Behold, The Lamb of God

JOHN 1:29, 36

Theme: Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, provided the sacrificial substitutionary death that appeased God’s wrath against sin and sinners making our salvation possible. 

Introduction:

Remember, God is not only loving and merciful, but He is also holy, just, and perfect. How can God forgive us without our dying for sin? (See Romans 3:23.) Evidently, Jesus came to deal decisively with our sin problem. W. MacDonald, a Bible scholar and commentator, points out what sin is stating,

Sin is any thought, word, or deed that falls short of God’s standard of holiness and perfection. It is a missing of the mark, a coming short of the target. An Indian whose arrow fell short of its target was heard to say, “Oh, I sinned.” In his language, the same word was used to express sinning and falling short of the target.^[1]

Sinful is an accurate description of every human being since we do not measure up to the perfection of God. Yes, we actually come far short of it because of our sinful thoughts, words, and deeds. The good news is that Jesus paid the penalty in our stead and as our substitute. Recall that Romans 3:23, says “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; ²⁴ Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus”^[2] Then the divine sentence upon sin is rehearsed in Hebrews 9:22, stating “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.”^[3]

Twice in John chapter 1, John the Baptist calls Jesus the Lamb of God—“Behold the Lamb of God” (vs. 29 & 36). What was John saying? Though Scripture reveals the Lord Jesus as the Lamb who will bring fantastic judgment in the future (Rev. 5:6, 12; 7:17), the reference here indicates Christ substitutionary sacrifice for sin. Jesus is the “Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (Jn. 1:29). Yes, our Lord’s death has far reaching implications for not only Israel, but you and me also…and the entire world. 1John 2:2, says, “And he [Jesus Christ] is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” ^[4]  Just as the need for salvation is universal/worldwide, the provision of God in Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, is likewise equally available to all who will repent believing the Gospel.

The Scriptures predicted this ministry of Jesus Christ hundreds of years before when Isaiah said in chapter 53:7, “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.”^[5] As fascinating as it may seem, God foretold the ministry of Jesus as the Lamb of God—it is one of the greatest anticipations of the Old Testament eras.

Now note what The Bible Knowledge Commentary says concerning Isaiah 53:7,

In verse 7 the quiet, gentle nature of sheep is stressed. Seeing many sheep sheared for their wool or killed as sacrifices, Israelites were well aware of the submissive nature of sheep. Jesus, as the Lamb of God (John 1:29), quietly submitted to His death. He did not try to stop those who opposed Him; He remained silent rather than defend Himself (Matt. 26:63a; 27:14; 1 Peter 2:23). He was willingly led to death because He knew it would benefit those who would believe.^[6]

Let us explore the Old and New Testaments to discover the wealth of meaning John the Baptist involved when he called the Lord Jesus the “Lamb of God.” Let us “behold” this Lamb as John commanded.

THE WORK OF THE SON OF GOD AS THE LAMB—THE SIN-BEARER

The sacrificial substitutionary death of Jesus Christ appeased God’s wrath against sin and sinners making our salvation possible.  Let us recall just a few thoughts from the previous article entitled, The Lamb of God:

Fact: Jesus Christ Is both the Son of God and the Lamb of God. In the Bible, Jesus is referred to by many different names. Each name signifies a particular office or responsibility that He has, and illustrates the functions of that office.

As the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ Was Offered as a Sacrifice by God just as an Israelite would Offer a Lamb in the Old Testament.

John the Baptist was Sent by God to Declare that Jesus is the Christ that Israel had been Waiting for, and that He was also the "Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world" (Jn. 1:29).

Now with that recap in mind, consider Jesus, our Lord, as God’s substitutionary payment for our sin. Our only legitimate Sin-Bearer. Please pause with me to “Behold the Lamb of God.”

JESUS, THE ANTICIPATED SUBSTITUTE FOR OUR SINS (Jn. 1:29, 36)

As the Lamb of God, Jesus came to bear the sin of the whole world that we, through His blood, might have everlasting life. When Jesus died on the cross, He paid the penalty for every sin that was ever committed (2 Cor. 5:21).

