JESUS: THE ONLY ACCEPTABLE SACRIFICE FOR OUR SIN

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2 Timothy 2:19 ESV

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But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: 'The Lord knows those who are His,' and, 'Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.'

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God's Graciousness Saved Mankind From His Own Depravity. The story of creation speaks to the love of Christ Jesus for me. His life is part of the plan for mine, which is His grace. But by the grace of God am I saved, saved from what, my own ways which lead me to destruction and death; always captive to the devil's wicked schemes, for he wanted his own glory, so he used lies to try to kill, steal and destroy every trace of good which God has done. In my disobedience, I was bound to all of that, rebelliously seeking my own path; as we all did. And God who is rich in mercy and grace, looked away from our treachery; instead He was tender, loving and merciful to us. He said, My Spirit will not strive against man, forever. (Genesis 6:3). Jesus became the acceptable sin offering so I could spend eternity with God; it was always His plan, nothing I did could have stopped His will. Praise God that mercy triumphs over judgment. (James 2:13). 

Through the Works of a Few Men, the Fate of Mankind is Sealed. A lot has happened since the foundation of the world, and some people will be remembered forever, for the change they made. Through the works of a few men, the course of history and mankind has been sealed. Adam brought sin and death to the enter world. Abraham brought faith and blessings to those who believe. Moses brought the law and judgement to all. Jesus brought grace, truth and eternal life to all who believe.

• Adam. The man who did not believe in the promise of God, he lacked faith, so he did want he wanted instead of doing what God wanted, doing what he was commanded to not do, and it brought death into the world (Genesis 2:17). Because of one man's disobedience, all have been put to death. (1 Corinthians 15:21-22; Romans 5:19-21; John 8:24). 
• Abraham. The one man who believed in the promise of God, he had faith, so he did what God wanted him to do, and he was considered righteous by God. (Genesis 15:6; Galatians 3:6-9; Romans 4:3; 20-22; 5:12-14, 19), so the promise came by and through faith to all who believe (Romans 3:24-25; 4:5; 11-13; 16-17; 22-23; 5:15-21).
• Moses. All disobedience was nicely packaged, so that it could be eradicated. What packaged all disobedience together under the title, 'sin?' The law. The law brings knowledge of transgressions against God's righteous decrees, defining it as sin, thereby bringing judgement, the wrath of God. (John 1:17; 7:19; Romans 3:30; 4:15; 5:20) and through Moses, the law came (John 1:17). 
• Jesus. The One man who could unbid all from death (Romans 5:19) because righteousness and life reigned in Him (Romans 5:17).  God offered truth, righteousness and eternal life, to all who believe, so grace entered the world (Romans 3:24-25; 4:16, 25; 5:1-11; 15-21; John 1:17; 3:17).

Jesus is the Perfect Sin Offering. The Lord instructed Aaron, through Moses, to prepare the sin offering which was to be done before the Lord in the most holy place. (Leviticus 6:24-25). But this was never going to satisfy God for he wasn't pleased with the blood of bulls and goats, So He prepared a body for Himself (Hebrews 10:4-5), so Jesus became the sin offering for us. (Romans 8:3).

• Offerings In Public. His death was before the eyes of all, including God. God saw the afflictions and the earth shock, and the sky was darkened. (Luke 23:28-29; Psalm 18:6-19; Matthew 27:45-51). Just like the foreshadow of the Levitical priests had to eat the sin offering in the sanctuary area, the courtyard, of the temple. (Leviticus 6:26). So are we to make our living sin sacrifice in the general assembly, for if we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord we will be saved. (Romans 10:9). Also, as we give our living sacrifice, we are to meet together with the body of Christ, the church; we are to edify and build the body together in love and unity. This is so precious, that Jesus said, Where two or more gather, I will be there. (Hebrews 10:25; Matthew 18:20).​

• Offerings Are Holy. For the Levitical priests, whatever came near and touched the sin offering or it's blood, it became holy. For we see in Leviticus, Whatever touches any of the flesh will become holy, and if any of the blood is spattered on a garment, you must wash it in the sanctuary area (Leviticus 6:27 NIV). And so it is with us, for, Jesus said to them, 'Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you' (John 6:54). These are the ones who have believed in Him, so they are blameless and holy; for He is holy and He is the Lord of the Sabbath, which is holy. (1 Thessalonians 3:13; Luke 6:5). Because Jesus' sacrifice is holy, those who hear and reject it, also reject God, and they will be condemned, for He is the knowledge of truth. (Hebrews 3:14-18; 10:26; Psalm 28:5; Jeremiah 12:17; Luke 10:16; 19:27; John 3:18; 6:60-66; 12:48). A fearful and raging fire await these enemies of God (Hebrews 10:27).

