His Meritorious Death

His Meritorious Death

v. 7 "He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth."

Acts 8 v. 32 - 35 "The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus." Ethiopian eunuch's conversion

Note:-

1. His Significance - "He was oppressed"

John 1 v. 29 "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."

The cross is central in world history B.C. and A.D.

The cross is central in world events

The cross is central in spiritual world - devil detests it -

Napoleon:-I could have conquered the world but for that red spot

Angels declare it,

Saints depend on it, "Worthy is the lamb that was slain."

Galatians 6 v. 14 "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world."

God defends it - 1 John 5 v. 11 & 12 "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life."

Upon the cross of Jesus, mine eyes at times can see

The very dying form of one, who suffered there for me;

And from my smitten heart with tears, two wonders I confess,

The wondres of his glorious love, and my unworthiness.

2. His Sacrifice - v. 7 "He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter."

Hebrews 10 v. 1 "For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect."

Hebrews 10 v. 11 & 12 "And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;"

Note:-

(a) The Law of Sacrifice - "Without shedding of blood is no remission."

(b) The Limits of Sacrifice - v. 1 "Year by year continually."

(c) The Lack in Sacrifice v. 11 "Which can never take away sins."

(d) The Last Sacrifice v. 12 "Sat down on the right hand of God"

Acts 4 v. 12 "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." -

We see the:-

(1) Necessity of Salvation - "must be saved"

(2) Possibility of Salvation - "None other name"

(3) Authority of Salvatoin - "Head of the corner"

(4) Responsibility of Salvation - to come to him, to call on him, to confess him

3. His Submission - v. 7 "He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter"

John 10 v. 15 - 18 "As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father."

Who is responsible for Jesus death?

(a) Man - Acts 2 v. 23 "Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:"

(b) God - "determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God"

(c) Lord Himself - Ephesians 5 v. 2 "And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour."

John 10 v. 18 "No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father."