2 Cor. 5:21, For he [The Father] hath made him [Jesus] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.^[7]

So, the Lord Jesus (as God’s perfect and pure Lamb) willingly and voluntarily took our sins upon Himself and suffered the consequences of our sin as if he was actually responsible for our failures. Beloved, this was the Father’s grand plan all along. W. MacDonald adds,

How can He [God] receive guilty sinners who come to Him in repentance and faith? The answer is that the Lord Jesus has effectively dealt with the whole problem of our sins, so now we can be reconciled to God.In other words, God made Christ to be sin for us—Christ who knew no sin—that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.^[8]

Dr. W. Wiersbe, pastor and prolific commentator, expands noting,

The Person who reconciles us to God is Jesus Christ, and the place where He reconciles us is His cross.

Another key idea in this section is imputation. This is a word borrowed from banking; it simply means “to put to one’s account.” When you deposit money in the bank, the computer (or the clerk) puts that amount to your account, or to your credit. When Jesus died on the cross, all of our sins were imputed to Him—put to His account. He was treated by God as though He had actually committed those sins.The result? All of those sins have been paid for and God no longer holds them against us, because we have trusted Christ as our Saviour. But even more: God has put to our account the very righteousness of Christ! “For He hath made Him [Christ] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21).^[9]

Now follow me as I recount the Biblical history and progressive revelation of this idea and notion of a substitutionary sacrifice for sinners.

      1. The Principal Lamb—a Picture of Atonement

When Adam and Eve sinned, God made them coats of skin for clothing (Gen 3:21). Their sin had opened their eyes to the fact they were naked. They had lost their original innocence and had become unrighteous before God. Blood had to be shed to cover their nakedness. An innocent animal was sacrificed because of their sinful actions.

It is evident from reading the very next chapter (Gen. 4) that the animal sacrificed was very likely a lamb. God had commanded that both Cain and Abel bring a sacrifice, and God had respect to Abel's offering only because it was "of the firstlings of his flock" (Gen. 4:4).

This was a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ as a lamb because He would voluntarily die in order to cover or atone for humanity’s sins. This is exactly the Scriptures describe the work of Christ in

Rom 5:10-11, For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. ¹¹ And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.^[10]

MacDonald observed,

The entrance of sin had brought estrangement, alienation, and enmity between man and God. By putting away sin, which had caused the alienation, the Lord Jesus restored those who believe on Him to a state of harmony with God. ^[11]

The term “atonement” here means at-one-ment; the act of making two estranged parties one or at harmony. Christ’s sacrifice so thoroughly covered our sin debt, that God and repentant sinners can be reconciled.

       2. The Provided Lamb—a Picture of Substitution

In Genesis 22:1-13, the account is given of Abraham when he is told to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. Just as Abraham is about to plunge his knife into Isaac, the angel of the Lord stopped him and told him not to injure his son. As Abraham looked up, he saw a ram caught in a thicket and offered it instead of his son.

In the same manner, Jesus is our substitute. Substitute means one life given in the stead of another. He paid the penalty for our sin as our substitute.

Isaiah 53:6, 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.

Matthew 20:28, Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

1 Tim. 2:6, Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

1 Peter 2:24, Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

1 Peter 3:18, For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

1 Cor. 5:7, Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

  

Substitute as used here means, that something happened to Christ, it need not happen to us.  Christ died for our sins; we need not die for them if we accept His sacrifice.

       3. The Passover Lamb—a Picture of the Cross

The first time that Israel observed the Passover was during the terrible plagues that the Lord sent against Egypt when Pharaoh would not allow the children of Israel to leave Egypt (Ex. 12).

At that time God told Moses and Aaron to tell every head of the household to take a lamb and kill it. They were to sprinkle its blood on the doorposts (the top and sides of the door frame) of their house. On a given night, the Lord was to pass through the land of Egypt, and in every house that did not have the blood applied to the doorposts, God would kill the firstborn of the household.

The shedding of Christ's blood on the cross, and us applying it to our hearts by faith has the same effect as the blood of the Passover Lamb. It assures safety to those who have applied it, but judgment to those who have not.

