Christ, Our Passover Lamb!

                      

Paschal Lamb, by God appointed,

All our sins were on Thee laid;

By almighty love anointed,

Thou hast full atonement made.

All Thy people are forgiven

Through the virtue of Thy blood;

Opened is the gate of Heaven,

Peace is made for us with God.

From The Little Flock hymnbook

    When the children of Isreal were under bondage to the Egyptians in the land of Egypt, God told Moses that He was going to deliver the children of Isreal out of Egypt, and bring them into the promised land of Canaan. God hardened the heart of Pharoah, who was the King of Egypt at that time. Even after God smote the Egyptians with many terrible plagues, Pharoah would still not let the children of Isreal leave Egypt. Then, in Exodus chapter 12, we have the story of what God was going to do to the Egyptians next, so they would indeed let the children of Isreal go.

     Each family of the children of Isreal were told to offer up a lamb, without blemish, as a sacrifice to the Lord God on a certain night. Because on that one certain night, God was going to pass through the land of Egypt and kill the firstborn son of every Egyptian household. But the children of Isreal were told that after they killed the sacrificial lamb, they were to smear the blood from the lamb on the sides and the top of the doorframes of their homes, and when God passed through that night to execute judgement on the people of Egypt, He would pass over every home where He saw the blood, and they would be kept safe.

 For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. 
Exodus 12:13,14.

     The paschal (or, passover) lamb that had to be sacrificed when the first Passover was initiated, was an illustration of the TRUE Passover Lamb that was going to come in the future! As we read above, the blood of a lamb, had to be shed, and applied to the door posts of the homes, for the family within to be spared from death.

      

     The paschal (or, passover) lamb that had to be sacrificed when the first Passover was initiated, was an illustration of the TRUE Passover Lamb that was going to come in the future! As scripture says, the blood of a lamb, had to be shed, and then applied to the door posts of the homes, for the family within to be spared from death. The death of Jesus was foretold in Isaiah chapter 53.

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all... He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. 

Isaiah 53:5-6,11.

     How this applies to us today is that we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), and the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). This is speaking of eternal death in Hell. And, just as the children of Isreal, we can do nothing of ourselves to save us from this death. But God showed His love for us by sending His Son, Jesus, to shed His blood and die for us (Romans 5:8)!

And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission (forgiveness). Hebrews 9:22.

     As the Passover lamb was sacrificed, and it's blood displayed on the door posts of the homes, Jesus, our Passover Lamb, was sacrificed, and His shed blood pays the sin debt that we could never pay on our own!

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 1 Peter 1:18,19.

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

But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace. Ephesians 2:13,14.

                                             

     How can we apply the blood of our Passover Lamb to our lives today? By acknowledging to God that you are a guilty sinner in need of a Savior. That you want to turn (repent) from the life you have been living, and trust in the shed blood of Jesus as being the only way to cleanse you of your sin.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16.

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10:9,13.

For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.

1 Corinthians 5:7.

                               

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The Foolish To Shame The Wise

    

     One of my favorite verses is Acts 4:13: "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men,  they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus."

     This verse is very encouraging to me. Peter and John were simple, ordinary men with no special training in the scriptures, yet it pleased the Lord to call them out and use them mightily to proclaim the gospel, and to help establish the early Christians in the faith, and their writings are a large part of the New Testament scriptures that we love and treasure today!

     Our measure of spiritual understanding, and our usefullness to Christ stems from our abiding in Him, and allowing His Holy Spirit to teach and instruct us. 

And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you... the Comfortor, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My Name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. John 14:16-17,26.

But the anointing (the pouring out of the Holy Spirit) which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him. 1 John 2:27.

And they of the circumcision (the Jewish believers) which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. Acts 10:45.

    
     Dear brother and sister in Christ, do not think that if you haven't had seminary schooling, or if you are not an eloquent speaker, or are not considered wise and successful in the eyes of the world, take heart and be encouraged, because the Lord can use you mightily to bring glory to His Name!

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

The Foolish to Shame the Wise

Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

1 Corinthians 1:18-31.

     

     Thank you for taking the time to read this. I pray it will be a blessing and encouragement to you. I invite you to scroll down and read some of the other posts as well.

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The Chief Cornerstone

Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner   stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on Him shall not be confounded.

1 Peter 2:6.         

Here we have a firm foundation;

Here's the refuge of the lost;

Christ's the rock of our salvation-

His the Name of which we boast;

Lamb of God! For sinners wounded-

Sacrifice to cancel guilt;

None shall ever be confounded

Who on Thee their hope have built.

     Have you put your hope and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ? He alone is the solid rock to put your faith in. Our sins have separated us from God, but because of His great love for us, Jesus Christ, the Son of God,  came in to this world to suffer, shed His holy, precious, sinless blood, and die to pay the penalty for our sin. He was the sacrificial Lamb of God, and our only means of forgiveness and restoration to God. "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." John 14:6. 

     Jesus, the chief (chosen, honored) cornerstone, is a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence to those who refuse to believe. "Anyone who stumbles over that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone it falls on." Matthew 21:44. Do not be deceived into thinking there is some other way to gain favor with God. Trusting Jesus is the only way to receive forgiveness of your sins and to be made clean in the sight of God. All the good works that we might try to do can never wash away our sins. "All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away." Isaiah 64:6 (NIV).

