Redemption #5 The perfect sacrifice

The perfect sacrifice

In many religions still animal offerings are presented. – Samaritans’ Passover at Mount Gerizim

The sacrificial animal had to be ‘cool’, foreshadowing the fact that the true sacrifice had to be a perfect man. But what is a perfect man?

If we read the Bible it shows that it is a person who performs the entire law, given by God to his people, not only in letter but also in spirit. The Saviour says of himself that he is not  come to destroy the Law or the Prophets; but to fulfil it.

“Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I came not to destroy, but to fulfil.” (Matthew 5:17 ASV)

This means that he knowingly must have chosen the side of God. The people in Old Testament times Israel surrounded often to wanted to sacrifice their children. Of course a child is precious to his parents. But it is not a being which could persist the test. Such a life can not be used to redeem the sinners. The prophet Micah poses the question:

“Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” (“will Jehovah be pleased with thousands of rams, [or] with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my first-born for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” (Micah 6:7 ASV)

And the answer is that God requires obedience:

“He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth Jehovah require of thee, but to do justly, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with thy God?” (Micah 6:8 ASV)

To be acceptable, the sacrifice would have to meet the same requirements. That means that he alone is perfect which remained faithful into temptation. Having rejected the temptation and remained steadfast obedience. But the temptation must have been there all right, otherwise the faithfulness itself can not be proven. The writer to the Hebrews says:

“For we have not a high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but one that hath been in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15 ASV)

That must mean that the temptation was as real for him as for us, otherwise he has not triumphed over it. If he had to carry a lesser battle than we, then perfection was not revealed. We shall return to this in a following chapter.

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Preceding

Redemption #1 Biblical doctrine of salvation

Redemption #2 Biblical solution

Redemption # 3 The imperfect animal sacrifice

Redemption #4 The Passover Lamb

Next: Partaking of his sacrifice

Dutch version / Nederlandse versie: Verlossing #5 Het volmaakte offer

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Additional reading

1. Creation Creator and Creation
2. Looking for a primary cause and a goal that can not offer philosophers existing beliefs
3. A look at the Failing man
4. Souls and Religions with Nirvana and light
5. Let not sin reign in your mortal body
6. Heroes and saints
7. We are to be joyful in the midst of our trials

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Further reading

1. The Blood of Jesus
2. In the dust of the Rabbi- Day 23
3. Broken Hearts
4. The Lamb Is Our Shepherd
5. Seeing Jesus in the Passover
6. Passover & Christians
7. “God’s Wrath is Completed” – Revelation 15:1-8
8. He Is Worthy [Sermon]
9. Only One Christ
10. Who is Jesus
11. Our Sacrificial Lamb-Jesus Christ
12. Lamb to the Slaughter
13. Attitudes Will Change
14. Jesus, the True Shepherd
15. “not My will, but Yours”
16. Poor in Spirit: Job Part 4
17. “A Little Less Free”; sermon by Carla J. Bailey, June 12
18. My Future is in Good Hands
19. Only by Your Grace.
20. Testifying to the Truth and Creation
21. Forcing Jesus: John 6:14-15
22. Find rest in God’s Will.

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