Col 1:20, And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

The Believer in Jesus Christ is therefore safe from all the wrath of God!

Exod 12:13, 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.

1Thes 1:10, And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

1Thes 5:9-10,  For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

        4. The Perpetual Lamb—a Picture of Sacrifice

In Exodus 29:38-42, the Lord institutes a daily burnt offering. The offerings consisted of two lambs, one to be offered in the morning, and one to be offered in the evening. This was to be a continual or daily sacrifice, and it typifies that Christ was made an offering and a sacrifice unto God (Eph. 5:2).

Ephes. 5:2, 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.

Heb 10:11-12, And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:12, But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; (Also 1Cor. 5:7)

        5. The Precious Lamb—a Picture of Christ

In a great prophetic portion of Scripture in Isa. 53, a description is given of Jesus Christ who would sacrifice Himself as an offering for sin. How precious this Lamb, the Lord Jesus truly is! No one else could do this for us but Him. He willingly and freely gave Himself on our behalf. Note what Isaiah 53:10-12 says,

  Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief:

When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin,

He shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days,

And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

¹¹          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.

¹²          Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great,

And he shall divide the spoil with the strong;

Because he hath poured out his soul unto death:

And he was numbered with the transgressors;

And he bare the sin of many,

And made intercession for the transgressors.^[12]

Beloved, it is with great wonder and awe that we behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world! What love is this! What excellent mercy towards us sinners! What joy and thanksgiving Christ sacrifice deserves! How incredible that God remains just and becomes the justifier of those who believe the Gospel! Beloved, God was pleased and satisfied with Christ’s great offering and sacrifice for our sins! No more sacrifices are required. Jesus said, it is finished! Truly all that is necessary for us to be saved has been graciously provided for us. Our part is to repent, believe, and receive it. When studying these and other related passages, it is not hard to understand why John the Baptist referred to Jesus as “The Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world” (see also Rev. 5:6 and I Pet. 1:19).  It is so important to pause periodically to behold this Lamb.

Conclusion:

Yes, for centuries godly Jews had anticipated the “Lamb” provided by God; the Lamb who would effectively deal with sin and its guilt. Finally, John stands on the banks of the Jordan declaring he had arrived. Behold, the Lamb of God! John was prompting his original audiences to realize that the long promised substitutionary sacrifice for sins had finally come! No more waiting and anticipating. The Lamb of God is here right now. See there he is—Jesus the Christ!

Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and He fulfilled His office as the Lamb of God. He died for our sins exactly as the Scriptures foretold He would and in full concert with his own predictions. John the Baptist introduced the Lord Jesus as the “Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.” We can believe the testimony of God, John the Baptist, and many others!

Two thousand years ago Jesus paid for my sins fully, and in August of 1990, I actually humbled myself before God acknowledging my sinfulness and need for Jesus Christ. I realized I needed God’s forgiveness and salvation and cried out to Him for mercy and grace. God forgave me because of my trust in Jesus Christ as my Lamb who took responsibility for my sins. So, the Lord Jesus is not only God’s provided Lamb, but he is also the Lamb for me. Yes, Jesus is my Lamb. What about you?

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^[1] MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. (A. Farstad, Ed.) (p. 1688). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

^[2] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Ro 3:23–24). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[3] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Heb 9:22). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[4] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., 1 Jn 2:2). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[5] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Is 53:7). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[6] Martin, J. A. (1985). Isaiah. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 1108). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

^[7] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., 2 Co 5:21). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[8] MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. (A. Farstad, Ed.) (p. 1842). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

^[9] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 649). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

^[10] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Ro 5:10–11). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[11] MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. (A. Farstad, Ed.) (p. 1697). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

^[12] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Is 53:10–12). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

JESUS: The Substitutionary Sacrifice

GEN. 22:1-14; ROM. 4:24-25

SUBJECT: THE CROSS OF CHRIST

THEME: We can be delivered from the eternal suffering for sin by accepting God’s provision of a substitute and sacrifice, Jesus Christ.  For indeed Christ was delivered for our offenses.

