“…Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Ephesians 5:2, NIV)
God made the first sacrifice to cover us in our shame (Genesis 3:21), and the last to cleanse us from our sins. (Ephesians 5:2)
Since the beginning of creation, God has loved us, treating us with compassion. He knew the atonement sacrifices He directed us to make in Leviticus 16 would only be temporary. They would have to be preformed year after year, for man would always sin. We all would fall short of His glory time and time again. And this sin would keep us separated from His Holy and Righteous Presence.
So, “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21, NIV)
“He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness…” (1 Peter 2:24, HCSB)
As the high priest entered the Most Holy Place, sacrificing goats and calves for atonement, Jesus Christ came to this earth with His own sacrifice – His own body. A pure and holy lamb for God.
Christ’s death gives us not daily, not yearly, but ETERNAL redemption. His resurrection shows us His power over death. His victory over sin. Now we can have confidence, no matter our sin, to enter into God’s Most Holy Presence. (Hebrews 9:12, Hebrews 10:19) Forgiven, grateful, and full of peace as He wraps us in His loving embrace.
“I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness…” (Isaiah 61:10, NKJV)
~ Jess Hall
