the fruit to Adam. Immediately, they experienced spiritual death, and eventually, physical death. This event is known as “the fall of man” (Genesis 3).

When Adam and Eve sinned, God killed an animal, He shed its blood, and He covered their nakedness with its skin (Genesis 3:21). In the Old Testament, this sacrifice became a shadow of things to come, as Jesus would shed His blood to take away sin (Hebrews 9:16-28). The promise given in Genesis 3:15 points to mankind’s eternal redemption through Christ’s blood shed on the Cross.

Another illustration or type of Christ’s sacrifice is seen in the Old Testament. God tested Abraham’s heart by asking him to sacrifice his only son. Abraham took a journey to Mount Moriah with Isaac and laid him on the altar. The Angel of the LORD stopped him from killing Isaac, and God provided a sacrifice––a ram (Genesis 22).

Years later, Jesus Christ died on the Cross of Calvary––at the very same place! He became the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29).There is no remission for our sin unless there was the shedding of blood. This is the doctrine of atonement. Jesus accomplished our redemption!

Jesus came not only to teach but to save, not only to reveal God to mankind, but also to redeem mankind for God.
~John R. W. Stott~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!