0326. THE SACRIFICE OF CHRIST.

THE SACRIFICE OF CHRIST.

Eph_5:1-2.

From Eden down to the Cross of Christ the red line of sacrifice was unbroken. But all the sacrifices found their culmination in the Lamb of God. All man-provided offerings came far short of the righteousness of God. In mercy to a sin-smitten world God provided for Himself a Lamb (Joh_1:29).

1. What this sacrifice was. "He gave Himself for us." Not only His love, His time, His power, His wisdom, His blood, but Himself, in all the fulness of His life and moral worth.

2. To whom it was made. "He gave Himself to God." To God as the universal Ruler and righteous Judge of all. Forgiveness was needed, and only God could give it. If God will save, He will do it justly. He is a just God and a Saviour. Just first.

3. For whom it was made. "He gave Himself for us." In this us Paul includes himself, who was a blasphemer and injurious. Us, poor and needy, morally deformed and alienated from God. As the sinner’s Substitute He died.

4. How it was made. It was entirely voluntary. "He gave Himself." He who had life in Himself could alone give Himself for others. It was His own choice, and He was able to do it. "I have power to lay it down."

5. The nature of it. "An offering and a sacrifice." Two aspects of the one offering. The meat-offering and the sin-offering in one person. The offering shows the "Beloved Son," well-pleasing unto God; the sacrifice shows the Substitute made a curse for us. The first is the blameless life of Jesus Christ, the second is the atoning death.

6. The preciousness of it. "To God a sweet-smelling savour." There was that in Christ’s death which was infinitely sweet to Him. This is how the Blood of Christ is called precious. We rejoice in His death, because it is a savour of delight to God.

7. The constraining motive for it. "Christ hath loved us." It was because He loved us He gave Himself for us. So He exhorts us to "love one another, as I have loved you" (Joh_13:34).

8. The purpose of it. "That we should imitate God by walking in love" (Eph_5:1). Imitate His self-sacrificing life. He pleased not Himself. "If any man would follow Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross" (Mat_5:44). The child may be but a poor imitation of the father, but through obedience it may grow up into the perfect likeness. "Walk worthy of the Lord in all well pleasing" (Col_1:10).

Autor: James Smith