RELEVANCE:  Christ died in our place, bore our sins, paid the penalty due our sins; and all this not by force, but willingly (Jn. 10:17, 18). The blessed truth is that something happened to Christ, and because it happened to Christ, it need not happen to us. Christ died for our sins; we need not die for them if we accept His sacrifice.

INTRODUCTION:

Genesis 22:13, And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.

I want you to notice that last phrase, “Abraham…offered him up for a burnt offering in THE STEAD OF HIS SON.” This is a substitution of one in another’s place. Now the word substitute or substitutionary....is not found in the Bible. Although throughout the whole of the Bible it is implied. You cannot read the Bible correctly without seeing it as a book about a substitute. What did Abraham find, when he found the ram, and took Isaac off that altar and laid the ram there instead? He found one to be sacrificed in Isaac’s place. That actually is the definition of a substitute; one to take the place of another. Or as William Evans states: “one life given in the stead of another.” All through the Bible we can find this reoccurring. 

LESSON:

I.  Like Isaac, We All Were Sentenced To Death…by God.

Read Gen. 22:1-3, 9-10, thoughtfully. It was God who required this offering…the Lord issued this sentence of death for Isaac.

A.  ULTIMATELY, EVERY PERSON MUST FACE THE REALITY OF DEATH AND HELL.

I want to make a statement, and I don't want you to reject the rest of the message when I make this statement. I want you to read on till you get the entire account.

I'd like to say, and I'm scripturally correct in saying it, that everybody will go to hell! Everybody everywhere will end up in hell without Christ’s substitutionary sacrifice! 

There is entirely zero hope of escaping hell outside of the Substitute—a Substitute that God provides himself. Now Thank God that He has provided the Substitute! Christ died in our place, bore our sins, paid the penalty due our sins; and all this not by force, but willingly (Jn. 10:17, 18).  The blessed truth is “that something happened to Christ, and because it happened to Christ, it need not happen to us. Christ died for our sins; we need not die for them if we accept His sacrifice.”

Genesis 22:13, And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.

  

 B.  THE ISSUE OF HELL AND DEATH HAS TO DO WITH JUSTICE, ORDER, AND FAIRNESS.

1 Peter 3:18, For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

That will move me right into the need of a substitute. Why did we have to have such a substitute? Why are we in such a mess today? And why is the world in the shape it's in, that we need a substitute of this magnitude.

   1.  Justice Because Man in Adam Acted Independently of God.

Genesis 2:16-17, And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: [17] But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.   (Rom. 5:12)

         A. When Man Sinned, Justice Had to Be Administrated.

Otherwise the world would have ended there in chaos, and confusion and destruction.

Some of you work in different positions, or labor jobs in your town or city. No doubt some of you work in places of businesses, and you can appreciate this principle. Let's just say, for instance, that you're building a skyscraper in the downtown area, and you have a disagreement with the boss. You know he is the boss. No question in your mind; he signs your paycheck, but you fall out with him.

Then you begin to gossip behind his back, and you begin to rail on him and assassinate his character, and you begin to be lazy and careless on the job. In other words, you don't care what your boss says to do, and you simply are not going to do it. What will happen to the job? Well, you will infect everybody around you, every one you share your frustrations with. And in addition, you will bring that job to a standstill. The point is, judgment and correction must be executed by the person in the position of authority or chaos will ensue in that situation.

This is true among men; it is how the world turns. How much more is it true in relation to God and His government of the world and universe! God gave a holy mandate that man must recognize His absolute authority, and operate under that authority. It is our part to depend upon God, and trust Him for wisdom and knowledge in all good things. The idea that God is “too loving to punish sinners forever in hell,” simply is not true. He demands justice! As a good and perfect Judge, He cannot require anything else

In affect God says to the man—“If you act independently, if you eat of that tree, in the day that you eat thereof ye shall surely die." You and I know the story. Adam ate; Adam died spiritually, and chaos came into this world, and it was not long before they had a murder in the first family. The first recorded crime after the fall is a homicide.

