Pastor Dave Martin ~ Cross Creek Community Church ~ August 20, 2006
“Sacrificial Lamb”
1Co 11:23-32
Turn to Gen 3:21
“Sacrifice” - The definition for sacrifice is broad – the act of offering something to a deity; the ritual slaughter of an animal or a person; To forfeit for another thing considered to be of greater value... The act of offering the innocent for the guilty...
Sacrificial Offering is seen throughout Scripture...
· In Adam & Eve’s restoration back to God - Genesis 3:21 The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.
· In God’s rejection of Cain’s bloodless offering - Genesis 4:4-5 4 But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
· In Noah’s burnt offering sacrificed to the Lord - Genesis 8:20 Then Noah built an altar to the LORD and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it.
· In Abraham’s offering up Isaac as a sacrifice – Turn to Gen 22
· God tested, proved Abraham’s faith 22:1 (Mt Moriah, Calvary, Temple)
· Sacrifice your only son Isaac 22:2 (Jesus)
· The wood was placed on Isaac 22:6 (Cross)
· Great faith & confidence in God 22:5 (resurrection – Heb 11:17-19)
· Fire & wood but where’s the sacrifice? “God Himself will provide the Lamb” 22:6-8 (Immanuel)
· The willing sacrifice 22:9 (Jesus laid His life down... no one took it from Him)
· Great faith & God provided a substitute offering (Ram) 22:10-14 (God sent Jesus to take our place)
· In the Institution of the Lord’s Passover – Turn to Ex 12
· Lamb was kept with the family for 4 days (attachment / cost)
· Lay hand on the head of the lamb symbolically transferring his sin & guilt to the innocent
· A lamb does not bleat when it is killed... shows a willingness to succumb to its fate... like Jesus
Isaiah 53:7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
Sacrificial Lamb:
Ø Without blemish –
Hebrews 9:14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!
2 Corinthians 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Ø Must be slaughtered –
John 19:17-18 17 Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). 18 Here they crucified him, and with him two others--one on each side and Jesus in the middle.
Isaiah 53:12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
Ø Blood must be applied –
Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace
Colossians 1:20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
Exodus 12:13 The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.
1. God requires innocent life-blood to atone for Sin.
O.T. - Leviticus 17:11 ’For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.’
N.T. - Hebrews 9:22 And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.
· Think about your blood... coursing through your veins right now... 4-5qts, 32.4 tons per day flows
· “Atonement” – to make reconciliation, to forgive, satisfy, cover, propitiate – “What can wash away my sin?”
· All have sinned and fallen short of God... Relationship is broken... only restored through the blood
· God requires a blood sacrifice to cleanse your soul of sin... innocent bulls, lambs, doves, etc
· But ultimately God sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ to once & for all cleanse our sins!
· 290 references to the love of God, there are more than 1,300 references to the blood atonement
2. Jesus died in the place of sinners (Substitutionary). He died for you... He took your place.
Matthew 20:28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
Matthew 26:28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
· This is not make believe, fairy tale, or some outdated doctrine for these modern times.
· Some churches remove the blood, saying it’s a gory religion... The blood of Christ is precious!
Slide – Lion and the Lamb - Jesus came as a Lamb but returns as the Lion of the tribe of Judah! ~ Rev 5:5
Slide - Substitutionary Death...
Hebrews 9:28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
Let’s go back to the cross...
Slide – Christ on Cross - 1 Corinthians 5:7b “...For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.”
Slide – Close up of Jesus eyes/blood - Matthew 27:46 About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice... "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
· I want to take you back to the cross... high noon the sun went black... Jesus now bearing our sins
· Only time recorded that Jesus called His Father, God... My God, My God why have you forsaken me?
· God is Holy & pure He can not even look upon His own Son at this time... when our sins were placed upon His Son, the spotless, blameless, sinless Lamb of God... shut your eyes for a moment and place your hand out in front of you... symbolically upon the thorn torn brow of Jesus... can you feel Him quiver? Shaking? Struggling to breath? Do you hear His groans? The jeers of the crowd? Can you smell the smells of blood and death? Feel and see the warm blood flowing down His body for your sin and mine. May we begin to understand the sacrifice of the Very Son of God for me the guilty....
· Listen very carefully – if you reject Christ & the blood He shed... God will reject you forever.
3. Salvation is found in Jesus Christ alone.
Acts 4:12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
1 Peter 3:18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit,
Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace
*?* 1 Peter 1:18-19 18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
*?* Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
*?* 2 Corinthians 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Are you ready to meet the Lord?
Have you been washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Does your lifestyle match up with your profession of faith?
Jesus invites you to be saved...
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord... is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
Romans 10:13 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
After a message such as this, I must extend an invitation for you to come to the Cross and be saved...
God’s perfect will for you is to be saved... You can be sure of your salvation. Jesus invites you to call upon His name and be saved from your sin... would you bow your heads? You may be sitting here and saying, I’m not ready to meet the Lord... My life is a tangled web from the consequences of my choices... I need salvation only Jesus can provide... I’m tired of carrying my guilt and shame; I’m tired of trying to make it to heaven my own way... I’m tired of not being sure I’m saved... Would you invite Him into your life this morning? Would you say, Jesus I want to know you, I want to trust You as my Savior, come into my life... from all across this church would you quietly slip up your hands... I want to trust Jesus Christ as my Savior... would you pray this prayer from your heart?
Father, thank you for loving me and for sending Jesus, Your Only begotten Son to die in my place. Forgive me for my sins and come into my life, cleanse me, and save my soul. In faith I place my trust in Jesus alone to save me... Thank you Jesus for dying for me, Thank You for Your promise of forgiveness and for a new life now and eternal life forever...
As a Christian, there may be some things you need to get right before God this morning... forgive someone, letting go of bitterness or anger... getting rid of some pet sin that so easily overtakes you... restore a broken relationship, maybe you’ve been unfaithful to your spouse or to your church or in your tithe or maybe a lack of commitment in serving in ministry... Christian claim 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Father, I want everyone this day to remember the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from ALL sin! Thank you Jesus, in your name we pray... and all of God’s people said, Amen!
· If you just trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior - Welcome to the family of God! (let us know & literature)
· If you’re a believer already and got thing right with the Lord – PTL! (Sweet, this is what it’s all about)
· Let’s celebrate the Lord’s Supper together... hopefully with a little more understanding of the Sacrificial Lamb!
NOW IS THE TIME TO...
Call
Remember
Examine Yourself
Give Thanks to God
Anticipate Christ’s Return
If the men would come:
1 Corinthians 11:23-26 23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
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