"And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering..." Genesis 22:7,8.
Under the Old Testament law, the High Priests had to offer, every year, the blood of bulls and goats as a sacrifice for the sins of the people of Isreal. (Hebrews 9:25) For "Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness" (Hebrews 9:22 NLT).
This Old Testament system was far from perfect, it could never make the people completely clean from their sins, and it also had to be repeated every year, so it was only temporary. "But instead, those sacrifices actually reminded them of their sins year after year. For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins." (Hebrews 10:3,4 NLT) But this system was only a shadow, a dim preview of what was to come.
But now Christ has come! He has replaced the law of the Old Testament, and has offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for all! "So Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. He has entered that greater, more perfect Tabernacle in Heaven, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this created world. With His own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—He entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever." (Hebrews 9:11,12)
"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things... But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:" 1 Peter 1:18,19.
"Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing." Revelation 5:12.
"Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever." Revelation 5:13.
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23)
Have you put your trust in the blood of Christ? There is no other way to obtain forgiveness of sins, and to be cleansed and made whole in the sight of God, than to believe in the Lamb of God, the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! By grace, this free gift of salvation is available to you, but, as with any gift, you must reach out and accept it, and claim it as your own. You do this by confessing you are dead in your sins and on your way to Hell, that you believe the Lord Jesus died to pay the penalty for your sins, that you want to turn from the road you have been on!
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23)