          B.  Christ Willingly Received Our Punishment That We Might Be Free.

1 Peter 3:18, For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

This is truly wonderful news for us all! You do not have to go to hell in person, or by yourself; you can go in the person of a Substitute—Jesus Christ. When I began thinking about this, my, how it caused my heart to warm in praise to God! I never will have to go to hell! I will never, never, never have to go there, because Jesus has taken that suffering and punishment for me. Yes, we are guilty of sin and deserve hell, but Jesus voluntarily took our penalty upon Himself at Calvary.

   2.  Justice Because There Is No Forgiveness Without Blood Sacrifice.

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

       A.  Essential.  It is universally true that sin never has been, and never will be forgiven, except in connection with, and in virtue of the shedding of blood. There is not the slightest evidence that any man has ever been pardoned except through blood shed for the remission of sins.

This theme appears in the Bible from cover to cover. When Cain and Abel made sacrificial offerings to God, the offering that was accepted by God was the blood sacrifice of a lamb (See Gen. 4:2–5).

The sacrifices that atoned for sin under the Law of Moses were blood sacrifices. In like manner, the blood of Jesus shed on the cross of Calvary is the sacrificial, substitutionary, all-sufficient atonement that takes away our sins. These concepts are important to our understanding of the forgiveness made available to us through the death of Jesus Christ.

In the divine arrangement there is no principle better established than this, that all sin which is forgiven is remitted through the blood of the atonement; a principle which has never been departed from hitherto, and which never will be. It follows, therefore:

          1.  That no sinner can hope for forgiveness except through the blood of Christ.

          2.  That if people are ever saved they must be willing to rely on the merits of that blood sacrifice.

          3.  That all people are on a level in regard to salvation, since all are to be saved in the same way. 

          4.  That there will be only one song in heaven-the song of redeeming love.

       B.  Sacrificial. Jesus gave His life on the cross as a sacrifice. He WAS NOT put to death by the Romans or the Jewish leaders. While Jesus did have human murderers that day, He actually fulfilled the ancient plan of God that day on Calvary.

           1.  Jesus Voluntarily Gave His Own Life as a Sacrifice. 

On the contrary, Jesus appeared in history to “put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself” (Heb. 9:26).  He was not forced, but He willing sacrificed Himself. Therefore, God is not unfair or unjust for condemning His Son to bear the sins of mankind.

           2.  Jesus Literally Submitted to God’s Plan.

Jesus gave His life, as an act of His own will conforming to the Father's will, as the “Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Rev. 13:8). Before there was a need for salvation, God already had a plan to deal with sin!

       C.  Substitutionary. Jesus took our place on the cross. He died in your place and in my place and in the place of everyone you know (1 Pet. 3:18). The penalty for sin is death. And we are all sinners. Unless One who was pure and righteous took our place and suffered the penalty for our sin, we would have to bear that penalty ourselves. The apostle Paul explained this in Romans 3:10–19. Jesus willingly suffered and died in the stead of absolutely undeserving guilty humanity everywhere. He suffered our hell for us all that day.

C.  EVERY PERSON IS HELPLESS TO ESCAPE THIS DEATH IN THEIR STRENGTH.

Romans 5:6, For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

Man could cover his own sins personally only if he suffer eternally the penalty of death in the Lake of Fire.  Man could never do this and be saved too. Since man could not save himself, God stepped into a hopeless situation and provided a substitute in Jesus Christ who provided the eternal satisfaction for sins demands. We literally were “without strength!” There is nothing we can do to escape hell and deserve heaven! We have no such strength.

  1. This Basic Concept Was Illustrated Back Some 4,000 Years Ago, in the Sacrifice of Isaac by Abraham.    Gen. 22:9

  2. Most of Us Put Ourselves in the Position of Power and Immediately Enter Into Abraham’s Struggle to Obey God’s Command.  But, have you ever pictured yourself in the position of Isaac in this situation?

ILLUSTRATION:            "Hanoi Hilton" movie.

         Major Fischer (composite of actual prisoners?) had been imprisoned since his helicopter malfunctioned just over DMZ.  During the Vietnam War.

