ANIMALS WERE SACRIFICED FOR PEOPLE’S SINS, BUT ON THE CROSS, JESUS BECAME GOD’S SACRIFICE FOR SIN
  1. THE PERFECT SACRIFICE :
    • Paul talks about the condition of the human race regarding sin: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23. The whole human race had been contaminated with the seed of sin and rebellion from Adam and Eve. [Romans 5:12]
    • But God had prepared a perfect sacrifice that would pay the sin debt of humanity: “Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things…but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.” 1 Peter 1:18-20
    • Isaiah gives us the prophecy about the suffering Messiah who gives His life for the sin of the world :
      • “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” [Is. 53:6]
      • “But He was wounded for our transgressions He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.” [Is. 53:5]
      • “Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin.” [Is. 53:10]
      • “Because He poured out His soul unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors, and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” [Is. 53:12]
    • Paul writes about Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross :
      • “Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” Philippians 2:5-8
      • “For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.” Romans 6:10
      • “Who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.” Hebrew 1:3

  2. THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST :
    • Jesus declared: “For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” Matthew 26:28 (The first covenant was sealed with blood [Exodus 24:6-8] and Jesus sealed the new covenant with His blood.)
    • “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” Hebrew 9:14
    • “And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood.” Revelation 1:15
    • “In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:14
    • “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” Ephesians 1:7
    • “…The church of God which He purchased with His own blood.” Acts 20:28
    • “Whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed. Romans 3:25

  3. THE WORK OF JESUS ON THE CROSS :
    • We are justified by faith and we have peace with God [Romans 5:1]
    • We have been reconciled with God [Romans 5:10]
    • “For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification.” Romans 5:16
    • “By one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.” Romans 5:19
    • “So that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 5:21
    • “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21