     We are still in the day of grace, the free gift of salvation is still available to you, but none of us are guaranteed of tomorrow. Do not be deceived into thinking this life is all there is, our souls live forever, throughout eternity, our time in this world and in these bodies is next to nothing compared to all of eternity. HELL AND HEAVEN ARE REAL! God can and will forgive any sin, the shed blood of Jesus is sufficient to pay the price for all the sins of the world, the only sin that is unpardonable is the sin of unbelief in the finished work of Jesus on Calvary's cross when He died for YOU! 

How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him. 

Hebrews 2:3.

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other Name under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. 

Acts 4:12.

            Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.  

      2 Corinthians 6:2.

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Clean And Pure From The Inside Out

"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity."  Matthew 23:25-28.

     Our outward appearance is very important, because that is what the world sees.  And as Christians, we are to reflect Christ and bring glory to His Name in all we say and do,  but if we are attempting to do this with impure motives, and with an unclean heart, it will come to nothing. Jesus says: "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing." John 15:5.

     We can put on an outward show that will fool others, at least for a time, we can even fool ourselves, but if we are truly wanting to please God, and for our lives to be an effective witness and testimony for our Lord Jesus Christ, we must maintain an intimate, holy, and honest relationship with God in the innermost parts of our hearts. Then, stemming from a heart in communion with Him, our outward actions will be blessed, and bring forth fruit as He speaks of in the above verse.

"Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account." Hebrews 4:13 NLT.

"Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part Thou shalt make me to know wisdom." Psalm 51:6.

"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." Proverbs 4:23.

"A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart." Luke 6:45 NLT.

     Has the above subject we have been discussing put a conviction in your heart that you have been going through life putting on an outward appearance that everything is fine, when, in all honesty, there is an emptiness in your heart that you do not know how to fill? Receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior is the only thing that will fill this emptiness. You can have satisfaction, peace, and joy far beyond anything this world can offer, as well as the assurance of everlasting life with God in Heaven!

     To have this new life in Christ, you must acknowledge to God that you are a sinner, and that you are willing to repent, that is, turn from the way you have been living, and believe that Jesus shed His blood and died to pay the penalty for your sin. This is the gift of grace that is available to everyone! You, like the butterfly, can be born again and made a new creature!

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17.

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Behold The Lamb Of God!

"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.

     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)

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The Joy Of The lord!

Comfort of the Scriptures

“The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Neh. 8:10).

A joyless Christian is a powerless Christian, both in maintaining his own life and in communicating help to others. God wants His joy to grip our hearts, no matter what state of things may surround us. “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.” The Lord desires us to be “exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.” He desires to “fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” Much joy ought to be connected with our salvation, and only broken fellowship with the Lord can rob us of that joy. When that happens, let us come quickly to the Lord in confession, praying, “Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation; and uphold me with Thy free Spirit.” Hard circumstances and bitter trials ought not to nullify our joy in the Lord, for we can be “as sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing.” Therefore, “count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations (testings or trials).” “My soul shall be joyful in the Lord: it shall rejoice in His salvation,” and thus “with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation,” finding that “the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Joy when the heart is burdened,
Joy when trials we face,
Joy in the Lord’s great mercy,
Joy in Him and His grace.

References: Phil. 4:4; 2 Cor. 7:4; Rom. 15:13; Psa. 51:12; 2 Cor. 6:10; James 1:2; Psa. 35:9; Isa. 12:3.

The above devotion can be viewed HERE.

     It is so true, that, for a believer, the joy of the Lord is our strength. When we are determined to rejoice, no matter what circumstances we may be in, we find strength to help us endure our own trials, as well as being a good testimony of the Lord to others, both believers and unbelievers, who are looking on. 

     It is very encouraging to see a believer who is going through difficult times, going on in the joy and peace of the Lord. When someone who doesn't know the Lord, see's a christian at peace during difficulties, even without words, this is a wonderful and very effective witness for the Lord!

     As christians, we need to be determined that we are going to go through this life, day by day, rejoicing in the Lord, no matter what we are called to go through. "This is the day which the Lord hath made, we will rejoice and be glad in it." Psalms 118:24. We know that nothing happens to a believer that is not allowed of the Lord for some purpose or plan. We may not know why we go through some things, that is why we are told to walk by faith and not by sight. We must trust Him through it all. The more we "Look off unto Jesus", and take our minds off of our own problems, the easier it is to rejoice in the Lord. When we consider His love towards us, remember His death paying the price for our sins, and the eternity we have with Him in Heaven awaiting us, it makes it difficult not to go through this life rejoicing in the Lord! "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that will be revealed in us." Romans 8:18.

     If you are reading this and do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, be aware that there is no true, lasting joy apart from Him. Satan will do his best to deceive you with temporary joys that this world can give, but these fall far short from the true joy the Lord Jesus offers. Be not deceived, an eternity in Hell awaits those who do not acknowledge their sin, turn from their ungodly lives, and believe that Jesus died to pay the price for their sins. No amount of good works on our part can cleanse us from our sins, and bridge the gap between us and God. "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by Me." John 14:6.  

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