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BACKGROUND
DEFINITION OF TERMS (For Serious Students)
COVENANT
LAW
LAW
I. In the Old Testament
II. In the New Testament
GRACE
GRACE, MEANS OF
KINGDOM OF GOD
KINGDOM OF GOD, KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
I. In John the Baptist
II. In the teaching of Jesus
III. Kingdom and church
IV. In the rest of the New Testament
V. In theological thought
The
full background to this teaching is available online at this link
<b>DEFINITION OF TERMS</b> (For Serious Students)
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Online links to scriptures (New International Version [NIV] unless otherwise stated) are shown in blue
| THE PRINCIPLE OF SACRIFICE |
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___________THE THREE KINGDOM AGES__________
THEME______PATRIARCHS__PROPHETS___PEOPLE___
_______________Creation_____c.1500BC______c.5BC___
_______________c.1800BC_____c.432BC___Jesus Return
SOCIETY_______Nomadic_____Agrarian___Developmental
REACHING_______Family_______Nation________World
SALVATION___Righteousness____Law_________Grace
PRIESTHOOD__Melchizedek_____Aaron________Jesus
SUCCESS BY_Reproduction____Prosperity____Sacrifice
SACRIFICE_____Isaac______Animals______Jesus
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| NEED FOR SACRIFICE |
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 There is a single principle of God that forms the very foundation of all that happens after Adam and Eve succumbed to sin. We may not understand it. We may not like it. But it is the necessary requirement and condition for our restoration to God. It is the principle of sacrifice - one of, 'a life for a life'. It was introduced through the Patriarchs, confirmed in the Nation and fulfilled in Jesus.
The principle is clearly set out in the book of the law, Leviticus.
Leviticus 17:11
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 You hear lots of talk amongst believers about 'the power of the blood'. To an unbeliever it can sound more like a pagan ritual than a good Christian principle.
The New Testament states it too.
Hebrews 9:22
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 But the important thing is not the blood itself, but what the blood represents. My wife Kathy ran the Blood Donor's clinic at her hospital for a number of years. They took blood from a healthy person to give life to another. She now works in the Operating Theatre, using the donated blood she used to collect, to give life.
The principle of 'life for life', or capital punishment as we call it, is reiterated throughout the Law. For example:
Leviticus 24:17-18
This is not the place to enter the argument over whether the principle of Grace has superceded it in the natural, but in the spiritual, the application has never changed.
Let's see how.
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| THE PATRIARCHS: SACRIFICE OF ISAAC |
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 The first mention of the word 'sacrifice' in the Bible is at the beginning of the story of Abraham and Isaac's test of obedience.
Genesis 22:1-2
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 However, it would appear the principle was already established by Isaac's comments.
Genesis 22:7-8
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 The altar was built and Isaac, a strapping young lad with a 120-year-old father, agreed to be the sacrifice.
Genesis 22:9-10
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 Here we have the first picture of the sacrifice of Jesus, the 'Lamb of God' (John 1:35) being sacrificed on the cross - for you and me. Abraham was also being prophetic in his naming of the place.
Genesis 22:14
Yes, the Lord has indeed provided, through the final sacrifice of Jesus.
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| THE NATION'S SACRIFICE |
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 The religious life of the Jewish nation was centered upon animal sacrifice. This was a graphic application to the people of the time of the reality of God's requirement of a life for a life. The Brazen Altar upon which sacrifices were made was the focal point of daily Jewish worship.
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 TWIN DAILY SACRIFICES
Each morning and evening a lamb was sacrificed upon the Brazen Altar, as a Guilt Offering for the sins of the people.
Leviticus 6:8-13
This daily ritual of sacrifice was a type of what was yet to come in the death of Jesus.
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 PERSONAL SACRIFICE
The Jews were not expected to sin deliberately. Nor are we! Now that's a radical idea to many Christians today! But all make mistakes, and so a special Sin Sacrifice was available for individuals to make their peace with God at these times.
Leviticus 4:1-3
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 DAY OF ATONEMENT
Each year, one day, the holiest in the Religious Calendar, was set aside so that the sins of all the people might be forgiven.
Leviticus 16:34
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 It involved a series of sacrifices.
Numbers 29:7-11
A further picture of the 'once only' sacrifice yet to come.
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| JESUS: THE FINAL SACRIFICE |
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 The coming of Jesus as the final sacrifice is succinctly summarized in the book of Hebrews. We see the change from the Law of the nation of Israel kingdom age, requiring ongoing sacrifices, to our current age of Grace, where the final sacrifice of Jesus has already been made. Hallelujah!
Hebrews 10:1-10
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 Jesus was the final atonement, the final sacrifice, for our sins.
1 John 4:10
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 Not only for you and me, but also for all.
1 John 2:2
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 Thomas, in character, already expressing doubts prior to the crucifixion, asked of Jesus.
John 14:5
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 Others also believed. Even amongst the despised 'half-castes', the Samaritans.
John 4:39-42
Do you believe? I do.
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| <i>NEXT WEEK:</i> A REVELATION OF....... 3 KINGDOM AGES
COVENENTAL PROMISES: FORETELLING THE FUTURE |
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 God plans everything in advance. The Covenants reveal God's plans to mankind.
Next week we are going to see God's revealed plan, through the ages, for His people.
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| A NOTE FROM DAVID |
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 It is difficult fo us to truly understand the principle of sacrifice. To our hunanistic minds, requiring a life for a life, or as we see it, a death for a death, seems very harsh and un-Godlike! Seems so unfair! On the animals and on Jesus!
But who are we to judge God? Sacrifice is His command and we must obey it in order to re-establish a relationship with Him, like it or not!
We are so blessed that Jesus sacrificed His life for us. All we have to do is believe. Now, that's not too hard, is it?
ANCIENT SHEEP FOLD
Shepherds brought their sheep into the fold in the wilderness for safety. The shepherd would lay in front of the door to protect the sheep from an attacker.
Source: http://www.bible-history.com
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So until next week.......
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD!
His servant and yours
Learn more about us at...
www.wwj.org.nz/about.php
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A DAVID'S DOODLING
720. The Cross of Jesus was designed to take life, but ironically served to give life to all who believe.
David Tait
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Check
out the WWJ website for….
More David's Doodlings: www.wwj.org.nz/dd.php
Till Death do us Part!: http://www.wwj.org.nz/tddup.php
Pets Rule!: http://www.wwj.org.nz/pets.php
The World's Greatest Groans: http://www.wwj.org.nz/groans.php
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Their obedience was acknowledged and a substitute supplied. 
For deliberate sin the punishment was dire! 
Provided we individually accept it! 
Jesus too, confirmed it. 
And he got the answer!