6/24/2020
God’s plan to rescue the world from sin and death began with His announcement in Genesis 3:15, and the killing (sacrifice) of an animal to cover the shame and guilt of Adam and Eve. All done by God from a heart of love, grace and mercy.
We move on to the first two children in the world, Cain and Abel. No doubt they were both taught the necessity of animal sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin. Abel offers a choice animal from his flock and Cain offered some kind of grain or vegetable offering. Genesis 4:4-5 And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. God was pleased with a blood offering in faith, but rejected the grain offering. There is only one sacrifice for sin, the blood of an innocent animal.
We also see here the beginning of the fulfillment of Genesis 3:15 with Abel being a type of Christ, the “seed of the woman” and Cain a type of Satan, the “seed of the serpent.” This is the beginning of the ongoing conflict between the followers of Jesus Christ and those who reject Him.
God’s plan comes into clearer focus with Abraham who is called the father of the Hebrew nation, Israel. He was promised a son with Sarai, but he did not come until they were beyond child bearing age. Their only son was a miracle child to carry on the Jewish line through whom the Messiah would come. One day God tested Abraham’s faith and his love for God above all else asking him to sacrifice his only son whom he loved. While God never approves of human sacrifice of any form His request seems strange, but it shows a bit more of God’s plan of salvation so no one would miss it.
As Abraham and Isaac traveled to Mount Moriah to offer a sacrifice to God Isaac asks; we have the wood and the fire but where is the “lamb for the sacrifice?” Genesis 22:8 Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” Unbeknown to Isaac, he was to be that sacrifice. So, Abraham was prepared to sacrifice his son, but God intervened. Genesis 22:10, 12-12 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. . . “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son.
Two thousand years before God sent His beloved Son to earth God provides a picture of the death of another beloved son in Jerusalem. In this picture the son was spared. The next time the sacrifice of a son was required he would not be spared, but poured out from his agonizing veins was the blood of the Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world.
The entire history of the Old Testament was moving toward the coming sacrifice of Jesus the Messiah because of His great love for you.
Pr. Bob Snitzer
By the Way:
June 28, 9:00 Sunday morning worship. Sermon: Death to the Law. Romans 7:1-13
10:00 Congregational meeting following worship. Topic: video equipment.
If you have not returned your CPC baby bottle please do so Sunday. Thank you.
*Be sure to visit our website, (pilotknob.org) and take a look, it’s been remade and there is an online button to donate electronically.…
