We have looked at scripture and learned the penalty for sin is death. We also discovered God’s remedy was through Christ’s sacrificial and substitutionary death as the Lamb of God for the sins of the world.
Although, God is just, He also is a God of great mercy, and did not want to leave mankind in an eternal state of sin and separation from His unfathomable love, joy, peace, kindness, and goodness.
Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus and summarized God’s plan of salvation and the eternal blessings given to us through Christ.
And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:1-10
These passages encapsulate God’s eternal plan of salvation beginning with Christ’s death on the cross and culminating with us living with Him in the ages to come. Such marvelous grace has been given to us. Therefore, it is good to reflect on how much our salvation has cost the Father and Jesus, and to be thankful for the privilege we have been given to become joint heirs with Christ and members of His Body throughout eternity.
Since we are no longer under the Old Testament Law of Moses (Romans 3:20-26), we are not required to bring a lamb as a sacrifice to cover our sins. Jesus has done that for us once and for all. We simply must come to God in repentance and confess our sins and He will be faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:8-9).
As we continue to abide in Christ and walk in the light (the revelation of God’s truth) as He is in the light, we will continue to be cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7
When we partake of Holy Communion or the Lord’s Supper, we are reminiscent of His sacrificial love for our redemption. We pause to remember Him, His suffering, His shed blood and its cleansing power, His mercy, and grace. We are reminded He did it for us voluntarily as the Lamb of God.
At those times, it is appropriate to not only reflect on Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, but to give Him thanks and praise, as we open our hearts to receive the benefits His sacrifice provides.
Will you take time to thank the Lord Jesus for becoming your substitutionary sacrifice for sin? Will you live to follow and obey Him all the days of your life and surrender your will to Him. No one loves you more than Christ Jesus and the Heavenly Father, and no one is more deserving of our love and devotion.
In our next post, we will cover a different aspect concerning the Lamb of God. Until then, may God, our Heavenly Father, richly bless and keep you.
James Brown CST 09/16/2023