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• Offerings Vessels Are Burned. If you've ever wondered if there is any point to your suffering, because it appears to have only lead to your brokenness, have no fear for the Lord commanded the clay vessels be broken. We are the clay vessels and God is the potter. To the Levitical priests, the Lord instructed, And the earthenware vessel (clay) in which (sin offering) is boiled shall be broken. But if it is boiled in a bronze vessel, that shall be scoured and rinsed in water. (Leviticus 6:28 NIV). We are the earthen clay vessels that were broken through the fiery trials of life. (2 Timothy 2:21; Isaiah 64:8). The vessels that heard and were washed by the trials of life, are the ones who become holy, they have been refined and are ready for used as instruments of God. (2 Timothy 2:20-22; Romans 12:2; John 5:24; Luke 11:28). And we see why in 2 Corinthians, But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us (4:7). Through His power, we will be transformed from lowly clay bodies to having a glorified body like His (Romans 8:29; 9:23-24; Philippians 3:21; Mark 9:3; Luke 9:29). And we know that Jesus is the bronze vessel, for we read in Revelation, His feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters (v 1:15).

Jesus Earned God's Glory. Who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped (Philippians 2:6). Jesus was God and dwelt in heaven, but he chose to became lower than the angels by coming to earth to exist as a man, of flesh and bone (Hebrews 2:9; Colossians 1:15). He came to do the will of the Father, which is to give eternal life to all those called of God (John 6:38-40). The Father has given the glory to Jesus because of the suffering of death, He is the full radiance of His glory, He has given it to us so we can be one with them (John 12:23; 13:31-32; 17:21-23; Romans 11:36; Hebrews 1:3; 2:9; Colossians 1:15). Jesus is the first fruit of the resurrection of man from the dead. We are children of God, and we have to purify ourselves in this life (1 John 3:1-3). Because Jesus through suffering brought so many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting for the Father to make Him perfect (Hebrews 2:10).

Jesus Has Full Power. Because Jesus suffered death to bring us to eternal life, the Father gave Him the full radiance of His glory and gave Him full power, by putting everything under His feet. (Hebrews 2:6-8) Everything has been put in subjection to Him. Everything was created for him and by Him; everything visible and invisible on heaven and in earth; all the thrones, rules, powers, authorities, dominions. (Colossians 1:15-16).

​All of that to say, Your Life is Not A Mistake! God did all of that, to be with you, there was a massive plan that began before the foundation of the world for you, so the devil is a liar to say otherwise. God didn't do all the above for Himself, He was already whole and complete, lacking nothing; He did it all for you. Your life has meaning, value and purpose. All these promises hold true for all who believe for we were born of God, for we learn in John, Who (believers) were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God (v 1:13). The Lord thought of you and wrote your name in the lamb's book of life before the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8; 21:27). He opened the womb (Genesis 25:21; 29:31; 30:22-23; Ruth 4:13); He came near and visited your mother, and you were conceived (1 Samuel 2:21; Hosea 9:11). You were created by Him; He knit you together in secret places, even making your inward parts (Psalm 139:13-16; Job 31:15). He has a plan and purpose for your life; it's a plan to prosper you and not to harm you (Jeremiah 29:11; Philippians 2:12-13: Romans 8:28). He would write His law in your heart and He would personally teach you about Himself so that you would know Him (Hebrews 8:10-12). Christ has done His part, now it's time for you to do yours.

Dear heavenly Father, give us the wisdom and knowledge to know these truths, let the power and presence of the Holy Spirit wash over us to renew us and refresh us to bring us into the newness of life, in Christ Jesus. AMEN