Lamb of God
“God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.”
Today’s Text: Romans 2:21-31 (Living Life Daily Devotional)
This is the centerpiece of the gospel. The “sacrifice of atonement” offered in Christ Jesus explains, on the one hand, how God decided to deal with the sin of people through the sacrifice of animals in the Old Testament.
In the ancient world (and probably even today), the sacrifice of animals to idols were made to basically “bribe” the gods with food in exchange for their favor. For the people of Yahweh (Yahwists), the sacrificial animals became a proxy for the people themselves, because according to the justice of God, the sin of every person has to be punished.
But the provision of the sacrifice of animals demonstrated infinite restraint on the part of holy God. Because the sin of humanity escalates beyond our control into the death of people. The sins of every single one of us adds to a “snowball” of sin rolling down a mountain of history, growing larger and larger and ending in devastation, ruin, and death.
How many animals would be enough to cover the sin of all of humanity across all of time? No generation could breed enough sacrificial animals to account for the sin of even that one generation. And what would they do with all that blood?
Even the “wrath of God” breaking out into history against the sins of the people of God doesn’t fully cover the devastation of sin. Even if God were to wipe out humanity from the face of the earth, that would not fully cover the sin of humanity.
No. There is only one sacrificial Lamb that could fully redeem humanity from the curse of sin—the sacrifice of God Himself, who created humanity, through the Son.
But then, what of God’s love? Because God is love, and God’s love is demonstrated through His faithfulness to bring blessing to His covenant people according to His promises.
Would it be right for God to forego His love-faithfulness-mercy because of the sinfulness of you and I? If that were the case, then, that would mean that we—in a strange and opposite-world kind of way—are the ones in control.
No. God is the One in control, and only God. And in His infinite wisdom, He exacted judgment and offered grace through His Son—through whom we have the forgiveness of sins, the hope of eternal life, and the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Father, Your ways are perfect. We do not deserve Your mercy, but You are mercy. You are love. And You are faithful. You have redeemed us from the curse of sin. Let my witness, and let our witness, show the word how much we need You. In Jesus’s name. Amen.
