Behold the Lamb of God Who Takes Away the Sin of the World- Part 694

Under the old covenant, the Lord said, "And call upon Me in your day of trouble for I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me." (Psalm 50:15) Under the new covenant, the scriptures state: "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13) Again, in the old testament, the psalmist wrote, "For Thou, Lord, art good and ready to forgive. Lord, you are also plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon Thee." (Psalm 86:5) The New Testament -- the last will and testament of our Lord Jesus -- encourages people like you and me -- in fact everyone -- to call on the name of the Lord and be saved. (Acts 2:21).

Equally interesting and the opposite of many ministries today is that throughout both the old and new testaments, we were instructed to put our faith and trust in our Lord God and Saviour. And Him only -- always thanking God because of His grace given to us in Christ Jesus. For as the scriptures state, it is in Christ Jesus that we have been enriched in every way -- with all kinds of speech and all knowledge. It is He that keeps us firm to the end, so that we are blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. Indeed, He is faithful.  

John the Baptist knew this. In the first chapter of John, the Jews had sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to inquire as to who he was. John confessed freely that he was not the Messiah. Are you Elijah? the priests asked, Or a prophet?  They continued asking John, "Who are you?" They demanded an answer, so that they could provide a response to those who sent them. 

Note what John said. "I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness. Make straight the way of the Lord, as the prophet Isaiah said." But this was not good enough for the priests. They then asked him why he was baptizing -- "if you are neither the Christ nor Elijah nor the prophet." John said, "I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know -- even He who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie." (John 1:19-28) 

Throughout, John never once wanted people to follow his ministry. As such, He always pointed to Jesus -- the prophesied Christ -- who would come after John. Indeed, when John saw Jesus, he said, "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." He is the Saviour that has come to save you and I. And thus, at no time, did John suggest that people should follow him. He always -- as in repeatedly -- pointed to Jesus. 

However, as we read in the first chapter of I Corinthians, we discover that not everyone in the ministry pointed to Jesus. Some decided to create ministries using their own name.. We see this a lot in today's world. But Paul writes, "I appeal to you brothers and sisters in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that all of you agree with one another in what you say -- and that there be no divisions among you -- but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought." (I Corinthians 1:8-17) 

In relating the issue, Paul in the scriptures wrote that some from Chloe's household had informed him that there were quarrels among them -- about who they should follow. Paul wrote, "One of you says, I follow Paul -- another, I follow Apollos -- another I follow Cephas - and still another I follow Christ. Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul?" He concluded by writing, "I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius so no one can say that you were baptized in my name. For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel -- not with wisdom and eloquence -- lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power."

And we all know that the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God. Yes, behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Our Lord God became our Saviour -- shedding His holy spirit blood on the cross for us. 

Why not ask Jesus -- our Lord God and Mighty Saviour -- into your heart today? Let His love and grace and mercy cuddle you and hold you and comfort you. Then you will know that the most precious thing in life is Jesus.  John the Baptist knew it. And so did Paul. Don't let another day pass without you knowing it too. Stand in the offering plate.