SATURDAY July 10, 2021

Christ a Sacrifice to God

Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
Ephesians 5:1-2

In the book of Leviticus, God’s people were given Laws concerning sacrifices for the forgiveness of sin. During Yom Kipper, also known as the Day of Atonement, the holiest day of the year, a lamb was taken and slain. The best part of the animal was given as a burnt, sweet-smelling sacrifice to the Lord. In the tabernacle where God’s presence dwelt, the High Priest went into the Holy of Holies, with the lamb’s blood in a basin. The priest sprinkled the blood on the Mercy Seat for the forgiveness of his and the people’s sin.

An atonement or kopher is “a price for a life.” In the Old Testament, a priest laid his hands on a ram or goat. As the priest prayed, he transferred the sins of the people onto it. As long as the people could see the goat or ram, they could not blow the trumpet. Once it was lost in the wilderness, a second goat would be killed. Then everyone would rejoice, because right at that very moment, the people would be forgiven by God for their sins. Imagine all that work for the forgiveness of sin! Yet an animal sacrifice was only a covering for a person’s sin. It never removed it.

In typology, the Scriptures tell us Christ went to the Cross as a Lamb led to the slaughter: ...He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth (Isaiah 53:7). There is no forgiveness of sin unless there is shedding of blood (Hebrews 9:22). Jesus Christ died once and for all for the forgiveness of our sins. That is a central doctrine for our salvation.

Once a person repents of their sin and accepts Jesus into their heart by faith, their name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life (Revelation 21:27). They inherit eternal life! God loves us with an everlasting love, so we should love others. This pattern of God’s love is for you and me to follow.

“Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
~John 1:29~

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