8/12/202 PKLC Communiqué
Yom Kippur, the lambs blood that covered the sins of the Jewish nation went on for 800 years until an unbelievable announcement came from Jeremiah 31:34 No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” A time was coming when sins would no longer be covered by lamb’s blood, but forgiven. That means guilt would be removed and sins not remembered, forever! It means a clean slate and no final judgment for sin. The question remained; how would God do this?
Isaiah 53:2-8 gives us clear information by describing the coming Messiah with words such as despised, wounded, crushed, beaten, smitten, afflicted, punishment, oppressed, slaughter and cut off. This is what fallen man is capable of doing to an innocent man when giving in to hate and believing lies. Yet this was God’s divine will, to crush His Son for our sin and the world’s. Isaiah 53:10 Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makeshis life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. This was spoken 700 years prior to the event, announcing God’s prearranged plan to rescue us from sin, eternal death and Satan. His plan was to secure total forgiveness of sin and defeat death so we would never have to die and be separated from God for all eternity.
There was one more prophet who would speak about His coming, 170 years after Jeremiah and that is Malachi 4:5 “See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. Now they know what to look for, Elijah or at least a prophet like him. I’m sure they were looking, hoping to see him in their life time, but it would take another 400 years before the world’s stage was set for her creator to come and take center stage.
My, how patience is God. If I were the Jews, I would hope to see this ‘Elijah’ prophet within the year if not sooner. God is patient as he doesn’t live within time and His purpose is for perfect timing and He wants no one to perish.
In the meantime, from Malachi to the first Christmas millions of lambs shed their blood to cover so much sin that would eventually be forgiven by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
The curtain is nearly pulled back for us to see the complete plan of salvation that was in God’s heart prior to creation.
By the Way:
Thursday 13, 10:00 quilting.
August 16, 9:00Sunday morning worship. Sermon: The Result of Faith
*We are moving closer to purchasing our video equipment to record our service. Thank you to all who have donated to make this possible, it is very much appreciated. Be sure to visit our website and click at www.pilotknob.org …
