JESUS, THE LAMB AND PRIEST WHO MEETS THE REQUIREMENT FOR OUR SALVATION.
"...In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness..."
- Hebrews 9:19-25
The work of saving mankind was accomplished absolutely and perfectly through one man. He qualified for the task in a way no one else did. In fact, that He met all the criteria is so amazing and that makes Him God. We will examine just ten items in this article briefly. The detailed work comes in the BLOOD COVENANT SERIES.
We will look at five conditions precedent and another five processes to accomplishing the work of our salvation. Its an intriguing journey of assurance of salvation. Come with me:
FIVE CONDITIONS/REQUIREMENTS PRECEDENT:
1. SINNER: The very talk of remission or forgiveness of sin is pregnant with the matter of a wrongdoer or sinner. There cannot be forgiveness if there is no wrongdoer. It is very paramount. Jesus cannot be a Saviour without sinners. For Him to save there must be people in need of salvation. And that was met in Adam: "Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—" (Rom 5:12). So through Adam, we all, since Adam; dead, alive and yet to be born sinned. Sin is a spiritual genetic factor in mankind.
2. LAMB WITH BLEMISH: The lamb of sacrifice [this shall be considered in a later discourse] was to be without spot, blame or wrinkle. This is because it was a symbol of an intermediary taking the place of the sinner. The intermediary cannot therefore have questions about its wholeness (Lev 4:24). Without a wholesome lamb to take the place of sinner, sins are not forgiven. The final determinant of the wholesomeness of the lamb is God.
3. BLOODSHED: It is not enough to provide a lamb without blame. The lamb must die through bloodshed. That is, it must be drained of its precious blood. In fact the issue of it being whole is to ensure it is of a perfect blood (Hebrews 9:22)
4. PLACE OF SLAUGHTER: The lamb was not just to be slaughtered for bloodshed. There was a place appointed for that. One couldn't kill the animal himself and or at home. He should bring it to a place predetermined for that matter and the High Priest does the slaughtering (Lev 4:29)
5. THE HIGH PRIEST: There should be a High Priest to slay, offer the offering and present the blood before God in the Holy of Holies (Lev 1:11-17)
Now let's take a look at the processes and see how Jesus Christ met all the requirements and processes to procure our perfect salvation.
Oh, that God-Man, Jesus Christ, on my knees I bow in awesome worship. He is my Lord and Saviour!
PROCESSES TO ACCEPTANCE OF SIN OFFERING:
After the five items or requirements are met, there were processes to follow and we will examine five key ones:
1. TRANSFER OF STATUS: The Sinner must before the slaying of the lamb of his sin offering lay his hands on the lamb (Lev 4:24). This was to spiritually transfer the sin of the sinner to the lamb. God says no word that proceeds out of His mouth shall go void. So if His word says "the soul that sins must die", thus for the lamb without blame to die for the man man of blame (sinner) there was to be a transfer of status.
We have already noted that the sinner is mankind. So you and I have sinned but thank God, He has provided us with a lamb of sacrifice in Jesus Christ. When Abraham told Isaac, God will provide Himself a lamb (Gen 22:8), he was prophetically foretelling the real l Lamb that would TAKE away the sin of mankind (John 1:29). To end any argument as to whether a lamb was without blame and acceptable to the offended what sure way than to purchase one provided by him. And by grace, all who accept the vicarious death of Christ, have purchased a lamb from God to appease God. Hallelujah.
Now, Jesus' earthly ministry saw Him in the company of sins at the dismay of the Pharisees (Mark 2:15, 16).
Yes, what they did not know and failed to understand was that the sinners were TOUCHING the Lamb to transfer their sins to Him and receive His righteousness.
2. SPRINKLING OF BLOOD ON SINNER: The blood of the lamb must fall on the sinner. As He was beaten, pierced and given a crown of thorns His blood inevitable touched men [The movie: The Passions of Christ depicts this in graphic details]
When Jesus Christ was arrested in Gethsemane, He could have been killed there but f or the processes as stated in the levitical laws be followed, He was taken to Golgotha - a designated place of slaughter (crucifixion). Moreso, other people where killed with Him to add credence to the fact that that was a place of slaughter.
3. LAMB ON THE ALTAR: The slain animal must die on the altar. And it must be killed by a priest. Jesus died on the altar (cross). The cross in His days was the altar of human sacrifice and on it He was offered for mankind. Now was Jesus killed by a priest? Yes. The Pharisees ordered His death but much more, He, Jesus, laid down His life (John 10:17). In other words, He as Priest offered Himself as Lamb! Praise God. He alone qualifies our High Priest and our Sacrificial Lamb. Oh, that we may all accept our High Priest and Sacrificial Lamb as Lord and Saviour.
4. CARRYING OF BLOOD OFFERING INTO HOLY OF HOLIES: The fourth procedure was for the High Priest to enter into the Holy of Holiest and present the blood offering of the lamb without blame before God. This he must do before he comes into contact with any man. So when Jesus first resurrected, He forbade Mary from touching Him until He has presented the blood in the Holy of Holies (John 20:17).
This lead us to the final process:
5. RETURN OF HIGH PRIEST FROM HOLY OF HOLIES: From the above, we may ask, was Jesus talking of His ascension as recorded in Acts 1:9-11? Obviously not. Because after He has prohibited Mary, He ate with others (Luke 24:30-34) and asked Thomas to actually touch His wounds (John 29:21, 22).
So, Jesus as High Priest, went into the Holy of Holies to present His blood and then returned to interact with people to show that the offering has been accepted. Just as until the return of the High Priest in the old Testament days was anxiously anticipated. If the High Priest dies in the Holy of holies, it is a sign the offering wasn't accepted.
Glory be to God, Jesus returned to be seen after He forbade Mary from touching Him.
Our sin offering has long been accepted.
For He Who knew no sin became sin unto us that His righteousness may be ours (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Just by accepting God's own salvation provided through Christ you are at one with God.
Let's come with all humility and joy to the Lamb that was slain and say, "You are our Saviour. We accept You. We will follow and obey You all the days of our lives. Amen!"
NB: This article was written by:
GEORGE OSEI-ASIEDU (Rev)
THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST
DAMBAI-LAKESIDE DISTRICT
Fon: 0243309114, 0243481771
email: creatorsvessel@yahoo.com
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