Christ’s Sacrifice, 3of3

~ Traits of The Greatest Sacrifice In History ~

Jesus Christ, The Messiah, shed His own blood for a substitutionary payment for mankind’s sin.  His payment must however be accepted and received for it to be of any value to any individual.  Consider some characteristics of that greatest of all sacrifices:

Salvation Is Undeserved  ~  “For by grace [unmerited favor] you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).  “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.  …  For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:14, 17). 

His Saving Ability Is Not Limited  ~  “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25). 

His Saving Ability Is The Only Way  ~  “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me’” (John 14:6). 

His Saving Ability Is Still Available  ~  “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2b).  “And the Lord said, ‘My Spirit shall not strive with man forever’” (Gen 6:3a)

His Salvation Offer Will Be Withdrawn  ~  “Then He [Jesus Christ] said to the disciples, ‘The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it.  …  I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left.  Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left.  Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left’” (Luke 17:22, 34-36).

The Bottom Line  ~  Christ Jesus—the only One who ever lived a perfect sinless life—is the only possible provision for paying the price of our sins.  Jesus Christ, the Son of God, became the Son of Man so that the sons of men could become sons of God.

the key question: “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15). This is the most important question you will ever answer. If you do not answer it, or answer it incorrectly, you have made the biggest mistake anyone can make!

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Christ’s Sacrifice, 2of3

~ Christ’s Sacrifice On Our Behalf—As Seen In The Old Testament ~

Throughout the Old Testament we see a foreshadowing of the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus Christ—The Messiah—in many different ways.  Here are just a small sampling of some of the most obvious examples:

Adam & Eve  ~  Animals were slain to cover Adam and Eve.

Abraham & Isaac  ~  A lamb in the brush was a substitute for Isaac. 

Joseph & His Brothers  ~  We find his own brethren sacrificed Joseph.  God used it so he could save his family and nation.

Israelis & The Passover  ~  The marking door posts with the blood of a slain lamb allowed the saving of the firstborn sons. 

Israelis & Sin Offerings  ~  The blood shed by animals was a substitute atonement for their sin. 

The High Priest & The Holy of Holies  ~  Once a year the high priest entered the Holy of Holies to offer a substitute offering of atonement for their sins. 

The Prophets & Their Prophecies  ~  “Surely He [Jesus Christ—The Messiah] has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.  But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:4-6). 

The Bottom Line  ~  The Son of God became the Son of Man so that the sons of men could become sons of God.

the key question: “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15). This is the most important question you will ever answer. If you do not answer it, or answer it incorrectly, you have made the biggest mistake anyone can make!

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Christ’s Sacrifice, 1of3

~ The Perfect Sacrifice ~

Christ offered the perfect sacrifice for our sin.  It was a one time, once-and-for-all sacrifice.  At the Cross of Calvary Jesus Christ—The Messiah—paid the penalty of our sins.

It Was an Expiation  ~  Expiation is a concept that runs through the Old Testament (particularly as related to the sacrificial system) of another standing in place for the crimes of another.  It is a term which is closely related to atonement and to propitiation.  “For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:3-4).  “Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever.  Amen” (Galatians 1:3-5). 

It Was a Death Sentence  ~  “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23a).  “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’)” (Galatians 3:13).  “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

It Was a Propitiation  ~  Propitiation is a term that represents how God can remain consistent with His character (a parent may be disappointed with the behavior of a child but still love them).  It includes the concept of payment or covering made for the offense (closely related to atonement and expiation).  “But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:21-26).  “And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world” (1 John 2:2). 

It Was a Purchase  ~  “You were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:20).  “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood” (Acts 20:28). 

It Was a Peacemaking  ~  “For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross” (Colossians 1:19-20).  “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). 

The Bottom Line  ~  The Son of God became the Son of Man so that the sons of men could become sons of God.

the key question: “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15). This is the most important question you will ever answer. If you do not answer it, or answer it incorrectly, you have made the biggest mistake anyone can make!

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .