The Voluntary Sacrifice of Jesus

Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. Psalm 40:7, 8.
The children of Israel were anciently commanded to make an offering for the entire congregation to purify them from ceremonial defilement. This sacrifice was a red heifer and represented the more perfect offering that should redeem from the pollution of sin. This was an occasional sacrifice for the purification of all those who had necessarily or accidentally touched the dead. All who came in contact with death in any way were considered ceremonially unclean. This was to forcibly impress the minds of the Hebrews with the fact that death came in consequence of sin and therefore is a representative of sin. The one heifer, the one ark, the one brazen serpent, impressively point to the one great offering, the sacrifice of Christ.
This heifer was to be red, which was a symbol of blood. It must be without spot or blemish, and one that had never borne a yoke. Here, again, Christ was typified. The Son of God came voluntarily to accomplish the work of atonement. There was no obligatory yoke upon Him, for He was independent and above all law. The angels, as God’s intelligent messengers, were under the yoke of obligation; no personal sacrifice of theirs could atone for the guilt of fallen man. Christ alone was free from the claims of the law to undertake the redemption of the sinful race….
Jesus might have remained at His Father’s right hand, wearing His kingly crown and royal robes. But He chose to exchange all the riches, honor, and glory of heaven for the poverty of humanity, and His station of high command for the horrors of Gethsemane and the humiliation and agony of Calvary….
The wounded hands, the pierced side, the marred feet, plead eloquently for fallen man, whose redemption is purchased at such an infinite cost. Oh, matchless condescension! Neither time nor events can lessen the efficacy of the atoning sacrifice.
The Faith I Live By p. 199
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Prayer Requests
—-Lou is doing better! Please pray that God continues to heal her. Eileen
—-Prayer request for my daughter who is having a mastectomy & reconstruction/ radiation today. Rebecca
—-Please pray for my friend Marette she is has cancer through out her body and does not have long to live. Pray for her family also. My husband and I are sad, we learned Saturday evening that our friend Chuck August 5th. Pray for his mother, family and church family. Roberta
—-We are moving and there is still so much to do. Please pray we can get it all done. Rose
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Dear Friends
Our former pastor, John Earnhardt, always prayed that the same Holy Spirit Who inspired the Scriptures open our understanding of them. As I heard him pray this prayer before every sermon, I began to realize how vital it is to our understanding of Scripture that we pray for guidance from the same Holy Spirit who inspired the Scriptures in the first place. Peter tells us, “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1:20, 21
How important for our present and future happiness that we are able to discern between God’s truth and Satan’s counterfeit. If we fail to ask for Divine help in understanding spiritual things, we will find ourselves “tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.” Eph 4:14
How vital it is that we compare with the Bible all we hear, all we read for “the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8 . As Paul declared, “what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Cor 2:11-14
Moreover, Jesus warns us, “If any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Matt 24:23-27
In my lifetime I have heard of several men claiming to be Christ. They had some followers, but most people were able to see that these men were deceivers. So the false Christs referred to in this verse must be something more powerful, more overwhelming, more deceptive. Paul speaks of this when he says, “Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness” 2 Cor 11:14,15
How may we be able to keep from being deceived? There is only one way.John tells us, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1 Indeed, there is only one platform of truth on which we can firmly plant our feet. “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isa 8:20 God’s Word reveals Jesus. God’s Word reveals the truth we must know in order to choose the right path. “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” John 5:39 God’s Word teaches us how to order our lives to be in harmony with His great Commandments. “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Ps 119:9-11
God’s Word reveals the future. Especially in the books of Daniel and Revelation, there are prophecies that reach to the end of time. As Daniel stood before that heathen king, he led his mind to the one True God Who could show the future, because He knows the future. Daniel said, “But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days.” Dan 2:28
We are in those latter days now. Prophecy is fast being fulfilled. “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” Matt 24:44 “The end of all things is at hand: [may we, therefore, be] sober, and watch unto prayer.” 1 Peter 4:7 May we study to show ourselves approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Tim 2:15 May we give diligence to make our calling and election sure, so when Jesus comes we will not be found wanting is my prayer. (2 Peter 1:10; Jer 8:20)
Rose