THE necessity of the death of a substitute is taught everywhere in Scripture, from Abel down to Christ. This was why Abel's sacrifice was accepted, and Cain's rejected. Abel in his sacrifice recognized the fact that he was a sinner, and that God was holy, and that His claims must be met.
Cain in his sacrifice took no account of his fallen and sinful state, nor of God's holy and righteous claims, and therefore God had no respect to Cain and to his offering; but to Abel and to his offering he had respect.
Abel's offering was a foreshadowing of Christ's sacrifice on Calvary, and every sinner, who, in faith, puts that offering between himself and God, as meeting the claims of God, and his own deep need as a sinner, is accepted of God. Abel stood or fell with his sacrifice. God accepted the sacrifice, and him by virtue of it. God has accepted the sacrifice of His Son, and we (believers) are accepted with God by virtue of that sacrifice; yea, in Him risen from the dead, who offered the sacrifice (Eph. 1:6, 7).
When Israel were in Egypt, God said, " I will execute judgment: I am the Lord " (Ex. 12:12).
Then He told the Israelites to take an unblemished lamb, and kill it in the evening. "And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it." So they did as Jehovah commanded them.
And what more? Listen Mark it well, dear reader: "For I (the God of judgment) will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the first-born in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord. And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: AND WHEN I SEE THE BLOOD, I WILL PASS OVER YOU, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt" (verses 12, 13).
Nothing could be more simple. The blood was to be shed, and sprinkled on their houses, and Jehovah said, “When I see the blood I will pass over you." The blood outside was to meet His holy eye, and screen them from judgment; while His word about that blood filled their hearts with sweetest peace and assurance that no judgment could touch them. And so it was. Where the blood was sprinkled they were safe, but where there was no blood the judgment fell. Nothing but blood could shelter them.
The paschal lamb prefigured Christ; "for Christ our passover is slain for us: therefore let us keep the feast "(1 Cor. 6:7)." Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold,... but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot " (1 Peter 1:18,19).
“The precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb with-out blemish and without spot." Dear reader, are you sheltered by it? Can you say, “In whom I have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins"? (Col. 1:14.) What a shelter what a redemption Add nothing of yours to it, for it is the blood and nothing but the blood, that shelters and redeems. "When I see the blood I will pass over;” “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins." You have, in faith, to accept the testimony of God about the blood.
The blood meets the eye of God, and satisfies Him.
Of this, the resurrection of Christ is the proof; and the word of God about the blood gives us the most blessed assurance that we are sheltered and redeemed, and we give thanks. Can you give thanks to God that you are thus sheltered and redeemed?
Again: it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul (Lev. 17:11). A complete satisfaction has been given to eternal justice for all that was chargeable to us. “I have given it to you upon the altar, to make an atonement for your soul, for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.”
Again: “The blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanseth us from all sin" (1 John 1:7). What could so cleanse us, but the blood? What could fit us for the eye of God, but the blood? Thank God, such is its efficacy, it renders the foulest clean, and makes him fit for the eye and presence of God.
But more; we who have no righteousness of our own are made the righteousness of God in Christ, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Cor. 5:21). The risen and glorified Christ is our subsisting righteousness before God. We have become God's righteousness in Him. God sees us in Him accepted; His work on the cross having glorified Him about all that we were, and all that we had done. “We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works” (Eph. 2:10). We are justified, have peace, stand in God's favor, and rejoice in hope of God's glory" (Rom. 5:1-3).
Such is the believer's present and eternal blessedness. But mark it well, dear reader, how we owe it all to the blood of Christ—the life-blood of our divine Substitute. It is the blood that shelters from judgment (Ex. 12:13). It is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul (Lev. 17:11). It is the blood that obtained remission (Heb. 9:22). It is the blood by which redemption was accomplished (Heb. 9:12; Col. 1:14; Eph. 1:7). It is the blood which is the righteous basis of our justification (Rom. 3:24, 5:9). It is the blood that cleanses from all sin (1 John 1:7).
Now, with thankful hearts, we say, “Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion forever and forever. Amen “(Rev. 1:5, 6).
Throughout eternal ages our song will be, “Thou art worthy... for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation," &c. (Rev. 5:9, 10).
God has set forth Christ a mercy-seat through faith in His blood. How important the inquiry, dear reader, as to whether you have approached that mercy-seat, and trusted that precious blood.
If you have, it is well with you; but if not, like Cain of old, it is not well with you. E. A.