(Continued from last week…)
We looked at Christ in the Old Testament Sacrifices. We mentioned five sacrifices that were types and shadows of Christ as the Ultimate sacrifice. He effectively took man’s place and paid the penalty for our sins.
From Gods view the population of the earth is two, Adam and Christ. The Gospel teaches us how to get out of Adam and get into Christ. The sin offering was Gods way to dispose of our sinful nature. We must die with Christ and be born again, out of Adam and into Christ. “Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so though one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.” (Romans 5: 18-19)
The trespass offering speaks of Gods great grace that empowers us daily to live free from sin and condemnation. This offering deals with the act of sin and what we should do when we miss the mark. Our sin nature was crucified with Christ; we do not have two natures. “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20) God hates sin. He tells believers to lay it aside and to depart from it.
The trespass offering is applied to our failures and removes condemnation and guilt though forgiveness.
The priest was to make atonement for the sins of the people then pronounce forgiveness. In the New Testament John says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
If we are defiled, this purifies us, and makes us clean. If we are deficient and unworthy, this covers whatever may be lacking. A pardon that is ever fresh and ever availing. Jesus is our great high priest whose intercessions never cease. Jesus is our trespass offering pleading our case. “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” (1John 2:1-2)
He Took Our Place
One day, a man went to visit a church. He arrived early, parked his car, and got out. Another car pulled up near him, and the driver told him, “I always park there. You took my place!”
The visitor went inside for Sunday School, found an empty seat, and sat down. A young lady from the church approached him and stated, “That’s my seat! You took my place!”
The visitor was somewhat distressed by this rude welcome, but said nothing.
After Sunday School, the visitor went into the church sanctuary and sat down. Another member walked up to him and said, “That’s where I always sit. You took my place!”
The visitor was even more troubled by this treatment, but still said nothing.
Later, as the congregation was praying for Christ to dwell among them, the visitor stood, and his appearance began to change.
Horrible scars became visible on his hands and on his sandaled feet.
Someone from the congregation noticed him and called out, “What happened to you?”
The visitor replied, “I took your place.”
Isaiah 53:5, “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”
IN SUMMARY
The sacrifices and offerings of the Old Testament were types and shadows of the finished work of Christ. The burnt offering was the work of Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection.
The meal offering symbolized the righteous earth walk of Christ as the bread of life. The burnt offering would not be effective if not for the sinless earth walk of Christ.
The peace offering was the celebration and worship that God accepted Christ as the final sacrifice. The shedding of blood gave us peace with God.
The sin offering delivered us from the Adam “sin” nature.
The trespass offering is what keeps us in fellowship with God daily. It is His grace and forgiveness that comes to us when we fall short. We are to offer our bodies to Him and continually offer praise to our redeemer. “Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Hebrews 9:12,14)
What Should Be Our Response?
1. Offer our bodies as living sacrifices. Christians, both Jew and Gentiles, are the New Testament priesthood. We also are to offer sacrifices to God. Not animal sacrifices in the Jerusalem temple, but our bodies, the real temple of God. “I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” (Romans 12:1) We are the house of God. He has chosen us to live within and we are to give Him our bodies as a “living sacrifice”.
2. Offer unto God sacrifices of praise continually. Hebrews says, “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.” (Hebrews 13:15) God created us to praise Him.
3. Let others know that Jesus is the Messiah and prevail on them to give their lives to him and be saved. Mark 16:15, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” The end time church is equipped with full grace to preach the gospel and bring in the harvest.
4. Serve God by serving others within and outside of the church.
If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him. – C.T. Studd
You can reconcile with God today by simply acknowledging that Jesus she His blood for you and by asking God to forgive you all your sins and invite Jesus into your heart as your Lord and Saviour.
Next week we shall look at the resurrection and its significance.
Happy Easter!
Bishop Dr. Charles Olowojoba is the General Overseer of Dayspring Bible Church Worldwide with HQ in Abuja, Nigeria & President, Dayspring Christian Ministries Int’l. Website: www.dayspringcmi.org e-mail: [email protected] Help line: 08035150515
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