UI – Part 166 – Christ the RAM For Sinful Man

Isaac

For the Christian Abraham was told to sacrifice his son Isaac to honor God.  Read Genesis 22.  He acted as told in obedience to God.  His son even questioned, “Where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” as was tradition.  The response, “God will provide.”  Even so his son was bound and set upon the pyre altar and Abraham, a knife in hand ready to plunge it into his son’s heart, then heard his name called, ‘Abraham, Abraham…’   The angel of the Lord spoke, “Now I know you fear God….”  In the thicket a Ram appeared.  It was a substitute for the sacrifice.  Abraham’s  journey to Mt. Moriah took 3 days.  The events and the foretaste of Christ’s sacrifice for all mankind, as the lamb of God, was evident even in the first book of the Bible.

Ishmael

For the Muslim Ishmael replaced Isaac as the son Allah wanted sacrificed.  The story parallels the Isaac events, the Ram appearing at the right moment as the substitute – saving Ishmael.

Ram Substitution

In both cases the Ram is a substitute and the two descendents of Abraham were saved.  Jesus was born in the lineage of the offspring of Isaac.  The Bible’s Old Testament reflects the history of the heritage that was Christ.  The lamb sacrifice was used to forgive and atone for sins.  Christ’s death provided the punishment for all mankind for the sins inherited once and for all.  Jesus was the substitute, the suffering servant, for us all.  He made those who believed right with God, assuring through the Holy Spirit Salvation.

Christ revealed God, the true God, to all of us.

Sin is certain death to all, both physical and spiritual.

Understanding, accepting, and being thankful for Christ as the Ram, the sacrifice for each and every one of us, may not stop us from continuing to sin.  However, we begin to be different.  If not, we have not accepted God’s Grace.  We lack gratitude.  Grateful we are newly created, a new creation, a new Adam, saved by God.  His love reigns supreme.  We will have an eternal life with Him.

Believing compels you to do good, to do better, to be kinder, gentler, more forgiving, more tolerant, more caring, less sarcastic, more accepting, and more loving.  Your priorities change. Your goals and mission in life changes.  If that is not you, the spirit reminding you, you are not on the correct path.

You can change that. Accept Christ and be Saved.

A good read – 2 Corinthians 5:1-21   – “Christ died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again” (15)

Grace and Peace.