SUNDAY APRIL 4TH, 2021

MEMORY VERSE: - “For the life of the flesh is in the blood and I have given it to you on the altar to make an atonement for you souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul” (Leviticus 17:11).

INTRODUCTION: -The Old Testament sacrifices of blood are related to atonement (i.e. a covering for sin). The animal’s blood is life and it was the price of atonement for human sin. The price for sin is death – loss of a life (Rom.6:23). The life of an innocent sacrifice (an animal) provided a covering for the guilty person’s sin.

This is the principle of substitutionary atonement in which Christ’s blood provides forgiveness and salvation (Redemption) to all sinners (that believe) under the new covenant.

As Jesus Christ shed His blood on the cross, as propitiation for our sins. He substituted His life for the sinners’ life (Rom.5:1). And because His life was perfect and sinless, His blood is priceless and does not only provide a complete covering for but also completely blot out all sins for all who believe, accept and follow Him (Heb.9:13-14; 1Jh.1:7; Rev.7:14).

Basic Facts About The Death of Christ

1) Christ’s death was a perfect sacrifice. Jesus willingly offered His own perfect and sinless life for our sins (Jh.10:11; 1Corint.5:7; Eph.5:2).

2) Christ’s death was vicarious (i.e. experience of endured by Him for the benefit of others). Jesus died not for His own sake, but for the sake of others (Ro.5:8; 8:32; Mk.10:45; Eph.5:2; 2Corint.21).

3) Christ’s death was substitutional. Christ suffered death as the penalty for our sins, He took our place in the fiery judgment of God on sin (Rom.6:23).

4) Christ’s death was propitiatory (i.e. it made peace and resolved eternal problem of sin). Christ’s death for sinners satisfied God’s perfect justice, righteousness and moral order, which required that sin be punished and a penalty be paid for human offenses against Him.

Christ’s sacrifice covered that penalty in full, removing God’s wrath (i.e. His justified anger and punishment) from all those who acknowledge and repent of their sin and sinfulness (Ps.51:3; Prov.28:13) and accept by faith, Christ’s forgiveness, accepting Him as Lord and Saviour by entrusting their lives to Him (Eph.2:8-9; Acts6:31; 2:38).

Through Christ’s blood, God’s holiness was not compromised and He was able to reveal His grace and love for us (Jh.3:16). God Himself put this plan in place (Gen.3:15) not because He owed us, but because of His love and mercy toward us (Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-6; 2Corint.5:19; Rom.5:8; 8:3, 32; 1Corint.8:6; Eph.4:4-6).

The Day of Atonement as given in the Mosaic Law (Lev.16:29-34) is a shadow of the New Testament sacrifice of the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the whole world – the Lord Jesus Christ (Jh.1:29), He indeed, is our Paschal Lamb provided by God Himself to pay the death penalty that all humanity deserved for rebellion against God.

While the blood of innocent animal sacrificed in the Old Testament were imperfect and could only cover but could not remove or blot out sin, the Lord Jesus Christ came and offered Himself the perfect and sinless sacrifice, paying the full penalty for the sin of humanity once and for all thereby not only providing a covering but a total extinction or blotting out of our sins.

QUESTIONS

1. In what way is Christ’s death substitutionary?

2. How did God revealed His love and grace to us without compromising His holiness?