         At Christmas dinner, winter of 1969, he was asked to give a sermonette to the other men.

         He told them:

         "When I was young, at religious school, I remember a great deal was made of Abraham and Isaac...

         How God ordered Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, his only son, his beloved child.

         Abraham stood with a knife in his hand and wrestled within himself to decide whether to believe, trust God, or to deny him.

         And I suppose that most of us identified with Abraham, wondering how we would use our ability of free choice if THAT was us.

         Well, since I've been in here I've had time to think about Isaac.

         Helpless, tied up on an altar, an audience to what might become his own death.

APPLICATION: Every person must view themselves as without strength to deliver themselves from the death penalty. Beloved, there is entirely nothing we can do to rescue ourselves from the ultimate penalty for sin—death. We must accept God’s provision and substitute—Jesus Christ our ram in the bush. (Gen. 22:13-14)

II. The Doctrine Of Salvation Through A Substitute Is Taught Throughout The Bible.  Genesis 22:13-14, And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. [14] And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.

A.  THE COMMENCEMENT.  The Beginning of the Bible.

You see, this great teaching of a substitute or substitutionary suffering begins in the very first book of the Bible. The Old Testament is full of illustrations of substitution.

The Illustration of Salvation by Substitution in Gen. 3:21

Gen 3:21, Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

We have the Gospel, the Plan of Redemption through Substitutionary Sacrifice in Embryo Form:

   1.  The Plan Involves The Grace of God

   2.  The Plan Involves The Shedding of Blood

   3.  The Plan Involves a Covering with Righteousness

   4.  The Plan Involves a Substitutionary Sacrifice (innocent blood)

   5.  The Plan Involves Acceptance of God’s Salvation by Faith

B.  THE CONTINUATION.  The Central Focus of the Bible.

    1.  The Passover Lamb.  Ex. 12 & 13

Thank God that substitution is preached all through the Bible, from the Garden of Eden to Golgotha's brow. You will follow a trail of blood for every little lamb that gave it's life as the LORD passed over at midnight in the land of Egypt, and God saw the blood over the door and on the sides of the doorposts, as God had told them, “When I see the blood, I'll pass over you.” And there inside each one of those little houses, the Egyptians were dying at midnight, but the Hebrews were safe under the blood, eating that lamb.

       A.  The Passover Lamb Died Instead of Israel’s Firstborns.

The slaying of the animals (instead of the Israelites’ firstborn sons, v. 12:13) and the sprinkling of blood prefigured the substitutionary death of Christ. He is “Christ our Passover is sacrificed” (1 Cor. 5:7), “a Lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:19; cf. John 1:29). His own sacrifice is the means whereby individual believers escape the horrors of spiritual death in hell. They had their shoes on their feet, their staff in their hand, their bags packed on their back, and they were ready to leave Egypt, because a substitute had given his life that they might get out of there free.

        B.  The Lord Jesus Died in the Stead of Sinful Humanity.

The sprinkled blood on the Israelites’ houses provided protection from death when God destroyed the Egyptian firstborn. From the verb, pass over comes the noun that designates the feast, the Passover. As the blood of an animal was the means of deliverance and of escaping death, so Christ’s blood is the means of redemption for believers (Rom. 5:9; Eph. 1:7).

Romans 5:9, Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

Ephes. 1:7, In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

    2.  The Lamb of God.  John 1:29

You'll find that the Four Gospels are the reality of substitution, as John said, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world.” And then follow that dear Lamb of God—God's own Passover—until you come to Calvary, and you'll follow him there where he dies as humanity’s substitute. And then in the Epistles you'll find the explanation of substitution—the who, the how, the what, the where and the why.

C.  THE CONSUMMATION.  The Climax and Closing of the Bible.

Then you come to the book of The Revelation, the closing section of the Bible, the consummation of all things, and you will find the coronation of the substitute. I love the book of The Revelation.

Yes, you will find Jesus, the great Substitute there: Rev. 5:6-14

Rev. 5:6, And I beheld, and lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.

Rev. 5:8,  And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of the saints. 9,  And they sung a new song, saying, thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation. And hast made us unto our God kings and priests, and we shall reign on the earth.

11,  And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders, and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thou sands of thousands, Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And then he said, All that were in the sea, every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing and honour and glory, and power be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. 

14, And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth forever and ever.  (Revelation 5)

I am saying the consummation will crescendo to climax in an august coronation. It will be the coronation of divine substitute that Abraham laid hold of on Mount Moriah and placed on that altar picturing Calvary. Beloved, God will crown Jesus one of that grand occasion, and I will be there to bow down before those blessed nail-pierced feet of my Substitute. And because he's already taken my punishment, I stand here today free, declared innocent before a Holy God-Judge, and justice has still had her way.

And likewise we could go all through the Bible to preach on a divine substitute appointed that humanity might not have to face what we all must face otherwise.

The truth of Jesus as our Substitute is stated repeatedly in our Bible. The following are a few New Testament Scriptures you may be familiar with, about our substitute. You'll find substitution in --

Romans 4:25, Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.

Romans 5:6, For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

Romans 5:8, But God commended his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

II Corinthians 5:21, For he hath made him, who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

I Peter 2:24, Who his own self bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness; by whose stripes ye were healed.

Galatians 3:13, Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree.

I Peter 3:18, For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but quickened by the spirit."

You cannot escape the great teaching in the Bible that God provided a substitute. I like what Abraham told Isaac. Isaac looked around, and probably would have said, “Papa, we've got everything we need for a burnt offering; we've got the fire; we've got the wood; we've got the knife, BUT WHERE IS THE LAMB?” We need a SUBSTITUTE Papa….” And I love the answer that Abraham gave him. He said, “God will provide himself a lamb.” That could not have been truer, because beloved, God did indeed provide Himself. Jesus, God the Son, is the very Substitute who laid aside his glorious privileges in heaven, and came down to earth as a man among us, to give his life in payment for you and for me. That Substitute is none other, but God himself.

CONCLUSION:

The work that Jesus did was definitive. We no longer need to offer blood sacrifices in acknowledgment of our sin. We need only have faith in Jesus Christ and accept what He has done on our behalf. The writer of Hebrews says that God took away the first means of blood sacrifice that He might establish the second means, the sacrifice of Jesus. The sacrifice of Jesus was the only one necessary. The phrase that is used is a powerful one: “once for all” (Heb. 10:10).

What Jesus did on the cross, He never needs to do again, and neither does anyone else ever have to suffer and die as He did. He is the sacrificial, substitutionary, all-sufficient atonement for all sin.

   

1.  Come Trust the Lamb of God Today as Your Personal Substitutionary Sacrifice. The key idea of the entire passage is summarized in the name Abraham gave to the place: Jehovah-Jireh, The Lord will provide (or, “seen”; v. 14). The explanation is, on the mountain of the Lord it will be provided (or, “seen,”), v. 14; cf. v. 8).  The mount upon which we see God’s greatest provision of a substitute is Calvary and this time the Son is Jesus Christ! By faith receive Him as your personal Substitute and Provision.

2.  Celebrate Eternal Life in Christ Now.  You and I who are saved can begin today to rejoice, celebrate, and praise God for our substitutionary sacrifice, through our worship, praises, prayers, and lifestyle.   

3.  Like Abraham We Should Have an Obedient Fear of God. Through this test of Abraham’s faith God brought to light how Abraham would hold nothing back and that he did in fact fear God. To fear God means to reverence Him as sovereign, trust Him implicitly, and obey Him without question. A true worshiper of God holds nothing back from God but obediently gives Him what He asks, trusting that He will provide.  This is the basis of a truth often repeated in the Old Testament: the Lord was to be worshiped in His holy mountain by the nation. Three times a year all the men [of Israel] were to appear, ‘be seen’ before the Sovereign Lord to worship Him, bringing their offerings and sacrifices (Ex. 23:17; Deut. 16:16). The Lord would see the needs of those who came before Him, and would meet their needs. Thus in providing for them He would be “seen.” Beloved, at Calvary we see how God provided our Substitute in Jesus Christ.